Patter… patter…
On the morning of the first-year entrance evaluation at the Shin'ō Academy, a steady drizzle suddenly began to fall across the Soul Society.
Raindrops the size of soybeans struck the ancient buildings with a constant pitter-patter, echoing softly through the courtyards.
Inside the classroom, homeroom teacher Saitō Jūshirō stood at the front, delivering a passionate pre-exam speech.
"Everyone, make sure you stay focused! This entrance test will determine your fate for the next six years!"
He paused for emphasis before raising a finger.
"Especially the student who ranks first in the class this time…"
"They will be exceptionally admitted into the Special Advancement Class!"
Despite looking like a bat that had lived for a thousand years, Saitō was actually a surprisingly dedicated teacher.
His students respected him greatly.
Adjusting the black-framed glasses on the bridge of his nose, he continued his explanation.
"This morning you'll take the written exam, worth 100 points."
"This afternoon will be the practical exam, also worth 100 points."
"Additionally, your daily performance score counts for another 100 points."
He wrote the formula on the board.
"The written exam counts for 40% of your final score."
"The practical exam counts for 40%."
"And your daily performance counts for 20%."
"The student with the highest final score will be ranked first in the class."
As he finished speaking, Saitō slowly scanned the classroom.
His gaze lingered meaningfully on several students before finally settling on the boy seated in the last row—
Fūjin Taichi.
"This exam has a maximum score of 180 points," Saitō declared.
"A final score of 80 points or above is considered a pass."
"Anyone scoring below 80 will be eliminated."
He clapped his hands.
"The test begins now. Distribute the papers!"
A stack of crisp white exam sheets—still smelling faintly of fresh ink—was passed out to each student.
Taichi glanced down at the densely packed questions.
Even someone who had long grown used to exam culture like him couldn't help feeling a headache coming on.
Question One:
Which of the following instructors teaches Hakuda?
A. Yagyū Serina
B. Yagyū Sazaemon
C. Yagyū Jūbei
D. Yagyū Tajima-no-Kami
"C."
Taichi filled in the answer without hesitation and moved on.
Question Two:
Captain Kyōraku is currently 1469 years old, and Captain Ukitake is 1467 years old. When Captain Ukitake reaches Captain Kyōraku's current age, how old will Captain Kyōraku be?
A. 1469
B. 1467
C. 1471
D. 1465
"…That's way too easy."
Taichi circled C again and continued.
Question Three:
A pond in the Thirteenth Division barracks takes 8 hours to fill and 10 hours to drain completely. If water flows in and drains out at the same time, how many hours will it take to fill the pond?
A. 8
B. 10
C. 18
D. 40
Taichi shook his head.
"Captain Ukitake must have way too much free time."
He scribbled down the answer and moved on to the next question.
Before long, the morning exam ended.
By the time afternoon arrived, the rain had not let up in the slightest. It continued pouring down steadily.
After finishing lunch, Taichi hurried through the rain and arrived at Dojo No. 17, where the practical examination would take place.
The hall was enormous.
Inside were more than eighty students waiting to be tested.
At the front of the room sat three examiners behind a long table.
And the chief examiner was none other than their homeroom teacher—
Saitō Jūshirō.
"The rules for the test are simple," Saitō announced.
"All candidates will draw lots and form teams of three."
"Two teams will enter the arena at a time."
"The team that defeats the opposing team within the time limit will be declared the winner."
He continued calmly.
"In addition to individual performance scores from the examiners…"
"Each member of the winning team will receive an extra five points."
"That's all."
"Now—draw your lots."
The students immediately stepped forward to draw their group assignments.
Once the teams were formed, Saitō began calling out the match order.
"First match! Team One versus Team Twenty-Seven!"
The three students from Team One stepped forward eagerly, cracking their knuckles.
Across from them stood the members of Team Twenty-Seven—a mixed group of boys and girls, tall and short alike.
They bowed to each other politely.
Then—
"Begin!"
At the command of the examiner, the fight erupted instantly.
Bang!
Crack!
Thud!
Outside, the rain continued to pour.
Inside the dojo, the clash of bodies and techniques filled the air.
The atmosphere grew more intense with every passing moment as the examiners carefully recorded their scores.
Soon enough, the battle reached its conclusion.
After her two teammates were quickly knocked out, Kazaki, the remaining member of Team One, refused to give up.
With sheer determination and impressive swordsmanship, she fought alone—
And defeated her opponents one by one, securing the final victory for her team.
"Team One wins! Next match—Team Two versus Team Twenty-Six!"
After marking the scores on his evaluation sheet, Saitō Jūshirō calmly called out the next round.
Fūjin Taichi had drawn the number 3, which meant he was automatically placed into Team Three together with two other students who had drawn the same number.
Their opponent would be Team Twenty-Five.
While watching the six students currently fighting in the arena, one of Taichi's teammates—Hokuto Jirō—spoke confidently.
"When we go out there, just stay behind me," Hokuto said, his eyes fixed on the battle ahead. "Leave the rest to me."
"Y-Yes! I'll be counting on you, Hokuto-kun!"
The other teammate, Hanto Ai, nodded enthusiastically, bowing slightly as if already celebrating victory.
We've got this… we've definitely got this!
Taichi, however, said nothing.
To him, arguing with someone as self-assured as Hokuto Jirō was pointless.
Let him talk, Taichi thought. Treat it like background noise.
If they won, great.
If they didn't, he would still focus on earning as many individual points as possible.
After all, a team victory only granted five bonus points.
The real score came from the judges' evaluation of personal performance.
Soon, the previous match ended.
"Team Twenty-Six wins!"
Saitō Jūshirō's voice rang out again.
"Next match—Team Three versus Team Twenty-Five!"
"Let's go!"
Hokuto Jirō immediately assumed the role of captain, waving his hand dramatically before striding onto the arena floor.
Taichi and Hanto Ai followed behind him.
Their opponents were already waiting.
Taichi's eyes swept across them—
Fujiwara Tatsuma, Kibune Makoto, Gekkō Senpū, and…
His gaze suddenly froze on the last figure.
A white-haired girl.
Taichi frowned.
Wait…
Why are there four of them?
His eyes narrowed as he stared at the girl.
Strangely enough, no one else reacted at all.
Not the judges.
Not the students.
Not even his own teammates.
A thought slowly formed in Taichi's mind.
Could it be…
Aside from Fujiwara Tatsuma… I'm the only one who can see her?
Before he could think further, Hanto Ai whispered beside him.
"Hey, Fūjin, stop overthinking things. Just stay behind Hokuto-kun."
She sounded completely confident.
"Even Saitō-sensei once said Hokuto is 'second to none but one.'"
"He'll probably finish this fight in no time!"
Taichi almost laughed.
Second to only one person?
And that one person just happens to be Fujiwara Tatsuma.
He glanced across the arena at Fujiwara.
Then quietly curled his lips.
But outwardly, his expression remained perfectly calm.
The three of them stepped forward and bowed briefly toward their opponents, following the rules of the match.
Immediately afterward, Taichi shifted into a defensive stance.
"Fūjin?"
Hanto Ai turned around in confusion.
Seeing Taichi preparing a Kidō spell, she blinked in surprise.
"What are you doing?"
"Damn it—watch the front!"
Taichi barked.
In the same motion, he yanked the wooden sword from his back and blocked an incoming strike.
Clang!
Gekkō Senpū's attack slammed into his guard.
Without even bothering with the full incantation, Taichi thrust out his fingers.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai!"
BOOM!
A bolt of white lightning—thick as a wrist—shot forward like a serpent.
The blast forced Gekkō Senpū backward several steps.
But at the same moment—
Kibune Makoto had already slipped past them, rushing straight toward Hanto Ai.
His wooden sword rose high before crashing down toward her back.
BANG!
Taichi intercepted the strike just in time.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand again and fired another spell behind him.
"Hadō #1: Shō!"
WHAM!
A burst of blue shockwave exploded outward, knocking Gekkō Senpū back once more.
However, because Taichi had cast the spell in a hurry, its power was weak.
Gekkō only stumbled briefly before charging forward again.
"Damn it… this is endless!"
Taichi stole a quick glance at the other side of the arena.
What he saw made his expression stiffen.
The supposedly "second-to-none" Hokuto Jirō was being completely dominated by Fujiwara Tatsuma.
The confidence Hokuto had shown earlier had vanished entirely.
He was getting beaten down from start to finish.
At that moment, a teasing voice suddenly spoke beside him.
"Fūjin… losing focus in a fight like this is dangerous."
"What?!"
Taichi's heart skipped.
He twisted his body instantly, raising his wooden sword to the side.
CLANG!
Kibune Makoto's attack crashed against his guard once again.
Right then—
"AHH!"
Hanto Ai screamed.
Gekkō Senpū had struck her vital point.
She collapsed to the ground instantly, clearly unable to continue fighting.
"Fūjin," Kibune Makoto said with a crooked grin, "your swordsmanship has improved a lot."
"But…"
"In my eyes, you're still the same beginner from before."
"Full of openings."
His smile widened.
"So… now's the moment."
"Gekkō—go!"
"What?!"
Suddenly, Taichi heard the sharp whistle of something cutting through the air behind him.
His heart sank.
Gekkō Senpū attacked during my clash with Kibune!
"Die, Fūjin!"
By the time Taichi realized it, Gekkō Senpū had already closed to within a foot above his head.
Seeing that Taichi had no time to move, Gekkō raised his wooden sword high—
And brought it crashing down with full force.
...
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