A Good News and Another Good News

It was around one in the morning in the Kendo Hall.

Even the most diligent people should have gone back to rest by now, but for those devoted to training and climbing toward greater heights—

The dead of night was the best time to let their bodies burn to the fullest.

After another heated sparring session, the two of them entered their break and threw their arms around each other's shoulders as they headed for the edge of the hall.

Dragging his sore, aching body along, Arima Shizuya bought two bottles of chilled Green Tea from the vending machine and held one out to Tōsen.

"Yo, a return gift for yesterday~"

The latter fell silent for a moment before accepting it.

"Thanks... You didn't have to spend money on me."

"Heh, why are you still being so polite?"

Twisting open the cap, Tōsen Kaname gulped it down in one go.

As his body greedily absorbed the replenishing water, the combination of sweetener and tea leaves perked up his exhausted mind.

Wiping the corner of his mouth, Tōsen Kaname still wore a stern expression.

"One matter is one matter. If I cannot even manage something like this, how can I pursue fairness and justice?"

"Well, having principles is a good thing. I won't comment too much on your values."

Arima Shizuya flopped straight onto the floor, breathing heavily as he retied his loosened hair.

Tōsen Kaname turned half his face toward him and said uncertainly, "By the way, did something good happen to you?"

"Why do you say that?"

"While we were sparring, I could sense you making disgusting smiles from time to time. They were so nauseating that I remembered them until now."

In the calmest tone, he said the cruelest thing. After two or three seconds of silence, he did not forget to twist the knife further...

"Six times in total."

"You even kept count of that?!"

Seriously... How are you blind if you notice things this well? Unable to hide it from Tōsen Kaname, Arima Shizuya cheerfully gave him a rough account of how he had found a job.

"Mainly handling miscellaneous Student Council work, then helping set things up whenever needed. I guess it'll only be busy during event periods? It's a little tedious, but it lines up perfectly around my class schedule."

It would not affect his evening sword practice either. He could say he was making full use of his spare time.

For the current Arima Shizuya, this was practically the perfect job.

Tōsen Kaname seemed happy for his friend as well, but as an outsider looking in, he quickly sensed that something was off.

"Student Council work is not that simple... Arima, is it possible you were tricked?"

The party involved froze for a moment. Thinking of Kotetsu Isane's somewhat guileless smile, he said uncertainly, "Probably... not?"

"Then there is only one other possibility."

The corner of Tōsen Kaname's mouth curled up into a rather teasing smile.

"That Kotetsu Isane is looking after you. For your convenience, she specifically adjusted the so-called 'work' hours."

Without waiting for Arima Shizuya to speak, Tōsen Kaname added with a soft chuckle, "I do not know what that Kotetsu looks like, but she probably has some degree of affection for you... Hey, Arima Shizuya."

Tōsen Kaname did not move his body, but he raised his left hand and pointed at Arima Shizuya in an extremely frivolous manner.

"The scent of spring is drifting off you."

...Tōsen Kaname, your joke was not funny.

Arima Shizuya shot him a speechless glance, then lay back down and tucked both hands beneath his head.

He pondered for a moment.

Affection? Kotetsu Isane, toward him? He had never considered that before, but now he had to think about the possibility.

That tall girl who looked a little simple and honest...

Mm~ It sounded a bit shameless, but he really had been unable to stop himself from looking at her several times today.

After all, she did have quite an impressive figure.

She always drank something as unnutritious as Plain White Porridge, so what kind of body was that?

Putting everything else aside, just thinking about it now really did make his heart stir.

"Now it smells like an animal in heat."

"Are you a dog?!"

After resting, they went through another heated round of sparring.

By the time he parted ways with Tōsen, Arima Shizuya had once again confirmed today's gains.

Another 2 points in Kendo attributes? Why is it so balanced... Going by the pattern, there should only be 1 point left, right?

It was a little counterintuitive.

But Arima Shizuya quickly figured it out.

Tōsen Kaname should also be constantly improving! He really was drawing experience from Tōsen Kaname, but conversely, was that not also true for him?

Since he was someone who became a captain in the original story, his talent could not be poor.

Rather... it would be stranger if he did not improve.

Thinking that, the smile on Arima Shizuya's face widened even further.

Good. Keep this pace going! One step at a time—this was my best route!

When he returned to the dormitory, Arima Shizuya gave his entire status panel one last look, taking stock of what he had gained over the past few days.

Zan: 33 Fist: 22 Step: 12 Kido: 2

What a neat distribution, as orderly as if he had clicked "sort descending."

Aside from the first day, when he heard the explanation, the four major attributes had basically had no more room to improve through "auditing classes."

Arima Shizuya had roughly analyzed it.

He concluded that the "teacher" was simply too lousy.

Forget anything else.

If Aizen were teaching me Kido instead, it would go up by at least +10, +10 every day!

It was a bit of a pity, but this was not bad either. After all, he was only a first-year...

There was still plenty of time! He slept soundly for the night.

The next day, before class began, Arima Shizuya arrived at the Mutual Aid District early.

Kotetsu Isane was already waiting in the same spot as yesterday.

When she saw Arima Shizuya, delight clearly appeared on her face. She stood up and waved at him from afar.

"Arima-kun!"

It was not gentlemanly to keep a woman waiting.

Arima Shizuya quickened his pace.

"S-Sorry... I did not expect you to arrive so early, Kohaku-senpai..."

He felt a little embarrassed.

But she waved it off without caring at all.

"It is only proper for a senior to do this much. Besides, I need to explain your work to you today, so I had to prepare in advance."

"Understood... Then please take care of me today!"

Kotetsu Isane looked extremely happy. The smile tugging at her lips could not be suppressed, to the point that she accidentally showed her large teeth.

She looked a little goofy.

"Yes, likewise! Please take care of me!"

Standing beside Kotetsu Isane, he got a general overview of the work he needed to do.

Although he listened rather attentively, Arima Shizuya was also paying attention to other things.

For example...

Kotetsu Isane smelled strongly of fragrance.

Not only was the scent much more noticeable than yesterday, it was not the ordinary smell of soap pods either.

So she had put on perfume?

And looking at her profile, her features were clearly much more refined as well.

Even the ornament hanging from her small braid had been changed.

This outfit could not have been more carefully put together, and she had made such preparations... Thinking of what Tōsen Kaname had said yesterday—

Arima Shizuya's expression became a little strange.

Could she really have feelings for me? —He's standing so close.

—His gaze is so obvious.

—Is the perfume smell too strong? I knew I should not have listened to Kiyone... Does dressing like this make me look too strange?! After stiffly finishing her introduction to the job, Kotetsu Isane's heart was already riddled with holes.

And she had inflicted every last one herself.

She let out an awkward "heh heh," and after finishing the explanation, she was thinking that she should leave quickly.

Then Arima Shizuya's voice came from beside her.

"I roughly understand the work now. Thank you for your guidance, Kohaku-senpai."

Kotetsu Isane did not even dare turn her head. Her eyes darted about as she nervously fiddled with the little ornament on her braid.

"Th-then, I'll just..."

"I feel that Kohaku-senpai is especially cute today."

"...?!!!"

It felt as though her heart had skipped half a beat.

Could someone just say something like that so casually?!

Kotetsu Isane nearly lost her footing. Her eyes squeezed shut, but her expression became remarkably resolute.

I cannot let him lead me around by the nose like this.

I am a senior, at least, right? Kotetsu Isane, be brave! She suddenly turned around, her thick eyebrows shooting upward as though she wanted to say something like, "You insolent boy."

But the words would not come out.

Because she saw Arima Shizuya pull back his sleeve, revealing the swollen injury on his shoulder.

The boy smiled brightly and healthily, making her feel almost unable to look directly at him.

"Kohaku-senpai, this is today's injury. Sorry to trouble you."

Treating his injury took precedence over scolding him.

The scales immediately tipped, and a decision was made.

Kotetsu Isane could only frown and hurry over, treating Arima Shizuya's injury with irritation and helplessness.

"You really are something! If you do this again next time, I will not help you... Do you hear me?!"

It sounded more like a complaint than a threat.

So was she referring to getting hurt, or teasing her? Better not ask.

"Got it!"

Watching her reaction, Arima Shizuya could not help sighing inwardly...

The things I learned from Prison Master really are useful, Dora Aizen!

Kotetsu Isane left after treating his injury. Following the usual procedure, Arima Shizuya finished his work before class and arrived in the classroom right on time.

For the sake of his credits, and because he did not want Aizen to scold him, skipping class was simply...

Not advisable.

After the morning classes ended, Arima Shizuya was considering whether to ask Kotetsu Isane to dinner again.

Then Aizen suddenly appeared, smiling as he waved to Arima Shizuya.

"Shizuya-kun, one good news and another good news. Which would you like to hear first?"

"..."

Was there any need to choose?

Seeing Arima Shizuya's expression, Aizen smiled even more happily.

"The first good news is that you do not need to attend class this afternoon, because I have already requested leave for you."

"The second good news is that I have already submitted an application to borrow an Asauchi, and now..."

"The review has been approved. We can go collect the Zanpakuto that belongs to you."