"It's not going to be that easy to get my forgiveness, Chihiro," Yamabuki Haruto said with a cold snort.
"Now, now—don't be mad, Nanachō," Shihōin Chihiro replied with a nervous laugh. "We're… not exactly cut out for clerical work."
"That's right!" Saitō Furofushi chimed in with a sly grin. "After thinking it over, you're clearly the best for this sort of job! And once the Gotei 13 gets bigger, we'll get you help. Twenty thousand assistants!"
He drew his next tile. "I'm going to win—be careful."
Haruto glanced at his own hand. East Wind. Not a single one had been played yet. Was someone going for a four-of-a-kind? No… West, South, and North were already fighting each other. Probably just an open hand.
He tossed the East Wind without much thought.
"Hu!"
"Hu!"
"Hu!"
One discard, three wins.
Haruto's eye twitched. These three maniacs were all waiting on the same tile? They had to be colluding just to bleed him dry.
"How about I just owe you for now?" Haruto said cautiously. "I'll pay after I get my first salary."
Chihiro smiled sweetly, already holding out paper and ink. "I believe our Chief of Staff wouldn't default on a debt. Go ahead—write the IOU."
"…Unbelievable."
They'd fought side by side, yet they didn't trust him an inch. He'd never had an IOU in his life—until now.
Miserable… already in debt before I've even been paid.
"Anyway, Captain," Haruto said quickly, changing the subject, "I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Oh?" Yamamoto Shigekuni looked up. Since Haruto had joined, the Captain-Commander had grown fond of tossing him every administrative problem that crossed his desk.
"I think the Gotei 13 should have a dedicated medical corps," Haruto said. "It would cut down on casualties."
"A sound idea," Yamamoto agreed, "but not yet. We're too small. Barely a few hundred total. Pulling some out for medical duty would weaken our fighting strength. When our numbers grow, we'll make it happen."
Haruto nodded. True enough. Still, it was something to plan for.
"In that case, I'll start learning medical techniques from Kirinji Tenjirō now," Haruto said. "They'll be useful later."
Yamamoto frowned slightly. He'd normally tell a man to focus—swordsmanship or kidō, not everything at once. But Haruto's talent was… different. Maybe he could manage it.
"Very well. But you lack skill in unarmed combat. I'll teach you myself when there's time," Yamamoto said.
The old man was actually being generous? Rare.
"Thank you, Captain! By the way… where did you even get that mahjong set? Do they exist in this era?"
Chihiro grinned. "It's big in the World of the Living—and it's spread into Rukongai. I just happened to collect a set."
Haruto decided not to dig deeper into that mess. Time to find Kirinji.
Among the Shinigami, three names stood above all others in medical skill:
Kirinji Tenjirō, inventor of the healing hot springs—capable of dragging the dead back into the living world.
Unohana Retsu, his student, and the finest healer in the Gotei 13.
Yamada Seinosuke, head physician to the noble houses, brother to Hanatarō.
Haruto strolled toward Kirinji's quarters, humming a tune, and found the man tending to a long line of patients, with Hanazuki Rei darting around as a nurse.
When the last patient left, Haruto stepped inside.
"Brother Yamabuki? Are you ill?" Rei asked in alarm.
"No. I came to speak with Kirinji Tenjirō."
Kirinji gave him a flat look. "Nobody shows up here without a reason. Spit it out—I'm busy."
Haruto grinned and leaned in. "Don't be so cold! We've been through thick and thin together. I even brought good sake for you!"
"You brought sake? Then you definitely want something. What is it?" Kirinji asked, eyes narrowing.
"You're the best doctor in the Soul Society. I want… to learn from you."
"Learn medicine?" Kirinji blinked. "Why?"
"To heal the sick and save lives—"
Kirinji's hand moved toward his zanpakutō. "The truth."
"…To make killing more fun," Haruto admitted cheerfully. "Think about it—if I find some scumbag, it's boring to just kill him. But if I can heal him first, then cut him again, then heal him again… he'd regret ever existing! Hey, don't push me!"
Kirinji went pale. If the devil walked in, even he'd call this guy 'big brother'.
In the end, Haruto's mix of pleading, persistence, and shamelessness wore him down.
"Fine. But swear to me—you never use what I teach to prolong suffering. Give your enemies a clean death," Kirinji said.
"Yeah, yeah. I swear," Haruto replied with mock innocence.
Kirinji didn't believe a word of it. But he'd already agreed.
"Then let's begin your path in the Healing Arts."