(T/N: Chapter 2 out of 3!)
"Kakyō really is a new disciple of our teacher!"
Shiba Isshin confirmed Kakyō's identity, forcing Tsunayashiro Tokinada to reevaluate the pros and cons of the situation.
The influence of the Katori-ryu Dojo was rising rapidly. Several of its disciples had already become seated officers and lieutenants—but to Tsunayashiro Tokinada, that was hardly worth mentioning.
A few lieutenants or seated officers meant little in the eyes of the Tsunayashiro clan.
But the heir of the Shihōin Clan, Shihōin Yoruichi, was also a disciple of Katori Nanatsuki.
That alone made the Tsunayashiro clan tread more carefully before crossing Katori Nanatsuki.
In terms of influence within Soul Society, the Shihōin clan wasn't much weaker than the Tsunayashiro clan.
"A new disciple... your teacher really does enjoy meddling," Tsunayashiro Tokinada said coldly.
He recalled that a few days ago, when he had gone looking for Kakyō, he'd run into Katori Nanatsuki—he guessed that was when she'd been taken in as a disciple.
Tokinada didn't like Kakyō, nor did he care about her. He only agreed to marry her because it was expected of him by the clan.
But now that Katori Nanatsuki had stepped in like this, he couldn't help but feel like something that belonged to him had been taken away.
"You're the one meddling, aren't you? Since when does our teacher need your approval to take in a student?" Shiba Isshin said with a laugh.
"Becoming the wife of someone like me should be her honor!" Tokinada finally snapped, shouting, "Even this—Katori Nanatsuki has to interfere with?!"
"If it were mutual, our teacher would surely give his blessing," Aizen Sōsuke said calmly. "But what you're doing now is trying to force Kakyō into something she clearly doesn't want."
"I don't mean to offend you," Kakyō said softly, lowering her head, "but I have no intention of marrying you. This isn't something that can be forced. I'm sorry."
She had only just become a disciple of Katori Nanatsuki, and didn't want to bring trouble to her teacher.
That's why, when the Vice Principal approached her before, she had firmly rejected the idea of marrying into the Tsunayashiro family—but hadn't brought up her teacher.
She hadn't expected that her refusal alone wouldn't be enough to dissuade them, and that they would continue pressuring her through Tokinada.
"Refusing the Tsunayashiro clan's goodwill—don't come to regret it later," Tokinada said coldly before turning and leaving.
Kakyō had made her stance crystal clear, and with others still watching, he couldn't afford to stay and further humiliate himself.
As for the clan's 'task'... he'd never really wanted to get married anyway. Now he had the perfect excuse to back out gracefully.
"Thank you both..." Kakyō said gratefully.
"We're all disciples of the same teacher—it's only right to help each other," Aizen Sōsuke said with a smile.
"No need to worry! Your business is the dojo's business. If Tsunayashiro Tokinada keeps bothering you, let Sister Yoruichi handle it!" Shiba Isshin said with a grin.
He understood the state of the Five Great Clans well.
The Shiba Clan was in decline, sure—but the Shihōin Clan still had no reason to fear the Tsunayashiro.
In terms of clan influence, Shihōin Yoruichi held far more sway in her clan than Tsunayashiro Tokinada did in his.
Just then, a voice full of gritted-teeth fury came from behind them:
"Shiba Isshin! Aizen Sōsuke!"
"Oh no!" Shiba Isshin turned around in shock—and saw Shirai-sensei, her face flushed with anger.
"Why did you follow us here...?" he asked, guilt making him shrink back slightly.
"I was just being nice and came to bring you back to class—and what do I find? You actually snuck off while being punished to stand outside!" Shirai Riko yelled.
"Sensei, I must report—I was dragged away by Shiba Isshin," Aizen Sōsuke said, adjusting his glasses.
"I see... in that case, I'll let you off this time. But don't follow Shiba Isshin's bad example. Focus on your studies."
When she turned her gaze to Aizen, her anger cooled.
But when she looked back at Isshin—it surged again.
"You not only slack off, but you drag others down with you! You'll copy today's notes one hundred times!"
Aizen had scored extremely well on the entrance test, so Shirai Riko considered him an excellent student.
But Isshin was different. He had turned in a blank exam and scored a zero—earning himself a spot at the top of her personal blacklist.
"Traitor! You betrayed me!" Isshin roared. "Did you forget what you just said?!"
Just moments earlier, Aizen had said, "We're all disciples of the same teacher—it's only right to help each other."
Yet now he'd stabbed him in the back without hesitation!
"You did drag me out here," Aizen replied, his face full of wronged innocence.
"That's true, but haven't you heard of 'sharing hardships'?!"
"This hardship is of your own making. I see no reason to share it."
"Senior Isshin sure is... lively," Kakyō muttered, watching as Shiba Isshin was dragged off by Shirai Riko.
The reliable image she'd just built of him in her mind shattered instantly.
"That's just how he is… But if Tokinada keeps bothering you, don't try to handle it alone."
Aizen Sōsuke paused before leaving.
"Everyone at the Katori-ryu Dojo stands together. Both our teacher and our teacher's teacher are fiercely protective. Don't be afraid to trouble them."
Aizen, perceptive as ever, had seen through Kakyō's cautious personality.
He could tell the kind of person she was—someone who would never think of troubling her teacher unless she was truly at her breaking point.
In normal times, that kind of independence wasn't good or bad.
But if something happened that exceeded her abilities, that trait could lead to irreparable consequences.
Later, Shirai Riko brought Shiba Isshin to Nanatsuki's office.
"What did you do this time, Isshin? You actually made Shirai-sensei this angry?"
Katori Nanatsuki gave him a tired look.
Of all his students, Isshin had the most unruly personality.
Nanatsuki had suspected from the very beginning that this one would cause trouble.
And sure enough, only a few days into the term, Isshin had already become a regular visitor to the office.
He had even scored zero on every written test at the start of the semester.
Nanatsuki had been teaching at the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy for years—but this was a first.
Isshin had even used Nanatsuki's own words to justify himself:
"The battle of a Shinigami is a battle of Reiatsu—you don't need pens for that!"
Shirai Riko's adorable face was still flushed with rage, her mouth firing like a stream of Kidō spells:
"Shiba Isshin doesn't pay attention in class, he disrupts other students, and even sneaks off during punishment! Tell me—how am I supposed to stay calm?!"
"I'm sorry, Shirai-sensei!" Isshin wiped at nonexistent tears.
"I won't dare do it again! I'll listen to your lectures properly from now on!"
Now that he'd been caught, he knew full well his training back at the dojo would be doubled.
So he put on his best pitiful face, hoping it might reduce his punishment just a little.
"It's only been a few days since school started, and I've already heard that from you several times!" Shirai Riko said with her hands on her hips.
She was done believing Shiba Isshin's lies.
"Today's class notes—copy them one hundred times. And you're not leaving this office until you finish!"