"Well, that's…"
"It's not like I ca because I heard you, Araki, got hurt during that fight with that wicked woman Unohana or anything!"
"I was just... a little worried about your condition, so I ca all this way to check on you…"
After hearing Araki's words, Saito Furuobushi turned slightly to the side, purposefully avoiding eye contact.
It seed she was too nervous to et Araki's gaze—afraid that if she did, she'd expose sothing she didn't want him to know…
With her body turned away, she absently played with a strand of her long purple hair that had fallen to her chest, speaking softly and bashfully.
"Eh?! This girl is totally different from earlier…"
"Oi, oi, she wasn't acting this cute with us just now!"
"She's way too easy to read. Her emotions are all over her face."
"Seriously, the only thing missing is the word 'like' stamped on her forehead!"
The mbers of the 11th Division—beaten black and blue by Saito Furuobushi earlier—watched in silent disbelief at her sudden transformation.
"W-Well…"
"Since you're clearly not dead, I'll be going now."
After giving Araki a once-over and confirming he was unhard, Furuobushi exhaled in relief. She silently cursed the dark-skinned idiot who gave her false info, then turned to leave.
"So all that fighting was for nothing?!"
The bruised and battered 11th Division mbers lying on the ground twitched at her words. They had thought Furuobushi had co to mock Captain Unohana's defeat…
But it turns out she only ca to check on Araki?!
"Since you're already here, you can leave later."
"I was just about to go find you anyway."
Araki wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by. He smiled faintly and waved to stop his 'little white mouse' from leaving.
"Huh? You… You were going to find ?"
At his words, Saito Furuobushi's twin lavender ponytails bounced in excitent.
Just like the shinigami said—her mood was always written right on her face!
"Yeah. There's sothing only you can help with."
"Only I… can help you?"
Her pupils quivered slightly at his words.
"Ahem…"
Trying to keep her composure, Furuobushi cleared her throat and said haughtily, "W-Well… since you're asking so sincerely, I suppose I can consider helping you."
"Great. Let's go~"
Araki didn't bother with any more pleasantries. After all, they were old friends. He knew how to interpret every one of Saito Furuobushi's tsundere outbursts.
Without warning, he scooped her up off the ground and walked off toward the sword dojo inside the 11th Division barracks.
"W-Wait! Put down! I can walk on my own!"
Despite her protests, Furuobushi didn't resist at all. Her body, unlike her words, was completely cooperative.
As the two disappeared inside the barracks, only the shinigami of the 11th Division remained outside—staring with wide eyes, mouths agape in disbelief.
After a mont of stunned silence, soone couldn't hold it in anymore.
Whispers like mosquito wings filled the air as they grumbled:
"Why him, dammit… First it's Captain Unohana, now it's Captain Saito?!"
"Just how much luck does this guy have with terrifying won?!"
"And from the looks of it, it's obvious that Captain Saito has a thing for our Captain Araki! Captain Araki is seriously a scumbag!"
"Damn it! Isn't our new captain just a little more handso than us, with a bit more strength, better background, higher EQ and IQ?!" another shinigami complained bitterly. "Why is he so popular with won? Wasn't it enough that he provoked our forr captain, Unohana? Now he's wrapped up with Captain Saito of the 6th Division? Don't tell he's aiming for Captain Kadori of the 8th Division too?!"
"Shhh! Shut up! You might jinx it! The Soul Society might be big, and the Gotei 13 might be strong, but there are only three female captains in total…"
"Especially now that Captain Unohana has been defeated by Captain Araki! That just leaves two! And Captain Saito already has an ambiguous relationship with him! How dare you curse Captain Kadori?!"
Compared to the decisive and cold-blooded killer Unohana, who seemingly doesn't even understand love…
And compared to Saito Fukurokushi, the foul-mouthed, hot-headed tsundere...
Captain Kadori Takensai of the 8th Division, with her calm, gentle nature and virtuous deanor, was like the very image of a perfect woman. A "three-no" (no emotion, no desire, no response) big-breasted cutie—she was the white moonlight in the hearts of all the Gotei 13's male shinigami!
If even Captain Kadori falls to Araki's charms, then forget just the 11th Division—shinigami from every division would have no choice but to call Araki:
"The most affectionate man in the Soul Society!"
"The founder of all scumbag n in Soul Society history!"
anwhile, in the 11th Division's Swordplay Dojo—
Araki unceremoniously tossed Saito Fukurokushi, who had been draped over his shoulder, across the dojo floor.
"Huh?!"
Still dazed, Fukurokushi blinked in confusion. She had imagined many scenarios… but being brought to the sword dojo was not one of them.
"Co," Araki said calmly, hooking his finger at her. "Draw your Zanpakutō and strike at . Head-on."
"...Huh?!"
Saito Fukurokushi was stunned. Once again, Araki's words went beyond anything she expected.
"I don't know what you're planning," she muttered, shaking her head to dispel her flustered thoughts, "but since you've asked to draw my sword… don't expect to hold back."
With a sharp gleam in her eyes, Fukurokushi drew her Zanpakutō in one fluid motion. The mont her hand wrapped around the hilt, her entire aura shifted—her killing intent surging forth like a wave.
This was the Gotei 13 of old, where every mber was raised on death and bloodshed. The tales of the original generation being full of killers weren't just rumors...
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