Bleach: Watch Closely, This Is How You Use a Zanpakutō novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79 - 79: Successor to the Captain-Commander

"Ukitake-senpai, what are you doing here?"

Masatsuki Aozaki watched as Rangiku Matsumoto and Gin Ichimaru left after their visit.

The next moment, he saw a familiar figure—a handsome man with white hair being wheeled into the room and placed on a hospital bed.

Yoruichi Shihōin had left the 4th Division early that morning. As the captain of the 2nd Division, she had plenty of matters to handle.

"I haven't been feeling well these past few days and have been coughing up quite a bit of blood, so I'm here for treatment," Jūshirō Ukitake said, leaning back against the bed before covering his mouth and coughing twice.

Masatsuki Aozaki frowned in concern. "Coughing up blood? That doesn't sound like a minor issue."

"It's just a little blood. Happens all the time. No need to worry—I'm used to it." Ukitake waved a hand dismissively with a smile.

Masatsuki muttered, "You're used to it..." Then, suddenly snapping back to reality, he blurted out, "Don't get used to something that terrifying, Senpai!"

Ukitake gave a faint smile, but before he could respond, a familiar voice cut in.

"3rd Seat Masatsuki, don't shout in the infirmary! You'll disturb the other patients!"

"Yes, I know."

The lingering memories from his past life told Masatsuki that raising his voice in a hospital really wasn't appropriate, so he shrank back slightly, feeling a bit guilty.

Turning his head, he caught sight of someone familiar and widened his eyes in surprise.

"Seinosuke Yamada? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Hah!? This is the 4th Division. Why wouldn't I be here?"

Seinosuke Yamada looked thoroughly unimpressed.

Frankly, he would much rather be serving at Retsu Unohana's side than looking after a couple of sickly patients.

"And another thing, Masatsuki, as the Lieutenant of the 4th Division, why do you think you can just call me by name?"

Masatsuki Aozaki scoffed. "It's just one rank difference!"

"A rank is a rank!"

"I'm also a Special Advisor to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, so technically, we should be on equal footing." _{free we\bnove(l).com}

"The what? That sounds made up."

"Alright, you two," Ukitake interjected, sighing. "As colleagues, you should value harmony. No need to argue."

To his surprise, both Masatsuki and Seinosuke turned to him simultaneously and said in unison:

"Senpai, shut up. I know exactly what kind of guy this is—you cannot let him get away with things."

"Captain Ukitake, you should just focus on recovering. You can't keep showing up at the 4th Division every other day."

Ukitake instantly fell silent, shoulders slumping as if physically wounded. It was hard to say which of them had hurt him more.

"Speaking of which, as a noble, shouldn't you be receiving treatment at Shin'ō Medical Institute?" Masatsuki asked, puzzled.

"Idiot," Seinosuke scoffed. "The Shin'ō Medical Institute only treats members of the Four Great Noble Houses and the upper nobility. Captain Ukitake, as a lower noble, isn't eligible for treatment there."

Hearing that, Jūshirō Ukitake lowered his head even further in quiet defeat.

"You better show some respect to my senior!" Masatsuki Aozaki snapped. "He's a captain of the Gotei 13—at the very least, he deserves a private room, right?"

Even if he knew Seinosuke Yamada was just being sharp-tongued, the way he spoke made it hard to stay in a good mood.

"With everything that happened the night before last, you're lucky to even have a deluxe room," Seinosuke said flatly. "You don't exactly have the right to be picky."

"If we can't change the room, at least get him a better caretaker." Masatsuki sighed in frustration. "Why is it you of all people? Where's Captain Unohana?"

"You? You think you're worthy of having Captain Unohana personally take care of you?" Seinosuke sneered, showing no mercy.

For once, Masatsuki didn't argue. Instead, he nodded. "Right now, I'm not. But in the future? Who knows?"

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify