[Location Check-In: Unohana Retsu's Exclusive Infirmary] [Obtained 1,000 Kendo points. Kendo level increased. Current level: Lv. 20] [Obtained Exclusive Entry: Miraculous Hands] [Miraculous Hands: Superb medical skills that restore vitality. Firmly believes that as long as someone isn't dead, there's still a chance to save them. Kaido effectiveness increased by 100%!]
An unexpected bonus!
Kisaragi Akira's eyes lit up. He even forgot the stabbing pain in his right hand.
He'd thought only important places like Shin'o Academy met the conditions for a check-in. He hadn't expected that a so-called private infirmary would qualify, too.
Kaido.
A branch of Kido, it had no offensive power, but it was indispensable in the field of support.
The Fourth Division had the most members of all the Gotei 13 divisions!
Unlike Kisaragi Akira, who stared at the black-haired woman seated across from him with an extremely brazen gaze, Aizen had tensed instinctively the moment he sensed her presence, reflexively reining in his immense Reiatsu.
Her broad, pure-white Captain Haori, embroidered with the character for "four," hung from her shoulders. Her thick black hair was braided and draped over her chest, partially concealing her striking figure.
A gentle, warm smile graced her beautiful features, giving her an innate air of approachability.
The respectful, admiring looks from the Shinigami guards and Fourth Division members nearby made it clear how highly she was regarded within the division.
The Fourth Division Captain, Unohana Retsu.
Yet in Aizen's eyes, the scene looked entirely different.
A vast sea of blood crashed down upon him. An icy chill that seemed to seep into his bones surrounded them, and boundless killing intent penetrated his body through every pore, reaching deep into his organs.
It sent a shiver down his spine!
He barely registered her beautiful, gentle face. It was as if the one seated there wasn't the beloved Captain Unohana, but a vicious demon returned from the depths of Hell!
Was this the caliber of a Gotei 13 captain?
Aizen had never met any of the other captains. Unohana Retsu was the first captain he'd seen since arriving in Seireitei.
Whatever trace of disdain he'd still harbored vanished completely in that moment.
If all the captains were like Unohana Retsu, perhaps Seireitei wasn't as boring as he'd imagined.
He put his thoughts aside and supported Kisaragi Akira as they walked up to Unohana Retsu.
Two strange boys wearing blue-and-white Zhenyang School Uniforms.
One stared at her with a rather brazen gaze; the other was wary of everything around him.
How strange.
They didn't seem to have even the slightest bit of respect for her.
"Student, please come closer."
Unohana Retsu spoke gently. "Your injury can't be put off any longer."
At her reminder, Kisaragi Akira snapped back to his senses. He sat down opposite her, lifted his completely numb right hand, and placed it on Unohana Retsu's thigh.
Given how they were sitting, it was the easiest place for him to reach.
Unohana Retsu paused, but didn't take it too seriously. Instead, she upheld her professional duty, carefully examining and treating his injured right hand.
She extended her fair hands and gently moved her fingers. A verdant glow of Kaido blossomed at her fingertips, and powerful Reiatsu acted on his dark purple skin.
A tingling sensation steadily rose from deep within his bones. With a series of crisp cracks, the bones that had been bent out of shape returned to their proper positions.
What surprised Unohana Retsu was that Kisaragi Akira acted as if nothing were wrong throughout the treatment. He didn't make a single sound of pain.
As the Fourth Division Captain and the most skilled practitioner of Kaido and medicine in the Soul Society, she'd treated countless wounded and sick people. She'd also met more than her share of people with unyielding resolve.
But this was the first time she'd encountered someone as contradictory as Kisaragi Akira.
His brazen gaze made it easy to tell that, at heart, he was cut from the same cloth as Shunsui Kyoraku.
But people like that usually had limited willpower.
Their lust tended to cloud their minds.
A boy who was both lecherous and strong-willed, like the one before her, was truly a rare sight.
Even Aizen looked at Kisaragi Akira in surprise, as if he were seeing him for the first time.
"My, my, there's no need to look at me with such admiration, Sosuke."
Kisaragi Akira grinned. "As a man, a little pain is nothing to worry about!"
"Even if it were ten times worse, I wouldn't be moved in the slightest..."
Before he could finish, Kisaragi Akira's face suddenly twisted, his features scrunching together in an extreme display of contortion.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot to warn you."
A gentle voice sounded beside them. Smiling, Unohana Retsu said, "To realign a broken bone, I have to break it into pieces and then put it back together. That way, there won't be any aftereffects."
Gazing at the gentle face so close to his, Kisaragi Akira finally understood what a demon's smile looked like.
A sadist!
The treatment didn't take long. The moment the glow of Kaido faded, Kisaragi Akira could clearly feel his right hand had regained its former strength.
"Medication will be needed for the follow-up treatment."
Unohana Retsu had a member of her division bring over some ointment and carefully explained how often and how to apply it.
"Also, the total cost of treatment is 1,123 Kan."
"Will the two of you be paying in cash or putting it on credit?"
Kisaragi Akira's eyes widened as he stared at the beautiful woman before him in disbelief. He'd never expected such a pretty mouth to utter words so cruel.
"I never said the treatment was free."
Unohana Retsu smiled brightly.
"Akira, they covered that in class," Aizen sighed. "Aside from Shinigami who are injured on duty, everyone else has to pay for treatment."
"You weren't listening, were you?"
Kisaragi Akira's face fell.
He wasn't interested in anything besides Zanpakuto, Hand-to-hand, Hoho, and Kido.
In most classes, he usually passed the time by daydreaming or dozing off.
Come to think of it, he was the victim. Why did he have to pay the bill himself?
"Sosuke, we're friends, right?"
Kisaragi Akira's eyes darted around. "Could you..."
Before he could finish, Aizen cut off what he'd been about to say with a casual reply.
"No. I'm broke."
They were both commoners, and Kisaragi Akira was even the Chief Priest of Nikkotsu Shrine, yet he hadn't managed to save much money.
So Aizen was even worse off.
His pockets were emptier than his stomach.
Strictly speaking, Aizen didn't have much desire for money. With his abilities, he could easily have become wealthy if he wanted to.
Watching his good buddy abandon him, Kisaragi Akira could only swallow his bitterness and put the bill on credit. He promised that if he couldn't pay it off before joining a division, he'd join the Fourth Division and start from the bottom as a squad member.
On the street outside the barracks, Kisaragi Akira folded his arms and furrowed his brow.
After what had happened, he'd realized how important money was.
Thinking it over, Kisaragi Akira suddenly looked up:
"Sosuke..."
"Come make money with me!"
I'm only leaning a little too hard into the running gag here. I won't go into detail about how they make money.
Since this is still the new-book period, I can only update four chapters a day. Once it's officially released, I'll post a lot more. Also, reader retention during the new-book period is very important and will determine this book's fate, so I beg you all not to leave it unread. My thanks!
Thanks to the great Lin Zhong Dairuike for the tip, and to the great reader 109981 for the tip. Thanks to everyone for the monthly and recommendation tickets!
Before you continue