Parting Is Only for the Sake of Reunion

Parting Is Only for the Sake of Reunion

"Absence-related credit deductions can be appealed and revoked. Since everyone already knows what happened, you were injured while doing a good deed off campus, right?"

"It's fine. Teacher Aizen has already filed a report on the matter, and everyone approves of what you did."

"So according to the rules, you only need to fill out these forms and write a report."

"But there's no making up for the classes you missed these past days... Well, for someone like you, missing class probably doesn't matter much anyway."

"After all, in the current first year... no, in the entire True Spiritual Arts Academy, you're considered an exceptionally gifted talent."

Ise Nanao adjusted the glasses on her nose and handed the neatly organized documents to Arima Shizuya.

"All right, genius. Please go through the procedures."

"...???"

He was grateful for all the preparations others had made for him.

But hearing those words now, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was some unspoken mockery in them.

So Ise Nanao had always been the soft-blade type?

Croak, Captain Kyōraku, your relative is really hard to deal with! With an awkward smile, Arima Shizuya accepted the prepared document folder and nodded.

"Thank you for your help, senpai."

"It was only a small effort. It's nothing."

Ise Nanao turned her head slightly aside. Her eyes lowered, and a somewhat emotional expression appeared on her face.

"You've improved so quickly. Arima-kun, you probably don't have any shortcomings in Kido anymore, do you?"

"No, no, it's all thanks to your guidance from a while ago, senpai."

"Have you ever seen a child teach an adult how to use chopsticks?"

Just imagining it was ridiculous.

That was how Ise Nanao now viewed her own actions back then.

"You really do like hiding your abilities..."

Her face was full of emotion.

It was hardly strange for her to say such things. Compared to a true genius, Ise Nanao's talent simply could not measure up.

But that was only natural. Otherwise, this man would not have seemed so dazzling.

Besides.

"Rather than chatting with me, don't you have more important matters to take care of?"

With things having been said this far, Arima Shizuya was too embarrassed to keep lingering.

"Then I'll be going, senpai. See you around!"

Sitting behind the windowsill, Ise Nanao propped her chin up with one hand. A smile bloomed across her face like a lotus flower upon a pond.

"Mm. Take care. I won't see you out."

Watching his figure gradually disappear into the distance, Ise Nanao finally could not help but sigh.

She had prepared herself for it, but she still felt somewhat conflicted.

After all... if she had realized things a little sooner, perhaps the relationship between them would not have become so awkward.

The spring breeze knocked upon the door, but before she could react, it had already drifted far away.

Arima Shizuya wanted to see Kotetsu Isane, only to be told that she had already gone to the Fourth Division to begin her internship.

It was probably during this period that Kotetsu Isane developed feelings of respect and admiration for Retsu Unohana...

It seemed her path had, in a sense, already been set.

He would wait until he had time later.

The next person he needed to see...

Tōsen Kaname.

That guy was as active as ever.

After even "seeing" that Arima Shizuya was safe and sound, he curled his lips into a strange smile.

"Good. You're not dead."

Who said something that unlucky the moment they met? But thinking about it carefully, getting a rigid and stubborn man to take the initiative to joke around...

That was progress in itself, wasn't it? The two of them found a nearby place to sit and casually exchanged a few words.

Considering their relationship, Arima Shizuya did not intend to hide anything from Blind Bro. He explained everything clearly, point by point.

In response to Arima Shizuya's trust, Tōsen expressed his thanks and gave his own assessment.

"So that Guiganjo probably holds quite a grudge against you."

"Huh? Why?"

"I've heard of the Eleventh Division. It's a unit specialized in combat... and that man was so irritable and exaggerated. He must be the sort of man whose emotions are written all over his face."

Tōsen Kaname lowered his head, his hands clasped together before him, his tone as calm as ever.

"Those steeped in violence are the least able to accept defeat. Pride, a fragile and brittle self-esteem—that is the true portrait of such people."

"He will hold quite a grudge against you, especially once he learns that you are only an Academy student."

"It would be as absurd as a hunter who prides himself on his skill being bitten bloody by a rabbit."

...That was an incredibly incisive assessment.

So were blind people all the sharp-tongued type? This was a little troublesome.

Arima Shizuya had improved, but his opponent's strength absolutely could not be underestimated.

Even if he had only taken the stage by filling a vacancy, and was among the weakest of the captains... he still possessed genuine Third-Class Spiritual Pressure.

Arima Shizuya would catch up to him sooner or later.

But at this stage, Guiganjo was absolutely not an opponent he could handle...

Eugh~ So I really have to stay at the Academy until I graduate? "Seeing" Arima Shizuya scratch awkwardly at the corner of his mouth, Tōsen Kaname smiled and continued.

"But that is secondary... Arima, go to the Teacher's Office first."

"Why?"

"Because Teacher Aizen is waiting for you."

...Huh?

So when had you two become so familiar? Before he could ask, Tōsen had already risen to his feet, leaving Arima Shizuya with only a crisp, decisive back.

"Arima, make your choice. I sincerely hope we can still walk the same path side by side... After all, there are far too few people who share one's aspirations."

Leaving behind those cryptic words, Tōsen Kaname vanished from Arima Shizuya's sight.

It felt somewhat strange, but no matter what, it was indeed time to visit Dora Aizen.

After all, he had something he wanted to verify with him—such as the various suspicious details surrounding Guiganjo that day.

Near dusk, Arima Shizuya arrived at the familiar Teacher's Office.

There, he saw Aizen Sōsuke sorting through his personal belongings and packing them all into a cardboard box.

...What was he doing? Just looking at him gave off the absurd impression of someone trying to run away after getting into trouble.

Their eyes met, and Arima Shizuya saw him smile before naturally setting aside what he had been doing.

"You've finally come, Arima-kun."

It seemed he had been waiting for him for a long time.

Arima Shizuya had come to demand an explanation, but now he somehow felt three times less imposing.

You couldn't slap a smiling face.

Arima Shizuya choked up for a moment, then could only say awkwardly,

"Um... thank you for helping me, Teacher Aizen."

"Hehe, it was only a small matter. After all, you had a conflict with someone of captain rank. If the truth had been reported, Shizuya-kun would have been troubled as well."

That really had helped him a great deal.

But that wasn't what Arima Shizuya had wanted to say! "Teacher Aizen, I..."

Before he could finish.

The other man spoke first.

"Shizuya-kun, starting tomorrow, I will be temporarily leaving the True Spiritual Arts Academy. Because I have been promoted to Vice-Captain, I have many duties to attend to, and my teaching position has now been changed to a part-time role."

"...???"

His mind suddenly could not keep up with the other man's train of thought.

Uh, let him sort this out.

The man had been promoted, after all. There was nothing wrong with offering congratulations at a time like this.

"Uh... congratulations, Teacher Aizen?"

"Hehe, thank you."

Aizen smiled faintly. His gaze shifted to the side, and he murmured,

"I will only return to the Academy once a month from now on, and another person will take over the work of supervising students. Strictly speaking, Shizuya-kun no longer needs to call me teacher."

Huh?!

So you were graduating even earlier than I was?

Before Arima Shizuya could voice those complaints, he saw Aizen lift his head and reveal a distinctly strange smile.

"There is no need to feel regret. Parting is only for the sake of a more fitting reunion."

"So before I leave, I also wish to explain some things to Shizuya-kun."

"First... yes, I should apologize."

"Encountering Guiganjo was also unexpected, but in the end, I bear part of the responsibility."

"From Shizuya-kun's perspective, you must have been quite displeased. Being deceived never feels good... but regardless, please hear me out first."

Adjusting the glasses on his nose, Aizen spoke in his usual tone.

"Shizuya-kun, you are the fastest-improving Shinigami I have ever seen. Your existence has given me different thoughts regarding many things that had seemed predetermined..."

"It is truly astonishing. Given time, you will surely grow into a pillar capable of supporting Soul Society."

"So I sincerely wish to extend an invitation to you..."

Aizen Sōsuke.

Smiling, he extended his right hand toward Arima Shizuya.

"Arima Shizuya, are you willing to walk alongside us?"