"Master?!"
When Meira sensed the collision of reiatsu coming from the room, so intense it didn't seem like a mere scuffle, the blonde girl's figure rushed into the innermost bedroom.
What entered her vision was Makoto and Saito embracing in front of Unohana.
The only thing out of place was the blade that had pierced through the master's chest and protruded from his back.
Looking at this classic scene, even Meira couldn't react immediately; her brain froze, unable to comprehend what was happening for a moment.
Her tone became hesitant and unsure: "Saito… san?"
Almost at the moment her voice sounded, the girl, who had fallen into a blank state because of Makoto's earlier words, seemed to snap out of her confusion.
Only then did she realize her petite body was held by the man before her, his arms fixing her in his embrace, so close she could hear his heartbeat.
This sudden awareness, coupled with the gazes of the two women around, sparked a surge of emotion in the girl's heart, whether exasperation or embarrassment, she couldn't tell. Her fair face began to heat up, and she shouted instinctively: "You idiot! Let go of me, let go!"
Saito struggled slightly but didn't dare use too much force.
Though she hadn't admitted it aloud, she was already regretting her impulsive action.
Who would've thought this idiot Makoto would leave his chest open for her to stab?
Normally, with his strength, her strike shouldn't have hit him at all!
Though reluctant to admit it, ever since Makoto saved her from Yhwach, the boisterous Saito had realized, this guy was likely stronger than her.
That's why she had acted so recklessly.
But now, Makoto's unusual behavior made her panic.
Saito's emotions tangled into a mess, unsure what to say. Even her struggles in Makoto's embrace were weak, almost coy.
However, with just that slight, coy-like struggle, Makoto's embrace suddenly loosened.
Saito instinctively stepped back, and Makoto's body tilted backward.
Her hand, gripping the sword, pulled the Zanpakuto from his body with a 'swish.'
Blood beads splattered onto the girl's cheek, stunning her again.
Her gaze was blank.
On the bright blade, blood dripped slowly.
Makoto staggered back two steps, collapsing onto the ground, blood flowing from his chest wound.
The young man weakly raised his head, smiling with difficulty: "…I told you, listen to my explanation first."
Hearing he could still speak, Saito, her expression panicked, snapped back to reality.
She took a step forward, wanting to check Makoto's wound.
But her strong pride stopped her, her body stiffening as if stuck, hesitant to move.
Until…
"Master!"
Meira seized the opportunity, pouncing between them, bending to check Makoto's wound, hurriedly tearing fabric from her skirt to wipe his blood.
The moment she saw the maid, Saito felt as if she'd stepped onto solid ground, turning abruptly and walking quickly outside.
But as she stepped out, her straw sandals landed on overturned oden outside the door. She couldn't help but stop, glancing back at where Makoto had fallen.
Her moist lips pursed tightly, struggling to keep silent, lest words of concern slip out and embarrass her.
Her hand gripped the sword tightly, voice suppressed: "…You big idiot!!"
With that, she stepped on the oden, flipped over the wall without looking back, and vanished with a shunpo.
Makoto lay weakly in Meira's embrace.
Meira continued pretending to wipe the blood around his wound.
But up close, it was clear she was less stopping the bleeding and more dipping in the blood to draw pictures.
From a distance, it looked dire.
Up close, the wound was nearly closed.
"Has she left?"
Makoto, lying weakly in Meira's embrace, opened one eye to glance at the door.
"Rest assured, Master. Saito-sama is long gone." Meira replied, realizing her job was done, stopping her drawing and straightening up.
But the maid's condescending gaze held a helpless look, like when she regarded her playboy master.
Ugh! Caught red-handed, huh?!
Clearly, their cooperation was pure fakery.
A Shinigami's battle is a battle of reiatsu.
If Makoto hadn't held back, Saito's strike wouldn't have pierced his skin, let alone gone through.
Fortunately, this hurdle was overcome.
What happened next depended on future actions.
"Phew. I thought I was going to die." Makoto said, his acting superb.
In reality, cold sweat dripped down his back.
If he hadn't thought quickly and pulled this self-injury act, he'd likely have taken seven or eight stabs.
Noticing Meira's subtle gaze, Makoto was displeased, huffing softly: "What are you looking at! Didn't I tell you to keep watch?"
"I'm deeply sorry, Master." Meira said straightforwardly, kneeling and bowing. "Saito-sama must have suppressed her reiatsu when she came. My sensing ability isn't sharp, leading to this mistake. Please punish me severely."
Makoto nearly twisted his nose in anger.
She knew he was exhausted from daily battles with his sensei and said this on purpose!
No sincerity at all!
But Oharai, his Zanpakutō, eagerly raised its head, asking in a sweet, naive voice.
[Really? Can I be punished? If so, can I use candles? The safe kind! You must remove the metal parts.]"
Oharai emphasized with concern.
While others might not distinguish between master and Zanpakutō, Meira, controlled by her abilities, could.
Hearing Oharai, she said with disdain: "Oharai-chan, please behave. That's something only the master can do."
Oharai let out a piercing wail.
Makoto's head nearly exploded from their noise.
As he grew irritated, Unohana walked to his side.
Unohana smiled at him.
Makoto's expression stiffened.
He'd almost forgotten, Unohana was still here.
Before he could explain his feigned death, Unohana spoke first: "Aren't you going to chase after her?"
"Eh?" Makoto paused, barely reacting.
Unohana continued: "Doesn't Makoto-kun like that child Saito? If you don't chase her now, you might regret it later."
Seeing her seemingly unconcerned expression, Makoto's subsided sweat slid down his temples again.
Though he'd fought many battles with his sensei recently, he didn't think Unohana was the type to be devoted after one fight.
So, what was this? A test? A probe?
If he left now, with her decisive personality, would she stab him in the back?
Others might not know, but Makoto did.
Among the three female original Gotei 13 captains, the most erratic was this women before him.
"Why look at me like that?" Unohana asked, seeing his tense expression and sweat, her smile gentler. She placed a hand on his chest wound: "Does it look like I'm an unreasonable woman?"
"Absolutely not!" Makoto answered firmly. "I just sincerely believe… leaving sensei now to explain to Saito would be unfair to sensei's recent…"
"Indulgence?" A greenish glow emerged from her palm.
The skilled kaidō smoothed his wound, causing an itching sensation as it healed.
Unohana lowered her eyes, chuckling: "Rest assured. This isn't a test. Though Makoto-kun's scent is unforgettable, letting this continue would be bad, for both of us."
"?" Makoto looked at Unohana, seeing no reluctance in her face.
Was this real?
"What?" Noticing his puzzled look, Unohana teased: "Does Makoto-kun think it's better to be tied up by sensei?"
"If sensei wants… occasionally, it's okay." Makoto replied reluctantly.
Slap! Her palm struck his chest scar, making a crisp sound.
"Ah!" Makoto cried out instinctively.
Only then did he realize the wound was nearly healed.
Only the scar from his battle with Unohana remained etched on his chest, with faint pink marks.
"Go ahead."
"Yes!"
Makoto didn't dawdle, draping his yukata and walking quickly to the door.
Meira glanced back and followed.
Unohana sat upright, sniffing the faint scent in the air, watching her only direct disciple leave, sighing with emotion.
For nineteen days, she hadn't worked at the squad building, trained in swordsmanship, or kept regular meals, her routine was disrupted by this disciple.
In centuries, this was the first such strange occurrence.
"Once you taste it, you know the flavor… is that it?" Unohana murmured, touching her abdomen, her eyes showing indescribable emotion.
Earlier, she hadn't noticed Saito outside her courtyard.
Normally, she'd have detected her, even if Saito concealed her presence.
She must have been too immersed in battle's pleasure.
"Really quite lax. I need to restrain myself."
Moreover, for that little pervert, tying him to her side wouldn't help.
But it had to be him.
She thought, a sighing smile on her face.
Unohana was always rational and clear-headed.
She knew what she wanted.
…
The gate opened.
Aiko, the maid, saw Saito return early and greeted her: "Welcome back, Saito-sama. You're back so early?"
But Saito, usually bold yet polite, seemed to hear nothing, kicking off her sandals, brushing past Aiko, and entering her bedroom.
Aiko, stunned, holding a fruit tray, turned bewilderedly: "Saito-sama?"
Saito didn't notice, slowly returning to her bedroom.
Seeing the bed, she lost all strength, throwing herself onto the bedding with a thud.
She sprawled out, face buried in the bedding, whimpering like a small animal.
"Damn it!! That bastard! Liar! Idiot!"
Her cherished Zanpakutō was tossed aside, hands hugging the bedding, rolling on the bed like a child.
"You said you liked me! You said it! And I didn't refuse! My behavior in the hospital was obvious! Does that guy know how strange honey on your feet feels? It's his fault!"
The small room became her fortress, letting her shout and complain freely.
Unprecedented regret and struggle filled her chest, hard to let go.
For a girl new to emotions, this was overwhelming.
"As expected! I should chop him up." She mumbled, hugging the bedding, eyes red.
But soon, she hesitated: "At least… I won't talk to him for fifty years…"
Saito thought resentfully.
Not talking for so long would make him regret it, right?
But then, she pictured Makoto with Unohana.
If she didn't talk for fifty years… would that idiot marry Unohana?
Then she'd have no chance!
The thought made her shudder, a chill running through her.
Saito sat up, curling like a caterpillar, rubbing her forehead against the bedding, trying to grow a smarter brain.
"Ugh..."
"What on earth should I do?!"
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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