Gardenia Blooms Amid the Bushes

Just as Bow Clothing had foreseen in the future.

Arima Shizuya's slash struck true, cleaving through Guiganjo's shoulder and slicing apart muscle, blood vessels, and tissue alike...

Until it caught against a thick collarbone as massive as a bear's.

Though he had expected it, seeing the real thing still made the boy sigh.

A little disappointing.

After all, this had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

His opponent had been careless and underestimated him. Meanwhile, he had gone all out and seized that fleeting, singular moment...

A perfect moment.

Unfortunately, Arima Shizuya's strength was simply too limited to cut completely through Guiganjo's body.

That was all...

As thoughts drifted through his mind, a dark shadow flashed before Arima Shizuya.

He had only enough time to curl up before Guiganjo's palm struck him, sending him flying like an arrow loosed from its bow.

His body spun out of control before crashing into a Kimono Shop by the roadside.

Arima Shizuya crushed a large section of the building beneath him. He struggled to rise, but could only helplessly let his strength fade and slump amid the rubble.

His body was numb and aching; he could not even move a finger.

This was the consequence of pushing his spiritual pressure to its limit.

A literal helpless victim, that was the true picture of Arima Shizuya at this moment.

The Mobius Ring had yet to unravel.

But this was also the limit of what the boy could do—the threshold at which one who refused to yield could rise up and strike back.

So what sort of outcome awaited him? The more distant future he had failed to see was now a murky blur as well.

As he pondered, Arima Shizuya heard it.

Guiganjo's hysterical roar came from outside.

"Gaaaahhh!!!"

I'm finished... Isn't he still full of energy?

The boy could not help but smile bitterly, though the outcome did not surprise him much.

After all, with only the Spiritual Might of a seated officer, being able to wound a captain-class figure to this extent was already an exceptional performance.

He simply closed his eyes.

Outside.

Guiganjo, clutching the wound on his shoulder and drenched in cold sweat, was shouting furiously.

"Why the hell are you standing around?! Get over here and treat my wound!"

Getting hurt was nothing unusual, and he himself was a thug from Rukongai. By all rights, he should not have looked this disheveled...

But this was different.

A mere insignificant Squad Member had wounded him this badly.

It was like being bitten by a rabbit. Anyone would be shocked—perhaps even stunned.

Humiliation, resentment, anger.

Those emotions, mixed with fury born of embarrassment, poured hysterically onto everyone else around him.

"Get over here!"

The Eleventh Division Members nearby finally rushed forward.

Watching blood spurt endlessly from the wound, Guiganjo stared at his flustered subordinates, his expression growing ever more vicious.

They were all trash.

Those who could not be of use to him were garbage, and so were the scum who ought to have accepted death but chose to resist.

I only came here to have a few drinks and play with a woman. How the hell did it turn into this?! He slapped the head of the Squad Member beside him.

Listening to the others' shrill screams and watching blood and scraps of flesh spray out.

The frustration in Guiganjo's heart was gradually filled, and his expression eased somewhat.

Forget it, I can't keep dwelling on this... The problem is still that irritating little brat.

He had to break every bone in that brat's body, cut off his limbs, and then think of every possible way to torture him.

He turned toward the still-shaken Squad Members and shouted.

"Stop standing around. Get over here and drag that thing that isn't dead yet out for me—"

Before he could finish.

A burst of commotion rose from the distance.

"It's a noble procession! Captain, a great noble's convoy is passing through here!"

"What..."

Guiganjo cast an annoyed glance in the direction the Squad Member had come from. Sure enough, he saw a restless crowd gathering and parting to either side.

A noble's procession naturally required a grand display. Seeing such a scene made the report all the more credible.

There was no helping it.

More important than venting his anger was making sure the nobles did not see him in such a sorry state.

Otherwise, if they said a few words to Head Captain Yamamoto... that would be more trouble than it was worth.

"Hey, I'm leaving first! After the nobles are gone, drag that brat out and bring him back to our division!"

Clutching the wound on his shoulder, Guiganjo turned and left.

The noble convoy arrived right on cue, but its pomp and the crowds somehow gave it an illusory, dreamlike feeling.

Arima Shizuya stared hazily at the ceiling before him.

Complications from blood loss made his breathing grow abnormally shallow.

This is bad... I'll go into shock if this keeps up. So can someone come help me already?! At death's door, Arima Shizuya could only see a vaguely familiar figure enter the room and stop before him.

That faint, almost imperceptible smile.

There was no longer any need to question who it was.

"Aizen... Sensei..."

Before he could finish, Arima Shizuya passed out completely.

He smelled a refreshing, soothing fragrance.

When he opened his eyes, he saw an entirely unfamiliar ceiling.

A white quilt covered him, while a porcelain vase holding flower arrangements hung by the bedside.

White gardenias...

Their fragrance masked the smell of disinfectant, lending the room a subtle air of refinement.

Arima Shizuya sat up in confusion and looked around.

Where is this? It doesn't look all white... This clearly isn't a proper hospital.

So where did they bring me? Am I still in Japan?

As he pondered, footsteps sounded outside. Before long, a Japanese sliding door was gently pulled open.

A familiar yet unfamiliar figure entered from outside.

Familiar because her image was too iconic, the kind one would never forget after seeing it once.

Unfamiliar because this was, strictly speaking, Arima Shizuya's first time meeting her.

She was a gentle, serene-looking woman with black hair parted down the middle and a captain's haori.

Her gaze swept across the room before settling on Arima Shizuya.

The boy saw a smile bloom across her face like a flower.

"You're awake? That is truly wonderful."

"After all, you slept for three days and three nights straight. Even I was somewhat worried. Now that we know you are all right, Aizen Fourth Seat should be able to rest a little easier as well."

"Ah... Forgive me, it seems I forgot to introduce myself. This should be our first meeting, shouldn't it?"

Her hands were folded before her, her tranquil smile peaceful and gentle.

"I am Retsu Unohana, captain of the Fourth Division."