Tsunayashiro Again

Wang Xun found it a little strange to see Nanao assume such a defensive posture.

Still, it was pretty amusing.

"I was only making a kind suggestion. If you don't want one, that's fine. I didn't do anything weird."

Only then did Nanao realize her reaction had been a little over the top.

Wang Xun deliberately sighed, his tone exaggerated.

"Sigh, when did I become that kind of person in your eyes?"

Nanao's face grew redder, and her eyes darted around as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

"W-who told you to say it so suddenly..."

A moment later, she finally gathered herself and calmed down, reaching up to smooth the loose strands of hair by her ear.

"Actually, my shoulders aren't that uncomfortable, so there's no need."

"Really? I think I'm pretty good at massages. Are you sure?"

"I said no."

Seeing Wang Xun's teasing expression, Nanao puffed up her cheeks and turned away.

The golden light of the setting sun fell on her short black hair. Her slender brows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were especially clear behind her glasses.

The sight suddenly reminded Wang Xun of the first time he had met her in the library four years ago.

She had been just as small then, sitting quietly by the window with a book bigger than her face in her arms, like a picture.

Looking at Nanao's slightly bashful expression, Wang Xun could not help feeling his heart soften a little.

"Oh, right," Nanao said, suddenly remembering something. "The teacher called you out earlier... was it because of your Asauchi?"

"Don't tell me you've already achieved Shikai?"

Hearing Nanao's question in a low voice, Wang Xun did not deny it. He simply nodded gently.

"You really did..."

A complex look flashed across Nanao's eyes: joy for him, but also disappointment in her own circumstances.

"Congratulations, Wang Xun."

"Mm, thanks."

Seeing that Wang Xun wanted to say something, Nanao shook her head, her usual calm expression returning.

"You don't need to comfort me. I don't mind anymore. Besides, even without a Zanpakuto, I'll forge my own path in Kidō."

"I'll do my best to keep up with you."

Looking into Nanao's determined eyes, Wang Xun nodded gently.

"Mm, of course you can."

The two walked side by side along the tree-lined path to the cafeteria, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun.

"By the way," Nanao suddenly asked, "what's your Zanpakuto like?"

Wang Xun pondered for a moment. Thinking of the outrageous things that blond brat had said, he looked helpless.

"It's hard to describe. All in all, it's pretty good, I guess. Its abilities are quite strong."

"Is that so?"

Seeing Wang Xun look as though he wanted to say more but held back made Nanao a little curious instead.

If Wang Xun thought it was good, it had to be an excellent Zanpakuto.

After their meal, the two were walking to the training grounds.

A figure they had not seen in a long time, however, approached them head-on.

When he saw Wang Xun, he stopped. Wang Xun noticed him as well.

Tokinada Tsunayashiro.

Tsunayashiro stood there quietly, a formal smile on his face.

Over his Spiritual Arts Academy uniform, he wore a dark green haori, its cuffs embroidered with an intricate clan crest in gold thread.

He stood out among the students around him in their Spiritual Arts Academy uniforms.

And behind him stood two people.

The person on the left was someone Wang Xun had not expected: Heita Harada, his teammate from his last Konsō field exercise.

Wang Xun looked him over. The usually timid and cautious fifth-year student now kept his head down, not daring to meet Wang Xun's eyes, his hands clenched together nervously.

Having come from Rukongai, he was now standing close behind Tsunayashiro.

His position was self-evident, then. It seemed he had chosen a more progressive path.

It was good for a young man to be ambitious, and Wang Xun would not judge his choice, but his attitude struck Wang Xun as a little strange.

Though he was right in front of him, it was as if he were avoiding him.

Wang Xun then looked away and turned to the somewhat familiar young man on the right, Kenji Takaya.

He was one of the top students in their elite class, ranking in the top ten overall.

He had rugged features and a tall, broad frame. Now he stood with his back straight at Tsunayashiro's side, undisguised arrogance on his face.

None of this, however, had anything to do with Wang Xun.

He also believed he would have no further dealings with Tsunayashiro, so he nodded politely and prepared to walk straight past.

"What, you see an old friend and can't even stop for a chat?"

Tsunayashiro stopped in front of Wang Xun.

His gaze then lingered on Nanao for a moment.

"It seems you didn't take my earlier advice to heart at all."

The next moment, Wang Xun stepped in front of Nanao and quietly watched him.

"Is there something you need from me, Tsunayashiro?"

"Nothing important," Tsunayashiro said with a chuckle. "I merely heard your performance during the Konsō field exercise was somewhat unexpected, so I came especially to pay you a visit."

"Well, well, I never would have thought you were hiding your abilities so well. It seems the terms I offered before were too low?"

Hearing this, Wang Xun glanced sideways at Heita Harada.

By now, beads of sweat had begun to appear on Heita Harada's forehead, and he looked particularly uneasy standing there.

When he saw Wang Xun's gaze, he gritted his teeth and offered no explanation.

Wang Xun understood. Heita Harada had probably told Tsunayashiro more than just the fact that Wang Xun had slain a large Hollow.

He had also ignored the gag order issued by the Fifth Division and told Tsunayashiro things he should not have.

With the Tsunayashiro Clan's power, it would have been easy to learn what Wang Xun had experienced in the World of the Living that day through internal channels.

Tsunayashiro looked at Wang Xun and laughed softly.

"How about this? I'll double what I offered you. That should be worthy of your abilities, shouldn't it?"

He had originally offered Wang Xun a lieutenant's treatment, and now he was raising the offer again.

Wang Xun, however, still had no interest.

He really did not care about money.

"Sorry, Tsunayashiro, but this is no longer something I can decide."

"Oh?"

Tsunayashiro narrowed his eyes slightly. Though his expression barely changed, his displeasure was palpable.

Takaya, sensing the change in Tsunayashiro's mood, immediately stepped forward.

"Wang Xun, you'd better think carefully before you speak."

"Takaya, stand down."

Hearing Tokinada Tsunayashiro's voice, Takaya froze, then resentfully stepped back to his original position.

Tsunayashiro gave Wang Xun a long look, his gaze growing more complex.

"You know the weight the Tsunayashiro name carries. As long as you agree, there's nothing you and I can't decide."

"Or do you think the Tsunayashiro Clan's temple is too small to accommodate a great Buddha like you?"

Hearing this, Kenji Takaya stepped half a pace forward again, glaring fiercely at Wang Xun.

Heita Harada, who stood farther back, also seemed to be growing anxious, and there was even a hint of pleading in the look he gave Wang Xun.

"Wang Xun, the terms young master Tsunayashiro has offered are so generous. Why won't you accept?"

"You know the Spiritual Arts Academy's motto too: if you wish to protect the one king and the five nobles, then you must slaughter every enemy hiding beneath the leaves..."

"Don't you know why the Gotei 13 exists? Why are you putting young master Tsunayashiro in an awkward position?"