*Years earlier*
"Next."
"Kuchiki Shinji."
At the Spiritual Arts Academy's outdoor practice field, the teacher called out a name from the roll call.
Then, a young man who looked around sixteen years old and had a handsome appearance stepped out from the students' ranks and stood at the very front.
"Hadō No. 4: Byakurai (Way of Destruction Number Four: Pale Lightning)."
White electric light danced at his fingertips.
The next second, it transformed into a ray of light that flew out, grazing the target and hitting the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The teacher shook his head at the sight.
"The proficiency is decent, but the accuracy still needs more practice."
"60 points, considered a pass."
As the teacher finished speaking,
a faint ripple of laughter spread among the surrounding students.
"So this is the young master of the Kuchiki Clan, huh? I thought he'd be stronger. Looks like he's nothing special after all."
"Do you think everyone can be as strong as Captain Kuchiki? This guy is really an embarrassment to the Great Nobles."
In the crowd,
discussions were rife.
"Next, Kuchiki Rukia."
The teacher called out from the roll call, this time with a hint of a smile on his face. Unlike Kuchiki Shinji, this half-baked Shinigami candidate, Kuchiki Rukia possessed very high Shinigami talent.
"Yes."
A clear, girlish voice rang out.
The petite girl called Kuchiki Rukia stepped out, also pointing her fingertips at the target.
"Hadō No. 4: Byakurai (Way of Destruction Number Four: Pale Lightning)."
With a bang!
The target exploded directly in the electric light.
"Very good, 100 points."
The teacher nodded in satisfaction, signaling Rukia that she could return.
As a Shinigami candidate student, being able to use a Hado of this level, it was foreseeable that Kuchiki Rukia would inevitably become a Shinigami.
She might even become a Lieutenant, who knows.
"Tch, she's just a pet adopted by the Kuchiki Clan. What's she so smug about?"
"She probably really thinks of herself as a descendant of the Kuchiki Clan, ha ha ha."
Ignoring the discussions of these people,
Rukia walked calmly to Kuchiki Shinji's side. Rukia had long grown accustomed to such malicious slanders against her.
"Hey, you clearly could have done better. Why did you deliberately miss?"
Leaning in a little, Rukia's ahoge (stray hair) drooped dispiritedly as she asked softly.
These students, who only knew how to show off, might not be aware of Kuchiki Shinji's strength, but Rukia, as this guy's nominal "sister," had some understanding of Shinji's power!
Living together day in and day out, no matter how much Shinji tried to keep it a secret, Rukia would always notice a trace.
He,
no longer needed to stay at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
"How many times have I told you? I'm only staying here because it's the safest place."
Shinji smiled and ruffled Rukia's head.
The ahoge (stray hair) girl was still very cute.
Rukia puffed out her cheeks and kicked him lightly in dissatisfaction: "Don't touch my head, my hair will get messy!"
Saying that,
she watched in confusion as her nominal brother suddenly stepped out of the line and walked towards another group.
"Apologize."
Shinji stopped, staring coldly at the young man in front of him.
"Hey, Kuchiki Shinji, what do you mean?"
Tsunayashiro Aofine's expression was displeased.
"You should be very clear what I mean. No matter how useless Rukia might be, she is still my sister. If you humiliate her in front of me, I cannot remain indifferent."
Shinji said seriously: "Let's duel, betting our lives!"
"Duel, for her?"
"Heh? She's just a lowly Rukongai Resident (Wanderer), lucky enough to be adopted as a pet by the Kuchiki Clan. Am I not speaking the truth?"
Completely ignoring the girl, who looked disheartened by his harsh words, Tsunayashiro Aofine shouted loudly.
"Tsunayashiro Aofine..." Shinji's words were cut off.
"My name is Tsunayashiro Aofine!" Tsunayashiro Aofine's face was almost green: "Are you insulting me, you bastard?"
Having known each other for so long and still not getting his name right, how much did Kuchiki Shinji look down on him?
"Ah, that's not important." Shinji said lightly.
"That's very important!" Tsunayashiro Aofine emphasized seriously, then roared in dissatisfaction: "You really are insulting me, aren't you?"
"???"
Shinji lowered his gaze, then looked up: "Then just assume I am insulting you."
Tsunayashiro Aofine: "???"
"You bastard..."
A vein bulged on Tsunayashiro Aofine's forehead. He suddenly waved and called the teacher: "Teacher, I request a duel with Kuchiki Shinji."
"You two... this..."
The teacher's expression was hesitant.
As members of the Four Great Noble Houses, neither of these young men was someone he could afford to offend.
Before he could make a final decision,
Tsunayashiro Aofine had already charged over agitatedly, his wooden sword slashing down quickly!
As students of the Spiritual Arts Academy, the four basic skills of swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, flash step, and Kidō would naturally not be neglected.
"So fast!"
"As expected of the Tsunayashiro Clan! With this swordsmanship, he'll probably be recruited by the Thirteen Court Guard Squads immediately after graduating next month."
The surrounding students' eyes lit up, as if they had already anticipated the scene of the wooden sword striking Shinji's body and sending him flying.
But at this moment,
Shinji calmly raised his fingertip, pointing it at Tsunayashiro Aofine, who was already in front of him.
His voice was very soft, yet everyone could hear it.
"Hadō No. 4: Byakurai (Way of Destruction Number Four: Pale Lightning)!"