For reasons known only to herself, Captain Retsu Unohana began paying even closer attention to Chigusa Rin.
At the same time, Captain Shunsui Kyōraku also made his own move.
His concern, however, was not directed toward Rin.
It was toward Ise Nanao.
Kyōraku had always carried a deep sense of responsibility toward Nanao.
After all, she was the daughter of his late younger brother’s wife and one of the few remaining members of the Ise Clan.
Yet because of the traditions surrounding the Ise family, he had deliberately kept his distance for many years.
Now, however, Rin’s growing influence on Nanao made him feel slightly uneasy.
Perhaps it was because people of similar temperaments instinctively recognized one another.
After learning how close Nanao and Rin had become, Kyōraku found himself unable to remain completely indifferent.
Still, he had no intention of approaching them directly.
Putting on the airs of an elder and lecturing them simply wasn’t his style.
Besides, despite promising his late relatives that he would watch over Nanao, he had stayed away for so many years that he no longer knew how to face her.
Given the circumstances, the best choice was simply to help from the shadows.
Knowing that Nanao had always been troubled by her inability to awaken a Zanpakutō, something tied to the deepest secrets of the Ise Clan that even he could not resolve, he decided to assist her in another area.
Kidō.
Using his connections, Kyōraku arranged for the Vice Commander of the Kidō Corps to personally instruct Nanao.
Someone of that caliber was more than qualified to guide a student of Shin’ō Academy.
True to his nature, Kyōraku never revealed that he was responsible.
Nanao simply assumed the opportunity had come through the influence of the Ise Clan.
Naturally, she treasured it.
From then on, she devoted herself to studying Kidō under the Vice Commander’s guidance whenever time allowed.
Deep within her heart, she also carried a small sense of competitiveness.
If she could surpass Rin in Kidō one day…
She thought…
That would probably feel quite satisfying.
Because both of them became increasingly occupied with their respective studies, the opportunities for Rin and Nanao to meet grew fewer and fewer.
Even while still attending Shin’ō Academy, they rarely saw each other.
Fortunately, neither of them minded.
Both were fully immersed in their own pursuits.
There was one other person who continued paying attention to Rin.
Sōsuke Aizen.
Or rather…
He occasionally remembered him.
Compared to the many plans occupying his attention, Rin was still nothing more than a mildly interesting student.
Aizen simply had no reason to devote much thought to him.
Time quietly slipped away.
Before anyone realized it…
Two years had passed.
During the sixth and seventh years of Shin’ō Academy, students officially began participating in Konsō, the Soul Burial ceremony.
It was their first opportunity to carry out genuine missions in the World of the Living.
These assignments served two purposes.
First, they allowed students to gain practical experience working together before officially joining the Gotei Thirteen.
Second, they provided opportunities to interact with the various divisions, helping each student decide where they wished to serve after graduation.
Throughout those missions…
Both Rin and Nanao performed exceptionally well.
Fortunately, none of their assignments involved particularly dangerous situations.
They never encountered a Hollow attack during their earlier Konsō missions.
Overall…
The work became almost monotonous.
If there was one memorable event during those two years…
It was undoubtedly the appearance of a remarkable genius.
When Rin entered his sixth year, a new student named Shiba Kaien enrolled at Shin’ō Academy.
Unlike Rin, who had always kept a low profile, Kaien attracted attention from the very moment he arrived.
It wasn’t because he deliberately sought attention.
That level of Spiritual Pressure practically guaranteed that he would one day become a lieutenant of the Gotei Thirteen.
Naturally, instructors and students alike immediately took notice.
His mastery of Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō was equally astonishing.
Everywhere he went…
He naturally became the center of attention.
However…
The excitement surrounding him gradually cooled after people learned his surname.
Shiba.
The Shiba Clan had once stood among Soul Society’s Five Great Noble Clans.
Although the family had long since fallen from that position, very few nobles were willing to discuss the reasons.
Because of that silence, many people instinctively avoided becoming too closely involved with members of the Shiba Clan, fearing they might unknowingly become entangled in matters beyond their understanding.
Ordinarily…
Someone like Kaien would never have crossed paths with Rin.
Yet fate often worked in unexpected ways.
The two became acquainted because of Nanao.
As the student council president, Nanao was overwhelmed with responsibilities during the enrollment period.
Unable to spare the time herself, she asked Rin to show Kaien around Shin’ō Academy.
Spending time together quickly revealed Kaien’s true character.
Despite coming from a once-great noble family, he possessed not the slightest trace of arrogance.
Although he appeared somewhat rough around the edges, he was thoughtful, sincere, and remarkably easy to get along with.
Before long…
Rin found himself genuinely liking the man.
From then on, the two gradually became friends.
Given Kaien’s extraordinary talent, his education progressed much faster than that of ordinary students.
After rapidly advancing through the curriculum, the two even found themselves participating in several Konsō missions together.
Their teamwork proved surprisingly natural.
Finally…
The last Soul Burial mission before graduation arrived.
Compared to two years earlier, Rin’s appearance had changed considerably.
At some point, he had developed the habit of wearing a handmade herbalist’s apron over his academy uniform.
Numerous small pockets lined the apron, each containing different varieties of spiritual plant seeds.
Years of working with medicinal herbs had left faint green stains upon his fingers.
Meanwhile, his pale green hair had grown much longer, cascading loosely over his shoulders because he rarely remembered to tie it back.
Seeing his current appearance, Nanao sighed helplessly.
Without saying anything, she produced a ribbon from somewhere within her robes before carefully tying his long hair behind his head.
“You’ve forgotten to tidy yourself again.”
Her tone carried complete certainty.
Rin lightly tapped his forehead.
“…I forgot.”
He wasn’t making excuses.
Ever since beginning his internship within the Fourth Division, he had realized just how profound Kaidō truly was.
Even the slightest variation in spiritual flow could produce dramatically different healing results.
Beneath what appeared to be identical spiritual bodies lay countless subtle differences that demanded careful understanding.
The immense volume of medical knowledge completely occupied his mind every day.
He felt like a starving mouse that had fallen into a warehouse full of rice.
Naturally…
Everything else became secondary.
That included taking care of his appearance.
After accidentally discovering this habit once, Nanao simply began carrying an extra ribbon with her.
Whenever they met…
She tied his hair without another word.
“You two really are close.”
Standing nearby, Kaien watched the scene with obvious envy.
“Seriously…”
“Why doesn’t anyone take care of me like that?” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Nanao immediately rolled her eyes.
“Please.”
“You’re two years ahead of us.”
“Who could possibly keep up with someone like you?”
“In such a short time, who would understand you?”
“And who have you taken the time to understand?”
“Is that so?”
Kaien scratched the back of his head before bursting into carefree laughter.
“Ahahaha!”
She wasn’t wrong.
Of course…
His background as a member of the Shiba Clan probably also played a part.
The three of them silently chose not to continue that topic.
Before long, members of the Twelfth Division arrived and opened the Senkaimon.
Each group assembled before stepping through the gate into the World of the Living.
Their mission this time was straightforward.
A war between two human nations had claimed countless lives.
An enormous number of newly departed souls required immediate Konsō.
If they delayed for too long, the overwhelming concentration of spiritual energy could eventually attract Menos Grande.
Should that happen…
It would become a threat completely beyond the ability of academy students to handle.
Unfortunately…
Reality rarely followed the original plan.
The first person to sense something wrong was Nanao.
An ominous feeling suddenly settled over her heart.
This mission had assigned her to a different squad from Rin, making it impossible to immediately verify her instincts.
Nevertheless…
The uneasy premonition compelled her to accelerate the Soul Burial process.
At nearly the same moment…
Rin and Kaien also sensed something unusual.
The two simultaneously turned toward the center of the battlefield.
There…
A massive distorted creature slowly emerged.
Its enormous white mask.
Its grotesque body.
Its overwhelming spiritual pressure.
Everything pointed toward one conclusion.
A Hollow.
As student council president and temporary commander of the operation, Nanao reacted immediately.
Using Kidō to amplify her voice across the battlefield, she shouted,
“Everyone, stay calm!”
“A Hollow has appeared at the center of the battlefield!”
“Its strength is currently unknown!”
“Maintain your formations!”
“Students capable of fighting, gather on my position immediately!”
“Everyone else, withdraw while continuing the Soul Burial operation!”
“Your own safety comes first!”
Her swift commands immediately stabilized the panic spreading among the students.
The confusion quickly subsided.
Without the slightest hesitation, Rin moved directly toward Nanao’s position.
Kaien followed beside him.
Moments later, several more upperclassmen arrived one after another.
Every one of them was recognized as one of the strongest students in their respective year.