Time flew by.
After class, Takashi and Rindō ran into Ichigo just as they left the classroom.
“Yo, how was class? You didn’t fall asleep holding a brush, did you?”
“If someone can fall asleep in Teacher Aizen’s class, then that person’s head must have been hit by a Hōten.”
In response to Ichigo’s teasing greeting, Takashi raised an eyebrow and said,
“What is a Hōten?”
Ichigo was puzzled.
“A powerful anesthetic, said to be difficult even for the highest-ranking Shinigami to resist.”
Rindō gave the answer expressionlessly.
“…Injecting anesthesia into the brain, you really have some imagination. But that means this teacher is very good at teaching, right?”
“If I had to describe it, it’s like listening to the greatest contemporary thinker give a speech. If he had been born in Germany half a century ago, perhaps humanity would have been unified by now.”
“Is that a thinker?! He’s clearly a deep-scheming, smooth-talking, ambitious person who’s good at bewitching people, right?”
“If you don’t want to be ambushed while sleeping at night, you’d better lower your voice.”
Takashi pointed his thumb behind him at the classroom without looking back.
Ichigo looked over subconsciously.
Through the window, he saw the podium surrounded by a group of male and female students.
A tall figure in a slightly different style of clothing was vaguely visible; that should be the person he was looking for.
Regardless of whether he was a fraud or not, if someone spoke ill of a popular teacher, these students certainly wouldn’t stand by and watch.
On the other hand, Takashi would definitely stand by and watch!
“It’s all because of your exaggeration… fine, I’m leaving!”
Looking at Ichigo’s back, Takashi said thoughtfully, “Rindō, what do you think the first thing he’ll say when he gets back tonight will be?”
“I don’t know”
Rindō shook his head.
Takashi smiled.
“I bet he’ll say: Takashi, you were so right, I was too arrogant.”
“Actually, I don’t really approve of being in too much contact with that person.”
“?”
Takashi turned back in surprise, finding Rindō’s gaze serious, which was rare for him.
“Because I can hardly feel any emotion from Teacher Aizen.”
“Rindō, have you ever thought that this might actually be the normal situation?”
Takashi said calmly.
Rindō was taken aback by these words.
“We can’t tell if a person is good or bad at a glance. It often takes long-term observation and mutual familiarity to reach a conclusion. But even so, there’s a possibility of misjudgment, and it’s quite high.”
“So the question is, why doesn’t everyone feel constantly threatened, but instead focuses more on interpersonal relationships?”
“The reason is simple: because everyone is in the same situation.”
“Imagine if you couldn’t feel my emotions, and I couldn’t feel yours. You would certainly be wary of me, but that would just be the appropriate reaction to a stranger, not to the extent of treating me as a bad person and developing a massive defensive mentality, right?”
Faced with the question raised by Takashi, Rindō nodded hesitantly.
“So, while Teacher Aizen seems scary to you because you can’t feel his emotions, to me, he’s no different from anyone else. I also don’t know what they’re thinking, and I don’t need to know. It’s not important to me.”
“Then what is important?”
Takashi patted his shoulder heavily, as if using physical action to accompany his words as an answer.
“How they act is what’s most important.”
…
Room 001 of the Dormitory was Takashi’s room.
Just as the sunset clouds outside were burning at their brightest, Ichigo pushed the door open and entered.
“Takashi, I have to admit that you occasionally say some weird things that make sense.”
Takashi sat at the square table and gave Rindō, who had just closed his book across from him, a look that said: See?
What did I tell you?
“It seems you two got along well.”
“Yeah.”
Ichigo changed his shoes, stepped onto the tatami, sat cross-legged at the empty spot at the square table, and unceremoniously picked up the barley tea Takashi had just poured and drank it all.
“My mouth is so dry. I was so engrossed in class that I didn’t drink a drop of water.”
“Logically, I should be happy for you, but I’m a bit disappointed thinking I won’t see your grumpy face during the next test.”
Takashi took the Asauchi from the side and shook his head while performing daily maintenance on the blade.
“Don’t look down on people. I could pass smoothly even without going to supplementary classes, okay?”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Let’s talk about how you changed your mind about Teacher Aizen instead.”
Although he really wanted to retort, Ichigo desisted and recounted the story as Takashi wished.
Actually, it could be summarized in one sentence.
He was moved by the sincere attitude and conquered by the excellent teaching methods.
“At first, I thought he was some insidious and cunning guy in glasses, but he turned out to be a gentle and reliable nice guy. Not only did he help me plan a self-study program, but he also cared about my other studies and life problems… I really owe him a big favor.”
Ichigo sighed.
He was probably ashamed of the petty suspicions that had instinctively arisen in his heart earlier.
Takashi asked curiously, “From what you’re saying, you told him about being a Kidō Nuclear Bomb too?”
“Who’s a Kidō Nuclear Bomb?!”
Ichigo was furious.
“I was wondering why people always whisper something when they see me. Could it be that you’re spreading some rumors behind my back?!”
“Ichigo, you know me. If I say something bad about you, I say it to your face; it’s called having low EQ.”
“You’re actually using that as an excuse… You bastard, don’t let me catch you, or you’ll see how I make sarcastic remarks about you!”
“Then you’d better ask Teacher Aizen to supplement your vocabulary while you’re at it. You know me, low-level attacks don’t work on me.”
“…”
Looking at the other’s righteous and confident expression, Ichigo wanted nothing more than to punch him.
“Humph, enjoy your triumph while it lasts. You guessed right; Teacher Aizen invited me to the Fifth Division this weekend, saying he can help me solve my Kidō problems.”
“Weekend? I happen to be free too, so let’s go together.”
Takashi nodded.
“Wait, you don’t have any difficulties to solve.”
“But Teacher Aizen must have asked you to pass on an invitation to me as well, right?”
“How did you guess?”
Ichigo was incredibly surprised.
“Do you even need to ask? There’s no reason to leave out the top student when giving extra lessons, right?”
“…”
Ichigo didn’t want to talk to Takashi and turned to look at Rindō.
The latter did not disappoint and wrote a line in the air.
Shinomiya performed excellently in class and was praised by Teacher Aizen.”
“No wonder his attitude was much warmer when he mentioned you.”
Ichigo realized.
“Geniuses are naturally drawn to each other.”
“Then it seems I’m a genius too.”
Feeling he had caught a flaw in Takashi’s self-praise, Ichigo was triumphant.
“Aren’t you?”
Takashi’s surprised attitude was as if he had heard something that defied common sense.
Ichigo was stunned for a moment, then grinned after he processed it.
“Of course I’m a genius. Both of us, plus Rindō and Hachihara, are all geniuses.”
“By the way, where is Hachihara? I sent an electronic message via Denreishinki earlier telling her to meet up here, but she’s nowhere to be found.”
Just as he finished speaking, the door opened again.
Hachihara Kumayuru burst in with a ferocious momentum.
“Ta-da~! Look what I brought!”
“Oh, let me see… Is this… pizza?”
Takashi put away his Asauchi and toolbox, stood up, took the food box, and placed it on the table.
Opening the top layer, he found it was indeed familiar Human World food.
“Does the Soul Society sell pizza?”
Ichigo’s eyes widened.
“There’s more!”
Hachihara was very satisfied with everyone’s reaction and took the initiative to open the other food boxes.
It’s safe to say they had been surprised too early.
Besides the pizza…
There were tomahawk steaks, creamy pasta, fried chicken, burgers, and fries…
These weren’t rare in the Human World, but in the Seireitei, only traditional Japanese cuisine from before the 20th century was popular.
They didn’t even have curry, let alone ramen, which was introduced to Japan around the same time, or even later additions like fried chicken and burgers.
“Is this the result of your afternoon’s work?”
Takashi was sharp-witted.
“Bingo!”
Hachihara gave a thumbs up.
“You know I love Human World culture, but I’m not the only one. My family is the same; they have special channels to order Human World goods from black market merchants. Don’t tell anyone, though. It’s a trade secret.”
“Don’t worry, I wouldn’t tell even if I died!”
Ichigo swallowed hard, staring longingly at the dazzling array of food, deeply realizing Hachihara’s greatness.
Currently, this was the only way to eat Human World cuisine in the Soul Society.
Even putting that aside, he wouldn’t leak a companion’s secret.
“Even with the channels, it must have been difficult to procure so much gourmet food. Thanks, Hachihara.”
Takashi was quite moved.
“No problem~ We’re friends! It’s only right to treat friends from out of town to a good meal in Human World style. Don’t be formal, enjoy yourselves!”
Suddenly, Hachihara slapped her forehead as if remembering something and pulled two large bottles of alcohol from a bag.
“Almost forgot! How can a party be complete without alcohol?”
“Hey, hey, I’m still a minor.”
Ichigo was dumbfounded.
“We’re all dead, who cares about Human World laws? Just pretend you’ve already lived a hundred years. Even the Shinigami who sent us here looked like a middle schooler.”
Takashi snorted.
“I guess so… whatever!”
“That’s the spirit! To celebrate our bright future as souls! I even specifically ordered the alcohol known as the Water of Life. Well? Isn’t that super meaningful!”
As soon as Hachihara said this, even Takashi’s expression stiffened for a moment.
Ichigo’s mouth fell open.
“Life… no, it couldn’t be the one I’m thinking of… Hey, do you know how high the alcohol percentage is?! You won’t feel the meaning of anything after drinking that!”
“Oh? Are you scared, Ichigo?”
“!?”
Pushed to the edge by that one sentence, Ichigo had no choice.
Takashi was more open-minded.
If he could face Aizen with a calm heart, what was a mere 96-percent vodka?
“Cheers!”
The four of them sat on the floor in the four-and-a-half-mat room.
Even with one in each corner, it didn’t feel crowded; instead, there was a just-right sense of harmony.
Although Rindō sat to the side watching silently, it didn’t stop him from blending into the lively atmosphere and drinking heartily with his companions.
The sunset clouds outside the window faded at some point, and the quietly arriving night was filled with warmth and intoxication under the bright lights.