A Hundred Years Ago

A Hundred Years Ago

The brief yet memorable exchange soon came to an end. After learning Arima Shizuya's purpose, Aizen helped explain matters to the instructor.

After all, he was a seated officer of the Fifth Division.

Compared to an ordinary teacher who loafed around at the Academy, waiting for death without learning a thing, such a status carried a certain degree of intimidation.

Coupled with such polite and tactful wording, with matters having come this far, what else could the other party possibly be dissatisfied with?

The man could only accept Arima Shizuya's apology rather reluctantly.

"Although the process was a little roundabout, the result is good in the end. Shizuya-kun, next time, please be sure to balance your life and studies properly."

Deeply grateful for Aizen's help this time, the boy solemnly agreed to his reminder.

As they were about to leave, Aizen seemed to recall something. He suddenly stopped, then added with a smile.

"Oh, right. There will be a lecture tonight that I personally invited someone to give. Be sure not to be late."

Come to think of it.

Perhaps Aizen had not come to host yesterday's class meeting because of this matter.

"Teacher Aizen, did you specially invite someone important?"

The Parties merely smiled shyly, then nodded lightly, speaking in a slightly showy tone.

"He should be a man who will surprise even Shizuya-kun. Well, consider it a fresh experience. It is also necessary to get to know some people from time to time."

For Aizen to give him such high praise, what kind of expert could this visitor be?

Though he was very curious, he could not neglect the afternoon classes either.

Before he knew it, several of his fundamentals had gradually improved somewhat.

The feeling of making steady progress and being able to see the gains with his own eyes really did inspire an almost addictive impulse.

Arima Shizuya felt like a sponge, greedily and diligently absorbing every bit of nourishment around him.

As for his doubts about Aizen.

The answer came only a few hours later, in the form of a languid figure standing at the lectern.

The man stood loosely at the podium. He raised his right hand and dug at his ear with his little finger, his expression utterly weary.

"What? You want me, a captain, to speak to freshmen? Isn't that way too lacking in dignity?"

The man with yellow hair cut in straight bangs, an eerie smile, and lazy eyes stood at the lectern in a thoroughly slovenly manner.

His earlier remark had been directed at Aizen, who stood to one side.

Faced with that complaining tone, Aizen did not lose his temper. Instead, he gave an awkward smile and reassured him.

"After all, this is my first time serving as an instructor. I fear that an improper speech might have an unsuitable influence on everyone."

Therefore.

Aizen adjusted his glasses and slowly added.

"I believe that at a time like this, only someone of captain rank from the Thirteenth Division can provide answers that are impartial and worth referring to."

It was an impeccable response.

Unfortunately, the other man did not take the conventional route.

"Tch, but these people might not even join the Thirteen Court Guard Squads after graduating, right? Even if they do, they won't choose the uncool and troublesome Fifth Division. Rescue work is boring to begin with, so am I just here to help others train their subordinates..."

"Captain, please do not casually say what you are thinking out loud."

"What does it matter? There aren't any outsiders listening anyway."

The two men onstage chatted away, seemingly without any airs between them.

Yet everyone below the podium sat ramrod straight, because the yellow-haired man wore a white long-sleeved haori embroidered with the Fifth Division's insignia.

And the identity of a man whom Aizen called Captain was naturally obvious.

"Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to introduce myself."

The yellow-haired man's face revealed his trademark mocking smile.

"As you can all see, I may be somewhat frivolous and not particularly reliable-looking. But I am the current Fifth Division Captain."

"I am also the superior of your instructor, Aizen Sōsuke."

"To be honest, our Fifth Division is currently short-handed. We need people more than ever, so I came today to say hello as well."

"If you decide to join the Gotei 13, then please... please make sure to join our Fifth Division!"

"Oh, right, my name..."

He turned halfway around and wrote his name on the blackboard.

Zizhen and Ziping.

The handwriting looked strange, as though it had been completely mirrored and written backward—being able to write mirrored characters so smoothly by hand must have taken quite a bit of practice.

The expression on his face, which resembled a taunt, made that clear at this moment.

"That is all. Please treat me well."

Everyone below the stage still wore tense expressions. Though they desperately wanted to say something...

After all, that was obviously not a name any normal person would have.

But under the pressure of his authority as a captain, coupled with the fact that this was their first meeting.

The Academy students, who were not even Squad Members yet, did not dare so much as breathe loudly.

Only one person broke the silence.

"Excuse me, about that..."

The voice came from the last row.

Everyone turned to look, only to see that the speaker was Arima Shizuya, seated in the very back.

The boy wore an expression as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.

It was clear that he had thought about it for quite a while before finally deciding to say something.

"Captain, is your name... written backward?"

Speaking in such a careless tone on an occasion like this would seem overstepping to anyone.

Yet it only made the yellow-haired man onstage reveal an interested expression.

He raised his right hand and lightly pointed toward Arima Shizuya with great interest, saying with a broad smile.

"Oh~ You've got quite the sense of humor! To grasp the essence of my intent here—you should know I practiced writing backward for a very long time! Could it be... that you're a genius too?"

This guy said something that seemed pretty incredible with such a calm expression.

Naturally, he did not wait for Arima Shizuya's reply and quickly continued on his own.

"In any case, I am not a rigid person. So everyone can relax a little. It is fine—the Fifth Division is just that casual an organization."

Aizen, standing nearby, adjusted his glasses and carefully said, "Captain, this will give the freshmen an unreasonable impression of our Rescue Squad..."

"It is fine~ Nobody likes joining such a rustic division anyway. We never even meet our recruitment quota every year!"

"No, no, no. Even if you are making fun of it, you cannot do that in a situation like this."

As Arima Shizuya watched the atmosphere gradually relax, his expression also became somewhat strange.

Who could have imagined that these two, getting along so harmoniously now, would become like that a hundred years later... Ribbit! Time truly is a butcher's knife!

The class meeting soon came to an end.

Just as Hirako Shinji had said, his speech was nothing serious.

For the entire forty-five minutes.

He merely spoke from the perspective of a former graduate, extensively complaining about the cafeteria food, incompetent teachers, unreasonable class schedules, and so on...

The entire thing was filled with resentment and had a very strong personal style.

It was the kind of speech that left people unsure whether they should listen or not.

But afterward, Hirako Shinji suddenly changed the subject.

"Although all I remember are unpleasant things, no matter what, this was also an unforgettable experience."

"Train well, rest well. Do not waste your time, and do not wait until after graduation to regret it and say something like, 'Ah, if only I'd worked a little harder.'"

"Because that sounds way too stupid, doesn't it?"

It was not consolation, much less encouragement. Yet that teasing tone somehow left an even deeper impression.

Time was running short, and the already brief evening self-study period had come to its end.

At the very end, Hirako Shinji revealed that trademark mocking smile again.

"I sure said a lot. I suppose when people get older, they cannot help becoming long-winded."

"Well, speaking as a senior who once graduated from here, let this be my conclusion."

"Freshmen, work hard. That is all."

He had arrived without any presence and left in a sloppy fashion.

Just like his introduction, this guy who seemed utterly unmotivated walked off the stage without hesitation.

As he approached the main door, he seemed to remember something and suddenly stopped.

Turning back toward the crowd, he raised his right hand, pointed at Aizen beside him, and said in a completely unconcerned tone.

"Also, you should all feel at least a little gratitude toward this instructor of yours. If he had not deliberately made time to visit the Fifth Division yesterday, I would not have come to participate in such a boring event."

The Seireitei was vast.

When he had only read the manga, Arima Shizuya had no real concept of it.

But after living here for so many years, he had long since figured out all its details.

If one traveled solely on foot, a round trip from here to the Thirteenth Division Barracks would take an entire day.

Moreover, considering the distribution and responsibilities of the various Division Barracks, the distances between them were also considerable.

Though he did not know what method Aizen had used to travel, regardless, that thoughtfulness and attitude had left a deep impression on everyone.

If one were to discuss what a responsible teacher ought to be like, then the current Aizen seemed capable of serving as the most suitable example.

Of course, Aizen himself did not seem to want to invite too much trouble.

Now, faced with this "accusation," he could only laugh bitterly twice and speak in a careful yet helpless tone.

"Captain, regarding such matters, please be sure to conceal them for me next time."

Hirako Shinji laughed as he passed by him, then casually patted Aizen on the shoulder.

"When you do things, be more open about it, you~"