A Jealous Nanao

"Um..." She cleared her throat, trying to hide her awkwardness. "This ramen is delicious. How did you find this place?"

"The chef and I go way back," Wang Xun said simply. "If you like it, you can come often. Give them my name and you'll get twenty percent off."

"Really?" Kūkaku's eyes lit up. "It's a deal!"

After leaving the ramen shop, Kūkaku walked with Wang Xun along the roadside in Rukongai.

"Speaking of which, Kaien is very talented."

Kūkaku nodded, a proud smile on her face.

"Big Brother will definitely be fine. With his abilities, he might even skip a grade."

They walked and chatted, soon arriving at a fork in the road.

"This is as far as I go," Wang Xun said, stopping. "Thanks for your help today."

Kūkaku waved it off, then hesitated.

"Um... can I come see you again? I mean, if I want ramen..."

"Of course."

Wang Xun smiled at Kūkaku, who was stumbling over her words.

"I'm usually at the Spiritual Arts Academy, but I sometimes come out on weekends. If you're looking for me, you can ask your brother to let me know."

"Okay, I'll come see you again!"

Kūkaku smiled happily and turned to leave. After a few steps, she looked back and waved at Wang Xun.

Wang Xun watched her walk away before turning toward Seireitei.

A long while later, he finally returned to the familiar campus, and he felt a little more relaxed.

But he knew that some things had changed.

From now on, he had to be more careful.

He had to hide his strength and keep a low profile.

At least until he was strong enough to protect himself, that was what he should do.

Outside the window, the setting sun slowly sank below the horizon, and the lights of Seireitei came on once more.

Inside the Fifth Division Barracks, Sōsuke Aizen sat at his desk, attending to the day's paperwork.

His hand suddenly paused.

A roster from Shin'ō Academy lay on the desk.

Aizen's finger slowly traced a name on the list.

"Wang Xun... fifth-year student, elite class. His grades are above average in every subject, with no record of any exceptional performance."

He adjusted his glasses, and the corners of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly.

Aizen set the roster aside and continued working through his documents.

It was as if his pause had been nothing more than an ordinary break from work.

As the night deepened, Seireitei fell silent.

The next morning, Wang Xun headed to the library as usual.

It hadn't been long since he'd last collected fragments at the training grounds, so he planned to let them accumulate for a few days before going again.

The entrance exams for new students were about to end, and a new school year was about to begin.

In a corner of the library, Nanao Ise's petite figure sat in her usual spot.

Nanao wore a neat Spiritual Arts Academy uniform today, and her short black hair had a soft sheen in the morning light.

She was absorbed in a thick tome, but for some reason, her gaze behind her glasses kept wandering, occasionally drifting toward the entrance.

Only when she caught sight of that familiar figure out of the corner of her eye did a trace of delight flash in her eyes, though she quickly turned her head away.

Wang Xun walked over quietly and sat down across from her.

"Morning, Nanao."

Nanao didn't look up. She merely gave a soft "mm" and continued turning the pages.

Wang Xun sensed something was off. The girl's response seemed a little cold today.

"What's wrong?" Wang Xun asked tentatively. "Didn't sleep well last night?"

"It's nothing."

Nanao gave a brief reply, though she turned the page a little more forcefully than usual.

Wang Xun blinked, took the gifts he'd brought back yesterday from the cloth bag he carried, and gently pushed them toward Nanao.

"I found some nice sweets when I went to Rukongai yesterday. I brought some back for you to try."

Nanao's gaze finally left the page and fell on the sweets.

She adjusted her glasses, her tone calm.

"Did you go buy them with that girl from the Shiba Clan?"

Uh-oh...

Wang Xun had a bad feeling, but he kept his expression unchanged.

"What are you talking about? I bought these just for you."

"Really?"

Nanao eyed Wang Xun suspiciously.

"Why would I lie to you?" Wang Xun smiled and picked up a pastry. "Try it. I think you'll like it."

Nanao stared at the sweet for a while before finally reaching out and accepting it.

She took a small bite. A rich milky flavor spread through her mouth, sweet and delicious without being cloying. It was especially tasty.

"It's good... thank you."

Nanao ate in small bites, her tone finally softening a little.

She paused and looked at Wang Xun. "Did everything go smoothly on your trip?"

"Well... there were a few minor incidents, but it went fairly smoothly. I just didn't find much."

"I see."

Seeing that Wang Xun didn't want to go into detail, Nanao lowered her head and continued reading.

The library was quiet for a moment, with only the sound of pages turning.

"Oh, right," Nanao suddenly said, her voice regaining its usual composure. "The schedule for the assessment at the start of the new term is out."

"Oh? When is it?"

"Next Wednesday."

Every annual assessment was a chance for Wang Xun to collect fragments on a large scale.

Unfortunately, as his level rose, he gained experience less and less efficiently.

Still, it was good news for Wang Xun.

Nanao pulled a notice from her bag and pushed it toward him.

"This test is as important as ever. It'll determine changes to the elite class roster, and..."

She paused, lowering her voice.

"Apparently, those who perform exceptionally well will have a chance to qualify for an early application to take the division entrance assessment, but it seems no one has managed it in recent years."

"Maybe someone will manage it in the next year or two. That kid Kaien Shiba, with his talent, definitely won't just spend all six years studying."

Wang Xun took the notice and quickly scanned it.

The start-of-term test was divided into two parts: a theory assessment and a practical assessment.

The theory assessment included written exams on Konsō in the World of the Living, the history of Soul Society, the characteristics of Hollows, and some cultural subjects.

The practical assessment was a comprehensive evaluation of the four basic Zankensōki skills.

"My Asauchi still hasn't changed."

Nanao spoke softly.

Although her talent for Kidō ranked among the best in the entire Spiritual Arts Academy, and she had consistently placed first in practical assessments for years,

awakening her Zanpakuto had indeed proven difficult for her.

"I've thought about it, and I'm planning to try applying to the Kidō Corps next year."

Wang Xun looked at Nanao, whose brow was faintly troubled.

"Don't worry," Wang Xun said earnestly. "A Zanpakuto is important, but it isn't everything. Your talent for Kidō is so strong that even without a Zanpakuto, you can still become an excellent Soul Reaper."

"But..."

Nanao bit her lip.

"Come on, don't overthink it."

Wang Xun picked up a pastry and held it to Nanao's lips.

"There are still a few days until the test. Make the most of the time and prepare. If you need me, I can train with you."

Nanao looked at the pastry held in front of her, her cheeks reddening slightly. She instinctively started to open her mouth, but then hesitated.

She quietly glanced around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, gently took a bite.

"Mm."

The two talked for a while longer about the specifics of the test, going over questions that might appear.

Wang Xun looked at her focused profile and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

This girl is already getting jealous and sulking at such a young age.

What will she be like when she grows up?