Over the days that followed, Jun continued mourning his parents at home while taking care of his younger sister. Every few days, Shunsui Kyōraku would come by to look after the two children.
The young Shunsui Kyōraku wasn't very good at taking care of children, but he had already given his word, so he had to look after Jing properly. No matter how bad he was at soothing children, he at least had to get to know her. As for Jun, Kyōraku discovered after spending time with the two children that he didn't really need much looking after.
As for the matter Jun cared about most—entering Shin'ō Academy—it turned out to be much easier than looking after Jing. Shunsui Kyōraku just had to put in a word with the academy, and it was settled. It was as easy as taking a trip into his own backyard.
A month later, Kyōraku took Jun and Jing by the hand, one on either side, and led them away from the house that had once borne the name "Shimizu," the place they had once called home.
Jun looked back at the house, an indescribable feeling in his heart, until it finally turned into a sigh.
Shin'ō Academy was the largest and only academy in Soul Society, the sole designated school for training Soul Reapers, and basically the only way for someone who wasn't born a noble to become one. The only two exceptions were Kenpachi Zaraki and Sajin Komamura—just those two. The rest of the 11th Division's members had all attended the academy.
The academy held an exceptionally high standing. It had started out as Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's private school, the "Genji Academy," and the old man's middle name, "Genryūsai," came from it as well. After the first Thousand-Year War, Soul Society's social hierarchy was reshuffled, and Old Man Yamamoto's private school became an academy thanks to his immense fame and strength.
The nobles then chose a site for the academy, adjacent to another institution established after the first Thousand-Year War: Central 46. Shunsui Kyōraku brought Jun there, bowed respectfully, and only then passed through the Central 46 building.
"What is this place?" Jun wasn't entirely sure, but given that even a captain and high-ranking noble had to show such respect here, there was only one place besides Old Man Yamamoto that would make someone like Kyōraku act that way: Central 46, the highest authority in Soul Society.
Kyōraku's answer came as no surprise. "This is Central 46, Soul Society's law enforcement and judicial body. If a Soul Reaper does something wrong, they'll be brought here, so be careful not to end up here."
"I understand." Jun could only be obedient.
"From now on, whenever you enter or leave this place, you must bow. It's mandatory! Understood?"
"Mm~ understood." Jun secretly curled his lip. No wonder Aizen slaughtered everyone here later. With how arrogant he was, having to bow every time was probably worse than killing him. They deserved to die. Serves them right!
Beyond Central 46, the academy lay inside the mountain beneath Sōkyoku Hill.
The academy was enormous, with three sections: the teaching area, the training grounds, and the dormitories. The teaching area was further divided into three departments: literature, arts, and Kidō. The training grounds had four sections: Hakuda, Zanjutsu, Kidō, and footwork, where Shunpo was taught. The dormitory section included the student residences, bathhouses, dining halls, and a whole host of other facilities.
The academy offices were at the very back of the dormitory area, while the teaching area was closest to Central 46. The training areas were scattered throughout the grounds, so as Kyōraku led Jun along, he saw all sorts of places and countless students making their way about.
By the time they found the person in charge of the academy, Kyōraku had told Jun basically everything he needed to know, including the academy's rules and regulations. The handover went smoothly as well. Kyōraku wanted to arrange some special treatment for Jun, but Jun flatly refused. To outsiders, a child putting on a brave face like that made a very favorable impression, and the academy staff's first impression of him was excellent.
"Well, I'll be going. I'm sure you can handle everything. You're a man of the Shimizu Family, aren't you?"
Jun nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Goodbye, Big Brother Kyōraku! I'll come find you when I become a Soul Reaper!"
Kyōraku patted Jun on the shoulder and said nothing more. He merely gave Jun a smile, then left with an easy stride.
As for Jun and Jing's relationship with Kyōraku, Jun had started out calling him uncle, but now called him big brother. That was mainly because Kyōraku had planned to adopt Jing, but he really couldn't accept being a father, and the Kyōraku Clan didn't agree to having a young lady suddenly appear out of nowhere. In the end, she was adopted by the head of the Ise Clan, retainers of the Kyōraku Clan—the clan to which Kyōraku's lieutenant, Nanao Ise, belonged in the original story. That put Jing in the same generation as Shunsui Kyōraku.
"You're Jun Shimizu, right?"
"Yes~"
Jun hurriedly answered. The person calling him was the same man who had been speaking with Kyōraku earlier, and the academy's current head.
"I'm Takasu, the academy's acting head. The head of the academy is Lord Genryūsai, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. He's too busy with the Gotei 13 to attend to the academy as well, so I'm the highest authority here. You should call me Acting Headmaster Takasudai."
"Yes~ hello, Acting Headmaster Takasudai~~~"
"Mm~" Acting Headmaster Takasudai had a very favorable impression of Jun. He glanced around and asked, "Isn't Aoyama and the others here?"
"Aoyama went back to his division. Lately, the Tenth Division, ahem, the replacements should be from the 11th Division. The 11th Division, uh..."
Acting Headmaster Takasudai was at a loss for words too. Pointing at the man who had just answered, he said, "This is Instructor Hayabusa Kaito. He'll be your Kidō instructor for the next month. Well, he might have been replaced by the time you start learning Kidō, so there's no need for you to get acquainted with him."
"Hey, hey~ Takasu, you bastard~"
Before Jun could respond, Acting Headmaster Takasudai led him away. Behind them, Instructor Hayabusa chased them out of the office and waved at Jun with tears in his eyes. It seemed he knew he wouldn't get to teach such a good student.
Acting Headmaster Takasudai, meanwhile, was very talkative. As he led Jun along, he told him the things he needed to know about the academy. Jun wasn't shy around strangers, and he had already learned about them from Kyōraku, so the two chatted happily.
The term at Shin'ō Academy was sixty years. (The original story mentioned that it was six years, but I've changed it for this version. The reason was mentioned in the previous chapter.)
Over those sixty years, the acting head was replaced at irregular intervals, since the acting head was drawn from the Kidō Corps. All the other instructors were replaced once a month, barring special circumstances. Jun had already encountered such circumstances.
There weren't many instructors, which had to do with the small number of students at Shin'ō Academy and its teaching methods. Although Shin'ō Academy had become an academy, its actual teaching methods were still those of a private school. Instructors gave open lectures at irregular intervals, while students spent most of their time studying on their own and could consult an instructor whenever they ran into something they didn't understand.
There were therefore only twelve instructors: three teaching instructors, six training instructors, and three dormitory instructors. The dormitory instructors also worked as training instructors. Students had to be polite to their instructors and bow when they met them, or they'd be in for it.
The teaching instructors were also drawn from the Kidō Corps, while the training and dormitory instructors came from the Gotei 13. In theory, an instructor served for one month, with a different division of the Gotei 13 supplying instructors each month, excluding the Twelfth Division, the Research and Development Institute.
However, the First Division was the head division, and it was full of old monsters who weren't suited to the job. Gradually, they stopped sending anyone. The First Division's assignments were then divided among the other divisions, and the teaching term changed from a fixed month to a minimum of one month and a maximum of three.
Jun had run into a special situation this time. Since the Tenth Division was a Patrol Guard Squad that often received special assignments, its members generally only handled dormitory duties at the academy. There was less work, and they could withdraw at any time. Then, after what happened to the Shimizu couple, the Tenth Division members were urgently recalled. As for their replacements from the 11th Division, everyone knew what that division was like.
Of course, the 11th Division didn't refuse the assignment outright. It could provide training instructors, but its members absolutely refused to serve as dormitory instructors. As a result, the dormitory instructor positions were currently vacant. Jun also hadn't arrived during a normal enrollment period, so Acting Headmaster Takasudai took him to the dormitory area himself.
"Tsk~ you're still so young. It wouldn't be good for you to live alone, would it?"
"I..." Jun had wanted to say it was fine, but Acting Headmaster Takasudai didn't give him a chance to speak.
The man clapped his hands and said, "I've got it!" Then he grabbed Jun again and took him around several bends to a detached dormitory.
"This is the place. Go on inside. Your roommate will be back in a little while. Don't worry, your roommate will definitely take good care of you."
After saying that, Acting Headmaster Takasudai gave Jun a thumbs-up, his teeth flashing silver. Jun stared at him, dumbfounded and utterly bewildered. He watched the acting head vanish with Shunpo, then turned to look at the dormitory he had been assigned. He couldn't shake the feeling that the acting head had chosen a rather unfortunate place for him.
But the choice had already been made, so he would just have to grit his teeth and go in.
And so Jun's academy life began.