The invincible Instructor Kaede had finally fallen.
To Kisaragi Akira, Kaede Jun'ya's mental fortitude had always been unmatched. Even with all the trouble Akira caused—earning Class 1-A the "Problem Child Class" label more times than he could count—Instructor Kaede still showed up at the kendo hall rain or shine, week after week.
His skill wasn't the greatest, sure, but his dedication easily surpassed ninety percent of the staff.
But now…
Akira stared blankly at the pure-white figure standing at the front of the dojo, his expression a mix of dazed disbelief and the kind of despair that made a man question the point of living.
He shifted slightly, leaning toward the boy beside him."Hey, Sousuke… tell me."
"Does Instructor Kaede… still have a chance of surviving this?"
Aizawa Sousuke fell silent. After a moment of heavy thought, he offered his conclusion:
"…Hard to say."
He didn't know Unohana Rei's true identity, but his instincts screamed that this woman was not what she seemed. From the first moment he saw her, he sensed oceans of blood and mountains of corpses behind that gentle smile.
Even a prodigy like Aizawa had to admit it:
So far, Fourth Division Captain Unohana Rei was the strongest existence he had ever encountered.No contest.
Given that, if Kaede Jun'ya had stubbornly refused to hand over today's kendo class, Aizawa could not guarantee the man would still be breathing.
But more importantly…
He really wanted to know what exactly Akira had said to her earlier.
Because now, it was painfully clear—
She was here specifically because of Kisaragi Akira.
At the front of the dojo, the white-clad woman raised her bamboo sword, her eyes soft as she gazed over the students.
But the moment she gripped the sword, something in her aura sharpened—like hidden blades flashing beneath moonlight.
"Students," she said warmly, "I'm afraid I bring unfortunate news. Just earlier, I received word that Instructor Kaede has suddenly fallen ill and has been transported to the General Infirmary."
"Therefore, I'll be taking over today's kendo lesson."
"But rest assured—I hold a Tenth-Dan ranking in kendo. Teaching you won't be an issue."
"And according to Instructor Kaede, today's focus was supposed to be live sparring."
"And as it happens—"
She smiled.
"I excel in live combat."
The instant her words finished, her razor-sharp gaze swept through the crowd—two invisible blades slicing straight through the students and pinning Kisaragi Akira in place.
The moment their eyes met, Akira's danger instincts shrieked like sirens. His grip tightened around his bamboo sword, and his entire body shifted into combat mode.
A violent aura surged from him, flipping his presence completely.
Aizawa blinked, startled. For a moment, his friend seemed… unfamiliar.
But Akira snapped out of it quickly. With a shiver, he forced his aura down until he looked like his usual, overly dramatic self—like that intense moment had been nothing but an illusion.
"Everyone," Unohana said kindly, "prepare yourselves. From this moment onward, kendo sparring begins!"
"Starting with you."
The front-most student flinched, then instantly lit up with excitement. With a shout, he charged forward, bamboo sword raised.
Regardless of her true level, Unohana Rei was still a captain of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions—a legendary figure in the Soul Society.
To spar against someone like that was the kind of honor students of the Academy could only dream of.
Face flushed with adrenaline, he bowed, then lunged forward with a full-power slash.
For a Class 1-A elite, he had some skill.But the instant Unohana shifted into stance, his fate was sealed.
Three movements.
That was all it took before his sword was flung out of his hands and defeat was declared.
"Your swings are too wide and telegraphed," Unohana said gently. "You must learn adaptability. In daily training, focus on integrating basic swordsmanship into instinct—so that the moment your blade moves, multiple technique variations are possible."
"But for your current stage, your swordsmanship is still above the pass line."
The student—slumped in humiliation a second earlier—immediately brightened.
"T-Thank you, Captain Unohana!"
Another student stepped forward, took his stance—
One strike.Instant defeat.
A few calm words followed, pinpointing every flaw and outlining exactly how to improve.
The sparring session rolled on quickly. Students approached one after another, only to be disarmed within two or three exchanges.
And under Unohana's clear, precise guidance, everyone's understanding of swordsmanship sharpened dramatically.
Akira watched with a tragic expression as the students around him slowly transformed into Unohana Rei fanboys.
"…Sousuke," he whispered, voice hollow, "you're the only one left in my faction…"
Sousuke brushed Akira's hand off his shoulder with a look of pure disdain. He stood, picked up a bamboo sword, and walked toward the front.
"No. We were never on the same side."
Backstabbed by his best friend, Akira's soul dimmed several shades.
While he was busy mentally screaming into the void, Aizawa Sousuke stood tall before Unohana.
She examined the brown-haired boy thoughtfully. She remembered him—he had accompanied Akira to the infirmary when Akira had injured his arm.
Their friendship seemed pretty solid.
"Captain Unohana, please guide me," Sousuke said, bowing politely. He raised his bamboo sword in a flawless ready stance.
Unohana nodded, serious and respectful.
"Begin."
The moment her voice fell—
Sousuke exploded forward in a burst of speed, a streak of lethal intent.
Unohana's eyes sparkled with predatory interest, like a hunter spotting a promising prize.
His bamboo sword descended like a rainstorm.
Wind roared. Pressure surged.
This wasn't at all like the earlier matches. Their clash felt like a glimpse of a real battlefield—raw, sharp, deadly.
Sousuke's vicious strike sliced through the air—
But Unohana slipped past with fluid grace. Her blade snapped back in a heavy counterstrike—
Sousuke's sword flew out of his grip.
Decisive victory.
The dojo fell silent. Then—
A horrifying realization dawned upon the students:
Kisaragi Akira's "background character" friend… was actually a monster-level genius.
"Very solid foundations," Unohana praised. "As expected, geniuses are drawn to one another."
She smiled sweetly.
"Kisaragi-kun… I hope your performance won't disappoint me."
Two smiling faces turned toward him.
Akira felt his soul leave his body. Malice—pure, crystallized malice—swallowed him whole.
So this was it…
The deepest wound isn't inflicted by the enemy.It's inflicted by your best bro.