Training Ground After the Wind and Snow

The training ground fell into brief silence. Everyone was captivated by the dreamlike scene before them.

As the resting place of the dead, Soul Society had no changing seasons and maintained the same atmosphere year-round.

Such a pure yet desolate snowscape was something not only these students, but even many veteran Seat Officers, had never seen with their own eyes.

Not to mention the elegant young master standing amid the wind and snow.

His black Shinigami uniform contrasted with the pale ice and snow. Bathed in the faint glow of the Ice-Snow War Fan, his delicate features appeared ever more ethereal and detached, as though he might scatter into the wind and snow at any moment.

"Ah, my..." Kyōraku Shunsui was the first to recover, steadying his conical hat with a hand, his voice full of intoxicated appreciation.

"With a scene like this, if only I had a flask of warm sake to savor slowly... now that would be truly elegant."

As he sighed, he glanced at his future vice-captain beside him. Yadomaru Lisa stood ramrod straight, her eyes fixed intently on Yan Si in the field. Her lips moved soundlessly at an astonishing speed, as though she were frantically calculating something.

Kyōraku leaned closer in curiosity and finally caught her rapid-fire muttering:

"I used to think a handsome, laid-back older man was a pretty good choice, with excellent value for money... But now it seems that a tragically beautiful, ethereal pretty boy is the ultimate answer after all! Handsome older men have already peaked, but pretty boys possess limitless potential for growth! They can grow into melancholy older men, gentle seniors, even domineering CEO-type captains! No matter how you calculate it, investing in a pretty boy will definitely yield happiness returns for a longer period through the second half of your life, damn it!"

Kyōraku Shunsui's face immediately fell. He spoke in a deeply aggrieved tone, "Lisa-chan... saying that really hurts this old man's feelings, you know."

What was wrong with older men? Older men knew how to care for people! Youngsters like Yan Si only knew how to show off. When he fought Hiyori earlier, he didn't even know to go easy on her. He left that poor girl covered in dust and grime—he didn't understand the first thing about cherishing women!

Yadomaru Lisa abruptly snapped back to her senses and pushed up her glasses. Cold light flashed across the lenses as she replied without mercy, "Shut up, you dirty old man."

"Ah!?" Kyōraku Shunsui staggered back half a step as though struck by lightning, clutching his heart with utter disbelief on his face.

No way?! Her vice-captain position wasn't even official yet, and she was already siding with Runlin An?!

Hirako Shinji's mouth twitched. Faced with the impossibly beautiful sight before him, he racked his brains but could not find the slightest flaw to pick at or mock.

Even with his critical eye, he had to admit that before such a scene, any remark that spoiled the mood would seem utterly feeble.

Captain Hikifune Kirio stood with her hands on her hips, her ample chest thrust out. Her eyes gleamed as though she had discovered a new delicacy, and she praised him without reservation:

"Oh my~ As expected of the 'most beautiful Zanpakutō in Soul Society'! The blade is beautiful, and its wielder even more so! That aloof, icy figure makes me want to prepare some exquisite sweets and sit down to admire him properly!"

Sarugaki Hiyori, hiding behind her, had her mouth slightly open and her huge eyes wide as saucers. She seemed frozen in place. Her mind contained nothing but that stretch of ice and snow and the figure holding the fan—completely blank.

Aizen Sōsuke, who had single-handedly brought about this scene, still wore that perfect gentle smile.

Yet behind his lenses, an almost imperceptible gleam flickered through his deep eyes.

He praised sincerely, "It is my honor to witness such a beautiful sight with my own eyes."

As his words fell, Yan Si gave his wrist a light flick. The Ice-Snow War Fan dissolved into sparkling spirit particles, then condensed once more into the form of an ordinary Zanpakutō, which he returned to the sheath at his waist with a click.

The falling snow and faintly chilly breeze around them vanished in an instant, as though everything that had just happened had been nothing but a shared beautiful dream.

"Enough." Yan Si's gaze returned to calm as he looked at Aizen. "You've seen what you wanted to see. It's time to get down to business, isn't it?"

He had naturally had his reasons for deliberately revealing his Shikai before everyone.

Since every Shinigami accepted that "a Zanpakutō reflects its owner's soul," displaying such a "beautiful" Zanpakutō that seemingly lacked direct offensive power should at least somewhat ease the excessive attention Hirako and Kyōraku—the two old foxes—were paying him, right?

Come to think of it, the captains who had come today were suspicious in themselves.

Aside from Captain Hikifune Kirio, who represented the academy, why were the ones who came Captain Kyōraku Shunsui of the Eighth Division, who oversaw intelligence, and Captain Hirako Shinji of the Fifth Division, who handled rescue operations and often needed to act flexibly?

Meanwhile, the Fourth Division, the medical corps that was most desperately short-handed, and the Eleventh Division, packed with battle maniacs, had not shown up at all.

If no one had been pulling strings behind this, only a ghost would believe it!

His gaze clearly conveyed a message to Aizen: he had played along with his act, so Aizen should know when to stop.

Aizen went along with it smoothly. Smiling, he turned and walked to Hirako Shinji, then gave a slight bow.

"Thank you for your favor, Captain Hirako. I am willing to join the Fifth Division."

Hirako Shinji dug at his ear, looking utterly unconcerned. "Oh? Then let's go."

"Captain Hirako, don't you plan to recruit a few more graduates?" Aizen asked with mild curiosity.

Hirako casually jerked his chin toward the entire training ground.

"Anyone else who wants to join the Fifth Division can just go register with the principal. I'll take all comers." With that, he shoved both hands into his pockets and headed out without looking back.

Seeing this, Aizen offered Yan Si a friendly smile as well and bid him farewell.

"Fifth Seat Yan Si, once I have familiarized myself with division affairs, I will find time to exchange ideas with you."

Yan Si nodded expressionlessly.

Go on, go on. The two of you can play your high-level psychological games in the Fifth Division yourselves. Just don't come back to torment an ordinary Seat Officer like me, who only wants to write quietly and drink wine.

Just as he breathed a sigh of relief, he heard a burst of hurried footsteps—

"Fifth Seat Yan Si! Please, please let me join the Ninth Division!"

"Me too! I want to join the Ninth Division too!"

"Lord Yan Si! May I ask if you have time to guide me in Flash Step?"

"Fifth Seat! Are you free to have tea together this weekend?"

In an instant, five female graduates swarmed around Yan Si like butterflies drawn to flowers. Admiration gleamed in their eyes as they all spoke at once to express their desire to join his division, and some even boldly invited him on a date.

The other male students were more practical. They chose to step before Captain Hikifune Kirio and do their best to show off their abilities, while several others looked tentatively toward Kyōraku Shunsui.

However, neither captain seemed inclined to take on any more recruits. They merely recommended other, more suitable divisions based on each graduate's traits and aspirations.

The recruitment event finally came to an end.