Divine Sword: Mirror of the Eight Realms

"Nanao, sorry. It seems I woke you."

Chiba Makoto set down the blanket in his hands and spoke somewhat awkwardly.

Once Ise Nanao saw that it was Chiba Makoto before her, the instinctive trust she felt allowed her expression to relax. She patted her head and said, "Makoto? Why are you here? And I...?"

As she spoke, images of herself drinking with Yoruichi Shihoin flashed through Ise Nanao's mind. Yet she had no memory at all of what happened afterward.

"I originally came to discuss some official business with Captain Shihoin. I was about to leave when I saw that you seemed to have gotten drunk and fallen asleep here..."

After a pause, Chiba Makoto seemed to think of something. As if afraid Ise Nanao might misunderstand, he quickly added, "I absolutely didn't mean anything else. It's just that the dew is heavy at night, and I was worried that if Nanao slept here all night, you might catch a cold. So I found a blanket to cover you with."

Hearing those concerned yet slightly flustered words, a flicker of emotion passed over Ise Nanao's usually intellectual and capable face...

Ise Nanao had been entrusted to Kyōraku Shunsui's care when she was still very young.

However, with Kyōraku Shunsui's personality of drinking himself senseless all day and lingering happily in taverns, how could he possibly have truly attended to Ise Nanao's daily needs?

Instead, Ise Nanao had been taking care of every aspect of Kyōraku Shunsui's life since childhood. After Yadomaru Lisa was forced to flee the Seireitei, Ise Nanao had also hastily succeeded her as Vice-Captain.

This made Ise Nanao increasingly capable and efficient, assisting Kyōraku Shunsui with every detail of both his official and private affairs.

Over that long span of time, Kyōraku Shunsui had undoubtedly grown accustomed