Aizen

Sosuke Aizen.

At the sound of that name, Xin's eyebrow twitched involuntarily.

"I see. I understand. When?"

"The morning after tomorrow, before the students begin class. The captain of the Fifth Division will arrive at the Spirit Training Academy. President Tachikawa, just be prepared by then."

"..."

After the teacher who had come to notify him left, Xin's brow furrowed tightly without him realizing it.

Aizen...

Xin had imagined more than once what it would be like to meet him, and how he ought to behave.

He had not expected it to happen so soon.

"Xin?"

Lost in thought, Xin had not even noticed Hisagi Shūhei's arrival.

"Shūbīng?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"...Nothing. I just received notice that a captain will be coming to inspect the Spirit Training Academy in a few days. The school wants the Student Council to handle reception and guidance."

"Oh." Shūbīng did not look surprised. This was a tradition that had continued for years.

"Is it already that time?" he mused.

This was their fifth year at the Spirit Training Academy. Excluding captains who came to teach as substitutes, a captain came every year to conduct an inspection. It also had the added benefit of promoting their own Division to the students.

Starting from their first year, the captains who had inspected the academy were Ukitake Jūshirō of the Thirteenth Division, Kyōraku Shunsui of the Eighth Division, Unohana Retsu of the Fourth Division, and Shiba Isshin of the Tenth Division.

"Who is it this year?" Shūbīng asked again.

"Captain Aizen of the Fifth Division."

"So how are we supposed to receive him?"

Xin pondered it. For something like this, they merely needed to make an announcement in advance, put up some banners, and have someone guide the captain around.

But his mind was elsewhere. "We'll hold a meeting this afternoon."

That afternoon, after Rukia's notification, the Student Council officers learned at the meeting about the captain's inspection the day after tomorrow. Xin briefly assigned everyone their tasks.

The day of the captain's inspection arrived quickly.

Thanks to the Student Council's advance publicity, the entire Spirit Training Academy knew about it. Quite a few people gathered along both sides of the main road by the gates. Most of them were first-years, all wanting to see a captain's magnificence with their own eyes.

Looking at the welcome banner the Student Council members had hung up, Xin could not help feeling that this sort of thing was rather embarrassing.

Fortunately, they did not have to wait long. Two figures approached from beyond the gates. The white haori worn by the man in front was exceptionally eye-catching, and everyone knew what it signified.

"They're here!"

Cries of surprise rose from the crowd, but as the two figures drew closer, the noise quickly died down.

Sosuke Aizen, captain of the Fifth Division, was a handsome young man who looked refined and upright. He had short brown hair, black-framed glasses, and a gentle smile that made him seem approachable.

At a single glance, the students lined up on both sides could not help but feel favorably toward him.

That favorable impression did not come solely from his demeanor, but also from his spiritual pressure. Everyone could sense the vast, ocean-like, unfathomably powerful fluctuations of spiritual pressure emanating from him. It was unlike any teacher they had encountered before. It was stronger than theirs, yet carried not the slightest sense of oppression, only steadiness and weight.

This was what a captain was like!

Though Shūbīng and the others had not seen captains for the first time, every direct encounter still made them sigh inwardly. This was likely a height they would never reach in their lifetimes.

Following Captain Aizen was a silver-haired man wearing a Shinigami Robe and a lieutenant's armband.

He, too, was a well-known figure: Ichimaru Gin, who had graduated from the Spirit Training Academy in just one year.

Rukia and several Student Council officers stood beside Xin.

"Captain Aizen, Lieutenant Captain Ichimaru, welcome to the Spirit Training Academy for your inspection."

Aizen stopped walking, his gaze settling on Xin. A warm smile instantly appeared on his face.

"You are Tachikawa Shin, the Student Council President, correct? I have heard of you."

Xin lowered his head slightly and smiled as well. "It is truly an honor that you know of me. Please allow this student to guide Captain Aizen and Lieutenant Captain Ichimaru."

"Very well, I'll trouble you. As it happens, I am quite interested in your Student Council. Could you tell me about it in detail?"

Aizen looked at the boy before him with a smile. Perhaps because he had noticed something, the smile on his face seemed somewhat meaningful.

Xin led Aizen and Ichimaru Gin directly to the Student Council's headquarters office, where they had prepared some materials.

Along the way, Xin explained information about the Student Council to Aizen and Ichimaru Gin, including its specific functions.

"It is no easy feat for an organization like this to be established and begin operating so quickly. Tachikawa, I can tell you are quite capable," Aizen praised.

Xin replied modestly, "You flatter me. I merely put forward a simple idea. The teachers of the Spirit Training Academy were the ones who truly refined it. They entrusted me with the burden of being President, but I still do not know whether I can do it well."

"I think you are being too modest. Having such an idea was already no easy matter. In all the years since the Spirit Training Academy was founded, no one has ever proposed anything like a Student Council. Furthermore, I know that your grades are also excellent among your peers. A few months ago, I specifically contacted your homeroom teacher to ask about your preferred Division after graduation. I did not expect you not to graduate early, but now it seems that choosing not to do so was the right decision." Aizen spoke with a chuckle.

Xin's eyebrow twitched. Aizen's words carried many implications.

"It is only because this student feels that his abilities in all areas are not yet solid enough, and he wishes to study at the Spirit Training Academy for another year. Otherwise, even if I were fortunate enough to graduate, I fear I would still be eliminated in the Thirteen Divisions' entry examination."

"Who says so?" Aizen smiled. "If Tachikawa is willing to join my Fifth Division, you would certainly pass."

Xin sighed and shook his head lightly. "Thank you for your kindness, Captain Aizen, but even if this student wished to go, I can no longer join the Fifth Division."

"Oh?"

"A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to awaken my own Zanpakutō. Its ability is healing-type and can perform recovery arts. My homeroom teacher told me that the Fourth Division would be more suitable for me in the future."

"A healing type..."

Aizen assumed a thoughtful expression at those words. "That is indeed a very rare ability. With such a Zanpakutō, Tachikawa will surely shine brilliantly in the Fourth Division in the future."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Xin took out the stack of materials for Aizen to review. They contained detailed information on the students in every first-year class. If Aizen took an interest in anyone, he could visit those classes.

Aizen accepted them and flipped through several pages before suddenly saying, "President Tachikawa, if possible, could you have the other students return first? We do not need so many people following us, and everyone should have their own matters to attend to."

He was referring to the other Student Council members in the office.

Everyone had originally been happy to remain at the captain's side, but upon hearing Aizen say this, Xin signaled for them to leave the office. Only Rukia remained, standing nervously beside Xin.

As Aizen flipped through the materials in his hand, he asked, "President Tachikawa, forgive my presumptuousness, but may I ask something?"

"The fluctuations of spiritual pressure constantly surrounding you are like a barrier. Is that also your Zanpakutō's ability?"

Xin's gaze shifted slightly at those words.

Previously, in order to conceal his true spiritual pressure, he had kept the spirit particles within his body in a constant state of leakage.

However, after awakening his Zanpakutō, he had gained a more convenient ability.

A thin layer of spirit particles constantly surrounded him. It was sparse and so thin that ordinary people found it extremely difficult to detect; at the very least, Nanda Hidezawa had never noticed it.

Besides concealing the true level of his spiritual pressure, those spirit particles possessed other abilities as well.

Aizen raised his head with a chuckle and looked at him, gently pushing up his glasses.

"Perhaps I am simply too curious. Could Tachikawa clear up my confusion?"