"Uoooooh!!"
"Yes, too bad."
"Gwaaaaah!!"
Today, I am working as a lecturer at the Shino Academy.
The lecture ended without incident, and just when I thought it was over, a student challenged me without regard for time or place, so I just beat him back with a single blow.
"I acknowledge your guts, but that alone isn't enough. Or rather, I always tell you to consider the time and place, don't I?"
"S-Shut up..."
This child keeps coming back again and again without getting discouraged.
Come to think of it, he's been coming at me excessively since the event where we disciplined the new students on the first day.
Since then, he attacks me again and again whenever there's an opening.
Do you want to skip grades and graduate that badly? Or do you aspire to join Squad 11?
But this child has been showing excessive talent since he enrolled.
Skipping grades was decided in the blink of an eye, and it's almost certain he'll enlist as a seated officer after graduation. So he doesn't need to do this...
Ah, don't tell me he wants to have his way with my body!?
If so, he's quite the lecherous man. But I've long since acknowledged his guts.
...Eh, about this child?
I don't think it's interesting to know.
It's just that
"His hair is silver"
"His eyes are the color of jade"
"He is hailed as a genius child"
"He is excessively short, a bean-sized pipsqueak"
That's all.
Also, he kept saying things like "Because of you, Hinamori is..." What is he talking about?
Name? Umm... Hi, Hitsuga... ya...
...I'm kind of annoyed, so I'll hit him one more time.
I don't really get it, but if you just said properly, "I love you, Hinamori-oneechan, I love you so much! Marry me! I'll protect you for the rest of my life!! Don't go to that gentle-looking guy with fake glasses!! I fell in love with you first!!" then wouldn't it have turned out differently!?
Although I don't really get it at all!!
'You are saying that with a full understanding of the situation...'
Also, I've actually seen quite a few geniuses of this level.
Being a Soul Reaper for nearly six hundred years isn't just for show!
They appear every now and then, genius children.
Although possessing power at this level is rare, as expected.
But your senior was called a genius over and over, got conceited, had the rug pulled out from under him, and died.
Be careful.
Well, I don't care about the Shino Academy.
I have business elsewhere today, so I don't have time to deal with such a brat.
I hurry to the Kuchiki manor.
I hurried, but I was the last to arrive.
"I'm sorry for being late."
"Oh my, Yukawa-sensei. Not at all, I apologize for making such an unreasonable request."
"Ah, Sensei. Hello."
"Ooh..."
Hisana-san is truly polite at all times.
And Byakuya also bows silently. Renji-kun noticed me and bowed, but Rukia-san didn't even notice that and continued to stroke Hisana-san's stomach timidly.
"Oi, Rukia... Rukia!"
"Hyah!! Wh-What is it, Renji! Don't startle me, you fool!"
"Who's the fool. That's not it, Sensei is here."
"Mu? O-Ooh! E-Excuse me!"
"Now, now. You seem to be worrying about your sister as if it were yourself, so don't mind it. Renji-kun is also curious, right?"
"Well, I guess so..."
Rukia-san and Renji-kun are as close as ever.
Time flies, and Hisana-san's stomach has already grown large.
It's around the middle to late stages of pregnancy. It's completely stable now, so I'm not that worried, but.
'Is this what they call "Preggo Play"?'
Statements that neglect the fetus like that are no good! Absolutely no good!! I'll get angry!!
'I-I am terribly sorry...'
At this stage, it is possible to have marital relations, after all. So it's not exactly wrong.
But you see... until a little while ago, her morning sickness was terrible.
How many times was I called?
I wonder if this person is basically weak physically after all? Though morning sickness varies by individual, so I can't say for sure.
So it's stable now, but I'm a little anxious if it will relapse.
Ah, right, right. Needless to say, I think you've guessed it.
In the end, it was decided that I would attend Hisana-san's childbirth.
When I consulted Captain Unohana, she said, "It is not a bad thing, is it? It is a good opportunity, and for the sake of your ideal, you should definitely attend."
Rather, she even said, "Why did you think to go out of your way to get my permission?"
And regarding Byakuya—that is, persuading the people involved with the Kuchiki family.
Byakuya did that properly too.
As a compromise, it was settled that I would work together with the midwife who was originally the exclusive person in charge. We would deliver the baby jointly.
"Jointly" is just in name; as expected, I will be the main person delivering the baby.
I'm studying books from the library and obstetrics, but it's reassuring to have an experienced person after all.
So, I became Hisana-san's exclusive doctor again after a long time, and the nostalgic regular checkups resumed.
Today is the checkup day, so I am intruding.
Since it's on the way, Rukia-san and Renji-kun were also invited. Deepening family exchanges, in other words.
"Ooh! It moved! Renji, it moved!!"
"Well, it's alive in the belly, so it moves, right?"
"I know that much! I know, but touching it like this is different!! How should I put it... it is different!!"
Rukia-san is full of curiosity about her sister's stomach.
A life is dwelling there, after all.
"Oh my, Rukia... right, would you like to touch it too, Abarai-san?"
"M-Me!? E-Eeee, I will refrain!! I feel like I might break it or something, it's scary..."
"It is alright, Renji. Neither Hisana nor the child in her belly are that fragile."
Byakuya said that with a triumphant face, but...
I know. When Byakuya first touched it, he was incredibly jittery.
In fact, he was touching it while being even more scared than the current Renji-kun.
Well, some things are better left unsaid.
"Is that so? Then, just a little... Ooh! It's warm..."
With trembling fingertips, he reached out a hand at a distance where he was barely touching.
Still, you can tell, huh.
"It, it moved! Rukia, it moved!!"
"Fool! I already said that!"
"Shut up! It's kinda, different!"
"I said that too!"
They are moved. They are confused.
I wonder if Renji-kun and Rukia-san will do the same thing eventually?
Invite me to the wedding. I'll splurge on the gift.
...Ah, I almost forgot. I should say the standard line just in case.
"With this much energy, it might be a boy."
""""A boy!?""""
Ooh, everyone took the bait.
Especially Byakuya, who is making an incredibly happy face.
"I-Is that so!? Is that how it is, Yukawa-dono!?"
"Sister's child is a boy... in other words, I will have a younger brother...?"
"No, not a younger brother... Your position is an aunt, you know?"
"Hmph!"
"Ouch!! What are you doing!!"
"Shut up! You fool!"
Yes, yes, that's right. Position-wise, it's true, but you mustn't say "aunt" (obasan).
At least stop at "aunt" (oba).
Accept that fist as tuition fees.
"A boy... Then, he might grow up to be a dignified child resembling Byakuya-sama."
"N, Nn!! I, well, as long as both mother and child are healthy..."
Byakuya hurriedly fixed his attitude, but everyone already knows his initial reaction.
"No, but well... a daughter is fine too, but a son would make me even happier..."
"Is that so. That wish will surely come true."
"Yukawa-dono! Um, is it really a son...!? If so, please say so!!"
"Well, who knows?"
I dodge the question, implying that the result is known only to God.
Actually, I already know.
Don't underestimate medical professionals.
Using spiritual pressure irradiation instead of an echo, I've long known the gender of the child in the womb.
'Why not tell them...?'
I'll tell them about a month before the expected delivery date.
Wondering which one it is is one of the thrills of pregnancy, right?
This much is a necessary expense.
...Besides, this reaction is fun too.
"Well, regardless of the gender of the child to be born. Please support your wife firmly until childbirth. Father?"
"U, Umu! That is right! Hisana, rest assured!!"
However, Byakuya's words "I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, I just want them to be healthy" are the unvarnished truth.
Because Byakuya probably saw Hisana-san's weakened state up close the most, he must be scared to death.
Besides, Hisana-san has mild trauma. So that she doesn't repeat the same mistake as when she parted with Rukia-san, Byakuya, support her properly.
Compared to that, my role is simple.
Once I deliver the baby, that's it. Midwives aren't involved in child-rearing.
And it would have been good if the conversation ended here.
"Come to think of it, aren't you going to get married, Yukawa-sensei?"
In a casual moment, Hisana-san threw an outrageous bomb.
"Eh!? Me...?"
A male partner is a no-no.
'You are skilled at handling men, putting even some women to shame!!'
No, well, that's a fact, but...
"I've never thought about it, and before that, I can't even imagine it. Me getting married."
"Is that so...? I do not think that is the case..."
"Then, if you do not mind, shall I prepare a marriage proposal? There are several such talks..."
Byakuya! House!! You don't need to do unnecessary things!!
"No, no, it's okay! It's really okay!!"
I said that and refused properly. I refused!!
And yet—
"How is this? This person is—..."
—Why do you bring marriage proposals... Byakuya...
Moreover, bringing marriage interview photos all the way to Squad 4, what is up with that!!
Besides! Squad 4 has Captain Unohana, who is more than me—...
...Ahem ahem. Ah, ah, ah, the weather is fine today but the waves are high.
'Words like "spinster" do not exist in our dictionary!! Therefore, not guilty! Not guilty indeed!! Ignorance situation not guilty!! I was merely deceived!! So please, mercy from the authorities! Mercy from the authorities!! I beg of youuu!!'
It's nothing, and I didn't say anything.
The Squad 4 members are full of curiosity about my unusual appearance.
Everyone is making their ears big like elephants and listening intently.
"Um, Captain Kuchiki. I am truly happy for your feelings, but—..."
Whatever. It's troublesome, so I'll play my last card and refuse.
"—...Marrying someone weaker than me is a bit..."
I said it.
...For some reason, Hinamori-san and Kira-kun seem more motivated.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]