"Damn it, it's him again!" A group of noble students ground their teeth in frustration.
Under normal circumstances, nobles like them would undoubtedly become the center of attention of their class year.
But in their cohort, all eyes had been drawn to that man… Chiaki Setsuna.
To the point that even when some of them tested with tenth-class Reiryoku, it failed to stir up any reaction at all.
What made things even more suffocating was that they didn't even dare to suppress him.
Given the strength Setsuna had already displayed, it was practically guaranteed that he would become a Captain-level Shinigami in the future.
Even to upper nobles and the Five Great Noble Houses, a Captain-level Shinigami was someone who had to be taken seriously… let alone minor nobles like them.
But now, was that man even going to steal their chance to become a live-in son-in-law as well?
This was just too much!
Yoruichi stopped beside Setsuna.
Her gaze swept over the bespectacled young man sitting to Setsuna's left.
"Hey, you. Move over a bit," Yoruichi ordered imperiously.
Aizen lifted his eyes slightly, the smile at the corner of his mouth tinged with helplessness. "Alright."
The desks they sat at were long tables, similar to those in Setsuna's past-life university classrooms. Aizen obediently shifted inward by two seats.
Yoruichi naturally took the seat beside Setsuna.
She waved her small fist, her eyes sparkling, her tone filled with undisguised competitiveness. "I admit I lost to you in Hakuda, but I absolutely won't lose in the other subjects! I swear it on the honor of the Shihoin Clan!"
Setsuna turned his head and looked at the blazing fire in her eyes, smiling faintly. "Try surpassing Sosuke first."
"Sosuke? Him?" Yoruichi glanced at Aizen, disdain written all over her face. "What's there to surpass about that completely ordinary glasses guy?"
Aizen shook his head with a wry smile, his voice still gentle. "Setsuna-nii is joking. How could I possibly compare to the princess of the Shihoin Clan?"
Yoruichi ignored him and continued on her own. "Today is the day we receive Asauchi. Let's compete and see who can be the first to call out their Zanpakuto's true name!"
Setsuna sighed inwardly, 'Zanpakuto were indeed cool, but they really didn't match my combat style.'
Just then, Hiroshi's voice rang out. "The Asauchi have arrived. Everyone, come up one by one according to your seating order to receive them."
The students stepped forward with hearts full of excitement. As Hiroshi handed them out, he warned them solemnly:
"Remember, these Asauchi are only on loan for now. You must communicate with them properly. When you truly become Shinigamis and officially join a division, only then will these Zanpakuto be formally bestowed upon you."
After receiving her Asauchi, Yoruichi looked at Setsuna with a serious expression. "I absolutely won't ask anyone other than the teachers for guidance. You don't need to worry about me going to my father—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Because while she was speaking, Setsuna had already closed his eyes.
In his right hand, he held the Asauchi he had just received. In the silence, it seemed he had already sunk into communication with the blade of his soul.
Yoruichi stared, dumbfounded. "N-no way, right? Don't tell me he's about to comprehend Shikai already?"
"Ishihara-sensei." A student raised his hand and asked curiously, "How long does it usually take for us to comprehend Shikai?"
Hiroshi paused his movements and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps ten years. Or even longer."
"Eh?" The classroom was instantly filled with sighs.
"Then how long did it take you to master Shikai back then, Ishihara-sensei?"
The corner of Hiroshi's mouth lifted slightly, carrying a trace of barely concealed pride. "It took me only three years. Under normal circumstances, if you can master Shikai before graduation, that's already enough to be called an elite."
"Huh? If mastering Shikai before graduation counts as elite, then what about mastering it in a single day?" Someone asked subconsciously.
"Impossible," Hiroshi said decisively. "Releasing a Zanpakuto requires resonance of the soul and the accumulation of time. One day? That's pure fantasy."
"But…" another student pointed toward Setsuna's seat. "Setsuna… he looks like he's already communicating with his Zanpakuto."
Hiroshi's gaze snapped toward Setsuna, his pupils shrinking sharply.
"You've got to be kidding me… it's actually real!" He forced himself to suppress the shock in his heart and said in a low voice, "Quiet! Don't disturb him!"
The entire dojo fell silent in an instant, all eyes focusing on Setsuna.
Time passed second by second.
Finally, Setsuna slowly opened his eyes.
"Setsuna," Hiroshi asked, his voice tinged with barely concealed excitement, "could it be… that you've already mastered Shikai?"
Setsuna's expression was somewhat strange, but he still nodded.
"Then… could you demonstrate it?" Hiroshi asked curiously.
"Sure." Setsuna stood up and walked to the center of the dojo.
He slowly drew his Asauchi, then softly intoned, "The Cycle Begins Anew, All Things Are Reborn… Become Eternal Starlight, Phoenix!"
Endless starlight poured down from the void. The light gathered and wove together, forming a golden, dazzling Phoenix Cloth that covered Setsuna's body.
"What kind of ability is this?" Hiroshi was deeply shaken. Zanpakuto releases came in countless forms, but one that transformed into armor like this was something he had never seen before.
Setsuna felt deeply moved. It seemed that his resolve… his willingness to let his body collapse just to severely wound Hades, had allowed the Phoenix Cloth to fully acknowledge him, and after the Cloth shattered, it merged into his soul.
And a Zanpakuto was born by nurturing and nurturing a Shinigami's own soul.
Thus, the Phoenix Cloth became his Zanpakuto.
Setsuna was extremely satisfied with this. He wasn't skilled at fighting with weapons to begin with, so he hadn't thought much of Zanpakuto before.
But if a Zanpakuto could release into the form of a Cloth, then its significance became extraordinary.
Aside from the Cloth's own defensive power, Shikai also granted him a new ability… limitless stamina!
Feeling the ceaseless flow of power surging within him, Setsuna's lips curled into a slight smile. "As expected, it's an ability perfectly suited to me."
He even had a guess regarding the Bankai of [Phoenix Cloth].
The Cloth he manifested now was only a Phoenix Cloth evolved to the Gold level. Perhaps Bankai would be the Phoenix God Cloth.
While he was lost in thought, everyone around him was already staring in utter shock.
If other Shinigami's Zanpakuto releases were elegant, cool, or mysterious, then Setsuna's Phoenix Cloth was the ultimate in overwhelming coolness… brilliant, dazzling, and radiant.
In a Bleach World where fashion value equaled combat power, Setsuna was undoubtedly walking at the forefront of the era.
Yoruichi covered her face in despair, 'A monster who mastered Shikai the moment he got an Asauchi… how was I supposed to catch up?'
Yet even as she sulked, Yoruichi peeked at Setsuna through the gaps between her fingers, 'It was just too cool. How could Setsuna's Shikai possibly be this insanely stylish?'
Aizen also looked on with envy, 'If only my Zanpakuto's ability could be this cool as well.'