Soul Society.
In the backyard of the Katori Style dojo, a red maple tree of unknown age stood quietly by the wall.
Katori Sora stood silently under the maple tree, his left hand gripping the scabbard at his waist, his thumb pressed against the tsuba, attentively observing the movement in the treetops.
A breeze rustled through the branches.
The maple leaves swayed gently with the rhythm of the wind, and a few were startled enough to break free.
Sora's right hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
The next moment, a flash of sword light suddenly erupted in the courtyard.
The maple leaves floating in the air were split in two, slowly drifting down to join the sea of leaves on the ground.
With a flick of his wrist, Sora sheathed his sword and counted the bisected leaves on the ground. After counting, he found that one leaf was still perfectly whole.
He had missed one. A mistake.
"When the mind is distracted, the hand loses its feel," Sora sighed internally.
With matters weighing on his mind, he couldn't quiet his heart to practice the sword.
Sora's nose twitched as he caught the scent of medicinal herbs coming from the kitchen. The medicine was ready. He had to take it over first.
A moment later.
Sora, carrying a bowl of medicinal soup that emanated dense spiritual particle waves, arrived at a room on the left side of the courtyard. He slid open the door to reveal a sickly beauty lying inside.
"Is it time to drink my medicine again?"
The ailing beauty had already woken when Sora approached the room. She was the first-generation captain of Squad 8, Batsunsai Katori.
Her face was colorless, as frail as a willow in the wind, showing none of the demeanor of a captain-level Soul Reaper.
He lit the lamp on the desk, making the room brighter.
"The medicine is ready," Sora said, bringing the soup to Batsunsai.
After drinking the medicine, a bit of color gradually returned to her face. She rested for a moment, and her Spiritual Pressure stabilized. The worry in Sora's heart finally eased slightly.
"How many days have I been ill?" Batsunsai thought for a moment, realizing she couldn't even remember how many times she had taken the medicine. "I feel like I've been lying down for a long time. I want to go for a walk. Help me up."
Her voice was a bit weak but pleasant. She waved her hands at Sora, somewhat like a child asking for a hug.
"This is the thirty-second day," Sora said as he helped her up.
Every time he went to Captain Unohana to get medicine, he would pick up a week's supply. Since Batsunsai had fallen ill this time, he had already gone five times.
"It seems it's gotten worse again. Before, I only needed about twenty days to recover..." Batsunsai glanced at Sora and changed her words, "Sora, I'm fine."
During the centuries of war, the Spiritual Core within Batsunsai's body had been damaged. Damage to the Spiritual Core is an irreparable wound. Even Captain Unohana, the most skilled doctor in Squad 4, could not heal it, only temporarily suppress it.
As time went on, the damage would only worsen. Batsunsai's physical condition was deteriorating, and each time her injury worsened, she required a longer period of bed rest than before.
"Do you think I don't know whether you're fine or not?" Sora's face showed his worry. "Your injury has worsened again. Captain Unohana had to increase the dosage to suppress it."
He was very worried that if it continued to worsen, there would come a day when even Captain Unohana would be helpless.
"It's been about a year since I stepped down, hasn't it?" Batsunsai changed the subject.
She tied her long, straight black hair into a segmented braid with a red cord. The long braid fell naturally over her right shoulder, supported by the magnificent curve of her chest.
Their facial features were very similar. It was precisely because of their similar appearance that their fates became intertwined.
Ten years ago, he had crossed over into this world and was wandering through the Rukongai when he happened to meet Batsunsai. Seeing that he looked so much like her, she adopted him on behalf of her father, and they became siblings. For the past ten years, Sora had been learning swordsmanship from her.
"There are still two weeks until it's a full year," Sora said, handing Batsunsai her glasses.
Her health was getting worse and worse, her strength had plummeted, and she could no longer serve as a captain. After Sora learned about her condition, he had also been trying hard to learn Kaidō, but it could only alleviate her pain.
"How is your training with 'Senmaioroshi' going?" Batsunsai asked.
"It's almost there. I only miss a cut occasionally when my feel is off," Sora replied, draping her haori over her shoulders.
"That's pretty good progress," Batsunsai said. "Ayane came to see me a few days ago. She mentioned that the Shin'ō Academy is looking for a swordsmanship instructor. I told her I wanted you to go there and teach."
Ayane Kotetsu had previously served as Batsunsai's lieutenant and was now the headmaster of the Shin'ō Academy.
"Me, teach at the Shin'ō Academy? Then the dojo..." Sora hesitated. The dojo had been deserted for years. Batsunsai taught him with the thought of passing it on to him.
"Although I'd love for you to reopen the dojo, you can't support one without sufficient strength," she said.
Sora said softly, "My Spiritual Pressure is increasing too slowly. It's seriously holding me back."
His current level of swordsmanship was on par with some seated officers, but his Spiritual Pressure was still only at the level of an ordinary Soul Reaper.
"You haven't been a Soul Reaper for long. Spiritual Pressure can be accumulated slowly. With your current swordsmanship skills, you're more than qualified to teach. Besides," Batsunsai said, "if you want to find good prospects in the Soul Society, there's no better place than the Academy!"
"An extra income would be good too," Sora thought and agreed. The medicine was expensive, and reopening the dojo would also cost a lot.
Just then, his expression froze. A line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Obtained recommendation from Batsunsai Katori. Professor System activated.]
[Teaching students will grant feedback rewards.]
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