Time passed quickly in the Soul Society, and two weeks went by in the blink of an eye.
Today was the day when the teacher training seminar would begin, and all the registered participants would gather at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy.
To ensure the success of this event, Vice President Mitsunobu Shibato had assembled a group of reliable students in advance to serve as guides at the main entrance of the Academy.
Although most Shinigami in the Soul Society had graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy and returning here was like coming home, the possibility of mishaps could never be ruled out, so an extra layer of security was very important.
Coincidentally, among that group of students was Arata Saito.
Honestly speaking, the feeling of being a gatekeeper was quite strange. Although watching young and beautiful freshmen entering and exiting the campus could brighten one's mood, it was a bit exhausting to constantly sign autographs like some celebrity, just because you're too well known.
As time went on, the Kendo Club became increasingly popular within the Spiritual Arts Academy, and more and more people were learning about Arata. Many junior students considered him an idol who inspired them, so now everyone recognized him wherever he appeared.
Fortunately, the current Technology Development Bureau had not yet produced popular civilian cameras. Otherwise, Arata estimated that if he stood there long enough, he would be turned into a V-sign machine working non-stop.
Not just at the Spiritual Arts Academy, even Rangiku, who occasionally came to eat and drink at his expense, had told him that his name had already spread throughout the Soul Society.
Especially in the 11th Division. Madarame Ikkaku was very curious about the student who had purchased a large amount of training equipment from their unit. If he hadn't been busy with important training lately, he would have rushed to the Spiritual Arts Academy to find him long ago.
Soon after, a large group of people appeared at the edge of Arata's field of vision.
Looking more closely, he saw they were all wearing the same Shinigami uniforms, and those at the front wore white haori over them.
Arata's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't it agreed that they would invite members of the Gotei 13?
If they had only invited a few vice-captains, it would be fine, but why had even the captains come?
If captains personally came to teach at the Spiritual Arts Academy, it was like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.
Ah well, captains were also members of the Gotei 13.
Walk slowly!
As the procession approached, the faces of the leading captains became clearer. When Arata finally clearly saw one of their faces, his heart temporarily settled.
Aizen Sōsuke.
When he saw the warm man with brown hair, square-framed glasses, and a gentle smile that never left his face, Arata knew his days would no longer be peaceful.
"Saito-san, this is our first meeting since the internship." Aizen greeted Arata warmly, without a trace of captainly arrogance. His mild and considerate nature made him very popular throughout the Soul Society.
"Captain Aizen." Arata responded neither humbly nor arrogantly. In front of someone like Aizen, he knew not to show fear or arrogance.
Only by maintaining a natural, steady attitude in conversation could one pique Aizen's curiosity and perhaps even his favor.
"Oh, is this the genius who took first place in his class two years in a row? He certainly looks talented." Ichimaru Gin, standing next to Aizen, slightly opened his ever-narrowed eyes and sized up the dark-skinned, purple-haired young man from head to toe. He even found time to tease. "But, are you sure your surname isn't Shihouin? If you want, I can help you check."
"Vice-Captain Ichimaru, please don't speak nonsense. Although this student looks unique, he certainly isn't a member of the Shihouin family!" From behind Ichimaru Gin, a short female captain spoke up, the captain of the Second Division, Soi Fong.
Soi Fong had just been calmly resting with her eyes closed in formation, but the moment Ichimaru Gin mentioned Shihouin, she immediately flinched and became visibly agitated.
The Fon family was a branch of the Shihouin family. She had grown up following the "traitor" Shihouin Yoruichi from a young age and had long memorized the information of all important members of the Shihouin clan.
Soi Fong was certain that there was no one named Arata Saito in the Shihouin family. Even if he were an illegitimate child, the people from her corps would have dug him up long ago.
"Captain Soi Fong, no need to get so excited. I was just joking." Ichimaru Gin smiled and waved dismissively, as if nothing had happened.
"Hmph!" Soi Fong snorted coldly and turned her head away. The atmosphere became a little tense for a moment.
"No problem. I've been hearing this since I was a child, I'm used to it."
In the end, Arata played the role of the one who eased the situation. After all, Soi Fong was a captain, she wouldn't really argue over a Spiritual Arts Academy student.
Now that she had an excuse, she simply took the opportunity and didn't press further on Ichimaru Gin's words.
"Arata-kun is right. You two shouldn't be quarreling over such a trivial matter. We're here representing the Gotei 13 at the teacher training seminar. It would be truly improper to argue in front of the younger generation. It would be troublesome if Captain Yamamoto heard about this."
A familiar, gentle female voice was heard from behind the crowd, and along with that recognizable name, Arata looked up in that direction and saw the Captain of the Fourth Division, Unohana Retsu.
Under Unohana Retsu's warning, Ichimaru Gin was the first to step forward and apologize to Soi Fong, whose expression visibly relaxed. With that, the matter was resolved.
Unohana Retsu still looked as beautiful as ever today, but her braids slightly spoiled the impression. She wasn't as captivating as she was back when her hair had been loose during their joint practice.
Arata kept that sigh to himself, but outwardly still respectfully saluted. "Good morning, Captain Unohana."
Unohana Retsu maintained her calm expression and merely nodded gently. However, those who were observant already noticed that their relationship wasn't simple.
While everyone else addressed him as "Saito-san," Unohana Retsu was the only one who called him "Arata-kun." The difference was significant.
Especially Matsumoto Rangiku, hidden in the crowd, felt her gossiping instincts flare to maximum.
Saito-san and Captain Unohana seem quite close…
Could they be… in a relationship?!
No, no, no, that would be too shocking. The age difference was at least several hundred years!
Then… blood relatives?
Well, although a small possibility, it was still more likely than them being lovers.
"Sister Rangiku, please keep your voice down. If Captain Unohana hears you, it'll be terrible!" Kotetsu Isane, who stood beside her, felt chills down her spine the moment she heard Rangiku's whisper.
Don't be fooled by Captain Unohana's gentle and caring exterior, when she gets angry, she can be terrifying!
"Don't worry, I know my limits. No one will hear us." Rangiku confidently patted her chest.
Isane helplessly shook her head. "Sister Rangiku, you're not acting like a rational person at all."
At that moment, Arata was leading the group and naturally couldn't hear the whispers of the two women. He just felt immense pressure on his back. Three captains were staring at him at the same time. That was the kind of treatment most people wouldn't experience in a lifetime.
And whether it was instinct or illusion, he constantly felt like Unohana Retsu was looking at him with a hint of blame, like a resentful woman silently waiting too long in her room.
It seemed that it had really been too long since he last had a serious discussion with Unohana about kendo, and that had clearly caused some dissatisfaction on her part.
Arata was already considering asking Vice President Shibata for a few days off after the seminar ended.
Reason: he'd been a bit tired lately and wanted to return home to rest well.
After all, because of the Kendo Club, he had been attending classes every day and was truly exhausted. What worried him especially was that the fate of Rukia and the others still hadn't begun to unfold. He didn't know whether the problem was with the system or if his changes hadn't yet reached sufficient depth.
Arata felt slightly anxious because he couldn't progress quickly through the system.
Returning to Unohana for a while, to study kendo together again, was actually a very good choice.
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