Gentian Flower

Rather than soothing the graduates' resentment, Yamada Seinosuke seemed to take a certain pleasure in it. He simply continued explaining the Seireitei's internal district divisions and forbidden rules to them.

It was not until nearly dusk, after spending more than half a day, that Yamada Seinosuke finally led the graduates to the gates of the Fourth Division Barracks.

It had to be said that the Seireitei as a whole was built around white tones—solemn, pure, and magnificent. Yet within the Fourth Division Barracks, perhaps to ease patients' emotions or perhaps due to Captain Unohana's personal preferences, beautiful flowers and plants had been planted everywhere.

The faint fragrance and the lush greenery brimming with life seemed to ease the graduates' tense nerves considerably.

Among them, the emblem of the Fourth Division's squad flower—the "Gentian Flower"—could be seen everywhere throughout the Fourth Division Barracks.

Upon returning to the Fourth Division Barracks, Yamada Seinosuke's expression seemed somewhat less cold. As he introduced the barracks to the graduates, he also spoke of the Fourth Division's history.

"Legend has it that Lord Kirinji Tenshiro created Kaido, while Captain Unohana was the one who further developed Kaido and perfected the medical system..."

"Furthermore, the Fourth Division's squad flower, the 'Gentian Flower,' was chosen by Lord Kirinji Tenshiro. Its floral symbolism carries three main meanings. The first is: loving the sorrowful you, meaning that the Fourth Division will protect every patient's sorrow and vulnerability."

"The second is: noble and elegant. It expresses the hope that Fourth Division members will always maintain a noble and elegant bearing."

"The third is: steadfast and enduring. Its meaning is to remind the Fourth Division never to give up no matter what difficulties they face, and to remain committed to the path they have chosen for the long term!"

As Yamada Seinosuke spoke with what seemed to be a trace of sentiment, many of the graduates felt something stir within them. They sensed the Fourth Division's unique cultural heritage and dedication to its path, and their impression of Yamada Seinosuke as a sharp-tongued man with a twisted sense of humor subtly changed as well.

This man... he looked so vicious and irritating on the surface, but perhaps his heart was also filled with gentleness and conviction...

Just as the graduates' gazes toward Yamada Seinosuke, the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain, began to change, his voice abruptly interrupted their thoughts.

"We're here. Up ahead is the Mortuary under the Fourth Division's jurisdiction. It is also where the entire Seireitei stores corpses, and it will be your starting point in the Fourth Division..."

Seeing the graduates' pale, unpleasant expressions, a faint smile could not help appearing on Yamada Seinosuke's cold face as he said,

"Don't be afraid. Those are the bodies of our fallen comrades. You must take good care of them..."

??!!

Graduates.

Amid Yamada Seinosuke's voice, laden with malicious amusement, the graduates looked at him as though they were looking at some kind of demon.

Even Chiba Makoto's eye twitched slightly as he recalled his experience from his previous life when he had first begun interning at a hospital.

That had truly been... miserable. He had been nothing but a tool for running errands and doing all sorts of dirty, exhausting work, with hardly any opportunity to actually treat patients.

He had not expected that after suddenly dying and transmigrating into this world, he would have to go through it all again—and even start out at a Mortuary watching over corpses.

At that moment, even Chiba Makoto's gaze toward Yamada Seinosuke gained a hint of resentment.

Staying in a place like the Mortuary, was he supposed to plant seeds in those corpses and let his hopes eventually turn to dust along with them?

Yet as Yamada Seinosuke took in the graduates' expressions, a glint of amusement flashed through his eyes.

I got soaked in the rain back then, so why should you lot get to hold umbrellas?

You're all getting soaked!

As Yamada Seinosuke appeared, several Fourth Division members wearing Shinigami uniforms emerged from the Mortuary with delighted expressions.

"Vice-Captain Yamada, we've finally been waiting for you to return..."

"These are the newcomers, right? Great."

"Finally... finally, we can switch shifts!"

One female Shinigami was so excited that tears welled in the corners of her eyes. She looked at the graduates as though she were seeing saviors.

At once, some of the sharper graduates understood. Could it be that these seniors had been the previous batch of graduates, waiting for new graduates to come replace them?

However, before the graduates could raise any protests or questions, those Fourth Division members began dragging them into the Mortuary, seemingly impatient to begin handing over their duties.

Chiba Makoto, whose appearance was quite outstanding and who naturally exuded an approachable air, was directly pulled along by that female Shinigami.

"My name is Aoki Risa. What's your name, junior? Don't worry, work at the Mortuary is very relaxed. More than anything, it gives newcomers opportunities to further study and familiarize themselves with Kaido, Medical Skills, and spiritual body structures..."

Watching Aoki Risa, who looked like a delicate, petite girl next door, begin chattering away, a bead of cold sweat appeared on Chiba Makoto's forehead.

A Mortuary... wasn't that basically a hospital morgue?

It was definitely rather quiet, since comrades who had already lain down were unlikely to sit back up and make a fuss...

Or rather, if the Mortuary were terribly busy, that would mean something had truly gone wrong.

But Chiba Makoto had not joined the Fourth Division to discuss the meaning of life with a few cadaver instructors. Apart from wanting to continue the medical path he had only just begun in his previous life, he had also wanted to take the opportunity to gain more chances to sow seeds among the Shinigami of the Seireitei.

If that was really the case, he might as well have joined the Eleventh Division first and filled the entire Eleventh Division with seeds before anything else.

At that moment, Chiba Makoto could not help recalling Yamada Seinosuke's hateful smile from not long ago.

Sure enough... I celebrated too early!

Yamada Seinosuke had even solemnly explained the symbolism of the Fourth Division's squad flower, the "Gentian Flower," just now. It had all clearly been nonsense meant to fool them.

Loving the sorrowful you, noble and elegant, steadfast and enduring...

The comrades who had lain down were indeed quite sorrowful, but Chiba Makoto's love had not overflowed to that extent!

And once they were stuck in the Mortuary, what noble and elegant bearing could they possibly speak of? On the contrary, that line about being steadfast and enduring was probably just Yamada Seinosuke's way of encouraging these graduates so they would not quit.

Yamada Seinosuke, that bastard, really is sharp-tongued, twisted, and scheming...

Just as Aoki Risa was about to pull him through the Mortuary's gates, Yamada Seinosuke, who had been watching the show from the side for a while, suddenly spoke.

"Lisa, I still need Chiba Makoto for something."