One should never cease training and self-improvement — that's my philosophy. Whenever I have free time, I try to use it to my advantage. No, I'm not in a hurry and I'm not rushing anywhere. I still have almost two years before I enter the Academy, but I'm determined to make the most of that time.
The reason is simple: I want to get into the First Class. As Matsumoto said, the Academy recruits three classes every year. The first is for the strongest and most talented — those with the greatest spiritual power and the best chance of becoming officers. The second class is for ordinary students, those who have potential but not enough strength yet. Over time, they can move up if they become stronger, although even the best can be demoted if they stagnate. The third class is for everyone else — and it's rare for anyone from there to rise above the lowest officer ranks. And if they do, it usually takes many years.
But that doesn't matter now. I won't be like everyone else. I want to grow stronger, advance in my career, and become a captain. Captains always have a lot money and influence. They can even pursue their own projects, and I truly want to help people. It's unfair that the poor grow poorer while the rich keep getting richer.
I'll change that. Maybe not right away, maybe slowly — but I won't give up. It doesn't matter how many hundreds of years it takes. As long as a soul has a goal, it will grow, become stronger, and strive upward. Perhaps the Soul King will hear me then — and help me.
I'd like to believe that.
But for now, it's better to get back to training.
Concentrating on the reiryoku before me will help immensely with kido — or magic — in the future. It's a very promising and powerful discipline. I heard there's a Corps of kido masters, though after their previous leader betrayed Seireitei, things haven't gone well for them. Would they ever take me in, I wonder? Control comes easily to me. I'm not sure about kido, but I learned to form glowing spheres beside me rather quickly.
First, light the sphere — the easiest level. I managed that in a week, then spent another month learning to sustain it with as little energy as possible. After that, I learned to separate it — to create two or more. I also learned to move them without using my hands, to make the orbs float and shift where I wanted. In short, I've had three years to practice, so I don't have much trouble with external control.
Internal concentration, however, is far more difficult. It's much harder to focus only on my sensations and guesses. After all, I can't see what's happening — I can only rely on feeling. There's clearly a lot of knowledge involved here, beyond defense, but Rangiku didn't say what else I should do. It could seriously harm me. I agree with her. Without a healer, such training could cripple me. I need to be very careful not to hurt myself. So, that will be good training for me for the remaining two years.
Although I hadn't noticed it before, I've been unconsciously doing it on my own. Reiryoku, it turns out, strengthens my legs, and over time it's become so natural that it takes no effort at all. The body, growing used to pain, learns to minimize it and repair the damage. The method of channeling reiryoku also improves regeneration. But again — one must be extremely cautious.
Controlling emotions is one of the most important aspects for any shinigami. But Matsumoto never explained how to train it. In fact, she was against the idea. I can understand why — if you push too hard, you can damage your mind. And I'm still a child, after all. But no one forbade me from developing the basics.
You must learn to calm anger, to awaken rage, and to stay composed in any situation. Patience is key. It's not easy, but I'll do my best. You also need to know how to awaken anger. But not just to get angry, but also to feel your reiryoku in this state.
I know how to get angry. Just remembering that jerk makes my teeth grind. But it's also important to calm that anger — and to direct it.
They'll definitely teach this at the Academy, especially in the First Class, where candidates for officer positions study. Officers, in their duties, have to communicate with nobles, high-ranking officials, and fight powerful opponents. Control is essential, at least at the lower levels. So I'm not too worried about that.
Those are the three things I spend most of my time on.
I'd like to learn how to fight properly, but there are no teachers or proper training grounds here. I asked Rangiku to show me at least a few basic moves, but there aren't many. So I just build up my knuckles, do simple exercises, and run a lot. Well, running helps with work anyway — and I really do run a lot. But I simply have nowhere to get a combat technique or anything else here. I don't really enjoy fighting with local kids. I've already beaten everyone, even those older than me. It's not that I'm an amazing fighter — it's just that my speed makes me hard to hit, and thanks to reiryoku, my punch is stronger. I usually win in one blow. So I don't have many problems.
Still, it doesn't matter. At the Academy, I'm sure I'll become stronger and learn a great deal. The main thing is to keep trying and training.
That's how my days went — work and training. I delivered orders, leapt across rooftops, and even helped a little in the kitchen, though there wasn't much I could do there.
The store was thriving. Teguchi-dono began visiting more often to see Momoto-san. Perhaps he'll decide to propose soon — we're all eagerly waiting. He also bragged cheerfully about his lumber contract, saying that some shady types tried to steal it from him. Only then did they run away from the lumberjacks for a long time. There are always people like that.
Sometimes I visited the Marked Ones. Hotaru was getting better — good news, considering his sad fate. His health suffered greatly because of the Hollows, and now even a simple cold is dangerous for him. He got sick again, and I bring him medicine. He's a good guy — very kind.
"Karasumaru..."
I heard a whisper. Turning into an alley, I froze in shock. Tetsu was standing there. He waved to me. He covered his head with a hood and did not attract any attention. The only unusual thing was that he wore only one glove — the left — too big for his hand. A simple black leather glove. It was all he had left of his father; his sister kept the other, and he never parted with that small treasure.
I approached quietly.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry," he said sadly. "Hotaru's sick again. He needs different medicine. They said it's ginseng-based."
"Damn! I thought he was getting better."
"He was... but now he's worse."
"Okay," I nodded. "Go back. I'll get everything."
"Yeah."
That's where we parted ways.
I hurried home. My family was already sitting down to dinner, waiting only for me.
"Hi, everyone. Sorry, I have to leave urgently," I said as I passed through, heading straight for my stash and taking out my savings. Not much — but hopefully enough.
"Did something happen?" asked Momoto-san.
"I need to help a friend," I replied, pocketing the coins. "Is the pharmacy still open?"
"Grandpa Komaji closes in an hour," said Kittan. "Is it... 'them' again?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I can't abandon them."
"What do you need?"
"Ginseng."
"It'll be expensive. You won't have enough. Here." He tossed me two silver hoei. "Pay me back later."
"Thanks, Kitt." I smiled.
"I'll pack some food," said Momoto-san. "Stop by on your way back."
"Okay," I said, and hurried to the pharmacy.