Click.
The door closed quietly, and Arata let out a sigh of relief, resting his forehead on the back of the hand with which he was holding Rangiku's hand.
At that moment, a mix of emotions swirled inside him, joy, guilt, worry… all together like a tipped-over palette of colors.
"Hmm…"
Rangiku on the bed suddenly let out a soft moan, her eyelashes gently fluttered.
"Rangiku?" Arata immediately leaned closer, watching as she slowly opened her gray eyes. "How do you feel? Are you in pain?"
Rangiku blinked in confusion, her gaze gradually focusing on his face. "Arata… what happened to me…" She tried to sit up, but Arata gently pushed her back onto the pillow.
"Don't move, you're currently in the infirmary of the 4th Division." Arata poured a glass of lukewarm water and held it to her lips.
"Drink a little first."
Rangiku took a few sips, then as if suddenly remembering something, looked up. "Ah right! I think I fainted in front of the 10th Division barracks for no reason…"
"How is that even possible? Is it because I was slacking today and skipped breakfast, so my blood sugar dropped?"
Before Arata could explain anything, the room door opened again.
Isane entered with a basket full of medicinal herbs, followed by Hinamori Momo, holding a bundle of papers covered in tiny writing.
"Sister Rangiku, you're awake!" Isane exclaimed happily. "Just in time to get the medicine for maintaining the pregnancy—" Isane abruptly fell silent mid-sentence, realizing she had slipped up, and frantically covered her mouth with her hand.
But it was too late.
"Medicine for maintaining the pregnancy?!" Rangiku suddenly raised her voice, her gaze shifting in disbelief between the three of them. "What the hell are you talking about?"
The three of them exchanged looks, and finally, Hinamori Momo, blushing deeply, handed her a sheet of instructions. "Ra-Rangiku-sensei… congratulations…"
Rangiku snatched the paper and quickly skimmed through the content, the expression on her face growing increasingly astonished.
"Additional nutrients during pregnancy… Reiatsu stabilization training… This…" She looked up at Arata, her eyes full of disbelief. "So I'm… pregnant?"
Arata took her hand, his expression serious, but the excitement in his eyes was undeniable. "Yes, Rangiku, we're going to be parents."
Rangiku's face froze for a moment, and then she suddenly threw herself into Arata's arms. Muffled sobs escaped through the strands of her golden hair. "You idiot! Something this important… you let the doctor tell me first…"
Arata gently stroked her back, kissed the top of her head with sincere remorse, and whispered an apology: "Sorry, I just found out myself."
Isane and Hinamori Momo tactfully left the room, carefully closing the door behind them.
"We're going to be parents…" Rangiku murmured thoughtfully, her fingers unconsciously gliding over her flat stomach. "Really… there's a little life in here?"
Arata gently placed his palm over her fingers, their fingers intertwining at the spot where the pregnancy was not yet visible.
Although they couldn't feel any movement yet, that special feeling of blood connection made Rangiku's eyes fill with tears again.
"Captain Unohana said earlier that the spiritual pressure fluctuations of our child are close to the level of an adult Shinigami." Arata's voice carried a pride he didn't try to hide. "Looks like they inherited the best genes from both parents."
Rangiku laughed through tears and lightly slapped his shoulder. "Stop bragging! What if they turn out to be a complete troublemaker?"
"That's even better." Arata hugged her even tighter, resting his chin on her soft, blonde hair. "If it's a son, let him be strong like me. If it's a daughter, let her be beautiful like you. Either way, they're perfect to me."
The two of them clung to each other on the hospital bed, and the light coming through the sheer curtain cast a golden glow around this warm moment.
Rangiku suddenly remembered something, lifted her head, and asked: "Ah… the kendo tournament…"
"Don't worry." Arata cut off her concern. "Every time you wake up, you'll hear only news of my victories and progress. Maybe in a few days, you'll hear that I won the championship title."
"Your only task now is to rest. You can't leave the hospital until Captain Unohana confirms everything is fine."
"Then you have to come see me every day. I remember Isane once said that the hospital food in the 4th Division is terrible…" Just thinking about it made Rangiku shiver.
"Alright, alright, I'll ask Miss Isane to bring milk tea and snacks from Kikuchaya every day." Arata gently pinched her nose. "But no more than one cup a day. Captain Unohana said pregnant women have to watch their sugar intake."
Rangiku puffed out her cheeks in protest and was about to object when there was a knock at the door.
Unohana Retsu entered carrying a tray of medicine, followed by a blushing Kotetsu Isane.
"Looks like you two have already digested the good news?" Unohana Retsu placed the pregnancy support medicine on the nightstand and said with a gentle smile: "This is a special spiritual medicine from the 4th Division. It will help stabilize the fetus' spiritual pressure."
Arata quickly stood up and bowed. "Thank you for your efforts, teacher."
"You're welcome." Unohana Retsu gave him a meaningful look. "As the father, it's time to start preparing. Isane has already compiled a list of newborn necessities."
Isane quickly handed over a sheet of paper filled with small writing and said softly: "Um… I already asked Shinigami stationed in the human world to buy essentials like diapers and bottles…"
Rangiku gratefully took Isane's hand. "Thank you so much, Isane!"
While the three of them happily chatted away, Arata quietly stepped aside.
His gaze fell on the willows swaying outside the window, but his thoughts drifted into the system space.
[A-Rank Item: Heart of the Soul King (Defective)]
[Effect: Upon fusion, all negative conditions such as injuries, disabilities, etc. are immediately restored to normal, and the user gains an additional, extremely powerful life force.]
[Note: Can be assigned to others, cannot be upgraded]
[Exchange Requirements: 8848 Destiny Points]
This item from the shop, which had been gathering dust due to its high cost, now appeared before him anew.
If he wanted to flawlessly execute his plan to completely crush the Kasumiōji family, his current strength as Kensei Muguruma was still a bit lacking, especially in terms of resistance to special Bakkōtō like Demon Flower.
If his Reiatsu were high enough, like Aizen's, perhaps such a disaster wouldn't have happened at all…
"Arata?" Rangiku's voice pulled him back to reality. "What are you daydreaming about? Captain Unohana asked what you'd like for dinner~"
He jolted, met the concerned gazes in the room, and apologized with a gentle smile. "Sorry, I was a bit lost in thought. As for dinner… does teacher have any suggestions?"
Unohana Retsu looked at him with a certain special attention. "Tonight in the 4th Division mess hall we have salmon and tofu, which are very good for pregnant women. If Arata-kun doesn't mind, you can stay and dine with us."
"It would be an honor." Arata gave a light bow, then turned to Rangiku. "But I need to stop by home for a change of clothes first. I'll be back soon."
Before leaving the room, he turned around one more time.
Rangiku was excitedly discussing baby clothing styles with Isane, while Unohana Retsu stood by the window, watching him with a gentle smile.
That image etched itself into his heart like the edge of a blade, only strengthening his resolve even further.