Yan Siwei slowly lowered his index finger and looked down at Sarugaki Hiyori, who was struggling on the ground and still trying to get back up. Calmly, he said:
"The Kidō I just used had less than half your spiritual power, yet I still defeated you."
"Do you know why?"
Hiyori laboriously pushed herself up with her hands and sat cross-legged. She glared up at Yan Si with a fierce look and opened her mouth, her voice full of frustration:
"It shouldn't be like this! Lan Chuan said, 'A Shinigami's battle is a battle of spiritual power! As long as your spiritual power is strong enough, any ability based on rules or changes will become useless!'"
Her expression was still furious, but her tone had unconsciously softened.
"Lan... Lan Chuan?!" Hearing that name—and especially the familiar "famous quote"—Yan Siwei's mind went buzz, and he was instantly stunned.
The muscles at the corners of his eyes twitched uncontrollably. His gaze drifted toward the brown-haired young man standing quietly at the edge of the field: Aizen Sōsuke.
Holy crap! That really is a line I wrote! And it's the pretentious quote Lan Chuan used during a practical combat lesson at the Academy, when he beat an older student who'd been throwing his weight around!
Aizen had his head slightly lowered, making it impossible to see his expression.
Yan Si's mouth twitched twice. He forcibly dragged his gaze back to Hiyori on the ground.
Could this girl... be a fan of my books?!
Yikes! If word gets out that I beat up a fan of my work in person, how am I supposed to show my face again?!
He hurried two steps forward, crouched down, and held out a hand to Hiyori. His tone turned earnest.
"That sentence isn't wrong in itself."
"Hmph! Then why was I the one who lost?" Hiyori looked at the hand before her and hesitated, but eventually placed her own in it.
A gentle force pulled her up from the ground.
Though her legs still felt a little weak, she stubbornly steadied herself and immediately shook off Yan Si's hand.
Yan Si didn't mind. He withdrew his hand and continued explaining.
"That's because, at the point where I attacked you, the 'intensity' of the spiritual power concentrated in my Kidō was far greater than the 'intensity' of the spiritual power you used to defend yourself. That's all."
"Huh?" Hiyori tilted her head, her face practically spelling out, I don't understand a word.
Yan Si's expression remained calm. Like a patient teacher, he gestured with both hands in front of him.
"Let's say the total amount of spiritual power you unleashed just now was ten. But when you attacked, you subconsciously poured most of it—about six—into your hands and Zanpakutō to maximize your offensive power."
"The remaining four parts instinctively covered your whole body as a basic defense."
"Most people aren't even aware that this instinctive defense exists, let alone able to control it precisely."
His gaze swept over the graduates behind them, who were listening intently. Seeing them look thoughtful filled him with the satisfaction of a teacher in his element, and he became even more enthusiastic.
"However, spreading those four parts of spiritual power across your whole body doesn't mean that every part of you has a defense of four."
He extended a finger and pointed vaguely toward Hiyori's heart and neck.
"You instinctively put more spiritual power into protecting vital areas like these."
"But the place I attacked just now was your thigh." Yan Si's finger shifted toward the outside of her thigh.
"At that moment, the defensive spiritual power covering that spot probably had only about one part left."
"So even though the Kidō I used had only about two parts of spiritual power, concentrating it in one place was enough to easily break through the single part of defense you had there."
"In that situation, the 'intensity' of the spiritual power at my point of attack was far greater than the 'intensity' of the spiritual power at your point of defense. Understand?"
After he finished, he quietly looked at the blonde girl in front of him, his earlier confusion now resolved.
So she likes my books and used this special way to get my attention?
Tsk. I hope I didn't hit her too hard earlier. Maybe I can still win back this precious reader...
Every reader willing to pay for a subscription is an author's bread and butter! I can't afford to offend them!
Sarugaki Hiyori lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. In a voice as faint as a mosquito's, and with a hint of reluctance, she muttered:
"...I understand."
Yan Si felt a wave of relief.
That was close. Looks like I've won her back.
But he felt that wasn't enough. He needed to offer her a little "fan service."
So he broke into what he considered a dashing, gentle smile and held out his hand to Hiyori again, this time palm up.
"If you have the latest issue of Soul Society Communication... I could sign it for you. Of course, I'd use my pen name."
Hiyori jerked her head up. Her eyes met the handsome face just inches from hers, a lazy smile on his lips. A rush of heat roared into her head, and her little face turned bright red.
She slapped Yan Si's hand away and snarled, showing her pointed canines.
"W-wait until you've published a collected edition before you start thinking about signing autographs! Baldy!"
With that, she darted behind Captain Hikifune Kirio, hiding herself completely behind the woman's broad frame.
Yan Si: "..."
His hand froze in midair, and the smile on his face turned to stone.
B-Baldy?! She called me Baldy again?! Are her eyes just for decoration?
Can't she see my thick, luxurious hair? I could even tie it into a tiny ponytail!
Don't get mad, don't get mad. So what if a reader insults me? Hitting is affection, scolding is love. This just means she loves my work deeply! Yes, that must be it!
Yan Si kept trying to console himself.
The atmosphere in the training ground, however, had grown lively thanks to the impressive teaching match and explanation.
The graduates looked at Yan Si with admiration, whispering among themselves and discussing the theory of spiritual power that had just overturned everything they knew.
Yadomaru Lisa was also immersed in shock. She adjusted her glasses and murmured to herself:
"So... spiritual power can be used with that much precision?"
She had already started imagining how she could control her spiritual power as precisely as Yan Si did.
Kyōraku Shunsui gently patted her on the shoulder and quietly reminded her, "Lisa-chan, don't get too caught up in the details."
"Little Yan's method isn't wrong in itself, but you have to understand that if you concentrate almost all your spiritual power on offense, you're practically giving up your own defense. That's extremely dangerous. And besides..."
He paused, his tone carrying a deeper meaning. "To do what he did, you not only have to overcome your body's instincts, but also your natural fear of being defenseless. That's not something you can master overnight."
Lisa raised her head and pushed up her glasses. A cool light glinted off the lenses.
"Captain, could you please take your hand away? Otherwise, I might consider reporting you to Central 46 for workplace harassment."
"Huh?!" Kyōraku Shunsui snatched his hand back as if he'd been burned. His face was full of innocence and alarm. "Lisa-chan! You've got it all wrong! Completely wrong! I was only showing concern as your captain!"
Two of the Academy's three most outstanding graduates had now chosen their divisions.
Only Aizen Sōsuke remained. He had graduated at the top of his class in Kidō, and still wore a warm smile.
Aizen walked calmly to the center of the field and stopped in front of Yan Siwei.
Yan Si's expression was stern as he tried to maintain the dignity of a senior officer. But behind his back, his hands kept opening and clenching without his control, and a trace of cold sweat even appeared on his palms.
No way, officer! Aizen, you're not seriously thinking of joining our Ninth Division, are you?!
Why not go to the Fifth Division and play some high-level offense and defense with that old fox Hirako Shinji? That's where you belong!
I'm still a rookie who hasn't even reached max level! Please spare me. Don't come mess with me!
He was wailing wildly inside, but his feet felt rooted to the ground. All he could do was stand there stiffly.
Aizen smiled warmly, as if a spring breeze had passed over him, and spoke slowly. "Fifth Seat Yan Si, actually, I..."
"Hey, Aizen Sōsuke."
A voice with a bit of a delinquent edge, yet an unmistakably authoritative tone, suddenly cut in and interrupted him.
Yan Si almost teared up with gratitude as he turned to look at Hirako Shinji, who was walking over with his hands in his pockets.
Brother Hirako! My savior! You came at just the right time!
Quick! Take this ultimate headache off my hands! You're the only one who can keep him in check!
Hirako walked up and gave Aizen a lazy look with his dead-fish eyes.
His gaze finally settled on Yan Si. The corners of his mouth curled into an inscrutable smile, and then he turned to Aizen.
"How about joining our Fifth Division?"
Before you continue