Shinigami: Medicine Can't Save The Soul Reaper Society

Huh?

Senju Makoto.

Wait—this reaction… isn't this a little off?

Makoto had anticipated that Fon might react strongly, perhaps even interrupt him before he could finish his words. Maybe she'd pieced together Yoruichi's whereabouts based on the traces left in the underground space and already understood the situation.

But… this? What on earth?

Makoto stared at Fon in bewilderment, her reaction completely overturning the mental script he'd prepared in advance.

Fon opened her mouth, as though to speak, but then hesitated. She turned her head slightly, awkwardly avoiding his gaze as she muttered, "Makoto… can we not talk about this? Let's just… train in shunpo like before."

"Huh…? Oh, sure…"

Makoto agreed, albeit somewhat puzzled.

Still, one thing seemed clear now—Soi Fon… had perhaps finally moved past the emotional shadow of being abandoned by Yoruichi?

But wasn't this way too fast?

In the original timeline, she'd been consumed by resentment for over a century, bottling up her loneliness and sorrow until it all erupted when she finally reunited with Yoruichi.

'So how did Fon manage to move on so quickly from the emptiness of losing someone so important? Did she… find something else to fill that void?'

Before Makoto could delve deeper into the thought, Fon's petite figure lunged at him again. Her lithe frame spun through the air, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick straight toward his chest.

Makoto raised an arm to block, retreating swiftly as he evaded the onslaught of her relentless hakuda strikes, sharp and swift like a torrential storm. His figure flickered, vanishing into the distance.

For a time, the vast underground training space became a battlefield of chase and retreat, attack and counterattack. Their movements ranged from wild and ferocious to breathtakingly fast, leaving behind an increasing number of marks across the entire area.

As the night wore on, it wasn't until both had exhausted a considerable amount of stamina that their long-overdue shunpo training finally came to an end.

Watching Fon's now-content silhouette as she departed, Makoto couldn't help but smile.

Even if he didn't entirely understand the almost childish simplicity of her emotions, the outcome seemed positive.

Moreover, Makoto noticed that Fon's mastery of shunpo and hakuda had improved significantly during this time.

Conversely, sparring with her had also enhanced his own skills. A training partner like Fon, perfectly suited to his current needs, was truly one of a kind in the Soul Society.

As Makoto glanced at the time and prepared to return to the Fourth Division as usual, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the hot spring in the corner of the training ground.

This hot spring held significant memories for him.

According to Yoruichi's boasts, this spring was Urahara Kisuke's replica of a certain hot spring from the Royal Guard. It was said to possess extraordinary healing properties, accelerating recovery from injuries and replenishing spiritual energy, even benefiting spiritual bodies.

In the original version, Kurosaki Ichigo had also used this hot spring to heal his wounds…

When Yoruichi had still been around, she would occasionally tease Makoto about soaking in the spring together. Naturally, he'd always refused to take the bait.

It wasn't hard to imagine what might happen if he ever gave in. There was a 49% chance Yoruichi would steal his clothes as a prank, another 49% chance she'd actually soak with him and use it as blackmail material later…

And the remaining 2%? Yoruichi might do something even more outrageous, beyond what words could describe.

Thus, Makoto had always firmly declined. But that didn't mean he wasn't a little curious about the spring.

'Now that I think about it… it has been a while since I last enjoyed a proper soak. Relaxing for a bit doesn't seem like a bad idea. Besides, no one's around…'

A short while later…

Makoto reclined in the hot spring, a white towel draped over his head. Eyes closed, he let himself sink into the familiar and tranquil warmth.

For a moment, he felt every pore on his body opening up, the water's energy—similar to spiritual power—seeping into his being.

Though the effects were negligible for someone of his level, the sensation of being enveloped by soothing heat and allowing every muscle to relax was… blissful.

Exhaling deeply, Makoto felt the accumulated fatigue of the past days slowly melt away.

At that moment, an unbidden thought surfaced in his mind:

'I should really ask Omaeda to build a private hot spring in Captain Unohana's courtyard. Who knows… maybe someday she'll invite me to soak together?'

The mental image was so vivid that Makoto couldn't help but smile, his body and mind gradually slipping into complete relaxation.

But then—

"Meow~~~"

A languid cat's meow abruptly snapped him out of his reverie.

Makoto froze.

Where did that sound come from?

Slowly opening his eyes, he was met with the sight of a black cat hovering lazily on the water's surface, its golden eyes half-closed as it locked gazes with him.

Its sleek, jet-black fur glistened, its muscular frame and strong limbs exuding a quiet power. Inside its ears, a faint purple tint—identical to Yoruichi's—caught the light.

Then—

"Meow~~"

The black cat paddled gracefully closer, placing a paw lightly on Makoto's chest.

In a deep, resonant male voice, it purred, "Makoto-kun, guess who I am?"

Makoto's head tilted back slightly, his entire being overcome with despair.

A talking black cat, with a voice that deep? There was only one in existence: Yoruichi Shihōin.

What's more, as Makoto regained full awareness, he could clearly sense the Seed of the Forest embedded in Yoruichi's body.

'Now what?!'

For a moment, Makoto felt as though he weren't soaking in a hot spring, but in a pool of molten lava.

Yoruichi, that mischievous troublemaker… When had she returned to the Soul Society? And why was she boldly running around in this form?!

Does she want everybody to know that she's here?!

What terrified Makoto the most was that regardless of his choice, with Yoruichi's penchant for teasing, there was an overwhelming likelihood that she'd revert to her human form.

And everyone knew—when Yoruichi transformed back from her feline state, she was always completely… unclothed.

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