Everyday Life

The Shin'ō Academy library was always especially quiet in the afternoon.

Sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, casting colorful patches of light across the floor.

The distinctive scent of old paper hung in the air. Now and then came the soft rustle of turning pages or the hushed voices of students discussing things in the distance.

At his usual spot by the window, Wang Xun lay lazily across the table, the latest issue of Seireitei Communication open before him.

It was the Seireitei's official magazine, published by the Ninth Division. Besides official announcements, it also featured fiction columns.

The magazine was so dull it made his eyelids droop. One glance was enough to tell that the editor-in-chief wasn't doing his job.

If it weren't an official publication, something like this would probably have been discontinued long ago.

It wasn't until he came across a new work titled "The Rose-Colored Path" that he perked up a little.

It was a romance, and it was actually somewhat interesting.

Wang Xun read for a while, then began yawning with boredom again. Nanao glanced at him.

"So," Nanao suddenly said, her voice soft, "who was that blond man last night?"

"The Second Division's Third Seat, Kisuke Urahara." Wang Xun answered just as casually. "He wanted to talk to me about something."

"The Second Division... What did he want with you?" Nanao finally looked up, curiosity in her eyes behind her glasses. "You two shouldn't have had any dealings before, right?"

"Hmm, do you remember that fruit you bought before? The one that tasted pretty good."

Wang Xun gestured with his hand.

"I even went with the old man selling the fruit to see those trees. Later, I heard they'd been burned down."

"Those trees were actually planted by Third Seat Urahara. He wanted to ask if I knew anything about what happened."

Nanao's eyes widened slightly.

She hadn't expected there to be a connection like that.

"Then, based on the special way those trees were cultivated, we also talked about ingredient supplies and discussed some business cooperation."

Wang Xun sat up straight and stretched.

"That old fox is pretty sly. Fortunately, our conversation went reasonably well, though I don't know whether it'll turn out the way I hope in the end."

Nanao stared at him for a few seconds, seemingly judging whether he was telling the truth.

In the end, she gave a quiet "mm" and lowered her head to continue organizing her notes.

"Next time something like that happens, you don't have to go out of your way to send me off," Nanao suddenly muttered. "If anything happens, I can back you up."

Wang Xun smiled at that.

"What, worried about me?"

"...No, I'm not."

Nanao turned her face slightly away.

Wang Xun looked at her delicate profile. In the sunlight, the fine hairs at the edges of her faintly flushed cheeks glowed softly.

He suddenly thought an afternoon like this was pretty nice too.

At least it was far more relaxing than dealing with all the probing from those troublesome characters.

After finishing her notes, Nanao took a class schedule out of her bag and frowned slightly.

"Starting next week, we'll be taking practical classes in Zanpakuto Jinzen."

She spoke softly, her tone unusually dispirited.

"If it's Jinzen, I'll probably just sit there staring into space for half the day."

Wang Xun understood exactly how she felt.

Awakening a Zanpakuto required a deep resonance between a Soul Reaper and an Asauchi.

The foundation of that resonance was the infusion of the Soul Reaper's own soul traits into the Asauchi.

After an ordinary Spiritual Arts Academy student had spent three or four years living and eating alongside an Asauchi at school, the Asauchi would begin to transform into a Zanpakuto with personal characteristics.

Nanao was highly gifted in Kidō, but she couldn't establish any connection at all with the Asauchi in her hands.

It was as though something were blocking them from each other.

She had no idea what to do about it. She had asked a teacher, but the teacher had said they had never seen a case like it either.

"If you don't want to go, just skip it."

Wang Xun spoke casually.

"I'll take you out for some fun. There's a festival in Rukongai lately, and I hear it's pretty lively."

"No."

Nanao rejected the idea immediately, her voice turning extremely serious.

"You can't skip class, and besides..."

She paused, lowering her voice a little.

"This is a practical Jinzen class. It's very important. What if you fall behind on your progress toward Shikai because you don't go?"

"All right, all right. I'll listen to you."

Seeing Nanao's serious expression, Wang Xun raised his hands in surrender.

Nanao fell silent for a moment, recalling the days she had spent eating and sleeping alongside her Asauchi.

By the time she graduated, the Spiritual Arts Academy would probably take the Asauchi back.

After all, there wasn't much point in her keeping it.

"It's fine even without a Zanpakuto. I've already accepted it, and the Kidō Corps might be a better fit for me anyway."

Nanao spoke softly, her tone very calm.

"I'll just let things take their course. It's all right."

"Maybe your Zanpakuto doesn't depend on an Asauchi. It could exist in some special form instead."

Nanao was taken aback by Wang Xun's words, then laughed.

"What kind of Zanpakuto is like that?"

"Who knows?"

Wang Xun shrugged.

"There are plenty of strange and unusual Zanpakuto in the Gotei 13."

At that moment, something occurred to Nanao, and she suddenly asked with curiosity,

"Come to think of it, how is your fusion with your Asauchi going? With your strength, you should be close to Shikai, right?"

As she spoke, a hint of suspicion appeared on Nanao's face.

"Don't tell me you've already..."

"Not yet." Wang Xun waved a hand. "But... I should be close."

The question stirred something in Wang Xun.

He brought up the system panel. After his improvement over this period, his fusion with his Asauchi was nearly complete.

[Zanpakuto: Asauchi resonance 99%]

Only a little remained.

"But you can't rush something like a Zanpakuto. Sometimes the more anxious you get, the less happens."

Wang Xun spoke unconcernedly.

Nanao looked at him, a certain expectation in her eyes.

"But if it's you..."

"Maybe you'll succeed in achieving Shikai on your first attempt at Jinzen. You are so strong, after all."

"I hope so."

The two stayed a while longer, until the library clock chimed and it was time for dinner.

Nanao slung her bag over her shoulder, and the two walked out of the library side by side.

Outside the corridor, the setting sun shone just right.

"If you really do achieve Shikai, I'll be happy for you."

Nanao suddenly spoke in a soft voice.

"Even though you hide your strength and never let anyone see through you."

"But I know you haven't slacked off when it comes to getting stronger. I'm very sure of that."

Nanao looked at Wang Xun. She paused, her voice growing even softer.

"So you don't need to worry about me. Just do what you need to do."

Wang Xun stopped walking.

Nanao stopped with him and looked up at him, her eyes clear and earnest.

"Nanao," Wang Xun said with a sudden smile, "do you know that sometimes you're too mature to seem like a young girl?"

Nanao's face reddened, and she gave him a push.

"None of your business. Hurry up and come on."

She strode ahead, and Wang Xun followed with a smile.

The two walked through the sunlit corridor, their shadows overlapping and parting on the ground.