The first Sunday of April.
The rain had just cleared, the air sharp and clean.
Soma and Ichigo made their way to the 5th Division at Aizen's invitation.
They spotted him standing under the eaves of the barracks, arms folded inside his sleeves, calmly soothing a subordinate who'd probably made some small mistake. Only once Aizen finished did Soma and Ichigo step forward.
"Kiryu-kun, Kurosaki-kun. Welcome to the 5th Division. No trouble on the way, I hope?"
"Not really," Ichigo said, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Just kinda far. Wouldn't kill Soul Society to have, y'know, buses or something."
"A very practical suggestion," Aizen mused. "I'll bring it up at the next captains' meeting with Head Captain Yamamoto and Central 46."
Ichigo's stomach dropped. "Wait, no—don't make it that serious! I mean, it's not that bad. Right, Soma?"
"Honestly, I don't think buses would cut it. Trains would be better. Maybe even subways connecting districts underground? Could be a smart investment," Soma said, wearing the same thoughtful expression as Aizen.
"Hey!" Ichigo barked.
"A bold idea," Aizen said smoothly. "But if anyone could make it happen, it'd be you two."
"Uh, Sensei? This is where you're supposed to tell your students not to chase pipe dreams," Ichigo protested.
"Kurosaki-kun, you've got it backwards. A teacher's duty isn't to stop students from dreaming. It's to stop them from giving up on their dreams. Even if they sound reckless. Especially if they do. That's the privilege of genius."
The warmth in Aizen's tone didn't quite mask the edge underneath. Ichigo felt a flicker of unease, but before he could argue, Soma cut in.
"We can talk infrastructure later. Let's get to the real reason we're here."
"Of course. But first—let's change locations."
Aizen led them deeper into the division's compound until they stood before a structure that looked, at first glance, like a humble thatched dojo. But the surrounding courtyard and its position at the heart of the barracks said otherwise.
"So. What do you think of the 5th Division so far?" Aizen asked suddenly.
Ichigo and Soma exchanged a look. Ichigo spoke first.
"Uh… I mean, aside from the uniforms, it feels a lot like the Academy."
"You mean the 'academic vibe,' right?" Soma offered.
"Yeah! Exactly! Like a school," Ichigo said, snapping his fingers.
"I felt the same. And I know why." Soma's gaze flicked to Aizen, who only smiled.
"I've noticed the division members here are unusually stable. Their Reiatsu isn't hidden, but it never feels oppressive—more like background noise. Like breathing. You notice it, but you don't notice it. Less about being weak, more about making sure they don't disturb others."
"Unlike our buddy Kurosaki here, who still can't keep his Reiatsu under wraps," Soma added.
"Hey!" Ichigo snapped. "I've been doing way better! Even the Kidō instructor praised me last week!"
"With your track record, any progress is worth celebrating," Soma said dryly. "Anyway, my point is—if you ask me, the average 5th Division member's Kidō is at least above baseline."
Ichigo blinked. "No way."
As a current Academy student, Ichigo knew what "above baseline" meant. More than half of graduates couldn't meet that standard even after six years. For a whole division to hit it? Impossible.
Unless… the 5th Division was stacked with nothing but Kidō specialists. But then why hadn't the Kidō Corps raised hell? Oh, right—its leaders had defected. Nobody left to complain.
Aizen didn't let the thought linger. "Your observation is sharp, Kiryu-kun. And you're correct. Most of my division is highly proficient in Kidō."
"And the reason… is right behind me."
Both boys turned to the dojo-like building.
Aizen revealed the secret with no hesitation.
"It's called the Kidō Recovery Chamber."
"As the name suggests, it accelerates the recovery of the mental energy Kidō consumes. With its aid, my squad members can train Kidō at high intensity for long stretches. Theory becomes practice, and their baseline rises. Even if they lack the talent for higher-level spells, they can still abandon incantations, combine effects, and forge new Kidō techniques. Add battlefield tactics, and you get something impressive."
"It gives hope. Even those who aren't prodigies can become strong. That hope is why their emotions stay so steady."
"Frankly, the 5th Division's overall Kidō ability is the best in the Gotei 13. Though of course, we still fall short of the Kidō Corps." He finished with a modest smile, as if the Corps had anyone left to overhear.
"Didn't think the 5th Division had something like this," Soma murmured.
He understood the weight of it. Mental exhaustion was far harsher than physical. A place that let you recover faster was invaluable. With his Compound Potion, Soma knew the difference firsthand.
This was a game-changer.
Ichigo, though, cut right to it. "So, Sensei—this place can fix my problem, right?"
Aizen shook his head. "I'm afraid not."
"…Huh?"
"It restores the energy Kidō consumes. It doesn't teach you to control your Reiatsu. It might help a little, but that's not what you need."
Ichigo's face twisted. "You're losing me here."
"Then I'll be direct," Aizen said softly.
"Kurosaki-kun—give up on Kidō."