The restaurant was buzzing with noise.
Most of the patrons were Shino Academy graduates.
On the day they were about to join the Gotei 13 and become true Shinigami, celebration was only natural.
The system's voice echoed in Yurei Genichi's mind.
It seemed Aizen had approved his application.
A smile tugged at Yurei Genichi's lips as information about his Bankai flooded his mind.
Bankai!
This was why he couldn't refuse the mission.
In both his past and current life, Yurei Genichi understood the significance of Bankai.
For an ordinary soul to have exceptional spiritual power and become a Shinigami was already a one-in-a-million stroke of luck.
Bankai, for a Shinigami, was equally rare.
A Zanpakutō's shape and abilities were forged from the Shinigami's own soul.
By learning the name of their Zanpakutō and communing with it, a Shinigami gained power.
Bankai, the second stage of a Zanpakutō's release, was its ultimate form.
Every Shinigami who achieved Bankai was, without exception, etched into the history of the Gotei 13.
No, even the history of the Soul Society itself.
Not only because of its rarity but also because of the immense boost in combat power it provided.
In the Gotei 13, one prerequisite for becoming a captain was achieving Bankai—or possessing strength comparable to it.
At Yurei Genichi's age, mastering Bankai was something only a genius among geniuses could achieve.
"Toshirō, I thought you wouldn't make it!"
Hinamori said to Hitsugaya Toshirō, who had just arrived.
"I finished my work, so I came," Toshirō replied.
Though the youngest among them, he held the highest status.
Four years ago, Hitsugaya Toshirō had enrolled with them.
In just two years, he completed the six-year curriculum.
Now, as the 3rd Seat of the 10th Division, he was a rising star, making waves across the Gotei 13.
"Senior Hitsugaya, you're late! That means three penalty drinks!"
Renji raised a glass toward Toshirō.
"Renji, what are you doing? Toshirō can't drink!"
Hinamori blocked Renji's glass, a bit upset.
This made Toshirō feel a tad awkward.
By appearances, he was clearly an underage kid.
But in terms of seniority, he was the senior of all four.
"I'll drink with you, Renji," Yurei Genichi said, clinking glasses with Renji and downing his drink in one go.
Fresh off acquiring his Bankai, Yurei Genichi was thrilled and needed an excuse to celebrate.
But this move looked different in Hinamori's eyes.
"Alright, Genichi! Let's see who can drink more today!"
Renji downed his drink and poured another.
The atmosphere at the table instantly livened up.
The group chatted casually.
"Senior Hitsugaya, what's life in the division like? Is training intense?"
"How often do you go on missions? Do you fight a lot?"
"How do you get promoted to 3rd Seat?"
...
Renji and Kira bombarded Toshirō with questions.
Both came from humble backgrounds, and their exceptional spiritual talent had gotten them into the Shino Academy.
They knew little about the inner workings of the Gotei 13.
Toshirō patiently explained, though his gaze occasionally drifted to Yurei Genichi.
"Big Brother Yurei, you don't seem excited. Don't you want to join the Gotei 13?"
Hinamori, noticing Yurei Genichi's lack of enthusiasm for the topic, asked curiously.
Yurei Genichi said lightly, "It's not that. I was just thinking about something."
"What is it? Can you tell me?"
Hinamori's interest was piqued.
Gossip was, after all, a woman's nature!
Yurei Genichi sighed inwardly but reached out to pat her head.
"Just some small stuff. Girls shouldn't be so nosy."
Having studied with Hinamori for six years, he cared for her deeply.
She was a naive girl who trusted others too easily.
That was likely why Aizen kept her close as his vice-captain.
In his past life, Yurei Genichi thought Hinamori was foolish for suspecting Toshirō as a culprit because of Aizen.
But after six years together, he no longer felt that way.
It was simply because Hinamori was too kind.
Under the constant manipulation of Aizen Sōsuke, the master of psychological control, she had been thoroughly brainwashed.
"Oh, okay," Hinamori said, nodding, her cheeks flushing.
Whether from the alcohol or Yurei Genichi's affectionate head pat, it was hard to tell.
Time passed slowly.
"Cheers!"
"Renji, you're drunk. Stop drinking!"
"I'm not drunk!"
"Seriously, stop!"
...
Kira, supporting a drunken Renji, looked exasperated.
"I'll take care of Renji," Kira said before leaving with the wobbly Renji.
Yurei Genichi, Toshirō, and Hinamori left the restaurant together.
...
At the entrance to the Shino Academy's girls' dormitory,
"I'm heading back. You two rest early," Hinamori said, waving goodbye.
Yurei Genichi and Toshirō nodded.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Toshirō showed no intention of returning to the 10th Division.
"What's up, Toshirō? Something on your mind?" Yurei Genichi asked. "You kept looking at me in the restaurant."
Toshirō turned to him. "Yurei Genichi, the others might not know, but I do. Four years ago, you could've graduated early like me. Why did you stay at the Shino Academy for so long?"
As a once-in-a-century genius of the Soul Society, despite his young age, Hitsugaya Toshirō was remarkably mature.
In his eyes, Yurei Genichi's talent and strength were no less than his own.
"No need. Six years to complete a six-year curriculum. Why rush and end up swamped with division duties like you, carrying the 'genius' title?" Yurei Genichi said with a laugh.
He knew full well that the 10th Division's captain, Shiba Isshin, and vice-captain, Matsumoto Rangiku, were both unreliable. Most of the division's work fell on Toshirō's shoulders.
Toshirō didn't respond, just stared at Yurei Genichi.
He still couldn't read this man.
"I don't care what you're planning, but if you hurt Hinamori, I won't let you off," Toshirō said after a pause.
It sounded like a threat, but it was more of a statement.
Yurei Genichi was momentarily taken aback, then smiled. "Toshirō, that's not something a kid your age should be worrying about."
With that, he deftly changed the subject.
Hinamori, huh? Maybe.
Toshirō didn't respond immediately, but the temperature around them dropped noticeably.
A powerful spiritual pressure emanated from him.
It wasn't intentional—it was a natural reaction to his emotions.
Crack, crack, crack...
The sound of ice forming filled the air.
For an ordinary person, their soul would've buckled under the pressure.
"Hyorinmaru lives up to its name as the strongest ice-type Zanpakutō. Impressive," Yurei Genichi said, unfazed by the cold.
With that, he turned and headed back to his dormitory.
Yurei Genichi!
Toshirō stared at his retreating figure, his thoughts unreadable.