Chapter 147: Kira
Suoh's life rhythm continued as before.
Just with a clear expectation added to his heart.
That night before leaving Fourth Division area, he'd stopped by the barracks' attached library to borrow some related texts.
Beginning daily reading and preparation for acupuncture study.
Time quietly slipped past. Several days later, morning.
"Tsukasa, Fourth Division sent word looking for you. There's a task."
Mitaka opened the duty office door, relaying information from Fourth Division.
Suoh rose from his seat.
Beyond urgent rescue missions—
This also meant after finishing Special Emergency Team tasks, he'd have opportunity to formally receive Unohana's instruction.
He neatly gathered the documents he'd been organizing, stacking them tidily at the desk corner, standing to address Miyako not far away.
"Miyako-neesan, please help handle today's documents."
"Go ahead. Leave it to me."
Miyako looked up, smiling gently, nodding acceptance.
Suoh nodded slightly, turning to leave the duty office.
Fourth Division Comprehensive Medical Center.
The Special Emergency Team had an independent area within Fourth Division.
When Suoh entered his office, the room was already full of people.
Beyond familiar faces led by the vice-captain, many other new Fourth Division members stood in formation.
Their gazes uniformly turned toward the door, harboring various speculations and expectations about the person in charge they'd soon meet.
The vice-captain quickly stepped forward, handing a list into his hands.
"Third Seat Suoh, this is the roster of personnel assigned to the Special Emergency Team this time. Ten total. Please review."
"Mm. Thanks for your work, Harada."
Suoh accepted the list, nodding acknowledgment.
Gaze calmly sweeping across all the newcomers, preparing to begin routine speech.
His vision paused slightly on one face with yellow side-parted hair.
Kira Izuru.
He recognized him at a glance.
The youth before him had matured somewhat from the brief glimpse at Shin'ō Academy in memory, but hadn't changed much.
Features refined and gentle, just compared to the past, lacking vitality, carrying some haggardness after hardship.
Suoh felt somewhat surprised.
From impression, canon Kira could use healing kidou. Hadn't expected his first post-graduation assignment to be Fourth Division.
But thinking of Renji Abarai from the same class with his rich career history rotating through various divisions, he wasn't too surprised.
Kira's gaze returned. Seeing the visitor's face clearly, he hadn't expected to encounter acquaintance Suoh in vast Fourth Division.
Perhaps this reunion proved too unexpected, or he hadn't fully transitioned from past mindset.
"Suoh... classmate."
He instinctively blurted out, surprised.
Voice not high, but in this moment's pin-drop silence, sounding exceptionally clear.
This form of address barely out, the training room air seemed to freeze for half a beat.
The vice-captain ahead, belonging to Special Emergency Team and already deeply respecting Suoh, immediately frowned, looking at Kira with obvious doubt and displeasure.
Other new members also exchanged astonished or spectator-watching glances.
In Gotei 13 where hierarchical order ran bone-deep, the boundary between seated officers and ordinary squad members was clear.
Suoh wasn't just another division's Third Seat—more importantly, this Special Emergency Team's person in charge.
Even with different division affiliations, to these new members he was unquestionably a superior.
Especially in this formal work setting, using such equal or even casual address toward him bordered on offense.
Not just ignorant of rules, but transparently lacking respect—overstepping.
Kira, words barely out, immediately realized the impropriety himself.
His pale face instantly flushed red, frozen in place awkwardly, eyes full of chagrin and panic. He opened his mouth seemingly wanting to remedy but momentarily speechless.
The gentle-natured vice-captain couldn't help correcting softly.
"Kira, you should address him as Third Seat Suoh!"
"I sincerely apologize, Third Seat Suoh. I was discourteous. Please forgive me!"
That sentence seemed to break some binding.
Kira snapped back, instinctively looking at Suoh again, tone urgent yet sincere, bowing in apology.
Suoh didn't particularly mind. He wasn't someone especially rigid about rules.
Moreover, he and Kira knew each other, though that connection proved so shallow it could almost be ignored.
However, given his current position, he couldn't be overly familiar either—lowering himself and losing propriety.
Suoh watched this scene, feeling somewhat emotional.
He raised his hand, gesturing it didn't matter.
Subsequently he no longer focused on individuals, gaze returning to all new members.
Beginning brief self-introduction, tone clear and organized.
"I am Thirteenth Division Third Seat and Special Emergency Team leader, Suoh Tsukasa."
"In future, I and Fourth Division seniors will guide you in familiarizing yourselves with Special Emergency Team duties, learning healing kidou applications and emergency coordination."
"We are a team. Here we value healing kidou technique and mutual trust."
"Now, follow me."
He lightly glossed over this small incident.
Neither making Kira excessively embarrassed, nor maintaining his authority as team leader, while pulling everyone's attention back to business.
Suoh turned, first heading toward the side door connecting to the comprehensive medical center's main emergency treatment rooms.
Vice-captain Harada immediately signaled everyone to follow.
First instruction quickly entered proper track.
Suoh treated according to injury severity as before, just slowing pace slightly, adding some explanation.
Time gradually passed.
The newcomers shifted from initial nervousness to being absorbed by his exquisite art-like treatment process.
Expressions just like when Suoh first faced Unohana.
Just what he displayed was basic healing kidou applications in complex injury situations.
Higher applications weren't what they could currently learn, nor needed Suoh's concern.
His task—discover those with potential, help lay solid foundations.
This was also Fourth Division's position in Gotei 13.
Unable to set particular requirements for new recruit selection. Having some kidou grasp already proved quite good.
Comparatively, those selected for Special Emergency Team rotation training were already outstanding among same-period newcomers.
From current situation, only one Kira Izuru among this batch deserved attention.
Kidou talent crushing the others.
As for the rest, insufficient healing kidou mastery needed more time and practice.
Finishing instruction, Suoh returned to his office beginning to write that day's treatment journal.
Completing this, nothing else for him today.
Just as he set down his brush, somewhat hesitant footsteps sounded outside, stopping at the door, seemingly hesitating.
Suoh closed the journal, speaking gently.
"Please come in."
"Third Seat Suoh, pardon the intrusion."
"About this morning's matter—I still wanted to apologize again. I misspoke."
Subsequently Kira pushed the door open with anxious feelings.
His voice very low, expression carrying undispersed shame.
"Kira, really no need to take it to heart. Just a form of address. Privately, no need to be so formal."
"Your talent in healing kidou is good. Spiritual pressure control much steadier than same-period others. Polish it well, I think before long you'll independently handle things in the rescue team."
"Just today's inconvenient—I still have matters to discuss with Captain Unohana. Otherwise we could chat properly."
"This is my treatment journal. You can take it and read first."
Suoh stood to comfort him, incidentally picking up the treatment journal from the desk, handing it before him.
These words like a warm current instantly dispelled remaining anxiety in Kira's heart.
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