"It is an honor to meet you. I am Tōsen Kaname, captain of the 9th Division."
"Nice to meet you. I am Hinamori Momo, a first-year student at the Shōō Academy of Spiritual Arts. I understand you serve under Captain Aizen."
"No need for formalities. This way, follow me."
A deserted, dilapidated house in the dead of night, typical meeting place for the evil faction. I'd already made contact with this man beforehand and was moving toward the location with him.
The blind revenge DJ, Tōsen Kaname.
A loyal vassal whose impression had completely flipped from when he first appeared alongside Aizen Sōsuke in the original story. His motives for defecting from the Soul Society were actually relatable, and his master-servant relationship with Aizen-sama was surprisingly... normal. Oh, let the Four Great Nobles rot in hell.
Still, even if I have a good impression of him, I'll still be branded as that clumsy fool who let his guard down and failed to sense spiritual pressure because he relied too much on his sight. What do you think of him as a loyal vassal, Captain Tōsen?
"...Is this spot suitable?"
As he said this, Tōsen stopped in the middle of the usual empty desert and turned around.
The reason he called me here might have been out of Aizen-sama's kindness (!?), but unfortunately, it's a situation that makes me hesitate.
"I have been ordered by Aizen-sama to assist you in your Bankai training. I hear that despite possessing spiritual pressure rivaling that of a Captain-Commander, you are struggling with materialization. Have there been any improvements?"
"Um... well, I understand what the problem is..."
"Speak."
Yes, Bankai. Getting help from an active captain is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that any ordinary soul reaper would kill for. Moreover, this man's Zanpakutō originally belonged to someone else, he must have made tremendous efforts to master Bankai, making him undoubtedly an expert.
But now I have to reveal my brand-new black history to such an expert, something that will join the ranks alongside that black coffin incident. My ears are already burning with embarrassment.
"Well, it's about the technique..."
"You mean the release command? It's a technique that enhances synchronization, a stepping stone to Bankai. A Zanpakutō sometimes tests its master and grants a special technique that temporarily enhances its power as a reward. Given your spiritual pressure, as I've heard reported, a trivial trial shouldn't pose a problem. So what's standing in your way?"
"Well, it's not really an obstacle per se..."
What should I do? I have no idea how to cover this up. But there's no way this guy, who's being so serious about everything, will understand my feelings.
So if I'm going to be honest with him, there's only one thing I can say.
"I'm... embarrassed."
"What?"
After a long silence, I finally confessed, and Tōsen responded with a simple question. His expression was so genuinely bewildered that I started to feel an unreasonable anger rising within me.
Hey, you! I wanted a cool, stylish technique name from Hime-chan too!
What the hell is your Bankai called? How did you come up with such a simple yet devastatingly stylish name? It has the perfect balance of kanji readings and fantastic rhythm. And what kind of life would you have to live to come up with the idea of naming a sword after a minor insect like Enma Koorogi? Even your Hollowification seems to play with stylish Spanish words. That's cheating, you bastard!
Master, stop messing around and just release the complete list of techniques and Hinamori-chan's Bankai announcement already!
But of course, the residents of this stylish world couldn't possibly understand the jealousy of someone like me who got stuck with... that...
"...I'm not well-versed in women's sensibilities, but if your clothes become disheveled or you exhibit other shameful behaviors during combat, you must accept it and endure. You cannot achieve Bankai unless you overcome such concerns. Allow me, a blind man, to guide you through this."
"No, that's not it!" I protested, my face turning bright red. "Really, I'm fine with that! If you just fight me and push me to my limits, I won't be able to think about shame anymore!"
Noticing the turmoil in my emotions as I denied it frantically, Tōsen made a very subtle expression and stepped back with what sounded like a pitying sigh.
"Hey, I'm telling you it's a misunderstanding!"
"...Very well. Asking for further details would be rude. Then I'll proceed as planned, draw your sword, first-year Hinamori!"
"!"
With those words, Tōsen drew his Zanpakutō and unleashed an overwhelming spiritual pressure toward me. Faced with pressure greater than any I'd felt since Aizen-sama's first attack, I hurriedly activated the spiritual energy I'd been concealing near my skin.
The collision of our forces distorted everything around us, and the very air screamed.
...Tōsen, you lost to Kenpachi, who's notorious for underestimating opponents, with spiritual pressure this dangerous? You recovered suspiciously quickly too, so that theory about you holding back against Komamura and Hisagi is starting to resurface...
"...Sing."
──────
"...Break."
──────
The unspoken coordination of two Shinigami. The moment both chanted their release commands, their hands held the other halves of their souls, their released Zanpakutō.
"...I see. Indeed, this spiritual pressure is worthy of being described as equal to that of a Gotei Captain. If I underestimate this rookie, I'll find myself crawling on the ground, I'll have to get a little rough."
"!!"
Tōsen closed the distance at incredible speed. I instinctively tried to counter with Himei, but before I could even twitch a finger, I was blown away by a devastating strike.
"Ugh!?"
With a dull pain exploding in my abdomen and my vision spinning at high speed, I had no idea what had just happened. I crashed into the sand with a heavy thud and finally understood the situation.
What the hell was that?!
I could definitely see him. The spiritual pressure difference probably wasn't so great that victory was impossible, even if I was at a disadvantage.
But he approached me with some kind of movement technique that seemed to bypass my consciousness entirely, and before I knew it, I'd taken a devastating blow.
"...As I suspected. His spiritual pressure is formidable, but his Zanpakutō techniques are still at a first-year level. No—he's a prodigy who can use 70th-level Kidō. Truly frightening potential."
"Kuhh—cough, cough...!"
"Should I focus on improving his lacking techniques first...? No, let's prioritize materialization. Since the Zanpakutō is Kidō-type, slashing techniques and flash step can wait."
Tōsen was muttering something in the distance, but my stomach felt like it was about to burst, and my mouth tasted like iron. It hurt like hell. I wasn't prepared at all, so my spiritual pressure defense didn't activate in time, and the attack hit me full force. By the time I managed to heal myself with my clumsy spiritual energy manipulation, my mental strength was nearly depleted.
Captain-level fighters are terrifying!
"How was that, first-year Hinamori? That strike should have cut pretty deep. You shouldn't have the luxury of thinking about shame now."
"I already... guh, cough..."
"...You're still able to make light conversation. Then I'll show you what I'm truly capable of."
Tōsen, who had grown slightly irritated from my previous response, began raising his spiritual pressure even further.
Sorry, but I can't keep going without cracking jokes—it's how I cope.
Damn it, but as someone who's supposed to be tough, I can't give up this easily...
I managed to get back on my feet and turned toward Himei-chan, who had been screaming frantically in my head since earlier.
Seeing this, Tōsen nodded approvingly and leaped high into the air.
"Behold—this is my technique..."
──────
Oh, this is it! The first real Zanpakutō technique from the original series!
Following the arc of his blade, countless dagger-like projectiles materialized and rushed toward me—wait, this is bad!
"Agh—AAAHHH!"
"What's wrong? Why aren't you using your technique? Who do you think this training is for?"
I fled desperately, but the blades kept piercing through me! Wait, it hurts! They're going so deep! Holes! Holes are opening up! My stomach, which I'd just healed, now has a gaping wound!
And just as I was about to lose consciousness from the pain, Hime-chan grabbed hold of my fading awareness and wouldn't let go. I understand, I understand! I'll use the technique! I'll use it!
"Ungh...!"
──────
"!!"
In an instant, my spiritual power surged, and Himei's blade was enveloped in an extraordinary burst of flames. The spiritual pressure was so intense that even I was startled, and I swung my sword instinctively, sending a massive fireball flying toward Tōsen. It exploded with a thunderous roar, and the shockwave sent both of us tumbling.
Unlike Tōsen, who landed gracefully, I ended up sprawled like a dung beetle for the second time today. I hurriedly looked up—only to see a corner of the desert that now resembled a meteor crater.
What the... oh no...
"...That was incredible power."
"Well, it is stronger than before..."
Ignoring the image of Hime's smug expression flashing through my mind, I stared blankly at the devastation before me. However, Tōsen, who had regained his composure first, looked at me with a genuinely impressed expression, offering sincere praise.
...Wait a minute.
"As expected of the disciple whom Aizen-sama has shown such unprecedented favor. It's truly awe-inspiring that this is merely your first stage of release. I see... so this is your 'Flying Plum'..."
"Ah, no, wait..."
"What's wrong? Your 'Flying Plum' isn't complete yet, is it? Then fire as many as you can. Show me the full power of your 'Flying Plum'!"
"Wait, don't keep repeating that name..."
"What's the matter, Hinamori! It's your signature technique! Release it with pride—your secret technique, 'Flying Plum'!"
"Abababababaaahhhhh!!"
The merciless bullying of the justice-obsessed reaper, Tōsen Kaname, continues!
Stop it, stop it! What the hell kind of organization is this? Between Aizen-sama and you! Are you all just a group that exists to humiliate me?! Your improvised names are pretty terrible too, you know! Should I expose everyone's embarrassing secrets in retaliation?!
While writhing in mortification, I managed to tend to my wounds with clumsy spiritual energy and turned to face Tōsen once more. He was glaring at me with an expression full of determination, pointing the tip of his sword directly at me.
"It seems that to draw out that 'Flying Plum' from earlier, I must strip away the complacency that has settled into your bones, I must show you true despair."
"What...?"
Tōsen, who had arbitrarily named my technique like some kind of moon-cutting blade, suddenly began releasing explosive spiritual pressure on a scale I'd never witnessed before.
"I'll hold back somewhat. Try to survive with that firepower of yours."
The dimension of power had clearly shifted. Just as I tried to suppress the trembling in my knees from his overwhelming spiritual pressure, the warrior-like aura surrounding him suddenly transformed.
Oh no. Here it comes...!
"...Bankai."
──────
In that instant, everything before my eyes went pitch black. Complete darkness enveloped me, and I couldn't hear or smell anything. Worst of all, my spiritual pressure sensing was completely useless. Tōsen's overwhelming spiritual pressure from moments before had vanished instantly, like a mirage. The dry air and gritty sensation of sand were the only things anchoring me to reality.
There were various emotions coursing through me, awe at experiencing my first real Bankai in this reincarnated life, admiration for Kenpachi who could fight normally in conditions like these, but to be honest, this was just plain terrifying.
"—Gahh...!?"
Suddenly, something pierced my abdomen, and the impact sent me flying. Something rough scraped against my clothes and skin at incredible speed before I finally came to a stop. I must have rolled around in the desert again. Coughing up sand, my mouth felt disgusting. Moving my limbs produced only a gritty sensation.
Am I standing? Sitting? Lying down? Buried? I had no idea. Aizen-sama had been physically intimidating, but this unknown terror was instinctively frightening.
No, seriously, this is scarier than Aizen-sama's pressure...!
"Hime...?"
I focused my consciousness on the hilt I was still clutching, but there was no response. Could it be that with spiritual pressure detection blocked, I couldn't hear her voice either? This was bad, I'd wanted Hime to sense our surroundings for situations exactly like this...!
"Ugh...!"
What?! This time, I felt a floating sensation starting from my chest. Was I being grabbed by my shirt collar and lifted up?
Before my rational mind could analyze the situation, my body was once again propelled forward with incredible force. Was I thrown? This was bad, if I didn't get into a defensive stance, I'd lose my bearings again...! But which way was the ground? Where was Tōsen? What was happening to me right now?
Scary.
Terrifying.
Horrifying.
...Wait. I'm aware of the fear, but I'm not panicking.
Pain and death are naturally unpleasant, but this is my second life, and I'm more disappointed at the thought of collapsing in the middle of pursuing my dreams than I am afraid. The only thing that truly scares me is the unknown—what might happen next.
Think of a way to break out of this situation.
Tōsen's Bankai creates a dome that seals off most of a person's senses. That's all it does. I understand how terrifying that is, but it can't seal off spiritual power itself, which is the fundamental force of the Soul Society. My Zanpakutō might not be able to communicate, but that doesn't mean her power is gone.
Tōsen's Bankai's weakness is overwhelming brute force.
My ability is to unleash explosive spiritual flames with all my power.
And while our spiritual pressure levels are different, the gap isn't so vast that I can't reach him.
...Huh. We're actually pretty well-matched, aren't we?
"—Explode, Himei!"
As I chanted the release command, the heat of the plum-colored flames that had been dormant returned to my blade. I couldn't see it, but I could feel incredible power flowing into me from the other half of my soul. We were both more determined than ever. My embarrassment had vanished completely, and now I couldn't wait to use this ultimate technique that had finally been properly named and perfected.
Thank you, Captain Tōsen. Thanks to you, I might finally be free from my dark past.
"—Please, Hime!"
──────
Immediately afterward, overwhelming force erupted from my right hand gripping the hilt, like a raging flood. The power was so immense it transcended the five senses, and I instinctively wanted to let go, but I forced myself to hold on. I thrust the blade upward toward where I believed my target to be.
The power kept flowing from the handle, faster and faster, and just as quickly, it was replenished. Tōsen must be seeing those plum-colored flames from earlier being fired at him like a machine gun. If I could blow away the black dome covering me with pure brute force, it would be over!
I can't see or hear anything! But just keep going! Go! Keep going!
"Flying Plum!"
And after screaming until my throat was raw and my spiritual energy was completely spent...
"—The light is blinding..."
Suddenly, my vision returned, and when I shielded my eyes with my left hand, I saw Tōsen standing amid a whirlwind of light and flame, his shihakushō tattered and torn.
"...I never thought my Bankai would be forced back to Shikai. Impressive insight, Aizen-sama."
Looking more closely, his Zanpakutō was already sheathed at his waist. Though he must have exerted considerable effort, he'd likely released the Bankai voluntarily, recognizing that the odds had turned against him. After all, there's that troublesome rule about Bankai being irreparable once damaged...
"It seems the method worked. Look behind you."
As I stood there dumbfounded, Tōsen spoke in a slightly cheerful tone.
Snapping back to reality, I obediently turned to look where he was pointing.
There she was.
"—Master!"
A lovely celestial maiden wearing a feathered robe, with two large bells adorning her outfit, stood there with a radiant smile.
"...Himei?"
"Yes, Master!"
I couldn't believe it. I stood there in wonder, grateful for the miracle unfolding before my eyes.
──Just by not being ashamed of the technique, it actually materialized... you little fool...!
"Himeeee!"
"Master!"
A loud "Finally!" echoed in my mind.
In the real world, I was reunited with Hime-chan. We didn't kiss, but we embraced warmly enough to complete the materialization training.
"What are you misunderstanding now?"
"Huh?"
"Your Bankai training isn't finished yet."
"Huh?"
"Stop that hugging and subdue your materialized spirit over there. You're close enough now that it's just a matter of time. Don't keep Aizen-sama waiting."
"..."
After that, I went all-out with my Bankai training.
***
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