"So being too outstanding can come with so many troubles."
"Sosuke, you tell me."
Someone lay on his back on the bed, boasting, "Should I choose the Second Division, the Fourth Division, or the Kido Corps?"
"Whether it's Yoruichi, Captain Unohana, or Teacher Tessai, they've all offered me some pretty generous terms."
"It's so hard to decide..."
Aizen said nothing. He simply flipped through the Complete Cookbook Kisaragi Akira had given him.
There were plenty of interesting things in it, far more nourishing than anything that fellow had to say.
"Oh, right. I almost forgot."
Kisaragi Akira sat up and said seriously, "When Teacher Tessai invited me, he mentioned you, too."
"He was quite impressed by your performance in practical Kido."
"If you join the Kido Corps, your benefits will be on par with those of an upper-rank Seated Officer."
"And once your Reiatsu improves, you could even become the Deputy Grand Kido Chief."
At that, Aizen stopped turning the pages and was about to speak, but Kisaragi Akira continued on his own:
"Honestly, I still think Teacher Tessai's judgment is a little off."
"Relatively weak Reiatsu? How could anyone say that?"
He grinned and held up a finger. "If my Reiatsu were this much..."
"Then yours would probably be about this much."
Under Aizen's astonished gaze, Kisaragi Akira spread his arms and stretched them as far apart as possible, almost bending them backward.
"You've misunderstood."
Calmness rose in Aizen's eyes, concealing the surprise that had just surfaced.
"My Reiatsu is nowhere near as strong as yours. Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost that practical Kido match."
"I lasted so long in battle only because I know how to make the most of every bit of strength and put it to good use."
Though he was curious about why Kisaragi Akira was so confident, Aizen, who was used to keeping things hidden, would never admit it over something like this.
"Fine, fine. Whatever you say."
Kisaragi Akira couldn't be bothered to argue with him about it.
Aizen's Reiatsu was weaker than his?
What kind of Soul Society joke was that?!
If that guy had used his full Reiatsu in their practical Kido match, Kisaragi Akira would have been on his knees begging for his life in under ten seconds.
Maybe it wasn't quite Captain-level, but it was definitely above vice-captain level.
Kisaragi Akira was confident about that, at least.
"It's lunchtime."
He sprang up, full of energy, and pulled Aizen along. "Instead of worrying about which division to join later, we should go fill our stomachs first."
"Today's meal is on Kisaragi Shrine Priest, as always!"
Aizen glanced at Kisaragi Akira's excitement, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
He was starting to feel a little lost.
Had meeting this guy and becoming his close friend been a good thing or a bad thing?
For a while, the Spiritual Arts Academy returned to its usual peace and quiet.
After resting for a few days, Hikifune Tessai went back to teaching at the Kido training hall.
As he put it, this was his final year at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
Since he was about to take up the post of Grand Kido Chief, he probably wouldn't have as much free time in the future.
Meanwhile, Kisaragi Akira temporarily settled down after Teacher Kaede threatened him with death.
He cut back on selling Amulets, performing exorcisms and blessings, and offering prayers around the academy. He also promised not to threaten any teacher's safety.
Of course, that wouldn't last long.
That was just how he was. Forcing him to suppress his nature would only backfire and lead to worse consequences.
Fortunately, after finishing the work on his desk, Okikiba Genshiro immediately began keeping an eye on Kisaragi Akira and drew up a series of measures tailored to him.
Teachers' office.
Kaede Junya stared darkly at the two boys before him—or, more precisely, glared at Kisaragi Akira.
"Ahem, Teacher Kaede, I haven't done anything against the rules lately," Kisaragi Akira said quietly in his own defense.
Kaede Junya nodded in silence, then picked up some blood pressure pills from the desk and swallowed several.
By now, he could chew the pills without even changing expression.
Next time, though, he might ask Captain Unohana to make them mint-flavored. As long as that kid was at the Spiritual Arts Academy, Kaede Junya would never be able to give up his blood pressure medication.
"I called you here because there's a new mission."
"It was supposed to be handled by the sixth-years, but I considered the possibility of something happening that might be beyond their abilities, so I asked the headmaster to assign it to you two instead."
Kaede Junya cleared his throat and spoke seriously:
"The Eighth Division and 12th Division, which handle intelligence gathering, found traces of Hollows at Shantei Temple in the East Rukon District some time ago."
"Your mission is to exterminate all the Hollows that appear there and keep the Rukongai safe."
Seeing Kisaragi Akira's expression change, Kaede Junya hurried his words, afraid the reckless kid would charge straight into Shantei Temple.
"Before heading to Shantei Temple, you should go to the 12th Division's research institute and pick up their newly developed Hollow Group Circuitry Device."
"These Hollows are exceptionally good at hiding..."
After explaining some specific points they needed to watch out for, Kaede Junya finally let the two of them leave.
Watching them disappear into the distance, with their indistinct voices drifting back from the hallway, Kaede Junya couldn't shake a strange sense of unease.
That kid Kisaragi Akira wouldn't cause any trouble, would he?
12th Division barracks, Shutara Research Institute.
Soon, two boys of similar height, dressed in the same blue-and-white Zhenyang School Uniform, arrived.
The building's design was wildly exaggerated. Several enormous, bone-white arms curved around a cocoon-shaped structure, which crouched on the flagstone ground like a Michelin tire mascot.
Brilliantly colored strips of cloth hung all around the institute, giving it the strange air of a giant dye shop.
"Just as I thought. Scientists have pretty warped tastes."
After taking it all in, Kisaragi Akira announced his conclusion.
Aizen neither agreed nor disagreed.
By his standards, the institute was pretty strange, too.
After showing their credentials, the two boys followed a Shinigami officer through several dim corridors and soon arrived at a room marked Seventh Research Lab.
"Team Leader, they're here to request the latest Hollow Group Circuitry Device."
The room was pure white, without a single unnecessary decoration or splash of color—a sharp contrast to the building's exterior.
With the sound of wheels turning, a beautiful woman in a spotless lab coat appeared before them.
Her smooth, shoulder-length black hair fell neatly around her face. She had delicate features and pale skin, and every movement carried an air of elegance. She didn't seem like a researcher at all.
To Kisaragi Akira's astonishment, she slowly approached the two of them. Her flawless black eyes fixed on Aizen, and she said softly:
"Young man, there's something special about you..."
Before you continue