"These are pastries I just made. Little Kenma, you should try one."
At Hikifune Kirio's strong recommendation, Kenma picked one up, put it in his mouth, and his eyes immediately lit up.
"Delicious!"
Besides their excellent taste and texture, the most important thing about these foods Hikifune Kirio made was that after eating them, Kenma felt his recently consumed spiritual pressure instantly replenish, and his spirits recovered significantly.
Seeing the fatigue vanish from Kenma's face, Hikifune Kirio straightened her back, a proud smile on her face.
"I'm glad you like them."
"These are all pastries I made by hand, and they're infused with a new technology. Eating them can eliminate exhaustion and restore one's energy."
'New technology?' Kenma's heart stirred. He immediately understood.
He remembered that in the original story, Hikifune Kirio was the one who invented the temporary soul technology—that is, the Gikonmaru—which was why she was promoted to the Zero Division.
Later, Ichigo and the others were also treated to a feast by Hikifune Kirio. After eating that food, which contained the essence of Gikon, their spiritual pressure rose to a whole new dimension.
'So this technology has already been created at this point in time.'
Kenma assessed himself. After eating the pastries, although his spiritual pressure recovered quickly, there wasn't much of an increase.
'It seems this technology is still far from the level of excellence it reached during the Thousand-Year Blood War.'
Hikifune Kirio's face showed sincere gratitude. "Little Kenma, I've been wanting to treat you properly to express my thanks."
"A few days ago, you came to the 12th Division looking for Kisuke and the others. By the time I heard the news and came over, you had already left. I was so disappointed."
Kenma was puzzled. He asked curiously, "Thanks? I don't recall helping you, Captain Hikifune."
Hikifune Kirio waved her hand, smiling. "Not at all. Kisuke and Mayuri Kurotsuchi, whom you introduced, are both exceptional talents."
"My technology was able to achieve a breakthrough so quickly largely thanks to those two you recommended. They helped me a great deal."
"That's why I wanted to properly thank you, my great benefactor, and express my gratitude in person."
Hearing this, Kenma was surprised. He hadn't expected to have inadvertently done such a good deed.
'In that case, Hikifune Kirio's promotion to the Zero Division must be coming soon.'
"It's good that they could help you, Captain Hikifune. Even without them, I'm sure you would have completed it soon with your abilities."
"Haha, regardless, Little Kenma, you are my benefactor. If you need anything in the future, just come find me at the 12th Division."
As Hikifune Kirio was speaking, there was a knock on the door.
Shisui and Toji walked in. The injuries on their bodies were already healed, restored to their original, complete state.
They even had time to shower and change into new clothes; their hair was still damp.
"Looks like your treatment went well." Kenma looked at the two and nodded in satisfaction.
Shisui said with a relaxed expression, "Yes, my injuries are completely healed. I'd have no problem jumping into a fight this very second."
In contrast to Shisui's liveliness, Toji's expression was hard to describe, as if he had just swallowed a fly. His face was full of disgust.
"Next time, don't make me suffer like that. Or get me a different doctor."
Seeing this, Hikifune Kirio chuckled. "It seems Mayuri Kurotsuchi really put you through the wringer. He's just like that, please don't take it to heart."
"I'm not taking it to heart." Toji revealed an expression of satisfaction. "The treatment was a bit uncomfortable, but venting a bit after it was over was pretty relaxing."
Hearing Toji say this, Hikifune Kirio, who understood Mayuri Kurotsuchi somewhat, immediately knew what had happened.
'Mayuri Kurotsuchi must have messed around on the operating table, and then got beaten up severely afterward.'
'But that guy, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, is tough as nails. A beating is nothing to him.'
"Since you're all healed, I'll go get some more food to replenish your spirits."
Saying this, Hikifune Kirio started to walk out.
"There's no need to trouble yourself, Captain Hikifune. Since their bodies are healed, we should be going."
Kenma stood up and walked toward the door.
"After all, coming here so abruptly was already rude. We won't disturb your work any further, Captain Hikifune."
"Little Kenma, you don't have to be a stranger. You can come here anytime you want."
Hikifune Kirio tried to persuade him a bit more. Seeing Kenma was really leaving, she immediately rushed off into the barracks.
"Little Kenma, if you're leaving, remember to take these with you!"
When the three of them left the 12th Division, Shisui and Toji were each pushing a cart piled mountain-high with pastries and snacks.
These were all handmade by Hikifune Kirio, who insisted that Kenma take them back to enjoy.
Kenma looked back. Hikifune Kirio was standing at the 12th Division gate, waving at them.
"Little Kenma, remember to visit the 12th Division often when you're free!"
"You're always welcome here!"
Hearing Hikifune Kirio's words, Kenma couldn't help but smile to himself.
'It might be excessive to say it, but in the future, it'll probably be hard for the 12th Division not to welcome him.'
'After Hikifune Kirio is promoted, Urahara Kisuke will be the next 12th Division captain. That's basically set in stone.'
'And after him, it's Mayuri Kurotsuchi.'
'At that point, the 12th Division will be no different from his private property.'
When Kenma's group returned to the Shihoin estate pushing two large carts of snacks, Yoruichi looked at the room piled high with food, her expression one of utter disbelief.
She turned her head to look at her husband, her golden eyes narrowing slightly.
"Mr. Serious, you didn't go and rob a candy store, did you?"
Kenma reached out and tapped Yoruichi lightly on the head.
"Yoruichi, you should get your head checked."
Looking at Yoruichi clutching her head, Kenma chuckled inwardly and said, "On the way back, I stopped by the 12th Division and ran into Captain Hikifune Kirio."
Kenma explained what happened at the 12th Division with Hikifune Kirio.
After Yoruichi finished listening, she tilted her head, a smile on her face.
"So, Kisuke and that Mayuri Kurotsuchi guy are doing well in the 12th Division."
Seeing Yoruichi like this, Kenma's brow furrowed, and a trace of annoyance welled up in him for some reason.
He immediately reached out and tapped her on the head again.
"Yoruichi, where's my apology?"
"Hehe, sorry, sorry. It was just a joke."
Yoruichi giggled, her eyes gleaming as she looked at the pile of snacks.
"Since you brought back so much food, I'll go get Yūshirō."
When Yūshirō saw Kenma, he still had his usual timid look, but after seeing the pile of pastries, his expression immediately changed.
The brother and sister sat down together and began frantically stuffing their faces, their cheeks puffed out like hamsters.
They only stopped after eating a third of it, when they couldn't take another bite and collapsed on the tatami mats, their stomachs bulging like balls.
Looking at the siblings, who looked as if they were cast from the same mold, Kenma sighed.
'It's one thing for Yoruichi to be so wild, but her little brother Yūshirō, after spending so much time with her, is starting to copy her.'
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]