The next day.
It was the opening ceremony of Shinō Academy.
Early in the morning, after putting on the academy uniform he'd received from the Academic Affairs Office, Bai Chen headed to the plaza for assembly.
"Bai Chen—good morning!"
He had barely arrived when he spotted Hinamori Momo, also dressed in her uniform, her hair neatly braided.
"Momo…"
"After changing into the white academy uniform, you look even sweeter than yesterday," Bai Chen said sincerely.
He wasn't deliberately trying to flirt.
It was just that Momo's naturally pure features—paired with the white uniform and those clear, watery eyes—
made her a textbook school idol.
"Ah…"
"Bai Chen… you're way too good at complimenting people!"
Hearing that,
Momo's face instantly flushed red.
She shyly lowered her head, unable to meet Bai Chen's eyes, even the tips of her ears quickly turning pink.
"I'm just telling the truth."
Seeing how cute she looked, Bai Chen couldn't help himself.
Like an older brother next door, he gently reached out and ruffled her hair.
That small, intimate gesture—
made Momo's mind go completely blank, her heart racing so hard she nearly fainted on the spot.
"Th-this is only the second day…"
"Am I already having physical contact with Bai Chen? Isn't this progressing a bit too fast…?"
That thought alone was enough to make steam practically rise from her head—
her face so red it was almost rivaling the sun.
However—
neither Momo nor Bai Chen noticed that while they were interacting like a young couple,
a certain blond-haired guy in the distance was dying of envy.
"Sigh…"
"Flirting first thing in the morning, huh?"
"Looks like whether it's Rukongai or Shinō Academy, the strong really are more popular everywhere."
Half-crouched, chin resting on his hands, Kira Izuru let out a listless sigh.
Yet even as he complained,
his eyes couldn't help sneaking glances toward Momo.
"Wait, seriously? Kira…"
"You're pulling the 'love at first sight' routine too? That's something only a hardcore perv would do."
Noticing Kira's gaze,
Abarai Renji froze for a second, then twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Come on—
You hadn't even exchanged a single sentence with her!
Just a few glances in the crowd and you're already catching feelings?
You're clearly just lusting after her looks!
"W-What?! No way!"
"Renji, don't joke around! I never said anything like that!"
Clearly hit where it hurt,
Kira panicked, breaking into a cold sweat as he hurriedly denied it.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Just a bit of interest, right?" Renji waved it off, then egged him on.
"But honestly—if you really like her, why not go for it?"
"Go for it? Heh…"
After glancing at Bai Chen standing beside Momo,
Kira immediately deflated, shaking his head in despair.
"With Bai Chen around… there's no way Hinamori Momo would ever look at me."
—
Meanwhile—
while the two hopeless guys were busy commiserating with each other,
the person they were talking about—
Bai Chen—
had already stopped chatting with Momo.
The moment the system notification sounded, anticipation flashed across his handsome face.
Ding!
"New check-in task released!"
"No time limit. Please check in within the Inner World (Zanpakutō Space)."
"Upon successful check-in, you will receive a special reward:
Wood-Element Zanpakutō!"
The instant the prompt rang out,
Bai Chen's eyes lit up.
"A Wood-Element Zanpakutō…"
"As expected. My Zanpakutō ability is still closely tied to Senju Hashirama."
"And this so-called Wood-Element Zanpakutō should be the Soul Society–adapted, spiritual-power version of Wood Release, right?"
Regarding the new reward,
Bai Chen felt both surprised—
and yet, it also felt completely natural.
After all, the previous check-ins had already proven this pattern.
Even so—
despite having guessed it in advance,
his heart was still filled with anticipation.
"If I remember correctly…"
"There's never been a true Wood-type Zanpakutō in the entire Gotei Thirteen."
Bai Chen thought for a moment,
searching his memory, but finding no relevant example.
And even if there had been one—
it must've been weak.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have faded into obscurity.
"But whatever…"
"Whether there was a precedent or not—once I complete this check-in and awaken a Wood-Element Zanpakutō…"
"Then this Zanpakutō, born from Senju Hashirama's power, is destined to make a name for itself throughout Soul Society!"
As images of countless Wood Release techniques flashed through his mind—
along with Hashirama's ultimate, invincible moves after entering Sage Mode—
Bai Chen's excitement surged.
Just imagine it—
Shinsuusenju (True Several Thousand Hands) manifested in Soul Society.
Backed by inexhaustible, engine-like reiatsu—
he could probably hammer the entire Gotei Thirteen flat.
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