Hiss~~
Duan Mu slowly opened his eyes. The familiar ceiling came into view, along with the familiar beeping of the medical instruments around him.
The intensive care unit.
Although returning here after so long left Duan Mu somewhat helpless, what he felt even more strongly was relief.
"You're awake!?"
A pleasantly surprised voice came from beside him.
Only then did Duan Mu belatedly realize that quite a few people had gathered around his hospital bed.
Nayula stood on the right side of the bed, with the exceptionally tall Kotetsu Isane standing behind her.
"You woke up pretty quickly."
A gentle voice came from the left. Duan Mu turned his head and saw none other than Unohana Retsu.
Behind Unohana Retsu stood Kenpachi Zaraki, Yachiru, Ikkaku Madarame, Ayasegawa Chikao, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, and finally Renji Abarai.
Without exception, none of the people here had made it to Central 46 at the time.
They were also...
The people Duan Mu had sent a group message to with the Command Divine Machine before storming Central 46.
No—
Duan Mu had never sent messages to Kenpachi Zaraki or Yachiru. Kenpachi Zaraki did not even have a Command Divine Machine. Because he found it troublesome, neither he nor Yachiru had been included in Duan Mu's plans at all.
Still, it was only natural that the two of them had not rushed to Central 46 like the other captains...
"Useless. I hadn't even gone there yet, so how did you manage to collapse?"
Ignoring Kenpachi's extremely displeased words, Duan Mu turned to Captain Unohana and asked, "How long was I unconscious?"
"One day."
One day!?
Duan Mu frowned. That was too long.
"Boss Duan Mu... Was the message you sent me earlier true?"
At that moment, Renji Abarai suddenly rushed to the bedside and anxiously said, "The