"I'll go make you some tea."
Rukia hastily fled the scene, her steps hurried. By the time the tea was brought to the table, her complexion had returned to normal.
"Are there any classmates I know participating in this Soul Burial internship?" Kyōraku Callum steered the conversation back on track.
Rukia answered without hesitation, "Of course! Renji, Kira, Hinamori… you know them all, right?"
Kyōraku Callum had interacted with them several times during his two years at the Academy, a fact Rukia was aware of.
"They're working incredibly hard to catch up after seeing your early graduation," Rukia explained.
"That's why they had the confidence to apply for early graduation."
Kyōraku Callum fell silent, feeling a pang of guilt.
It all stemmed from him. Early graduation, Soul Burial internship… these guys are incredibly driven! Had he underestimated their potential?
"When is the Soul Burial internship?" Kyōraku Callum asked after a moment of thought.
"Three days from now," Rukia replied.
Kyōraku Callum frowned slightly. "And the location?"
"Designated location 1026 in the World of the Living," Rukia answered, unaware of anything amiss.
Kyōraku Callum's frown deepened. Three days was too short a time.
He couldn't feel at ease leaving Rukia under Gin Ichimaru's supervision for the Soul Burial internship.
Something was bound to go wrong.
Aside from the timing, the location and participants were largely consistent with his memories.
"Looks like I'll have to interfere," Kyōraku Callum decided. Aizen had already noticed him; continuing to hide was pointless. This was an opportunity to directly intervene in the game. Even if he couldn't change the outcome, he could be the one to upset the board.
"I'll keep it brief," Kyōraku Callum said, gripping Rukia's shoulders and looking seriously into her purple eyes. "Be extremely careful during this internship! The World of the Living is dangerous."
Seeing his serious expression, Rukia committed his words to memory.
Bidding Rukia farewell, Kyōraku Callum left the Shinigami Academy. He had three days to prepare.
Most importantly, he needed to add the Soul Burial internship location coordinates to the Kyōraku family's Senkaimon, allowing him to reach the World of the Living instantly.
Next, Kyōraku Callum returned to the Fourth Division to handle some matters. Though most of his work was handled by Kiyone Kotetsu, he still needed to review some things—a mere overview, however. He trusted Kiyone Kotetsu's abilities.
Her combat skills were poor, even a disgrace for a lieutenant, but her administrative skills far surpassed some captains and lieutenants, such as Kyōraku Shunsui and himself.
Unohana Retsu expressed great enthusiasm at his return, inviting him to the Fourth Division's flower arrangement competition and kendo match next month.
"Callum, your sword intent seems sharper," Unohana Retsu observed, her smile giving Kyōraku Callum a dangerous feeling—a feeling she only possessed when entering a battle state.
"I had some insights during battle," Kyōraku Callum replied truthfully.
Unohana Retsu pondered this. "It seems my past thoughts were correct," she said, her expression dimming. "Unfortunately, my kendo talent only allows me to reach this far."
Kyōraku Callum instinctively asked, "What thoughts?"
Unohana Retsu smiled.
"About kendo training, of course! Battle is the best way to understand the sword."
As she spoke, Kyōraku Callum sensed a shift in the atmosphere. He'd avoided Kenpachi Zaraki to prevent unnecessary battles, but overlooked the fact that his captain was the first Kenpachi.
Unohana Retsu's desire for battle was no less than Kenpachi Zaraki's.
The difference was that, over time, Unohana Retsu had learned to control her desire. Perhaps only when she saw Kyōraku Callum did that desire resurface.
"Next time, definitely!" Unohana Retsu was startled as Kyōraku Callum's figure vanished before her eyes like a phantom.
"A Shunpo-created afterimage?
Callum's Shunpo skills are truly remarkable!" she exclaimed, her surprise and curiosity growing. "Then he must have made even greater strides in kendo, wouldn't you say?"
Kyōraku Callum couldn't guess Unohana Retsu's thoughts. His focus remained on the Soul Burial internship.
Three days passed quickly. Kyōraku Callum returned to the Shinigami Academy to escort Rukia and the others to their internship.
"Callum!" Rukia called out from the crowd.
Renji Abarai's expression was complex upon seeing Kyōraku Callum. He still remembered Kyōraku Callum's words from two years ago: "Those I defeat, even if given time to catch up, will remain far behind."
It had been a source of motivation, but now, with Kyōraku Callum's early graduation, it was a harsh reality.
____________________
for more advance chapters visit my p@treon
[email protected]/kane45
Casual Reader - 20 Advance Chapters
Intermediate Reader - 40 Advance Chapters
Expert Reader - 60 Advance Chapters