Shin'o Academy.
"Welcome, new students. Our Shin'o Academy has a history of over two thousand years..."
The academy's campus broadcast played the same, unchanging welcome message.
Cherry blossoms fluttered across the campus, incredibly beautiful.
However, Sojiro had no mood to appreciate them. He hurried towards Class 1-1.
"I am your homeroom teacher, Ounabara Gengoro. Our Class 1-1 is a special advancement class gathering all students with outstanding exam results! I hope you will not only join a division in the future..."
The homeroom teacher for Class 1-1 was still Ounabara.
Sojiro stood outside the classroom, looking pained. Despite hurrying, he was still late.
'Whatever. It's because I ran into a Hollow anyway. The teacher will probably understand.'
Sojiro steeled himself and pushed the door open.
Rattle!
Sojiro slid the door open and entered the classroom, appearing before everyone.
"I hope every student can..."
Ounabara, in the middle of speaking, was interrupted by Sojiro Kusaka's sudden entrance.
Ounabara immediately frowned.
Ounabara was an extremely strict teacher who always detested tardiness. In his view, being late was highly irresponsible.
Over the years, aside from Toshiro, whose talent was so monstrous the school instructed not to constrain him too much, so he didn't comment when Toshiro was late, anyone else daring to be late never received a pleasant look from Ounabara.
Not to mention Sojiro also interrupted his speech.
Ounabara looked at Sojiro with a displeased expression. "What's your name? Why are you late on the first day of school?"
Sojiro hurriedly explained, "I'm really sorry, sensei. I'm Kusaka Sojiro. I'm late because I encountered a Hollow on the way."
Hearing this, Ounabara's expression softened slightly. Then he asked with concern, "Are you alright then?"
Although Ounabara was very strict as a teacher, he wasn't a bad person. He just believed strictness made students study harder. He actually cared deeply about his students. So hearing Sojiro ran into a Hollow, he immediately showed concern.
"Thank you for your concern, sensei. Fortunately, Third Seat Hitsugaya of the 10th Division arrived in time, so I'm fine."
Sojiro explained.
"Hitsugaya?" Ounabara's expression showed a hint of reminiscence.
"Oh? Sensei knows Third Seat Hitsugaya too?" Sojiro asked. After being saved by Toshiro, Sojiro was extremely grateful and very eager to learn about him.
"Know him? I taught him! Although only for a month." Ounabara said with a proud expression.
Speaking of Toshiro, a faint smile appeared on Ounabara's perpetually stern face.
This amazed all the students. Although they'd only been with Ounabara briefly, he'd kept a stern face the whole time, as if everyone owed him money. Clearly not a kindly, approachable teacher. Yet now, because of one person, he smiled. They were utterly astonished.
This made all the students intensely curious. Who was this Hitsugaya person to make the unsmiling Ounabara show such an expression?
These students were freshmen, so most didn't know who Hitsugaya was.
"Sensei, can you tell me about Hitsugaya?" Sojiro asked expectantly.
Earlier, needing to report to the academy, Sojiro had no time to talk much with Toshiro, so he didn't know the specifics.
The other students also looked like curious children.
"Hmm, alright then. I'll tell you about Hitsugaya." Seeing everyone's curiosity, Ounabara nodded.
Ounabara thought telling the students about Toshiro might be good, perhaps motivating them to study harder.
Ounabara addressed everyone, "Hitsugaya's full name is Hitsugaya Toshiro. He is the most talented student in Shin'o Academy's history… no, perhaps the most talented person in all of Soul Society's history. In terms of talent, if not unprecedented, he's certainly peerless."
Hearing this, all the students were shocked.
"The most talented person in all of Soul Society?!"
"Sensei, you're exaggerating too much!"
Immediately, some students became dissatisfied.
Class 1 was a special advancement class. Those who entered here were all geniuses. Geniuses were often proud. For Ounabara to say Toshiro was the most talented person in Soul Society's history made these students dissatisfied.
"Hmph. You know nothing about genius." Ounabara found their aggrieved expressions somewhat laughable.
As Class 1's homeroom teacher, Ounabara had seen countless so-called geniuses. But compared to Toshiro, even the most brilliant genius became trash.
Ahem. Ounabara cleared his throat.
Then, Ounabara continued, "Let me tell you about Hitsugaya's achievements. Let you realize the gap."
"When Hitsugaya entered Shin'o Academy, although very young, only a few dozen years old, he had already awakened the Strongest Ice-type Zanpakuto, and his Reiatsu had reached Lieutenant-level."
"Hiss!"
Hearing this, all the students couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Awakening a Zanpakuto before entering the academy, and Reiatsu reaching Lieutenant-level! Most Shinigami in the Gotei 13 never awakened their Zanpakuto in their lifetime, only using Asauchi.
Not to mention having Lieutenant-level Reiatsu upon entry. Captain-level individuals appeared only once every few decades or even centuries. There weren't many in all of Soul Society.
So even for these talented Class 1 students, reaching Lieutenant-level in their lifetime would satisfy them. Yet Toshiro achieved it upon entering the academy.
Moreover, Toshiro reached Lieutenant-level when only a few dozen years old. Most students here were over a hundred years old. Toshiro's age was just a fraction of theirs.
Thinking this, the previously dissatisfied students instantly felt ashamed.