He Definitely Understands Me!

He is Tachikawa Shin...

Kotsubaki Kotone thought as she looked at the clean-cut boy, easily noticing him.

She had seen Shin's file, complete with a photo, but the real person was far more striking than the picture—not just in appearance, but in spiritual pressure and presence as well.

When Shin noticed Kotone's gaze lingering on him, he immediately realized that the data on his Zanpakutō had likely reached the Fourth Division.

But man, she's really tall!

Standing next to a girl like that would be nothing short of stressful.

Kotsubaki Kotone rarely filled in for classes, but fortunately, she had prepared in advance for this.

The Healing Arts Class was just a subdivision under the Kido Class at the Spirit Training Academy, far less important than Hadō and Bakudō, and the academy didn't teach advanced healing arts.

"Today, we'll touch on the theory of advanced healing arts. Advanced healing arts differ greatly from basic ones. If you master them, it'll be much more convenient in practical applications and treating the wounded. I also hope this will spark more interest in healing arts among you."

With that, Kotone picked up a piece of chalk and turned to write on the blackboard. In no time, the board was covered in dense text.

After reading it, the students felt a bit dazed.

"It's... pretty obscure," Hisagi said after carefully reading the content on the board.

"Aoshika, can you understand it?"

Aoshika, who had the best grades in healing arts in the class, pondered and said, "Barely."

Hisagi glanced around at the other students, including Kanazawa. Many looked completely lost, and whispers started up again, with comments like "What is this stuff?" and "I can't understand it at all."

After finishing writing, Kotone began explaining on her own, skipping straight past the basic theory of healing arts.

Those in the class who weren't good at healing arts felt like they were listening to a foreign language.

Hisagi Shūhei first jotted down the content from the board in his notes, then noticed that Shin was actually listening attentively.

"You understand this?" he asked quietly.

"Barely, but it's stuff I haven't learned before," Shin replied.

His daily training and trips to the library hadn't covered the healing arts category.

Hisagi Shūhei knew that Shin wasn't lazy. They had been classmates since enrollment, and back then, Shin was very studious, paying attention in every class.

Kotsubaki Kotone wasn't much of a talker, so being asked to substitute was a bit of a stretch for her. But this was an assignment from Unohana Retsu, so she had to do her best.

Halfway through her lecture, she noticed that most of the students in the classroom were already nodding off, which made her heart sink.

Was she teaching poorly?

But the content seemed fine. Or maybe everyone just wasn't interested in healing arts...

And what she was calling "advanced healing arts" was only advanced by the standards of Spirit Training Academy students. If she taught real advanced healing arts, the students would be even more lost.

Kotone grew nervous. Scanning the students, she noticed that Tachikawa Shin was looking at her with bright, focused eyes.

He understands, and he's interested...

That gave Kotone a slight sigh of relief, since Tachikawa Shin was her main target for this visit.

Come to think of it, it made sense—someone with a healing-type Zanpakutō would naturally be interested in healing arts.

Affection: 14

Shin suddenly raised an eyebrow, unable to suppress a smile.

He smiled—he definitely understood!

Kotone clearly caught Shin's expression change, and it gave her a big boost. She immediately continued her lecture.

The hour-long class ended with Kotone's nonstop stream of healing arts theory.

When the bell rang, Kotone snapped back to reality, realizing she had gone overtime. While teaching, she had been watching Tachikawa Shin's reactions the whole time, and seeing him stay alert and attentive throughout made her extend the lesson beyond her original plan.

But when she noticed the other students letting out long sighs with expressions of "finally, class is over," she couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed.

So everyone really isn't interested in healing arts.

Still, she did her duty and said one last thing: "That's all for today. Thank you all for your cooperation. Healing arts is a deep and fascinating subject. If you put in the effort, you can gain unexpected rewards. I hope you'll explore and study more after class."

Kotsubaki Kotone left the classroom.

Hisagi Shūhei stretched and couldn't help complaining, "That was the hardest class I've ever had."

When he had studied Kido before, the teachers explained things step by step, and he could gradually understand without too much trouble.

But in this class, Kotone's explanations got more and more out there. By the end, even Hisagi felt like he was listening to gibberish.

Seeing Shin lost in thought, he asked, "Are you really interested in healing arts?"

"It's okay. Learning more is always a good thing."

Aoshika chimed in from the side, "I think Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu taught really well. Our teachers never go this deep. I wish she'd substitute more often."

Healing arts was his strong suit, which tied into his own interest in the subject.

"Spare me," Hisagi said.

They chatted a bit more and were about to leave the classroom when the class monitor rushed over: "Tachikawa, Teacher Oizumi wants to see you."

"Okay, I understand."

Meanwhile in the classroom, Oizumi Rensuke was speaking with Kotsubaki Kotone.

"Lady Kotsubaki Kotone, thank you very much for coming to teach the students, but... what you covered might be a bit too advanced for them at the Spirit Training Academy. They haven't been exposed to high-level Kidō yet."

Kotsubaki Kotone replied, "Only by being exposed to it can they better understand Kidō and spark their interest in it. There were still a few students in class who could follow along, like that Tachikawa Shin—he was very attentive."

"Who? Tachikawa Shin? Attentive?" Oizumi Rensuke said as if he'd heard something unbelievable.

Kotsubaki Kotone nodded. "That's right."

"..."

Oizumi Rensuke recalled that Tachikawa Shin's Zanpakutō was of the Kidō type. The news had already spread throughout the Spirit Training Academy. Perhaps that was why Tachikawa had taken an interest in the Healing Arts Class.

Just as they were talking, Shin arrived.

Looking at the boy standing at the office door, Oizumi Rensuke waved him in, his gaze thoughtful as he studied Shin.

He had once been a member of the Fourth Division himself, leaving only to take up a post at the Spirit Training Academy. Naturally, he hoped more people would willingly join his former division.

And Shin was an exceptionally talented student.

"Well then, you two talk. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After Oizumi Rensuke left, Kotsubaki Kotone finally got a close look at the boy.

His features were clean and pleasant to the eye. Thinking that he would be a future junior in her division, Kotsubaki Kotone's face broke into a sincere and gentle smile.

"Tachikawa, do you like Kidō?"

There's more to come.