Watching the energetic students at the Spiritual Arts Academy, Yoshio—having parted ways with Abarai Renji—had more or less figured out Star Chaser's ability.
Star Chaser was a status-raising power. When used, your position goes up.
For example, if someone was currently a squad member, using it would make them a seated officer.
However, it didn't change your strength. Even if you became a Captain, your power would remain the same as now.
Of course, Star Chaser also possessed a limit-breaking potential, but that limit was far beyond him at present.
He was just an ordinary Shinigami; limits weren't something he needed to worry about yet.
For instance, Yamamoto and Aizen had already reached the Shinigami's limit.
Their strength could no longer rise—even after hundreds or thousands of years, it would remain unchanged.
That's why Aizen coveted the Hōgyoku—it could let him break a Shinigami's limit and become something beyond.
But for Yoshio, after obtaining Star Chaser, the Shinigami's limit no longer applied to him—because he could surpass it.
In other words, as long as he kept training, though it might take a long time, his strength could keep growing, easily breaking the Shinigami limit and even surpassing the Soul King.
Of course, that could take a very, very long time.
With his talent, who knew how long it would take to become Captain-class?
Upon reaching the Academy, Yoshio also discovered something else.
Not everyone had their own ability; in fact, most people didn't.
Only those with distinctive personalities and strong spiritual power possessed a personal trait that birthed a unique superpower.
Named, recognizable characters from the original story naturally counted as distinctive; even if their power was weak, they could still have a superpower.
As for the background nobodies, they needed strong spiritual pressure as a crutch to awaken one.
With that in mind, he walked into Class 1's office.
Inside sat a bald, bespectacled man: Gengorō Ōnabara, Class 1's supervising instructor.
This instructor had been a seated officer in the Gotei 13 and naturally had his own ability.
[Strict Teacher Produces Outstanding Students: You will become an excellent teacher; under your guidance, students improve more easily.]
A great ability—but he couldn't obtain it yet.
Gengorō Ōnabara's favorability toward him hadn't reached 60.
To Yoshio's surprise, though, it was already 54.
Back when Yoshio was in the Academy, he often sought this renowned teacher for advice. Even though he wasn't in his class, they had a decent relationship.
Yoshio's talent wasn't impressive, but Gengorō Ōnabara admired his perseverance.
An idea struck. Smiling, Yoshio said:
"Teacher, Abarai performed excellently on his internship. Looks like you're about to teach another genius."
Hearing this pleased Gengorō Ōnabara. Teachers love hearing praise for their students.
Academy instructors were originally seated officers from various squads, transferred to the Academy due to personal reasons or organizational needs.
They'd left the battlefield, but they hoped their students would take their place and protect Seireitei.
He nodded. "Yoshio, how far do you think Renji can go?"
"Well," Yoshio replied modestly, "I'm just an ordinary Shinigami; I don't know Captain-class standards too well. But I believe Abarai-kun could become a senior seated officer in at most forty years."
"And Lieutenant isn't out of the question."
"You're exaggerating," Gengorō Ōnabara shook his head. "Captain-class isn't that easy, much less in forty years."
"However, since Captain Aizen values him, becoming a senior seat is quite likely."
"Honestly, if not for Captain Aizen, I wouldn't have let a fifth-year student go on internship."
What could Yoshio say? He could only nod and smile. "You're right, sensei."
Usually, students were assigned to squads after graduation; during the first year, they'd intern under senior squad members to learn the ropes.
Of course, rules are rules; reality has exceptions.
Like now.
After finishing Renji's business, Yoshio promptly sought Gengorō Ōnabara's guidance on Kidō, displaying a humble, studious attitude.
The instructor's favorability had been 54; seeing Yoshio like this, it ticked up, reaching 60.
Yoshio successfully acquired "Strict Teacher Produces Outstanding Students."
After obtaining it, he exchanged a few Kidō tips with Gengorō Ōnabara before leaving the office.
He didn't hurry back to the Fifth Division; instead, he walked around the Academy to see who else might have abilities.
Soon, he spotted Kira Izuru, who often hung around with Abarai Renji, and nearby, Hinamori Momo.
Both of them, of course, had abilities.
Kira Izuru's was "Bird Killer."
[Bird Killer: When fighting enemies with wings, your combat effectiveness increases dramatically.]
Truly worthy of the "chicken killer" nickname. Kira's power was quite useful—many Hollows had wings, and Hollows were the Shinigami's main foes at present.
Later, when the Quincy used Vollständig, they sprouted light-wings. Whether those counted as "wings" was debatable, but either way, X's second-stage Vollständig had that giant bird, which definitely had wings.
And when Aizen entered his Hōgyoku forms, he also sprouted wings—did that count as a "bird," too?
Hinamori Momo's ability was "Ultimate Defense."
[Ultimate Defense: When activated, your defense increases greatly.]
Wonderful—worthy of the strongest tank, Goddess Momo.
Seeing this, Yoshio knew he had to befriend them both!
His favorability with Renji was already above 60, but he wasn't as familiar with Kira and Hinamori.
He hadn't spoken much with them; their favorability sat at a meager 20.
He needed to make friends with them!