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"Yawn—"
Early the next morning, amidst the piercing sound of an alarm clock, Ishikawa Katori yawned and climbed out of bed.
The first thing he did after getting up was 'look' at the system panel in his mind. When he saw 'Development Spiritual Mark' at the end of the special techniques, he couldn't help but grin.
"Good, it wasn't a dream."
He glanced at the time—eight in the morning.
Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but yawn again. He had been busy for most of the night, only falling asleep after five in the morning. Three hours of sleep was truly not enough, but…
If he didn't get up now, he would miss the mealtime at the Comprehensive Relief Station. And after eating, he still had to go to West 1 District for work.
After a simple wash, Ishikawa Katori left the ward where he had rested.
However, before going to the cafeteria, he first went to the ward of the Third Division Squad Member from last night. Although his own treatment should be fine, he had conducted so many experiments on Tong Shengzhi last night, so it was better to observe a bit more to avoid any problems.
"Hmm?"
As soon as he arrived at the ward, Ishikawa Katori was startled: "You haven't rested yet?"
Looking into the ward, he saw the large man who had been diligently treating Tong Shengzhi last night still sitting by the bed, with panda eyes, constantly observing the readings on the medical equipment.
If he remembered correctly, his name seemed to be Aoga, right?
Although Ishikawa Katori had no interest in male Squad Members and was even too lazy to remember their names, this anomaly in the Fourth Division was simply too conspicuous.
His fierce face, nearly two-meter height, and that obviously serious expression made him stand out like a 'crane among chickens' among the generally slender and mostly introverted Fourth Division Squad Members.
If one were to encounter him outside the Comprehensive Relief Station, no one would ever imagine that this guy, with the appearance of a 'killer,' would actually be a Squad Member of the Fourth Division.
"Sir Ishikawa, you're awake so early?"
Aoga quickly stood up, a gentle smile on his face that didn't match his appearance: "I was a little worried about him. I plan to rest after the daytime Relief Squad arrives."
Ishikawa Katori gave him a strange look and said nothing. Instead, he walked to the bedside, carefully examined Tong Shengzhi, who was sleeping like a dead pig after being tormented all night, and then said to Aoga beside him:
"Let's go, let's have breakfast together."
"Ah?" Aoga was startled.
"He's healthier than you are right now. You don't need to nurse him anymore," Ishikawa Katori said, then continued, seeing the hesitant look on Aoga's face: "Don't worry, I saved him, there won't be any problems. Or… do you not trust me?"
"How could that be?!"
Aoga quickly shook his head and then said, "Then let's go together."
Ishikawa Katori smiled at this, turned, and left the ward. If one disregarded his appearance, someone like Aoga was indeed very suitable to be a Squad Member of the Fourth Division.
Aoga glanced at Tong Shengzhi, who was snoring on the bed, then followed Ishikawa Katori, walking together towards the Relief Station's cafeteria.
"Good morning, Sir Ishikawa."
"I heard, Sir Ishikawa, you're truly amazing."
"Sir Ishikawa, Vice-Captain Kotetsu had the cafeteria make a lot of your favorite dishes today."
"…"
Listening to the constant greetings around him, Aoga looked at Ishikawa Katori in front of him with immense admiration.
As expected of Sir Ishikawa, in just half a month since arriving at the Comprehensive Relief Station, he had gained such immense popularity among both Squad Members and patients.
Not only was his Kaido extremely proficient, but he was also kind and gentle. Unlike a coward like himself, who fled to the Fourth Division to avoid combat, Sir Ishikawa was simply a born Fourth Division Squad Member.
If he were willing to join the Fourth Division, he would probably already be one of the Seated Officers by now, right?
"Good morning, Hanatarō."
Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Ishikawa Katori saw a familiar face at the end of the line—Yamada Hanatarō, whom he hadn't seen in a few days: "Is your 14th Upper Relief Squad on duty today?"
Yamada Hanatarō's face lit up when he saw Ishikawa: "Sir Ishikawa, how did you cure that person yesterday? Was there a problem with his Spirit Core?" As soon as they met, Hanatarō couldn't help but ask about last night's events, his face full of curiosity.
This guy…
Ishikawa Katori's mouth twitched slightly. He was truly passionate about Kaido.
"Let's get our food first. I'll explain it to you while we eat later."
However, Ishikawa Katori, knowing Hanatarō's personality well, didn't mind. Moreover, he was very grateful to this Hanatarō, as without him, he wouldn't have met Kotetsu Isane and thus become a member of the Comprehensive Relief Station.
Yamada Hanatarō's face flushed: "Ah… I'm sorry."
After the three of them got their food, they found an empty spot. Ishikawa Katori ate while explaining the treatment process from last night in a way that both of them could understand.
After listening, both of them fell into contemplation.
After a while, Hanatarō couldn't help but exclaim, "Sir Ishikawa, you're truly amazing."
"Indeed," Aoga said, agreeing wholeheartedly.
"Don't talk about me."
Ishikawa Katori casually asked Aoga beside him, "Speaking of which, Aoga, why did you choose to join the Fourth Division? I see you should be very good at combat, right?"
Aoga's physique and hands showed obvious signs of having practiced Zanjutsu, and very diligently at that, unlike other Fourth Division Squad Members who had settled on the Fourth Division during their Shin'ō Academy days and hardly practiced Zankensoki besides Kaido.
Aoga was startled by the question: "This…"
Hanatarō, hearing this, seemed to recall something and asked, "I heard from others that Mr. Aoga, you were in the same class as the Vice-Captain of the Ninth Division. Is that true?"
Ninth Division.
Ishikawa Katori swallowed the food in his mouth and looked at Aoga beside him. The words 'Ninth Division' truly made him a little concerned.
Ever since entering Seireitei, Ishikawa Katori had been avoiding any connection with the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Squads, lest he unknowingly be targeted by a certain terrifying individual.
Although he had always moved around the outer areas of Seireitei, he had no opportunity to interact with these three Squads, other than the patients at the Comprehensive Relief Station.
"Yes."
A hint of complexity flashed in Aoga's eyes. He didn't hide it but nodded directly: "However, it's been a long time since we last met. The last time was a few years ago when we happened to meet at a friend's grave."
Ninth Division… Hisagi Shuuhei?
Information about Hisagi Shuuhei immediately appeared in Ishikawa Katori's mind. He knew this person well, but not because of his Vice-Captain status, but because of his role as editor-in-chief of Seireitei Communication.
As a loyal reader of Seireitei Communication, Ishikawa Katori bought almost every issue to read. And in the last few pages of each issue, there were interesting anecdotes Hisagi Shuuhei had gathered from various Squads, such as the favorite foods and hobbies of certain Seated Officers and Captains. Ishikawa Katori had firmly committed all of these to memory.
Ishikawa Katori glanced at Aoga. Although he didn't know what had happened to him, he clearly didn't want to bring up the past, so Ishikawa Katori didn't press for details. Instead, he asked Hanatarō, "When did you become interested in these things?"
"Um… just a little curious."
Hanatarō explained, "Whenever the Squad Members talk about Mr. Aoga, they always say that period was a time of many elites…
"The reason they say that is because several students from Shin'ō Academy during that period became Vice-Captains and Seated Officers of the Gotei 13, such as Lieutenant Abarai of the Eleventh Division, Lieutenant Hinamori of the Fifth Divsion, and Lieutenant Kira, who transferred from our Fourth Division to the Third Division…"
Ishikawa Katori's mouth twitched slightly. Who taught you to speak like that?
Saying in front of someone how well their peers were doing always felt like a subtle mockery of Aoga.
Although, with Hanatarō's personality, he certainly didn't mean it that way, what is said unintentionally can easily be misinterpreted by the listener.
Ishikawa Katori secretly glanced at Aoga, and found that the big man's face showed no displeasure. Instead, he nodded in agreement: "Yes, that period was indeed a time of many elites, especially with a genius like Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who became a Captain at an unprecedented speed."
"As for Sir Ishikawa's question…" Aoga's face showed a hint of bitterness: "My initial goal wasn't the Fourth Division, but an unexpected incident made me afraid of combat, so I joined the Fourth Division after graduating from Central Spiritual Arts Academy."
"Unexpected incident?" Ishikawa Katori was startled.
"When I was a sixth-year student at Shin'ō Academy, I, along with Vice-Captain Hisagi and another friend named 'Kanisawa,' led the First Elite Class to the Human World for a Soul Burial internship; originally, this was just an ordinary internship, and the three of us basically went with the idea of completing the academy's task, but no one expected…"
"Just as the internship was about to end, a Hollow appeared at the internship site in the Human World. Kanisawa was attacked and died in front of me, and I was also severely injured and fell unconscious."
A hint of pain flashed in Aoga's eyes.
"When I woke up, I was already back at Central Spiritual Arts Academy. I heard that after I fell unconscious, Lieutenant Abarai of the elite class, Lieutenant Hinamori, and Lieutenant Kira did not retreat. Instead, they returned to help Hisagi resist the Hollow's attack until rescue arrived. If it weren't for them, I probably would have been devoured by the Hollow back then."
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in Ishikawa Katori's eyes, but he quickly concealed it by lowering his head.
"Since then, whenever I see a Hollow, I remember that experience and feel an uncontrollable fear…" Aoga sighed, "Rather than saying I joined the Fourth Division, it's more accurate to say I fled to the Fourth Division because I was afraid of fighting Hollows."
"I, on the other hand, think you're very suitable to join the Fourth Division."
Ishikawa Katori didn't wait for Aoga to reply, but added, "I'm not saying this to comfort you, but I truly believe it. Although at first glance you might not seem like a Fourth Division Squad Member, once you get to know you, you'll find that your personality is gentler than many others, and you're extremely responsible towards patients."
"All of this shows that you are very suitable for the Fourth Division, which 'advocates benevolence and love'."
"Yes."
Yamada Hanatarō nodded: "Everyone also says that Mr. Aoga only looks a little scary, but in reality, he is a very gentle person."
Aoga was silent for a while, then a smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you."
"If you have any questions in the future, you can come to me."
Ishikawa Katori smiled gently at Aoga, picked up his tray, and stood up: "You two continue eating. I have a commission to do today, so I'll be leaving first."
After bidding farewell to the two, Ishikawa Katori returned his tray to the collection point and then walked out of the Comprehensive Relief Station.
Hinamori Momo?
A hint of hesitation flashed in Ishikawa Katori's eyes. If he encountered Hinamori Momo, using 'Aoga' as an entry point would be a good topic.
But…
Ishikawa Katori really didn't want to be friends with that woman.
Firstly, being friends with her would easily draw Aizen's attention.
Secondly, it was because…
That woman's mind was not just a little problematic!!
She was the kind of woman who would use a knife to attack her own friend because of a letter.
If system's favorability was the standard, her favorability towards Tōshirō Hitsugaya should at least be 'Friendship Maxed Out', yet she turned her blade on him because of a letter…
No matter how he thought about it, being her friend felt very dangerous.
Ishikawa Katori's mouth twitched slightly. He'd better keep her as a backup friend for now.
It was a good thing that Kotetsu Isane's favorability towards him reached '50' points, but he would have to be more careful in their future interactions.
Although Ishikawa Katori didn't think his charm was so great that it could make any woman fall in love with him, why wait for something that could be avoided beforehand to happen?
Besides…
Although Ishikawa Katori had been trying to make friends, something he had never done before, in order to change.
But he had absolutely no interest in so-called 'romance' and didn't want to try it.
...
After leaving the Comprehensive Relief Station, Ishikawa Katori originally planned to go to the Second Division to retrieve his Zanpakuto.
But after thinking about it carefully, he temporarily gave up the idea of retrieving his Zanpakuto.
The reason was simple…
It was too long.
A sword nearly 1.6 meters long would obviously not be easy for Ishikawa Katori, who was only 1.75 meters tall, to carry.
Ishikawa Katori envisioned it and found that besides carrying it horizontally on his shoulder, whether it was strapped to his waist or carried on his back… it would drag on the ground.
Moreover, carrying such a sword would easily scare others when working in Rukongai.
"After I finish the work for the West 1 District Elder, I'll go to the textile factory to make a bag for the sword."
Having made up his mind, Ishikawa Katori gave up on going to the Second Division and instead walked towards the Byakudo Gate.
However, as he passed a tavern, Ishikawa Katori couldn't help but glance inside.
Ever since he came to Seireitei, he hadn't gotten himself drunk in a long time. He didn't touch a drop of alcohol when staying overnight in Seireitei, lest he cause any trouble.
But that didn't stop Ishikawa from taking a few sniffs whenever he passed a tavern.
And…
The alcohol in Seireitei was infinitely purer than that in Rukongai, although the price was also many times higher.
After finishing work in Seireitei, before returning to the Everything Store, Ishikawa Katori would grit his teeth and buy a pot of the best alcohol to take with him.
One reason he didn't get completely drunk was because he felt bad about the money. As the saying goes, it's easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality. After drinking the alcohol from Seireitei, the good alcohol in Rukongai, which he once enjoyed, now tasted bland and uninteresting.
"Hmm?"
Ishikawa Katori's footsteps suddenly paused, his gaze falling on a woman in the tavern who was continuously pouring alcohol into her mouth. A hint of brightness flashed in his eyes.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter