The Wind Blowing in Rukongai

Soul Society, West Street, Thirty-Seventh District, Canggu District.

The sky over the Thirty-Seventh District was always a deep, vivid blue. A gentle breeze brushed over the tips of the lush green grass, carrying the faint chill unique to early spring.

A black-haired youth of around sixteen picked up the fish basket he had set on the ground, then gathered the fishing gear around him and headed toward a small house not far away.

The sunlight was pleasant. Filtered through the gently swaying leaves, it scattered in fragments across the youth, carrying his thoughts far away.

"It's been six years since I came here, hasn't it..."

Asano Kiyoshi let out a soft sigh. Thinking back to when he had first arrived in the Soul Society, he rubbed his head helplessly.

Six years ago, in the year 2044 of the Soul Society calendar—using the founding of Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy as Year One—Asano Kiyoshi had arrived in the Soul Society.

When he first arrived, Asano Kiyoshi had been alone, with a body no larger than that of a child a few years old. Surviving in the survival-of-the-fittest Rukongai with such a body had been extremely difficult, but fortunately, his luck had been fairly good.

Asano Kiyoshi had awakened in the Thirty-Seventh District of West Street. Although security there could not compare to the single-digit districts, it at least barely possessed the concept of public order. Unlike the districts past Sixty, it was not a society of outright slaughter.

The Thirty-Seventh District was among the first forty districts. Every month, Shinigami dressed in black Shinigami Uniforms came to conduct population counts within designated areas. Security was relatively good as well, with around two members of the Eleventh Division stationed there permanently.

Asano Kiyoshi had once observed those two Shinigami from afar. Yet even from such a distance, he had felt as though something were weighing down his entire body, making it extremely difficult to breathe.

That was right. Simply facing two Shinigami who had no presence whatsoever in the original story still made Asano Kiyoshi feel intense discomfort. Thinking of this, he could not help but give a bitter laugh.

By the time his thoughts settled, he had already arrived home. Calling it a home was generous—it was merely a crude wooden hut. Inside was Asano Kiyoshi's benefactor.

He had just set down the fish basket when a gentle voice came from inside the house.

"Little Kiyoshi, you're back."

Hearing that warm voice, Asano Kiyoshi replied with a smile.

"Yes, Granny Hana. These are today's fish."

An elderly woman with a kindly face slowly emerged from inside the house. She was the old woman who had taken him in when Asano Kiyoshi had nearly starved to death on the street. Her real name was Asano Miyoko, but because she loved flowers, everyone called her Granny Hana.

Granny Hana smiled at Asano Kiyoshi, then took the fish from the basket aside to prepare the meal.

Watching Granny Hana's retreating back, Asano Kiyoshi sat down on the little stool he had made inside the house. It was not that he did not want to cook, but Granny Hana had always refused to let him. The old woman hoped to help Asano Kiyoshi in daily life rather than become nothing but a burden.

Asano Kiyoshi understood her thoughts, so he closed his eyes to rest. As his eyelids slowly lowered, a black-and-crimson Scroll flashed through his mind. Upon it were painted scenes of immense grandeur and strange beauty: the Bridge of Helplessness, the Three Lives Stone, the Road to the Underworld, the Home-Viewing Platform, the Gate of the Underworld...

With only a single glance at the Scroll, Asano Kiyoshi felt as though his soul were about to sink forever into those magnificent and eerie scenes. But the feeling lasted only an instant. Once the Scroll had unfolded to a certain extent, all those images vanished, leaving behind only the bare Scroll and several lines of bold, sweeping script:

Host: Asano Kiyoshi

Zan: 12 (Years of farm work have made you more skilled than ordinary people at using kitchen knives, though that is all. As you are now, you probably cannot even hold the most basic Asauchi steady.)

White: 8 (A body that has not fully developed, weak limbs, and a physique that has never undergone any training. There is no need for an evaluation.)

Demon: 0 (Since you have mastered nine out of ten openings in Kidō, any evaluation would likely wound your fragile self-esteem. Therefore, in the spirit of care and concern, no evaluation will be given.)

Step: 13 (Long periods of running have given you greater endurance than the average person, so perhaps you can compete with some small dogs in running speed?)

Reiatsu: Second Class Reiatsu: 99% (How should I put this? If someone like you gets even slightly close to a powerful Shinigami, you will probably be crushed to death by their Reiatsu. Your eyes are still closed at present. Work hard and open them to see the world!)

Overall Rating: 33 (Extremely weak. Before the world, you are like a speck of dust.)

Note: Aside from Kidō, the basic attributes of ordinary Soul Society residents are all 10 points. Each increase in Reiatsu class raises the maximum limit of all attributes by 10. The maximum attribute limit for First Class Reiatsu is 10 points.

Zanpakuto: Underworld

Shikai Phrase: ???

Bankai Phrase: ???

Currently Unlocked Area: Gate of the Underworld (99%. The Gate of the Underworld will unlock once the Host's Reiatsu advances to Third Class. Please work hard.)

Looking at the Scroll that had appeared in his mind, Asano Kiyoshi stared excitedly at the Reiatsu progress bar below. His breathing grew slightly hurried. If he had guessed correctly, today's lunch should be enough to push his Reiatsu into Third Class.

With the help of this Scroll, Asano Kiyoshi had discovered that as long as he continued eating, he could slowly increase the strength of his Reiatsu. However, the rate of growth was extremely slow. It had taken him six years to rise from First Class Reiatsu to his current state, so close to Third Class. Moreover, according to the system's description, once he reached Third Class Reiatsu, eating would almost no longer provide any Reiatsu growth.

However, from what Asano Kiyoshi knew, the assessment standard for Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy was Third Class Reiatsu!

As long as he advanced to Third Class Reiatsu, he would be able to enter Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy. So long as he graduated safely, becoming an ordinary Shinigami would be practically guaranteed. Compared to the protagonist, he would be a minor character not even worthy of a name, but in this real world, becoming a Shinigami meant a leap in status and a transformation in class. He would have enough ability to support Granny Hana, and he would also be able to take the first steps toward deciding his own life and death. That alone was more than enough.

While Asano Kiyoshi was lost in thought, Granny Hana had already finished cooking the fish and called him over for lunch.

After answering Granny Hana's call, Asano Kiyoshi practically ran to the table.

Watching Asano Kiyoshi wolf down his food, Granny Hana smiled gently and kept saying, "Slow down, slow down..."

After finishing his own portion, Asano Kiyoshi looked at the large amount of fish still left in his bowl and said to Granny Hana with a smile, "Granny, I'm full. You can eat the rest. Make sure you finish it."

Without waiting for Granny Hana to respond, he darted outside.

Watching his fleeing figure, then looking at the large portion of fish left behind, Granny Hana smiled helplessly.

"That child..."

By then, Asano Kiyoshi had already arrived in a quiet little grove. Looking at the progress bar that had reached one hundred percent, he breathed slightly faster and murmured, "Choose to advance to Third Class Reiatsu!"