Kusajishi Yachiru, held in Chiba Makoto's arms, inexplicably felt a sense of peace at that moment...
Although Kusajishi Yachiru did not resist becoming a Zanpakuto once more, remaining within Zaraki Kenpachi's spiritual space to accompany him as he fought enemy after enemy.
After personally experiencing life in Soul Society, however, the thought of saying goodbye to all those delicious snacks and never seeing so many dear, important friends again still made sorrow well up in Kusajishi Yachiru's heart.
It seems I don't have to now...
With that thought, the tension and sadness on Kusajishi Yachiru's little face seemed to melt away, replaced by a relaxed smile.
Then, Kusajishi Yachiru suddenly remembered something and looked at Chiba Makoto. "Eh, Brother Makoto, weren't you fighting Aizen just now? Did you already win?"
As she spoke, Kusajishi Yachiru instinctively looked toward where Chiba Makoto had been fighting.
Yet Sōsuke Aizen's corpse, which Kusajishi Yachiru had expected to be lying obediently on the ground, was nowhere to be seen.
"I didn't win. Sōsuke Aizen fled somewhere, and I was too anxious to treat Captain Kenpachi, so I couldn't stop him in time..."
After a pause, Chiba Makoto lifted Kusajishi Yachiru from his arms and set her on the ground before speaking.
"But it's all right. It doesn't matter if we didn't take out Aizen for the moment. What matters is that Captain Kenpachi was saved and Yachiru was protected, isn't it?"
Hearing that, Kusajishi Yachiru looked at Chiba Makoto with a face full of emotion. Then she took out some konpeitō wrapped in a handkerchief and offered it to him.
"Brother Makoto, thank you. This is the konpeitō I was saving to taste at the very end. Please have some."
"Sure."
Chiba Makoto had initially intended to take Kusajishi Yachiru's gift with his hand,