Unohana

Hearing Unohana Retsu's seemingly conciliatory words for Xin, Shiba Isshin could not help saying, "Captain Unohana, are you already looking after your future division member?"

Unohana did not deny it, merely saying gently, "This student is clearly a good child with both excellent character and academic performance. He is nothing like what you described, so I merely spoke fairly."

He had excellent character and academic performance?

Unohana's words made both Matsumoto Rangiku and Shiba Kaien sneer inwardly.

Xin's grades were indeed ranked first in the academy, but as for his conduct, "excellent" was certainly not the right description.

Xin responded as well, "Thank you for the praise, Captain Unohana."

He then said to the captains and lieutenants, "Captains, regarding the Spirit Training Academy's Cultural Festival, I can accompany you and explain things to you. If you would prefer to stroll around on your own, please feel free."

Unohana smiled and spoke first. "Then please accompany Yone and me as we look around."

Her meaning was clearly to take Xin away alone. The remaining captains looked helpless, but the one speaking was Unohana Retsu. In terms of seniority, she was an elder from the same era as the Captain-Commander himself. Naturally, they could not say that to her face.

"Understood." Xin still said to the other captains, "My apologies, everyone. The Student Council is truly short-handed, so please forgive us."

Seeing that Xin had come alone and had made no particular arrangements, the captains did not mind. None of them were petty people, and having no one attend to them was easier anyway.

Xin led Unohana Retsu and Kotsubaki Kotone away first, heading toward the liveliest part of the central square.

Matsumoto Rangiku did not want to keep attending to these captains either, so she asked Shiba Isshin, "Captain, can I go look around by myself too?"

"Do as you like."

She immediately called out to Ise Nanao, the lieutenant captain of the Eighth Division. "Let's go, Nanao."

Ise Nanao was equally casual. She did not even ask her own captain for permission and simply left with Matsumoto Rangiku.

The captains of the Thirteenth Division all had excellent relationships with one another, while captains and their lieutenants were even closer. Captains had the authority to appoint and dismiss their lieutenant captains, so every division's lieutenant had been personally promoted by their captain.

Looking at the suddenly deserted scene, Kyōraku Shunsui could not help saying, "Have we been left here?"

After graduating from here several hundred years ago, he had visited the Spirit Training Academy many times. Yet every visit had been met with grand welcomes and receptions. This was the first time it had been so quiet.

Aizen adjusted his glasses and smiled. "There is nothing wrong with this. Just as Tachikawa Shin said, today is a festival for the academy students to relax and have fun. Making it too formal would be meaningless."

Ukitake Jūshirō smiled as well. "Then let us wander around together."

Many simple tents had been neatly set up across the Spirit Training Academy's central square. Every tent was a stall run by one class, and they were free to do anything there. Most sold snacks and little trinkets, while some had set up small games such as board games and card games, inviting passersby to join in.

Notice boards set up by each class could be seen everywhere. Besides students in red and white uniforms, quite a few Shinigami had gathered before various stalls, chatting with the students.

"It's so lively," Kotsubaki Kotone could not help remarking.

In the Soul Society, such bustling streets were rarely seen. The Seireitei was always quiet, and while the lower-numbered districts of the Rukon District had markets, they could not compare to this level of liveliness.

The students' faces glowed with enthusiasm as they stood before their own stalls and shouted energetically to draw customers.

Neither Unohana Retsu nor Kotsubaki Kotone had expected the Spirit Training Academy to possess such vitality.

"Did you plan all of this?" Unohana Retsu asked Xin.

"It was the result of the combined efforts of all the teachers and students at the Spirit Training Academy," Xin said modestly. "All Student Council members and the academy administration handled the overall preparations, while each stall was planned by the students of its respective class."

"But the idea for this Cultural Festival was yours, wasn't it?" Unohana Retsu asked again.

Xin chuckled. "It just came to me suddenly. Still, I did not expect the academy administration to support it so strongly."

"Very good." Unohana Retsu spoke gently. "No wonder the Tenth Division and Thirteenth Division are competing over you."

"You flatter me. Besides, Lieutenant Matsumoto and Lieutenant Captain Shiba are not competing over me. They merely suggested that I join the Tenth Division or Thirteenth Division after graduation. I still have not decided on my plans after graduating."

"Have you decided now?" Unohana Retsu looked at him with a smile.

Xin pondered before saying, "My homeroom teacher, Teacher Nanda, told me that since my Zanpakutō is a Kidō type, I am well suited for the Fourth Division. Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu also mentioned it to me when she was substituting for our class."

Unohana Retsu's smile did not fade. "Then would you like to join the Fourth Division?"

Xin immediately said, "Of course I would!"

This time, he did not spout nonsense and instead stated his position directly. He knew clearly that Captain Unohana before him was not like Shiba Isshin. Though she appeared beautiful and gentle, beneath that surface was nothing but darkness!

Kotsubaki Kotone took the chance to add, "Tachikawa, the Fourth Division is definitely the division best suited to you. Only in the Fourth Division can your Zanpakutō be developed more fully."

Unohana Retsu immediately asked, "Then what seat would you want after joining the Fourth Division? Did Lieutenant Captain Shiba not say that even Third Seat was beneath you?"

Xin smiled bitterly. "Captain Unohana, you think too highly of me. As long as I can pass the graduation examination and the division entry assessment, that will be enough. How would I dare hope for something like Third Seat? Besides, I am completely a beginner when it comes to Kidō. I do not even know whether I could serve as an ordinary division member."

Unohana Retsu smiled. "You need not belittle yourself. You are so gifted, and you have talent in other areas as well. I believe you will accomplish much in the Fourth Division."

"Thank you for your kind words."

As a captain, Unohana Retsu drew countless gazes as she walked through the square.

The students were all astonished that even someone as important as a captain had come.

Unohana Retsu suddenly stopped, as though something had caught her eye. Xin followed her gaze and saw a familiar figure.

This small area was where the first-year students had gathered. The stall managed by Class A of the first-year students had not set up a tent; instead, they had built a wooden platform with a sign beside it.

"Kendo Exchange Area..."

The sign also stated that victory would earn a mysterious grand prize, while even those who lost would receive a consolation prize.

Xin remembered seeing it when he had reviewed the stall proposals submitted by each class. Since they needed space, he had assigned them a spot at the edge of the square.

At that moment, a red-haired figure was sparring with another student on the platform.

The red-haired figure was naturally Renji Abarai. Xin found the other person somewhat familiar as well. He seemed to be an upperclassman, perhaps from the same cohort as him.

What surprised Xin slightly was that Renji was actually holding his own against the other student. Renji's attacks were fierce and swift, broad and unrestrained, making for a pleasing sight.

Renji Abarai had virtually no talent for Kido, but he was exceptionally gifted in kendo, Shunpo, and Hakuda.

After all, he was the future strongest lieutenant captain.

Seeing Unohana Retsu watching with great interest, Xin asked, "Captain Unohana, are you interested?"

Unohana Retsu said softly, "That child's fighting style is quite suitable for the Eleventh Division."

After graduating in the future, Renji Abarai would indeed join the Eleventh Division first. He would receive guidance from Madarame Ikaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika before later becoming the lieutenant captain of the Sixth Division.

Unohana Retsu suddenly asked Xin, "I heard that you are also very skilled in kendo?"

Xin's heart abruptly skipped a beat. He felt as though he had forgotten something, and now he finally remembered it.

"How about going up there and sparring with that student?"

As soon as Unohana Retsu finished speaking, the upperclassman sparring with Renji Abarai was forced by Renji to tumble off the platform with a thud.

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