[Oono's struggle with his injury only hastened with Gin's harsh appraisal and her suggestion. Something in her seemed to strain, putting her utmost into combatting whatever it was in Tsunayashiro's sword that made it so difficult for Naoyuki to recover.

The entire time, Naoyuki watched Gin with an air of ease, unperturbed by his injury. Fascinated with how she regarded him. In such a short amount of time, she showed signs of something promising. Something that made his heart skip a beat. That understanding that some part of her was looking at him as someone important to her was both a relief and a twist of a knife in his stomach.

It wasn't the suspicion that she was seeing Kisuke when she looked at him. He'd already understood that he wasn't quite his own person some time ago. When he awakened Benitaisho, it became abundantly clear that he was a piece of someone else. Part of that understanding gave him a sense of peace.

That feeling renewed something in him. He would, if everything went the way he wanted it to, be whole again. With a weary smile, he finally turned his sword over, hand shaking, and sheathed the blade. Just in time for the rest of the rest of his group to arrive. None of them seemed ready to see him with a sword, even if it were sheathed.]

You don't need to contact Soul Society for additional assistance, Captain Akutagawa.

[It wasn't an issue of pride or even a concern for his safety. There were certain things that could damage her reputation. He was certain of it. It was one thing for him to sneak into her division and another for her to suddenly request aid from two other divisions to assist him.]

I'll be fine when I return to my lab. Would you believe me if I said I were ready for this?