After Suì-Fēng left, Kurotsuki Renya felt a dull boredom settling in. He turned his gaze to the window. The sky outside had just begun to lighten; the sun was still hidden beneath the distant houses, casting faint light.
It had been afternoon when he clashed with Zaraki Kenpachi. Now, a day and a half later, it was only around six in the morning.
Renya waited quietly, turning his thoughts toward his next steps. Taking over the duties at the Nest of Maggots would give him a great deal of time for reflection and training.
First, he needed to further increase his spiritual pressure to match the drain required for sustaining his Shikai.
Second, he had to develop new applications of his Zanpakutō's abilities, diversifying his arsenal.
Third, he needed to master other elemental variants of Shunpo, so his combat style would not be limited to a single attribute.
As Renya refined his plans in thought, two hours passed before the door slid open. A tall figure stepped into the ward.
"Renya-kun, I'm here to treat you."
Renya blinked, surprised, before smiling.
"Sensei… Yamada-sensei?"
The visitor was Yamada Hanatarō's elder sister, Yamada Isane—lieutenant of the 4th Division and his former instructor from the Shin'ō Academy's medical training program.
"You don't need to call me 'teacher,'" she said kindly. "Just call me Isane."
The news of Renya's duel with Zaraki Kenpachi had already spread throughout Seireitei. Many whispered that Zaraki had been careless, allowing the boy an opening. But even with such assumptions, no one denied that Renya's strength had already reached the level of a seated officer, perhaps even lieutenant class.
For that reason, Isane could no longer treat him as a mere student.
"Do you feel better now?" she asked, pulling back the quilt covering him. His upper body was bare, revealing two deep scars across his chest.
"There's still some sting," Renya admitted.
"I'll take care of that."
Isane pulled up a chair and placed her hands gently over his chest, invoking Kaido, the healing art of Kidō. Internal wounds would require time, but external damage could be mended more swiftly.
Under her warm green glow, the injuries began to knit together before his eyes. After thirty minutes, one wound had closed, leaving only a faint scar. She shifted her hands and worked on the second. Another half hour, and it too was healed.
"I'll treat the abdominal wound tomorrow," she explained, standing. "After that, we'll address the scarring."
Renya smiled. "Don't trouble yourself too much, Lieutenant Isane. Today alone, you've helped me enough."
"Rest well," she replied softly before departing.
Moments after Isane's departure, a shadow appeared at the door. Renya turned—and his eyes widened.
"…Izuru?"
"Shhh."
Kira Izuru pressed a finger to his lips, then slid the door open fully. Behind him entered Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki, and Hinamori Momo.
"Renji-nii, Rukia-neesan, Momo… you all came?" Renya's voice carried both surprise and joy.
"I waited until Captain Suì-Fēng left," Kira explained with a small smile. "Then I gathered everyone. When I saw Lieutenant Isane was treating you, we waited outside until she finished."
Renya's heart warmed. They had been waiting all this time, simply to see him.
Renji strode forward, grinning. "So it's true—you nearly defeated Captain Zaraki. Some people say he was careless, but I know better. You were already wounded when you activated your Shikai. If you hadn't been injured first, maybe… just maybe, you could've beaten him."
He had been knocked out by Yachiru during the battle and hadn't seen everything, but his guess wasn't far off.
Renya, however, shook his head. "I'm still far behind."
Rukia stepped closer, her face etched with concern. "Are you truly alright, Renya?"
Renya thumped his chest lightly. "Of course. Still standing, aren't I?"
Momo frowned. "I heard that Captain Suì-Fēng only pushed you that far to help you awaken. But this was reckless! How could she endanger you like that?"
Renya waved dismissively. "Captain Suì-Fēng was beside me the entire time. If things had gone wrong, she would've intervened."
Then his tone shifted, a note of sorrow in it. "But… the pendant you gave me, Rukia-neesan—it's gone. I had it around my neck during the fight, and now it's missing."
Rukia's brows rose. "That same pendant I gave you when you graduated?"
Renya nodded. "Yes. That one."
Her eyes softened with surprise. "Six years, and you've still kept it?"
"Of course," Renya replied earnestly. "Not only your necklace, but the pen Izuru gave me, the kunai Kondo Isamu gifted me, and the teru-teru doll from Momo—I've kept them all safe."
Renji leaned in. "Hey, what about me? Didn't I give you something too?"
Renya smirked. "Renji-nii, you never gave me anything."
Renji scratched his head. "Really? That doesn't sound like me…"
Renya chuckled. "But you treated us to dinner once. That's something I'll always remember."
Renji laughed sheepishly, and the tension in the room lightened.
"Anyway," he said, "with your strength now, you're easily vice-captain level. Why not take the position?"
Renya answered with a smile. "I'm set to become the head of the Detention Unit—the Nest of Maggots."
Renji frowned. "That's under the Onmitsukidō, isn't it? Why bury yourself in a place like that?"
Before Renya could reply, a new voice rang out.
"Would you rather join the 3rd Division instead?"
The sudden presence startled them all. Even Renya hadn't noticed his arrival. They turned to the door, where a man stood, clad in black shihakushō.
His pale lavender hair, ever-narrowed eyes, and foxlike smile were unmistakable.
"Vice-Captain… Ichimaru Gin?" Renya breathed.
The others stiffened and bowed. "Vice-Captain Ichimaru!"
"There's no need for that," Gin said smoothly, raising a hand. "Besides, I'm not a vice-captain anymore."
Renya's eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean, Senior Ichimaru?"
Gin's smile widened. "As of today, I'll be the new Captain of the 3rd Division. Tell me, Kurotsuki Renya—would you care to join me as my lieutenant?"
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