A constricting pressure wrapped his chest, like being bound, yet soaked in a warm, slick liquid, creating a strange suffocation.
Fujimiya Makoto's consciousness slowly returned.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
Somewhere… unfamiliar.
Gurgle… gurgle gurgle…
Splash!
The boy shot up from a half-sized water barrel, his weakened body nearly collapsing. He leaned heavily against the edge, splashing water everywhere.
Wait, where the hell is this?!
"Oh."
"You're awake?"
"Congrats, you're a cute little girl now!"
Hearing the noise, a long-haired man, busy by a bed, turned around, holding a wooden ladle.
Huh?
On reflex, Fujimiya reached into the water, feeling the shadows at the bottom.
"Phew."
He sighed in relief.
His foot-long pride, fully intact.
Good, just a joke.
He turned to the man:
"You the one who saved me?"
"Thanks."
"But…"
Fujimiya scanned the room.
It was about the size of a normal bedroom, filled with steam, with several barrels of hot water lined up… a bathhouse?
Reaching this conclusion, Fujimiya froze for a moment.
In Zaraki, where every resource—water, food, clothes—was hoarded by the strongest, bathing was unthinkable. Even drinking water at a fixed spot was a struggle, with blades coming from every direction.
How could anyone relax in a bath?
You'd need a helmet just to fish.
Puzzled, Fujimiya finally asked:
"Where the hell am I?"
"And that busty chick who tried to kill me, where's she at?"
"Haha, didn't fall for it? I thought you'd…"
The bathhouse guy, lost in his own chatter, took a moment to register. He repeated, confused:
"Busty?"
Then, realizing who Fujimiya meant, his cheeks puffed up, his face turning beet red.
He tried to hold it in, but failed.
"Pff!"
"Pffahaha! Hahahaha!"
He burst into loud, raucous laughter, doubling over, clutching his stomach, gasping for breath.
Fujimiya stared, bewildered.
He'd nearly been sliced up by that woman.
What's so funny?
"You… you guy…"
The small-eyed bathhouse guy, shaking with laughter, spoke in a trembling voice, grinning ear to ear, uglier than a cry:
"No wonder you survived that woman!"
"Haha!"
"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you from now on."
Fujimiya, even more confused, tried to stand, gripping the barrel.
But as he moved, a searing pain tore through his chest and abdomen.
"Ngh."
He groaned, looking down.
His chest, arms, and stomach were wrapped in thick bandages.
The warm water he soaked in had a faint pink hue.
It was blood tinting the thermal water.
"Cough, cough cough."
"As a professional doctor, I'd advise you not to move around too much."
Before Fujimiya could ask, the long-haired bathhouse guy, barely stifling his laughter, gave a somewhat serious warning.
As he spoke, he turned back to his work.
Fujimiya followed his gaze and saw, on a nearby bed, a stark-naked corpse.
His pupils contracted.
Instinctively, he stood to grab the battered asauichi a few steps away.
Snap.
But before he could straighten, his wrist was suddenly caught by the seemingly carefree bathhouse guy.
Fujimiya froze.
His wrist wouldn't budge.
So strong.
And a shunpo so fast it was unreal.
He glanced at the corpse, then at the long-haired man who'd appeared without warning. A thought hit him.
Did that woman drag me back to her lair?
"Easy, kid."
The guy casually released his wrist, adding:
"Drawing a blade in my domain is dangerous."
"You could die."
Fujimiya retrieved his slightly bruised wrist, standing from the barrel with a grimace. Cautiously, he asked:
"Where is this? Who are you? Can I… leave?"
"Haha, chill, chill."
The bathhouse guy flicked his lush, flowing hair with a friendly smile:
"My bad, I forgot my manners."
"You're in the 64th District of West Flowing Soul Street, Sabitsura."
"And this is the one and only training sanctuary of the Soul Society: the Genji Academy!"
He didn't explain further, as if it was common knowledge.
Finally, he jabbed a thumb at himself with unmatched confidence, proclaiming:
"And I'm the legend of Genji Academy, the number-one vanguard, the mythic warrior, the fastest legend in the Soul Society!"
"Thunderbolt! Tenjiro! The Great!"
"That's me!"
He whipped his hair dramatically, closed his eyes, and waited for the wounded patient's awestruck praise.
But after a long silence, nothing.
He opened his eyes, puzzled.
Fujimiya stood frozen, no reaction.
"Hey!"
"You just die recently or what?"
"You've never heard of me?"
The next moment, Fujimiya straightened, grabbed him, and asked gravely:
"What'd you say your name was?"
The guy, thrown off, answered:
"Tenjiro."
"Kirinji Tenjiro!"
"Come on, man, my fame's legendary, don't act like you don't know!"
His over-the-top introduction, for nothing? Embarrassing.
But Fujimiya, ignoring his reaction, swallowed hard and pressed:
"And… Genji Academy is…?"
"What, you're seriously a fresh corpse?!"
Kirinji's eyes widened:
"Genji Academy's the school founded by the original master, the ultimate mentor, the greatest warrior in the Soul Society for a thousand years, 'Jusai' Yamamoto Shigekuni! The top training sanctuary for eight hundred years!"
As expected.
Clinging to one last hope, Fujimiya asked:
"And… the Gotei 13, in the Seireitei, does it… exist yet?"
Now Kirinji looked confused.
"Seireitei?"
"We're fighting those stuck-up nobles lately, yeah, lost a bunch of folks."
"But… Gotei 13?"
His small eyes gleamed with clear, clueless innocence:
"Never heard of that unit."
Done for.
The worst possible draw.
Fujimiya let go, slumping back into the barrel, his face ashen with despair.
He'd crossed into an unknown era, at least a thousand years before the Gotei 13, even as an assassin organization, was founded.
Not only was his plot-knowledge advantage gone, but if he survived long enough, he'd face Yhwach, omniscient and omnipotent… twice!
Not to mention the Soul Society's chaotic battles.
Unavoidable.
Seeing his dejected look, Kirinji, to cheer him up, added with a grin:
"But you're damn impressive, kid."
"Surviving Retsu, looking as weak as you do?"
"Besides the old man, you're the first to pull that off."
"Right now, half of Genji's probably buzzing with your name."
Hearing "Retsu," Fujimiya flinched, like he'd been zapped.
Snapping back, he asked:
"Who?"
"Retsu!"
"The woman who almost killed you."
"Well, now you should use her new name."
Kirinji chuckled, clearly enjoying himself:
"The greatest monster in history…"
"Unohana Yachiru."
"Yesterday, she brought you back, told the old man to take you as a disciple."
Fujimiya, expressionless, slid back into the barrel, giving up all hope.
Fuck Zaraki District.
What a shitty place!