And just as he'd expected, after Metastacia, no more Hollows came to attack him.
Launching a second attack immediately after the first one failed didn't fit Aizen's philosophy.
He'd just sip his tea and give a mysterious smile, saying how interesting it was, before deciding how to mess with you next.
So Gaoyu returned to the Seireitei without a hitch. Since he'd been patrolling Rukongai, he didn't even need to report back to his squad.
He went straight home, where he found the three of them waiting outside his door.
Gaoyu's lesson the previous day had been incredibly effective. Just one evening of instruction had left them feeling enlightened, as if a floodgate had opened. They suddenly understood many things that had baffled them before.
"Shinigami really are amazing. Even ordinary Shinigami are so much stronger than we are."
That was what Renji had blurted out as he left, making Gaoyu break into a sweat all over again.
Heh. So you look down on me, do you?
What did he mean, "Even ordinary Shinigami are so much stronger than we are"?
But that was a minor issue. The important thing was gaining their favor.
Hinamori's ability in particular was incredibly useful—her Strongest Defense was just that good.
Without it, Metastacia would probably have bitten him in half!
But thanks to Strongest Defense, it was as if he had a Hollow's Hierro or a Quincy's Blut Vene. Metastacia had bitten him, and his defenses hadn't even been breached!
"You three are certainly diligent."
Seeing them arrive with bags of food in their hands, Gaoyu remarked, "You're only fifth-years, after all."
"Your lessons were so helpful, Gaoyu-senpai!" Hinamori said gratefully. "No wonder you're in the Fifth Division! I'm definitely joining the Fifth Division after I graduate!"
"The Fifth Division is a great place to be," Gaoyu said, recommending it to them even though he knew they were going to join anyway.
If they were in the same squad, they'd naturally spend more time together, making it easier for him to raise their favorability.
Gaoyu opened the door and ushered the three inside.
With the three of them gazing at him expectantly, Gaoyu began another lesson.
When he was with them, what to say and how to teach them all seemed to come naturally.
But Strict Teacher, Talented Student would only last three days. In other words, it would end the night after next, having started the previous evening.
He couldn't keep teaching them for too long, or he'd eventually give himself away.
As he watched the three demonstrate their sword techniques, Gaoyu said, "I might not have time to keep teaching you in a few days. And as students, the three of you are already excellent."
"So don't push yourselves too hard... Also, I have a task for you."
"What task?" The three looked a little disappointed. They'd made great progress under Gaoyu's instruction.
But when they heard the rest, they grew curious.
"This has something to do with you, Hinamori." Gaoyu turned to Momo. "I happened to run into Toshiro-kun while patrolling RinAn today. Just like you said, he's a very talented kid."
"I persuaded him to enroll at Shino Academy. I'll take him there to register tomorrow, so I'll need you all to look after him."
"Shiro-chan's really coming to Shino Academy?!" Hinamori looked delighted. She had always hoped Shiro-chan would come to the Seireitei with her.
But Shiro-chan had never seemed interested in becoming a Shinigami. She couldn't believe Gaoyu had persuaded him after only one visit.
Was this the difference between her and a proper Shinigami?
"Toshiro? Oh, the little brother Hinamori talks about all the time?" Kira said with sudden realization. "Is he a genius?"
"A genius among geniuses," Gaoyu said with a teasing smile.
He knew Kira took pride in being the top student in his year, but compared with Toshiro, Kira's talent really did fall short.
Kira didn't seem to like that. "We'll see just how much of a genius he is!"
"Kira, you can't bully Shiro-chan," Hinamori warned him.
Kira blushed and quickly said, "I wouldn't bully a junior!"
"Actually, if you're going to bully him..." Gaoyu mused, "you'd better do it soon. With his talent, I don't think you'll be able to bully him in four or five years."
"Huh?! Is he really that amazing?!"
"He might not surpass you, but at the very least, he'll be your equal," Gaoyu said.
In reality, he'd probably leave them all far behind!
As he recalled, according to the author's later settings, Toshiro Hitsugaya had already learned Bankai before graduating from Shino Academy.
In other words, in four or five years at most, Toshiro would be Captain-level!
What the hell kind of talent was that?!
Other people had to go through untold hardships to learn Bankai. Even Ichigo Kurosaki had needed special training with a Tenken to master it. And this kid had learned Bankai just by casually studying at Shino Academy?
He hadn't thought of that before. Now that he remembered, he couldn't help complaining about it.
If he had talent like that, he could train hard for a few decades and, even without any other abilities, at least have a chance of surviving the Thousand-Year Blood War!
Seeing the three of them looking shocked and doubtful, Gaoyu decided not to discourage them further. People were different, after all, and it was better not to compare yourself too much with others.
This time was much the same as the previous evening. After training with them, Gaoyu ate a little, and then the three left.
The higher their favorability got, the harder it was to raise it. Renji's favorability toward him had only gone from 75 to 76, while Hinamori and Kira's had reached 70.
Come on, get to 80 already! Once they hit 80, he'd be able to permanently gain their abilities!
Gaoyu was itching to get more abilities.
He'd used Strongest Defense and Destruction Death Ray on his way back. He had no other trump cards now.
What if he ran into another enemy tomorrow? Without his superpowers, wouldn't he be finished?
Gaoyu had meant to lie down and sleep, but now he was wide awake. He decided to go for a walk while it was still relatively early.
He left the house and headed toward District 9. He was on pretty good terms with Hizaki Shūhei, after all, and might be able to get an ability from him.
There were Shinigami patrolling the streets even this late at night, but few of them had Soul Abilities. And the few who did had very little favorability toward him.
That made Gaoyu pick up his pace.
Before you continue