Chapter 067: Where's the Reward? Bring It Out Already!
Soifon rolled her eyes, just slightly, and didn't take the cleaning bait.
She turned her back to him instead. A short silence. Then, without warning:
"Have you decided where you're going after graduation?"
Checking my plans?
"Not yet."
"Then come to Squad 2. Or rather, join the Onmitsukido."
The Onmitsukido had come up before. In terms of what it officially was, it sat roughly on the same level as the Gotei 13, the same category of organization, the same tier of posting. The work was just a little less clean by nature. Quiet handling of sensitive matters. Regular dealings with noble families.
That was the official description.
The more honest version that circulated among people who actually knew the structure was something else entirely.
The Shihoin family's private forces.
The Shihoin noble house commanded a significant number of people, and the organizational structure that had developed over generations and eventually solidified into its current form was, practically speaking, just another part of what that great family owned. Joining the Onmitsukido meant, for most people, stepping into the Shihoin family's apparatus. No more eating from the Gotei 13's shared pot, but if you got a seat at an old money table instead, that was hardly a downgrade.
Which was why the Onmitsukido had a solid reputation among Academy students. Not a bad option at all.
Matsushita Yusuke didn't answer immediately. He looked at Soifon's back and thought it over.
"Any special perks for joining?"
"Excuse me?! Working directly under Yoruichi-sama isn't enough for you?"
"Aizen-sensei promised me a seated officer position if I join Squad 5."
That part was actually true.
It had come up in passing during one of their conversations. Aizen had mentioned that someone who could wield their Zanpakuto and perform even a basic release had more or less already cleared the threshold for a seated position. The top seats were competitive, depending on internal standing and sponsorship. The lower seats, on the other hand, were basically not a problem.
That offhand comment was what had actually given Matsushita Yusuke a frame of reference for the System's Overall Assessment.
The System wasn't dumb about these things.
Its evaluations tracked closely with what Aizen had described, which said something about how accurately it was reading him. Going forward, as his actual ability improved, using that assessment as a benchmark made sense.
Back to the current situation.
Soifon's expression had gone distinctly sour at the Squad 5 comment.
"...Why does everything out of your mouth have to be so calculating? Isn't serving Yoruichi-sama reason enough on its own?"
Honestly, he wasn't particularly drawn to Yoruichi in that specific way.
"It's not that. I just want to see what else is out there first. Look at a few options before deciding. Nothing concrete yet."
"No ambition whatsoever!"
"Do you actually want me to join the Onmitsukido?"
Soifon rolled her eyes again and said nothing.
"You're about to be late for class. Get going. I'll finish the cleaning."
Matsushita Yusuke glanced at the hollow bamboo water chime in the courtyard and did a quick mental count.
"I'll head out then. See you later."
Soifon watched him go.
When his back had disappeared from view, her left hand dropped to her side. She reached down quietly and touched the small pouch at her hip.
Idiot.
With the opening ceremony behind him, Matsushita Yusuke was officially a second-year.
Having gotten a rundown from Tosen Kaname the year before on what to expect, he moved through the administrative side of it without any wasted motion. Register for courses, collect textbooks and equipment, find the right classroom, get signed in. The usual.
By the time he'd worked through all of that, it was close to noon.
Quick meal, then he jogged over to the lecture hall and got settled, ready and in good spirits for the first afternoon class.
The bell rang.
A man in a Shinigami uniform, expression open and pleasant, came through the door. He walked to the podium at a brisk pace, adjusted the microphone with the practiced ease of someone who had done it a hundred times, confirmed it was working, and smiled.
"Good afternoon, everyone. There are quite a few familiar faces, but given that this is the first class of the new year, there should also be some new students in the room."
So.
"I apologize if this is repetitive for anyone, but allow me to introduce myself. I am Aizen Sosuke, Vice-Captain of Squad 5."
Shin'o Academy had a full course catalog.
The practical issue was that the lighter elective content tended to get bumped around as the more important classes filled the prime slots, ending up scattered across whatever time remained. That was why Aizen's calligraphy class had been scheduled for evenings last year.
This year was different.
First afternoon slot.
Aizen had somehow gotten a first afternoon slot.
That was prime real estate. The competition for scheduling was real, and he had beaten it.
Terrifying, honestly.
"Let me briefly outline what this course covers. Any students who find it isn't what you were expecting, or isn't what you're looking for, please update your registration at the Academic Affairs office before next week's session."
While Aizen was still speaking, the familiar notification slid into view.
[Quest: Study calligraphy under Aizen Sosuke]
There it is.
After several months away, the diligent miner was back at the vein.
This year was going to require serious effort too. All for the sake of those stat gains.
[Profile: ...]
The profile description hadn't changed much from before, so Matsushita Yusuke didn't bother reading it. What caught his attention was the reward.
[Reiatsu Level +1, Kido +2, Zanpakuto Kido +1]
That's a big one.
Even accounting for the randomness that sometimes touched these numbers, this was the equivalent of reaching into a bag and pulling out something you had no right to expect. A diamond from a bird's nest. Finding the jackpot when you weren't even looking for it.
Matsushita Yusuke made the universally understood gesture of a person who has just seen something very good and is extremely pleased about it.
The general stat growth was welcome. But the really significant part was this:
With this reward, Kido would clear 30.
The first of his four combat disciplines to hit that threshold.
What exactly happened at 30, he didn't know yet. But something would happen. That was worth looking forward to.
As for the actual class content, it had shifted from last year as expected. Aizen apparently had a different focus this time around, something related to other calligraphy applications. Matsushita Yusuke's life skills in that category were already well past the point of getting anything new from it.
The course itself was of no use to him.
Where's the reward? Bring it out already!