CH 24: DANGAI

[Shin'o Academy]

On a podium stood three students. One man was in the front while one woman and another man were behind him.

Further behind them was a closed door that seemed to float in the air.

It was the Senkaimon. The official gate that people of the soul society could use to enter the living world.

After making sure that all the first-year students of class 1 were present, the one standing in front finally opened his mouth.

"I will first introduce myself. I am Shuhei Hisagi, a 6th-year student. Behind me are Kanisawa and Aoga, my fellow classmates. Today, the three of us will lead you."

An uproar sounded as most of the 1st-year students were astonished.

Renji, who generally didn't pay attention to what was happening in the academy couldn't help but mumble, "What the heck? They are acting like those three are some kind of stars."

"What!? You don't know?" Kira, who usually stayed silent, couldn't help but exclaim.

"Ha? Should I?"

"Haaa. Forget it. Anyway, the uproar is mainly because of that guy. Shuhei Hisagi. His entry in the Gotei 13 is already a foregone conclusion. In fact, it's even said that he would directly obtain a seated position once he enters."

"*Whistle* Seems like he is really a big deal. What do you think, Gojo?"

"*Yawn* I just think that having to wake up so soon is a crime."

Toshiro on the side commented dumbfounded, "Nii-san, this is the normal time for classes."

"And this is why it's a crime. The guy who made that schedule is really a demon."

The others could only laugh bitterly. They were already used to Gojo's laid back manner,

"Still, are you sure you will be alright alone? Do you even know how to do a soul burial? It was just explained to us."

"Haha. No worries. It's me after all."

The others could only nod while Renji watched with admiration. Even though he always showed a brash personality, the truth of the matter was that, deep down, he had always lacked confidence in himself. 

But he could see none of that in Gojo. His words weren't just bragging, but born from a supreme confidence in himself.

"Silence please."

From the podium, Hotaru silenced the student before continuing, "From now on, aside from one of you, all the rest will act in teams of three."

Saying so, she sent a pointed look to Gojo who could only scratch the back of his head sheepishly.

After their one time together, they did pass some other moments again, but neither of them really felt any spark between them. This was even more so since Hotaru knew that Gojo had relationships with other students.

The only saving grace was that Gojo had never tried to play her like a fiddle and as such their relationship was still alright.

"Momo, what's wrong?" Toshiro asked as he looked at a blushing Momo.

"N-no! Nothing! Haha."

Momo could only awkwardly laugh. Her room was close to Gojo and she could see the string of women visiting him. In fact, she knew that even some first-year girls were part of the lot.

It had to be said that whatever the era, bad boys would always have a certain attraction for women.

This created some very weird moments for her that would cause her to blush in shame whenever she remembered them.

"Anyway guys, how were you paired?"

 "I am with Momo and Renji. Meanwhile, Kira is with two other students. They are..."

"Hmm, no need to tell me. It isn't like I will remember their names."

Gojo dismissed and began to walk away, he didn't care about people who had nothing to do with him. This was just a waste of time and energy.

"Now then, does everyone have their Hell Butterflies? If so, let's go."

All the students nodded, while a plethora of black and purple butterflies appeared around next to them.

Watching the butterfly landing on his shoulder, Gojo could only marvel. It seemed that this little thing was the equivalent of phones here. Since they served as communication devices.

'Well, in a way they are also GPS. Hahaha~!'

Gojo joked inwardly. Those butterflies were necessary guides when using the Senkaimon. Without them, chances were that one would get lost in the Dangai. 

The Dangai was a sort of alternate dimensional passage that connected the Soul society and the human world. It also floated in the Garganta, another void dimension that connected the human world, the soul society, and the Hueco Mundo.

Gojo had done his research, but he had to admit that creating the Limitless without a trigger would be hard.

'Perhaps I will find the answer in the Hueco Mundo or the Dangai?'

What's more, from some records he knew, the Dangai was a zone where time flowed 2000 times faster than in the outside world. 

'Well, this is a question for another time.'

As he was now, using the Dangai or the Hueco Mundo would only be suicide.

Getting erased by a Kototsu in the Dangai or eaten by a Hollow in the Hueco Mundo wasn't on his to-do list.

Thinking so, he began to walk alongside the students and finally passed through the Senkaimon.

----

(AN: The things about Dangai aren't some BS I am spouting. In Bleach, Ichigo used it with Isshin's help to learn the Final Getsuga and in some filler arc, the 7th seat of the 12th division studied the Dangai and developed space time-related skills. Though honestly, that filler arc was BS. For those interested, it's called mod-soul arc I think. At least, those are keywords. Or you can just search, Kageroza Inaba. He is the main antagonist of that arc.)