Unohana Retsu actually doesn't like flowers, even if there is a word in her name.
In the earliest days, she enjoyed battle and combat.
Later, when she realized what she was doing, she sealed away her blade and began to pursue new hobbies.
Botanical arts were one of them.
Gardening is a way of self-discipline, and over time, she fell in love with this art.
The Seireitei botanical festival is an event that she must participate in every year.
The few times before this, she had come alone.
But this time was different—this time, Arima was by her side.
On the day Kirinji Tenshiro came to Seireitei, the meeting with Arima seemed to have given Arima some warnings, but in truth, it gave Unohana Retsu and Arima an opportunity.
After that day, the rift between the two was repaired.
The wall between them was broken, and their relationship became clear.
Arima also recognized the changes in Unohana Retsu over the years and understood her heart.
However, they were both ancient beings who had lived for untold centuries, each with their own outlook. Their relationship was quite different from the romances of younger generations.
The two of them walked slowly through the market street. Unohana Retsu came across some plants that caught her interest and bought them.
As the captain of the Fourth Division, she was well-known, and many people recognized her.
When she walked closely with a mysterious man, it naturally sparked discussion.
Whether this would lead to rumors regarding Arima and Kiryu Hikifune, shortly after Arima's return to Seireitei, was still unclear. However, Arima himself did not care much about such matters.
However, even Arima did not expect what came next.
Not long after, he encountered Hikifune Kiryu.
The time spent with Unohana Retsu simply added warmth to his otherwise tranquil life in Seireitei.
However, Hikifune Kiryu unexpectedly arrived at the Academy of Spiritual Arts for a visit, which took Arima by surprise.
He initially thought that his outing with Unohana Retsu at the festival had caused some kind of commotion, and that Hikifune Kiryu had rushed over because of it.
But why would Hikifune Kiryu be in such a hurry?
Arima had no idea why he even entertained such a thought.
In the end, he had completely misjudged Hikifune Kiryu's reason for coming.
"Captain~!"
Upon seeing Arima, Hikifune Kiryu was the first to greet him.
Then, she got straight to the point. "Originally, I wasn't going to bother you. After all, you are no longer a part of the Gotei 13, but I recently hit a barrier in my research and don't know how to overcome it."
"You are an expert in spiritual cultivation. Back then, you developed various tools based on spirit energy through your analysis of spiritual seeds."
"So, I wanted to ask you for some guidance."
Arima suddenly realized that Hikifune had come to him purely to resolve a professional issue.
His assumption that she had arrived due to the festival was purely coincidental.
Arima composed himself and responded to Hikifune Kiryu, "You've explained it so clearly—looks like I have no choice but to help you."
"Thank you, Captain!"
Upon hearing this, Hikifune Kiryu beamed.
Unlike the reserved and composed Unohana Retsu, she was an energetic and free-spirited person.
This often made younger Shinigami forget her status as a senior, making it easy to interact with her. Her lively personality, combined with her beauty and charm, meant that many male Shinigami admired her.
Unohana Retsu, however, was different. While she was also kind, her serene and composed demeanor made it impossible for others to forget her esteemed status. As a result, few dared to act informally in her presence.
This contrast became even clearer to Arima as he followed Hikifune Kiryu to the Twelfth Division.
During their walk, many Shinigami greeted Hikifune Kiryu casually. Some addressed her as "Captain," while others called her "Miss Kiryu," an indication of how familiar they were with her.
Naturally, the presence of Arima alongside Hikifune Kiryu also caught the attention of many Twelfth Division members.
Younger Shinigami didn't recognize Arima.
Some of the more experienced ones, however, thought for a moment before realizing who he was.
"Oh, it's him!"
"The one rumored to have been close to Captain Hikifune?"
"I thought they lost contact since they hadn't seen each other in so long, but it seems that's not the case."
Others who recognized Arima but were unaware of his history with Hikifune Kiryu assumed that he was simply one of her old acquaintances.
"Your Twelfth Division is really lively."
Arima remarked to Hikifune Kiryu as he observed the division members.
Hikifune Kiryu's expression changed, and she spoke seriously. "Captain, what are you saying? Don't forget, you were once the captain of the Twelfth Division. Why are you calling it 'your' Twelfth Division?"
Arima was momentarily taken aback, then gave an awkward smile. "I almost forgot about that. My mistake."
Hikifune Kiryu's expression softened.
She then turned to Arima and said, "So, Captain, if you have the time, you should visit the Twelfth Division more often.
Even though you are no longer an active member of the Gotei 13, there's no rule against you visiting. You frequently stop by the Fourth Division to see Captain Unohana—so why not come back to the Twelfth Division too?"
For some reason, when Hikifune Kiryu said this, Arima detected a hint of resentment in her voice.
'I must be imagining things.'
Arima reassured himself.
If in his youth he had felt some attraction toward Unohana Retsu, that was understandable.
By the time Hikifune Kiryu had joined the Twelfth Division, Arima had already served as its captain for many years. His focus had shifted entirely to unraveling the mysteries of the world.
He had simply regarded the young Hikifune Kiryu as a younger sister.
Of course, in the original timeline, Hikifune Kiryu eventually ascended to the Royal Guard—proof of her extraordinary potential. And back then, Arima had indeed dedicated himself to mentoring her.
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