The Unforgiven from Shinigami
Summer passed yesterday, and on the first day of early autumn, the temperature dropped sharply, and the noisy chirping of cicadas ceased.
The Fourth Division's courtyard was very quiet, which made me feel a little uneasy.
Retsu Unohana finished processing the last document, she leaned back, her beautiful eyes gazing out the window at the green trees in the courtyard.
It's September.
It's been almost a month since she submitted her application, and the day she starts teaching Zaraki Kendo is just around the corner.
Her life, too, will fade away like cherry blossoms.
This is an inescapable fate.
When a strong person encounters another strong person, they either kill them or choose to become the other's stepping stone.
That unfair battle was something she would never forget; it was time for it to end.
She wasn't afraid of death, but she had some regrets.
The original plan was to leave a letter for Isane and Kiyonosuke that day as a farewell.
Let the two of them face a painful and short-lived period.
The information was accidentally leaked.
Isane was even more heartbroken when she learned of this beforehand.
These days, Retsu Unohana often notices her secretly shedding tears, her eyes turning red from crying.
To say I'm not heartbroken would be a lie.
Isane Kotetsu is one of the few people that Retsu Unohana can keep in her heart; she has always regarded him as a well-behaved younger sister.
Unfortunately, even her family couldn't change her mind.
Fighting is everything to her.
It hasn't changed from the past to the present.
No matter how many lives she saved, she could never forget the feeling of a blade tearing through a human body.
In the intoxicating battle, amidst the clash of blades, an exhilarating spirit fills the chest and spreads throughout the body.
It enables people to clearly understand that they are still alive and to find the value of being alive.
Thinking of those things, the scar just below her collarbone burned like flames.
Retsu Unohana reached out and touched her scar, tilting her head back. "Just bear with it a little longer."
Bang bang.
A knock sounded on the door. " Captain Unohana, may I come in?"
" Isane, come in."
Retsu Unohana lowered her hand, her gentle smile returning.
These past few days, Isane had been avoiding her; this was the first time he had taken the initiative to come to her door.
The door was slowly pushed open, Isane Kotetsu stepped into the room. Her hairstyle had changed; it used to be casually styled up.
I've been making a lot of effort to comb my hair straight lately, and not a single strand is sticking out. It makes me look more feminine.
I'm really worried that I'll be deceived by some bad man in the future.
These thoughts flashed through Retsu Unohana's mind, and she asked gently, "Is there something you need from me?"
Isane Kotetsu stood in front of the desk, her heart pounding with nervousness. She nervously crossed her arms and mustered her courage to ask, " Captain Unohana, are you going on a date with Shiraishi tomorrow?"
"Um?"
Retsu Unohana blinked, quickly realizing that this foolish move definitely wasn't her adorable Isane's idea; it was most likely something she'd gotten from someone else. " Isane, Shiraishi tell you to say that?"
"No, this is what I felt in my heart—uh, yes, it was Shiraishi who told me that this would make Captain Unohana understand the beauty of life, and then she could stop lecturing Captain Zaraki."
Isane Kotetsu didn't even bother to deny it before surrendering, honestly explaining his reasons, weakly saying, "I think he makes sense. If you still hold onto that idea after going on a date with him, I can only respect your decision."
Retsu Unohana stood up from her seat, walked to her side, took her hand, and said, "Okay, I promise you, but you have to promise me too, don't keep crying, be strong, okay?"
"Um."
Isane Kotetsu nodded emphatically.
"That's good." Retsu Unohana patted her head, her eyes turning cold. " Shiraishi, he really is full of confidence."
He said this with a smile.
Isane Kotetsu felt a chill creep down her spine for no apparent reason, and once again questioned whether this plan was truly foolproof.
It feels like there are many flaws.
The thought crossed my mind, and I remembered the smile on Shiraishi's face. I could only place all my hopes on him.
Otherwise, Isane Kotetsu wouldn't be able to find any other way to stop Captain Unohana.
"Let's have dinner together," Retsu Unohana extended an invitation.
Isane Kotetsu nodded and didn't continue.
After a pleasant dinner, Isane Kotetsu didn't linger in the Fourth Division District for a moment, immediately Shunpo to head to the Tenth Division.
As autumn arrives in Seireitei, the temperature is no longer uniformly hot, and different districts exhibit different climates.
The Fourth Division District is pretty deserted.
The Tenth Division District still seems to be shrouded in summer heat; the evening air is still so hot it makes you want to sweat.
Even the cicadas in the trees thought it was still summer and kept chirping.
She landed at the doorway of the captain's bedroom.
The door was open, allowing anyone to see Shiraishi leisurely eating Shiraishi and Rangiku Matsumoto freeloading next to him.
"This is the dinner that Nemu made for me."
"Who do you think caused me to be unable to afford food at the beginning of the month? It's all your fault! The Tenth Division has incurred a huge debt, and you'd better take full responsibility."
Rangiku Matsumoto countered with a single bite, then used a pair of chopsticks to pick up a crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside pork chop, dipped it in sauce, and took a delicious bite. The sauce stained her red lips, leaving a glistening sheen, and she added with a sip of sake, "Mmm, so delicious, Nemu. If you were a man, I would definitely marry you."
"I'm glad you're satisfied." Nemu Kurotsuchi's face flushed slightly; it was a very gratifying thing that her cooking skills were recognized by others.
Shiraishi looked towards the door and waved, " Isane, you're here. Want to eat together?"
Isane Kotetsu, smelling the delicious aroma, was very tempted. Looking at the juicy meat, she quickly shook her head and said, "No need. I've already asked Captain Unohana about a date, and she agreed."
At this point, she asked, "Are you sure there won't be any problems?"
"Rest assured."
Shiraishi patted his chest and said, "I guarantee it will be foolproof; I'll use the perfume to capture Unohana."
Isane Kotetsu was still worried and asked, " Nemu, is there really no problem with that perfume?"
Nemu Kurotsuchi gave a thumbs-up with her right hand, affirming, "No problem."
"Is that so?" Her heart remained filled with unease, like a rootless duckweed.
This anxiety stems from a perceived inadequacy of one's own abilities.
Rangiku Matsumoto understood her feelings perfectly. She stood up, hooked her arm around her neck, and said with a grin, " Isane, don't make that face. We've done everything we could. Now it's just a matter of trusting him."
"That's right, how could I bear to see you cry?"
As soon as Shiraishi finished speaking, he suddenly felt a gaze fixed on him.
Nemu Kurotsuchi narrowed her eyes.
The reason was something even she didn't understand; she just felt she was being taken advantage of and had never heard Shiraishi comfort her like that before.
"Me too."
She moved slowly to Shiraishi's side, expressionless, and leaned against him. "I want some too."
It's happening again.
Shiraishi reached out and patted her head. " Nemu, I won't let you cry either."
"Hmm." Nemu Kurotsuchi nodded, but still didn't move away, continuing to sit close to him.
Isane Kotetsu sighed, "Are you sure everything's alright?"
"Don't worry, I'll handle it."
Shiraishi confidently asserted that the new form of the Bankai had been discovered, further bolstering his confidence.