Division 5.
After finishing with the documents, it was already late by the time Captain Sosuke had some time to rest.
Hinamori Momo returned to the captain's office after completing the task he'd given her. "Captain Aizen do you have anything else for me?"
Just being around him gave her a sense of peace that nothing else could mimic.
Captain Sosuke set down his brush and gave her a mild order. "Hinamori, prepare things. Let them know-I'll be heading to Shino Academy to demonstrate Shikai."
Momo's eyes lit up. "Captain... you're visiting Shino Academy again to demonstrate your Shikai?"
Only Captain Sosuke would be generous enough to reveal his Shikai so openly.
Other captains kept their Shikai and Bankai hidden to guard against giving away their advantage in combat. Sharing your technique with others? That would always invite risk.
Captain Sosuke was different. He was kind-in every way that mattered to them.
He smiled and nodded calmly. "I want as many students as possible to witness what Shikai truly is. If there's something I can contribute as a captain, this is it."
"Yes! I'll go right away!" Hinamori bowed respectfully and departed with clear excitement on her face.
…
Kido Classroom.
Rukia Kuchiki stood at Yuta's side, brushing hair behind her ear as she explained in a low tone. "Casting Kido without chanting is called 'abandoning the chant.' However, doing so weakens the spell's power-it's barely one-third as strong as the original form. Mastery of this method demands deep understanding of the Kido itself. It's one of the harder ways to use it…"
While Rukia spoke calmly, Mikami Asui stared at her and couldn't find anything obviously unusual about her as a teacher. She shifted her focus to Yuta instead. He leaned lazily against the wall, half-asleep and completely uninterested in what was happening around him.
Kuchiki-sensei came from one of the four noble families. With that kind of status, people like them surely looked no different than bugs in her eyes. Why would she ever pay attention to commoners?
…Unless it had something to do with Yuta?
"Kuchiki-sensei seems to have a really good relationship with Yuta."
"Ah?" Rukia looked up, surprised. She hadn't expected that question from a student. She smiled gently. "Well, Yuta and I are close friends."
"Could you tell me something about him?"
Rukia hesitated-but what was there to say? Honestly, she didn't know all that much herself. Only that he had come from District 80 in Rukongai…
Behind them, Yuta suddenly stretched out his limbs.
Without thinking much, Rukia reached up and brushed his messy hair down into place. "You're awake? I'm heading back to the squad soon."
"I'll walk you."
She nodded once. "Mm."
Mikami shot them both a glance, then pulled back with polite understanding. "We won't hold you up any longer, then."
Yuta and Rukia walked side-by-side down the halls of Shino Academy, while the rest of the world seemed far removed around them.
They wandered until they'd crossed into a shaded grove near the edge of campus.
Their shadows stretched together beneath sunlight scattered across dirt and grass.
Even though Rukia knew things were stable for now-the visit from two captains over Yuta's situation reminded her that stability could vanish fast.
"If anything ever happens-you know you can come to me."
"Is that the privilege of knowing someone from the Kuchiki family?"
"Yeah-and while I don't always love that fact, don't you dare hold back from coming to me because of who I am." She gave him a light punch on the shoulder. His body felt like steel under her knuckles. "I'll actually punch you for that."
"Alright." Yuta's response was offhanded-but not indifferent. He didn't fear anything-not because of arrogance, but because he understood how strong he really was. Finding something capable of hurting him might actually thrill him someday.
"By the way… I've been wondering about your past."
Her words weren't answered right away. The silence between them settled in until they reached the front gate.
Rukia smiled faintly. "Well… get back safely. You don't have to walk me any farther."
She waited until he disappeared before turning back toward the Thirteenth Division barracks.
Elsewhere-
Yuta hadn't gone far when he spotted Mikami and the others sitting under one of the trees near the training yard.
They stood when they saw him approach.
"Has Teacher Kuchiki left?"
Mikami put a hand on her chest and exhaled loudly. "Finally. She's gone. It's not that I'm scared of her or anything-it's hard talking to someone that high up. One wrong word could get you in serious trouble."
"There's nothing we can do about it," added Mirror Juri with a nod. "We're commoners-and she's one of the nobles."
Mikami almost asked Yuta whether he had some kind of awakened ability too-but something stopped her each time. If it did involve Yuta, he probably wouldn't tell them either way…
Besides, how ridiculous was it to think Yuta-a student like them–could influence something so enormous?
What happened must've been caused by some kind of incident… or strange power they hadn't figured out.
The four of them were walking along together when they saw groups of people rushing toward something in the distance.
Mikami grabbed someone briefly by the arm and asked what was happening.
"You didn't hear?" the man said quickly. "Captain Sosuke of Division 5 is about to demonstrate his Shikai! He's actually doing it! If you don't hurry-you'll miss your seat!"
With that, he jogged off again in a hurry.
The three friends turned wide-eyed toward each other as thrill settled over them all at once.
"No way-we really have a chance to witness Shikai?"
"Let's go now-we'll grab good seats while we can! Hey, Yuta-you coming too?"
Yuta smiled-and there was something off in it this time, something harder under the surface.
Sosuke… so you've finally made your move?
Show me what you're capable of-and what you're hiding behind that calm smile.
"Yeah," Yuta said lightly. "Why wouldn't I?"
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