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Even though he'd known this might happen, Shiba Kaien never expected to run into Shirō here. Sure, he had bragged to kids like Shirō and Kuchiki Byakuya, but he'd never gone around shouting it to everyone. In Kaien's mind, what he'd done wasn't even really bragging, just stating a fact a little early. Who would remember that kind of thing later anyway?
Kaien had always been the modest type around seniors and elders. But when it came to juniors? He was easygoing, loved to joke, and had a playful side.
Just like in the manga, Kaien had always respected Ukitake deeply. When Ukitake wanted him to serve as his lieutenant, Kaien had humbly insisted he wasn't some kind of genius. But turn around and talk to someone younger? He absolutely loved being called Captain. That was just who he was, modest up, chill down.
"Kaien-sama~! Kaien-sama~!"
As the crowd fawned over him like fangirls spotting a celebrity, Shiba Kaien smiled as he walked out of the testing room. In truth, he'd been nervous. The "sixth-grade spiritual pressure" everyone talked about had only ever been something his family told him he had. Until the results came in, he hadn't been 100% sure. But now, it was confirmed. He could finally breathe easy.
Kaien shot Shirō a smug look and raised his eyebrows proudly.
"Let's go, Soifon! Our turn!" Shirō huffed defiantly. He'd never been told what his spiritual pressure ranked at. His father had only sent him to the Academy after his fallout with Yoruichi, and because Shirō's spiritual power was clearly strong enough. But if Shirō really had sixth-grade reiryoku, Vice-Captain level, there was no way his dad would've played it so casually.
In truth, Shirō was running on blind optimism. If Kaien, the so-called genius of this era, could score that high, then surely he, a transmigrator who had already formed a Zanpakutō, wouldn't rank any lower, right?
(Though to be fair, he still couldn't accurately sense reiryoku levels at this stage.)
In the end, Shirō's test result came back as above fourth grade, but not quite fifth, exactly the same as Soifon's.
A genius? Sure, you could still call him that. Maybe not once-in-a-century, but a once-a-year talent? That fit.
Still, reiryoku wasn't everything. Just look at Soifon, she'd eventually become a Captain! But right now? Right now, spiritual pressure was everything. Just like grades during your school years, it was the only metric that mattered.
"Let me try again!"
"Are you sure the machine's working properly?!"
"I swear I can squeeze out a little more!!"
"Come on, give me another shot!"
To anyone watching, it looked like Shirō had just flunked the test and was begging for a second chance. Nobody would have guessed he was actually one of the top scorers.
Shirō was placed in Class 1 of Year 1, naturally. Even if he wasn't a generational genius, he was still among the best of the new students. And let's be honest, half the people in that class weren't even close to being called geniuses.
< Kidō: Excellent.
< Hakuda: Excellent.
< Zanjutsu: Excellent.
< Shunpo: Insane.
That was Shirō's assessment on entrance.
In any other era, Shirō would've been a total standout. Like Hisagi Shūhei later on, his name alone would've made younger once tremble with admiration. But unfortunately, he'd enrolled the same year as Shiba Kaien, the once-in-a-century prodigy. All the attention went to Kaien.
In any system, it's the valedictorian who gets all the glory. The second and third might get some recognition too. But fourth place? Even if you're only slightly behind the top three, you'll be forgotten in a flash.
At least within the Academy.
Future achievements within the Gotei 13 would be a different story. Some talents bloomed late, and they bloomed brilliantly. Six years might feel long, but in the life of a Soul Reaper, it was barely anything. Even if you ranked near the bottom in school, you could still end up a Captain one day.
When Shirō had first entered, people had high expectations for him. They thought he'd be the only one able to keep up with Kaien.
But over time, that attention faded.
Part of it was Shirō himself. He was low-key, didn't like showing off, didn't speak much, and never caused trouble. In other words, he didn't stand out. He didn't even eat with anyone. Had no real friends. Didn't talk to anyone. The punks and underachievers were more noticeable than him.
Some thought he was arrogant. Others thought he was antisocial. The truth? Shirō just didn't care about mingling with nameless extras. The only two people he really knew were Soifon and Kaien.
Soifon was always cold to him. Kaien, ever since that "little sister" comment, avoided him like the plague.
And so, Shirō became that guy, the moody loner in the classroom. Cold. Quiet. Distant. Too cool for everyone.
To those who'd known the old Shirō, like Soifon and Kaien, it was jarring. That energetic, mouthy troublemaker had somehow turned into this brooding "cool guy"? Was this really the same person? Maybe he had a twin?
The second reason people stopped paying attention to Shirō: the Zanpakutō issue.
While everyone else proudly revealed their freshly forged swords, Soifon especially strutting around like a peacock, Shirō still carried a standard blade. No one even knew he had already formed his Zanpakutō.
Good stats meant nothing if you didn't level up.
At first, he might've impressed people just by existing. But as soon as others began "class changing", "I got my Zanpakutō!" "I reached Shikai!" "I'm already training in Zanjutsu specialization!", who cared about the kid still stuck on a starter build?
Of course, the moment everyone did manifest their Zanpakutō, and Shirō still hadn't… he'd be back in the spotlight. Just not in a good way.
Life at the Academy was boring.
It made sense, Soul Reapers were combat units, so the curriculum was heavy on real-world drills. But to Shirō, it all felt like déjà vu. He'd already learned all of this with Yoruichi. Now, it was like asking a sixth grader to go back and re-learn addition.
Worse? His body was growing fast. Practically overnight, he'd gone from "child" to "teen." He was now about the same size as pre-war Byakuya from 110 years ago.
Shirō figured this was thanks to proper food and sleep. No more getting beat up by Yoruichi every day. No more starvation-level training. Just rest, recovery, and actual meals.
After another painfully dull day of classes, Shirō was seriously considering applying for early graduation. Six years might not sound long, but at this rate, it would feel like forever.
That night, he returned home and began his daily ritual:
Communing with his Zanpakutō.
Due to its special nature, he couldn't bring it to school. That's why the Academy still thought he hadn't formed one. But every evening, he sat cross-legged and meditated, blade on his lap, trying to reach the inner world where Saber waited.
He hadn't succeeded since that first time.
Still, he could feel it.
He was close.
He was right there, just one layer away.
Pop!
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150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter