Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 109

Chapter 109 - 109: Masatsuki-sama

"I'm truly sorry, Yoruichi-sama, 3rd Seat Masatsuki. As a member of the guard, I should have been protecting you, yet instead, you both had to take care of me... This is unacceptable."

In the underground training ground's rest area, Suì-Fēng, now fully awake and dressed neatly, knelt before the two of them in a deep bow.

Yoruichi waved her hand dismissively. "No need to apologize. If anything, I should be the one saying sorry—I was the one who knocked you out, after all."

"No, Yoruichi-sama warned me. I chose to come here of my own free will," Suì-Fēng said, her face tinged with red.

I was just in the hot spring with Yoruichi-sama... but that man was there too...

The happiness on her face slowly faded, replaced by a conflicted expression as she looked at the only man in the room.

What's with that look? I contributed to that hot spring too, you know.

Also, why hasn't she tried to punch me yet?

Masatsuki Aozaki tilted his head, thinking it over.

Even if she wasn't mad for herself, surely she'd be furious that I saw Yoruichi too, right?

"M-Masatsuki-sama..." Suì-Fēng stammered, addressing him with an honorific—her tone laced with embarrassment.

Masatsuki blinked in disbelief.

Did she just call me 'sama'?

Was this some kind of polite courtesy before she attacked?

"Thank you... for saving my life!"

Masatsuki Aozaki only grew more confused.

"Saving your life? What are you talking about?"

"Back at the Nest of Maggots... you held off Kenpachi Kiganjō by yourself so that I and the other squad members could retreat."

Suì-Fēng lowered her head even further, her face flushing once again.

"Although I ended up encountering stronger enemies afterward and ended up in this state, I regret disappointing you both."

"But your kindness in saving me... I will never forget it."

"Oh, so you're talking about Kiganjō."

Masatsuki finally understood and waved a hand dismissively, looking a little embarrassed.

"Don't worry about it. It wasn't some noble act—I just charged in on instinct."

At the time, he had only just broken into Third-Class Reiatsu a few days prior. After dealing with Mayuri Kurotsuchi and casually eliminating a few assassins, he had stepped out of the dungeon to find Kiganjō bullying Gin Ichimaru.

A chance to fight a real captain wasn't something that came often.

There was no way he was going to pass up the opportunity. The fact that he saved Gin in the process was just a bonus.

Telling Suì-Fēng to lead the others away was nothing more than a spur-of-the-moment decision—he hadn't given it much thought at all.

Saving her had never even crossed his mind.

But Suì-Fēng had completely misunderstood his intentions.

Her already-flushed face deepened in color, and for the first time, admiration flickered in her eyes.

Back when they first met, she had been so quick to assume that he was nothing more than a shameless scoundrel trying to steal Yoruichi-sama's heart.

But in reality, beneath that flirtatious exterior, he was an exceptional Shinigami with an unwavering sense of self-sacrifice!

She recalled a line from the Shin'ō Academy textbooks:

A Shinigami must never consider their own life first.

Masatsuki Aozaki embodied that ideal.

A man who instinctively helped others, who threw himself into battle without hesitation—how could someone like that possibly be a bad person?

No wonder a prodigy like Gin Ichimaru willingly followed him around like an unassuming shadow. No wonder Seated Officers Ryuuseki and Izumo admired him so fervently.

If she weren't already sworn to Yoruichi-sama, she might have found herself wanting to follow him too.

Lowering her head, Suì-Fēng let her long hair conceal her face, carefully masking her emotions.

Then, suddenly—

Her eyes widened in shock.

First, she looked at her hands. Then, at her body.

No pain.

"My body..."

A look of astonishment crossed her face, and a joyful smile unconsciously tugged at her lips.

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