Chapter 99: Calling it a Day
From morning to dusk.
Suoh's figure moved continuously between the hospital beds.
Unohana Retsu stayed at his side throughout, occasionally offering a word or two of guidance, but more often simply observing in silence.
Treatment in the critical care area concluded. The room no longer echoed with pained groans, replaced instead by the steady breathing of wounded who'd fallen into peaceful sleep.
The speed of treatment exceeded even Unohana Retsu's expectations.
Kaidō proved unexpectedly simple for Suoh Tsukasa.
Not that the techniques themselves were easy, but rather his mastery of healing arts progressed with such natural fluidity it seemed destined.
"Finished."
Withdrawing his hand from the Hakusui pressure point, Suoh straightened, releasing a slow breath.
Continuous high-intensity treatment inevitably left traces of fatigue across his features despite his deep reserves, yet his eyes remained clear and bright.
He clearly perceived his own limits.
This threshold would allow him to treat perhaps two more batches of patients in similar numbers and condition.
Under extreme circumstances, treating a third batch wasn't entirely impossible.
After all, as his techniques grew more refined, both spiritual pressure and mental energy consumption continued decreasing.
These calculations flashed through Suoh's mind in an instant.
Regardless, today's treatment experience proved genuinely valuable for his current development.
"Captain Unohana, are there other patients requiring treatment?"
Suoh turned toward Unohana Retsu beside him, his voice carrying expectation.
His tone remained steady, though the tail end carried a slight rasp.
His attitude stayed natural, no different from when facing Captain Ukitake.
Unohana Retsu's gaze held approval as she smiled warmly.
She felt quite satisfied—not only with Suoh's capabilities, but also his diligence.
Throughout the entire day he'd worked without complaint, saving her considerable effort.
"No, that's all. You've worked hard."
"You performed far beyond my expectations, stabilizing these critically wounded to the point where they only require rest. You've greatly reduced the division's treatment burden."
She glanced toward the deepening twilight outside the window, shifting topics.
"At this hour, the division cafeteria should have dinner prepared."
"Would you join me for a meal? Consider it small thanks for your hard work today."
"Then I'll gladly accept."
Suoh nodded readily.
He'd barely eaten at lunch, hastily stuffing down a few rice balls before returning to work.
Throughout the entire day he'd immersed his full attention in refining and polishing his Kaidō proficiency.
For him, Unohana Retsu's personal instruction represented a rare opportunity. Naturally he had to seize every moment and give his absolute best.
What made him even happier—he'd found the perfect solution for spiritual pressure point damage caused by high-intensity training.
He simply needed to perform self-treatment after each day's practice.
This posed no difficulty for him, thanks to his exceptionally clear understanding of spiritual essence far beyond ordinary Shinigami, combined with proficient Kaidō techniques.
He couldn't yet achieve the High-Speed Regeneration of Hollows, but simple self-healing presented no problems whatsoever.
Even if both Saketsu and Hakusui sustained damage simultaneously, as long as he secured a moment's respite, he could complete self-treatment.
The only complication—he still needed to divide his attention to control the Kaidō. He had a long road ahead before reaching the effortless mastery Unohana Retsu displayed in the original story.
However, the core techniques were now firmly grasped. What remained was consolidating them through continuous practice.
Until one day the techniques became instinct, reaching the level where healing activated automatically upon injury.
"Let's go."
Unohana Retsu's lips curved into a faint smile.
As the two departed the critical care area together, Fourth Division members along their path stopped to show respect.
They regarded Suoh with gazes filled with genuine recognition and admiration.
Throughout the entire day, they'd witnessed this young Shinigami use warm spiritual pressure to pull one critically wounded patient after another back from death's door.
Unohana Retsu walked at the front with unhurried steps, her loose white captain's haori swaying gently with her movements, radiating a calm and steady presence.
Suoh and Kotetsu Isane followed quietly on her left and right.
The three arrived at the cafeteria.
Fourth Division's cafeteria held no special decorations, largely identical to the standard facilities of other Seireitei divisions. Wooden tables and chairs arranged in neat rows, the air carrying a light fragrance.
The only difference—perhaps accounting for the number of members and shift-based meal schedules, the space proved somewhat more spacious than typical division cafeterias.
The three retrieved their meals and settled in the captain's private dining room, placing their trays on the table.
Suoh's plate held utterly ordinary Japanese cuisine, the portions as substantial as always.
By comparison, Captain Unohana's meal featured nearly identical dishes, only the portions returned to normal standards, appearing much more refined.
However, in one corner of her tray sat a small dish of bright red, glistening mentaiko.
Even from his seat across the table, that rich and distinctive salty-spicy aroma clearly reached Suoh's nostrils.
Creating an intriguing contrast with Unohana Retsu's own gentle, water-like demeanor.
While Suoh normally enjoyed spicy food, this particular item's heavy flavor proved somewhat difficult for him to appreciate.
Yet she wasn't the most unusual diner at the table.
When Suoh's gaze fell upon Kotetsu Isane's tray beside him, he couldn't help pausing slightly.
The tray's contents seemed excessively plain.
Aside from a bowl of bland rice porridge and a small dish containing a mere few slices of pickled radish, there was absolutely nothing else.
Could this possibly be enough to eat—
Without much thought, concerned words already escaped Suoh's lips.
"Isane-neesan, you're only eating this?"
"...This is enough for me—"
"Today—I don't have much appetite."
Kotetsu Isane's face instantly flushed at his sudden question. She lowered her head slightly in flustered embarrassment, her voice dropping, carrying barely perceptible awkwardness.
She could hardly admit she deliberately controlled her diet from worry her already abnormal height might continue growing uncontrollably.
This reason proved too mortifying to speak aloud.
Unohana Retsu, seated in the head position, glanced between her lieutenant and Suoh beside her.
Comparing their seated heights, understanding flashed through her eyes.
She didn't expose that girlish concern, merely speaking gently.
"Isane, maintaining physical strength is a basic responsibility for any doctor."
"At least finish this. As Fourth Division's lieutenant, you must take responsibility for your own body."
Speaking thus, she naturally pushed the intact grilled fish from her own tray before Kotetsu Isane.
"Yes."
Kotetsu Isane's ears reddened further. After responding softly, she obediently accepted the captain's offered fish.
Normally she ate alone whenever possible. Even during occasional solo meals with the captain, she could find excuses to deflect.
But today the captain specifically brought Suoh along to find her. She truly couldn't avoid it.
"Let's eat."
With those words falling, the three picked up their chopsticks.
Unohana Retsu ate at an unhurried pace, chewing each bite thoroughly. Kotetsu Isane also ate elegantly. Both women had modest appetites.
By contrast, Suoh wielded his chopsticks with decisive efficiency.
Though a veritable food disposal machine who ate both quickly and abundantly, his manner still maintained excellent upbringing.
For a time, only subtle sounds of chewing and chopsticks filled the private room.