Unohana's Interest

"Does Miss Rangiku know this Tachikawa Shin?"

Seeing Matsumoto Rangiku's reaction, Unohana Retsu spoke up to ask.

The Top Students of the Spirit Training Academy had always been highly sought-after by the Thirteenth Division, and Matsumoto Rangiku was the Lieutenant Captain of the Tenth Division. Unohana Retsu immediately sensed what Matsumoto Rangiku was thinking.

Matsumoto Rangiku asked, "You just said that Tachikawa Shin's Zanpakutō is a Kidō type?"

"That's right. The Spirit Training Academy hasn't produced this kind of Zanpakutō in a long time. This is rare good news for our Fourth Division," Unohana Retsu said.

"..."

Matsumoto Rangiku stood frozen in place. Beside her, Kusajishi Yachiru seemed not to have heard their conversation at all, only concerned with why Matsumoto Rangiku had suddenly stopped feeding her.

Tachikawa Shin...

How could that brat possibly have a Kidō-type Zanpakutō?

Matsumoto Rangiku simply could not believe it. That Tachikawa Shin did not look like a doctor no matter how she looked at him. It was not that Xin's Kidō was particularly poor; compared to all of Tachikawa Shin's other strengths, it was simply his least remarkable subject.

That brat had been saying just days ago that he would consider their Tenth Division first after graduation. But if his Zanpakutō was a Kidō type, then the Fourth Division would be his only destination after graduating.

After all, only in the Fourth Division could a Kidō-type Zanpakutō be developed most effectively.

Matsumoto Rangiku's thoughts were in turmoil. Judging by the talent Tachikawa Shin had displayed, he was already at the level of an Upper Seat Officer. Reaching the level of Lieutenant Captain in the future was only a matter of time, and becoming a captain was not impossible either.

Was she really supposed to just watch someone so talented slip away?

She had already put so much work into this!

"Miss Rangiku?"

"It... it's nothing." Matsumoto Rangiku forced a smile in response.

If Xin had not possessed a Zanpakutō, Matsumoto Rangiku would have had some confidence when other Divisions came to compete with the Tenth Division for him. But now that Xin had a Kidō-type Zanpakutō, she completely abandoned that thought.

Why did that brat have to have this kind of Zanpakutō...

Thinking it was such a pity, Matsumoto Rangiku saw Yachiru looking at her eagerly and tossed another flower from her hand toward her.

Ise Nanao beside them glanced at her strangely.

Although Unohana Retsu guessed that Matsumoto Rangiku had likely interacted with Tachikawa Shin before, she did not take it to heart. A Spirit Training Academy student with a Kidō-type Zanpakutō was not someone any Division had the standing to compete with the Fourth Division over.

She casually handed the file back to Kotsubaki Kotone and resumed arranging flowers.

After Matsumoto Rangiku left, she headed straight for the Tenth Division barracks.

The moment she pushed open the captain's office door, she saw her captain, just as expected, lying face-down on his desk taking a nap. Her anger flared at once, and she strode over and slammed her palm hard against the desk.

"Captain!"

Shiba Isshin jumped in fright and abruptly raised his head, looking around in confusion. "Huh? What happened?"

"Captain, someone has already snatched him away, and you're still slacking off! You might as well resign right now!"

Listening to Matsumoto Rangiku shout and yell, Shiba Isshin merely stretched lazily. "Is someone trying to poach you? Every Division should have enough Lieutenant Captains right now."

Matsumoto Rangiku rubbed her forehead. "I'm talking about Tachikawa Shin!"

"Him?" Shiba Isshin looked somewhat surprised.

"Isn't it still before graduation season? What happened to him?"

"I was at the Fourth Division just now and heard that Tachikawa Shin already has a Zanpakutō. It's a Kidō type."

Only then did Shiba Isshin become slightly more serious. He pondered for a moment. "Are you serious?"

"The file the Spirit Training Academy sent to the Fourth Division—how could it be fake?" Matsumoto Rangiku said.

"...I see." Shiba Isshin rubbed his chin.

"If that's the case, then there's nothing we can do. The Fourth Division is where he belongs, Rangiku. That's beyond our control."

Matsumoto Rangiku sighed helplessly. "I finally found someone I liked. If you, Captain, were just a little more responsible, I wouldn't have to run all over the place looking for talent for our Division."

Shiba Isshin was somewhat dissatisfied. "Rangiku, being a captain is hard work too, you know. Today is your day off. I spent the entire morning working diligently, and you came right after I took a short break."

Matsumoto Rangiku did not believe him at all. If her captain truly worked diligently, the sun would rise in the west.

Shiba Isshin tried to persuade her again. "No matter what, Tachikawa Shin is a talented junior. He'll have greater prospects in the Fourth Division. Maybe when we get injured on missions in the future, we'll have to rely on him to treat us."

At the end of the day, he was only a Spirit Training Academy student who had yet to graduate. There were Top Students every year. Perhaps this Tachikawa Shin was more outstanding than most, but he was nowhere near worth Shiba Isshin spending too much effort over.

Besides, helping Tachikawa Shin establish the Student Council had been worth doing in the first place. He did not think he had lost out anywhere.

Matsumoto Rangiku, on the other hand, had made many trips to the Spirit Training Academy because she wanted Tachikawa Shin to join the Tenth Division. Now that the cooked duck had flown away, she felt especially unbalanced.

No, she had to find someone even more outstanding than that guy!

Someone like Shiba Kaien and... and Gin!

Meanwhile, at the Fourth Division.

After the Female Shinigami Association's group event ended, Unohana Retsu and Kotsubaki Kotone did not return home despite it being a rest day.

"Yone, make time to visit the Spirit Training Academy and assess Tachikawa Shin's situation. Miss Rangiku seems quite concerned about him," Unohana Retsu instructed.

If Tachikawa Shin's talent and character were both exceptional, he could quickly serve as an Upper Seat Officer after joining the Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division was a medical unit. The ranking of its Seated Officers did not place much importance on a Shinigami's combat strength. If properly developed, a Kidō-type Zanpakutō could far surpass ordinary squad members who relied solely on Kidō.

Even in the Fourth Division, there were only a handful of members with healing-type Zanpakutō.

"Understood, Captain."

Unohana Retsu glanced again at the contents of the file on the table.

"This child even established a Student Council. Wasn't it rather well-known a few days ago? He may be quite an interesting person. Our Fourth Division hasn't had fresh blood join us in a long time, either."

Shinigami lived long lives and had somewhat vague concepts of time. The "few days ago" Unohana Retsu spoke of had actually been a month ago.

"Born in Gokō District of Rukon District. His best subject is kendo, and he even defeated his Kendo Instructor..."

She simply did not know to what extent this so-called "best" truly went.

A thoughtful look appeared on Unohana Retsu's gentle face. For some unknown reason, her eyes flickered as though she had recalled something.

It's the end of the year. I went to my partner's home and had a few drinks with my future father-in-law, so there's only this one chapter. Sorry about that.

I'll update one extra chapter tomorrow. I hope everyone can support me with some votes. Thank you!