The next day.
Everything was as usual.
At least, in Aizen's eyes, Kisaragi Akira was no different from usual, still as carefree as ever.
He even found time to sneak some of Aizen's grilled fish.
Today's lesson was Kido.
Kisaragi Akira's greatest weakness.
During class, he was exceptionally attentive, carefully noting every key point the teacher mentioned. He was only missing a notebook to take notes in.
Fortunately, he didn't have one.
An anomaly within the ordinary—that was the normal state of affairs for Kisaragi Akira.
Aizen observed him for a long time, but couldn't detect even the slightest hint of worry.
He clearly hadn't taken what happened last night to heart at all.
"The Reiatsu flow for Hado #4 differs from that of Hado #11, which leads to a difference in their forms when released. In essence, however, there's no major difference in their power."
"Of course, that's assuming the same level of Reiatsu..."
Being able to teach Kido to Class One meant he was one of the Shinigami's finest.
Kisaragi Akira vaguely recognized the man at the front of the classroom: a Kido instructor with a resolute face and muscles bulging all over, who looked more like a berserker than a mage.
The future Grand Kido Chief, Hikifune Tessai.
It was worth noting that Hikifune Tessai was the only teacher who could overpower Kisaragi Akira with brute force.
"Teacher Tessai, judging by their numbering, there are fewer than three hundred Kido. If the enemy has figured out all of them, are we just supposed to sit back and wait to die?"
The curious student's question made Hikifune Tessai pause for a moment before he burst into hearty laughter.
"Haha! Almost every class of students asks a similar question."
"But when they try to study Kido in depth, they discover that mastering every Kido is simply a pipe dream."
"Of course, Soul Society has a long history, and it's no stranger to so-called geniuses."
"There was once a genius who mastered every Kido. What he did next was create new Kido based on the existing ones."
"And because all the numbers had already been used, the Kido he created weren't included in our textbooks."
"If you're interested, you can study them in the library during your free time."
"But your regular studies should still come first."
Hikifune Tessai's expression turned slightly stern, and his pectoral muscles twitched like mice.
"Otherwise, I won't go easy on you during the exam!"
You had to give him credit.
That pose of his was even more intimidating than Kido.
As expected.
A mage should max out health and stamina, then take Skull Splitter, Block, Critical Strike, Charge, Decapitation, and Armor Break.
Then all you needed for spells was Light Spell.
After an entire Kido lesson, Kisaragi Akira was thoroughly convinced of this.
"Sosuke, what do you think?"
Aizen sighed helplessly. "Whatever makes you happy."
He was practically immune by now to questions like the ones Kisaragi Akira liked to ask.
If you took him seriously and tried to discuss them earnestly,
he'd drag your intelligence down to his level in just a few sentences, then use his wealth of experience to make you feel inferior.
So the best thing to do was keep quiet.
That night.
Under a moonless sky, with the wind howling.
A young figure leaned against a wall, glancing around. After confirming that there were no Shinigami patrols nearby, he vaulted over the Spiritual Arts Academy's high wall.
Just as he was congratulating himself on not being spotted, the door beside him slowly opened, and a familiar figure stepped out.
"The door wasn't locked," Aizen said flatly.
Kisaragi Akira was taken aback, his eyes widening slightly. "Weren't you staying behind?"
"Who said that?"
"No, wait?!"
Kisaragi Akira came to his senses. It seemed Aizen had never said anything about not coming along.
"Your strength is too poor,"
Aizen said calmly. "If Azashiro Soya makes a move, you won't even have a chance to run."
"But with me here, it'll be different."
At that, Kisaragi Akira perked up, asking excitedly,
"Does that mean you can beat him?"
Aizen stared at the boy in front of him as if he were an idiot.
"I can make sure we both die with a little more dignity."
Kisaragi Akira: "..."
In the silence, a mosaic-like white light rippled through the empty air. As Reishi gathered, a pale figure gradually came into view.
Azashiro Soya's utterly expressionless face appeared before them once again.
Seeing Kisaragi Akira and Aizen arrive as promised, Azashiro Soya looked somewhat surprised.
After a brief silence, the corner of his mouth lifted by an almost imperceptible amount. He said evenly,
"Since you're both here, come with me."
"Where to?"
"The Central Execution Grounds."
At that, Kisaragi Akira and Aizen exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.
But as Azashiro Soya's figure receded into the distance, they didn't feel it was a good time to discuss it. They followed after him, their steps heavy.
A vast pit lay in the middle of an open stretch of land. Its interior was paved with sturdy stone slabs, streaked with dark red stains that had yet to dry.
There were no Shinigami guards nearby. Even the iron gate barring the entrance was covered in rust, as if the place hadn't been used in a long time.
Kisaragi Akira couldn't even see what Azashiro Soya had done. The iron gate blocking their path had already been twisted into a pretzel and tossed aside like garbage.
The closer they got to the pit, the heavier the stench in the air became.
It was as if a bloody Hell full of corpses lay ahead!
A sense of death settled over Kisaragi Akira's heart, as if countless invisible hands were squeezing it tight.
Even though he'd grown used to Hell in the Nikkotsu District, the oppressive atmosphere still made him uncomfortable.
The three of them reached the edge of the enormous pit. The blue-green stone slabs had been stained blackish red by mottled bloodstains. The pungent stench assaulted their senses, as if recounting the horrors that had unfolded at this execution ground.
"A hundred years ago, the Azashiro Clan suffered a calamity."
Azashiro Soya recounted it calmly, as if speaking about something that had nothing to do with him.
"Other Nobles coveted the Azashiro Clan's wealth, so they framed most of its members and had them killed."
"The remaining members of the clan were then thrown into the Central Execution Grounds, the pit you see before you. They were forced to fight Hollows used for executions."
"Those fortunate enough to survive were exiled to Dangai without a Hell Butterfly to guide them."
"The Nobles who had framed the Azashiro Clan sat in the stands, enjoying the sight of the prisoners suffering below."
"My sister and I were the last two. We were thrown into the execution ground together."
Only then did the faintest tremor enter Azashiro Soya's voice.
"To protect me, my sister forcibly used the Hado #73 she couldn't control: Soren Sokatsui."
"That was the end of her life."
With that, Azashiro Soya turned to look at the silent Kisaragi Akira beside him and said quietly,
"If possible..."
"I want to see my sister one more time..."
Before you continue