Apology

One Bone was a Hakuda technique created by Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni.

It was classified in the records as "basic" material.

That was right—even though its creator was the Captain-Commander, the technique itself carried no lofty status and was categorized among the most fundamental techniques.

And the reason for that—

Was simply straightforward.

One Bone was merely a method of using the muscles throughout one's body and Spiritual Pressure to drive the right fist forward at maximum speed.

There were no flashy tricks or shortcuts.

Only relentless training, blood, and sweat could refine this Hakuda technique and hone it to perfection.

That was why it appeared in the earliest textbooks, leaving its mark on countless Academy students as a basic skill.

But precisely because of that—

"Most people probably underestimate this technique without even thinking."

Arima Shizuya let out a long breath.

He slowly lowered his hands. Azure Spiritual Particles that had yet to fully disperse lingered around them, light as fish circling in water.

The boy relaxed his stance and looked at the still-shaken Ōmaeda before him with a calm smile.

"Senior, after graduating, you must have neglected your Hakuda training as well, haven't you?"

After all, anyone who studied it carefully would find—

"The muscles and Spiritual Pressure mobilized by One Bone can transition very smoothly into the next stage, allowing you to directly perform Double Bone."

If the first strike failed to break through, the second pierced through.

That was the true essence of this technique.

Arima Shizuya smiled with pursed lips.

He instinctively raised a hand to brush aside the loose strands over his forehead, but before he could finish the motion, his face scrunched up.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

The Double Bone he had condensed had not landed on his opponent.

At the very last moment, Arima Shizuya abruptly halted his forward momentum.

The attack had not entered Ōmaeda's flesh, but in exchange, the recoil had battered Arima Shizuya's hands.

By now, the flesh was already reddening with congestion and starting to go numb.

Ōmaeda Marechiyo stood there blankly, mouth open as he took several deep breaths.

"Y-you... why did you do that?"

"Senior Ōmaeda, we don't have some deep-seated grudge against each other, do we?"

Arima Shizuya grinned lightly and spoke in a clear voice.

"This was only an Exchange Blows, not a fight to the death. Now that the victor has been decided, that should be enough. Besides, a farce like today's ought to end here."

There was no point in shedding any more blood.

Making Ōmaeda, the Vice-Captain of the Second Division, tumble out of the ring in humiliation would not benefit either of them.

It would only make this monkey show even more widely discussed and turn Arima Shizuya's Academy life into an even bigger spectacle.

Doing something that harmed others without benefiting himself over a momentary fit of temper—

That would be an exceptionally immature thing to do.

"Senior Ōmaeda, I just want to study quietly. I don't want to keep drawing attention."

There were still more than a hundred years until the story truly began.

Arima Shizuya felt no urgency whatsoever. He only wanted to take things one step at a time and slowly experience the process of growing stronger.

That was what the boy understood as fundamentals.

Of course, Arima Shizuya had his own little calculations as well.

He winked frivolously and said softly to Ōmaeda.

"Senior, in light of today, please... make things a little easier for your junior in the future."

Though the Ōmaeda surname was not as imposing as the Four Great Noble Clans, it still had its own inherited businesses and territory.

Without exaggeration, even if Marechiyo took off his uniform and returned home to retire now, he would still be a wealthy man...

Getting on the good side of someone rich could only benefit Arima Shizuya at this point.

Marechiyo was still stunned when Yoruichi, who had been watching below the stage, flashed forward.

As the Head of the Shihouin Clan, her presence was indeed extraordinary.

Even standing between two men over six feet tall, Yoruichi still projected an incomparable sense of presence.

She held her head high, raised Arima Shizuya's left hand, and declared loudly to everyone around them.

"In the Name of Shihouin, I attest that Arima Shizuya has won this match!"

Huh? How had things turned out like this again...

"Ah, um..."

One of the Parties wanted to say something.

But after Yoruichi shot him a glare, every word was swallowed back down.

He might be able to defeat a Vice-Captain through clever means, but against the Head of the Shihouin Clan, shaking his head came much faster...

He could not beat her, and he could not outtalk her.

If he did not behave, it was hard to say whether this temperamental young lady might decide to knock him out first and talk later.

So this is how my peaceful life as an Academy student ends? It was only an Exchange Blows in Hakuda, but since we used Spiritual Pressure, its significance was naturally on a completely different level.

Looking at the roaring crowd below, Arima Shizuya could only put on an awkward, perfunctory smile.

It's all gone completely off the rails!

"Hey, Arima Shizuya."

Yoruichi's voice came from beside him. He turned halfway toward her and found her studying him with an appreciative gaze.

Only after several breaths of silence—

Did Arima Shizuya hear her say,

"Would you be interested in marrying into the Shihouin Clan?"

"...Huh?"

A day later.

"So, what was your answer?"

That night, after finishing their sparring in the Kendo Hall, Arima Shizuya and Tōsen Kaname sat side by side, each drinking bottled green tea as they began their usual post-training chat.

"Of course I refused! What are you even thinking... Would I still be here if I'd agreed?"

That was certainly true.

Tōsen Kaname set down his plastic bottle, turned his head, and faced Arima Shizuya with his ear.

"Then why did you refuse?"

"Marrying into the Shihouin Clan should bring you nothing but benefits."

"The resources possessed by nobles are beyond comparison with those available to commoners like us. Besides, what they value is your talent."

"They surely would not be stingy with you... Arima Shizuya, from your perspective, I cannot imagine any reason to refuse."

The Parties could not help making a disgusted face at that.

"You're awfully mercenary, Tōsen. I'm not some giant panda. What I want isn't breeding—I want love."

Besides...

"After marrying in, I wouldn't get to decide who I married. The Shihouin Clan members are all pretty attractive, sure, but who knows if there might be some surprise?"

Tōsen Kaname fell silent for a moment, clearly not understanding, then asked,

"What is a giant panda?"

"...Some kind of very rare protected animal. Forget it, I misspoke. Don't think about it!"

Come to think of it, Arima Shizuya remembered that Yoruichi Shihouin had a younger brother.

He looked fairly similar to her, and his temperament seemed rather delicate too. He had the potential to be a cute boy.

But Arima Shizuya had no interest in that sort of thing.

No cute boys! Absolutely no cute boys!

Of course, those were only the most superficial reasons.

At the root of it all—

"I still prefer life here."

Arima Shizuya smiled at Tōsen Kaname, his heart filled with emotion.

Yoruichi Shihouin's sudden invitation had certainly been unexpected, but once he calmed down, it was easy to see that it was a trap option.

If he truly chose to marry into the clan, he would not only completely sever his ties with Aizen—

It would also become much more difficult to get in touch with the Gotei 13 afterward.

After all, what freedom could a husband who married into a family possibly have? Especially within a noble clan in such a feudal environment.

If they did not keep him like a caged canary, it would probably only be out of respect for the clan head.

He could not let the noble title go to his head and make a decision he would bitterly regret.

Besides, Arima Shizuya had absolutely no complaints about his current circumstances.

As for Kendo, Tōsen Kaname himself possessed captain-class potential.

Keeping up their sparring made the growth of Arima Shizuya's Kendo stat the steadiest of all his major attributes.

Though he had yet to find stable ways to improve the other three major attributes—

As long as he continued muddling through at the Academy, he would eventually find suitable opportunities.

After all, Dora Aizen was right beside him. Whenever he encountered something he could not decide, he could just ask—could the Shihouin Clan possibly provide such abundant resources?

There was simply no comparison! Yet as he pondered this, Arima Shizuya suddenly heard Tōsen Kaname speak.

"Arima, I'm sorry."

"...Why are you apologizing all of a sudden?"

Tōsen Kaname lowered his head. After a moment of silence, he said softly,

"As your friend, I failed to lend you a hand when you needed help most. I have betrayed my conscience and violated my own principles once again."

One should not fear power and authority. That was the rule Tōsen Kaname had set for himself.

Yet when Arima Shizuya faced oppression, he had hesitated... Though the outcome had turned out fine.

But had he truly done the right thing?

"I'm no different from my old self. I thought I had changed, but I still feel fear and unease..."

Arima Shizuya looked surprised.

He pondered for a moment, then faced with such heavy self-reproach, said quietly,

"It's fine. If it had been me, I would have done the same."

"But that would still be wrong!"

Tōsen Kaname's voice rose several notches. His hands clenched slightly, and even his body began to tremble.

"I did not come here to study so I could weigh the pros and cons. I have my own goal. I want to grow stronger so that I can seek true justice..."

"Hey, Tōsen."

Bluntly interrupting him, Arima Shizuya looked up at the sky and said with a smile,

"I've said something similar to you before, haven't I? Don't dwell too much on the present. As long as you can live according to your convictions after you grow stronger, that will be enough."

"Justice or equality—since those are Tōsen's goals, you should hold even more firmly to your beliefs."

"Treat these hardships and frustrations as tempering. Maybe that will make you feel a little better."

Arima Shizuya grinned and reached out with his right hand, patting Tōsen's shoulder as though joking.

"As for everything else... Ha, you're being far too formal, Tōsen!"

After all—

"We're friends."