One week later, the sun was warm and bright.
The weather had turned, spring stirring through the air as life returned to the world.
After a long period of recovery granted by Unohana Retsu, Higashi Shuuichi had finally pulled through.
That battle had likely elevated his officially recognized strength—from vice-captain level to that of a captain.
Unohana hadn't said it aloud, but from the way the Captain-Commander had looked at him when leaving that day, Shuuichi understood.
His name was now likely on the old man's list.
If a seat opened and there were no better candidates, it would probably be him drafted to fill it.
Back at the 4th Division, Shuuichi had barely stepped into his quarters when a familiar chattering voice rang out near the window.
"Vice-Captain! You're finally back from vacation! Captain said to go see her right away once you got back!"
Satou Youko, who had clearly been spying on his room from below, bounced up excitedly and leaned across the windowsill, beaming.
"Vice-Captain?" Shuuichi tilted his head.
"Yeah, yeah! I knew you were the best— Ow, ow, ow..."
Youko had been so animated with her arms that she forgot she was draped over the windowsill.
Inevitably, she fell.
A few moments later, rubbing her bruised backside, she climbed back up again.
"Vice-Captain is only a little below Captain level now, right? Way better than that Yamada guy! Captain really knows what she's doing—Aah!"
She tumbled again.
Her enthusiasm and complete lack of filter were almost touching—almost.
Shuuichi sighed and straightened his uniform, preparing to leave his quarters.
Being reinstated as Vice-Captain by Unohana—he'd seen it coming, but not this fast.
It made sense.
If she wasn't going to let him leave the 4th Division, then she needed to compensate somehow for someone who'd just demonstrated captain-class reiatsu.
Returning him to a position he once held was the obvious move.
What surprised him was how quickly she did it.
He hadn't even finished recovering, and the appointment had already gone through.
"Maybe it's because of that little interruption from Yamada Kiyonosuke that day…"
Shuuichi could only guess.
Knowing Unohana, she probably didn't appreciate Yamada's presumptuous behavior.
Better to boot him quickly and reinstate the rightful holder of the position.
Lost in thought, Shuuichi arrived at the Captain's chambers.
He knocked, entered.
To his surprise, Unohana wasn't tending to her flowers today.
She had returned to her usual serene form—braided hair draped across her front, the warm air of an older sister surrounding her.
"I lost, Captain," Shuuichi said, kneeling down before her, head bowed.
He had said these words once already on the day of their duel, but with the Captain-Commander present, Unohana had given no reply.
Now, it seemed the formality had to be repeated.
"Do you now understand the gap between yourself and a true Captain?"
Unohana nodded softly.
Shuuichi pressed his lips together. Here it comes again.
"The difference between the sun and the moon."
"And so… do you realize now just how naïve your ambition was at the time?"
Shuuichi lifted his head, not diminished in the least. In fact, his gaze had only grown firmer.
"Captain."
He inhaled deeply.
"I was born in the Rukongai. Raised there. I have no rare talents, no noble blood. I wasn't like the others who could learn Kidō in just a few tries.
But I do have something they don't—determination.
"There's a saying I heard once in the World of the Living: 'Heaven rewards diligence.'
"It took me forty years to become a Shinigami from nothing. Sixty more to go from the Academy to a seated officer. Another forty to reach Vice-Captain.
"And now, to gain Captain-class reiatsu—it only took me twenty.
"If I keep going, I believe I can become a true Captain."
"What if you never cross that final line?"
"Then I will strive until death!"
Shuuichi didn't hesitate.
To be honest, even he was nearly moved by his own speech.
Let alone Unohana, who didn't know the whole truth.
Was there a lie in what he'd said?
Perhaps—but the timeline was real, and so were the numbers.
Everything he stated could be verified, and Unohana already had.
Such willpower… paired with reiatsu that was now borderline qualified, and battle instincts sharper than most Shinigami.
Perhaps—
In that moment, Unohana no longer cared whether Shuuichi had secrets, or ambitions.
All she cared about was one thing:
Could he, before another worthy appeared from the outer districts like Zaraki Kenpachi once had—could he become her new source of joy in battle?
The answer was unclear—but the potential was there.
Even if his current swordsmanship was poor, if he had the resolve, maybe he could reach it.
And even if nothing else—if he got stronger, then they could resume that fight.
The one that ended prematurely, simply because he wasn't strong enough yet.
Unohana's voice cut through the air with quiet authority.
"Then let me ask again, Higashi Shuuichi: do you want to become a true Captain?"
Her gaze blazed.
Shuuichi met it head-on.
"Yes, Captain. I want to become a true Captain!"
"Then from today onward—you'll learn swordsmanship under me."
A sharp breath escaped Shuuichi's lips.
His mind blanked for a moment.
Had this… worked?
Was this what they called a happy accident?
He'd planned on buttering up Yoruichi for some advanced techniques… and now Unohana—the most dangerous woman in Seireitei—had decided to teach him swordsmanship personally.
This… this was not something he'd ever dared dream of.
"Yes, Captain!"