Nobu didn't know exactly what the Kotetsu sisters had said after he left, but he could guess it was certainly about him.
After all, Isane's affection score had suddenly jumped to 78.
And Kiyone's was now at 53—an unexpected bonus, though thinking about it, it made sense.
In the original storyline, Kiyone admired Ukitake to the point of near infatuation.
Now that Nobu had cured the lung disease that had plagued Ukitake for so long, Kiyone naturally felt a deep gratitude toward him. Add to that what had happened yesterday, and she had clearly already started treating Nobu as "one of her own."
On top of this, even Ise Nanao and Soi Fon—though he wasn't all that close to either—each had over ten points of favorability toward him.
That alone gave Nobu a decent boost.
[Reiatsu Level: Lv48]
[Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: 46%]
Still within the range of Third-Class spiritual rank, and his Zanpakutō had yet to touch the threshold of bankai.
...
The next day, Nobu first went to the medical ward to heal the critically injured patient Isane had mentioned yesterday. Afterward, when he went to see Unohana Retsu, he also ran into Kotetsu Isane.
While Nobu was briefing Unohana on his concrete plans for the future development of Fourth Division, Isane seemed a little absentminded beside them—her eyes kept drifting to him, her cheeks coloring now and then, lost in her own little world.
Nobu found it amusing but didn't call her on it. After finishing his report, he simply took his leave.
"Isane?"
"Ah—Taichō!"
"You seem distracted," Unohana asked with a gentle smile.
Isane stiffened. "I'm sorry, Taichō. I was spacing out."
"Is it because of Tachikawa?"
"…"
Her cheeks reddened, lips pressed together in silence.
Unohana chuckled softly but said no more.
...
At midday, Nobu paid a visit to the Tenth Division.
Though the Gotei 13 exchange meet had ended, he had no intention of dropping the private sparring exchanges between Fourth Division and other squads.
The Head-Captain had already approved, so today's visit was to remind Matsumoto Rangiku that the match between their two divisions would proceed as planned.
When she saw him, she didn't bother to hide her annoyance. "What are you doing here?"
Nobu smiled warmly. "Naturally, I was missing my good onee-san."
"Ugh!" The moment that title hit her ears, Rangiku shivered, goosebumps prickling her arms in disgust.
"Don't call me that!"
She even glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby before relaxing slightly.
Nobu spread his hands innocently. "According to our earlier agreement, I won that match. But since you refused to call me 'good onii-san,' I can only call you 'good onee-san.'"
"That fight I lost, sure—but what does that have to do with what you call me? I swear, you've got some kind of creepy fetish!"
"What, I shouldn't call you onee-san?"
"Not in such a gross way!"
"Relax. I'll only call you that in private."
"That's still not okay!"
"Why not?"
"Because…" Rangiku faltered. "No reason! It just isn't!"
"But I'm just holding you to our agreement."
"Our agreement wasn't like this—and you weren't the one who lost!"
Hearing that, Nobu's smile only deepened. "Oh? So you do remember our agreement."
Rangiku froze, then glared at him. "You little brat—you tricked me!"
Still grinning, Nobu said, "Then shouldn't you make good on it?"
Rangiku snorted, folding her arms across her chest so that her forearms pressed up the full swell beneath them.
"I refuse. What can you do about it?"
"You're being unreasonable."
She ignored him.
"No matter. I'm a generous man. If good onee-san doesn't want to say it, I won't force you."
"Ugh!"
She shivered again, quickly saying, "Can't you stop calling me that?"
"Call me good onii-san, or I'll keep calling you that."
Her teeth clenched in frustration. She had no real way to deal with him—but then her eyes flickered with an idea, and she smiled brightly. "Trying to provoke me? You know, hearing you call me good onee-san… I can handle that just fine, right, good otōto?"
Nobu smiled right back. "Of course. I just worry I might get so used to it that I slip and call you that in front of other people."
"You—!"
She was nearly tearing her hair out. And the more he acted like this, the less she wanted to give in.
"Go ahead and call me that—let's see who's embarrassed when the time comes."
Nobu said lazily, "I'm not afraid of embarrassment. I just wonder how certain people would feel if they overheard."
Certain people?
Rangiku's brow furrowed.
Nobu said casually, "Oh, by the way—I healed the ones I injured yesterday, so Ichimaru-fukutaichō and the rest left the same day."
The realization hit her instantly—but her first reaction wasn't flustered outrage. It was surprise that Nobu knew about this at all.
Her past wasn't something she broadcast. Only a handful of those closest to her knew.
How did this guy know…?
Still—if Gin actually heard what Nobu was implying…
Rangiku bit her lip, cursing him silently in her heart.
Her expression shifted to a sweet smile as she stepped right up to him, wrapping her arms around his and pressing him deep into the soft, yielding warmth at her chest.
Pouting up at him with feigned innocence, she leaned close to his ear. "You really have the heart to threaten me like that?"
Her voice was a soft, velvety purr, her breath warm against his ear, the intoxicating press of her body enveloping his arm until he nearly lost control.
Hiss…
Forcing himself to stay composed, he lowered his voice. "Then call me good onii-san, just once."
Before she could answer, another voice cut in—
"What are you two doing?"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō stood a short distance away, looking at them with faint exasperation. After all this time, he knew exactly what kind of person his vice-captain was—and seeing this scene, he immediately assumed it was Rangiku causing trouble.
She pulled back with a small pout, letting go of Nobu.
Nobu, for his part, looked a bit reluctant. "I came to discuss the inter-division sparring with Rangiku-san."
Rangiku blinked. "We're still doing that?"
She'd assumed that after yesterday's exchange meet, the matches between divisions would be canceled.
"We are."
Rangiku thought for a moment. "Then you'd better talk to our taichō about it."
As she turned away, she made sure to shoot him a sidelong glare.
---
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