Interesting and Arrogant

Interesting and Arrogant

After a long silence, the hand hovering over the hilt finally relaxed.

"...Thank you. Also, although I can't see, please don't make such deliberate gestures. Just treat me like a normal person."

"Hah, you've got quite the sense of pride."

"I'm merely reminding you that disabled people do not require excessive concern."

Watching the other man drain the water in his cup, Arima Shizuya tilted his head and smiled.

"Then, could you tell me your name?"

"Tōsen Kaname, Class 2-6."

The brief but forceful introduction made Arima Shizuya sigh inwardly.

What kind of world is this?!

Yesterday I ran into the World's Greatest Hair Gel Hand, and today it's the Number One Loyal Dog...

So I'm just doomed to clash with people from the Aizen Faction, huh?

That said, Arima Shizuya did not have much of an impression of Tōsen Kaname. He had not expected this guy to be a graduate of the Spiritual Arts Academy as well.

And only one year ahead of him, at that...

No, wait.

Rather, everyone serving in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was basically an Academy graduate. The Eleventh Division was simply an exception with more unusual cases...

Tōsen Kaname calmly made his way down. He lightly stroked the object hanging at his waist. Though his steps were still unsteady, he was much better than yesterday.

He stopped before Arima Shizuya and spoke gravely.

"Arima Shizuya, I am grateful for your help. But it would be best if you did not get too close to me..."

After all, he had provoked nobles. It would be troublesome if they decided to pursue the matter.

"Got it~ You don't need to remind me. If anything really happens, I'll definitely be the first one to run."

Arima Shizuya knew exactly why this man acted as he did—he had joined the Gotei 13 for revenge.

His friend had been brutally murdered, yet the perpetrator had not received the punishment he deserved.

That was why he wore a proper Asauchi at his waist...

It was his friend's keepsake, and also the standard equipment of a Shinigami.

During their time as students, they could only handle actual blades during class.

They were essentially temporary loans. To truly possess an Asauchi of one's own, one had to wait until after graduation.

And Tōsen Kaname...

He had his own understanding of justice. Holding fast to those convictions, he eventually rose to become the Ninth Division Captain.

Arima Shizuya had thought he was the type to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens. Who would have thought he was so easily impulsive? Time really was a butcher's knife.

It had even polished this clueless Blind Bro into someone smooth and worldly.

Hearing Arima Shizuya's reply, Tōsen Kaname fell silent for a moment.

He walked to the dormitory door and spoke without looking back.

"Thank you, Arima-kun."

One of the Parties gave a hearty grin, his bared teeth shining blindingly bright... though, of course, a blind man could not see any of that.

"Hah, don't mention it!"

Because he had taken time to look after Tōsen, Arima Shizuya was late for class that day.

It happened to be Kidō Course, taught by the most strict teacher. Arima Shizuya was forced to stand as punishment and lost his right to sit in on the class.

To make matters worse, the teacher even reported him afterward. During the break, just as Arima Shizuya was about to rest for a while, he saw Aizen appear outside the door.

"Shizuya-kun, shall we talk for a moment?"

Arima Shizuya had no room to refuse.

Following behind Aizen Sōsuke, the two walked through the corridors of the teaching building, chatting idly as they went.

"So, did something happen?"

Rather than choosing an office, Aizen spoke to him directly in a relatively public place. That in itself was a more relaxed gesture.

Aizen did not intend to hold him accountable. He simply wanted to talk.

Arima Shizuya did not hold anything back and told him everything about Tōsen Kaname.

Aizen's expression remained unchanged, though his tone carried a hint of regret.

"I see. So you were late because you were helping someone else? Mm, that is very much like you, Shizuya-kun."

"Huh? Teacher Aizen, you believe me that easily?"

That Kidō Teacher had been saying things like, "They're all excuses," during class that morning.

In response to his doubt, Aizen let out a cheerful laugh.

"I believe I understand what kind of person you are, Shizuya-kun. You are not someone who makes excuses to evade responsibility. If it had not been necessary, I imagine you would not have been late."

It had to be said, that sense of unspoken understanding, as though they were close friends, truly moved Arima Shizuya a little.

"From the perspective of a supervising teacher, I do hope that you can become an upright and kind person, Shizuya-kun. But the world is unpredictable. Just like that classmate Tōsen you mentioned, people will always be troubled by unforeseen and unsatisfactory circumstances."

"What should one do at times like that?"

"Haha, try thinking for yourself once in a while. I'll give you three minutes. Tell me your answer afterward."

Aizen led Arima Shizuya down to the Academy's first floor and had him wait in the rest area for a while.

When Aizen returned, he had two steaming rice balls in his hands.

"Coming back from the dojo, looking after Tōsen Kaname, then rushing to class... You probably did not have time to eat."

Damn! This guy really did have charisma!

His stomach growled.

The acid in Arima Shizuya's stomach began churning.

"Looks like there is no room left for stubbornness."

Just as Aizen had said, Arima Shizuya could only thank him quietly and accept the rice balls.

Both were for him—one filled with salmon, the other with dried plum.

"So, Shizuya-kun, have you come up with an answer?"

Arima Shizuya gave a quiet hum, then said,

"Either endure it all, or overturn everything."

The former was compromise, while the latter was resistance. Both had their meaning, but to Aizen, things were not so simple.

"Oh..."

He pushed up his glasses and sat beside Arima Shizuya.

"That is a rare perspective, Shizuya-kun. It seems you possess wisdom beyond that of ordinary people."

Not really, not really...

I'm just standing on the shoulders of some pretentious king and copying a few flashy lines.

"It was merely a passing thought. But Teacher Aizen, what do you think of such matters?"

"Turning the question back on me? Honestly... it can easily make the other person feel disrespected. Still, I do not particularly dislike it."

Aizen thought for a moment.

He rested his elbows on his knees, his hands folded together as the backs of them supported his head. His eyes behind his glasses were as calm as still water, without the slightest ripple.

"If it were me, perhaps I would also lament the unfairness of fate."

"You would not think of resisting?"

"You say something quite extraordinary so casually, Shizuya-kun. You truly are different from others."

Arima Shizuya could sense that Aizen still possessed the proper reverence for rules. After pondering for a while, he finally asked tentatively,

"Teacher, have you never thought of standing in the heavens?"

Aizen looked somewhat surprised.

He raised his brows slightly and murmured thoughtfully.

As if reacting on instinct, he turned his gaze toward Arima Shizuya, yet there was an indescribably strange air about him.

As though he had chewed over those words, swallowed them, and let them settle within him.

Only then did the corners of his mouth begin to rise.

Like someone who had heard a childish, teasing remark, he smiled as though he could not help himself.

"Standing in the heavens? What an interesting and arrogant thing to say."