Chapter 24: Asauchi
The sky hadn't yet darkened, but lanterns in the corridor were already being lit one by one.
The students returned to the lecture hall once more, awaiting the announcement of the academy examination results.
Unlike during the written test when strict seating by number had been required, the front and middle sections of the classroom were already packed—everyone hoping to see the results at the first possible moment.
Latecomers could basically only choose seats in the back or corners.
Suoh's gaze swept across the entire hall before finally settling beside the silver-haired boy who'd just taken a seat in the corner.
"Hello."
Maintaining an appropriately respectful social distance, Suoh sat down next to Hitsugaya Toshiro and offered a greeting.
"Mm."
Hitsugaya Toshiro nodded faintly in response, his attitude neither warm nor particularly distant.
After his earlier anxious emotions had subsided, his previously tense brow and eyes had relaxed considerably.
Their figures sitting side by side attracted the majority of gazes in the classroom.
"Damn it, where the hell did Rukongai suddenly produce so many geniuses?"
"What rotten luck."
In a small cluster of people toward the side-rear of the classroom, attention kept drifting toward those two figures—one black-haired, one white.
Among them, a noble youth with upturned eyes and several degrees of arrogance cursed quietly, his tone full of resentment.
The other common-born students present might not understand, but those of noble birth certainly knew what Fifth Class and Sixth Class spiritual power meant.
Ordinary Shinigami had spiritual power ratings within the twentieth class. Vice-captains ranged from fourth to fifth class. Third class and above was captain level.
In other words, he was now competing for limited elite class spots against someone at vice-captain level and someone at upper seated officer level. It was absurd.
Actually, what he wanted to call them was "monsters" rather than "geniuses," but with so many people around, this was already pushing his limits.
For newcomers like these two to achieve such high spiritual power ratings upon enrollment—as long as they didn't suddenly drop dead, they were certain to become top-tier figures within the Gotei 13. People he absolutely couldn't afford to offend.
The other noble offspring felt similarly. One more person standing above their heads meant their chances of failure increased by that much.
Coming from lower-ranking noble families, the elite class was their only path to climb upward.
The academy examination standard was simple—both scores added together. Those brave enough to apply for the elite class only comprised a small portion of each year's applicants, so the statistical results came out quickly.
Just then, a staff member entered through the door holding the results sheet, and the entire classroom instantly fell silent.
Every gaze focused on the paper in his hands, awaiting the judgment that would determine their futures.
"I will now announce the examination results."
Two result sheets were quickly posted on either side of the blackboard.
The left list was sparse with only a few dozen names. The right side was densely packed, filling almost the entire white paper.
Once the lists appeared, naturally some rejoiced while others despaired.
First place went to Hitsugaya Toshiro with rock-bottom written test scores but first-place spiritual power rating, claiming the top position.
Second place went to Suoh Tsukasa with first-place written test scores and second-place spiritual power rating.
Suoh didn't particularly care about the rankings because they made perfect sense—in the Shinigami world, spiritual pressure was everything.
"Damn it, if only my written test score had been a bit higher."
A student sitting in the front row pounded the desk in extreme frustration.
Suoh's gaze swept briefly across the results. Most of those who'd failed near the cutoff had disappointing written test scores.
When spiritual power ratings didn't differ by much, written test scores became the decisive factor.
Additionally, he hadn't seen the name "Sousakabe Soujiro" on the list, which was a small surprise.
But not too strange, considering that was a filler character whose basic settings had partially diverged from the original canon anyway.
"Quiet. Those who passed, remain."
"Those who failed, leave the Shinoreijutsuin immediately."
The staff member rapped on the podium, delivering the final judgment. His booming voice employed spiritual pressure suppression techniques.
The entire classroom fell deathly silent. The failed examinees' faces turned pale as ash.
But regardless of whatever emotions churned in their hearts, before this staff member they meant absolutely nothing.
The classroom quickly emptied as the failed students departed, leaving only the thirty students of the elite class.
"Congratulations to all of you for becoming Class One students."
"I am Kaminoki Bokumori, and I will also be your homeroom teacher and kidou instructor."
"Shortly, a dormitory supervisor will take you to the general affairs office to receive your asauchi and be assigned dormitories."
"I wish you all success in your studies."
Only now did everyone learn his name. His tone had gained some warmth.
Reaching this point, his gaze lingered for a moment on Suoh and Hitsugaya Toshiro, carrying the particular expectations teachers held for outstanding students.
Having finished his instructions, he wasted no time and turned to leave directly.
His departure left the empty classroom somewhat awkwardly silent.
Ten minutes later, another teacher with a kindly face—the dormitory supervisor—arrived at the classroom.
He led everyone to collect their uniforms and the asauchi that would accompany Shinigami throughout their lives.
After asauchi had been distributed to each person, the dormitory supervisor's expression turned serious as he gave stern instructions.
"Asauchi may only be used during late-year konso training exercises in the World of the Living. During regular days, you may only use wooden swords for zanjutsu training."
"You absolutely must not use them without permission, and carrying asauchi off campus is strictly forbidden."
"I hope all of you will keep these prohibitions firmly in mind."
Shinigami had to keep their asauchi with them daily, inseparable, and after years and months of bonding, they could imprint their souls into the asauchi to create their own zanpakutou.
The asauchi were only temporarily loaned before students graduated. They would be officially granted after joining a division.
Suoh looked down at the asauchi in his hands—a standard regulation-length blade with a plain guard.
It looked like nothing more than an ordinary iron sword. At this moment, he couldn't sense anything special about it at all.
Everyone around him was the same, examining the asauchi that would accompany them for life.
"Alright, put them away. Follow me to select your dormitories."
The dormitory supervisor didn't give the students much time before issuing instructions.
The students obediently placed their asauchi into cloth bags and solemnly shouldered them.
The group followed the dormitory supervisor through the corridors, quickly arriving at the dormitory district located behind the academy.
"This is the Sakura Compound, where you'll be living from now on."
"Across the way is the Aoba Dormitory, where ordinary students reside."
"Of course, whether in the Sakura Compound or Aoba Dormitory, you must remember the school rules strictly forbid private fighting."
The supervisor pointed to the left. On the left side stood ten rows of small courtyards enclosed by white walls, each forming its own self-contained space.
Through the moon-viewing gates, one could see the courtyards were quite spacious with elegant layouts.
A winding gravel path ran through the center, dividing into two sides and separating two independent single-room wooden structures. An old pine tree with a vigorous form stood in one corner. The environment was quiet and secluded.
The Aoba Dormitory on the opposite side consisted of rows of much larger-scale buildings with more compact structures—long-house style architecture. Compared to ordinary Rukongai residents' dwellings, the only difference was changing from multiple occupants to single private rooms.
This was one aspect of the resource advantages belonging to the elite class. The Soul Society's law of the jungle constantly revealed itself in unexpected moments.
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