“Welcome, new students!”
A booming voice rang out across the hall.
“Our Shin’ō Spiritual Arts Academy has a proud history stretching back more than a thousand years!
It is a venerable institution dedicated to nurturing the young people who will become the future of the Kidō Corps, the Stealth Force and the Gotei 13!”
We first-years—or, in other words, the new students—had been gathered in the great auditorium, which was apparently large enough to accommodate every student at the Academy.
And now we were listening to the headmaster’s ever-so-inspiring speech from the stage.
Yes, in short, it was the entrance ceremony.
“I expect each of you to uphold that proud tradition—”
Still, is it just me, or are entrance and graduation ceremonies exactly the same no matter where or when you are?
It’s all so formulaic.
In a way, that almost makes it easier to follow.
I glanced around.
My fellow first-years all looked as though they were listening attentively, but they seemed a little bored too.
I suppose ceremonies have their purpose, but we’re a bunch of eager young people, aren’t we?
There’s no way a speech like this is anything but boring.
Looking a little further up, I noticed a banner hanging above the stage.
It had the usual sort of message—’Congratulations on your admission’—along with the year of entry.
…It’s all very well putting the year up there, but I don’t know what happened in which year.
Apparently, last year’s graduating class was numbered somewhere in the fourteen hundreds.
But I haven’t the faintest idea which graduating class any particular person belonged to!
I really don’t!
“Allow me to remind you that our Academy runs a six-year course.
Nor does graduation automatically make you a Soul Reaper or a member of the Kidō Corps.
Until you pass the relevant recruitment examination, you will not be formally recognised— And so, all of you, particularly those assigned to Class One, our advanced class, must not rest on your laurels.
Continue to hone your skills— Strive each day to become the leaders of the next generation, and to improve yourselves—”
How wonderful.
It looked as though the speech would be going on for a while yet.
I wonder how many of my classmates were actually listening?
“Once again, congratulations on your admission, everyone.”
The long, long, ever-so-inspiring speech finally ended without a single mishap or surprise.
From there, we went straight to the classrooms assigned to our respective courses and classes.
As the headmaster had said, Shin’ō Academy wasn’t just a school for future Soul Reapers.
Those aiming to become Soul Reapers took the Soul Reaper course.
Those hoping to join the Kidō Corps—a special unit made up of Soul Reapers exceptionally skilled in Kidō—took the Kidō Corps course.
And those aiming for the Stealth Force, which mainly handled the sort of work you’d associate with spies and assassins, took the Stealth Force course.
Basically, the courses were divided according to what you wanted to become.
Once sorted into their courses, students were divided into classes.
And those classes were determined entirely by ability.
The highest-performing students went into Class One.
Those who didn’t do as well went into Class Two, Class Three, and so on.
The total number of classes varied depending on how many students enrolled, but your class number was effectively a measure of your ability.
And guess what!
I was assigned to Class Two of the Soul Reaper course!!
…Pretty ordinary, isn’t it?
Except there were only two classes in total!!
Apparently, fewer students than usual were aiming to become Soul Reapers this year, so Class Two was a little overcrowded.
Hmm…
After all that training with Master Danzomaru, this is what I get?
It felt as though someone had knocked me down a peg.
I didn’t think I’d been getting cocky, but the fact that I was disappointed meant I’d probably been a little too optimistic.
Maybe I hadn’t judged my own abilities as objectively as I thought.
Oh, and Renjōji-san was in Class One, while Ayase-san was in Class Two.
…I’m a little worried about Renjōji-san, actually.
Will she be all right in her class?
Maybe Ayase-san and I should go and check on her later.
“Now, that’s everything for today.
Before you leave, however, there’s something we need to give you.”
I’d been so busy thinking that I’d lost track of how far our homeroom teacher had got.
Before I knew it, the teacher was holding a whole pile of swords.
“These swords are called Asauchi.
Think of them as the foundation of the Zanpakutō carried by the Soul Reapers you all aspire to become.
For now, they are being lent to you as Academy students.
Once you officially join a unit, however, they will be formally bestowed upon you.”
Oh!
Now that was a surprise.
Master Danzomaru had told me about Asauchi, so I knew I’d be getting one eventually.
I just hadn’t expected it to happen this soon.
“An Asauchi is itself a Zanpakutō, but in its present state it is nameless—nothing more than a sword without a name.
You must eat, sleep and train alongside it.
By imprinting the very essence of your soul upon the blade, you will gradually transform that Asauchi into your own Zanpakutō, one that bears a name.
A Soul Reaper grows together with their Zanpakutō.
Never forget that.”
“Yes!!”
Once everyone had received an Asauchi, the teacher ended the explanation with those words.
They must have struck a chord, because the entire class answered loud and clear.
“So this is an Asauchi…
My very own Zanpakutō…”
Today’s schedule had consisted of nothing but the entrance ceremony and the explanations afterwards.
We were free to leave.
But…
“I wonder what mine will turn into?”
“Heh heh.
Nice to meet you, partner!”
Plenty of students were still hanging around the classroom.
Everyone was fascinated by the Asauchi they’d just been lent.
Some were tucking them into their belts, others were talking to them, and a few were even rubbing their cheeks against their swords…
Not that I was any different.
I was gently running my fingertips over mine, still safely tucked inside its sheath.
“I wonder what our Zanpakutō will turn into, Airi-san!”
“Hmm, it’s hard to say just yet…
If we’re supposed to imprint our souls onto them, I doubt anything will happen straight away.
We’ll have to spend a lot more time training with them first.”
“Ohh…
Yes, I suppose so.”
Ayase-san seemed to feel the same way I did.
She was hugging her Asauchi to her chest.
Cute.
“Master Danzomaru told me there’s a method called Jinzen, where you communicate with your Zanpakutō…
But for now, I think we should—”
“For now?”
“Go and tease Renjōji-san a little, perhaps?”
“Good idea!
Kosuzu-san might be feeling lonely!”
At long last, I’d finally begun walking the path towards becoming a real Soul Reaper.