Enrollment Day

Though Kirinji had figured out the cause of yesterday's medical accident, one question still eluded him.

Why had soaking in the same experimental bathwater left Kazuo's brothers' hands rotting and their bones exposed, while Lin Nan had emerged unscathed, with nothing more than a layer of skin shed?

But he no longer had time to study Lin Nan more closely. Today was the day he had promised Yamamoto he would take Lin Nan to Shino Academy.

"Lin, we have to part for now. From today onward, you're a lifetime free customer at Kirin Bath! As long as it's within my power, I'll grant any request you make!"

The idea Lin Nan had proposed that morning had opened a bright window in Kirinji's mind. The boy not only understood his line of thinking but could also come up with some very reliable improvements.

If he followed Lin Nan's suggestions, the therapeutic hot spring might be ready much sooner! By now, Kirinji had come to regard Lin Nan as a kindred spirit.

Faced with Kirinji's generosity, Lin Nan didn't hold back. He flicked his silver-white bangs and said, "You got it, genius. I can't use Shunpo yet, so teach me next time!"

Kirinji nodded without hesitation. "No problem! That's a piece of cake!"

The gates of Shino Academy were already just a short distance ahead.

With Yamamoto leading the way, Lin Nan and Kyoraku walked on either side of him toward the plaza in front of the gates.

Kyoraku kept glancing sideways at Lin Nan. After staring at him for quite a while, he suddenly pointed at his face, astonished. "I finally figured out what's wrong! How did you get so much taller than me in just two days?!"

At Kyoraku's words, both Yamamoto and Lin Nan stopped.

Lin Nan took a close look at himself but couldn't see any change. But when Yamamoto pushed him toward Kyoraku, the difference became obvious at once.

The two of them had once been about the same height, but now, standing side by side, Lin Nan was at least half a head taller than Kyoraku.

When Kyoraku realized Lin Nan was looking over his head at something behind him, he hurriedly hopped aside. "That's ridiculous! How did you grow so much in just two days?!"

Lin Nan scratched his head and shook it in confusion. "I have no idea! All I did was soak in a hot spring and sleep at Kirinji's place..."

Yamamoto looked Lin Nan up and down, privately guessing that Kirinji had probably pulled something again. Had he fed Lin Nan something he shouldn't have?

But Lin Nan looked full of life. He didn't seem unwell, and his spiritual pressure was steady... Hmm? His spiritual pressure had already reached the level of a squad member? He was growing fast.

But why was the boy's spiritual pressure so weak?

"Lin Nan, did your treatment at Kirinji's go smoothly? Are you still not cured?"

Lin Nan paused, then briefly recounted what had happened over the past few days, leaving out the medical accident. He had to save Kirinji some face.

Seeing the concern in Yamamoto's eyes, he even punched himself twice over the injuries to prove he had recovered.

Yamamoto nodded, suspecting nothing. He assumed Lin Nan's spiritual pressure was weak because he was still recovering from a serious injury.

The three of them continued toward the gates.

As they walked, Kyoraku leaned close to Lin Nan's ear and whispered, "Lin Nan, if I ever get hurt, could you introduce me to Kirinji so he can treat me too? Just so we're clear, it's not because I want to get taller. It's entirely because he's such a skilled doctor..."

Today was the annual entrance ceremony for the new students at Shino Academy.

The Central 46 had imposed strict controls on admissions to the academy, allowing only young people of eligible age from the noble and wealthy families of Seireitei to enroll. As a result, this year's class was even smaller than usual.

The families and servants who had come to see their young masters and misses off outnumbered the new students gathered in the plaza.

Lin Nan was in high spirits. He had passed the entrance exam and become a student. From now on, he could legitimately become a civil servant in Seireitei, finally putting the identity crisis he had faced after transmigrating behind him.

"Hey, isn't that Captain-Commander Yamamoto over there? Is he attending the entrance ceremony this year too? Who's that behind him?"

"He comes every year. You didn't know? As for the person behind him... Could that be his student?"

"Now that you mention students, I remember! Have you heard that explosive little rumor going around lately?—"

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto's new student dared to duel Kenpachi, and even managed to wound her. There was blood everywhere!"

"Don't make things up. Gen Style hasn't taken on a student in decades. And Kenpachi once cut someone into eleven pieces with three strokes! She's that strong. How could she lose?"

"The story's absolutely reliable! My cousin's sister-in-law's fiancé's aunt's cousin is in the 11th Division. Apparently, Kenpachi was covered in wounds that day, and her blood soaked through her haori!"

"Bull! There's probably no one in all of Soul Society with that kind of power except Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Are you sure he didn't fight in his student's place?"

"Definitely not! I heard it clearly. The boy who fought Kenpachi had white hair. Look behind the Captain-Commander. Isn't there a white-haired boy right there?"

"...Then Kenpachi will definitely come after that student for revenge, right?"

"Someone who can make Kenpachi bleed and get hurt is going to be afraid of revenge?..."

"Hmph. Whoever he is, I'll find a chance to challenge that student one day! I'll show him that I'm the man who'll become the strongest Soul Reaper!"

The new students nearby gradually turned their attention to Yamamoto and Lin Nan, all looking their way. More and more joined in, and the chattering grew louder and louder.

Lin Nan heard every word, and his expression gradually turned uneasy.

That was how rumors got exaggerated as they spread. Yamamoto, who knew what had really happened, was right there. Hearing people embellish the story like this was still awkward.

Noticing Lin Nan's unease, Yamamoto said quietly, "Don't let it go to your head. A student of Gen Style must first hold firm to his convictions. If you want to become strong, you can't concern yourself with the words of the weak."

That was practically a tacit confirmation of the rumors. Kyoraku was dumbstruck.

Had Lin Nan really fought Kenpachi? How was that even possible? How had he survived?

Yamamoto's words gave Lin Nan pause. "Then what about the weak who need the strong to protect them? Should we ignore them too?"

Yamamoto slowed his pace and glanced at Lin Nan. "What right do the weak who need protection have to speak?"

Lin Nan was at a loss for words. That statement really suited the original Court Guard Squad, a group of assassins.

Suddenly, he remembered the frail old man in Rukongai who had once taken him in.

"But if no one ever cares about the weak, then what's the point of the strong existing?"

Yamamoto didn't answer this time. He simply continued walking. "Think about that after you've become strong."

Kyoraku sensed the tension and hurriedly tugged at Lin Nan's sleeve, trying to stop him from saying anything more.

Just then, a tall, slender figure appeared in the distance ahead of them. Her white hair was neatly tied in a low ponytail that fell smoothly to the middle of her back. She stood out among the students.

The instant Kyoraku saw her, he stiffened. His eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he slapped Lin Nan's arm with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Look, look over there! What a pretty girl! I love girls like that—so quiet and gentle!"

Lin Nan knew Kyoraku was deliberately trying to lighten the mood, but he hadn't expected his acting to be so over the top. He looked at him helplessly.

"What are you getting so worked up about? You see plenty of girls every day, and you never act like this. You catch a glimpse of someone from behind today and you're acting like you're possessed. What happened to the genius young master of the Kyoraku House?"

Yamamoto saw the figure and stopped. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Kyoraku gripped Lin Nan's sleeve with one hand, eyes fixed on the white-haired figure. He sighed dreamily. "Even a genius can fall in love! That's exactly my type! Such a nice figure, and long hair too..."

Looking at Kyoraku's expression, Lin Nan couldn't tell whether he was serious or putting on an act. An image suddenly came to mind of young Shunsui from the manga, pouncing like a monkey toward a group of female classmates.

They watched Yamamoto meet the white-haired figure. After they exchanged a few quiet words, she bowed deeply to him.

Kyoraku looked even more excited. "Lin Nan, do you think Old Man Yama knows that girl? Heh, then I can get him to play matchmaker for me... No, if we end up in the same class, I won't need that..."

Lin Nan: "...Quit acting. Old Man Yama can't hear you now."

"Who said I was acting? I... Fine, I'll stop..."

Yamamoto beckoned to the two of them, and they walked straight over.

"She's your classmate too, and you'll be assigned to the same class. From today onward, as my students, the three of you must stand together." Yamamoto gestured toward the white-haired figure in front of them. "Now, introduce yourselves to each other."

The tall white-haired figure turned around, smiled warmly, and waved to Lin Nan and Kyoraku. Her voice was gentle as a spring breeze.

"Hello. I'm from District 76, Reverse Bone, in East Rukongai. My name is Ukitake Jushiro! Pleased to meet you!"