Unohana-sensei's treatment methods might've been rough, but in battlefield conditions, they were undeniably effective.
Of course, once they returned to Tenjirō Kirinji's bathhouse, many of the hastily closed wounds had to be reopened and properly healed.
"I! TOLD! YOU!"
Outside the bathhouse, Kirinji bellowed at Unohana:
"How many times do I have to say it?!"
"Don't just seal up the outside and call it done!"
"Look at this guy! His abs are fused to his stomach lining! And—where's his gallbladder?! Attached to his stomach?! You want him to live in agony?!"
Unohana tilted her head slightly, avoiding eye contact, but—unusually—she didn't wear her usual terrifying expression. Instead, she quietly observed as Kirinji carefully reopened the poor patient's abdomen, meticulously separating the organs.
Stealing techniques!
Classic Yachiru.
That said, this hands-on "training" was undeniably effective.
Even if it did cost a few Shinigami their lives.
Inside the bathhouse, Fujimiya lounged by the window, submerged up to his chest in Kirinji's special tub of milky-white healing water, his chin propped on the sill as he grinned at Unohana getting scolded.
How rare!
In all of the Genryū, only Kirinji could get away with talking to Unohana-sensei like that.
His Kaidō skills were the best in the organization.
Even Unohana occasionally dropped by to "borrow" a trick or two.
But really—was the guy just that dense, or did he genuinely not care?
Had it never occurred to him what might happen once Unohana learned everything he had to teach?
Fujimiya mused.
Maybe that was why the future Kirinji hid away in the Royal Palace—because he'd run out of medical knowledge to offer but still couldn't keep his mouth shut, leading to Unohana beating him up on sight until he fled.
Seemed plausible.
Kirinji was a chronic loudmouth.
The thought made him smirk.
Then, he noticed Unohana-sensei—who'd been stealthily studying Kirinji's Kaidō—suddenly turn her head toward him.
And smile.
Warmly.
Menacingly.
Fujimiya stiffened, then quickly pretended to be a submarine, slowly sinking into the tub with a trail of bubbles.
Glug glug glug.
"HEY—!!"
"Makoto! You in there?!"
A voice rang out before its owner arrived.
Saitō Furōfushi's lively tone carried from afar as her petite figure flickered across rooftops, her deep-purple twin tails fluttering behind her. Following his spiritual pressure, she bounded over.
CRASH!
The girl, who loved taking the straightest path possible, smashed through the roof, flipped inside, and hung upside-down from a beam, her long hair dangling.
Her single eye scanned the bathhouse, landing on the lone bubbling tub.
Her face lit up.
"HA! Thought you could hide?!"
With a small hop, she launched herself at Fujimiya's tub, splashing water everywhere as her small feet planted firmly on his shoulders. She grabbed his soaked hair.
"Makoto! Let's fight!"
"Use that move you pulled on that dark-skinned guy!"
"You've gotten way stronger!"
"Wait—don't tell me you were holding back when we sparred?!"
"Huh?!"
Clearly, once Saitō got excited, she didn't care what the other person was doing.
Girl falls from sky, lands in bathtub.
Fujimiya's face squished against her thighs as he tilted his head, sighing.
"I know you're eager, but hold on."
"Someone's definitely more eager than you."
Sure enough, the moment Saitō crashed through the roof, Kirinji's furious roar erupted from outside:
"SAITŌ, YOU LITTLE—!!"
"PAY FOR THE DAMN ROOF!!"
Saitō winced.
"Ah, crap."
She glanced down at Fujimiya, her feet kicking idly in the water.
"You got money, right?"
"Me?"
Fujimiya gestured at his bare, bandaged self.
Saitō leaned forward slightly, her petite frame perched on his shoulders as she peered curiously into the water.
What was that weird thing down there?
So strange...
Wait.
Was that...?
Suddenly, her face flushed bright red.
Her toes curled in her socks, her entire body locking up in embarrassment.
Poof!
In an instant, she vanished.
Only two small, soaked pink socks floated down from above.
A moment later, her stammering voice echoed from dozens of meters away:
"I-I'll wait at the training grounds!"
"These are your advance payment!"
"And—put some clothes on before you come!!"
Fujimiya blinked at his own body, muttering, "After hundreds of years, she still gets shy over this?"
"Obviously!"
Kirinji strode over, bonking him on the head with a wooden ladle.
"Even if you live a thousand years as a kid, you won't understand what you've never experienced!"
"Besides, idiots like Saitō—who only think about eating and fighting—probably have the brains of a toddler."
"Don't you dare take advantage of her, brat!"
"You'll die horribly!"
"Eh?!"
Fujimiya was stunned by the bluntness.
"And you!" Kirinji splashed another ladle of hot water at him. "Get out once you're healed! Stop flirting in my bathhouse!"
"You're so cold, bastard." Fujimiya complained loudly.
Then got tossed out, tub and all.
Thankfully, thanks to Kirinji's treatment, the spiritual depletion from overexertion had been fully replenished—even leaving him stronger than before.
Moreover, with the [Wall of Sighs], Fujimiya could clearly feel that after his life-or-death battle with Senjumaru, his willpower had grown exponentially. His spirit felt full, vibrant.
Both Kotsu-tachi and Dankū would undoubtedly be far more potent now.
As Fujimiya dressed quickly in the changing room, he hung the little pink socks on his sword's hilt-wrap and peeked outside.
Unohana-sensei, taking advantage of Kirinji's roof repairs, was quietly peeling back a patient's wounds to study the Kaidō healing traces before resealing them.
Once satisfied, she moved on to the next unlucky soul.
"Truly a villain."
"So cruel."
Muttering under his breath, Fujimiya slipped out the back, taking a long detour toward the training grounds.
If caught now, he'd definitely become a "respected cadaver" for her studies.
...
When he arrived, Saitō Furōfushi stood barefoot in the center, hands on her hips, brimming with energy.
...If only her face weren't still bright red.
"W-What're you staring at?!"
Noticing his gaze, she flared up instantly, yelling in flustered anger.
Fujimiya opened his mouth, then recalled Kirinji's words.
How to communicate with an airhead...
He smiled gently.
"Because... Saitō's actually really cute?"
"HAH?!"
A misfire.
Saitō's fists clenched, knuckles cracking as she bared her teeth in a ferocious grin.
"You little—!!"
"Just 'cause you've got a big thing down there, you think you can mock me?!"
"Hey!"
"You ready to die?!"