Chapter 15 Aizen
Aizen Sōsuke.
Shin's eyebrows twitched involuntarily when he heard that name.
"I see. I understand. What about the time?"
"The day after tomorrow morning, before classes begin, the Squad Five Captain will arrive at the Spiritual Arts Academy, Tachikawa Chairman, you just need to be prepared then."
"..."
After the informing teacher left, Shin's brows furrowed involuntarily.
Aizen...
Shin had thought more than once about what it would be like to meet him and how he should act.
He didn't expect it to be so soon.
"Shin?"
While Shin was deep in thought, he didn't even notice Hisagi Shuuhei's arrival.
"Shūhei?"
"What are you thinking about?"
"...Nothing, I just received a notice. A Captain will be coming to inspect the Spiritual Arts Academy in a couple of days, and the school wants our Student Council to handle the reception and guidance."
"Oh." Shūhei wasn't surprised by this; it was a tradition every year.
"Has it already come to this time?" he mused.
This was their fifth year at the Spiritual Arts Academy. Since they first enrolled, excluding Captains who came to substitute teach, a Captain would come to inspect every year. This also had another benefit: to promote their own Squad to the students.
Starting from the first year, the Captains' inspections they had experienced were Squad Thirteen Captain Ukitake Jushiro, Squad Eight Captain Kyōraku Shunsui, Squad Four Captain Retsu Unohana, and Squad Ten Captain Shiba Isshin.
"Who is it this year?" Shūhei asked again.
"Squad Five's Captain Aizen."
"So how are we supposed to receive him?"
Shin pondered. This kind of thing was nothing more than making an announcement in advance, then putting up banners, and finally having someone act as a guide in front of the Captain.
But his thoughts weren't on that. He said, "Let's just have a meeting this afternoon."
In the afternoon, under Rukia's notification, the Student Council executives learned about the Captain's inspection the day after tomorrow during the meeting. Shin simply assigned tasks for it.
The day of the Captain's inspection arrived quickly.
With the Student Council's advance publicity, the entire Spiritual Arts Academy was aware of the matter. Many people gathered on both sides of the main road at the main gate, mostly first-year students, all wanting to witness the Captain's heroic demeanor firsthand.
Shin looked at the welcome banners put up by the Student Council members and couldn't help but feel that doing such a thing was quite embarrassing.
Fortunately, they didn't wait too long. Two figures approached from outside the main gate. The leading figure, wearing a white haori, was exceptionally striking, and everyone knew what that signified.
"They're here! They're here!"
Gasps of excitement echoed through the crowd, but as the two figures drew closer, silence quickly fell.
Squad Five Captain Aizen Sōsuke was a handsome young man who appeared very refined and upright, with short brown hair, wearing black-rimmed glasses, and a gentle smile on his face that made him very approachable.
With just one glance, the students lined up on both sides couldn't help but feel a surge of goodwill.
This goodwill came not only from his temperament but also from his spiritual pressure. Everyone could feel the vast, ocean-like, and unfathomable spiritual pressure emanating from him, which was different from all the teachers they had encountered. It was stronger than theirs, yet without any oppressive feeling, only a sense of steadiness and profoundness.
Such a person was a Captain!
Although it wasn't the first time Hisagi and the others had seen a Captain, every time they faced one directly, they couldn't help but sigh, thinking this was a height they might never reach in their lifetime.
Following behind Captain Aizen was a silver-haired male wearing a death garb and a Lieutenant's armband.
This person was also a well-known figure: Ichimaru Gin, who graduated from the Spiritual Arts Academy in just one year.
Rukia and several Student Council executives were with Shin.
"Captain Aizen, Vice-Captain Ichimaru, welcome to the Spiritual Arts Academy for your inspection."
Aizen stopped, his gaze resting on Shin, and a warm smile instantly appeared on his face.
"You must be the Student Council President Tachikawa Shin, right? I've heard of you."
Shin bowed slightly and also smiled, saying, "It is truly my honor that you know of me. Please allow this student to lead the way for Captain Aizen and Vice-Captain Ichimaru."
"Alright, thank you for the trouble. It just so happens that I'm very interested in your Student Council. Could you tell me more about it in detail?"
Aizen looked at the boy in front of him with a beaming smile. Perhaps sensing something, the smile on his face seemed to hold a deeper meaning.
Shin led Aizen and Ichimaru Gin directly to the Student Council's main office, where some documents had been prepared.
Along the way, Shin explained information about the Student Council, such as its specific functions, to Aizen and Ichimaru Gin.
"It's not easy for an organization like this to be quickly established and operational, Tachikawa student. It's clear you're very capable," Aizen praised.
Shin humbly replied, "You flatter me. I merely proposed a simple concept. The ones who truly perfected it were the teachers of the Spiritual Arts Academy. They entrusted me with the burden of being President, and I'm still unsure if I can do it well."
"I, on the other hand, think you are being too modest. Having such a concept is already quite remarkable. In all the time the Spiritual Arts Academy has existed, no one has ever proposed something like a Student Council. Furthermore, I also know that your own academic performance is excellent among your peers. A few months ago, I even specifically informed your homeroom teacher to inquire about your Squad preference after graduation. I didn't expect you wouldn't graduate early, but it seems now that not graduating early was the correct choice," Aizen said with a chuckle.
Shin's eyebrow twitched. Aizen's words held many implications.
"It's just that this student feels his various abilities are not yet solid enough, and he wants to study for another year at the Spiritual Arts Academy. Otherwise, even if he were to graduate by chance, he might be eliminated in the Squad Thirteen entrance examination."
"Who said that?" Aizen chuckled. "If Tachikawa student were willing to come to my Squad Five, he would certainly pass."
Shin sighed, shaking his head gently. "Thank you for Captain Aizen's kindness, but even if this student wanted to, he couldn't go to Squad Five."
"Oh?"
"A few days ago, I was fortunate enough to awaken my Zanpakuto. Its ability is a healing type that can perform Kido. My homeroom teacher told me that Squad Four would be more suitable for me in the future."
"Healing type..."
Aizen mused upon hearing this. "That's a very rare ability. With such a Zanpakuto, Tachikawa student will surely shine brightly in Squad Four in the future."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Shin took out the stack of documents for Aizen to review. These were detailed profiles of students from each first-year class. If Aizen found anyone he was interested in, he could visit those classes.
Aizen took it and flipped through a few pages, then suddenly said, "Tachikawa Chairman, if possible, could you let the other students go back first? We don't need so many people following us, and everyone should have their own things to be busy with."
He was referring to the other Student Council members in the office.
Originally, everyone was happy to stay by the Captain's side, but hearing Aizen say this, Shin gestured for them to leave the office, leaving only Rukia standing beside Shin, looking nervous.
While flipping through the documents in his hand, Aizen asked, "Tachikawa Chairman, if I may be so bold as to ask a question."
"This spiritual pressure fluctuation that constantly surrounds you, like a barrier, is that also your Zanpakuto ability?"
Shin's eyes twitched slightly at the question.
Previously, to conceal his true spiritual pressure, he would keep the spirit particles in his body in a constant state of leakage.
However, after awakening his Zanpakuto, he gained a more convenient ability.
A thin, sparse stream of spirit particles constantly surrounded him, so thin that it was extremely difficult for ordinary people to detect, at least Sawataku Minamida had never noticed it.
And these spirit particles, besides concealing his true spiritual pressure level, had other abilities.
Aizen chuckled, looked up at him, and gently pushed up his glasses.
"Perhaps I'm just too curious. Could Tachikawa student enlighten me?"