Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

It felt like a long time had passed in a daze, but he knew that only a little over five months had gone by.

"Zhenyue..."

At the dormitory entrance, Matsumoto Rangiku was still calling out the same thing, and it seemed like the calls were getting closer and closer.

With a smile on her face, Zhenyue hummed in agreement.

Matsumoto Rangiku casually straightened Mayu's clothes: "You didn't come back from the Shihouin family, did you?"

Shinjuku looked down at Matsumoto Rangiku. She had grown quite a bit and was almost as tall as Yoruichi Shihouin. She estimated that she would surpass Yoruichi soon.

The growth process of the soul is different from that of people in the mortal world, but it can be roughly divided into three stages: fast, slow, and fast.

Children grow up faster in childhood and age faster in old age, while the effects of aging last the longest during their youth and middle age.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as that brat Toshiro Hitsugaya.

In the original timeline, he was nearly a hundred years old but still looked like a young boy, which was extremely rare even in the Soul Society.

Matsumoto Rangiku's current condition is also abnormal; she's growing too fast, while Ichimaru Gin still looks like a teenager!

Aozaki Mayuki was taken aback: "Why do you say that?"

Matsumoto Rangiku smiled and said, "They've changed their clothes, and they even have the Shihōin family crest embroidered on them. These kinds of clothes are usually only worn by members of the Shihōin family."

"If you didn't know better, you'd probably think you married into the Shihōin family."

Despite saying that, Matsumoto Rangiku's tone was still very casual, clearly not really regarding Aozaki Mayuki as a son-in-law of the Shihōin family, but it was also a strange tone... how to put it, it was more like a resentment.

The main point of her words was simply to scold Aozaki Mayuki for not coming back to find her immediately, and for making her worry until midnight.

"I almost married into the Shihōin family," Aozaki Mayuki said with a smile.

This time, it was Matsumoto Rangiku who was stunned.

This woman was a natural actress; her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Zhenyue couldn't bear to see her crying, so she quickly explained, "But I refused. After all, I still have great ideals to realize, and it would be inconvenient to realize them after I marry into the family."

Matsumoto Rangiku immediately stopped, pouted, and whispered, "Then... you have to stay with me tonight."

This was something she had wanted to say for many years, but she had nothing then, so she didn't dare to bring it up. Now, as a beautiful blonde woman with a youthful and elegant demeanor, she had become much bolder.

Aozaki Mayuki lowered her head, sniffed, and smelled a unique fragrance of a young girl. After a long while, she said, "I'm not going anywhere tonight."

Matsumoto Rangiku laughed: "Can I take that as you being captivated by me?"

Aozaki Mayuki nodded and said, "I think so. After all, you are Matsumoto Rangiku, and I am Aozaki Mayuki. Isn't it natural for me to be captivated by you?"

“Sweet talk.” Matsumoto Rangiku squinted. “But I just like listening to it.”

At this point, the two had left the living room and entered the bedroom, where the bed was faintly visible in the darkness.

Matsumoto Rangiku stopped and smiled, "Go wash up quickly, and go to bed early after you're done, it's getting late..."

Aozaki Mayuki nodded, a pang in his heart, and looked at her intently. He felt there was something else behind Matsumoto Rangiku's words.

Matsumoto Rangiku didn't wait for Aozaki Mayuki's response. She lay on the bed, stretching, and inadvertently revealed her increasingly impressive figure, which was wrapped tightly in the large quilt.

Chapter 35 Floral Materials

Even as he accompanied Yoruichi Shihouin to the Fourth Division the following evening, Aozaki Mayuki was still somewhat dazed.

He was not a clueless fledgling, but a seasoned swordsmanship prodigy.

Given his condition, he shouldn't have been mentally disturbed by Matsumoto Rangiku last night.

Did she somehow discover the power of her "fingertips"? What a terrible thing...

Aozaki Mayuki rubbed his head, feeling a headache coming on. He had a hunch that Matsumoto Rangiku might awaken a strange power.

Beside her, Yoruichi Shihouin, dressed in night clothes, walked quietly through the streets and alleys, making no attempt to conceal herself.

On the road, Death seemed to recognize her, his expression changed drastically and he hurriedly moved away, clearly knowing that this girl was a troublesome person.

Aozaki Mayuki watched Yoruichi Shihouin stroll by; even wrapped in her night clothes, she still looked incredibly charming.

"After we hand the hot spring over to Kisuke, when will we be able to use it?" Aozaki Mayuki asked. "We can't wait until I surpass my teacher and the hot spring is still empty, can we?"

“It shouldn’t take more than a few years,” Yoruichi Shihōin said in a low voice. “Kisuke has almost finished researching the information on the Urahara family. Now all that’s missing is a real hot spring as experimental material.”

"Where exactly is that hot spring?" asked Aozaki Mayuki.

"The safest and most dangerous place in the Fourth Division—the captain's quarters. That's where my target is," Yoruichi Shihouin said.

Safety and danger are relative.

It is the safest place for the Fourth Division, but the most dangerous for the invaders.

“No wonder I was asked to distract Captain Unohana,” said Aozaki Mayuki. “Then, the remaining dangerous person in the Fourth Division is Vice-Captain Yamada Seinosuke.”

"That guy is a fanatic who idolizes Captain Unohana."

Originally, Yoruichi Shihouin had just remembered a character with a name in the original work. Hearing this, she assumed he was intentionally reminding her and nodded, saying:

"He's not suited for combat. His spiritual pressure is only at the vice-captain level. With his strength, he shouldn't be able to detect me."

Mayuki shook her head: "I have faith in you. But we're almost at the Fourth Division, shouldn't we give them some face and part ways here?"

"I'm leaving first." Yoruichi Shihouin rolled her eyes at him. "You better be careful, don't get tortured to death by that woman Unohana."

"Uh……"

Aozaki Mayuki thought to himself that everyone in the Fourth Division was a blabbermouth, and that even Yoruichi knew about the embarrassing things he had done under Unohana's tutelage.

On the other hand, it's late at night and it's not during the swordsmanship class. Would it be inappropriate for me to suddenly go to Unohana and say that I want to learn swordsmanship?

It seems a bit suspicious.

After much deliberation, Zhenyue had another idea and decided to turn back first.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yoruichi Shihouin asked.

"I'm going to buy something. Wait for me outside the Fourth Division." Aozaki Mayuki smiled faintly. "Don't act on your own. Wait for me to find Captain Unohana first."

"Alright then." Yoruichi Shihouin shrugged. "I'll go wait for you."

Aozaki Mayuki turned her head and looked around. Her eyes lit up, and she found her target deep in the street.

Fifteen minutes later, Shinjuku, carrying colorful flowers, arrived at the gate of the Fourth Division barracks and informed the Shinigami on guard.

"Why did this guy buy so many flowers?"

Hidden in the shadows, Yoruichi Shihouin was puzzled and narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Captain Unohana is over a thousand years old, does he really have such thoughts?"

She lay on the roof watching Zhenyue's back, her brows furrowed slightly, and she snorted unhappily, seemingly angry with someone.

Guided by the Shinigami of the Fourth Division, Aozaki Mayuki quickly entered the squadron barracks.

As he opened the dojo door, Retsu Unohana gave him a strange look: "You're quite popular..."

After thinking for a long time, Aozaki Mayuki finally understood what Unohana Retsu meant, and shook her head: "What are you thinking? This isn't a gift from a girl; I bought it for you."

Unohana tilted her head and looked at him for a while, her gaze becoming increasingly strange: "Between you and me, though we are not in the name of teacher and student, we are in reality teacher and student. You gave me these flowers..."

She glanced at the flowers; a pale pink branch wasn't particularly eye-catching, but the cherry blossoms were quite lovely.

"You really don't see anything wrong with it?"

Aozaki Mayuki pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I really didn't feel that way."

"I don't know much about flower arranging, so I didn't know which kind of flowers you liked. I just bought them all."

"If there's anything you don't like, you can tell me, and I won't buy it next time."

Unohana Retsu was stunned. Now that you mention it, it's true. There were all sorts of flowers among them; who would give chrysanthemums when expressing their feelings?

Sending flowers might seem unusual to others, but to me, it's perfectly normal! After all, everyone in the Fourth Division knows I enjoy flower arranging...

Unohana Retsu maintained her smile and casually said:

"Why are you suddenly sending me flowers? I've been learning kendo from you for so long, and you've never given me anything before."

"..." Aozaki Mayuki didn't know what to say.

He sensed a hint of anger in her words, but couldn't understand where the anger came from, taking it only as a reminder to respect his teacher.

To be honest, I really feel guilty towards her. Even though I spent more time with her, I was closer to old man Yamamoto.

Anyone who values ​​themselves would feel uncomfortable being treated differently.

But when this woman taught him swordsmanship, she would occasionally reveal a murderous aura, so he dared not act as shamelessly as he did with Yamamoto.

Now it seems I misunderstood her. Perhaps I accidentally lost control of my murderous intent during practice. I should get closer to her.

"I usually receive guidance from Captain Unohana, and today I've come to trouble you at this time. These flowers are just a small token of my appreciation."

Aozaki Mayuki smiled:

"I heard that the Fourth Division holds a flower arranging party every week. I wonder if I, as an outsider, can participate."

"You are the Captain-General's disciple, how can you be an outsider? If you are interested, you are welcome to participate."

Retsu Unohana shook her head, as if she felt that arguing with a young person was not the right mindset for her, and then she laughed.

When kendo was mentioned, she suddenly found Zhenyue much more agreeable.

A man who is so devoted and dedicated to her life's work is truly one in a million; you might not meet one like him in your lifetime.

Even the child I met hundreds of years ago couldn't compare to the man before me.

The little guy who fights on instinct is ultimately lacking compared to those who truly walk the "path".

For someone like her, who is willing to give her life to explore the way of the sword, the discussion of the way of the sword is a true enjoyment on a spiritual level.

The man in front of her was the one who could bring her this kind of enjoyment; not only did she teach him swordsmanship, but he could also give back to her.

Even the swordsmanship that he thought he had already reached the pinnacle of, he recently vaguely saw a path that he could continue to improve upon.

Chapter 36 We Must Get Our Revenge

It's a pity he was too weak, otherwise...