After the day's classes ended, it was time for evening training again.
After confirming the time with Tōsen Kaname, the two of them went back to sparring—until they were both completely exhausted.
During a short break, Arima Shizuya brought up his concern.
"Hakuda? If you're asking me, you're probably looking at the wrong person…"
"Because in the end, Hakuda is a broad term—close-quarters combat refined, combined, and systematized."
"It isn't difficult to get started, but if you want to truly improve, it won't be simple."
"Even at the Academy, there aren't many instructors who truly excel at it. As one of the four fundamental disciplines, the situations where it shines are actually rather limited."
"You should be able to understand why, right? People only have so much energy. No matter who you are, you have to choose a focus and train accordingly before you can accomplish anything."
"So everyone has areas they're weak in. Back when I was a first-year, my Kidō evaluation was among the lowest."
"But in the end, the tests won't be too harsh. The Academy isn't an organization designed to make things difficult just for the sake of it."
As he shared his thoughts, Tōsen passed a cup of water forward.
After such intense sparring, the benefits were many times greater than pounding away at a wooden post. Without replenishing fluids, the body would start screaming.
Shizuya sat on the floor, panting, and murmured his thanks.
"So it's not easy to find someone who's good at Hakuda?"
Tōsen sat beside him and considered.
"At the very least, I don't think it will be simple."
That really was a headache.
Shizuya's shortcut to learning was straightforward: find someone strong, let them "kindly instruct" him.
"Most Shinigami rely on their Zanpakutō as their primary weapon. Hakuda is more like an emergency measure. Oh—and…"
After thinking a bit, Tōsen added—
"Those from the Onmitsukidō tend to be skilled in that area. Unfortunately, I don't have any connections to people like that."
Blind, Tōsen still held his gaze toward empty air, voice calm.
"My apologies."
Shizuya let out a long breath, pulled away the arm he'd been using to prop himself up, and flopped onto the floor.
"Why are you apologizing? That's way too formal. I was just asking."
"It is a matter of attitude, not content."
"You're so rigid. What are you, some old man…?"
Tōsen's lips lifted slightly. He didn't take the bait, instead choosing to change the subject.
"Though I don't know why you suddenly want to train Hakuda, speaking as a second-year, I do not recommend it."
He finished the water and let his right hand drop back to the sword hilt.
"For exams, doing the bare minimum is enough. People should know themselves. Your swordsmanship is far above your Hakuda—do not waste that talent."
Oh?
Shizuya couldn't help letting out a small laugh.
"You can say some pretty encouraging things sometimes."
"This is simply what I truly think… Enough. Speaking further to someone as vulgar as you is pointless."
Shizuya could practically feel the disdain rolling off him. Tōsen stood and extended his right hand.
"That will be enough sparring for today."
[You swung the wooden sword and had an intimate exchange with Tōsen Kaname. Swordsmanship +2]
The effect had dropped.
Meaning Shizuya's swordsmanship was getting closer and closer to Tōsen's level.
Shizuya reached out to use Tōsen's hand to haul himself up—only for his expression to crack instantly.
"Ow!"
A brutal cramp tore through his muscle. Shizuya couldn't stop the yelp, clutching his arm and sucking in air, his head starting to pound.
Tōsen crouched halfway, a deep line forming between his brows. He seemed… confused.
"You… why are your injuries still this severe?"
Huh?
You're asking me?
Maybe ask yourself why you hit so hard.
As if remembering something, Tōsen fell silent for a moment, then asked—
"Did you not ask anyone to treat you with Kaidō?"
"…That's a thing?"
"Of course it is. Honestly—you really don't know anything."
With a quiet sigh, Tōsen used both hands this time, gripping Shizuya by the elbow and helping him to his feet.
"I told you before—everyone has their specialties. Even among students, there are those who focus heavily on Kidō."
"Many of them have clear ambitions. They choose to specialize, and they're eager to train those abilities."
"So you can find classmates who aim to enter the Fourth Division of the Gotei Thirteen, and ask them to treat you."
"Of course, since they're still unskilled—since they're practicing—naturally their technique won't be mature…"
He spoke while tapping his own wrist.
Shizuya understood immediately.
That spot had been a main target yesterday. An injury like that would affect movement.
There was no way it should have recovered to this extent in a day and a night through natural healing alone.
So you've got a healer in the backline, huh?!
Before Shizuya could complain, Tōsen's face twisted with open disdain.
"I already thought you were missing a screw, but I didn't think it was this bad…"
Shizuya wanted to argue, but he couldn't find a convincing reason.
So he forced out a flimsy defense.
"You can just push through with willpower! Willpower!"
"…Are you the hot-blooded idiot type?"
It was rare for him to joke, but Tōsen actually chuckled and shook his head, then added—
"If you have time, go to the first floor of the main building. That area is officially open for student groups. If you need something, you can seek help there. Though… they're students, so there are unreliable types mixed in."
So there was a place like that.
Good to know!
"You've helped a lot, Tōsen."
Shizuya saw Tōsen's cheek twitch—like he was about to smile, but forced it back down.
Even his expressions were controlled. What a stubborn man.
"You're welcome."
They parted at the dōjō entrance, bringing the day's training to a close.
Back in the dorm, Shizuya rested and deliberately adjusted his alarm.
The next day—
With an hour to spare before class, he visited the Mutual Aid Desk on the first floor of the school building, just as Tōsen had said.
Staring at the wall covered in handwritten posters and all sorts of bizarre notices, Shizuya's expression turned subtle.
This really did feel like student-run management…
Because he'd come so early, there was almost no one around. Shizuya enjoyed the quiet and began reading the notices.
Some were looking for roommates. Others were selling secondhand goods.
There was even a "girlfriend recruitment" post…
What kind of lunatic would apply for that?
As he was thinking—
A hand reached in from the side and tore down the notice in front of him.
"..."
Huh?
He turned a beat late—and saw someone who radiated an oppressive presence.
Like him, the person wore Shin'ō Academy's loose blue-and-white uniform.
But the height was ridiculous.
Shizuya was already over 180 centimeters, yet this person was still half a head taller.
What did you even eat to grow like that?
He lifted his gaze—
And their eyes met.
Pale gold irises. Messy short hair in a silver-gray shade.
Thick eyebrows—so bold they looked like they'd been drawn in with a heavy brush.
With an androgynous face, the person stared at Shizuya with a completely flat expression.
The air turned awkward.
Being a whole head shorter did wonders for destroying your courage to speak.
But the other person broke the silence first.
"Are you trying to post a new mutual aid notice?"
Uh… a woman?
Shizuya snapped back to himself. He started to speak, but she continued as if it was obvious.
"If so, please wait a moment. This area needs to be cleared… New notices can be posted over there."
The tone was cool, but the actions were surprisingly helpful.
Shizuya watched her continue tearing down old notices. As she shifted, he caught her profile.
She had several thin braids, and a pair of red strip-shaped earrings that swayed lightly beneath her earlobes—
Like wind chimes hanging by a window.
Small, delicate ornaments… oddly attention-grabbing.
Shizuya found himself staring for a moment.
"Um…"
She stopped and turned her head toward him.
Her brows drew together slightly. The coldness in her face melted into something more like mild trouble.
"Is there something else?"
Shizuya waved his hands quickly, forcing an awkward smile.
"Ah… sorry. N-no."
Since she'd been interrupted, she seemed to lose interest in continuing the "work." She pressed her lips together and straightened.
"You're a new first-year, right? I'm responsible for this area. If there's anything I can help you with, just say so."
Was it because her features were so androgynous?
Shizuya felt like her expression was always severe—completely mismatched with what she said.
But if he'd run into the person in charge, that saved him a lot of trouble.
"It's like this—since I train a lot, I get injured often. So I want to find a student who's good at Kaidō…"
Before he could finish, he saw her raise an eyebrow slightly.
"May I see your injuries first?"
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