Turning his head, he met a pair of resentful eyes.
It was Shihōin Clan Yūshirō.
"…"
"…"
Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo exchanged glances.
Both Hachihara and Rindo Yu instantly understood where his resentment came from.
"Si Gong student…"
"Ichigo."
"Huh?"
Shimiya Takeru's sudden interruption made Ichigo pause.
"You saw your long-lost family earlier, didn't you?"
"…What are you talking about?"
Isn't that obvious?
Facing Ichigo's surprised look, as if saying, "Are you crazy?", Shimiya Takeru asked curiously, "I remember you had siblings, how's your relationship with them?"
"Why even ask? Although I don't like to boast, I'm much more dutiful than that Kuchiki Byakuya guy. There's no way my family would dislike me. But as they've gotten older, my two younger sisters… Karin and Yuzu have started to become rebellious, which gives me a bit of a headache trying to figure out how to get along with them. But after being separated for a while and then meeting again this time, I can clearly feel that things are different from before."
Ichigo didn't notice that while he was speaking, besides Hachihara and Rindo Yu listening intently, even Yūshirō's attention was drawn in.
His original intention to complain to Shimiya Takeru about returning so late gradually faded from his mind.
"Is that so? Unlike you, I also have a younger sister. Although her name is beautiful, Kaguya, my relationship with her is actually very similar to Captain Kuchiki's family."
Shimiya Takeru shook his head.
"How rare, you also have times when you fail in social interactions."
Ichigo was a little surprised, and a little smug.
"I'm not a perfect superman. By the way, does Shihōin Clan have siblings?"
"Yes!"
Yūshirō quickly caught the topic Shimiya Takeru threw his way, making him seem as excited as a puppy, as if a tail was wagging behind him. But his mood instantly dropped.
"I have an older sister who ran away from home, and we had a very good relationship. I came out this time hoping to find her…"
"Don't worry, reunions are incredibly wonderful. Perhaps you need some advice from those around you to help you quickly eliminate any estrangement after you find your sister. Brother Kurosaki, in particular, has a lot of experience."
Shimiya Takeru stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, then walked past him towards the Dangai.
"Huh?"
"Kurosaki-kun! Please, you must enlighten me!"
Ichigo was caught by Yūshirō before he could react.
He wanted to call for help, but Shimiya Takeru had already walked far away.
And Hachihara and Rindo Yu also quickly followed him.
"Hey! You guys…!"
Ignoring Ichigo's shouts, on the way through the Dangai, Hachihara said teasingly, "Ichigo still hasn't noticed that Shimiya only calls him by his name when he's trying to trick him. This time he's been thrown out to draw fire again. He's really too cunning… No, it should be said that Ichigo is too easy to fool."
"What kind of talk is that? Am I the kind of person who likes to trick or fool his friends?"
Shimiya Takeru frowned and looked over.
"Shihōin Clan is one of the Four Great Noble Families of the Seireitei. With Ichigo's temper, he's bound to cause trouble and mischief if he becomes a Captain later. Building good relationships with the heads of the Four Great Noble Families in advance can be considered an extra layer of insurance. I'm thinking of him."
"It would be even better if he married into the Kuchiki Clan."
"With the backing of two major families, plus me becoming the Captain Commander later, he could completely walk around the Soul Society as he pleases."
"Ah, really… Wait, why are you so sure you'll become Captain Commander later?! Isn't that goal a bit too ambitious?!"
"Hachihara, what you should be doing now is not questioning, but supporting me. Because as your closest friend, I know your unique abilities very well. Even if others don't appreciate you, I will, in the name of the Captain Commander, bestow upon you an exclusive title to vindicate you! What kind of title would be best? That's what you should be thinking about."
"Hiss, an exclusive title… Like 'Kamaitachi' or 'Flash God'? Then I really need to think about it carefully."
Hachihara was deeply moved, and couldn't help but immerse himself in the future painted by Shimiya Takeru's firm and powerful words.
He mumbled something, and his steps slowed down.
Rindo Yu's eyelids twitched at the sight.
The next moment, a strong arm wrapped around him.
"Rindo, do you have an ideal?"
"…"
Facing Shimiya Takeru's caring inquiry, like an elder brother.
Rindo Yu chose silence.
A moment later, the light ahead brightened considerably.
They had reached the exit.
Accompanied by a brief dazzling light, the familiar scene came into view.
It was still the rooftop of the Spirit Arts Academy.
More people were gathered here than on the other side, including the Headmaster and a group of high-ranking officials, as well as members of the Onmitsukidō and the Technical Development Bureau.
After all, such a major incident had occurred that it couldn't be handled by just one or two departments behind closed doors.
Shimiya Takeru spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
The other person also saw him.
To be precise, he was specifically waiting there.
"Welcome home, Si Gong student."
"It feels like years since we last met, Teacher."
"Dangerous battles make one appreciate the passage of time even more."
Aizen pushed up his glasses and agreed.
"But all in all… well done. I'm proud of you all. Don't worry about the Onmitsukidō's investigation, I'll handle it. Now, get some good rest. This is the treatment those returning from the battlefield deserve. Speaking of which… where is Kurosaki-kun?"
"Oh, him? He made a noble friend and is having a lively chat right now. He probably won't be back anytime soon."
"Is that so? It seems everyone is in high spirits. I'm relieved then."
"Oh, Teacher, the Spirit Arts Academy is going on summer vacation, so… I might be troubling you for a long time to come."
Shimiya Takeru said softly.
Upon hearing this, Aizen paused slightly, but quickly smiled and responded in his usual gentle, inclusive tone:
"—You are always welcome."
No school trips, no Golden Week.
But fortunately, there were still long holidays.
In summer, a hot season where iced watermelon is essential, the Spirit Arts Academy would open its gates, allowing people from Rukongai to travel back and forth for family visits.
Only a few elective courses remained throughout the day, injecting vitality into the Spirit Arts Academy campus in the form of club activities.
Passing midsummer, they arrived at the first day of July.
The temperature rose instead of falling.
It also got light earlier.
So much so that the squad member on night patrol saw someone running along the main road just as he was preparing for shift change.
"Is that…?"
Someone felt curious.
"A newcomer?"
"Huh? Yes! Senior, I just transferred from the Tenth Division to the Seventh Division!"
"Then it's normal not to know."
The senior yawned and said leisurely.
"That's the strongest prodigy in the history of the Spirit Arts Academy, destined to become a great figure in the Soul Society, 貫穿 your entire life, even your children's, and your children's children's… your entire family's career."
"He goes out to exercise almost every morning, running around the main roads surrounding the Spirit Arts Academy for at least two hours, as if he doesn't need to sleep."
"Although I don't think running is anything special, perhaps he has unique training techniques. And for some reason, seeing him every day makes night patrol much more motivated."
"It gives me a little sense of participation in this great mission of protecting the Gotei. Well… in a few days, I believe you'll also understand. Work hard, rookie. You're technically his senior, so show some spirit and don't let him look down on you."
"…Yes!"
Yes, in terms of seniority, he was his senior.
That being said.
The squad member couldn't help but cast an admiring gaze.
Shimiya Takeru didn't know he had become the subject of others' conversation.
However…
Wearing a gray tracksuit, a style different from that of the Soul Society.
His Zanpakuto was strapped to his back.
He went out for a run around the Spirit Arts Academy at dawn.
Overall, it was indeed hard to ignore his presence.
"Ha…"
Two hours of continuous steady running had almost exhausted Shimiya Takeru's stamina, so he stopped, leaning on his knees and panting heavily.
His muscles trembled, and sweat poured out uncontrollably.
He looked as if he had been pulled out of water.
Normally, with the blood of a fairy tale dragon, his stamina wouldn't be so poor.
But… that was under normal circumstances.
Tap, tap.
Shimiya Takeru barely managed to raise his hand, lightly tapping the hilt of the sword behind him with his finger.
His whole body instantly felt much lighter.
This was a set of training methods Aizen had summarized after he mastered Shikai, based on the characteristics of Shikai.
In a word.
It was to mobilize the Zanpakuto's spiritual power to put pressure on the wielder.
The so-called spiritual power.
According to Urahara Kisuke, it is "the power that acts on objects with spirits."
And Endonemī was particularly good at this.
Rather than "spiritual pressure release."
It was more like being good at "applying spiritual power within the wielder's body, causing some incredibly terrifying spiritual particle phenomenon."
So, as long as the sword was kept close.
And the sword spirit released spiritual power, showing an attitude of resistance towards its master.
The master himself did not forcefully suppress it with his own power, but rather allowed the spiritual power released by the sword spirit to fill his body.
Continuously maintaining this state, similar to a "failed Shikai."