Next Stop

"So Shizuya-kun's confession was rejected?"

Aizen smiled kindly as he sat on a classroom chair.

Arima Shizuya scratched his head, his expression carrying an indescribable awkwardness.

"No, no, it probably wasn't a direct rejection yet. After all, she didn't say it that bluntly..."

Aizen rose, poured a cup of warm water, and placed it before Arima Shizuya.

"But she did say something like, 'Let's start as friends,' didn't she?"

The latter nodded carefully and thanked him quietly.

"Why do you understand this so well, Teacher Aizen...?"

"Of course, it's because I'm usually the one being confessed to."

Ugh! This guy occasionally said some really irritating things.

Seeing Arima Shizuya's disgusted expression, Aizen seemed to be in an especially good mood after making the rare joke.

After all, it was uncommon for the two of them to chat idly in the Teacher's Office.

"All right, enough joking. Shizuya-kun, you should understand this too. Someone like Kotetsu probably does have a favorable impression of you."

He had noticed that much, of course.

"But having your confession rejected still hurts, doesn't it?"

Hey! Are you a parasite in my stomach or something?

"Hehe, although you may think I'm mocking you by saying this, in my view, getting along with girls requires more interaction. You need to start by building affection."

Right.

"Prepare small gifts, communicate more, talk about topics beyond everyday life..."

Aizen blew on the hot tea on his desk and took a satisfied sip.

"Passionate feelings can quickly close the distance between two people, but to truly enter someone's heart, you still need the gradual accumulation of everyday moments."

"In my opinion, Kotetsu is probably the more traditional type. Choosing this kind of 'strategy' with her may have been somewhat reckless, Shizuya-kun."

That was putting it tactfully.

But in truth, it was basically charging right into her face.

You were too impatient, young man.

Arima Shizuya's face turned red. He pressed his lips together, stammered for a while, then sighed.

"You're quite shaken up, aren't you, Shizuya-kun?"

"Was it really that obvious, Teacher Aizen...?"

"You look like a rooster that lost a fight."

Though he had not meant to mock him, it really did sting.

And as he spoke, Aizen's gaze drifted toward him, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

"Still, I never expected you to be the type to take the initiative so directly, Shizuya-kun. In the end, are you just a young man after all? Something like being controlled by hormones?"

Under his gaze, Arima Shizuya awkwardly turned his head away. He scratched at the corner of his mouth with his right hand and wrestled with himself for a moment.

"Um... wanting a girlfriend I can hold hands with and hug isn't really strange, right?"

Aizen froze for a moment, then could not help laughing loudly three times.

"Ha! How youthful! But is it really all right to reveal such private matters to me?"

Adjusting his glasses, Aizen's smile became difficult to read.

"Perhaps I'll take it as a joke and tell others about it."

Arima Shizuya waved a hand carelessly and gave a soft laugh.

"It's fine. I trust you unconditionally, Teacher. Since you choose to do that, you must have your reasons... I can completely understand."

A brief silence followed, and the light in Aizen's eyes deepened further.

"...Is that so? That trust is rather heavy."

"Ah, well, let's leave it at that for now. There will be other chances later. I just need to keep working hard!"

"Oh, it's a good thing that you can pull yourself together."

"I can't stay depressed forever, can I?"

Patting his face, Arima Shizuya drained the warm water in one gulp, rose to his feet, and yawned.

"All right, all right. Now for the serious matter... Teacher Aizen, tomorrow's off-campus class is a one-day internship within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Do you have any recommendations?"

Aizen gave an inconspicuous hum, turning his swivel chair to face Arima Shizuya.

"Is there anywhere Shizuya-kun particularly wants to go?"

The party involved grinned and answered simply.

"Nope!"

After all, it was merely a one-day trial class. He would not get access to anything important.

But it would be different if someone introduced him. In a feudal setting, connections were everything—Arima Shizuya did not believe Aizen had made no arrangements for him.

Dora Aizen, let's see what good stuff you've been hiding!

Whether he was moved by Arima Shizuya's frankness or simply pleased that his own prediction had been right, Aizen let out a light chuckle and turned back toward his desk.

He reached into a nearby drawer and took out a letter.

"In fact, Captain Hirako Shinji of the Fifth Division sent me a letter two days ago. The captain instructed me to take this opportunity to bring you to intern with the Fifth Division."

Huh? There was something like that? Arima Shizuya had not expected a captain to take notice of him.

"Are you surprised, Shizuya-kun?"

"A little, I suppose... I just didn't expect something like this."

"Then use this opportunity to adapt as much as you can. The news that you defeated Vice-Captain Ōmaeda has already spread through the Thirteenth Division."

Aizen smiled rather slyly, with an expression that seemed almost gleeful at his misfortune.

"You may not feel it yourself, but in everyone else's eyes, you're already tomorrow's New Talent."

Aizen spread his right hand, his long fingers slightly splayed as they curled one by one.

"I hear Lady Yoruichi often mentions your name during gatherings. By now, Retsu Unohana, captain of the Fourth Division, knows your name as well."

"Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, captain of the Third Division, has expressed interest in you and intends to meet you the next time he visits the True Spiritual Arts Academy."

"Aikawa Rabu, captain of the Seventh Division..."

Aaaah!!! Stop, don't say any more, my brain is going to grow... This is all too complicated! "Teacher Aizen! Please put all that aside for now!"

Seeing Arima Shizuya clutch his head in pain, Aizen smiled.

"Well? Can you feel the extent of your influence now? At this rate, perhaps even Captain-Commander Yamamoto will turn his attention toward you."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni? Why would that Old Man...

"Because Shizuya-kun's Hakuda technique that day was truly outstanding, and you used something Captain-Commander Yamamoto highly values. Hehe, old people tend to care about such minor details, so it is not particularly strange."

All right.

Though he did not want matters to become this complicated, his battle with Ōmaeda had indeed become a topic of conversation for many people.

He was already famous...

"Shizuya-kun, it seems you still do not quite understand what it means for an ordinary academy student to display Seventh Level Spiritual Pressure so soon after enrolling."

It meant he was exceptionally talented? Forget it. That was never the kind of reputation Arima Shizuya wanted.

Besides.

"It's nothing. Teacher Aizen taught me well."

It was the truth.

After all, if he had not met Aizen, he would still have found ways to grow stronger, but he definitely would not have taken such a shortcut.

Thus, Arima Shizuya truly held the deepest respect for the teacher who had guided him.

"..."

Silence replaced an answer. Aizen was not someone who would lose his head and become disoriented from a bit of praise.

Yet precisely because of that, he could clearly distinguish the sincerity and gratitude in Arima Shizuya's words.

Attitude could not represent everything. Even with that frivolous manner, the other could still speak from the heart.

Then, if he asked himself honestly.

Would he be moved?

After all, this fellow was indeed his student, someone into whom he had invested effort and attention.

It was natural to experience such emotional fluctuations, wasn't it? Like seeing a fruit tree he had planted with his own hands grow.

That tangible sense of reward truly was pleasing.

Still, it was strange when he thought about it.

Clearly, this was someone so extraordinarily gifted, yet he did not seem to be nearly as wary of him...

By all rights, he should have gone through the necessary process, just as he had when dealing with Tōsen Kaname.

Then...

Why had he not done so?

Aizen's gaze became inscrutable. He quietly looked at the young man before him, seeming hesitant and uncertain.

The other did not notice this subtle change, much less discover anything.

Finally, just as Arima Shizuya spoke, Aizen made his decision.

"Teacher Aizen, then tomorrow I..."

"Tomorrow, we will not be going to the Fifth Division."

"...???"

Arima Shizuya looked utterly confused.

Prison Master, what are you saying? Wasn't this personally ordered by your captain?

Aizen flicked his wrist, and a stream of light formed from Spiritual Power began to flow. The gathered energy took on a Kido-like form before becoming heat and clinging to the white paper...

He set the letter ablaze. The flames consumed it completely, until even the ashes drifted away in the air.

"Taking Shizuya-kun's circumstances into consideration, I have another arrangement for you."

"And Captain Hirako...?"

"Shizuya-kun, you have not seen the contents of the letter, have you?"

"Uh... that's right."

"Then all is well. We can simply act as though nothing happened."

No, no, no...

Was this how Aizen and Hirako got along?

You two were way too familiar, weren't you?! That was an order from your direct superior, yet you could ignore it so casually? Meeting Arima Shizuya's gaze, Aizen smiled calmly and spoke in an even tone.

"Do not worry about too many things, Shizuya-kun. I have thought of a better destination."

Arima Shizuya had no way of knowing about the change in Aizen's state of mind. He could only hesitate before asking in a low voice.

"Then where do you intend to take me?"

Aizen quietly adjusted his glasses and answered calmly.

"The Twelfth Division, an interesting place also known as the Research and Development Department."