"Senior Yoshio, what are you spacing out for?"
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
Yoshio turned his head and saw a red-haired man in a black kimono-like outfit with a sword at his waist.
A sword?!
Yoshio's pupils dilated sharply—not only did this red-haired man carry a sword, but many people around them did. No, everyone had a sword at their waist!
Did he… transmigrate? To ancient Japan? Otherwise, why would everyone dress so strangely and carry swords?
Shocked, Yoshio also noticed a line of text engraved at the red-haired man's chest—his heart, or rather, where the soul resides.
["Star Chaser: By chasing the Stars in the sky, one can transcend class and boundaries."]
What… is this?
In an instant, countless bits of information and memories surged into Yoshio's mind.
Only then did he understand what had happened.
He had actually transmigrated.
He'd transmigrated into the world of the Shinigami, arrived in Seireitei, and become a Shinigami. There were still over forty years before the plot began; Rukia Kuchiki and Abarai Renji hadn't even graduated yet!
That's right—his current identity was Yoshio Kamado, an ordinary Fifth Division Shinigami, and the person beside him was the future Lieutenant of the Sixth Division, Abarai Renji!
Right now, Renji was a fifth-year student at the Spiritual Arts Academy, graduating in a year.
Because he was in Class A and highly valued by Fifth Division Captain Aizen Sōsuke, he was practically guaranteed a place in the Gotei 13 after graduation.
So when squads were short-staffed, the Academy sometimes sent students for early "internships."
Like now—Abarai Renji was patrolling Seireitei with Yoshio.
After transmigrating, Yoshio also gained his own cheat: the "Superpower System," which allowed him to acquire supernatural abilities.
Gaining powers was simple: make friends. Each person corresponded to a unique power.
These powers were not their Zanpakutō abilities, but arose from each person's unique character, past, and even future experiences.
For example, Abarai Renji's representative ability was "Star Chaser," symbolizing Renji's desire to transcend class boundaries and face Rukia, now a noble.
It also represented his determination to grow stronger step by step, a "stray dog" clawing his way to speak to nobles as an equal.
If Abarai Renji's favorability toward him reached 60, Yoshio could use that ability once; if it reached 80, he could use it without limit.
Sixty meant "friends," eighty meant "close confidants," and at one hundred…
Their bond would be off the charts.
He checked—his current favorability with Abarai Renji already exceeded 60, which meant he could use Star Chaser once.
Good.
Information about the ability flooded his mind. Yoshio scanned through it as he walked with Renji.
"Senior Yoshio, you've been graduated for nearly five years, right?" Renji suddenly asked.
Yoshio searched his inherited memories, then nodded. "Yeah. When you were a first-year, I was already a sixth-year."
He confirmed it. He was the same cohort as Hisagi Shūhei; after graduating, he joined the Fifth Division and had been there for four years.
The original body's Shinigami talent wasn't remarkable; even after four years, he was still a regular foot soldier with almost no special skills.
Clearly, even ten years from now, his status wouldn't change.
That thought stung.
In the Thousand-Year Blood War to come, a Shinigami like him would be cannon fodder—the kind of grunt not worth an enemy's time.
Thankfully, he had his golden finger. Without it, once the war began, he'd be thinking about slipping away.
The Gotei 13 didn't allow desertion, but in wartime, a discreet escape might go unnoticed.
But now that he had a cheat, things were looking up.
"Four years and not even the lowest seated officer?" Renji's eyes showed mixed disappointment and excitement; he clenched his fist.
"What are you saying?" Yoshio was a bit speechless. Wasn't that just calling him useless?
Still, he advised, "I'm the one who didn't make seated officer in four years, not you. With your talent, Lieutenant is well within reach."
"Huh?"
Renji blinked, staring in surprise. "Really? Lieutenant?"
"Don't tell me the idea of being a Lieutenant scares you?" Yoshio patted Renji's shoulder.
"If you want to see Rukia again, that level of resolve isn't enough."
He hadn't expected Renji to blush so hard at that, spinning to glare at him.
"W-w-w-who said I want to see Rukia again?!"
"Who told you any of that?"
"Hm?" Yoshio paused, realizing that by the time Rukia was adopted by the Kuchiki family, she had already graduated, and Renji hadn't mentioned her to him since.
But he quickly continued, serious. "Renji, did you think I don't have my own sources?"
"I graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy, at least. Knowing what happens there isn't strange. Besides…"
"You've been wearing that gloomy look all day. It doesn't take much to guess you've got someone on your mind."
"Huh? I'm gloomy? That obvious?" Renji pointed at himself, then muttered, "I always thought Kira was the gloomy one. He wasn't like that before…"
"When you enter the Academy, the environment is completely different from Rukongai. Changes are normal." Yoshio said as they continued walking.
"If you adapt to the current environment, with your talent, you'll become a powerful Shinigami soon enough. Don't forget me then, haha."
By now, they were close to the Spiritual Arts Academy. After a few more words, both fell silent, assuming serious patrol postures as they approached the school.
Abarai Renji was naturally heading back to the dorms, while Yoshio was going to see a teacher to get Renji's internship evaluated.