Soaking in the hot spring, Satoru couldn't help but narrow his eyes in contentment.
This wasn't the original red-and-white hot spring.
To reduce its side effects, he and Yoruichi had modified the formula.
The current version had significantly weaker healing properties and fewer side effects compared to the original.
Even so, it was more than enough to treat his hand.
In less than half an hour, Satoru felt his fingers regain their vitality.
He clenched his fist lightly in the water, flexed it a few times, and then grinned.
"Nice, fully recovered!"
Yoruichi was submerged in the hot spring, with only her head above the water.
She turned to glance at her shoulder.
The wound from earlier had mostly healed as well.
Pressing a hand to her shoulder, she lifted her arm and rotated it a couple of times.
"Great, I'm good too!"
The two of them turned their attention to Soi Fon.
The girl was floating in the water, eyes closed—at first glance, she looked like she had kicked the bucket.
Yoruichi swam over.
Floating beside Soi Fon, she looked at Satoru.
"Hey, Satoru, come help me hold her. I need to check Soi Fon's arm."
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
Even as he said this, Satoru quickly moved closer.
Seeing his eagerness, Yoruichi was both amused and exasperated.
Up close, Satoru couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
Among their peers, Yoruichi had developed exceptionally well—her "ambitions" were already quite substantial.
Meanwhile, Soi Fon was somewhat lacking, even by comparison.
Still, though her "ambitions" were modest, Satoru found her quite appealing.
First of all, he was not a lolicon.
Think about it—who wouldn't find Soi Fon a cool and charming girl?
Though the current Soi Fon hadn't yet developed the dazzling, gallant aura she would later possess as Suì Fēng, traces of it were already visible.
Satoru was not a lolicon—he simply admired cool girls.
To make it easier for Yoruichi to examine every bone in Soi Fon's body, he reached out and gently steadied the girl's shoulders.
Yoruichi set aside her playful demeanor and focused on the examination.
Whether it was the hot spring's healing effect or the repeated kneading of her arm by Yoruichi, Soi Fon slowly opened her eyes.
As her consciousness gradually returned, the first thing she saw was Satoru's face above her.
After a brief moment of confusion, her eyes widened slowly.
"Sa… Satoru…?"
Overwhelmed by shock, she tried to struggle upright.
Yoruichi's voice suddenly cut in:
"Soi Fon, don't move. I'm checking you over."
Hearing Yoruichi's voice, Soi Fon trembled slightly.
She quickly turned her head to look at Yoruichi, who was floating beside her, kneading her arm.
The moment she saw Yoruichi's current state, her face flushed crimson.
"Yoruichi… Yoruichi-sama…?"
So she and Yoruichi-sama were in a hot spring together…
This was truly…
…Huh?
The happiness on Soi Fon's face vanished in an instant.
First, she looked down at herself.
Then, she looked up at Satoru.
Noticing her gaze, Satoru gave her a smile.
The next moment, Soi Fon—lying flat on the water's surface—suddenly arched her back and launched a reverse roundhouse kick straight at his face—
"Whoa, what's this about?"
Satoru flashed away, reappearing on the water's surface a short distance away.
Soi Fon shot upright, standing in the water, and raised her arms to shield Yoruichi.
During their first meeting, she had been far too naive—she had actually thought he was a good person.
In truth, beneath that facade of kindness, this man was a criminal who had bewitched Yoruichi-sama!
As Yoruichi-sama's personal guard (unofficially appointed), it was her duty to block this man's sinful gaze!
Watching Soi Fon raise her arms protectively in front of Yoruichi, Satoru sucked in a sharp breath and quickly submerged himself deeper into the water.
Soi Fon found his reaction odd.
But then, as she looked at her perfectly intact arm, she froze.
"Wait… my arm?"
Uncertain, she frantically ran her hands over her arm.
After several checks, she finally confirmed it—
Her arm had been healed!
Overwhelmed with joy, she couldn't help but smile.
Behind her, Yoruichi smirked lazily.
"Soi Fon, you should properly thank Satoru this time."
"To heal your arm, he went out of his way to research and create this therapeutic hot spring."
"Without his help, you probably wouldn't have been able to stay in the Onmitsukidō much longer."
Hearing Yoruichi's words, Soi Fon couldn't help but look at Satoru with gratitude.
Yoruichi then turned to Satoru.
"Satoru, after this battle, the 2nd Division has suffered heavy losses."
"Among the Gotei 13, we'll likely drop from the top tier to the middle ranks."
"Even so… are you still willing to join?"
Satoru, still soaking in the water, shook his head with an amused chuckle.
"I joined the Second Division because we made a promise, not because of how strong the division is."
"As long as you remain in the Second Division, I won't leave either."
Hearing this, Yoruichi smiled.
Before Soi Fon could react to the loophole in those words, Yoruichi put on a stern expression and declared loudly:
"Officer Soi Fon!"
"Here!"
The young girl straightened her posture in the water without hesitation.
Yoruichi pointed at Satoru: "From today onward, you will be assigned as the in-division guard for Probationary Officer Satoru."
"The same loyalty and trust you have for me must be equally extended to Probationary Officer Satoru."
"Every command issued by Probationary Officer Satoru must be carried out resolutely and thoroughly!"
"Any questions?"
A million objections flashed through Soi Fon's eyes.
Yet, years of Onmitsukidō training left no room for hesitation: "I swear to complete the mission with my life!!"
Satoru was surprised by Yoruichi's appointment.
What exactly was this girl thinking?
It sounded like she'd just handed him a personal maid.
Though he didn't understand Yoruichi's intentions, the thought of Soi Fon becoming his subordinate made him look forward to life in the Second Division...
...
...
Early next morning, Satoru and Yoruichi returned to Seireitei.
For their unauthorized absence, Captain Unohana thoroughly baptized them with her killing intent.
Only after they desperately promised never to repeat their offense did Captain Unohana finally relent.
When Retsu Unohana left, the two exchanged glances and grinned.
Yoruichi's shoulder remained wrapped in layers of bandages.
Satoru's hands were similarly bundled into two balls.
After breakfast, still dressed in their medical wrappings, they followed Retsu Unohana toward the First Division headquarters.
The long-delayed captains' meeting, postponed due to Satoru and Yoruichi's injuries, was finally being convened today at the First Division barracks!
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