"Hey, Shimiya… if you think this idea is stupid, then let me see your true measure."
Hearing this, Shimiya Takeru slowly opened his eyes, showing no eagerness at being provoked. He first adjusted his sitting posture, then, facing Ichigo's teasing gaze, he said unhurriedly:
"Let me state upfront that I don't look down on you."
"After all, the thing I want to pursue my entire life might be even more naive and ridiculous than yours, and I'm well aware of that."
"No… there's no need to deny yourself like that, is there?"
"This isn't self-denial, Kurosaki-kun."
Aizen interrupted Ichigo, saying with great interest, "Naivety and ridiculousness, in this context, don't come from oneself, but refer to the opinions of others. But often, when many people find something naive and ridiculous, it's also when it's closest to greatness."
"If it can be achieved one day, then everyone's opinions will be overturned, transforming into fervent worship."
Ichigo didn't quite understand, but… Shimiya Takeru's next statement made him absolutely certain—at least at this moment, this theory was correct.
"A man, even if only once in his life, wants to become the strongest… that is my dream."
"But the process of simply getting stronger is boring."
"After becoming the strongest, one will also be forced to possess immense influence; it's unrealistic for me to do nothing."
Shimiya Takeru gazed at the evening glow in the sky, the afterglow of the sunset burning his face crimson. The flickering torchlight in the bathhouse made one feel the endless thoughts churning beneath his expression, as if brewing an energy capable of changing the world.
"Brother Kurosaki and I are the same; we don't consider ourselves great people. To say that we'd create a utopian world or a perfect system with this power is absolutely impossible."
"But in the present, which I haven't seen, someone might be dying unjustly, a kind-hearted person might be killed by their own kindness, the incompetent might be high and mighty, the greedy might be plundering ill-gotten gains, those with selfish desires might be disrupting others' peaceful lives, evil might be overshadowing good, and unbelievably ridiculous and naive fools might be acting recklessly…"
"There are too many such things, so many that it makes one feel good people deserve to have guns pointed at their heads, so many that it makes one feel honest people deserve to be bullied… For such things, I'm even too lazy to use good and bad, right and wrong, justice and evil as reasons. I can only say… I can't stand it."
"Therefore, if you ask me what my dream is, if you ask what I want to keep doing until I die."
"It is to become strong to the point where no one can stop me, and to eliminate all those I can't stand."
"I will become the true Shinigami, the true balancer, the adjuster… wherever I go, there will be fairness, fairness, and still fairness!"
His powerful words were like bullets fired into Ichigo's heart.
He suddenly felt his mouth a little dry.
Perhaps it was because these words were too passionate, too fervent, too violent, as if boiling blood had evaporated all the water from his body. He could only force a dry laugh and use a joking tone to ease his mood.
"Shimiya, you speak as if you want to become the God of a new world."
"Gods can't do these things."
Before Shimiya Takeru could speak, Aizen interrupted him.
His expression was terrifyingly serious, as was his tone.
"Whether it's good or bad… God never cares about these things. In God's eyes, there is only the world; the rise and fall, misfortune, and sorrow of a few lives are never taken to heart."
"What people yearn for is not God, but an existence that possesses omnipotent power and can fulfill their wishes."
"But ironically, God exists, while that kind of existence… does not."
"The two sides have never stood on the same ground from beginning to end, so an irreconcilable contradiction is bound to arise."
"This leads to even the most beautiful era being built on error from the start, and developing in such a way will inevitably lead to destruction in the end."
Gulp.
Ichigo couldn't help but swallow, an indescribable chill creeping up his spine. He felt a vague unease but didn't know how to explain why he was uneasy.
Was it because Aizen's aura was too powerful? Or did these words hide some dangerous message?
"Teacher."
At this moment, Shimiya Takeru spoke, breaking the oppressive atmosphere.
He seemed completely unaffected as he casually asked:
"We've both finished speaking, it's your turn."
"As the one who started the topic, you can't avoid it."
"A philosopher in the Human World once said that never talking about oneself is a very noble form of hypocrisy."
"Teacher can't set a bad example."
Ichigo also got excited, grinning as he said, "That's right, what's Teacher's dream? With Teacher's style, it must be a very upright and beautiful one. Speak boldly, Shimiya and I definitely won't laugh."
"Yes, it's my turn to speak…"
Aizen showed a gentle smile. He subconsciously reached to push his glasses but found nothing, pausing slightly before his smile lessened. He closed his eyes and said softly:
"Although I'm sorry to disappoint Kurosaki-kun, I'm actually not as good as you think."
"What?"
Ignoring Ichigo's astonishment, Aizen leisurely recounted his story, his languid posture identical to Shimiya Takeru's.
This made it difficult to discern whether it was his true feelings or…
"Though it may sound arrogant, in my youth, I was also a genius no less than either of you."
"Joy, exhilaration… these surging emotions constantly rushed over me, but it wasn't long before only emptiness remained. My so-called dream also became a black-and-white picture in my memory, losing its vibrant colors."
"Yes, my dream died."
"…That's it?"
Ichigo was dumbfounded.
"That's it."
"…"
"…"
Silence spread.
Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo looked at Aizen with subtle expressions, as if saying, "Teacher, can you really feel good about yourselves by being so perfunctory with us?"
Aizen's lips curled into a faint bitter smile.
"I have no intention of toying with you; these are my true thoughts."
"Let's just assume it's true… but why did it turn out like this?"
Ichigo was both curious and a little hesitant, perhaps worried about touching upon someone else's unspeakable secrets.
"Perhaps it's because I wasn't as fortunate as Si Gong student."
Aizen's words made Ichigo involuntarily look at Shimiya Takeru.
Shimiya Takeru raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"If, at that time, I also had a friend like Kurosaki-kun by my side, perhaps the situation would have been very different."
"No, I still don't quite understand… even without friends, one shouldn't lose hope in a dream, right?"
"Kurosaki-kun, have you ever had that experience? When you were young, you wanted to do something, but when you grew up and were able to do it, you had already lost interest."
Aizen's words made both of them fall silent simultaneously.
It was as if they were reminiscing, and also… recalling the feeling Aizen described.
"Like an omnipotent God, who loses interest in everything because of omnipotence. Like a wealthy magnate, who has nothing left to buy because he can afford anything."
"That was my state of mind at the time."
Aizen's expression was calm, his gaze looking at his reflection on the water, slightly lost in thought.
"What about now? What does Teacher think now? In my opinion, a person without a dream, such a pessimistic person, shouldn't become a Captain and be loved by everyone, right?"
Shimiya Takeru suddenly asked.
Ichigo also suddenly woke up, his eyes shining as he looked at Aizen.
The latter showed a helpless expression.
"You found out, Si Gong student."
"Yes, I was like that at the time, but people change."
"I inadvertently heard a story, gained inspiration from it, and then became the not-so-pessimistic Aizen Sōsuke you see before you."
"…How artistic, like an encounter from a novel."
"Brother Kurosaki, don't interrupt."
"The story itself isn't complicated. It tells of a time when the world was plunged into darkness, without hope, and suddenly a hero was born. He led the best among the people to save the world, achieving the immense feat of ascending from human to God, and was indeed as powerful as a God."
Aizen's tone betrayed no emotion, completely calm and clear like an outsider.
"But good times didn't last. His companions killed him and used his body to create a new world. He offered no resistance during this process; perhaps he felt that this was not a bad outcome."
"A new world was created, but not without hidden dangers. Yet, there was no turning back, and no ability to salvage everything."
"His companions either didn't care, or were eager, or passively took on the mission of dominating and protecting the new world."
"The story ends there."
"That was the first time in my life I felt a surge of intense emotion in my chest. It took me a long time to understand that emotion was called 'contempt'."
"Contempt for the story itself."
"It doesn't matter what happened to the people in it anymore; the occurrence of this story is what I find most unacceptable."
"As a born strong individual, as a victor who achieved glorious deeds, one should decide the form of the world oneself, and carry out one's mission to the end, rather than relying on others. The so-called act of sacrifice without resistance is nothing but a shameful evasion."
"Si Gong student and Kurosaki-kun, who are also born strong and destined to achieve glorious deeds as victors, don't you agree?"
"This…"
Ichigo hesitated.
"Shimiya, what do you think?"
"Me?"
Shimiya Takeru was indifferent.
"I don't care."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"What a coincidence, Si Gong student and I share the same view."
Aizen's face was smiling, but there was no smile in his eyes.
"No matter how much one struggles with right and wrong, eventually one gives up thinking and focuses on oneself, starting to wonder… what would I do if I encountered such a situation one day?"
"If I happened to also be a born strong individual, saw the world's crisis with extraordinary insight, and was destined to achieve immortal great deeds, becoming a God from a hero… what would I do?"
"The answer is very simple."
"Die rather than become like that, die rather than… let future generations face such a choice."
"If there's something wrong with the current world, then I, as the victor, will go to the very end and redefine this world… this became my dream later on."
…
After soaking in the hot spring, the group found a Japanese restaurant in the commercial street around the bathhouse and feasted heartily.
As the moon rose, they chatted about problems encountered during training while walking back, and the rather long journey passed by unknowingly.
There was no parting even upon reaching the Fifth Divsion barracks.
The Spirit Arts Academy was on summer vacation, and there was no mandatory requirement for students not to stay out overnight.
It wasn't the first or second time Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo had stayed overnight at the Fifth Divsion.
They had their own temporary rooms, complete with changes of clothes and toiletries. To other squad members, they were no different from new recruits who had come for early practical training.
"Today was truly fulfilling. Although not very busy, I feel like I've learned a lot. My head is starting to feel muddled now… Time to sleep~ Good night."
"Mm, good night."
Down the corridor, Shimiya Takeru and Ichigo were about to return to their rooms to rest.
Suddenly, a figure appeared.
It was a member of the Fifth Divsion.
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