Chapter 8

"Back then, Kinoshita-Sensei thought I was completely out of strength. He was thrilled, gathered all his energy, and was just about to take me down."

"But what he never expected was that I'd unleash a secret family technique, gathering all the spiritual pressure I'd been saving up and releasing it in one powerful burst, achieving unimaginable strength!"

"With that unstoppable move, I struck down Kinoshita in one blow, winning the match!"

"From this story, did any of you gain some insight?" (t/n: Ok, I am starting to love this guy XD)

Looking at Kaelith, who was sitting at the podium and talking eloquently, a student who was listening attentively raised his hand.

"…When faced with difficulties, don't give up easily?"

Another student shook his head. "No, it's about always preparing yourself as much as possible so you can turn things around at a crucial moment!"

A third student slightly lifted their head. "You're both wrong. What Kaelith is really trying to say is that family resources are essential for a Shinigami!"

As his classmates discussed, Kaelith Yurei slapped his thigh with enthusiasm.

"Wrong, all of you!"

"The story actually tells us that Kinoshita's reign is coming to an end! If we unite, we can overthrow his tyranny and bring a brighter future for Class 7!"

The students looked at Kaelith, stunned.

Could that really be the takeaway?

In the third row of the classroom, Kuchiki Sōjun nodded thoughtfully.

"Kaelith's plan is pretty clever—using humor to mask his actual strength."

"Saving up his spiritual pressure and releasing it all at once… To most people, that sounds believable enough."

"This way, the rumors about him will probably spread a bit slower."

Hearing this, Seinosuke Yamada chuckled.

"You're overthinking it, Kuchiki. From my perspective, Kaelith is just… boasting for fun."

Sōjun instinctively wanted to argue but couldn't quite find the words.

Indeed… considering Kaelith Yurei's personality, it really might just be casual nonsense.

He turned to Aizen. "Sōsuke, what do you think?"

"I'd rather not think about it…"

Aizen held his head on his forehead.

The thought of that guy up on the podium having the same level of potential as himself felt absurdly surreal.

It was almost unbearable.

Fortunately, Kaelith's antics didn't last long. Before too much time passed, Kinoshita entered the classroom with the materials, and with a shout, Kaelith's little group quickly dispersed.

Standing at the podium, Kinoshita gave Kaelith a complicated look.

Who would've thought that this troublemaker, this mischief-maker, who'd caused so much chaos, would have such a hidden depth?

And even more unbelievable was how this guy, through some inexplicable luck, had caught the eye of the Captain-Commander, becoming his student.

Every time Kinoshita thought about it, he couldn't help but marvel at how strange fate was.

---

…

As the morning classes concluded, Kaelith and his friends headed to the cafeteria.

Thanks to Sōjun Kuchiki's generous sponsorship, the four of them enjoyed a hearty lunch.

During the meal, Seinosuke, using his quick reflexes, managed to snag an extra piece of tempura shrimp, leaving Kaelith in regret.

After the meal, Sōjun put down his chopsticks and looked at Kaelith.

"Kaelith, did you get summoned by the Captain-Commander yesterday?"

Hearing this, Seinosuke Yamada, who was sitting nearby, was taken by surprise and turned to look at Kaelith.

Aizen also looked over at him.

 Kaelith paused for a moment, then, remembering Sōjun's identity, showed a look of understanding.

Under the gaze of the three, he nodded. "Yes, the Captain-Commander asked me to come to his place once a week to learn."

As soon as these words were out, not only Kuchiki and Seinosuke, but even Aizen couldn't help but show a surprised expression.

Seinosuke was a bit excited. "You're telling me, the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, has taken you as his disciple?!"

Kaelith shook his head. "It's not exactly as a disciple, just that I'll be going once a week to learn… If I had to compare it, it's more like an extra tutoring class."

"Tutoring class?" Hearing this strange term, Seinosuke gave him a confused look.

But he quickly dismissed the question and continued. "You fool, that's practically the same thing as being a disciple! Even though you're strong, compared to that man, you're still far from his level. Having him teach you once a week is already more than enough for you to process!"

"Damn, you're so lucky! To be favored by the Captain-Commander himself!"

At this point, Seinosuke showed a slightly conflicted expression.

"Well, it's not just luck. If you look throughout Soul Society's history, how many people have gained such strength at your speed?"

"Maybe… you're the only one."

Upon hearing this, Kaelith shook his head. "No, my strength is the same as Sōsuke's."

"What?"

Seinosuke turned to Aizen, stunned.

Aizen paused for a moment, then helplessly said, "Don't listen to Kaelith, if I had that kind of power, don't you think I'd be using it?"

Seinosoke seemed a little suspicious. "Usually, I'd agree with you, but considering Kaelith has hidden his strength before, and you two are often together, there's a chance you're hiding something too…"

Aizen: "…" (t/n Aizen right now (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻)

As someone who prided himself on personal development, good character, and lofty ideals, comparing himself to Kaelith Yurei always felt somewhat insulting.

Sōjun thought for a moment and then nodded slightly. "I see now. The Captain-Commander is probably using this method to protect you."

"With him behind you, even if the nobles want to recruit you, they can only approach you in a friendly way—they can't force you."

"After all, it seems the Captain-Commander doesn't plan to directly participate in this conflict. But if anything happens to his newly accepted student, it could complicate things."

He looked at Kaelith, offering a sincere smile.

"That's great, Kaelith. With this, you don't have to worry about outside interference. You can focus on your studies and training without distraction."

Looking at Sōjun, who seemed to radiate a holy light, Kaelith felt a rare sense of self-doubt.

Was he really worthy to be friends with someone as pure and noble as Sōjun?

But then, he glanced over at the two sitting beside him: one a grumpy old man in disguise, the other a sharp-tongued troublemaker... In comparison, maybe he wasn't so bad after all.

---

…

After returning to the classroom, Kaelith followed his usual routine, preparing the materials he would need for the afternoon class and placing them on his desk.

This afternoon's class was on Kaidō, specifically the Healing Kido.

Most of the students in the class didn't have much interest in Kaidō, and only those aiming to join the Fourth Division were serious about learning it.

Of course, as a self-disciplined and proactive student, even though Kaelith wasn't particularly interested in Kaidō, he still planned to pay attention.

However, after waiting for a long time, Kinoshita still hadn't arrived for the lesson.

Just as Kaelith began to wonder if Kinoshita had eaten something bad for lunch and was now struggling in the restroom, a figure slowly entered the classroom.

Seeing this person, Kaelith froze for a moment.

Then, his eyes widened in shock!