“Captain Kyōraku, be careful!” Kaien quickly warned as he retreated to the side.
“That Hollow can release a strange spiritual pressure that affects the mind.
Once someone enters its range, it drags out their deepest fears and can even make them lose consciousness for a moment!”
Kyōraku simply waved a hand dismissively and continued walking forward at an unhurried pace.
The abnormal Hollow seemed to sense the overwhelming danger approaching.
It immediately opened its mouth as crimson spiritual energy rapidly gathered, preparing to fire a Cero.
Although it had not yet evolved into a Menos Grande, it was already approaching that level.
Unfortunately…
Its opponent was Shunsui Kyōraku.
As one of the Gotei Thirteen’s captains and a direct disciple of Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Kyōraku had slain countless Menos throughout his long career.
Let alone a Hollow that had yet to become a Gillian, even Adjuchas-class Menos had fallen beneath his blade many times.
Unlike Kaien, who had been forced to fight cautiously from beginning to end, Kyōraku displayed not the slightest hesitation after entering the Hollow’s range.
The oppressive spiritual pressure capable of awakening fear within others seemed completely ineffective against him.
The Hollow’s frenzied claws were effortlessly avoided with the smallest movements of his body.
As for the half-formed Cero…
Kyōraku casually shattered it with a single punch before it could even finish charging.
Immediately afterward, he stepped forward and unleashed a flurry of Hakuda strikes upon the Hollow, every punch landing cleanly as though he were venting accumulated frustration.
The Hollow’s Hierro barely managed to restore its damaged body before Kyōraku let out a quiet sigh.
“…Enough.”
He finally drew his Zanpakutō.
With one effortless slash…
The Hollow was cleanly bisected.
The entire battle ended as casually as though he had merely cut down an ordinary tree.
Compared to the desperate struggle the students had experienced moments earlier, Kyōraku’s overwhelming strength left everyone speechless.
Many stared at him with unconcealed admiration.
Even Nanao found herself instinctively developing a favorable impression of the easygoing captain.
Just as Kyōraku seemed about to say something, the long-awaited reinforcements finally arrived.
Leading them was Captain Shinji Hirako of the Fifth Division.
The moment he noticed Kyōraku already standing there, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Captain Kyōraku?”
“What brings you here?”
“I honestly expected to find you drinking somewhere in Junrinan.”
Hearing that, Kyōraku laughed naturally.
“Well…”
“I was actually on my way for a drink.”
“But I happened to notice something interesting.”
“So I wandered over out of curiosity.”
“I didn’t expect to interfere with Captain Hirako’s work.”
“My apologies.”
Hirako immediately waved his hand.
“Not at all.”
“We should be thanking you instead.”
“If you hadn’t arrived in time…”
“These kids would’ve suffered quite a bit.”
As he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the word “you” while narrowing his eyes toward Kyōraku.
The two captains exchanged a brief glance.
Within that silent moment, they seemed to reach an unspoken understanding.
Both smiled.
Neither continued the topic.
Whether they had truly dismissed the matter…
Only the two of them knew.
Neither believed today’s incident had been an accident.
Kyōraku had already realized that while confronting the abnormal Hollow.
After arriving, Hirako had clearly reached the same conclusion.
Neither spoke another word.
Right now…
The priority was escorting the wounded students and the remaining academy squads safely back to Soul Society.
Following Hirako’s orders, members of the Fifth Division immediately began gathering everyone together.
Meanwhile…
Rin’s treatment had finally come to an end.
As the countless Gentian flowers gradually withered, his Zanpakutō returned from its Shikai state.
Although Kotarō remained unconscious, the terrifying wound across his chest was no longer life-threatening.
As for Kaori…
Rin had already stabilized her condition with Kaidō.
When he finally looked up…
He discovered both captains quietly observing him.
Seeing this, Nanao immediately stepped beside him.
“Not long after you started treating Kotarō…”
“Captain Kyōraku defeated the Hollow.”
“Then Captain Hirako arrived with the reinforcements.”
She summarized everything in only a few simple sentences.
Rin nodded.
“I understand.”
At that exact moment…
Hirako suddenly appeared directly in front of him using Shunpo.
His face leaned in uncomfortably close as he carefully examined Rin from head to toe.
“So…”
“You’re the student Captain Unohana personally took an interest in.”
“You really do seem somewhat capable.”
The speed of Hirako’s Shunpo had been so overwhelming that Rin only realized someone had appeared after the captain was already standing before him.
His body instinctively tensed.
Fortunately…
Remembering the enormous difference between their strengths and Hirako’s generally approachable reputation, he quickly relaxed before bowing respectfully.
“You flatter me, Captain Hirako.”
“Everything I’ve achieved comes from Captain Unohana’s recognition…”
“And Lieutenant Yamada’s careful guidance.”
He never believed his accomplishments belonged solely to himself.
Only he truly understood how much patient instruction he had received from Yamada Seinosuke during the past two years.
Unexpectedly…
His humble attitude made Hirako click his tongue in annoyance.
“Tch.”
“Why does this kid remind me so much of that guy?”
“Seriously…”
“That’s irritating.”
While muttering to himself, Hirako casually glanced toward Nanao several times before quietly looking at Kyōraku.
Kyōraku responded with an almost imperceptible nod.
The subtle exchange escaped everyone else.
Everyone…
Except Rin.
His mind immediately began piecing together everything he had witnessed over the years.
Soon…
He reached a conclusion.
Nanao undoubtedly shared some special relationship with Captain Kyōraku.
Moreover…
It appeared to be something known among the captains and perhaps even the Great Noble Clans.
That explained many things.
Although the Ise Clan had long declined, no noble family had ever dared openly oppress them.
If Captain Kyōraku had secretly been protecting them all this time…
Everything suddenly made perfect sense.
His unusually quick arrival before even the Fifth Division no longer seemed suspicious.
The only interesting part…
Was that Nanao herself clearly knew nothing about any of it.
Then…
Remembering something she had once told him…
She didn’t even know her own father’s name.
A rather outrageous thought suddenly surfaced inside Rin’s mind.
Could it be…
Captain Kyōraku was actually Nanao’s father?
The absurd possibility instantly ignited his curiosity.
Could he really witness an emotional reunion today?
A wandering noble son-in-law returning years too late…
Only to discover the woman he loved had long since passed away while their daughter had already grown into adulthood…
The more he imagined it…
The farther his thoughts drifted.
Standing nearby, Nanao noticed his increasingly absent-minded expression and immediately became speechless.
Even after surviving such a dangerous battle…
This man could still lose himself inside his own imagination.
Apparently…
The earlier crisis had left no psychological trauma whatsoever.
Fortunately…
The remaining students gradually returned one after another.
Apart from the injuries already treated, no one else had been hurt.
Even Chihiro, who had fled during the battle, eventually came back wearing an expression filled with shame.
This time…
He kept his distance from everyone else.
Silently standing alone in a corner.
After confirming everyone’s numbers, the Fifth Division opened the Senkaimon once more and escorted all the students back to Soul Society.
However…
Just before leaving the World of the Living…
Rin quietly bent down and picked up an ordinary-looking seed lying near the center of the battlefield before placing it inside one of the pockets of his herbalist’s apron.
No one noticed the small action.
The moment everyone returned to the dense Reishi atmosphere of Soul Society, the tension weighing upon them finally eased.
A seated officer of the Fifth Division immediately began issuing instructions.
“Those who weren’t injured will return directly to Shin’ō Academy.”
“Your final Konsō mission will be evaluated there.”
“The wounded will accompany me to the Fourth Division for further treatment before completing the remaining procedures.”
As soon as those arrangements were made…
Both captains disappeared without another word.
Nanao herself hadn’t suffered any injuries.
Originally, she intended to return to Shin’ō Academy together with Rin.
Before she could speak…
Rin smiled and gestured toward the Fourth Division.
“Nanao.”
“You go back first.”
“I’m heading to the Fourth Division.”
“I might still be able to help.”
Watching him leave alongside the injured students…
Nanao suddenly felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart.
She couldn’t explain why.
At that moment, Kaien quietly walked over to stand beside her.
“Chigusa has really grown a lot…”
He smiled warmly.
“He has.”
Nanao nodded absentmindedly.
“He can even use Shikai now…”