"Then, farewell Yūshirō"
Shutara Senjumaru gave Yūshirō a faint smile before boarding the Tenchū Chariot with the Monk with the Great Eyes. Together, they vanished from Seireitei, making their way toward the 'sacred' Soul King Palace.
"Goodbye~ I'll come visit you later, Sister!"
Yūshirō waved his right hand toward the sky. At his side stood Yoruichi, Suzumebachi Ayame, and… none other than the Captain of the 1st Division and Head Captain of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.
Yes, that was all who had attended Shutara Senjumaru's promotion ceremony. By rights, only the Head Captain himself should have come, while Yūshirō, Yoruichi, and Ayame's presence was against protocol. But for Yūshirō, rules were nothing more than things to break.
"Hey, old man~!"
After cheerfully seeing Senjumaru off, Yūshirō immediately switched to a fierce look, curling his lip and addressing Yamamoto with mock hostility.
"..."
The old man simply smiled at him in silence.
"Old man, you're the one who wouldn't let me graduate early, right? Bastard~" tsk
Yūshirō sounded every bit the delinquent as he taunted Yamamoto.
"..."
Yamamoto kept smiling quietly, his eyes like those of a kindly headmaster watching a wayward, rebellious student. If not for the others standing nearby, he might well have muttered, Back in my day, a thousand years ago, I was just as defiant. Ah, to be young again…
"Hey! Old man, are you deaf? Or just mute?!"
Yūshirō shouted loudly at him.
"L-Lord Yūshirō, what are you even saying?!"
"T-That's the Head Captain you're talking to…"
Standing behind Yūshirō, Suzumebachi Ayame was dumbstruck. Never in her life had she seen anyone dare to speak like that to Yamamoto Genryūsai, the strongest Shinigami of the last millennium. Her legs went weak, trembling uncontrollably.
"Captain Shihōin, don't forget about the Captain's meeting this afternoon."
At last, Yamamoto broke his silence. Completely ignoring Yūshirō's racket, he gave Yoruichi a small smile.
"Understood, Head Captain."
Yoruichi nodded lightly in response.
"Good."
The old man gave a satisfied nod, then glanced at Ayame with a kindly smile and a slight bow before turning to leave.
"Farewell, Head Captain!"
Ayame bowed deeply, almost by instinct, as she watched him walk away.
"Ah…"
"That bastard old man just ignored me."
"He straight up treated me like I didn't exist, didn't he?"
Yūshirō muttered as he watched Yamamoto's figure recede. Clearly, the Head Captain had no intention of answering him.
"Come on, Little Bee, let's go!"
"Remember, we've got live combat training against Hollows tomorrow. Better rest early tonight~"
"See you later, Sis!"
Yūshirō patted Ayame on the shoulder, then waved at his older sister.
"Mm, go rest properly~"
"Just two more years, then you'll graduate. When that time comes, make sure to join the 2nd Division."
Yoruichi reminded him warmly.
"Yes, ma'am~"
Yūshirō nodded and strode off without looking back.
"Goodbye, Lady Yoruichi!"
Ayame bowed deeply, then hurried to catch up with Yūshirō.
"Ugh!!"
"Another meeting this afternoon. So annoying~"
Once the two had left, Yoruichi yawned and wearily headed back toward the 2nd Division barracks. Since the meeting wasn't until later, she decided she'd sneak in a nap first.
The next day, instructors from Shin'ō Academy led the fourth-year students to the outskirts of Rukongai—areas where Hollows often appeared and lingered.
"This year's advancement assessment will be carried out in six-person squads. As long as your team slays at least one Hollow—any level—you will pass. Next year, you'll enter the fifth-year graduation prep class. Remember, don't overestimate yourselves. Your lives are more important than anything else!"
An instructor, clad in a Shihakushō with a Zanpakutō at his waist, addressed the gathered students—over a hundred in all.
"Understood!"
The fourth-years stood straight, hands behind their backs, and answered in unison.
"Good. Form your squads freely… then you are dismissed!"
Satisfied, the instructor nodded and gave the order to disperse.
"Lord Yūshirō, do you already have a team?"
The moment the instructor dismissed them, Saeki Yumiko—a noble young lady who had persistently chased after Yūshirō for four years without giving up—hurried to his side.
"I do. I'll be teaming with Little Bee."
Yūshirō nodded lightly, pulling Ayame closer as he spoke.
"Uh…"
"But the instructor said squads must have six members."
Yumiko froze for a moment, awkward, but still unwilling to give up.
"Six people, huh? What a hassle."
"So then, do you have any recommendations?"
Yūshirō asked her casually.
"Of course! It might sound like I'm putting myself forward, but my Kidō skills are among the best in the entire Academy. If Lord Yūshirō doesn't mind, I'd be honored to join your team…"
Yumiko offered herself eagerly.
"Alright, that leaves us three short."
Yūshirō nodded again and asked, "Anyone else?"
"There's Sumita, Fukui, and Ise. All three are top of the class in their fields!"
Yumiko quickly listed the trio of loyal followers she had brought along.
"I see. That'll work."
Yūshirō nodded, agreeing without much thought.
"Lord Yūshirō, you mean it? You'll let me join?"
Her eyes lit up as soon as he agreed, and she reached for his arm.
"Of course."
But Yūshirō slipped out of her reach in a flash, letting her grab empty air, before draping an arm over Ayame's shoulder instead. Tilting his head, he gave Yumiko a grin that could only be described as scummy.
"Then Yumiko, I'll leave the Hollow-slaying to you and your elite trio. Little Bee and I will go wander the streets for a bit Oh, and I really don't want to repeat a year, so you know what that means, don't you? Yumiko"
His tone was like that of a schoolyard bully.
"I… I understand."
Yumiko felt her chest tighten with pain, her heart full of grievance.
"Hahaha…"
Laughing loudly, Yūshirō walked off with Ayame in tow.
"Yūshirō! No matter what, that was going too far."
"Even if you don't like Yumiko, you shouldn't treat her like that."
Once they were alone, Ayame dropped the honorifics and called him by name, her face clearly displeased.
"Oi, oi, oi!"
"Watch your words, Little Bee!"
"I didn't bully her. Honestly, I just felt bad for those three boys trailing after her, so I thought I'd give them all more chances to 'bond.' Besides, I don't feel anything for her. No feelings means no feelings. If I pretended otherwise, wouldn't that make me some kind of player?"
Yūshirō rubbed his chin, speaking with surprising seriousness.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at patreon.com/c/Shinazuki