Aizen

Sosuke Aizen.

When he heard that name, Shin's brow twitched involuntarily.

"I see. I understand. What time?"

"The day after tomorrow, in the morning, before the students' classes begin, the Fifth Division captain will arrive at the Spirit Training Academy. President Tachikawa, please make the necessary preparations."

"..."

After the teacher who came to notify him left, Shin's brow unconsciously furrowed tightly.

Aizen...

Shin had thought more than once about what it would be like to meet the man, and how he should conduct himself to be appropriate.

He hadn't expected it to come so soon.

"Shin?"

While Shin was lost in thought, he didn't even notice Hisagi Shūhei's arrival.

"Shūhei?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"...Nothing. I just got a notice that a captain will be visiting the academy in a couple of days. The school wants us, the Student Council, to handle the reception and guidance."

"Oh." Shūhei showed no surprise at this; it was a tradition that had been upheld 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 visited every year for an inspection. Another benefit of this was promoting their own divisions to the students.

Starting from their first year, the captains they had experienced for inspections were: Thirteenth Division Captain Ukitake Jūshirō, Eighth Division Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, Fourth Division Captain Unohana Retsu, and Tenth Division Captain Shiba Isshin.

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

"Fifth Division Captain Aizen."

"So how do we receive him?"

Shin fell into thought. This kind of thing was nothing more than putting up an announcement in advance, hanging some banners, and having someone act as a guide in front of the captain.

But his mind wasn't on that. He said, "We'll just 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. Shin simply assigned tasks.

The day of the captain's inspection arrived quickly.

Thanks to the Student Council's advance publicity, the entire academy knew about it. Many people gathered on both sides of the main road at the gate, mostly first-year students, all eager to catch a glimpse of the captain's dignified bearing.

Shin looked at the welcome banners the Student Council members had put up and couldn't help feeling that this sort of thing was embarrassingly cringeworthy.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Two figures grew closer outside the gate. The one in front wore a white haori that was strikingly conspicuous—everyone knew what that meant.

"They're coming, they're coming!"

Murmurs of surprise rippled through the crowd, but as the two figures drew near, it quickly fell silent.

Fifth Division Captain Sosuke Aizen was a handsome, gentle-looking young man with a very refined air. He had short brown hair, wore black-rimmed glasses, and bore a warm smile that made him approachable.

At a single glance, the students lined up on both sides couldn't help but feel a surge of goodwill.

This goodwill came not only from the man's demeanor but also from his spiritual pressure. Everyone could sense his vast, ocean-like, unfathomably powerful reiatsu fluctuations—unlike any teacher they had ever encountered. It was stronger than theirs, yet carried no oppressive weight, only a sense of calm and solidity.

So this is what a captain is like!

Although Shūhei and the others had seen captains before, every time they faced one, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly—this was a height they would probably never reach in their lifetimes.

Following behind Captain Aizen was a silver-haired man in a shinigami shihakushō, wearing a lieutenant's armband.

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

Shin was accompanied by Rukia and a few Student Council officers.

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

Aizen stopped walking. His gaze settled on Shin, and a warm smile immediately spread across his face.

"You must be Student Council President Tachikawa Shin. I've heard of you."

Shin bowed his head slightly and replied with a smile, "It's an honor that you know of me. Allow me, as a student, to guide Captain Aizen and Lieutenant Captain Ichimaru."

"Good, I appreciate it. As it happens, I'm quite interested in your Student Council. Could you tell me more about it?"

Aizen looked at the boy before him with a smile, and as if sensing something, his expression seemed to carry a hint of deeper meaning.

Shin led Aizen and Ichimaru Gin directly to the Student Council's main office, where some materials had been prepared.

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

"It's no easy feat to establish and run an organization like this so quickly. Tachikawa, I can see you're very capable," Aizen praised.

Shin responded modestly, "You flatter me. I merely proposed a simple concept. It was the academy's teachers who truly perfected it. They entrusted me with the role of president, and I'm still not sure if I can do it well."

"I think you're the one being modest. Having such an idea is already quite remarkable. In all the years since the academy's founding, no one has ever proposed a Student Council. Furthermore, I've heard that your own academic performance is outstanding among your peers. A few months ago, I even made a point to inform your homeroom teacher and ask about your division preferences after graduation. I didn't expect you to choose not to graduate early, but looking at it now, it seems that was the right decision." Aizen said cheerfully.

Shin's brow twitched. There was a lot of meaning packed into Aizen's words.

"It's just that this student feels his abilities in all areas are still not solid enough, and he wants to study another year at the Spirit Training Academy. Otherwise, even if he barely graduates, he'd likely be eliminated in the Thirteenth Division's entry exam."

"Who says so?" Aizen smiled. "If Tachikawa-kun is willing to come to my Fifth Division, he would certainly pass."

Xin sighed and shook his head gently. "Thank you for your kindness, Captain Aizen, but this student cannot go to the Fifth Division even if he wanted to."

"Oh?"

"A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to awaken my own Zanpakutō. Its ability is a healing-type that can use Kaidō. My homeroom teacher told me that the Fourth Division would suit me better in the future."

"Healing-type..."

Aizen fell into thought at this. "That's quite a rare ability. For Tachikawa-kun to have such a Zanpakutō, he will surely shine in the Fourth Division in the future."

"Thank you for your kind words."

Xin took out the stack of documents for Aizen to look over. These were detailed records of students from each class of the first-year students. If Aizen found anyone of interest, he could go check those classes.

Aizen accepted them and flipped through a few pages, then suddenly said, "President Tachikawa, if possible, could you let the other students leave first? There's no need for so many people to follow us around. Everyone should have their own matters to attend to."

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

Originally, everyone was happy to stay by the captain's side, but hearing Aizen say this, Xin signaled for them to leave the office. Only Rukia remained, standing nervously beside Xin.

As Aizen continued flipping through the documents in his hands, he asked, "President Tachikawa, if I may be so bold as to ask one thing."

"This spiritual pressure fluctuation constantly surrounding you, like a barrier—is that also your Zanpakutō's ability?"

Xin's eyes flickered slightly at this.

Previously, to hide his true spiritual pressure, he had kept his internal reishi in a constant state of leakage.

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

A thin layer of reishi constantly surrounded him—so thin and sparse that ordinary people could barely detect it. At the very least, Nanda Hidezawa had never noticed it.

And besides concealing his true spiritual pressure level, these reishi had other abilities as well.

Aizen looked up at him with a light chuckle, gently pushing up his glasses.

"Perhaps I'm being too curious. Could Tachikawa-kun enlighten me?"