With Unohana Retsu's lesson finished and the practical evaluation beginning, over a hundred students each took their turn demonstrating their technique.
"It's really hard to perform."
"This isn't something regular people can learn."
"Should I focus on improving my combat ability instead...?"
Kaido demanded talent, and very few possessed the aptitude required to master it.
Even those with potential needed years of training before they could use Kaido effectively.
None of the students had managed to fully heal their test mice so far.
Sitting across from Yuta were the three students he'd met earlier: Mikami and Weasui among them.
Mikami Asui extended her right hand toward the injured mouse. Her left hand rested lightly on top of her right as she channeled her spiritual pressure into the wound.
Pale green light glowed from her palms. Spirit particles gathered at the site of the injury, beginning to pulse with energy. Granulation formed across torn flesh until the mouse's tail fully regenerated.
"She did it!"
"She actually pulled it off in one go!"
"Could Mikami Asui be a natural talent at Kaido?"
Voices around the room buzzed with amazement.
Mikami Asui lowered her head, overwhelmed by the attention. Unohana Retsu had approached silently with Kotetsu Isune by her side, admiration visible in her gaze.
"To be able to use Kaido successfully on your first try is quite the accomplishment. What's your name?"
"Th-thank you, Captain Unohana… My name is Mikami Asui." Her tone was bright, clearly delighted by the praise.
"Would you be interested in joining our Fourth Division after graduation?"
"Ah... this... I-I haven't thought about it," Mikami stammered, suddenly flustered.
Unohana gave a gentle smile, her presence calm and warm. "It's alright. You have time to decide before graduation. Even after joining another squad, you may transfer to the Fourth Division whenever you wish."
"Th-thank you, Captain Unohana..." Mikami bowed deeply, face glowing from both pride and embarrassment.
"You were amazing, Mikami."
"Seriously. Looks like you're really gifted in healing techniques!"
Her friends smiled with pride alongside her.
Juri placed her hand over Mikami's and sighed. "Captain Unohana personally invited you to the Fourth Division! That's huge! Why didn't you say yes immediately?"
Mikami looked into her friend's eyes and spoke softly. "I want us to be in the same division after graduation… so we can always be together like we were in school."
"You…" Juri was at a loss for words. Having a friend like this made everything else feel less important.
Rukia Kuchiki greeted Unohana calmly. "Captain Unohana."
Unohana nodded back. "Since you're already present, why don't you show me how much your skill has developed?"
Rukia nodded once in agreement.
She had also originally learned healing techniques from Unohana Retsu herself.
Back at Shin'ō Academy, she'd been known as one of their most gifted Kaido users. Much like Mikami Wesui now, she had succeeded on her very first attempt as a student.
Her attention turned toward mouse No. 78 on her table.
It lay limp and barely breathing with a gash across its belly. Its legs jerked weakly every so often, proving it was barely alive.
Green light filled Rukia's palm as she reached out and covered the wounded mouse in healing energy.
Within moments, granulation formed over the injured area on its belly. The light pulsed steadily as flesh reknitted itself. Before long, the mouse was completely healed and scurried around inside its box.
Unohana gave a small nod. "Yes… your skill has improved quite a bit."
Praise rippled quickly through the classroom.
"Kuchiki-san is incredible."
"She really is from one of the four main families..."
Rukia faced Yuta with expectation in her expression. "You should try too. Let's see how skilled you are at it."
Mouse No. 79 lay in Yuta's box and looked nearly identical to the others around it-a minor tail wound distinguished it from the rest-but it wasn't moving at all.
That struck Yuta as odd. Most injured mice at least stirred a little…but this one remained completely motionless in the box.
Yuta combed his thoughts for every visual detail he remembered from watching Unohana earlier-from how she moved, her posture, to how her spiritual energy flowed and transformed throughout the technique's casting process.
Where many saw only grace and calm when they looked at Unohana Retsu, Yuta saw something far different beneath the surface-a monstrous weight in her pressure, coiling around her soul thick as blood-soaked chains from some unseen prison.
The Kaido?
To manipulate one's spiritual pressure so precisely that it activates self-repair within another being... that was no small feat.
[You observed Unohana Retsu using Kaido and successfully grasped an Advanced Kaido Technique.]
Light appeared in Yuta's outstretched right hand as he tried to mimic it-the same pale glow seen in both Mikami's and Rukia's techniques-but this one felt distinctly gentle with warmth rising from his palm like spring sunlight slipping through cloudbreaks.
Rukia's eyes widened as she watched him channel energy without effort.
Yuta… actually had talent for healing?
Could she have been wrong about him entirely?
The surrounding students reacted instantly-the mood in the room cracked wide open with shock and disbelief echoing between groups of desks-
"I didn't expect Yuta to be so good at Kaido!"
"He might be another healing-type genius!"
"Wait… who is he again? Does anyone know where he came from?"
Even Mikami Asui sat blinking at what she saw before her-
She hadn't expected anyone new to show natural affinity for Kaido technique besides herself… but this? This unexpected development made it feel like only two students in their class truly stood apart from the rest now.
Farther back near his station, Hirano Sora stared intently at his own hands where his healing light fluctuated wildly before dimming out completely.
His technique collapsed within seconds of beginning.
He narrowed his eyes toward Yuta-
"So what?" he hissed under his breath. "It's only Kaido."
His tone was bitter now, thick with jealousy gnawing at his throat-
"Power comes from Hadō and strength in battle, not fucking mouse healing…"
Unohana gave Yuta another long look as he focused on mouse No. 79.
Even though the tail began to regenerate slowly beneath his hands-
The mouse hadn't moved at all since he started casting his own spell-
That froze him mid-motion for half a second-
What… was wrong?
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