Fujimiya Makoto struggled to open his eyes, exhaling a long breath.
His expressionless face nearly cracked.
You little broken sword of mine.
Why don't you just kill me sooner?
So, if it weren't for Ukitake-sensei insisting on seeing this, he wouldn't have wanted her to enter such a place.
But…
"Clang."
Fujimiya Makoto slowly drew his sword from his waist.
The moment the blade's edge gleamed, Ukitake Senkemaru, whose attention had been drawn by the surroundings, finally noticed the intense spiritual pressure fluctuations between them.
Fujimiya Makoto spoke: "Honestly, I've wanted to know for a long time."
He raised the blade in his hand, pointing its tip at Ukitake Senkemaru.
"If sensei were at the same spiritual pressure level as me, just how big is the gap between us?"
Almost as his words landed.
Above both their heads appeared the number [3].
"I see."
Ukitake Senkemaru's expression shifted slightly as she looked down at her slender fingers: "It can forcibly balance both sides' spiritual pressure?"
"But…"
"If you lose, you'd end up like that?"
Ukitake-sensei's gaze remained on the 'exhibits' on both sides of the dojo.
At this moment, Ukitake Senkemaru, usually as unfathomable as an iceberg floating on the sea, finally showed a hint of wariness and malice in her eyes.
If before, in her perspective, she was merely measuring her disciple's current growth as a teacher.
Then, faced with this shikai, even she had to be extremely cautious.
No matter how indifferent she was to emotions or morals, Ukitake Senkemaru absolutely didn't want to end up like those on either side.
Absolutely not!
Fujimiya Makoto said no more, holding his long sword horizontally before him, slightly lowering his body, his gaze fixed on Ukitake Senkemaru.
A fiery passion burned within his chest.
If he could defeat Ukitake-sensei…
The [Romantic Bond] could be achieved, right?
Just this thought ignited a fiery passion within him, one he didn't know where it came from, burning brighter and brighter.
[All progress brought by this desire will advance tenfold, hundredfold within the script!]
[Because this is 'His' world.]
In that moment, light ignited in Fujimiya Makoto's eyes.
The wooden floor beneath his feet shattered, splintering backward.
Intense white waves spread from front to back.
Fujimiya Makoto's lowered stance vanished instantly, his entire body becoming a black line sliding along the ground, charging toward Ukitake Senkemaru.
In his heart remained only the desire to win and… that burning passion!
Ukitake Senkemaru's eyes flickered, but her thin lips curved into a smile. Her left-hand short blade moved like a dragon emerging from water, slashing unwaveringly toward Fujimiya Makoto's neck, aiming to secure victory.
Her other hand's shallow blade arced like a crescent moon in mid-air, tracing a swaying curve.
Gogyo no Asobi's blade exceeded four feet in length. In an era of cold weapons, an inch of length meant an inch of strength. Before the crescent-shaped blade could fall, Fujimiya Makoto's blade had already closed the distance, slashing toward Ukitake-sensei's wrist.
"Clang—"
The short blade blocked, emitting a harsh metallic clash.
Fujimiya Makoto nearly simultaneously raised his wrist, using the middle of his blade to intercept the falling crescent arc. His feet moved continuously, brushing past her at an almost intimate distance.
The two blades and the great sword sparked a series of golden flashes as they clashed.
But in that fleeting moment, Ukitake, like a spinning dancer, used the force to bounce her blade segment away. Her two blades, one long and one short, swung open, slashing toward Fujimiya Makoto's waist at this close distance.
The blade tip was deflected by the sword guard's metal.
As both turned, master and disciple shared nearly synchronized excited smiles, clashing once more.
Even Ukitake Senkemaru herself didn't notice the radiant brilliance unconsciously shining in her eyes.
Though her opponent was a disciple she had casually picked up outside;
Though her initial intent was merely to witness this disciple's prized shikai;
Though she had originally planned to let him grow further, waiting until he reached his most ripe, full potential before savoring his essence…
Though there were many 'thoughs'.
But!
Ukitake Senkemaru could no longer hold back.
Blades flashed, sparks flew.
The clash within an inch was elevated to an almost artistic level.
Every move, every intersection, every step's landing point, all seemed calculated through countless instincts, meticulously chosen.
No unnecessary reasons.
Because one wrong step meant failure, meant death.
Yet, the more this dance teetered on the edge of life and death, the more it seemed to stir Ukitake's deepest nerves, thrilling her, shaking her, making her profoundly feel—she was alive!
This was the battle she yearned for!
Betting life, dancing with an equally matched opponent on the highest, most perilous string.
One misstep, and she'd end up like those bound figures on either side of the dojo.
If she lost to Makoto, with the terrifying inner world he constantly suppressed and hid deep within, even as his teacher, she might not escape unscathed.
Or perhaps, she'd end up in an even stranger state.
Unimaginable.
Ukitake's eyes widened involuntarily, her pupils contracting sharply.
If she failed, she'd become Makoto's exclusive… slave.
Was this a deeper, more twisted danger than death?
It's…
Terrifyingly exhilarating!
How long had it been since she felt this thrill?
Indeed!
Ukitake Senkemaru's thin lips curved uncontrollably, her black pupils reflecting Fujimiya Makoto's equally fiery figure.
You are my choice.
Makoto.
Compared to the countless commonplace pains, lost limbs, and deaths on the battlefield… only a 'monster' like you can bring me such a unique shock!
Under this continuous, intensely extreme emotional surge.
Ukitake Senkemaru was completely unaware that she had fully unleashed her restraints, truly engaging Fujimiya Makoto on equal spiritual pressure.
Going all out!
Or perhaps she had noticed but didn't want to stop, not even for a second.
More! More! More!
Absolutely don't stop, Makoto.
Until I defeat you, or you defeat me!
Ukitake Senkemaru was completely immersed in Fujimiya Makoto's world, unable to resist pushing this battle to its most extreme climax!
She instinctively opened her mouth, driven by the battle and excitement, unleashing her spiritual pressure to its peak in one breath.
"——Swastika! All done!"