"Miyako-kun! You haven't recovered yet, how can you leave your room like this!" Isane Kotetsu's voice cracked with panic the moment she spotted Amamiya Miyako wandering through the Fourth Division.
Beside her, Unohana Retsu's serene smile wavered just slightly, her calm eyes narrowing in disapproval. Her silence alone was enough to weigh heavily, as if the air itself turned sharp.
Yare yare… even Captain Unohana looks annoyed. That's not good.
Still, Miyako had finally found them. The two were in the courtyard, enjoying tea, finally free of endless patients.
"As for my injuries…" Miyako said coolly, loosening the bandages around his torso. With a firm pull, the wrappings came away, revealing lean muscle—and not a single scar remained.
"Nani?! Not even a mark left?!" Isane gasped, her hand flying to cover her mouth.
Unohana's eyes sharpened. "Vice Captain Amamiya… this is impossible. Those wounds could not have healed so quickly, let alone without scars."
Miyako shrugged. "Among the Ryoka… there is a girl who specializes in healing. She treated me. Aside from my reiryoku not fully recovered, I'm perfectly fine. Captain Unohana, please—allow me to be discharged."
"Ridiculous," Isane said quickly, rushing to his side. "Such severe wounds… there must be hidden damage!" She pressed glowing hands to his stomach, Kaidō flaring faintly.
Isane Kotetsu was tall, towering at 187 cm, just a little above Miyako himself. As she bent close, her concentration serious, her hands brushed against his abdomen.
"Oi, Isane-san, that tickles…" Miyako muttered, shifting awkwardly.
"Eh?! I'm sorry, Miyako-kun!" Isane flushed crimson, pulling back in a fluster. "I-I was being rude…" She fumbled, entirely unlike her sharp, confident sister, Kiyone.
"Enough, Isane," Unohana's calm voice cut through. "Let Vice Captain Amamiya be discharged."
Isane blinked. "C-Captain, but—"
"I have seen that girl's ability myself," Unohana interrupted gently, recalling the miraculous power of Inoue Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka. "If she healed him, then this is no surprise."
"Yes… Captain." Isane lowered her gaze, still uncertain but obedient.
…
At the West Gate of Seireitei, the massive doors creaked open under Jidanbō's power. It was the only functioning gate left; the others had been sabotaged by Aizen's schemes.
"Tch, seriously! Making us wait for him like this, when it's my farewell party! Who the hell does that?!" Shiba Ganju grumbled, arms crossed.
"Ganju-san, don't be so impatient," Orihime-chan said softly. "Miyako-kun should be here soon."
Ishida Uryū stood off to the side, silent, his sharp gaze fixed on the distance. That guy's coming to settle things we agreed on… I can feel it.
"Oi, Uryū!" Ganju barked, jabbing a finger at him. "You also think he's an annoying bastard, right? Always speaking in riddles, knocking us out, then dragging us around!"
"…Don't call me Uryū. We're not that close," Ishida muttered, pinching his nose in irritation. Why do idiots like this keep attaching themselves to me…
Just then—
"It's a good thing Ishida-kun didn't agree with you, Ganju. Otherwise, I'd really have to start speaking in riddles now."
That smooth voice came from behind them.
"A-A-Amamiya?!" Ganju yelped, nearly leaping out of his sandals and ducking behind Ishida. "Oi oi oi! Don't sneak up like that, damn it!"
"I heard every word you said just now, Ganju," Miyako said, brushing imaginary dust off his uniform.
"Eek! He's really gonna get revenge later, I can feel it! Damn schemer!" Ganju whined, covering his head like a child about to be scolded.
Miyako sighed. "If I hadn't knocked you out that time, you would've tasted Kuchiki-taichō's Senbonzakura firsthand. Trust me, Ganju, you owe me."
"Che! I don't need your help! I'm a proud man of the Shiba family. A mere Captain is nothing to me!" Ganju puffed out his chest proudly.
Miyako tilted his head, feigning surprise. "Oh? Then why don't you tell Byakuya-taichō that yourself? …Ah, look, Rukia-chan brought him along right now."
"Eh?! Byakuya?!" Ganju shrieked, spinning around—only to see Rukia standing alone.
"You bastard!!" Ganju howled, lunging at Miyako.
Miyako smirked and slipped behind Rukia in a flash step.
"Honestly… this guy again," Rukia muttered, instantly elbowing Miyako in the gut. He doubled over with a pained grunt.
"Gahaha! Serves you right!" Ganju howled with laughter, wiping a tear from his eye.
"Ru-Rukia-chan… you recovered fast," Miyako wheezed, holding his stomach.
"I only lost reiryoku, nothing serious. But you—what's this I hear about being fully healed and already discharged?" Rukia frowned.
"I owe it to Inoue… no, actually to Ishida-kun. He's the one who called her over," Miyako explained.
"Oi, don't drag me into this," Ishida said coldly, pushing up his glasses.
"Oh? So you two have gotten quite close," Rukia said with raised brows.
"My bond with Uryū… might be deeper than you think," Miyako replied mysteriously, grinning.
"Nonsense," Ishida muttered, shaking his head. "Enough. We're here to send Ganju off, remember?"
"Oh, right!" Miyako nodded.
"…I also wanted to see you off, Ganju. After all, nii-sama attacked you only because you tried to save me," Rukia admitted, her voice low.
"Hmph. Don't misunderstand, little girl. I just couldn't let someone my aniki trusted die like that," Ganju said gruffly, though his ears turned red.
"Still… arigatō, Ganju-san. And thank Kūkaku-san. To break into Seireitei for my sake… I owe you both so much." Rukia bowed deeply.
Ganju looked away, clearly embarrassed.
"Alright, let's go. Uryū, I'll walk Ganju home with you," Miyako said.
"Eh? Ishida-kun and Miyako-kun are both leaving Seireitei?" Orihime tilted her head.
"Un," Ishida replied.
"Yes. There are things I need to discuss with Uryū," Miyako said, his tone suddenly serious.
As Jidanbō pulled the massive gate open, Miyako suddenly darted forward, ruffling Rukia's hair at lightning speed.
"Oi!" Rukia shouted furiously, trying to fix her hair.
"Don't worry, Rukia-chan! I'll tell Kūkaku-san your thanks myself!" Miyako yelled as he dashed through the gate.
Shiba Ganju watched him go and muttered, "Tch… saying Miyako holds grudges isn't wrong at all…"