Ants and Elephants

A woman in the standard uniform of the True Spiritual Arts Academy stood in the corridor.

She had initially had her back to Arima Shizuya, but now that she had turned around, the boy could see her face.

Black hair, slender build.

Judging by her appearance alone, she gave off a quiet, intellectual impression.

Unlike Kotetsu Isane's somewhat androgynous qualities.

Arima Shizuya could sense the distinctly gentle air of an Eastern woman emanating from her.

Her Double Pupils were purple behind glasses. Her long hair was neatly gathered behind her head, while her bangs were swept to the left and secured with a hairpin.

Glasses...

The thick-rimmed style made her seem even more scholarly.

Arima Shizuya met her gaze. One of his classmates had originally been standing beside her, and now raised a hand to point at him.

"Ah, I told you... this guy couldn't have gone far. Arima-kun, this is a senior who came looking for you."

Looking for me? He watched as she stepped up before him.

She was only as tall as Arima Shizuya's collarbone—not tall by any means—and merely looked him over from head to toe with a thoughtful expression.

"Are you Arima Shizuya?"

Her words were polite, but the way she looked at him carried an indescribable air of scrutiny.

As though she were examining some rare animal.

"Uh... I am. Is something urgent?"

She elegantly raised her right hand and carefully adjusted her glasses.

"My name is Ise Nanao, Class Five, Fourth Year."

Wow...

He had more or less guessed it before, but hearing her introduce herself was still rather shocking.

Ise Nanao—the popular Vice-Captain from the original story, serving under Kyōraku Shunsui.

He had never expected her to be only a few years ahead of him.

Thinking about it that way, it was no wonder Head Captain Yamamoto held such immense prestige within the Gotei 13.

By that logic, more than half the people in the Gotei 13 were practically his disciples and grand-disciples...

As he reflected, Arima Shizuya saw Ise Nanao take half a step toward him and speak in an exceptionally serious tone.

"Arima Shizuya, regarding the damage to the Kendo Hall, the Student Council needs to confirm certain details with you. If you would..."

Ise Nanao's voice was calm.

She then took half a step back, making room as she gestured for him to proceed.

"Please cooperate with our investigation and the confirmation of relevant information."

I see.

Kotetsu Isane had mentioned this while they were chatting earlier. She said that while there was a reimbursement process to follow, the necessary procedures still could not be skipped.

So this questioning was within his expectations.

He simply had to go along openly.

"I understand, Senior Ise. Please lead the way."

Apparently surprised by the boy's straightforward attitude, Ise Nanao looked him up and down for a while.

Only then did she turn and walk ahead.

The two quickly passed through the School Building, soon leaving the area where lower-year students were active.

Just as mentioned before, Arima Shizuya would never have been able to reach such a place without someone to guide him.

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard Ise Nanao's calm voice from ahead.

"I'm sorry. This is supposed to be your precious break, yet you still have to make a special trip to deal with this troublesome matter."

Arima Shizuya quickly waved his hands.

"No, no, it's something I should do. After all, I was the one who caused this mess, so I ought to handle it."

"Is that so? It seems this year's new students include someone rather responsible."

"Uh... heh heh, I-I guess so."

Ise Nanao half turned her head and gave him a faint smile.

"There's no need to be so tense. Kotetsu Isane and I are old acquaintances. She has already explained the situation at the Kendo Hall to me."

So that was the connection. That really was reassuring.

Arima Shizuya visibly relaxed.

After all, the person before him was one of his own.

"I'm relieved to hear that, Senior. There may be things I don't understand later, so I'll have to rely on your guidance."

"Mm, that attitude is very good. Keep it up when you meet the Student Council seniors later. That way, we can finish all this quickly."

Perhaps she felt the atmosphere had become too serious.

Ise Nanao's tone noticeably softened.

He recalled how, upon her first appearance in the original story, she had been inseparable from Shunsui, and had even wanted to take care of Chad Yasutora...

Back then, he had thought she was incredibly vicious.

All he could say was that the Ise Nanao from several hundred years ago was clearly not as cold and efficient as she would become in the future.

No, if he looked at it another way.

Could this be considered the way work ruined people? Kotetsu Isane had become more or less the same after reaching the original story's timeline... Gah! Evil work, you have corrupted a maiden's heart!

He continued howling inwardly. As her attitude changed, Ise Nanao's expression shifted slightly as well.

She seemed to casually lower her gaze until it settled on Arima Shizuya's waist, and the light in her eyes dimmed somewhat.

"Arima-kun, if you don't mind me asking... have you already received an Asauchi's recognition?"

It was a somewhat abrupt question, but there was no reason to refuse an answer.

The boy raised a hand to stroke the weapon at his waist and nodded.

"Yes. Since I received Teacher Aizen's approval, I was allowed to receive one in advance."

"Is that so? Teacher Aizen gave his permission..."

Seeing Ise Nanao's wistful expression, Arima Shizuya could not help but sigh inwardly.

Prison Master, you've only been teaching here for a year.

Why are you already so popular among the Fifth-Year Students? Gah... is this what it means to be universally adored? Terrifying.

But then again.

Why did Ise Nanao look so wistful, with a trace of sadness in her expression?

Arima Shizuya thought for a moment, then softly went, Ah, in his heart.

He remembered.

Ise Nanao was someone unable to tame an Asauchi.

Right... this was the example Aizen had mentioned during their sparring session.

Not everyone could possess an Asauchi. Temperamental or gentle, the souls dwelling within those long blades had to merge with their wielders.

Only then could they understand one another's hearts and have their owner's will imprinted upon them.

Since Ise Nanao was already a Fifth-Year Student, she must have gone through the Asauchi loan ceremony long ago.

Yet with graduation approaching, she still did not carry one at her side.

That was enough to show... Ise Nanao was once again following the predetermined path from the original story.

In comparison, him walking around with an Asauchi at his waist and flaunting it before Ise Nanao...

It was more like showing off.

Like rubbing salt into someone else's wound.

That was too cruel...

Arima Shizuya could not help but make an extremely pained expression.

—If I'd known she would be the one guiding me today, I never would have brought my sword with me!

At this moment, she said nothing more.

But surely he ought to say something.

Arima Shizuya, use your brain and think carefully! What exactly do you need to say to make her smile?! After considering it, Arima Shizuya could not help but speak.

"Um... Senior Ise."

Ise Nanao, who seemed to have pulled herself together again, took a deep breath. She glanced his way and quietly said,

"What is it?"

"I've recently encountered some confusion in my Kidō training, so if possible, I was wondering whether I could ask for your guidance..."

Although Ise Nanao could not tame an Asauchi and therefore could not possess her own Zanpakuto.

Correspondingly.

She possessed relatively outstanding Kidō abilities.

In the original story's timeline, if not for Kyōraku Shunsui's special promotion, she might have directly joined the Kidō Corps.

Yes, this approach was right!

And just as expected, though her expression did not change, Ise Nanao's tone rose uncontrollably by a fraction.

Her spirits had lifted, which meant Arima Shizuya's strategy had worked.

Yes! This had improved her mood! But at the same time.

The party involved belatedly realized something.

His Kidō attribute was only 2, so whether in technique or ability, he was practically stuck at the most superficial level.

He was too weak.

In Ise Nanao's eyes, Arima Shizuya's Kidō was as feeble as a child's.

Words such as, "How do you not even know this?" and "This is basic knowledge for an academy student," came one after another.

He knew she meant no harm, but the damage was absolutely devastating! Arima Shizuya collapsed from grievous wounds.

After a headache-inducing exchange.

At last, Ise Nanao pushed up her glasses and spoke with a somewhat regretful tone.

"Although there is still much I wish to tell you, it seems that giving you the basics is already the limit for today. If I say too much, Arima-kun may find it difficult to understand."

Wait, so you weren't even finished?

He truly had not expected Ise Nanao to possess such an eager desire to teach.

You discussed Kidō insights with Ise Nanao. Kidō +5

Oh? He had not expected there to actually be a gain...

And that alone was enough to show just how poor the party involved's Kidō level had been.

This was the result of having a private tutor cram him full of lessons.

After sighing inwardly.

Arima Shizuya saw her purse her lips before finally giving him a rather bright smile.

"Come to think of it, I never expected a genius like Arima-kun to have things he was bad at."

At those words, Arima Shizuya could not help scratching the corner of his mouth.

Uh...

So Arima Shizuya's character setting had become that of a genius? But thinking it over, it did make some sense. The level he had displayed truly far surpassed that of ordinary academy students.

But this was not the time to get carried away. He should learn from Teacher Aizen.

What would he do if he were here? "Rather, isn't Senior Ise truly impressive? Well, my Kidō really is terrible..."

"Self-deprecation is not advisable, Arima-kun. Please do not say such discouraging things."

There was no helping it. This was his weak point, and for the moment, he had no room to make up for it.

Ise Nanao seemed to be in quite a good mood. After pondering for a moment, she continued.

"But this is not bad either. After all, seeing that you have things you are not good at makes one feel somewhat relieved... Ah, I apologize. I accidentally said something very rude."

Ise Nanao belatedly covered her mouth.

Arima Shizuya, however, did not think it was too excessive.

After all, as a senior, Ise Nanao certainly had her own pride—being consulted and praised was naturally something that could make a person feel elated.

Especially when it came from a junior regarded as a genius. "It's all right. In fact, I would be glad that Senior has such thoughts."

Trying to borrow Aizen's approach, Arima Shizuya raised a hand to point at his own face and smiled.

"After all, having that thought means Senior Ise really considered the matter from my perspective, doesn't it? Then I truly must thank you... I am deeply grateful."

Ise Nanao's face immediately reddened.

"...Y-you!"

His somewhat glib tone made things awkward.

Yet it was not enough to make her explode, since this was not harassment and did not offend public decency in the slightest.

There was nothing she could criticize.

Ise Nanao's throat moved as she made a low, frustrated whimper.

J-just as Kotetsu Isane said, he really is someone whose behavior is rather frivolous! She could not get angry, nor could she say anything too harsh.

At that moment, Ise Nanao pressed her lips together and cast him a meaningful glance.

"Hmph..."

She said nothing more, yet he could vaguely sense how she had wanted to lose her temper, only to forcibly swallow it back down.

Arima Shizuya could not help but smile for no apparent reason.

Ah... this is a little addictive.

The feeling of teasing someone, making them angry while leaving them helpless.

Or, looking at it the other way around, once one found the right approach, were people with this kind of personality really easy to handle? Eugh~ No wonder Aizen is so popular. This method of yours really is useful.

As he pondered, the two finally arrived before the Student Council's door.

"I won't accompany you any further. Just go inside and explain everything truthfully. The rest will be followed up by us upper-year students."

"That really helped a lot. Thank you, Senior Ise."

"..."

Seeing her cast him an annoyed sidelong glance, Arima Shizuya gave an awkward laugh, as though he had remembered something.

"Senior Ise, please don't misunderstand what I said earlier... After all, I truly was asking you for guidance."

Five points in the Kido attribute were a genuine gain.

Just for that alone, saying thank you was hardly excessive, was it?

Ise Nanao discreetly adjusted her glasses and turned away.

"...It was nothing. If you're interested, there'll be another chance next time."

She quickly walked away, her expression somewhat conflicted.

Unable to see her face, Arima Shizuya naturally had no idea what she was thinking.

But at this moment, his attention remained fixed on the contents of their conversation.

—It was precisely because someone had things they were bad at that people could feel at ease around them.

What a thought-provoking thing to say.

Right?

Teacher Aizen?

Arima Shizuya crossed his arms over his chest, a helpless look appearing in his eyes.

If one was too strong, they would be feared. If one was too weak, they would be trampled upon.

Only by "disguising" himself and becoming less aggressive could people perhaps gradually forget the differences between them over time...

For a moment, that familiar phrase surfaced in Arima Shizuya's mind.

To step over an ant without crushing it, it was hard to judge the right amount of force.

So...

"An elephant being friends with an ant is inherently unequal, isn't it?"