Chapter 26

"Sōsuke, let me teach you a Kidō!"

In the cafeteria, Kaelith Yurei shook his chopsticks triumphantly as he spoke.

Aizen glanced at him.

"Taught by the Captain-Commander?"

Kaelith's eyes widened. "Look down on me, do you? Am I, Kaelith Yurei, only good for showing off what the Captain-Commander teaches?"

"I swear on the Captain-Commander's arm, he didn't teach me this!"

Aizen: "..."

For some reason, Kaelith seemed to hold a grudge against the Captain-Commander's arm, always swearing by it.

After a moment of thought, Aizen guessed, "Did you learn it from someone else while studying at the First Division?"

Kaelith opened his mouth, then coughed.

"Enough talk. Are you learning or not?"

"I'll learn."

Aizen nodded; he would never pass up the chance to learn a new technique.

Pleased, Kaelith explained the pre-set trigger Kidō he had learned from Ukitake.

After listening to Kaelith's explanation, Aizen quickly rehearsed it in his mind, and his eyes lit up. "This is a good technique."

The pre-set trigger Kidō could be set on oneself before the battle. If ambushed, it could save one's life at a critical moment.

Looking at Kaelith, Aizen felt a bit emotional. He had always concealed his true power to avoid scrutiny, researching techniques on his own or sneaking into the archives for information.

But now, with Kaelith, everything had changed.

Techniques and knowledge he couldn't access on his own, Kaelith readily shared with him. One could say that the knowledge Kaelith brought each time had become crucial to Aizen's growth.

And the more this was the case, the more indebted he felt to Kaelith.

Even as friends, he didn't take such unilateral contributions for granted. He needed to produce research results soon—something that would elevate Kaelith to a new level and repay part of this favor.

Imagining Kaelith's grateful admiration, Aizen smirked.

---

The afternoon class was a lecture on various types of Hollows.

The curriculum at the Spiritual Arts Academy wasn't consistent every day. For today, after two hours of lecture, the rest of the time was open for independent training or practice.

As Kaelith packed up, he asked, "Sōsuke, want to go to Rukongai for fun?"

Aizen shook his head. "I'm going to the calligraphy class. Maybe next time."

"Calligraphy class?"

Kaelith looked puzzled; he hadn't heard about this before.

Aizen nodded. "It just started recently—a sort of hobby class."

With that, he picked up a bag and walked out of the classroom.

After a moment, Kaelith decided to follow.

Seeing Kaelith beside him, Aizen raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing here?"

"Checking out Japanese calligraphy."

"Are you interested in calligraphy?"

"Not at all."

Aizen looked puzzled. Not interested, yet joining in?

Shrugging off the oddity, the two arrived at the calligraphy classroom, where many students were already seated.

"Who's teaching this hobby class?"

"Sensei Yamazaki from Class Three," Aizen replied, pulling out paper and a brush. "Not exactly a master, but there's still something to learn."

Kaelith chuckled; Aizen's arrogance was always amusing.

Just as he was about to respond, a figure entered the room, and Kaelith couldn't help but exclaim. Many students instinctively gasped, even Aizen showed a hint of surprise.

It wasn't Sensei Yamazaki who walked in but a young-looking man with white hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Captain Ukitake?!"

"Captain Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division?!"

With a calm smile, Ukitake approached the podium and introduced himself.

The students quickly understood: Ukitake was also the vice president of the Seireitei Calligraphy Association. Hearing about the academy's new calligraphy class, he had volunteered to teach a session. Naturally, the school welcomed him eagerly.

As he introduced himself, Ukitake noticed Kaelith at the back of the classroom and gave him a subtle wink before returning to the lesson.

Listening to Ukitake's lecture, Kaelith's expression turned thoughtful.

Japanese calligraphy, unlike swordsmanship, had only a few well-known styles, mostly promoted by monks. Their names were full of traditional flair and mystique.

Ukitake demonstrated several fonts, writing a few characters for the students to observe, then invited them to try.

He stepped down from the podium, checking students' work.

Here he offered pointers, there he nodded, and elsewhere his expression turned mildly pained.

When he reached Kaelith, he smiled and pulled up a chair.

"Good afternoon, Kaelith. I was thinking of inviting you, but it seems you've already come."

As he spoke, he noticed Aizen's work nearby and looked on with interest.

Watching Aizen's brushstrokes, Ukitake's eyes showed a bit of surprise.

"This student is remarkable—so young, yet he's already developed a certain 'godliness' in his strokes. Many who practice for years never reach this stage."

Aizen finished his work and gave a respectful bow to Ukitake.

Kaelith leaned over to take a look.

Aizen had written a three-line ancient poem, but the archaic style left Kaelith slightly lost.

Still, he nodded. "Indeed, it's quite good."

Aizen gave him a skeptical look.

"Do you actually understand calligraphy?"

Kaelith was well-known to him; he never used a brush for notes, always opting for his self-made hard pen.

To say he understood calligraphy would be generous; his handwriting, while legible, was only distinctive for its speed. He could write ten times faster than other students.

Hearing this, Kaelith straightened up with a smirk.

"Sōsuke, if you put it that way, I can't let it slide."

Under Aizen's watchful gaze, Kaelith picked up a brush, setting a sheet of paper in place with a paperweight.

As he lifted the brush, Aizen noticed a shift in Kaelith's demeanor—an intense focus unlike his usual self.

Kaelith gazed at the blank page for several moments.

Then, with a sudden surge of energy, he began writing in one fluid motion:

"The wonderful law of the lotus flower, 

The secret treasure of all Buddhas."