Chapter 19: Aoki Chiyoko

"No..."

Makoto weakly parted his lips, about to explain something, but it seemed that Risa had already formed a completely logical conclusion, even reaching out to gently pinch his cheek with an admiring smile.

"Makoto-kun, no wonder you look so delicate and beautiful, and your disguise is so perfect! You really look like a handsome young man..."

After a pause, Risa leaned in slightly, seemingly treating Makoto as if he were of the same gender, and said, "No wonder when I saw you at the funeral home yesterday, my heart seemed to race a little. I'm sure I'm not interested in men, but when I realized this later, I was shocked. It makes sense now that Makoto-kun is actually a woman."

At the end of her words, Risa playfully patted her chest, which was just beginning to develop, while still gently pinching Makoto's face. "Makoto, your skin is so smooth and tender, do you use milk for skincare? Let's talk about it tonight?"

??

Senju Makoto.

This... is this reasonable?

He could faintly smell the lily scent drifting from Risa, and immediately felt that this situation made absolutely no sense.

No wonder this girl had acted like a social butterfly yesterday, and no wonder her face flushed so quickly when he grabbed her wrist. Turns out she really did have something going on.

How could she be so bold at such a young age?

No... wait!

The key issue is not that I was being teased, right? I'm a pure man! Just because I look delicate doesn't mean I'm harmless. I only maintain that appearance for the sake of not drawing attention.

And what was that last comment about?

Lily flowers... don't you dare bloom on my green pastures!

Just as Makoto, slightly frustrated, was about to push Risa away and sternly reprimand her, a familiar, gentle voice suddenly sounded from behind.

But that seemingly gentle voice, which could make anyone feel as though they were wrapped in a spring breeze, now brought Makoto back to a harsh winter.

"Makoto, I didn't expect that I'd only be away for a moment, and you've already become so close with your colleagues. Well... this way, I won't have to worry about you being ostracized in the gynecology department."

Unohana looked at the slightly intimate posture of Makoto and Risa with a gentle smile that showed no change, and then added, "But after all, this is the gynecology department. Makoto, you should be mindful of the impact you make here. If you provoke any patients, they might even pull a knife on you. The doctor-patient relationship is crucial, you know."

However, these earnest and gentle words sounded almost like a silent threat in Makoto's ears.

When Unohana appeared, Risa froze for a moment but quickly recovered. She quickly pulled away from Makoto, bowed respectfully, and distanced herself with a look of embarrassment.

Unohana nodded gently, his smile still warm, and asked, "You must be the daughter of Aoki, the fifth seat? You've done quite well. Keep up the good work in the future."

"Yes!" Risa exclaimed, as if receiving a sudden burst of energy. She looked at Unohana with admiration and determination.

Her eyes seemed to glow with excitement, not merely filled with pure admiration and longing, but with a hint of a shy, almost forbidden longing—a touch of that "yuri glow" one might expect from such feelings.

It wasn't until now, when the subtle warning from Unohana had caught her attention, that Makoto noticed another figure standing beside him—another Shinigami, this one with the aura of a mature, refined woman.

No, a more accurate description would be a mix of charm, maturity, and the seriousness of a strong-willed woman—an "older sister" type. She wore the arm insignia of the Fifth Seat Officer of the Fourth Division, and her features were somewhat similar to Aoki Risa's.

This officer, Aoki Chiyoko, also noticed Makoto, but her expression remained stern, and after briefly glancing at him, she spoke, responding on Risa's behalf.

"The Captain is too generous with his praise. Risa still has much to learn, having only just completed her studies at the Funeral Hall stage."

"Chiyoko, we mustn't be too harsh on the younger ones. A bit of encouragement goes a long way in helping them progress. Risa's performance has been commendable; soon, she'll be ready to directly treat patients in our department, don't you agree?" Unohana said.

"Yes, Captain." Chiyoko responded with utmost seriousness.

Unohana nodded in approval. "Then, I propose that Makoto and Risa be partnered together. And, let's have Risa join the Fifth Rescue Unit under the direct management of the Gynaecology Department. How do you feel about that?"

Chiyoko appeared slightly surprised at the suggestion. She quickly responded, "Captain, this is too much! Risa's abilities are not yet at the level to join the Rescue Unit."

"It's fine. Giving our juniors a chance is one of the best qualities a senior can show," Unohana Retsu replied. "Besides, Makoto's emergency response skills are excellent. This partnership will allow Risa to learn directly from Makoto."

By the end of his words, Unohana's tone had become more resolute, clearly putting an end to the matter and giving no room for further objection.

"Then... I'll thank you on Risa's behalf, Captain," Chiyoko said, her voice filled with gratitude.

The Thirteenth Division was far from a loosely organized group. In fact, its internal structure was highly disciplined, with a clear hierarchy.

For most Shinigami, advancing to a high position within the Thirteenth Division was no easy task, unless they were monsters of extraordinary talent or geniuses capable of mastering their Bankai.

For an average Shinigami, becoming a Seat Officer was the peak of their career ambitions.

But unlike other Divisions, the Fourth Division didn't simply appoint its Seat Officers based on combat strength. It was harder to evaluate and categorize the skills related to medical knowledge and Kido, making the selection process more complex.

Thus, the Seat Officers of the Fourth Division, in addition to gaining recognition from the Captain, were often chosen from the members of the Rescue Units managed directly by the Seat Officers themselves. This practice ensured that the medical and Kido techniques passed down from one Seat Officer to the next.

It was akin to the structure of a medical department, but within the Fourth Division, the primary responsibility was to manage Seireitei's medical tasks. The true elite of the division were those selected to join a specific unit, such as a Rescue Unit, and were tasked with providing urgent medical aid.

Therefore, allowing Aoki Risa to join the Fifth Rescue Unit, as permitted by Unohana, was an enormous honor and encouragement for the Aoki family.

Moreover, it greatly eased the pressure on Chiyoko, whose family had long held leadership within the Fourth Division and led a Rescue Unit, thereby maintaining their position as mid-tier nobles.

When her husband had died decades ago, this was undoubtedly the best news Chiyoko had received. With Unohana's endorsement of Risa joining the Rescue Unit, the Aoki family's once-fragile noble standing would be solidified.

As she accompanied Unohana out of the department, Chiyoko couldn't help but think back to Makoto, and with a subconscious increase in favor, she found herself holding him in slightly higher regard.

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