Yamamoto seemed to have realized something, speaking calmly.

Yamamoto seemed to have realized something, speaking calmly.

When the sky falls, there's always someone taller to bear it.

He was no longer the tallest in the Soul Society, so it was time to pass the buck.

He wasn't an inflexible old fool.

Yamamoto felt much lighter, but the others fell silent at the mention of the 'Soul King's palace.'

Though no one spoke, many were still resentful about Yamamoto's defeat to Ōetsu.

Without witnessing their battle, even captains struggled to imagine Ōetsu's 'overwhelming strength.'

So, they weren't despairing.

But with Yamamoto's words, they had no choice but to obey, leaving the infirmary one by one.

Fujimiya Makoto, however, felt a heaviness in his heart.

If he remembered correctly, in the original story, Ōetsu Nimaiya personally sealed Yhwach's 'eyes,' right?

If his memory was accurate…

"Is it starting soon?"

Fujimiya Makoto murmured softly.

"What?"

Before his voice faded, Takitori Bakusai's head suddenly appeared in his view, her large eyes behind thick glasses blinking curiously, her hands behind her back, her loose robe stretched tightly over her warm figure.

The girl looked at him with curiosity.

Fujimiya Makoto's lips tightened instinctively.

Recognizing Bakusai, he exhaled: "Too close, Captain Takitori."

"Eh? Does Makoto-kun mind?" Bakusai lowered her voice, smirking, "Despite having 'that kind' of Shikai."

"..."

Fujimiya Makoto turned away, pretending to admire the bathhouse's exterior.

Striking a person's weakness—can't we have a normal conversation?!

"Rustle rustle——"

As they spoke, a sound like insects crawling came from the infirmary, faintly grating.

Fujimiya Makoto turned instinctively toward the room.

"If I were Makoto-kun, I'd curb my curiosity."

Before he could look, Bakusai's gentle voice stopped him.

Fujimiya Makoto paused, obeying her advice.

"Why?"

He still asked.

Bakusai raised a finger, making a 'shh' gesture, then whispered: "Kifune Kirikaze's Zanpakutō ability is also related to 'life.'"

"Just not as 'interesting' as Captain Unohana's."

"Also, according to other captains, Kirikaze's survival ability is the strongest in the 13 Divisions."

"That's likely why Captain-Commander sent him to the human world."

As she spoke, Bakusai glanced subtly toward the infirmary, her voice low: "Right now, he's probably 'regenerating' his limbs."

Fujimiya Makoto's mind instantly pictured Kirikaze on the bed, half his body covered in insects, slowly regenerating his limbs with 'bug bodies.'

His trypophobia was triggered.

He thought for a moment and decided to leave quickly.

"Captain Takitori is right."

"It's best not to be too curious."

"Hmm~!"

However, hearing him call her 'Captain Takitori,' Bakusai's face lit up with satisfaction, and she quickly followed:

"Can Fujimiya 5th seat say that more often?"

"From today, I'm your direct captain."

"You must respect me."

"Yes, yes~" Fujimiya Makoto replied perfunctorily, "Please take care of me, Captain Takitori."

Bakusai's satisfaction grew as she followed Fujimiya Makoto, stepping in sync.

"Of course!"

"For your safety, you must stay close to me from now on."

"Safety?"

Fujimiya Makoto paused, turning in confusion.

Bakusai's glasses glinted, her smile gentle: "Makoto-kun doesn't know… why Captain-Commander staged this and transferred you from the 11th Division?"

"What do you mean?" Fujimiya Makoto was genuinely puzzled.

Bakusai explained softly: "After Captain-Commander saw the scar on Captain Unohana's neck and her 'revived' expression, he realized the 'battle' between you and Captain Unohana couldn't be stopped."

"But letting a talent like you die would be a waste."

"So, Captain-Commander wanted to separate you two for a while."

"Once you're strong enough to survive Captain Unohana's blade, he'll let you interact with her again."

Bakusai's wooden clogs tapped on the stone floor, making crisp 'clack clack' sounds.

The girl stepped forward, hands behind her back, then suddenly tiptoed and turned, smiling softly.

Takitori Bakusai looked at Fujimiya Makoto:

"And I'm the one responsible for 'protecting' you during this time."

Fujimiya Makoto seemed stunned.

Until this moment, Bakusai's face still bore the gentle smile unique to a girl.

But the next instant, she leaned close, her nose almost touching his, her dark eyes behind her glasses shimmering with a rare excitement.

A rare sight.

Bakusai's voice was suppressed, yet her excitement was palpable, her conflicting emotions evident:

"So..."

"Makoto-kun must pay me well for this."

Bleach/Chapter 126: Stealing Your Tabi!

"Protect?"

"Me?"

Fujimiya Makoto looked at Takitori Bakusai in front of him, his expression slightly surprised, as if questioning her words.

While Fujimiya Makoto didn't deny that the original 13 Divisions were filled with hidden talents, each captain under Genryūsai had their own unique skills.

However, after countless life-and-death battles, the once naive Fujimiya Makoto had honed his own resolve and courage. His "Wall of Sighs" willpower had long been solidified at a high level.

To put it bluntly, Fujimiya Makoto was prepared to be cut down the moment he drew his sword.

Whether fighting Hollows, Soul Society nobles, or even sparring with Captain Unohana,

Fujimiya Makoto never held back.

For someone like him, how could he accept someone else's 'protection'?

"Are you saying you're stronger than me, Captain Takitori?"

Fujimiya Makoto asked seriously, without a hint of sarcasm, his eyes pure and sincere.

This was a side effect of his willpower reaching a certain level.

However…

Such a gaze was irresistibly alluring.

Takitori Bakusai looked at him, her thick glasses glinting, her clear and innocent eyes narrowing slightly, as if rippling with desire.

Even the corners of her lips curved into a suspicious arc.

Her gaze toward Fujimiya Makoto was filled with unrestrained 'malice' and 'possessiveness.'

Yet, her voice remained soft and warm, as if her body's reactions didn't matter.

"...Of course."

The moment her voice faded, their bodies simultaneously erupted with clashing spiritual pressure, forming spherical contours that separated the Reishi in the air from their heavy power, creating dense light spots like gravitational distortions.