Nanao’s movements instantly froze.
She didn’t blame Rin for bringing up such a sensitive subject.
She knew he hadn’t done it intentionally.
In fact, throughout all the years they had known each other, he had never once asked about it.
After a long silence, she finally spoke softly.
“I did ask someone in my family.”
“They only told me that matters involving the Zanpakutō concern many of the Ise Clan’s deepest secrets, and that I wouldn’t be affected by it.”
“But…”
“That vague answer only makes it impossible for me to stop worrying.”
As she spoke, tears quietly began flowing down her face.
It was the first time Nanao had ever revealed such vulnerability before someone outside her family.
“When my mother died…”
“It was as though nothing had happened.”
“No one in the family ever explained anything.”
“I don’t even know my father’s name.”
“I want to become a Shinigami…”
“But I can’t even awaken a Zanpakutō.”
“What right do I have to keep living like this?”
“Confused…”
“Powerless…”
“Completely useless…”
Rin remained silent.
He knew very well that what Nanao needed right now was not comforting words.
She needed someone willing to quietly stay beside her until she calmed down.
After years of knowing her, he understood that despite her composed appearance, she possessed remarkable inner strength.
She would never completely collapse over something like this.
Perhaps all she truly needed was someone willing to listen to the emotions she had buried for so many years.
Sure enough…
Only a few minutes later, Nanao lowered her head into her folded arms.
The sobbing gradually disappeared.
She had regained control of herself.
“Feeling better now?”
Rin asked with a helpless smile.
“I was only trying to show a little concern.”
“Don’t blame me for making you cry.”
“I didn’t actually do anything.”
Nanao slowly raised her head.
Her eyes were still slightly red.
She glared fiercely at him before letting out a dissatisfied snort.
“Hmph!”
The next moment…
She stepped heavily onto his foot.
“You idiot!”
“You don’t have even the slightest bit of gentlemanly spirit!”
After throwing those words at him, she immediately turned and walked away.
Watching her leave, Rin hurriedly shouted after her.
“Don’t forget to help me buy those rare plant seeds!”
“As if I would!”
For perhaps the first time ever, Nanao made an unmistakably childish face before walking away in apparent anger.
Even so…
Her footsteps were noticeably lighter than before.
Had someone been watching from afar, they might even have mistaken her for using Hohō.
Rin gently shook the Zanpakutō hanging at his waist.
“I guess this is what people call a tsundere.”
Naturally…
The Zanpakutō offered no reply.
However, the next piece of news Rin received had nothing to do with the rare seeds Nanao promised to collect.
Instead…
Fourth Division Lieutenant Yamada Seinosuke personally came looking for him.
“Chigusa Rin.”
“Would you be interested in undertaking an internship with the Fourth Division?”
The invitation caught Rin completely off guard.
He had never heard of anything like this before.
Ordinarily, when one of the Gotei Thirteen recognized a promising student, they simply recruited them directly after graduation.
Those with exceptional talent were sometimes even appointed as seated officers immediately.
But…
An internship?
“Lieutenant Yamada…”
“Are you sure there hasn’t been some misunderstanding?”
“An internship?”
“I don’t think Shin’ō Academy has ever had such a system…”
Rin hesitated.
It wasn’t because he disliked the idea.
On the contrary.
Joining the Fourth Division had always been his goal.
He simply worried that such an unusual arrangement might create unnecessary complications.
Yamada patiently explained.
“You already know that the Fourth Division differs from the other divisions of the Gotei Thirteen.”
“We are primarily a medical and support division.”
“Unlike the combat divisions, we rarely leave Seireitei.”
“Our responsibilities mostly involve treating the wounded, providing logistical support, and preserving lives after battle.”
“I don’t know how much you truly understand about Kaidō.”
“But unlike ordinary Kidō, Kaidō is considerably more difficult.”
“Advanced Kaidō requires an extensive understanding of spiritual anatomy, the soul’s structure, Reishi circulation, and many other subjects.”
“For that reason, everyone entering the Fourth Division must usually undergo years of study before earning genuine recognition.”
“You possess exceptional talent in Kaidō.”
“Among the students of Shin’ō Academy, your level is already among the very best.”
“However…”
“Within the Fourth Division itself, your current abilities are still not enough.”
“So…”
“I’d like to offer you a two-year internship.”
“You’ll receive direct training within the Fourth Division.”
“If, by the time you graduate, you earn Captain Unohana’s approval, you’ll be able to enter the division directly as a seated officer.”
“That arrangement will also prevent unnecessary dissatisfaction from other members.”
What Yamada did not say was that he was deliberately hiding part of the truth.
Ever since personally teaching Rin, he had already discovered the young man’s astonishing affinity for Kaidō.
Whenever Rin performed healing techniques, it almost seemed as though he could instinctively perceive the life force flowing within another soul, allowing him to control Kaidō with incredible precision.
As early as the previous year, Yamada had already recommended that Captain Retsu Unohana recruit Rin directly into the Fourth Division for specialized training.
In Yamada’s opinion…
Rin’s current Kaidō ability was already sufficient for him to serve as a lower seated officer.
However…
Captain Unohana had rejected the proposal.
Her reason was simple.
“If he were merely a combat genius from Rukongai, immediate recruitment would be acceptable.”
“But the Fourth Division is different.”
“Our duty is to respect life.”
To be honest…
Yamada hadn’t been entirely convinced.
Nevertheless…
Captain Unohana’s decisions were never questioned within the Fourth Division.
At the time, he had simply bowed.
“Understood, Captain.”
In truth, even this internship had been Captain Unohana’s own idea.
Originally, she had intended to personally visit Shin’ō Academy and teach Rin herself for a period of time, allowing her to observe exactly how far his talent could develop.
Unfortunately…
Soul Society had recently experienced a series of unusual incidents.
An increasing number of souls had mysteriously disappeared throughout Rukongai.
As Captain of the Fourth Division, Unohana had been cooperating with the Twelfth Division’s investigation, leaving her with no opportunity to visit the academy.
Thus…
She simply arranged for Rin to come directly to the Fourth Division instead.
It was a privilege that only someone of a captain’s authority could quietly grant.
The moment Rin heard that he would be able to study spiritual anatomy in far greater depth, his heart immediately stirred.
When one path closed…
Another had unexpectedly opened.
His eyes instantly brightened.
With the Fourth Division’s medical knowledge and resources, he would undoubtedly gain a far deeper understanding of life itself.
Perhaps…
That would become the key to unlocking his Zanpakutō’s Shikai.
Seeing Rin’s excited expression, Yamada couldn’t help smiling.
He naturally assumed that Rin simply possessed an extraordinary passion for Kaidō.
That kind of dedication was exactly what the Fourth Division desperately needed.
After all…
Many Shinigami assigned to the Fourth Division had originally been rejected by the combat divisions.
Naturally, very few of them genuinely wished to devote themselves to learning Kaidō.
It had long become one of the division’s greatest problems.
Now…
Perhaps Rin would become the one to change that.
Moreover…
The young man reminded Yamada greatly of his own younger brother.
Even the excitement in Rin’s eyes whenever Kaidō was mentioned felt strangely familiar.
Without realizing it, a gentle smile appeared on his face.
“Since you understand…”
“Come with me.”
“We’ll head to the Headmaster’s office together.”
“I’ll personally handle the necessary paperwork.”
“For the next two years…”
“You’ll leave Shin’ō Academy and study within the Fourth Division.”
“Yes!”
Rin answered loudly.
“I’ll do my very best!”
The remaining procedures progressed remarkably smoothly.
With the Fourth Division’s lieutenant personally overseeing everything, the Headmaster raised no objections whatsoever.
The transfer was completed within a single day.
As if that weren’t enough…
The first batch of rare spiritual plant seeds Nanao had collected also arrived that very day.
One piece of good news followed another.
For the first time in a long while…
Rin found himself genuinely looking forward to what the future would bring.