It was late at night in the Ninth Division barracks.
Mirai locked his door. He secured it firmly. He pressed his ear against the wood. He listened for any movement outside. He wanted to ensure no strange beings were nearby. Then, he moved toward his bed.
He did not lie down. He gripped the heavy wooden frame. He lifted the entire bed with a surge of strength.
He reached for a hidden corner of the inner frame. He found a small piece of wood grain. It looked very normal. He gave it a sharp twist.
A quiet mechanical click sounded in the room. The corner of the bed frame opened. It revealed a hidden space.
Mirai carefully took out a manuscript.
The title The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth was on the cover. The title looked almost alive. The ink moved across the paper like a stream. It shifted under a faint glow of spirit particles.
This was a primary source of his power. It was an original manuscript from his Zanpakutō, Raijin Seisho. It contained the "resonance" from his readers.
He sat with his legs crossed. He opened the first page solemnly.
The characters on the paper pulsed with light. They looked like stars in the night sky.
He could hear the faint echoes of emotion between the lines. These emotions came from his readers while they read the story.
There was resonance with Aikawa's loneliness. There was a desire for the path of a genius. There were also debates about the story.
Mirai placed his palm on the page. He closed his eyes.
The light and the emotions merged instantly. They became a warm stream of spirit particles. This energy flowed into his arm. It moved steadily into his body.
He absorbed the last glimmer of light. The manuscript became normal again. It looked like a book with very beautiful writing.
Mirai put the manuscript back into the hidden space. He lowered the bed. He sat at his desk. He carefully observed the results of the session.
"Sigh..." He opened his palm. He looked at it. He breathed out helplessly.
Two weeks passed. The Spiritual Pressure from his readers was still very small. It was almost negligible.
His true Spiritual Pressure was now at the 6th rank.
This level was much lower than the talented Lieutenants. His Lieutenant, Mashiro Kuna, already had 4th rank Spiritual Pressure when she entered the Academy.
In this world, Spiritual Pressure is the amount of spirit particles a soul can control. It is the main way to measure talent.
For most souls, their rank is fixed when they arrive in the Soul Society.
Sometimes people break their limits. However, the probability is very low. It is rarer than finding a gold bar in the Rukongai.
Mirai was a mediocre student at the Academy. He had 9th rank Spiritual Pressure. Usually, his limit would be the lowest rank of officers.
This is why he acted lazy for a long time.
Everything changed in the Ninth Division. He manifested his Zanpakutō, Raijin Seisho.
This was the true name of his sword. Its power was not ice. The ice was only a deceptive disguise for his Shikai.
People read Mirai's work with the power of Raijin Seisho. They feel strong emotions. Then, they release a small amount of spiritual energy without knowing it.
This happens with sadness or joy. It is a natural result of emotions.
Raijin Seisho gathers these spirit particles from far away. It puts them into his manuscripts. This creates a "Spirit Pool."
Mirai absorbs this energy. He can break his natural limits. He can increase his strength constantly.
He does not write for money. He writes to survive. He does not want to die when enemies invade.
Mirai looked at his hand. He sighed again.
He wants to write a sequel to The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth. However, he cannot do it. It is not only because the story mentions sensitive topics like the Nobility and the Soul King.
There is a more important reason. He interferes with the narrative when he writes with his sword.
Writing about the past is easy. These events are facts. The cost of energy is very low. There are no bad effects.
He can change names. He can call the Rukongai "Meteor City." He can call Aizen "Aikawa." He cannot change the truth.
However, he tried to write about the future of Aikawa. He wrote only a few words. This almost consumed all his spiritual energy.
He thought about changing the plot completely. The future has not happened yet. He wondered if he could write anything.
But he touched the pen to the paper. His energy disappeared immediately. He felt weak and paralyzed for a whole day.
He needs higher Spiritual Pressure to write the future. He needs 3rd or 2nd rank.
He needs 1st rank pressure to change the future. He might even need to surpass the limits of a soul.
Mirai clenched his fist.
The first part of The Loneliness and Arrogance of a Genius Youth is finished. The reader energy is reaching its limit. He needs a new project.
He wondered who the subject of the next story should be.
Creeeeeak—!
Suddenly, a loud noise came from the door. It sounded like nails dragging on wood.
Mirai's eyebrows moved. He stood up. He opened the door quickly.
A black cat sat on his doorstep. It had gold eyes. Its tail moved gently.
Mirai smiled with forced joy.
"Oh! It's you, little black kitty! Are you here to play with Lieutenant Mashiro again today?"
The cat became stiff when he mentioned Mashiro Kuna. Then, it acted normal. It performed a long stretch. The movement was graceful. It was also very alluring.
Mirai knew the cat. It was not a stray cat. She was the eldest daughter of the Shihōin Clan. They are one of the Five Great Noble Houses. She was Captain Yoruichi Shihōin of the Second Division.
She was a major headache. He learned this at the Academy. He avoided her recently because of this.
He thought the situation was not serious. She would not be a cat if it were serious.
She probably wanted to tease him. Maybe she wanted to transform into a human to surprise him.
He thought about her human form. He realized he would not be the one to lose in that situation.
No, he could not think like that.
This woman was like a demon. Young Byakuya was very frustrated because of her antics. Mirai decided to be cautious.