"See through me?"
Matsumoto Rangiku narrowed her eyes in silence and charged again, blade flashing as it split into multiple afterimages. The strikes were rapid and sharp, nearly impossible to distinguish which were real—or perhaps they all were.
Shinichi reacted swiftly, parrying each attack with precision. Steel clashed against steel, sending sparks flying in the dim dojo.
The more Rangiku fought, the more off-balance she felt. Shinichi appeared to be under constant pressure, always on the defensive, yet his sword kept her from letting up for even a moment. Was he really reading all of her attacks? And if so, was the only reason she was "winning" because of their difference in speed?
Biting her lip, Rangiku suddenly withdrew. In that instant, a glint of silver pierced her vision—Shinichi's shallow strike slipped in from an angle so narrow it nearly grazed her cheek.
Did it miss?
Or had she barely dodged it?
Still frozen, her eyes caught sight of a single golden hair drifting down, gently resting atop the blade's spine.
Rangiku swallowed and stood rooted in place.
Shinichi slowly withdrew his blade and took a single step back.
"Miss Rangiku?"
"…"
She seemed still caught in the shock of that one strike, unable—or unwilling—to respond to his soft voice.
Hisagi Shūhei, who had been watching from the sidelines, blinked in disbelief. Rangiku had been dominating the duel until just now… and yet she seemed defeated in a single stroke?
Did Matsumoto-san really just lose?
No way…
Rangiku exhaled deeply, returning her Zanpakutō to its sheath.
"Was that how you defeated your instructor back then?" she asked.
Shinichi replied casually, "Nanada-sensei was much weaker than you."
That fight had been with wooden swords—and he had snapped his instructor's blade clean in half.
Rangiku suddenly let out a laugh. It wasn't that she found anything funny, but rather she didn't know what other expression to show.
Had she really just lost?
A full-fledged vice-captain… defeated by a student who hadn't even graduated?
Well—in terms of swordsmanship, perhaps.
Even giving herself that excuse didn't help much.
She recalled the first time she'd met Shinichi—in the slums of District 80, Zaraki. A scrawny boy stood in a ruined building, gripping a battered sword, surrounded by corpses.
She'd forgotten that image.
This boy was far from just "sly."
"I actually came here for a reason," Rangiku finally said, casting a glance at Shūhei.
He immediately caught on. "Oh, I… actually have something to do. I'll leave you two to talk."
With that, the dojo returned to silence. Shinichi walked over and picked up a water jug, taking a sip.
Rangiku hesitated, then asked, "Did Vice-Captain Shiba from the Thirteenth also approach you?"
"Mm."
"What seat did he offer you?"
Shinichi tilted his head playfully. "Miss Rangiku, you give me too much credit. Seats in the Thirteenth Division aren't exactly growing on trees."
So he knew the worth of it.
"And what Division do you want to join after graduation?"
"Haven't decided. Still got time, so I'm in no rush."
Rangiku finally said, "If you choose the Tenth, you can start as a seated officer. Which seat depends on your abilities."
Shinichi chuckled. "You're being too kind. But that's still a ways off. I'll think about it when I graduate."
Rangiku frowned. Even after all this, he was still playing hard to get? Did this brat think he was some kind of genius?
But then again… his swordsmanship wasn't something just anyone could achieve.
The Tenth Division focused on patrols and guard duties. Not too dangerous, but incredibly busy. And with her captain being a notoriously lazy man, most of the workload fell to her.
Rangiku honestly hoped for someone who could share that burden.
With Shinichi's talent, he could easily handle an upper-seat post after graduation. Even if he started at Tenth Seat, he'd climb quickly.
Third Seat—her direct assistant—wasn't out of reach for him.
Recalling her captain's suggestion, she finally offered a compromise.
"Why don't you name your condition? What seat do you want?"
Shinichi, realizing she was pressing him hard, decided to give a more polite response.
"I'll give the Tenth Division priority after I graduate. Vice-Captain Shiba made me an offer, but I already told him I won't be joining the Thirteenth."
Rangiku narrowed her eyes. "Really?"
"Really!" Shinichi nodded earnestly, then flashed a cheeky grin. "After all, I'd like to see Miss Rangiku every day."
She rolled her eyes at him, though the motion was soft, flirtatious. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear—thinking of that strand he'd sliced earlier.
Too bad she hadn't gotten him to show his true strength.
She couldn't go all out against a student, after all.
After some idle chatter, Rangiku left the academy and returned to the Tenth Division barracks.
"That kid really is sly," Shiba Isshin laughed heartily after she reported back.
"No wonder he came up with such an idea. He's not someone who'll go along with your plans easily. If you're counting on him to help lighten your load, good luck."
Rangiku pursed her lips, about to argue—but then paused.
"…I never said anything about offering him Third Seat. And what idea are you talking about, Captain?"
Isshin only replied, "There's nothing below Third that would suit him anyway. Honestly, even Third might not be enough."
"You're exaggerating. There's no way he's eyeing my position as vice-captain. Even if his strength is up to par, he'd be useless with paperwork. Your nephew had to start at Third too, didn't he?"
Isshin laughed again. "No one expected Kaien to be Third Seat right out of graduation either. But that's what a genius does—achieves what no one else imagines. Otherwise, the word 'genius' would be too cheap."
Rangiku furrowed her brows in silence.
Isshin added, "Anyway, let's leave it for now. If that Tachikawa Shinichi kid wants to join the Tenth, he'll come on his own. Forcing it won't work. Good job today, Rangiku."
But she frowned.
"No, Captain. You're definitely hiding something."
Isshin only smiled and shook his head. "There's something I can't reveal yet. But you'll find out soon enough."
"…?"
Rangiku was left completely confused. She could tell something had gone on between Shinichi and her captain—something she wasn't privy to.
But they hadn't even met, had they?
Just what on earth had that boy done…?