The next day.
Morning practice concluded, and Suō Tsukasa shared a final meal with Hitsugaya Toshiro in the academy canteen.
Stopping at the fork in the road leading to the dormitories and the teaching buildings, Suō Tsukasa turned in the morning light. He extended a clenched fist and spoke with a carefree smile.
The faint morning light flowed over Tsukasa's upright figure, motes of light dancing between the strands of his dark hair.
"I'll be waiting for you in the Gotei 13!"
"Yeah. See you."
Toshiro looked up at Tsukasa, raised his hand, and bumped his fist against the other.
One walked toward the teaching buildings for class; the other walked back to the dormitories to graduate.
They didn't know when they would see each other again, but at this moment of parting, there was no sorrow in their hearts.
Tsukasa whistled a light tune as he passed through the moon gate and returned to his room.
The person sent to receive him hadn't arrived yet, so Tsukasa looked around the room where he had lived for nearly a year.
"The books are returned, my luggage is packed, and both swords have been maintained. What else is there to do?"
In this rare moment of daytime leisure, he found himself momentarily at a loss. The hours that were usually filled with coursework now felt exceptionally long.
"Right, open the gifts!"
Finally, his eyes landed on the gift boxes sent by his teachers sitting by the bed. Tsukasa's eyes lit up. It had been so long since anyone had given him a gift that he had actually forgotten to unwrap them during yesterday's packing.
He lifted a wooden box onto the table, untied the cord, and lifted the lid. Inside, an object was neatly wrapped in soft silk.
Unveiling the silk revealed an elegant ebony scabbard. Its lacquered surface was as smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting his smiling face.
"Surely it isn't because I carry Oboro-ya all day that the teachers thought I had a special obsession with ebony?"
Tsukasa's fingertips brushed over the scabbard, feeling its cool touch. Though the thought was a bit playful, he genuinely liked the gift.
He drew the Asauchi from the sword rack, picked up the new scabbard, and slowly slid the blade in.
Click—
When the blade sat perfectly flush against the mouth of the scabbard, it made a soft sound.
"Perfect!"
Just as Tsukasa lowered his head to admire the Asauchi and its new scabbard, his morning of waiting reached its appropriate end. A steady set of footsteps approached from afar, finally stopping outside his door.
"Tsukasa! Morning! I've come to get you!"
A hearty voice drifted through the door, carrying an unmistakable note of joy.
"Good morning, Kaien-aniki. Long time no see."
"Please, come in."
Tsukasa pulled open the door to see the familiar figure of Shiba Kaien dressed in his Shihakusho. Unlike previous occasions, he wore a lieutenant's armchair on his left arm engraved with the number thirteen and the snowdrop insignia, giving him a more solemn air.
Shiba Kaien stepped into the room. His gaze swept over the bundles on the table and the Asauchi in Tsukasa's hand, lingering briefly on the brand-new scabbard. He nodded.
"Looks like you're all ready."
"Here, put this on."
He casually handed over a bundle.
"Alright."
Tsukasa nodded as he took it. He turned and walked into the washroom, unwrapped the bundle, and revealed a brand-new set of black Shihakusho.
A moment later.
"It suits you well."
When Tsukasa emerged from the washroom in his Shihakusho, Kaien's eyes were full of admiration. The well-fitted garment added a touch of mature heroism to the youth. The Asauchi at his waist, paired with the new scabbard and the jet-black Shihakusho, complemented each other perfectly.
"Tsukasa, congratulations on graduating, and congratulations on becoming a Soul Reaper."
Kaien smiled and stepped forward, patting Tsukasa on the shoulders. His voice carried the most sincere blessings and a hint of pride.
"Thank you."
Tsukasa placed his left hand on the hilt of his Asauchi, equally pleased with his new look, and replied with a smile. In this moment, he truly felt the shift in his identity.
"Grab your things, let's go!"
With a wide wave of his hand, Shiba Kaien took the lead and headed out the door.
"Understood!"
Tsukasa tucked Oboro-ya beside his Asauchi, shouldered his bundle, closed the door, and followed.
Retracing their path, the two arrived at the entrance of the Shin'o Academy. Kaien handed the documents through the window of the duty room. Tsukasa signed his name in the registration book, officially bidding farewell to his academy life.
At the gate, Kaien turned his head toward Tsukasa and cautioned him.
"The journey ahead is a bit long, so make sure you keep up."
The moment the words left his mouth, only a faint black afterimage remained where he had stood. In an instant, he covered nearly a hundred yards of the white stone path, leaving only his hearty voice echoing in the wind.
"Don't worry, I won't fall behind."
In the very next instant, Tsukasa's figure appeared silently beside him like a drifting cloud.
"Fast enough."
Shiba Kaien voiced his praise, though he didn't intentionally mean to test Tsukasa's Shunpo. Seireitei was simply too large; if they didn't use Shunpo, the two of them wouldn't reach the Thirteenth Division barracks until dark even if they ran.
Two black figures flickered side by side on the stone path, crossing hundreds of yards in a single flash.
Along the way, Kaien maintained his pace while rambling on about the various aspects of the Thirteenth Division.
"That's basically the situation in the squad."
"The Captain's health isn't great, so I'm usually the one in charge of daily affairs."
"Since you're new, if you need anything, you can come directly to me or Miyako."
He turned his head to look at the youth beside him, offering serious instructions.
"Understood."
Kaien spoke in detail, and Tsukasa listened intently, nodding in response.
Mentioning his wife, Kaien suddenly shifted his tone, sounding a bit reproachful.
"But really, you brat, you didn't let a single thing slip."
"When I opened the files yesterday, I was honestly caught off guard. You really can keep a secret!"
"Was it a surprise?"
Tsukasa raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. There were many things he hadn't intended to hide; it was just that no one had asked, so he hadn't said anything.
"It was a very pleasant surprise," Kaien chuckled. Since seeing the file yesterday, the smile hadn't left his face until he went to bed. He had even been teased by his wife, Shiba Miyako, for it.
At the thought, Kaien straightened his face and said solemnly.
"You'll have to find an opportunity to treat me to a meal later—no particular reason."
"After all, it's been a long time since I've tasted your cooking."
Since Tsukasa enrolled in the academy, Kaien had visited the Teradaya several times, but during those visits, Miss Terada had been the head chef. Without Tsukasa, the flavor always felt like it was missing something. His voice carried a hint of nostalgia.
Recalling the taste in his memory, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
"Fine."
Though Tsukasa was a bit baffled by this unprovoked extortion, the request was a small matter, and he agreed readily. The rules of the Thirteenth Division weren't as strict as the Shin'o Academy; if the dormitory environment was laid out as Kaien had described, cooking for himself wouldn't be an issue at all.
As the two conversed, their speed didn't slacken in the slightest. As the surrounding buildings grew denser, they gradually approached the core area of the Thirteenth Division, and the division gates were already in sight.
"Kaien-aniki, don't end up arriving later than me."
With the next step, Tsukasa's figure suddenly shot forward, leaving Kaien far behind. This time, it was his voice echoing in the wind.
"You rascal!"
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