Unohana's Attention

"Does Miss Rangiku know this Tachikawa Shin?"

Upon seeing Matsumoto Rangiku's reaction, Unohana Retsu asked.

The top students of the Spirit Training Academy over the years were always closely watched by the Thirteen Divisions, and since Matsumoto Rangiku was the Lieutenant Captain of the Tenth Division, Unohana Retsu immediately caught on to her thoughts.

Matsumoto Rangiku inquired, "You said earlier that this Tachikawa Shin's Zanpakutō is of the Kidō type?"

"That's right. The Academy hasn't produced a Zanpakutō like that in a long time. This is a rare piece of 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 kid possibly have a Kidō-type Zanpakutō?

Matsumoto Rangiku simply couldn't believe it. That Tachikawa Shin didn't look anything like a healer. It wasn't that his Kidō was terrible—it was just that compared to his other talents, it was his least impressive subject.

Just a few days ago, that kid had sworn he'd consider the Tenth Division first after graduation. But if his Zanpakutō was the Kidō type, then the Fourth Division was his only option after graduating.

Because only in the Fourth Division could a Kidō-type Zanpakutō be developed to its fullest potential.

Matsumoto Rangiku's thoughts were in turmoil. Judging by the talent Tachikawa Shin had shown, he was already at the level of an Upper Seat Officer. Reaching Lieutenant Captain level was only a matter of time, and becoming a Captain wasn't out of the question either.

Was she really going to let someone like that slip through her fingers?

And she'd already put in so much groundwork!

"Miss Rangiku?"

"No... it's nothing." Matsumoto Rangiku forced a smile in response.

If Shin hadn't had a Zanpakutō, she'd have had some confidence in fighting off other divisions trying to snatch him for the Tenth. But now that he had a Kidō-type Zanpakutō, that notion was completely dashed.

Of all things, why did it have to be that kind of Zanpakutō...

Matsumoto Rangiku lamented the loss. Seeing Yachiru staring at her eagerly, she tossed another flower her way.

Beside her, Ise Nanao gave her a curious look.

Unohana Retsu guessed that Matsumoto Rangiku had probably been in contact with this Tachikawa Shin, but she didn't dwell on it. A Spirit Training Academy student with a Kidō-type Zanpakutō—no division had the leverage to compete with the Fourth Division for him.

She casually handed the documents back to Kotsubaki Kotone and resumed her flower arrangement.

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

The moment she pushed open the Captain's office door, she found her captain predictably napping on his desk. Furious, she slammed her palm hard against the surface.

"Captain!"

Shiba Isshin jolted awake, lifting his head in a daze and looking around blankly. "Huh? What's going on?"

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

Listening to Matsumoto Rangiku's shouting, Shiba Isshin stretched lazily. "Someone trying to poach you? I don't think any division is short on Lieutenant Captains right now."

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

"Him?" Shiba Isshin was a bit surprised.

"Isn't it still a while until graduation? What's up with him now?"

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

Shiba Isshin's attitude finally turned a bit more serious. He pondered, "Are you sure?"

"The Academy sent his file to the Fourth Division. How could it be fake?" Matsumoto Rangiku said.

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

"Well, if that's the case, there's nothing we can do. The Fourth Division is where he belongs, Rangiku. This is out of our hands."

Matsumoto Rangiku sighed in frustration. "I finally found someone promising. If only you'd been more diligent as Captain, I wouldn't have to run around scouting talent for our division."

Shiba Isshin grumbled a little. "Rangiku, I work hard as Captain too, you know. Today's your day off, but I've been working all morning. I just rested for a moment, and here you come."

Matsumoto Rangiku didn't believe a word. If her captain actually worked hard, the sun would rise in the west.

Shiba Isshin continued to console her, "Either way, Tachikawa Shin is a talented junior. Going to the Fourth Division will let him achieve more. Who knows—maybe when we get injured on missions, we'll be counting on him to heal us."

In the end, he was just an ungraduated Academy student. Top students came every year. Maybe this Tachikawa Shin stood out a bit more, but he wasn't worth Shiba Isshin losing sleep over.

And the Student Council he'd helped Shin set up was a worthwhile endeavor. He didn't feel he'd lost anything.

But Matsumoto Rangiku—she'd made many trips to the Academy hoping to bring Tachikawa Shin to the Tenth Division. Now that the bird had flown the coop, she felt deeply unbalanced.

No, she had to find someone even better than him!

Someone like Shiba Kaien... and Gin!

Meanwhile, back at the Fourth Division.

After the Female Shinigami Association's team-building event, though it was a day off, Unohana Retsu and Kotsubaki Kotone didn't head home just yet.

"Kotone, take some time to visit the Spirit Training Academy and look into Tachikawa Shin's situation. Miss Rangiku seemed quite interested in him," Unohana Retsu instructed.

If this Tachikawa Shin had both talent and character, he could quickly take on the role of an Upper Seat Officer after joining the Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division is a medical unit, and its Seated Officer rankings don't place much emphasis on combat ability as a Soul Reaper. A Zanpakutō of the Kidō type, if properly developed, can far surpass ordinary squad members who rely solely on Kidō.

Even within the Fourth Division, there are only a few members with healing-type Zanpakutō.

"I understand, Captain."

Unohana Retsu glanced again at the file on the desk.

"This child also set up a Student Council. Wasn't that quite well-known a few days ago? He might be a very interesting person. It's been a long time since the Fourth Division had fresh blood."

Soul Reapers have long lifespans, and their sense of time is somewhat blurred. What Unohana Retsu referred to as "a few days ago" was actually a month prior.

"He's from the Gokō District of the Rukon District, excels most in Kendo, and even defeated his own Kendo Instructor..."

It was just unclear how far this so-called "excellence" went.

Unohana Retsu's gentle face showed a thoughtful expression. As if recalling something, her eyes flickered with uncertainty.

I went to my girlfriend's place at the end of the year and had some drinks with my future father-in-law. Only this chapter today, sorry.

I'll post an extra chapter tomorrow. Hope everyone can throw some votes my way for support. Thank you!