188: Chapter 188 Give me "ten cartloads"!!

The 9th Division barracks were leveled overnight. Everyone knew Kenpachi Zaraki and his men did it, but everyone claimed they didn't know or understand what happened.

Later, Kenpachi Zaraki took the lead in holding a funeral for the Soul Reapers who died in the battle on that rainy night. It was a bit slapdash, but full of manly flavor.

Under Tuaner's gossiping promotion, 'Kensei' finally became a unit of measurement. It was roughly defined as the power level of an ordinary medical division's girl Vice-Captain who could knock down a Hollow that had just slain nearly a hundred Vice-Captain-level spiritual pressures, then fight three hundred rounds with an unknown high-level Captain, nearly deciding life and death...

Even the two generations of the Kuchiki Family heads, who were usually the most sticklers for rules, turned a blind eye to Kenpachi Zaraki's actions. This was because both Byakuya and Ginrei were somewhat dissatisfied with Kensei Muguruma picking up an easy win.

According to Tuaner's theory, Byakuya could probably fight 'five Kenseis,' though Byakuya didn't understand this new terminology at the time. Mia, then, was likely somewhere between 'six Kenseis' and 'ten Kenseis.'

Because the 4th Division completely refused to admit Captain Kensei Muguruma, Captain-Commander Yamamoto specifically sought out Captain Unohana and held a closed-door meeting at the 1st Division.

The result was that Captain Kensei Muguruma received specialized treatment from Captain Unohana at his own ruined 9th Division. Captain Unohana's excuse was, 'Vice-Captain Mia is deeply loved by her members; I fear an ordinary seated officer might poison Captain Kensei Muguruma to death...'

By the way, after the meeting, the 1st Division seemed to undergo internal renovations for a whole week. Chōjirō Sasakibe, the Vice-Captain, wouldn't say a single word about the specifics.

Rumors were flying everywhere outside. Usually, Tuaner would be curious enough to listen to the gossip, but now she just sat quietly kneeling by Mia's bed, seriously helping Luo Xiaoya wipe her body and disinfect her wounds.

Mia hadn't woken up yet; it had been nearly ten days since that battle ended. Tuaner noticed the Nuo opera mask in Mia's bosom was gone. She stubbornly believed Aizen had stolen it, but seeing how even his zanpakuto had been left behind with Mia in such a pathetic state, she wasn't so sure.

Later, when Luo Xiaoya interrogated Kensei Muguruma, she finally learned that the mask had likely shattered after helping Mia block part of the kinetic energy from Aizen's blade, only to be struck right on the crack by Kensei Muguruma's Bankai finisher.

Furthermore, it seemed to have been absorbed by Mia after it shattered.

Luo Xiaoya's interrogation of Kensei Muguruma was another story entirely. Due to the resentment in her heart and her own physical weakness, Luo Xiaoya didn't actually have the ability to avenge Mia. Of course, the 9th Division had already been demolished once by Kenpachi Zaraki, so there wasn't much left to retaliate against.

She simply took her [Custom Edition Foxconn X100 Camera] and squatted at the entrance of Kensei Muguruma's residence. Every day, she did one thing: the moment he stepped out, she took a photo, freezing him for the entire day. This cycle repeated; she went to take a photo every morning and evening, helped Tuaner take care of Mia during the day, and snuggled up next to Mia to sleep blissfully at night.

At first, Captain Muguruma was quite tough, but by the fourth day, he 'died'—not in a physical sense, but in a social one. First, Hiyori Sarugaki 'happened' to walk by and drew a turtle on his face, then he was shunned by his own subordinate Mashiro Kuna. After wave upon wave of mental strikes, he confessed everything, recounting the entire process of his battle that day to Luo Xiaoya in full detail.

Luo Xiaoya decided to let the guy off for today; the rest of the debt would be collected by Sister Mia herself. Oh right, she also made a pact with Sister Tuaner today: since Sister Mia had recovered but hadn't woken up yet, they would change her into a JK school uniform to admire her properly. Tuaner said this outfit could dampen the spirit of the Rakshasa Ghost inside that Nuo opera mask, helping Sister Mia in the battle to subdue it.

On the tenth day after the rainy night battle ended, Mia finally woke up. She just looked somewhat weak; her 'sickly beauty' look maximized her aura of fragility, causing Tuaner's level of infatuation with her to skyrocket...

"So, this is everything that happened after I fell unconscious?" Mia rested her cheek on her hand, listening thoughtfully to Tuaner and Luo Xiaoya's back-and-forth descriptions. "Then what's your reason for putting this bright yellow plaid JK skirt and white silk stockings on me while I was out?"

"Uh... because it looks good, is that okay?" Luo Xiaoya felt a bit guilty doing this for the first time.

"Be brave, Xiaoya. Just say you wanted to wear it and let her test the effect first. You two look like you were born from the same mother anyway." Tuaner patted Luo Xiaoya from behind to encourage her...

Mia ignored Luo Xiaoya, who was quickly being led astray by Tuaner.

She handed the dried persimmons and fruit from the bedside plate to Gin Ichimaru and patted his head.

"You've only just awakened Captain-level spiritual pressure, and you haven't fully mastered Bankai yet. Besides, you're still growing; you need to supplement your nutrition! Otherwise, if you grow up and aren't even as tall as Rangiku, how will you marry her?"

This string of undeniable linguistic finishing moves left Gin Ichimaru completely unable to parry.

After that night, he had also become a hot topic in the Seireitei. After all, knocking down the Captain of the 9th Division in a head-on clash while he was in Bankai was not something just anyone could do.

Gin-ko blushed and went to find Rangiku with the snacks Mia had given him.

Mia, forced into a schoolgirl outfit by the twisted-hobby sisters Tuaner and Luo Xiaoya, looked at her incredibly convincing high schooler reflection in the mirror and gave a helpless, bitter smile. She would deal with those two girls properly once her body was fully recovered.

The mask transformed from the [Crystal Skull] was ultimately absorbed by her. Now, with just a wipe of her hand across her face, the Hollow mask could cover her exquisite features. Moreover, unlike other Hollowfied Soul Reapers, she didn't have any time constraints.

As for combat power, there was no benchmark yet. She didn't know exactly how strong she could become. She could try it out a bit when she went to return Aizen's zanpakuto...

Mia stayed in bed for another week. Tuaner and Luo Xiaoya had a final carnival, arranging everything from 'stepmother dresses' to 'hot girl' outfits for Mia...

Today was the day the 11th Division cafeteria's 'Big Sister' recovered. Yachiru sent Yumichika and Ikkaku to invite Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu, who were busy treating Captain Muguruma.

It was the same place, the same gang, just a few people short. During the meal, everyone was deeply sentimental. Ikkaku got drunk again and pulled Gin-ko aside, wanting to become sworn brothers...

Captain Unohana found Mia with a wine bowl, and the two sat under the veranda. The faces of the two peerless beauties were painted with a golden-powder glow by the evening sunset.

"Once your body is fully recovered, what are your plans? Tell me..." Captain Unohana had never mentioned her 'renovation' of the 1st Division to Mia.

"First, I'll go pay my respects to the members who sacrificed themselves to protect me and the barracks. As for after..." Mia took a sip of the white liquor she had distilled herself.

"Come back and help me. While you were gone, medicine has been in short supply, and casualties on the front lines against the Hollows have increased..." Captain Unohana's eyes were full of deep meaning.

"Alright! I'll listen to the Captain!" Mia stood up, pulled another wine jar from the room, slapped off the mud seal, and handed it to Unohana...