Mirai led the three new female members out of the Shino Academy. He had picked them because they looked like they could at least help with paperwork.
Just as they reached the gates, a loud and energetic voice called out from behind him.
"5th Seat Mirai!"
He turned around and immediately switched to a charming, gentle smile. Fan service required the best attitude.
Hiyori Sarugaki was standing not far away. Her eyes were looking around nervously, and she kept her hands behind her back.
She paused for a second before shouting, "W-When your book comes out, I will definitely buy it! When that happens... please give me an autograph!"
"No problem at all!" Mirai's smile grew even brighter. "You are always welcome!"
Hiyori's face turned bright red. She gave a quick "Mm!" and immediately ran back to Captain Kirio Hikifune, who was about to leave.
"Mirai, you really are popular. So, do you have time for a drink now?" Shunsui Kyoraku walked out with Lisa Yadomaru and smiled.
Lisa's face was as calm as ever. However, her eyes behind her glasses didn't move from Mirai for even a second.
Mirai gave a bitter smile and pointed at the three excited new members behind him.
"Shunsui, look at my situation... I have to take them back to the barracks and explain the basics. In a couple of days, I will definitely treat you to a drink to apologize."
"Hahaha, I understand. A popular man is always busy! We will head out first then."
Shunsui laughed and started walking. Then he realized Lisa wasn't following. "Lisa?"
Lisa Yadomaru ignored her Captain. she walked up to Mirai with steady steps and pushed up her glasses.
"After I return, I will buy all the past issues of the Seireitei Communication that featured The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth," she said quickly.
Mirai was slightly surprised. Then he showed his perfect "reader service smile" again.
"Oh? Thank you so much for your support!"
Lisa nodded without any expression. She didn't say anything else, turned around, and followed Shunsui.
As she walked away, her back seemed a bit straighter than usual.
Mirai watched them leave and felt very happy.
Perfect! I successfully gained two high-quality readers! Fans like Lisa and Hiyori are valuable treasures. I must maintain these relationships!
He turned back to his three new members.
"Alright, let's get back to the barracks quickly. We have a lot of work to do."
In a clean, newly assigned room in the 5th Division barracks.
Sosuke Aizen finished cleaning the room carefully. He took a book made of news clippings out of his bag.
On the cover, the title was handwritten in ink: The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth.
He opened the pages again. He read about the main character, "Aisuke," arriving in "Meteor Street," sensing his unique power, and seeing the stupidity of the "untalented" people around him. Finally, the character stood at the peak of power.
He reread it line by line. A gentle but smile stayed on his face.
He reached the part where the protagonist decides to "transcend" because of his loneliness. At that moment, Aizen's Spiritual Pressure leaked slightly because of a small change in his emotions.
Aizen closed the book. He looked down at the few glowing particles of Reishi that were about to vanish into the air. His smile grew wider.
"Whether they are Shinigami or residents of the Rukongai, they always leak Reishi when their emotions change..."
He whispered to himself. His eyes followed the path of that tiny bit of Reishi.
The Reishi did not vanish naturally. Instead, it was pulled by an invisible force toward a specific direction.
That direction was the 9th Division barracks.
Aizen pushed up his glasses. A smart white light flashed on the lenses. His smile became even more meaningful.
"A very clever trick, Mirai. However..." He laughed quietly, feeling the joy of finding an equal opponent.
"My fine control over Reishi might not be lower than yours."
His eyes went back to the book in his hand, focusing on the title.
"Right now, your speed of 'accumulating' power doesn't seem very fast. But I think, before long..."
A look of "expectation" flashed in Aizen's eyes without any disguise.
"We will be standing at the same height, looking at the same view."
"When that time comes, what kind of choice will you make?"
The image of Mirai's Shikai appeared in his mind again—the beautiful snow and the elegant young man.
"The way the Reishi moved and gathered... there was a tiny wave for just a moment."
Aizen's fingers tapped the table. His eyes held a light that seemed to see through everything.
"The change was clever. It was enough to fool those 'arrogant' people who only judge by the amount of Spiritual Pressure or the look of a move. But it can't fool me, Mirai."
He stood up slowly and walked to the window. He looked calmly at the 5th Division courtyard.
Shinji Hirako wanted him in the 5th Division for an obvious reason. He wanted to keep Aizen under his eyes to "watch" him.
The normal Shinigami, the nobles, the powerful Captains, and even Captain Commander Yamamoto...
All of them were arrogant without exception.
From the moment they gained power and put on their outfits, they separated themselves from the souls in the Rukongai.
They had held power for so long that their arrogance was deep in their bones.
They were used to ranking people by Spiritual Pressure and Zanpakuto abilities. Almost no one was willing to look down and study the infinite possibilities of the tiny Reishi that made up everything.
Even someone like the Captain Commander, who had lived for a thousand years, trusted his experience too much. He ignored the basic laws hidden beneath the surface.
"That is why..." Aizen's gaze seemed to pierce through the walls toward the Captain's office. His perfect smile remained.
"These people are blinded by arrogance. They cannot find the 'noise' hidden under your perfect facade, Mirai."
However...
Aizen thought about himself.
Both he and Mirai were also extremely proud.
But their pride was completely different from people like Shinji or Shunsui.
"We are proud of our search for the truth. we are proud of constantly surpassing our limits."
"We... are never arrogant!"
Aizen narrowed his eyes. An idea started to form.
A snow-type Zanpakuto? It was very good for tricking people visually.
In that case, I might as well choose a similar attribute as my disguise.
Water-type seems like a good choice.
It is quiet and can change into any shape. It matches my "image" perfectly.
As for the real path toward "transcendence"...
His eyes fell back on the book on the table: The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth.
He didn't need to look anywhere else for the answer.
"...I am truly looking forward to this, Mirai."
Aizen's whisper faded into the quiet air of the barracks.