Already?!
The spectators were visibly startled. Most of them had never witnessed Nobu's Zanpakutō ability firsthand, and even the officers who had previously seen it were surprised—it was faster than during his initial evaluation!
Shingyōji Sen had heard Nobu's voice as well, yet he merely clenched his teeth and continued healing.
Several more minutes passed before he finally withdrew his hands, wiped the sweat from his brow, and sheathed his Zanpakutō.
"I'm finished as well."
A pin-drop silence filled the courtyard. Kotetsu Isane stepped forward, inspecting the modified soul healed by Shingyōji alongside the other seated officers.
"All injuries have been treated thoroughly. It should be fully recovered in three days. Excellent work as always, Shingyōji-senpai," Isane said softly.
But Shingyōji's gaze had already shifted toward Nobu.
While he'd still been treating his patient, the inspection of Nobu's modified soul had already concluded.
Judging from everyone's reactions, the outcome was obvious.
He let out a long breath, remaining silent for a moment before a resigned, accepting smile appeared on his face.
"As long as I did my best—that's enough."
As the head of the First Advanced Relief Team, he had treated countless patients, from common souls to captains and nobles.
In Isane's view, Shingyōji was stronger than she was in many ways.
After a pause, she finally announced the result clearly:
"Both competitors have completed the healing process. However, Tachikawa Nobu…achieved full and immediate recovery in a shorter amount of time. Thus, the winner of the Emergency Aid evaluation is Tachikawa Nobu."
The surrounding silence was surprisingly deep.
Unohana stepped forward gracefully. "As of today, Tachikawa Nobu will officially assume the role of Third Seat Vice-Officer Assistant. Positions below Third Seat will also undergo adjustments, details of which will be announced tomorrow."
With their captain personally speaking, all present respectfully bowed their heads in acknowledgment.
The atmosphere lacked the usual excitement, either because everyone was still in disbelief over Nobu's performance or because they were reflecting upon the momentous shift they'd witnessed today.
Shingyōji quietly approached Unohana, bowing respectfully. "Captain, I'll return now to organize the team duties for handover."
Unohana nodded gently in reply.
Following the captain's command, the squad members dispersed swiftly back to their respective tasks.
Nobu followed Unohana into the captain's office, Isane quietly trailing behind.
"Congratulations, Tachikawa Third Seat."
After closing the door, Unohana offered him a faint, elegant smile.
"Your performance today was quite unexpected. I anticipated it would at least be somewhat challenging for you, but you won rather decisively."
Nobu considered her words carefully. "It's largely because Shingyōji-senpai didn't make things difficult for me."
Unohana took her seat gracefully and nodded toward Kotetsu Isane, signaling her to leave them.
Standing alone outside the office, Isane's heart felt strangely conflicted.
Nobu-kun actually won…
Two days ago, she'd specifically called upon Yamada Seinosuke's help, yet his expertise had ultimately not even been needed today.
From the moment she'd learned of Nobu's challenge for Third Seat, he'd always appeared calm and composed, seemingly confident in his chances.
She thought she knew Nobu's Kaidō abilities quite well. When he'd studied at Shin'ō Academy, his understanding of Kaidō hadn't been particularly impressive, and she'd personally tutored him often since then.
But today's spectacle—the heart created within the Reishi Restoration Device—was something she'd never dreamed possible.
Isane had encountered many geniuses in recent years, including the Vice Captains of the Fifth and Thirteenth Divisions, and even the prodigious Hitsugaya Tōshirō, who had joined recently. They seemed to represent the very peak of prodigious talent.
Yet today she realized that Nobu was even more terrifying, more incomprehensible than any of them.
...
Inside the office, Unohana's gentle voice asked softly, "That heart made of Reishi—was it your Zanpakutō's power at work?"
Nobu put on an innocent expression. "Captain, you don't believe I could achieve it purely through my Kaidō skill?"
Unohana smiled gently. "If that's the case, then your Kaidō has already far surpassed my own."
"I wouldn't dare claim that," Nobu promptly replied.
Unohana studied him quietly. His youthful face seemed perfectly ordinary, clean and clear. It was hard to reconcile this refined image with his origins in the violent, chaotic Zaraki District of Rukongai.
In her experience, those from Zaraki typically resembled that particular man more…
The current captain of the Eleventh Division, Zaraki Kenpachi.
Unohana recalled their conversation from the previous week.
Perhaps Tachikawa Nobu is even more complex than I initially imagined.
"Was I mistaken about your Zanpakutō's power?" she continued calmly. "Is it not just 'rewinding,' or is it perhaps something more?"
Faced with Unohana's direct question, Nobu briefly fell silent, then smiled softly and asked back, "Captain, do you really want to know?"
Unohana's eyes flickered slightly, her gentle smile diminishing just a touch.
Nobu continued quietly, "If you sincerely wish to know, Captain, I'm naturally willing to tell you."
Unohana remained silent. Nobu's intention was obvious.
She had tacitly permitted Nobu's ambiguous nature in her presence, allowing him space and time, clearly anticipating a certain future "surprise."
If she learned everything now, the value of that eventual surprise would diminish considerably.
Unohana finally smiled again. "Shingyōji Sen will continue as head of the First Advanced Relief Team. But since you're now Third Seat, it wouldn't be appropriate to remain directly under him. The Seventh Advanced Relief Team's head has wanted a transfer to Pharmacology for some time. You'll replace him."
Apart from the First Advanced Relief Team, the numbering didn't reflect their relative importance.
Nobu had no objection.
"Also," Unohana's tone turned slightly playful, "The Third Seat may be busier than you expect."
In Gotei 13 hierarchy, the captain held ultimate authority, the Vice Captain served as the right hand, and the Third Seat served as assistant to the Vice Captain.
In a division as busy as the Fourth, the Third Seat's workload rivaled that of the Vice Captain.
Nobu didn't particularly mind; he'd always been excellent at sneaking leisure from busy days.
As he left the office, he glanced quickly at his affinity list:
[Unohana Retsu: 5]
Kotetsu Isane stood quietly waiting outside.
"Kotetsu-fukutaichō," he greeted.
"Congratulations, Nobu-kun," Isane said warmly. "Honestly, I never anticipated this outcome at first—I thought you might…"
She trailed off, slightly embarrassed.
Nobu smiled up at her gently. "It was somewhat fortunate. I wasn't sure I'd win either. And thank you for all your help leading up to this, Kotetsu-fukutaichō."
Isane wanted to say her previous assistance hadn't even been useful, but she swallowed her words.
"In any case, it turned out well for you," she said softly.
Nobu looked directly at her. After a pause, he suddenly asked, "What will happen to Shingyōji-senpai?"
[Affinity +1]
[Current affinity: 66]
Isane's smile became noticeably lighter, more relieved. "He'll temporarily share Fourth Seat with Naitō-san. Positions below Third Seat will also be adjusted accordingly."
She continued, "Normally, as Third Seat, you'd help handle these adjustments. But considering you've just been promoted—and frankly, you've only been here a month—Captain Unohana and I will manage it."
Nobu nodded understandingly. "Of course, that makes sense."
After a short silence, he suddenly grinned warmly, saying, "Thank you, Yone-nee."
Isane froze instantly, eyes wide, her face suddenly flustered.
"You…what did you just call me?"
Nobu asked playfully, still smiling brightly, "We're quite close now, aren't we? Can I call you that?"
Isane pressed her lips nervously. "…I suppose it's alright."
"Then please, just call me Nobu from now on. You don't need honorifics or formalities. It sounds distant otherwise."
"…Nobu."
The silver-haired girl before him suddenly turned shy, a reaction entirely mismatched with her tall figure.
Nobu gave her a wide, satisfied grin.
"Then, I'll be going first, Yone-nee."
---
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