Chapter 2: Where Did This "Toshiki" Come From?
Students continued arriving until the lecture hall was packed. No matter what status they'd held in life, every newcomer to the Shin'ō Academy arrived brimming with hope for the future. After all, the Shinigami they'd seen were awe-inspiring figures. Whether you joined the Gotei 13 or caught the eye of a noble family, you could look forward to a decent future,at least in these peaceful times.
The chatter died abruptly. After about five seconds of silence, a stern-looking middle-aged man entered, set his teaching materials on the lectern, and turned to face the class.
'Sure enough, students everywhere have a sixth sense for when teachers are about to arrive...'
Yuzuru watched the man write "Inoue Toshiki" in large characters on the blackboard.
"From today on, I'll oversee your basic Shinigami training, all four combat arts: Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. You may call me Instructor Inoue. The standard course is six years, but outstanding students may apply to skip grades or graduate early."
Instructor Inoue swept his gaze across the excited faces below, then paused before dropping his next statement.
"Students who graduate early always draw attention from the Gotei 13's captains. At minimum, you'll become a high-ranking seated officer. Of course, that future depends on one thing: you must be a true genius. The measure of genius is your spiritual pressure density, your Spiritual Class."
Inoue ran through the levels briefly. Most new students start in Class 20; afterward, if they reach Class 5, they qualify for Lieutenant. Class 3 meant Captain material. Everything below meant a seated officer rank or a foot soldier.
"All right, everyone, follow me to the training grounds. Today, we begin with Zanjutsu."
Zanjutsu was the most fundamental of a Shinigami's four combat arts. You could be hopeless at the other three, but you had to master the sword; no Shinigami fought without a Zanpakutō. The style taught at the Shin'ō Academy resembled kendō with lethal additions. After all, this academy trained soldiers to battle Hollows. Pretty forms wouldn't keep anyone alive.
"Pay attention! If you can't even handle basic swordwork, you'll never be a proper Shinigami, so focus!"
While demonstrating the fundamentals, Instructor Inoue barked at students swinging wooden practice swords, not to let their minds wander. Most were handling a blade for the first time, and their performance was predictably terrible. The instructor's brow furrowed.
"Enough. Next, you'll spar with me so I can correct your mistakes in force application."
Inoue was an excellent instructor; if only Yuzuru could get that name out of his head. Basic Zanjutsu offered little flash; the key was properly driving power through the blade. The lessons moved quickly, and soon it was Aizen's turn.
Nothing interesting happened when Aizen took the floor. He performed with mechanical precision, occasionally making deliberate mistakes for the instructor to correct. Never too good, never too bad.
"Very good. You have real talent with the sword. Keep this up, and you'll at least make a seated officer."
Instructor Inoue clapped Aizen on the shoulder. Aizen nodded politely and thanked him, then returned to the line, where he caught Yuzuru barely suppressing a grin.
Aizen asked, half smiling, "Yuzuru-kun, is something amusing?"
"Pfft... nothing. I am just picturing you as a seated officer, that's all."
Truth be told, Yuzuru had never seen Aizen as anything other than a seated officer. The man had stepped straight into the Lieutenant position under Captain Hirako Shinji.
"Is that supposed to be funny?"
"Not really. I just think Instructor Inoue is underestimating you. In my book, you're Lieutenant material at minimum."
"Heh~. If I do become a Lieutenant, I'd want my Captain to be you, Yuzuru-kun."
Yuzuru's quiet laugh died halfway. He looked like he'd bitten into something rotten. 'This guy's definitely up to something. Maybe all the tricks he used on Hirako are coming my way next. A shiver ran down his spine just imagining what would happen to his poor soul.
"Yuzuru, you're up." Instructor Inoue's voice broke Yuzuzuru's daydreaming.
"Coming, Instructor Inoue!" The instructor had saved him, pulling him away from Aizen.
Aizen watched Yuzuru's retreating back as she adjusted her glasses thoughtfully
'Why is he so certain I'm Lieutenant-class? Can he sense my Class 5 spiritual pressure? Unlikely. When you suppress your reiatsu, others can't read it clearly.'
'Hmm, either he is a fool or lucky, perhaps a lucky fool. More and more intriguing. Aizen watched Yuzuru spar with Inoue, a faint playing smile on her lips.
For Yuzuru, the Shin'ō Academy curriculum was child's play. His talent sat at the very ceiling of Soul Society's potential. Half a year ago, when he'd resolved to become the strongest Shinigami, the "Hōgyoku" inside him had granted him that genius-level ability. Since then, the orb had gone silent, whether from lack of energy or some other reason, he didn't know, but raw talent alone was enough to keep him safe.
Instructor Inoue noticed how quickly Yuzuru progressed from clumsy to polished. Inoue was immediately convinced he'd found a diamond in the rough, and the instructor began increasing the difficulty.
Yuzuru groaned internally. 'What's with this guy? Is he bullying me right now? Everyone else finished ages ago. So why's he torturing me? Could one little name joke really trigger this petty revenge?'
Fortunately, Inoue wasn't a sadist. He'd only pushed hard to test Yuzuru's limits. After a final appraising look, he clapped for the class's attention.
"Remember the corrections I gave you, everyone. Practice them tonight. Class dismissed!" Finishing his words, Inoue strode off in a hurry, as if he had somewhere urgent to be.
Ignoring the chorus of praise around him, Yuzuru swaggered over to Aizen with an exaggerated cocky pose that made even Aizen's expression twitch.
"So, Sōsuke, Kun, how did I do? Amazing right? If Instructor Inoue hadn't left, I'd have put him flat on his back, eyes wide and gasping for air. Ha-Ha-HA.."
With his nose in the air and "I'm the best" practically radiating from him, Yuzuru looked so ridiculous that Aizen had to rub her brow in irritation. Maybe her earlier impression of this enigmatic figure had been pure illusion.
"If you're fishing for compliments, then yes, you were impressive. Let's go."
"Go where?" Yuzuru stopped laughing and asked, confused.
Aizen turned to Yuzuru, her eyebrow raised, "Back to the dorm, of course."
Yuzuru, hearing, slapped his head and said, "Of course, the dorms, how did I forget that, c'mon, Sousuke, let's go, today we will have our boys night, Hi-Hi-Hi."
And so Yuzuru and Sosuke went on the street together, while Yuzuru took a glance here and there at the 'Goat'.
...
Reaching the Dorm, the students were quickly notified of their rooms, and lo and behold, the Lucky Fool and Mr- ah, no, Ms. Goat were in the same room.
"Look at that, Aizen, who would have thought we would get the same room? It looks like you were right, it is indeed our fate. Ha-Ha...Ha..." Yuzuru said to Aizen, trying to laugh, but his voice came out shrill and broken.
Aizen looked at the room key she got from the warden. She had double checked, and it seemed they would indeed live in the same room. 'What a fate indeed, heh.'
Realizing the awkward silence between both of them, they quietly made their way towards their room.
Walking beside this strange person who kept shooting him odd glances, Aizen felt the urge to pry open his skull and see what was going on inside. And she still had to share a room with him, with 'HIM'.
For the first time in her life, Aizen felt genuinely weary.
Meanwhile, Yuzuru was gauging Aizen's current strength. He'd clearly shown those "flaws" on purpose. Without a Zanpakutō yet, Aizen was probably a high-seated officer-level, Class 8 spiritual pressure or better.
Which meant... right now, he himself was stronger than Aizen.
"Haha! Looks like I really could end up as your Captain, Sōsuke!"
"??" Aizen said nothing; she continued walking toward the room.
'I just hope I wasn't wrong about expectation of this academy life.' She thought as they finally reached their room.
[End of Chapter]
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