Preparing for the Internship Assessment (Part Two)

Early the next morning, Liu Ziyun sought out Shinji Hirako and the others.

They gathered in the academy's small grove, their expressions solemn.

"The Soul Reaper Internship assessment is next," Liu Ziyun said, getting straight to the point. "Does anyone... have any thoughts?"

Kensei Muguruma said casually, "Thoughts? Isn't it pretty much the same as the trial? There's just the extra step of Konsō."

As soon as he finished, Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi all looked at him as though he were an idiot.

Their stares made Kensei Muguruma uneasy. "Wh-what? Did I say something wrong?"

Shinji Hirako sighed. "That's... not what Ziyun was asking about."

He paused and lowered his voice. "He's asking about the assessment. Soul Society won't be able to monitor it at all times like it could the Trial Grounds. Which means..."

He looked at Liu Ziyun. "Those nobles might come after us during the Soul Reaper Internship assessment."

Kensei Muguruma's eyes widened. "What?! They'd still dare?!"

Love Aikawa gave a wry smile. "Why wouldn't they? They dared make a move in a 'controlled environment' like the Trial Grounds, let alone a 'semi-open environment' like the internship assessment."

Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi added, "And... this time, Hollows won't be our only opponents."

Kensei Muguruma froze.

A few seconds passed before it sank in. "Wait! Doesn't a Lieutenant lead the Soul Reaper Internship assessment? They'd dare attack us so openly?!"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "They would. Even if a captain were leading us, they would."

He paused. "Those guys... don't care about that. All they care about is the result."

Shinji Hirako frowned. "Then... what do we do?"

Liu Ziyun thought for a moment. "With our strength, there shouldn't be any major problems as long as no one Captain-level shows up."

He looked at the others. "When the time comes, we'll all stick together. With my healing ability, I can keep everyone in fighting shape—as long as you aren't killed in one hit, I can save you."

Shinji Hirako nodded. "That could work. But..."

He looked at Liu Ziyun. "Ziyun, you're... their main target, aren't you?"

Liu Ziyun was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Yeah."

He paused. "So... I have an idea."

"What idea?"

"When the time comes, I'll separate from you."

Everyone froze at his words.

"Separate?!" Kensei Muguruma was the first to object. "No! That'd be too dangerous for you!"

Liu Ziyun shook his head. "If we don't separate, you'll be in more danger."

He explained, "I'm their target. You're just getting caught in the crossfire. If I stay with you, they'll concentrate their forces on all of us."

He paused. "But if I act alone... I'll draw most of their attention away. You'll be in much less danger."

Shinji Hirako frowned. "But... your abilities are mainly focused on healing. If they target you, you'll be in great danger."

Liu Ziyun smiled. "Don't worry."

His smile held an unprecedented confidence. "Our captain... won't stand by and watch them target me."

He paused, then added, "Besides... there's more to my strength than this."

Seeing their surprised looks, he said softly, "I just... wanted to keep a low profile."

He said it casually, but what he meant left everyone stunned.

There's more to his strength than this?

Keeping a low profile?

Shinji Hirako gave Liu Ziyun a long look. "So... you've been hiding your strength all along?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Yeah. Ever since I entered the academy."

He paused. "Not just for this internship assessment. After we join our divisions, I won't have much to do with you on the surface, either."

He looked at them. "After all, there are too many eyes on me right now. If I stay in frequent contact with you, I'll draw some unnecessary attention your way."

He said earnestly, "That... would put you in unnecessary danger."

His words were sincere.

But Shinji Hirako keenly sensed—

There seemed to be something else hidden deep in Liu Ziyun's eyes.

Is he... worried about something else too?

Not just the nobles?

Shinji Hirako had guessed right.

What Liu Ziyun was actually thinking was—

I can't have too much to do with you guys in the future...

I'm conspicuous enough already. If that guy Aizen sets his sights on me too...

How am I supposed to survive?!

That would be such a hassle!

But he didn't say it aloud.

Shinji Hirako didn't ask, either.

He simply stopped Kensei Muguruma, who still wanted to say something, and looked at Liu Ziyun seriously:

"All right. But... are you sure you can handle it on your own?"

Liu Ziyun nodded. "Don't worry. I like keeping a low profile, but... I still know how to run away."

He paused, then added, "Besides, I'm going to join the Fourth Division. The Fourth Division is a medical unit and rarely goes to the front lines. As long as I keep my head down, I can live a peaceful, stable life."

He said it with complete assurance.

But the others all looked a little odd when they heard it.

Knows how to run away...

Keeping his head down...

Living a peaceful, stable life...

Coming from someone who had just shown off his abilities in the Trial Grounds and healed a gravely wounded person with a single slash, it sounded strange no matter how they heard it.

But Liu Ziyun looked completely serious.

The others could hardly say anything more.

After discussing the details, they went their separate ways.

Liu Ziyun went to the Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division Barracks, the captain's office.

Unohana was sorting medicinal herbs. When she saw Liu Ziyun come in, she didn't even raise her head. "Where did you run off to yesterday? Why didn't you come to the division?"

Liu Ziyun answered honestly, "I went to train yesterday. Afterward, I went straight back to the academy and discussed the internship assessment with Hirako and the others while I was there."

Unohana put down the herbs in her hands and looked at him. "The upcoming Soul Reaper Internship assessment... I'll be going along."

Liu Ziyun was taken aback. "Captain, you're going personally?"

"Yes." Unohana nodded. "After all, this incident caused too much of an uproar. The Captain-Commander told me to go 'keep things under control.'"

She paused. "So... you don't need to worry too much."

Liu Ziyun breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."

But Unohana's next words made him nervous again. "However... quite a few people are paying attention this time. If you want to hide your abilities, don't stand out too much."

Liu Ziyun was speechless. "Captain... I wasn't trying to hide my abilities. I just wanted to keep a lower profile."

He paused, remembering something. "Oh, right, Captain. Lieutenant Kiyōnosuke Yamada... seems to have caught those nobles' attention lately? They're always trying to recruit him to the Shin'ō Institute of Medicines."

Unohana glanced at him. "What do you mean, Old Man Yama? That's His Excellency the Captain-Commander."

She paused. "Don't worry. As long as I don't let you go, they can't transfer you away."

Liu Ziyun breathed a sigh of relief.

But Unohana's next words made his heart leap into his throat again. "However... His Excellency the Captain-Commander said he'll find time to give you some 'guidance.'"

Liu Ziyun said, "...Guidance?"

"Yes." Unohana nodded. "After all, your ability is quite good. But... your ability to protect yourself is a little lacking."

She paused. "After all, when people go to the front lines in the future, our Fourth Division will send people along too. And you... would be well suited to it."

Liu Ziyun said, "..."

Wait! Wait!

When did I say I wanted to go to the front lines?!

Wasn't I going to keep my head down in the Fourth Division and be a medic?!

How come I'm going to the front lines again?!

He was roaring inwardly, but all he could say aloud was a feeble:

"Um... Captain, could I... stay in the Fourth Division the whole time?"

He tried to resist. "The front lines really aren't suited to me! Besides, the nobles have their eyes on me. If I go to the front lines... those guys will definitely look for a chance to kill me!"

Unohana looked at him with the hint of a smile. "Oh? Didn't you just say... you knew how to run away?"

Liu Ziyun said, "..."

I was bragging! Bragging!

But he didn't dare say it aloud.

Unohana stood and walked to the window:

"All right. Go back and get ready."

She paused. "As for the future... we'll talk about it later."

Liu Ziyun took his leave, dejected.

As he walked out of the captain's office, he felt his "life of leisure" slipping further and further away.

I'm done for...

I'm going to be pushed onto the front lines...

The nobles are going to target me...

And the Captain-Commander is going to give me 'guidance'...

He looked up at the sky and let out a long sigh:

Why... is my life so hard?!

But sighing aside, he still had to prepare for the internship assessment.

After all... life had to go on.