Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

Even as Makoto stepped out of the meeting room, he still felt a lingering sense of disbelief.

"This... is what it takes to be a mid-tier noble?"

His expression betrayed a mix of astonishment and confusion.

Although "mid-tier noble" might not sound particularly impressive, one had to consider the context. For generations, the clan of Soi Fon, who had dedicated themselves to serving the Shihoin family through the Omnitsukido, remained at the lowest rung of the noble hierarchy as lower-tier nobles.

Even someone like Risa, a mid-tier noble, owed her status to her family's long history of holding key roles in the Fourth Division, such as squad officers and medics.

Yet here he was—Makoto—granted the title of mid-tier noble outright, a leap akin to soaring straight into the heavens.

This promotion meant that even if he aged out of his duties or found himself unable to keep up with the demands of the Fourth Division, he could comfortably retire as a noble and remain part of the ruling elite of the Seireitei.

Of course, like Risa's case, the entirety of his "noble family" currently consisted of just one person—himself. To solidify his position, it was clear that expanding his lineage would be a priority alongside other pressing matters.

After some thought, Makoto quickly realized that this promotion was less a reward from Captain-Commander Yamamoto and more likely a gesture of gratitude from the Kuchiki family.

Though he hadn't deliberately pursued noble status, recalling the privileges that came with such a title made him smirk.

"Hmm… not bad at all. This way, I can formally arrange for Rangiku to reside in the Seireitei as a maid without any issue."

As Makoto was mulling over how best to wield his newfound status for practical purposes, a voice as gentle as a breeze but carrying a chill interrupted his thoughts.

"Rangiku? What a lovely name for a girl."

Makoto's eyes narrowed slightly. He turned to see Unohana standing behind him. When had she even finished the meeting?

Her serene smile remained as warm and mesmerizing as ever, but through the faint slits of her eyes, Makoto caught a glimpse of something utterly terrifying.

A cold shiver ran down his spine as he instinctively stammered out a reply.

"N-no, no, Unohana-sensei! You've got it all wrong. Rangiku is just a little girl, much younger than even Soi Fon!"

"Oh?"

Mentioning Soi Fon seemed to worsen the situation. Unohana's smile subtly tightened, and her hand, which had been casually holding her Zanpakuto, shifted slightly towards the hilt.

"So, Makoto… You've just become a noble, and you're already indulging in such… distasteful hobbies? This cannot be allowed. Otherwise, who knows how crooked you might grow in the future."

Her fingers now fully grasped the hilt as she tilted her head and spoke with a gentleness that was anything but reassuring.

"Shall I help you… straighten out a bit?"

"No, no, no need for that, Sensei!" Makoto waved his hands frantically in protest.

"Sensei, don't you remember? You've met Rangiku before. She's that little orange-haired girl from Rukongai who lost part of her soul."

"Hm?"

Unohana raised her brows slightly, appearing to recall something.

Makoto quickly elaborated, explaining how he had stumbled upon Rangiku in Rukongai by chance and learned she was searching for Gin. Out of compassion, he had offered her some care.

The tension evaporated in an instant. The ominous aura disappeared as if it had never been there, leaving only Unohana's elegant smile.

"Ah, I see. Makoto, you truly are as kindhearted as ever."

"Of course! I'm your student, after all…" Makoto replied obediently.

"Oh my, there you go again. Always finding new ways to flatter me. But no matter how you praise me, I won't feel particularly happy, you know~."

As they walked back towards the Fourth Division barracks, Unohana's playful tone carried a faint upward lilt.

"Sensei, that's not fair," Makoto replied with an exaggeratedly helpless expression.

"I wasn't trying to flatter you. I just like speaking the truth in front of you. Honestly, I could never even dream of doing anything to disrespect my teacher."

"Is that so?"

Unohana's gentle smile deepened, though her tone carried an inexplicable weight that left Makoto perplexed.

She said nothing further and led him straight into the vice-captain's office.

The moment they stepped inside, a strange sense of foreboding washed over Makoto.

And then it hit him—he had forgotten something crucial.

"No… Could it be…? Did she find it?"

His legs felt as if they were filled with lead, refusing to move. Standing at the doorway, he stared at the desk before him, where Unohana sat with a calm expression.

On the desk lay his sketchbook.

Specifically, the sketchbook he'd spent months filling with various designs of modified uniforms—with Unohana as the model.

Back then, just as he had been finalizing the designs, an emergency Hell Butterfly had arrived. In his haste to respond, Makoto had left the sketchbook in his desk drawer instead of securing it properly.

Now, after days of blissful ignorance in the human world, Unohana must have discovered it while handling official duties.

Makoto felt an overwhelming mix of guilt and shame, akin to a student being caught red-handed with contraband by their teacher. He stammered, "S-Sensei, I can explain—"

"Go ahead."

Unohana's tone remained as serene as ever.

"You may begin your excuses now. But if your explanation fails to satisfy me, surely you wouldn't hold a grudge against your sensei… would you?"

?!!

Makoto's mind raced frantically, searching for the right words to say. Finally, with an expression of pure sincerity, he began.

"First of all, in my eyes, Sensei is undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in all of Soul Society…"

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