Butterfly and Dream

Butterfly and Dream

Tōsen Kaname was quite a conflicted person.

This trait had already been obvious in the original storyline—becoming friends with Komamura Sajin, becoming Hisagi Shūhei's mentor in life...

Though he hated and despised the powerful and the Shinigami, he inevitably still formed attachments to such people in the end.

Perhaps it was precisely this conflicted mindset that led him down the path of self-destruction.

That was roughly the situation.

But no matter what, with Arima Shizuya now standing before him, he had to do his best to prevent that from happening.

"Well, we can sort out the complicated stuff later. If you're feeling lost, then swing your sword first."

Setting down the plastic bottle, Arima Shizuya rose and stepped back, standing before Tōsen Kaname.

His tired right hand flicked lightly, tracing a crisp, clean flourish with his sword.

"After all, 99% of the worries in this world can be chalked up to being too weak!"

Hearing that, Tōsen Kaname's expression shifted slightly. In the end, he too revealed a relieved smile.

"You do say things with real meaning from time to time."

"Huh?! I'm supposed to be a genius, okay? Tighten up, Tōsen. I won't be holding back from here on out!"

After finishing their sparring session, the two parted ways at the entrance to the dojo as usual.

Watching Arima Shizuya limp away into the depths of the corridor, Tōsen Kaname remained silent for a while, yet he did not head toward his dormitory.

After making several detours, he finally found a secluded corner of a school building.

He stood there in silence for a long while... until, at last, a reassuring voice came from behind him.

"You asked me to come here. Is there something important you wish to discuss?"

Aizen's figure emerged from the darkness. His hands were tucked into his long sleeves, and a gentle, calm smile hung on his face.

"Tōsen-kun?"

This was not something Aizen had deliberately arranged. Rather, Tōsen Kaname had gathered information about Aizen through other channels.

It was Tōsen Kaname who had approached Aizen.

"I apologize for asking you to meet me so late at night. Please forgive me."

Tōsen Kaname was as polite as ever. Aizen answered with a soft chuckle and offered only a few words of reassurance.

What mattered was what the other man wanted.

"I want... to become stronger."

Clenching his fists, Tōsen Kaname's voice became somewhat low.

"This rate of progress alone is not enough for me to realize my dream. I need to advance faster—a shortcut... even if it means taking a crooked path. I need to become stronger."

I see.

There was indeed nothing wrong with that reason alone.

"Because a dear friend was once harmed, you harbor resentment toward the powerful. What a regrettable past... Tōsen-kun, I acknowledge your motivation. But..."

Adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose, Aizen smiled rather teasingly.

"Is that really all there is to it?"

"..."

As though he found it difficult to say, Tōsen Kaname only continued after a pause of two breaths.

"I don't want Arima Shizuya to leave me behind, either."

"That guy is improving far too quickly. He may not realize it himself, but it is already difficult for me to gain any advantage over him in Kendo."

"Before long, he will probably surpass me."

As a friend, Tōsen Kaname truly was happy about Arima Shizuya's progress.

So this feeling was not jealousy, much less resentment.

It was self-reproach.

"I cannot keep wasting away like this... I need to become stronger too. Only then can I stand up the next time I encounter such injustice and protect the righteousness in my heart."

There would not be a third time.

Next time, even if he had to turn his body into fire, Tōsen Kaname would rise up and resist.

This was righteousness, friendship, and the very principle by which Tōsen Kaname lived.

That was why he needed power so desperately.

Walking forward slowly, Tōsen Kaname bent his knees and knelt, assuming a posture of submission before Aizen.

"I know your methods are extraordinary... Arima Shizuya was only able to improve his strength after coming into contact with you. I will not ask to be treated the same as that idiot, so please use me as you see fit—as long as you grant me power."

With such firm, unyielding will, Aizen no longer had any reason to refuse.

The corners of his lips lifted lightly as he extended his right hand toward Tōsen Kaname.

"Then, I look forward to our cooperation, Tōsen Kaname."

The two seemed to have reached an understanding. Yet before moving on to the next stage, Aizen appeared to have one more thing to do.

Smiling, he drew the Zanpakuto at his waist.

"Tōsen, before I begin guiding you, please wait a moment."

Tōsen Kaname frowned slightly in confusion and asked softly.

"What do you intend to do?"

"It is nothing major. I merely want you to experience the sensation of my Zanpakuto's release. If I am not mistaken, you have yet to master Shikai, correct? Observing it at such close range may perhaps spark some other inspiration within you."

There was nothing wrong with that explanation, so Tōsen Kaname answered with silence.

Amid Aizen's broad smile.

Everything began converging toward an unavoidable direction... like a river rushing toward the sea, impossible to defy and impossible to stop.

A vivid, radiant butterfly fluttered its wings.

The faint breeze it stirred crossed oceans and seas, blowing to the edge of the world before transforming into a gale so fierce that heaven and earth changed color.

Something had changed, while something else remained unchanged.

Was it fate? Or was something even more mysterious at work? No one knew.

A peaceful half month passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Arima Shizuya realized that he had begun dreaming.

For no apparent reason, he found himself standing at something resembling an intersection.

There was no background around him, only a streetlamp overhead to provide light.

There was neither sun nor moon, nor anything that could serve as a reference for measuring time.

Arima Shizuya could only grope about and search aimlessly within it.

The four directions—east, south, west, and north—all stretched into deeper, more secluded distances. Just looking toward them from afar gave him a chilling feeling.

Even if he chose a direction and moved forward, after a few minutes, Arima Shizuya would find himself back at the original starting point.

The intersection was like a strange space trapped in an endless loop, or perhaps more like an Ouroboros coiled into a perfect circle.

It repeated itself over and over.

Until the person involved finally woke up.

"That's more or less what's been happening, and it's already gone on for over a week straight..."

A few times could have been brushed aside, but it had happened too often. No matter how carefree he was, he could tell something was wrong.

He scraped the last of the curry rice clean.

Wiping his mouth, Arima Shizuya wore an expression of deep feeling.

"Doesn't that sound strange?"

Kotetsu Isane, seated across from him, gave a light laugh and simply shook her head.

"Not at all. Isn't that a sign that your Zanpakuto is about to awaken? It means Arima-kun will soon resonate with your Asauchi."

That was true in theory, but the situation was genuinely troubling.

"But my Asauchi won't come out and talk to me... I can't even find where it is. Am I supposed to keep wandering around that intersection without any direction? Is it a maze?"

Kotetsu Isane scraped her bowl of plain white porridge clean and smiled with pursed lips.

"Every Zanpakuto has different habits and ways of thinking. But since it is an embodiment of Arima-kun's heart, it should reflect your inner thoughts as well."

So at times like this—

"Blindly asking others will not help you find the right answer."

He had considered that possibility himself, but upon hearing that there was no shortcut, Arima Shizuya could not help sighing.

There was no helping it...

So what exactly was his subconscious thinking?

He had no clue at all.

Slumping across the bench in the cafeteria, Arima Shizuya let out a long yawn, his expression looking rather exhausted.

Kotetsu Isane had already begun clearing the table, but seeing him like that, she could not help blinking and asking.

"Arima-kun, what's wrong?"

"No, it's nothing... I've just been dreaming too much. I haven't felt like I've been resting very well these past few days..."

It was neither a major nor minor issue. The person involved merely wanted to complain a little.

But just as he stood up, he saw Kotetsu Isane had already walked around to stand in front of him.

Her thick eyebrows drooped into an awkward shape, and she wore a rather conflicted expression.

What did she want to do?

Before his thoughts could settle, Kotetsu Isane's cheeks reddened slightly as she lowered her head.

Leaning close to Arima Shizuya's ear, she whispered.

"Then, starting tomorrow morning, how about I give Arima-kun a massage? It may not help much, but it should relieve some of your fatigue."

Though the Healing Way was included as a branch of Kido.

Thanks to years of development, methods such as maintaining the body and aiding recovery now fell under that broad category as well.

As the future Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division, it was only natural for Kotetsu Isane to know such things.

Could there be a better reward than this?

All the exhaustion in his body was swept away at once!

Arima Shizuya showed an eager expression. Looking at the girl before him with anticipation, he could not help replying.

"Then I'll be counting on you!"

Kotetsu Isane revealed a happy smile and nodded, about to turn away.

But Arima Shizuya's voice kept her where she was.

"Um, Kohaku-senpai..."

Turning around, she saw Arima Shizuya looking at her expectantly.

"The invitation I made yesterday—have you decided?"

The day before, Arima Shizuya had solemnly asked whether she would be willing to date him for a while.

Beating around the bush had never been a man's style. If he liked someone, he should say it openly.

What was more, Kotetsu Isane stepping forward to speak up for him at the dojo had deeply moved Arima Shizuya.

What reason did he have not to like this woman who seemed straightforward, yet carried a touch of foolishness about her? A direct shot was the best way to hit the bullseye! Kotetsu Isane's face immediately became far more flustered. She took half a step back, her hands rising involuntarily to cover her cheeks.

Ah... this question again...

To be honest, Kotetsu Isane had been so troubled by it that she had not slept at all that night.

So what was her answer?

Taking a deep breath, the girl slowly opened her mouth.

"I..."