I got promoted! I am now the 18th Seat!
Is this also thanks to finally being able to perform Shikai?
...From 20th Seat to 18th Seat, huh... No, I am happy, really.
It took one hundred years to reach the 20th Seat, and another fifty years to go up two ranks.
Hearing that, it might seem like there's a pattern, but that doesn't mean I'll go up three ranks in twenty-five years... I don't think I'm growing that fast...
My colleagues celebrated for me. That was the only saving grace.
Oh right, I almost forgot.
While testing various abilities afterwards, I realized that I can't hear Nubatama's voice unless I release my Shikai.
Talking to that twenty-four seven would be a bit... though I admit it is entertaining.
...Come to think of it, since my rank changed, I have to submit paperwork to the office again...
I have to go to that crowded place again...
Once I can perform Shikai, the next goal is Bankai!
I have to train to advance to the next step. So—
"Airi, it seems you have finally awakened to Shikai, so let me first say 'congratulations'."
"Thank you very much, Captain."
—I am training with Captain Unohana. This is my first training session since learning Shikai.
I have already reported that I can perform Shikai.
"However... one hundred and fifty years, was it..."
"That... well..."
"At this rate, I wonder when Bankai will happen..."
"...Ugh... I am terribly sorry..."
Normally, there isn't any idiot who takes this long for Shikai...
It wouldn't be strange if I had been abandoned long ago.
Is she just caring? Or is she plotting something??
"Well, there is no point in talking about the past. Let us look to the future instead. So, Airi, please tell me about your Shikai."
"Eh, mine? Why...?"
"Of course, because from today onwards, we will be using Shikai."
...Eh!?
"Y... You mean your Shikai, Captain!?"
"No. Airi, yours. My Shikai is not suited for combat."
"My ability isn't exactly suited for direct combat either, though..."
Prefacing with that, I explained Nubatama's ability.
However, I omitted the part about smearing mucus—because it's troublesome and embarrassing—and just said that I manipulate friction by touching things with the blade.
"I see... isn't that good?"
As soon as she finished hearing the explanation, the Captain's eyes shone brightly.
"You cannot be cut... then there is no danger. In other words, there is no problem if I go a bit more intensely, correct?"
"No, um..."
"Changing friction was a blind spot. If I can break through this, it seems I can reach even greater heights."
"Captain... Captain...!?"
She is murmuring something with an ecstatic expression... It is an expression of ecstasy, but it feels incredibly dangerous, or rather... honestly, it's scary...
"What are you doing? Use your ability at once!"
"Y-Yes, ma'am!!"
Told with a menacing look, I hurriedly activated my ability.
I lowered the friction of my whole body just in case, so I should be fine...
Well, since I'm holding a sword, I can't do my palms.
Also, the Shihakusho is held by a sash, so even if I lower the friction, it shouldn't slip off or fall down... probably...
"Here I go."
"Ugh!?"
I think... I was cut.
After all, the sword speed was so tremendous I couldn't see anything. All I felt was a powerful impact.
"I see, quite an interesting sensation. And yet, you are not cut... Interesting, truly interesting!!"
The Captain looked at her sword for a moment as if confirming something, but her expression is changing into something increasingly terrifying!
"Come now, what is wrong, Airi!? You aren't cut, so you can counterattack, right!?"
"Th... that's...!"
True, it's not a cut, but it has become a bludgeoning impact instead.
Dull pain assaults me from various places, and my spirit is about to break.
While desperately using Kaido on myself, I counterattack recklessly, but this time, absolutely nothing works.
"Is that all? I am currently attacking you with serious intent—just a step short of it. This is a good opportunity, you know? Cling to my attacks and try to steal them!"
"Kuh...!!"
I feel like I'm being attacked at least ten times a second.
Still, somehow, perhaps my eyes have gotten used to it after being attacked this much? About once every dozen times, I managed to use friction to completely deflect an attack.
"Fufu... ufufufu...! Ahahahaha!! You can do it if you try, can't you! Yes, that's it! Let me break through that!!"
She must have been pleased by the unusual sensation mixed in occasionally.
The Captain is, well... a demon of swordsmanship... This is a little... a terror that puts a clumsy Hollow to shame...
'Nuhohohohoho! Is this Unohana-dono's swordsmanship!? I thought I knew it through Airi-dono, but this is the real thing!! It's raw!! Raw is completely different!!'
Nubatama!? Why did you come out!?
'This is just! This is just!! I can die happy!! I can die happy now!!'
What do you mean "Die happy"!? Wait, aaaaaah!! This isn't the time for retorts!!
"What is wrong? Your concentration is disrupted! Entertain me more!! Or is fighting me that boring!?"
It didn't even take a second to retort mentally, but in that one second, the Captain could kill me ten times. In fact, she'd have change left over after killing me ten times.
She instantly saw through that I was distracted by Nubatama, and attacks more painful than ever before assaulted me repeatedly.
Actually... am I being cut!? Where did the ability to nullify attacks by making friction zero go!?!?
F-First, full power to Kaido, defense, and regaining consciousness...!!
'Oof! Boring, heavens no!! To be cut by her, I'm getting even more moe moe kyun!! It is... Precious... no, death by preciousness...'
"Ah, geez, shut up!! ...Ah."
...I screamed without thinking.
"...I see."
"N-N-N-N-No, Captain! There is a reason for this...!!"
It is too late. No use crying over spilt milk. What's done is done...
People of the past sure said things well...
"Airi, you have become important... You are already the 18th Seat, after all... Won't you please teach me, your Captain and master, about manners?"
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!
I feel death more than ever, ever before!?!?
'Nhoooo! This is a carnage scene! This is a bloodshed incident! Bloodshed in the palace! Bloodshed in the palace!!'
You... really, really!!
"Hot!?"
"Oh, does it burn?"
The cut area is hot!? No, this isn't the pain of a slash... it's burning! It's really burning!?
...Don't tell me, the weakness to heat!? But how... eh!? Did the friction of the sword heat it up and ignite it!?
Where did the talk about manipulating friction go!?!? Isn't zero friction a versatile ability!?!?
"W-Wait, please! If this burns, the ability disappears! If I get cut now, I really, really will die!!"
"Do you think an enemy will stop their hand if you say that? If they know it is a weakness, they will attack it even more, you know?"
You aren't an enemy, right!? We are supposed to be training right now, right!?!?
I'm going to die! Today, I am really going to die!!
...I thought surviving was nothing short of a miracle.
I am getting stronger, right?
I'm getting as strong as Mifuyu, Makoto, or Isako, right??
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]