Geniuses

As soon as the break began, the white-haired teacher slowly left the Lecture Hall.

Xin had just yawned and laid his head on the desk when a familiar voice sounded beside his ear.

"Tachikawa!"

Glancing sideways, he saw a girl with shoulder-length brown hair standing beside his seat. She wore the academy's red-and-white uniform and had a petite figure, but the overly stern expression on her pretty face somewhat spoiled her beauty.

"You still haven't turned in your graduation exam application."

"Isn't it voluntary? I can't be the only one who hasn't submitted one, right?" Xin replied dully without lifting his head.

Hisagi Shūhei, seated beside Xin, was organizing his textbooks. He merely glanced over at the sound and said nothing.

Kanazawa furrowed her delicate brows. "What do you mean by that?"

As one of Class A's two class monitors, she had always been conscientious about her duties. However, that also made her seem somewhat cold and impersonal. She had few friends, and the only people she usually exchanged more than a few words with seemed to be these two.

Xin tilted his head toward her, speaking unhurriedly. "I feel that my foundation in every subject still isn't solid enough. I really don't have much confidence in the graduation exam, so I won't overestimate myself."

Kanazawa looked surprised. She could not help glancing at Hisagi Shūhei, who only returned an exasperated look.

"You don't plan to graduate this year?"

"I want to improve myself a little more."

After considering it briefly, Kanazawa took out a roster and skimmed through it. It already contained quite a few names—students who wished to apply for the graduation exam. However, their homeroom teacher, Teacher Nanda, would screen them again, crossing out those who were obviously unqualified before sending the remainder for assessment. Only those who met the standards could graduate successfully.

Shūhei handed over another roster as well. "Please give this to Teacher Nanda."

He was Class A's other class monitor and handled the same responsibilities as Kanazawa.

Kanazawa accepted it and examined it carefully, growing even more puzzled. "Why isn't your name on it either?"

Shūhei said, "Same reason as this guy."

"..."

Kanazawa fell silent and quietly put away both rosters.

Shūhei stood up then and lightly kicked Xin's calf. "Next is Kido Class. We have to change classrooms, so stop sleeping."

Tachikawa Xin was a genius. Nanda Hidezawa, his homeroom teacher, believed that especially strongly, but he was also infuriated by Xin's lazy disposition. In his eyes, Xin was completely wasting his talent.

"Those were his exact words?" After hearing Kanazawa's account, Nanda Hidezawa spoke thoughtfully.

Kanazawa nodded. "Hisagi said the same thing."

Nanda Hidezawa frowned. "What are those two up to?"

Kanazawa said, "Tachikawa has missed quite a few classes lately. Not just yesterday's Swordsmanship Class—he also skipped the Kido Theory Class the day before yesterday. Maybe he has realized his own shortcomings and wants to study for another year."

Thinking of Xin's careless posture as he lay sprawled over his desk earlier, she suddenly felt that those words were rather insincere.

Nanda Hidezawa was still flipping through the roster in his hand. Naturally, he knew his students' grades well. In his opinion, he could count the ones capable of graduating successfully this year on one hand, yet the students with the greatest chances did not seem to intend to graduate early.

The Spirit Training Academy's graduation exam was extremely difficult for students who were only in their fourth year. Even after passing it, there were entrance examinations for the Thirteenth Division, the Kido Corps, and the Onmitsukidō. Those who failed would likewise be sent back to the academy to repeat their studies.

Nanda Hidezawa sighed softly. "If they truly have that kind of resolve, then that's fine."

He looked at Kanazawa. "What about you? Is your reason the same?"

Kanazawa lightly pressed her lips together and nodded silently.

The Kido Practice Class classroom was outdoors.

Fourth-year students at the Spirit Training Academy had already completed everything that could be taught within the academy. The fifth and sixth years focused mainly on practical training, such as participating in Soul Burials in the Human World and handling work within Soul Society, laying a foundation for becoming official Shinigami in the future.

The content of this Kido Practice Class had already been practiced many times by the fourth-year students. The only question was how proficient they were.

Officially, the Spirit Training Academy taught all Kido below number seventy, but students usually only practiced up to number fifty. Only more important assessments involved Kido between fifty and seventy. The exact number was chosen according to a student's Spiritual Pressure Level, and perfect execution was not required.

High-level Kido placed heavy demands on spiritual pressure. Spirit Training Academy students, who were not even official Shinigami yet, clearly could not bear that burden. After becoming official Shinigami, they could choose to study them on their own to improve themselves.

Xin's Kido proficiency ranked among the best of his peers. It was not merely because he had a system; his own talent was considerable as well. His Lv13 spiritual pressure far surpassed that of Spirit Training Academy students.

He estimated that Hisagi Shūhei, who was likewise an outstanding student, only had a Spiritual Pressure Level of around Lv7.

"Hey, everyone."

When they arrived at the outdoor classroom, they found that the person waiting for them was not their usual Kido Practice Class teacher, but a handsome young man in a black Shinigami Robe.

Most of the students had seen this man before. He was Shiba Kaien, Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division, and he had previously come to the Spirit Training Academy to substitute for teachers.

The Spirit Training Academy often invited high-ranking Shinigami from the Thirteen Divisions, the Kido Corps, and the Onmitsukidō to teach. Some were even captain-class.

Shiba Kaien was extremely easygoing, and the students all thought highly of him. However, whenever he came, he would vigorously promote the Thirteenth Division, "persuading" some outstanding students to list his Division as their preferred assignment upon graduation.

"It's been a while, everyone." Shiba Kaien smiled. "I'll be filling in today."

His gaze swept over the students present. When it met Xin's eyes, he even gave him a deliberate wink.

"Why does it feel like he came for you?"

Hisagi Shūhei murmured beside Xin.

Although many students graduated from the Spirit Training Academy every year, there were only a handful of outstanding ones. Fourth-year students were not yet due to graduate, but they could apply for the graduation exam early. Shiba Kaien's intentions were obvious.

Xin sighed. "It's normal for someone as outstanding as me to get attention."

Shūhei: "..."

Remembering what happened the previous night, Hisagi Shūhei suddenly asked in a low voice, "Did you turn down Miss Matsumoto because you want to join the Thirteenth Division?"

"No," Xin said.

Shiba Kaien first chatted casually with several familiar students before saying, "Enough small talk. We'll begin Hakudō practice now. First group: Tachikawa Xin, Aoshika."

He took out the student roster and began calling names.

Xin, whose name had been called, rose with a tall, long-faced boy and walked to the front. Several targets had been placed roughly twenty meters away from where they stood. Unlike the wooden targets used by lower-year students, these were special targets made from Saketsu Stone.

Fourth-year students had basically mastered Kido below number fifty, and their techniques had begun to take shape in power. Ordinary wooden targets could no longer withstand them at all.

Watching Xin stand there, Shiba Kaien said with a smile, "Let's start with Hadō number sixty-three today."

The moment he said that, complaints immediately rose among the students. Hadō number sixty-three was Raikōhō, already an extremely difficult subject for students.

The smile on Shiba Kaien's face did not fade. "What are you complaining about? Your future exams will also be limited to spells below number seventy. If you don't master the Kido between fifty-one and seventy, you'll lose points."

After the students in the back quieted down, Xin slowly raised an arm and glanced at the white Saketsu Stone target in the distance, moving without the slightest hesitation.

"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"

Golden lightning burst from his palm in an instant, scattering dense arcs through the air before striking the white target with perfect accuracy.

Shiba Kaien raised his brows slightly at the sight and could not help clicking his tongue. Judging by appearance alone, that Raikōhō had been extremely well executed. Yet because it had struck Saketsu Stone, its actual power could not be seen. Still, the spiritual pressure fluctuation just now was enough for Shiba Kaien to make a rough estimate.

"This kid..."

Several suppressed gasps rose from the students. Shiba Kaien's smile deepened as he turned to Aoshika beside him.

Aoshika was grumbling inwardly as well. Why had Xin suddenly skipped the chant? The pressure on him, as Xin's partner, was immense.

Feeling countless gazes on his back, Aoshika wanted to finish as stylishly as Xin had, but he knew full well that he could not do it. He could only honestly chant the incantation.

"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!"

As his spiritual pressure surged, a wide expanse of golden lightning spread violently outward, crackling as it formed an electric net before him.

The instant Aoshika cast the Hadō, he felt the violent spiritual pressure within him become impossible to suppress. The spreading lightning could not be gathered together like Xin's had been. Just as he inwardly cried that things were going wrong, his vision suddenly blurred. When he came back to himself, he realized with shock that he had somehow been moved two meters backward.

Still shaken, Aoshika took several deep breaths and looked at the person beside him. "Th-thank you, Vice-Captain Shiba!"

Shiba Kaien merely smiled. "As long as you're all right."

Xin returned to his original seat with Aoshika. Aoshika still felt embarrassed. Seeing Xin's relaxed expression beside him only deepened his sense of defeat.

Why did I have to be paired with this guy?!

Shiba Kaien looked again at the roster in his hand and noticed that Aoshika's grades were considered quite good for this class. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Next, we'll go back to practicing number fifty-four."

That statement made quite a few people sigh in relief.

"You really know how to show off," Hisagi Shūhei reminded Xin.

"I'm handsome to begin with."

"..."

Hakudō practice continued. Aside from Hisagi Shūhei and Kanazawa, who performed it completely, the other students all had problems of one kind or another. Those with poorer grades could not even cast it.

Shiba Kaien corrected each student's mistakes, then conducted another round of Hakudō practice involving Hadō and Bakudō in the fifties.

In the final minutes before class ended, the students were allowed free activity. Many gathered to discuss Kido or chat, while Shiba Kaien was surrounded by quite a few students as well, smiling as he told them strange and interesting stories about the Thirteenth Division.

Xin lay alone on the wooden floor, resting with his eyes narrowed as he looked at the deep blue sky and enjoyed the leisure.

A shadow suddenly fell over him.

"Kanazawa, is something wrong?"

Kanazawa sat down beside him. Looking at the handsome boy, she pondered for a moment before speaking. "Your grades are obviously so good. The graduation exam shouldn't be a problem for you."

Xin replied, "Not really. My Healing Arts Class grade is pretty bad."

Kanazawa did not believe his nonsense. The "bad" Xin spoke of was only bad compared to Aoshika, who ranked first in Healing Arts Class.

The graduation exam assessed students' overall ability. Even students who excelled in a particular area could graduate successfully. In Kanazawa's opinion, Xin's swordsmanship alone was enough to meet the standard.

Kanazawa was silent for a moment before adding, "I didn't apply for the graduation exam either."

Xin merely responded casually, "Is that so?" Judging from his manner, he did not seem to care in the slightest.

That answer blocked the words Kanazawa had prepared to say next. Recalling the roster on which she had deliberately crossed out her own name, she got up and left.

The top three students of Class A among the fourth-years had no plans to graduate early. She wondered what Teacher Nanda would think.

Only after hearing Kanazawa walk some distance away did Xin slowly close his eyes.

The bell rang, ending the morning classes. Fourth-year students at the Spirit Training Academy normally had only three classes a day—two in the morning and one in the afternoon—leaving them with plenty of free time.

With graduation and the enrollment of new students approaching, there were fewer off-campus practical classes as well.

The students in the outdoor classroom gradually left. Just as Xin was about to get up, he saw Shiba Kaien, who should have left as well, smiling as he came to his side.

"Come on. I'll treat you to lunch."

The Spirit Training Academy cafeteria.

"If you're treating me, why am I the one paying?"

"I forgot to bring money when I left today."

Xin looked rather speechlessly at the Vice-Captain before him. The two sat near a window at the edge of the cafeteria, and Shiba Kaien's black Shinigami Robe drew plenty of students' attention.

"The academy's food really brings back memories."

Shiba Kaien spoke through a hearty mouthful of food.

Xin looked at him. "You only stayed here for one year back then, didn't you?"

Shiba Kaien had graduated from the Spirit Training Academy and entered the Thirteenth Division after only one year, becoming its Third Seat. It had caused quite a stir at the time. If Xin was regarded as a genius by outsiders, then Shiba Kaien was a genius among geniuses. Coupled with his surname, Shiba Kaien was surrounded by far too many halos.

And because the Thirteenth Division's captain, Ukitake Jūshirō, was physically frail, Shiba Kaien managed the Division's affairs in full as Vice-Captain. He was a man who possessed strength, capability, and personal charisma.

His future was boundless.

"Let's not talk about the past. You know why I came to find you, right?" Shiba Kaien said as he ate.

"You want me to join your Division?"

A look of you're a smart kid appeared on Shiba Kaien's face. "I know Miss Matsumoto must have approached you. Although the captain of the Tenth Division is my uncle, he's an incredibly unreliable man. You won't have a future if you go with him. You should come with me instead. Once I become captain, maybe I can promote you to be my Lieutenant Captain."

He openly badmouthed his own uncle while dangling a tempting promise before Xin.

Lieutenant Captain?

Xin smiled faintly at Shiba Kaien. If everything went smoothly, Shiba Kaien would certainly become a captain.

If everything went smoothly.

"I don't plan to graduate this year, or next year," Xin said directly.

Only then did surprise appear on Shiba Kaien's face. "Why?"

He valued Tachikawa Xin naturally because of the talent Xin had displayed. In his view, Tachikawa Xin had already fully reached graduation standards.

Xin did not give a specific reason. He only said, "When I graduate later, I can indeed give priority to the Thirteenth Division. But there's something I want to do over the next two years, and I hope you can help me."

Interest appeared on Shiba Kaien's face. "Tell me."

Xin spoke slowly. "I want to establish an official organization among the Spirit Training Academy students. I definitely can't accomplish that as an ordinary student, but if you step forward as the Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division and the next head of the Shiba Family, it will be much easier."

The smile on Shiba Kaien's face gradually faded as he stared intently at Xin.

"You came from the Rukon District, didn't you?"

A smile instead spread across Xin's face. "Yeah. Gokō District. Is there a problem?"

Shiba Kaien gave a soft snort, his gaze unreadable. "You've got quite the ambition."

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