Please, Kisaragi

The students stared, dumbfounded, at the figure walking slowly up to the podium, scarcely able to believe their eyes.

A wide, pristine-white Captain Haori; two locks of hair braided together and hanging in front of her; a beautiful, delicate face wearing a warm, gentle smile. Her overall presence had the softness of the spring sunshine.

"C-Captain Unohana?!"

Someone recognized her the moment she appeared.

As captain of the Fourth Division, Unohana Retsu had healed countless Shinigami. Her gentle smile had also been voted the most comforting smile in Seireitei Communication more than once.

Although most students didn't aspire to join the Fourth Division, that did nothing to diminish their admiration for Unohana Retsu.

When someone they admired appeared right in front of them, it was hard for these admirers to hold back their excitement.

Kisaragi Akira, by contrast, buried his head behind his open book, trying to evade Unohana Retsu's searching gaze with the ostrich strategy.

His instincts told him that this Fourth Division captain, Unohana Retsu, had come for him!

Though he had no idea why his instincts were so accurate this time.

But he couldn't shake the feeling that her dangerous gaze had already landed on him!

"Good morning, everyone."

Amid the students' admiring gazes, Unohana Retsu's gentle voice rang through the classroom.

The moment she spoke, it was the only sound in the room:

"I am Unohana Retsu, captain of the Fourth Division of the Gotei 13."

"Your Kaido teacher, Kawai, is feeling unwell. I happen to have some free time lately, so I've come to teach a class in their place."

"Please rest assured. Though it's been many years since I last taught, I have some modest skill in Kaido, and I won't disrupt your studies."

After she finished speaking, the classroom fell completely silent.

The students looked at one another, unsure what to say.

It was rather funny to hear the Fourth Division captain say she had some modest skill in Kaido.

Across the entire Soul Society, who would dare claim their Kaido skills surpassed those of this composed, scholarly woman?

Seeing that the students had no objections, Unohana Retsu nodded with a smile and continued:

"I heard that a 'Kaido prodigy' appeared in class yesterday."

"May I ask if he's here?"

As soon as she said that, Kisaragi Akira's heart sank. He peered over his book and sent Aizen a pleading look.

Their eyes met, and Kisaragi Akira could clearly make out four words in his friend's eyes: "I'm afraid I can't help."

Sosuke, how could you just stand by and let me die?!

Countless gazes landed squarely on Kisaragi Akira. The students were already more than familiar with this famous classmate of theirs.

He'd stood up to the young lady of the Shihoin Clan, sent their homeroom teacher Kaede Junya flying with a single slash, and crushed Matsushita Takeo, one of the elite sixth-years, with a single Hakuda technique...

Blessings, exorcisms, prayers, moving into a new home, breaking ground...

He'd even made it possible for all the male students at the Spiritual Arts Academy to move into temporary dormitories built by the 12th Division.

Though he hadn't been at the school long, the name Kisaragi Akira was already etched deep in their minds.

It was hard to forget him.

In the two-thousand-year history of Shin'o Academy, the last person as outrageous as Kisaragi Akira was now a captain in the Eighth Division.

Of course, that person's outrageousness had been limited to lechery.

Compared to Kisaragi Akira's absurd antics, it was hard to find anyone else like him in all two thousand years.

Under the weight of so many stares, Kisaragi Akira knew he couldn't hide anymore. He lowered his long face with a sigh and put down the book covering it.

"Is there something you need, Captain Unohana?"

Unohana Retsu lowered her gaze and once again studied the young man with a thoughtful expression.

She still couldn't make much of him, but since Kawai had said as much, there was no harm in testing him.

If he really was a Kaido prodigy seen only once in a century, recruiting him into the Fourth Division would be an excellent choice.

With proper training, he might even succeed her as captain one day.

"For today's lesson, I'll need a student to help with a demonstration."

Unohana Retsu spoke softly. "Please rest assured; there won't be any danger."

Hearing that, Kisaragi Akira breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as she wasn't here to collect a debt. At breakfast, he'd spent all his savings, counting on a huge sum of money to come in that afternoon.

Now he was completely broke!

"Well, if that's all, you could've said so sooner."

Kisaragi Akira relaxed and strode up to the podium, coming to stand beside Unohana Retsu.

Once he was in place, Unohana Retsu nodded with a smile and began the lesson.

"I've familiarized myself with your progress."

"You've all mastered basic Kaido, and you've tried using it to treat the lab mice."

"So today we'll be learning about the human body, and how basic Kaido affects individuals with different levels of Reiatsu."

"Only by mastering this material can you pass your Kaido class."

By now, Kisaragi Akira had a bad feeling.

As Unohana Retsu finished speaking, her gentle gaze settled on him.

"Kisaragi, please place your left hand on the examination table."

Her smile was incredibly kind, but the moment Kisaragi Akira met her eyes, it felt as if every pore on his body had opened and the most frigid cold had rushed inside.

At that instant, Danger Instinct rang out with a shrill alarm!

It was as if...

If he didn't do as she asked, he would die a horrible death!

Smack!

Kisaragi Akira promptly put his left hand on the examination table.

Seeing this, Unohana Retsu nodded with a smile. Then, under countless astonished gazes, she too reached out with her flawless, fair right hand and gently laid it over the back of Kisaragi Akira's hand.

Wait!

Wasn't this supposed to go differently?!

Feeling the smooth touch on the back of his hand and the faint fragrance filling his nostrils, Kisaragi Akira could hardly believe it was real.

But reality soon caught up with him.

When Unohana Retsu lifted her right hand, the smooth sensation gave way to a sharp, searing pain. Blood flowed, flesh split, and a ghastly wound appeared on the back of his hand.

"Please observe the technique and how the Reiatsu is released. For an injury this minor, basic Kaido is more than enough to heal it with ease."

As she explained, Unohana Retsu released a verdant glow of Kaido from her right hand, enveloping Kisaragi Akira's left.

The wound soon healed before their eyes, and even the bloodstains disappeared without a trace.

The students gasped, amazed by the depth of Unohana Retsu's Kaido skill.

Even basic Kaido could have such an astonishing effect, bringing the dead back to life and restoring the flesh.

"That's all there is to the finer points."

Unohana Retsu spoke gently. "When practicing Kaido on a person, the most important thing is to overcome your nerves."

"So next, Kisaragi will give you another demonstration."

As she spoke, under the students' stunned gazes, Unohana Retsu picked up the scalpel on the examination table and cut a ghastly wound across the back of her own hand.

Her snow-white flesh split open, and blood flowed freely.

With that familiar, gentle smile, Unohana Retsu spoke softly:

"I'm counting on you, Kisaragi..."