Shikai (Three)

The instructor pushed up his glasses, their lenses reflecting a dangerous glint. "Liu Ziyun, where have you been?"

His voice was quiet, but every word struck Liu Ziyun's heart like a little hammer. "Do you know that Headmaster Yamamoto taught this morning's Hakuda class himself?"

Liu Ziyun said, "I-I know..."

"You knew and still dared to skip class?" The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Do you not want to graduate?"

Liu Ziyun shrank back and was just about to make up an excuse—something like "My stomach hurt, so I went to the Fourth Division for treatment" or "I got lost." He had used those excuses countless times over the past five years. Tazawa Kentarō of the Fourth Division was practically his personal "sick-leave verifier" by now.

But before he could speak, the instructor's gaze suddenly fell to his waist.

More precisely, it fell on the Zanpakuto at his waist.

The instructor frowned. "Liu Ziyun, your Asauchi..."

He paused, a trace of uncertainty in his voice. "Has it already transformed into a Zanpakuto?"

Liu Ziyun froze and looked down at his sword. The red-black pattern on its scabbard stood out in the sunlight.

Oh, crap... I forgot about that!

He hurriedly moved the sword behind his back and said vaguely, "Ah... that... I'm not really sure either. It just feels... a little different from before?"

The instructor narrowed his eyes and studied him for a few seconds, then slowly nodded. "It seems so."

His tone suddenly softened a little. "You can find some time to try sword meditation. If you gain your Zanpakuto's recognition, you'll be able to use Shikai."

He paused, then added, "Maybe... your grades will improve a little."

He had put it tactfully, but his meaning was clear: Liu Ziyun's usual grades were simply painful to look at.

Liu Ziyun said, "...Thank you, instructor."

The instructor sighed and walked up to him, speaking earnestly. "Liu Ziyun, I know you plan to join the Fourth Division after graduation, and that you've already been promised a place there."

Liu Ziyun nodded. That was true. Tazawa Kentarō had told him just a few days ago that Captain Unohana had already submitted his name.

"But," the instructor continued, changing tack, "as a Soul Reaper, you also need to have the four basic skills of swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, movement, and Kidō."

He looked at Liu Ziyun, his gaze serious. "You can't just treat the wounded at the barracks, can you? When you encounter an enemy, you can't count on always having someone else around to help you."

"You don't need to be particularly proficient, but you do need at least enough ability to protect yourself."

He paused, a hint of expectation in his voice. "Besides... awakening your Zanpakuto so quickly makes you something of a little genius."

Liu Ziyun said, "...A genius?"

If I'm a genius, then everyone in Soul Society is a genius!

"So don't waste your talent." The instructor patted him on the shoulder. "Work hard to improve all your skills. Only then will you be able to survive on missions in the future."

He began listing the various situations Liu Ziyun might encounter on future missions: Hollow ambushes, unfavorable terrain, separation from teammates, depleted Reiatsu...

Liu Ziyun listened attentively, but thought, I already know all this... I've read the manga...

Still, he put on an "I've learned my lesson" expression and nodded repeatedly.

At last, the instructor finished.

He pushed up his glasses, suddenly remembering something. "By the way, I've heard about your healing Kidō. You're very good at it. Even the Fourth Division's lieutenant has praised you."

Liu Ziyun's heart tightened. He had secretly learned healing Kidō over the past five years, pestering Tazawa Kentarō to teach him whenever he went to the Fourth Division to "visit family."

"But," the instructor continued, changing tack, "why are you so unremarkable at Kidō? Healing Kidō and Kidō have a lot in common. You should practice your Kidō more."

He looked at Liu Ziyun, puzzlement in his eyes. "With your talent, you shouldn't be like this."

Liu Ziyun said, "..."

Talent? What talent do I have? I'm just an ordinary person! I've been relying on five years of secret training, day in and day out!

But what he said was, "All right, thank you, teacher. As for Kidō... I can never remember those long Spirit Speech incantations, so sometimes I get them wrong."

He scratched his head and put on an "I'm stupid, but I try hard" expression. "But I'll keep working at it! I'll try to memorize them as soon as I can!"

Seeing his "sincere" expression, the instructor sighed. "You can't memorize the Spirit Speech... Ah, maybe you just haven't found the right method."

He waved a hand. "All right, go practice. Today, we're practicing Hadō #33: Sōkatsui. Go to the targets over there."

"Yes, sir!" Liu Ziyun, as if granted a pardon, hurried into the training ground.

The instructor stood where he was, watching him hurry away, lost in thought.

He can't memorize the Spirit Speech?

But... healing Kidō requires Spirit Speech too. He's clearly very skilled at it...

And would someone who awakened his Zanpakuto so quickly really be unable to remember the Spirit Speech?

The instructor pushed up his glasses, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

This kid... could he be hiding his abilities?

But then he shook his head.

Forget it. Leave him be. He's already been promised a place in the Fourth Division anyway. What happens to him in the future is up to his own fortunes.

Still... someone who's caught Captain Unohana's attention and was even predicted to possibly succeed her as captain someday...

He probably... isn't ordinary, is he?

The instructor turned and walked toward the other students.

At the other end of the training ground, Liu Ziyun stood in front of a target. He took a deep breath and raised his hand—

"Hadō #33: Sōkatsui!"

Blue flames gathered in his palm, and then—

Boom!

They struck the target fifty meters away dead center, exploding in a dazzling burst of fire.

The surrounding students all looked over, somewhat surprised. Since when had Liu Ziyun's Kidō become so accurate?

Liu Ziyun himself froze for a moment.

Huh? It seems... much easier than before?

Is it because I achieved Shikai? Or because of... the power Life-Taker and Tulu lent me?

He lowered his head and looked at his hand.

Then he looked at the Zanpakuto at his waist.

The red-black pattern on its scabbard shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

As if saying:

Keep it up.

We're watching you.

Liu Ziyun smiled.

He clenched his fist, determination shining in his eyes.

Okay.

Then... I'll keep working hard.

So I can become a master worthy of you.

So that... one day in the future, I can truly fight alongside you.

Sunlight spilled over the training ground and over the young man.

It fell upon the Zanpakuto that had already awakened.

Life at Shin'ō Academy went on.