In the faint morning light, Siwei Yan yawned as he pushed open his door, only to hear a faint crunch beneath his feet.
Looking down, he saw a pile of shredded paper scattered by the doorway. Judging by the violent tears, it looked as though some feline creature had vented its frustrations on it with its claws.
"My, my. Looks like a certain 'big black cat' was furious last night and left behind some evidence of the crime."
A knowing smile tugged at Yan Si's lips. He casually kicked the scraps into a corner, then headed cheerfully for the Central Spirit Arts Academy.
The journey from the Ninth Division barracks to the academy was not a short one. He had to pass through the bustling Runlin An commercial district, go past the empty Soul Burial training grounds, catch a distant glimpse of the towering, solemn Palace of Penitence, and see the Hill of the Twin Executions farther away—a symbol of capital punishment—before he could arrive.
Fortunately, he had drunk Spiritual Intoxication last night rather than cheap liquor like White Burn. With the weather so clear, Yan Si felt refreshed and even his steps seemed lighter.
However, the moment he reached the imposing gates of the Central Spirit Arts Academy, his spiritual senses prickled as though lightly jabbed by a needle.
His neck stiffened slightly as he turned his head.
Not far away, Hirako Shinji, the blond-haired captain of the Fifth Division, stood with his arms crossed and a wide grin on his face, glaring at him with an extremely displeased dead-fish stare.
If it's a blessing, it won't be a disaster. If it's a disaster, there's no escaping it...
Yan Si sighed inwardly, while his face instantly shifted into a warm, enthusiastic smile. He hurried forward in two quick strides.
"Captain Hirako! You're here so early! Did you spot some particularly promising recruit and worry someone else might snatch them away?"
Hirako Shinji did not respond at all. He simply reached out and pressed a hand onto Yan Si's shoulder with enough force to make him bare his teeth.
"Yan Si..." Hirako curled his lips. There was not even a perfunctory smile on his face, and veins bulged visibly at his temples.
"So you were stringing me along last night? Do you think Hirako Shinji is that easy to fool, or... do you just look down on me as a captain?"
"Ow, ow, ow! Captain Hirako, I've been wronged!" Yan Si hurriedly pleaded.
"You know what our division is like! Lieutenant Kyunnan Shiro insisted on going on an outing today, and she even dragged Captain Kensei along! As for the Third Seat and Fourth Seat, you know them too—they're like two breathing logs! I had no choice but to come!"
Feeling the grip on his shoulder loosen slightly, Yan Si immediately pressed his advantage.
"Just think about it. If Lieutenant Shiro starts making a fuss, who in the whole division can stand it? It's practically demonic noise tormenting the ears and bringing disaster upon all living things!"
At those words, Hirako Shinji actually nodded in deep agreement and withdrew his hand.
"True... when that girl starts shouting, half the Seireitei can't get any peace."
He even lifted his chin slightly, revealing a trace of pride. "Good thing I had the foresight three years ago."
Back then, Kyunnan Shiro had been an outstanding graduate. Relying on his instincts as a master of disguise, Hirako had seen through the troublesome nature hidden beneath her sweet exterior at a glance and decisively "yielded" her to Kensei Muguruma.
Looking back, it had truly been a wise decision.
However...
Hirako's gaze fell upon Yan Si again, and his eyes darkened.
He had misjudged this kid, who had graduated in the same year as Kyunnan Shiro.
"Kid," Hirako said in an appraising tone, "you wouldn't happen to be... here for some specific recruit, would you?"
There was definitely something wrong with that Aizen Sōsuke.
Although Hirako could not say exactly what was wrong, his instincts had been sounding alarms like mad.
And the Lan Chuan in Yan Si's novels was so similar to Aizen... He absolutely could not let those two dangerous people end up in the same division!
Yan Si's smile did not change as he laughed it off.
"How could that be? I don't even know who's graduating this year, much less who the outstanding ones are. I'm purely here to go through the motions."
"Is that so?" Hirako Shinji's tone suddenly turned playful, as though he were chatting with an old friend.
"I thought you specifically invited Aizen out for drinks last night because you wanted to secretly recruit this 'outstanding talent,' already famous in Rukongai, into the Ninth Division ahead of time."
Yan Si kept smiling and was just about to continue making excuses...
"Oh? You two are here so early? Brother Hirako, little brother Yan Si."
A lazy yet magnetic voice cut in at just the right moment, interrupting Yan Si and making him secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Yan Si turned toward the newcomer and smiled.
"I didn't expect you to come in person, Brother Shunsui. Looks like there's an outstanding student among this year's graduates who has even caught your eye."
The newcomer was none other than Kyōraku Shunsui, captain of the Eighth Division.
His captain's haori, decorated with flamboyant patterns, hung casually over his shoulders. He wore a slightly roguish straw hat, several locks of faintly curled black hair peeking out from beneath its brim. A little stubble covered his chin, and his entire presence exuded laziness and rakish charm.
"Hahaha." Kyōraku Shunsui laughed heartily as he walked over. "The Eighth Division has always lacked a suitable lieutenant, and the current Seat Officers are all rather hopeless. I had no choice but to come try my luck."
He looked at Hirako with a teasing tone. "Brother Hirako's Fifth Division is lacking a lieutenant too, isn't it? You'll have to give way for me later."
"Idiot, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?" Hirako turned and headed into the academy without looking back. "These days, it's the outstanding graduates choosing us. When do we get to choose them?"
Yan Si hurried after him and chimed in, "With two captains present, I'm afraid this Fifth Seat from the Ninth Division won't even get a sip of soup."
After all, two captains had come in person, while the Ninth Division had only sent a Fifth Seat—not even a lieutenant.
To outstanding graduates, the difference in sincerity was obvious.
Yan Si had already prepared himself to pick a few leftovers and bring them back to complete his assignment.
Tilting his head, he quietly asked Kyōraku Shunsui, "Brother Shunsui, you're well-informed. Who are the more remarkable figures among this year's graduates?"
Kyōraku Shunsui folded his hands inside his sleeves, looking thoroughly lazy.
"Hmm... There are three especially outstanding ones. Yadomaru Lisa, first in Flash Step; Sarugaki Hiyori, first in Zanjutsu; and Aizen Sōsuke, first in Kidō."
He raised his voice toward Hirako's back ahead of them. "Captain Hirako~ Lisa is my target. Could you let me have her?"
Hirako Shinji did not slow down as he answered irritably, "Idiot! Why would I give up such a cute girl?"
"Oh dear, oh dear, then this is troublesome," Kyōraku Shunsui said in a sing-song tone. "I also very much want a cute girl to be my lieutenant~"
Yan Si rolled his eyes as he listened, unable to stop himself from commenting.
"If I may say one thing, Captains, if you choose a lieutenant based solely on whether she's 'cute,' I'm afraid you'll have several times more white hair in the future than you do now."
This was a lesson written in blood and tears, learned from his own "cute" Lieutenant Kyunnan Shiro.
Had they not seen how Captain Kensei, despite being so young, not only had a head of silver hair, but even showed faint signs of a receding hairline?
"Little brother Yan Si, you don't understand," Kyōraku Shunsui said with a grin, wagging a finger. "Having cute girls around every day improves your mood and makes you more efficient at work."
"Exactly!" Hirako Shinji rarely voiced his agreement. "As long as there are cute girls around, waking up every day feels full of hope and happiness!"
Yan Si: "..."
He cast the two captains an undisguised look of contempt.
"Your realms are truly profound. I concede defeat."
The three of them chatted as they made their way to the academy's training grounds.
In the middle of the grounds already stood a female captain with an exceptionally "full" figure.
"Oh? If it isn't the 'three perverts.' You came so early to lurk around and wait for the academy's outstanding graduates?"
Hikifune Kirio, captain of the Twelfth Division, stood with her hands on her hips, smiling at them teasingly.
Siwei Yan immediately stood at attention and loudly clarified, "Reporting to Captain Hikifune Kirio! I am absolutely not one of them!"
"Hehe." Hikifune Kirio did not believe him at all. "The three of you often drink yourselves into a stupor together, then cause all sorts of embarrassing scenes in the Seireitei. Your reputation has long since spread everywhere."
"Speaking of drinking," Kyōraku Shunsui said as though he had only just remembered, pursing his lips as he looked at Yan Si with a complaining tone, "little brother Yan Si, you haven't invited me out for drinks lately. It really makes me sad."
Yan Si spread his hands helplessly.
"Brother Shunsui, you can't blame me for that. I haven't updated my novel recently, so I'm short on money. I can barely afford even White Burn anymore. Once the royalties from my new book come in next month, I'll definitely treat you two to a proper drink!"
"Then it's settled!" Kyōraku Shunsui immediately beamed and naturally took his place to Hikifune Kirio's left.
Hirako Shinji also curled his lips and stood to Hikifune Kirio's right, not forgetting to defend himself.
"Captain Hikifune, I'm not a pervert. I merely sincerely appreciate and respect the beauty of every woman."
Yan Si obediently stood three paces behind the three captains. Listening to Hirako Shinji's "eloquent argument," he could not help rolling his eyes again.
Hikifune Kirio smiled and did not continue the topic.
Because at that moment, the fifteen graduates of this year entered the training grounds in a neat formation.
Before you continue