The next night, when Sora returned to the dojo from the laboratory, he ran into another disciple at his door.
Isane Kotetsu was kneeling in front of the door, her head bobbing up and down as if she were fishing.
"Isane?"
"Pr-Professor!" Isane woke with a start, wiping the corner of her mouth.
"Still not sleeping so late...?" Sora asked with a smile. "Don't tell me you're here for tutoring too?"
"Yes!" Isane quickly stood up. "Lisa said her Zanpakutō responded to her... I wanted to ask for your guidance too!"
After Sora had tutored Lisa last night, her inner world had completely taken shape.
Her Zanpakutō was still unwilling to tell her its name right away and had set a small test for her.
Isane was very envious and also a bit anxious when she found out.
According to the information she had gathered, among the contestants who had made it to the top eight, only she and Lisa had not mastered Shikai.
If Lisa also mastered Shikai, then she would be the only one who hadn't!
She had to find a way to keep up!
Her professor was very busy during the day, so she came to find him at night.
"Come in with me." Sora had actually expected this and naturally wouldn't show favoritism. He was also happy to see his disciples achieve better results in the competition.
As soon as Isane entered the room, she saw the fresh flowers on the desk.
She remembered seeing Lisa bring back some flowers from outside at noon, and they were identical to the ones in the vase.
"So those flowers were for the professor..."
Isane looked around the bedroom, also wanting to do something to help.
"Professor, let me clean your room from now on!" Isane noticed some dust on the bookshelves.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Isane. I'm indeed quite lazy when it comes to cleaning," Sora lit the incense burner and said with a smile. "Prepare for Blade Meditation meditation."
"Okay!"
Isane sat down cross-legged, placed her Asauchi on her lap, and began to meditate.
"Then I'm coming in." Sora reached out his hand.
...
A few days later, the Shinken Taiketsu was held as scheduled.
Sora also came to watch.
In addition to the people from the Academy, the captains and vice-captains of the various squads were also invited.
It was currently the drawing phase.
There was a box on the stage containing the names of the students.
"Next..." Sōsuke Tanuki said, "Let's welcome our esteemed Professor Katori to the stage to complete the drawing ceremony!"
The students watched nervously as Katori Sora walked onto the stage.
Isane Kotetsu was also very nervous. The opponents in the top eight were all very strong, and she actually had little confidence in winning.
"I hope the professor draws a good opponent for me..." Lisa said softly.
"No matter who I get, I will definitely win!" Isshin Shiba was full of confidence.
Sajin Komamura and Aizen Sōsuke said nothing, calmly watching their professor on the stage.
Sora reached his hand into the box and drew a small ball. "Aizen Sōsuke..."
"You're up first. Let's see which unlucky person has to face you."
Isshin nudged Aizen with his elbow.
Sora quickly drew the second name: "Isshin Shiba..."
When Sora read out the name, Isshin's face fell.
"You're the unlucky one!" Lisa laughed loudly.
"Even if it's Sōsuke..." Isshin waved his fist. "I'm still going to win this match!"
Isshin quickly came to terms with it. His goal was the championship, so he would have to face Aizen sooner or later.
The match-up list was quickly determined:
Isane Kotetsu vs. Maki Ichinose,
Lisa Yadōmaru vs. Munehiro Kyōraku,
Tetsuzaemon Iba vs. Sajin Komamura,
Aizen Sōsuke vs. Isshin Shiba.
"Thank you, Professor Katori. The match-ups have been confirmed! Now, let's welcome Isane Kotetsu and Maki Ichinose to the stage!" Sōsuke Tanuki said.
Sora returned to the guest seating to watch.
The guest area was quite lively at the moment.
Because the first to fight was Director Kotetsu's daughter, Isane.
"Director Kotetsu's daughter is already so grown up. Time really flies," Kyōraku Shunsui lamented.
He felt a bit emotional. Ayane Kotetsu was only a few years older than him, yet her daughter was already this big, while he himself was not yet married.
"I heard Director Kotetsu's daughter is also your disciple, Katori-kun," Jūshirō Ukitake said, looking at Sora as he walked down from the stage.
"I've also heard from Katori-kun that Isane is very good at Kaidō. I hope to see her use it today," Retsu Unohana said with a smile.
"It's all thanks to Professor Katori's teaching," Ayane Kotetsu chuckled.
"Isane has a great talent for Kaidō and usually works very hard," Sora said, returning to his seat.
"This Maki Ichinose has mastered Shikai!" Yoruichi Shihōin frowned.
She was looking through the students' files.
The three sixth-year students—Maki Ichinose, Munehiro Kyōraku, and Tetsuzaemon Iba—had all mastered Shikai and were not to be underestimated.
As far as she knew, Isane had not yet mastered Shikai.
Ayane also looked worried. Without Shikai, Isane would be at a great disadvantage in this match.
"Isane is only a first-year. To have come this far is already very impressive," Ukitake said with a smile.
Sora smiled lightly and did not reveal any more information.
What they didn't know was that Isane Kotetsu had learned Shikai in the past few days!
But she had said she wanted to give her mother a surprise during the match, so Sora helped her keep the secret.
"You have done a very good job with their education. The Shinken Taiketsu must continue, to provide a platform for combat-oriented students to train and display their strength. But other aspects must also be addressed, especially for students from the Rukongai. Their foundations are weaker, and some are even illiterate. Cultural education cannot be neglected," Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni was also looking at the students' files, very satisfied with the Academy's development.
"I have also considered this aspect," Sora said with a smile. "We have arranged for elective general knowledge courses. Students who need it can choose to take them. They can also form clubs of interest, with teachers to guide them."
"That student named Aizen Sōsuke is also your disciple, right, Vice-Director Katori? He created a calligraphy club, and I'm even serving as an advisor there," said Head Yamada of the Kaidō Department.
"By the way, there's a segment later where the champion challenges an active Shinigami, right? How about I do it?" Kenpachi Kuruyashiki felt he hadn't stretched his muscles in a while.
"Captain Kuruyashiki, that's going too far!" Kyōraku retorted. "Having a student challenge a captain? That's too much of a blow to one's confidence!"
"Huh? Is that not allowed...?" Kuruyashiki scratched his face, somewhat disappointed.
On the other side, Isane Kotetsu and Maki Ichinose had already stepped onto the stage.
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