However, he no longer had that chance.
As soon as Kyoka Suigetsu activated, the world in front of him shifted.
Everything changed the moment the power of Kyoka Suigetsu enveloped Yuta.
Just for that moment.
He felt everything around him pull away from him-like being launched into some high-speed movement.
And it was fast.
There was a bang, followed by the sensation of entering another realm altogether.
Fog and water filled the space before him.
Countless broken mirrors and shards of glass floated around him, each one reflecting scenes that blurred the line between illusion and reality.
Some showed himself. Some showed others.
Mixed in were fantasy and confusion-cruel truths lying beside them.
Bright red roses hung suspended above bottomless dark abysses.
Time stretched unnaturally around him.
Yuta's vision shattered and multiplied. It felt like his eyes split into thousands of fragments-each one staring into possibilities within the mirrors.
Only a breath had passed in the physical world, but to Yuta, that moment felt like years spent observing and absorbing every detail of this realm.
Silently, the mirrors cracked apart.
As his eyes closed for one brief instant, the fragments returned-countless gazes reassembling into his original vision, burning faintly with fire behind his pupils when they opened again.
[You watched Aizen Sosuke and you begin comprehend the power of Kyoka Suigetsu, and now understood the power to see flame. No illusion may blind your eyes again.]
[You observed the complete hypnosis cycle of Kyoka Suigetsu-and grasped the fundamentals of its world. You may hypnotize people who meet your gaze directly.]
Even as the ability formed in him, Yuta knew instantly-Kyoka Suigetsu would no longer work on him.
Yet deep inside, he sensed this was only the starting point. The infinite reflections he had just witnessed promised far greater potential than merely breaking illusions or inducing hypnosis. Perhaps his eyes could continue to evolve-but not today. That path remained sealed for now.
As Yuta broke through the mirror realm, Aizen Sosuke turned to look at him. Whatever emotion he held beneath those reflective frames remained unreadable.
Mikami had stiffened with fear when it happened-but alongside fear came understanding. With further training, her Zanpakutō would likely release soon.
Her strike earlier had felt… close-as if she nearly spoke its true name aloud by instinct alone.
It wasn't just her-Juri and Kanae had felt it too.
Mikami Asui glanced at them. The three silently exchanged nods before she addressed their teacher-
"Captain Aizen, if there's nothing else-we'll take our leave."
"…Ah. Please step back," Aizen replied calmly, snapping out of his trance. "Today's class is over. Dismissed."
"Goodbye, Aizen-sensei!"
Polite farewells echoed as the students filed out one by one.
Without another word, Aizen turned and walked away alone.
Hinamori Momo watched it happen with mild surprise. He didn't call her this time.
Before now-after every demonstration-he'd always say gently: "Let's go, Hinamori."
It had become routine… but not today. This time… he left in silence. A little off-beat. A small gaffe?
Perhaps he was tired-but Hinamori thought nothing of it after that moment passed.
One thing she hadn't been wrong about: Sosuke Aizen's departure was absolutely not normal today.
He couldn't wait any longer-
He needed to examine the status of the Hogyoku right away.
Pshh-
Metal doors slid open as Aizen entered the lab space with quick steps.
He retrieved the Hogyoku immediately from its secure container inside the six-pointed star-shaped frame.
Blue-purple light pulsed from within it now-clearly visible and active.
"…Impossible…"
He had always known that the Hogyoku held self-awareness-but it had previously remained dormant and passive, giving no obvious sign of emotion-or reaction-until now.
Yet here it was-reacting fiercely for the first time since its creation.
What he sensed from it wasn't idle flicker or containment struggle-it was longing.
Intense, undeniable desire radiated from deep inside its sealed core-
For Yuta's soul specifically.
Somehow… it understood that if it consumed that one soul-it could reach its final form at last.
After several seconds passed in silence, Aizen spoke softly toward it,
"…Yuta-you really have surprised me."
His lips finally curved into a smile that twisted at both ends-more feral than pleased. More predator than mentor.
Had Momo seen his face at that moment-she would've been terrified-
…
Shino Academy
Mikami, Juri, and Kanae had found peace in solitude to think over what happened-each seeking clarity of their own understanding away from distractions and voices.
Meanwhile, Yuta moved alone toward the Kido section of the library and stepped up to the second floor where intermediate Kido texts were archived. He scanned quickly and began absorbing everything available with cold precision and little effort:
[You read through Second-Level Hadō #32 "Ekasen" - Yellow Fire Flash - and understood it completely.]
[You learned Hadō #33 - "Sōkatsui" - Blue Fire Crash Down.]
[You understood Hadō #54 - "Haien" - Abolishing Flames - with clarity.]
…
[You understood Bakudō #30 - "Shitotsu Sansen" - Beak-Piercing Triple Beam.]
[You read Bakudō #37 - "Tsuriboshi" - Suspending Star - and grasped it without difficulty.]
[You learned Bakudō #39 - "Enkosen" - Round Shield Fan - perfectly well.]
…
These mid-level spells posed little challenge for him. Watching once was enough to master each one-his mind absorbing theory and practical structure instantly.
Next step-the third floor.
Yuta made his way to the staircase leading up-but as he reached the final landing, two tall Shinigami stood guarding access with no-nonsense expressions and one hand resting on their Zanpakutōs at their waists.
As Yuta stepped forward-they blocked him without hesitation-
"Do you have clearance?"
"No pass means no entry beyond this point."
Yuta offered only one calm smile in response-
"That so."
His eyes flashed red for less than a second-
Both guards faltered-their expressions blanking slightly as their irises lost focus for just that moment-
Yuta held up his student ID card slowly between two fingers and gave them enough time to recognize it through their haze,
One stepped aside first-
"…Since you've shown your pass… you may proceed."
Yuta nodded lightly-and stepped past them, blade at his waist humming low with energy as he crossed onto Level 3 of the library archive floor-
Unexpectedly secure for what seemed like simple book access-but then again, without mastering Kyoka Suigetsu's inner workings-it might've actually been too difficult to bypass them normally.
No one had maintained this floor in some time. Dust coated shelves faintly-
And there were far fewer tomes than on either of the two floors below.
Yuta swept his gaze across the room once slowly-and spotted what he hadn't expected to find…
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