10th Division Barracks.
"Captain, you're slacking off again."
Matsumoto Rangiku had barely stepped into the captain's office when the scent of alcohol drifted into her nose. A mess of papers was scattered across the desk, alongside a few snacks and a sake bottle.
The current 10th Division Captain, Shiba Isshin, was snoring away on the floor beneath the desk.
With a sigh of resignation, Rangiku walked up and stomped lightly on the captain's annoyingly carefree face.
"Huh?"
Shiba Isshin blinked awake, only to be greeted by the sight of his beautiful but clearly furious lieutenant.
"Rangiku, huh."
"Captain, did you finish yesterday's paperwork?"
Scratching his head, Isshin sat up and mumbled, "Paperwork… what was that again?"
"Captain!"
Isshin awkwardly got to his feet, apologizing as he did and promising to handle it immediately.
Rangiku let out a heavy sigh and began tidying up the desk. Her eyes landed on a set of documents she didn't recognize. Curious, she picked one up and examined it. "What's this… student council?"
Isshin abruptly stood up and snatched the file from her hands.
"Nothing important."
Rangiku's eyes narrowed. "Captain, is there something going on in our division that I, your lieutenant, shouldn't know about?"
"Didn't I say it's nothing? Just a small, insignificant matter."
Crossing her arms beneath her ample chest, Rangiku huffed. "Anyway, hurry up and deal with your work."
Isshin didn't stash the file away in a drawer. Instead, he tucked it directly into his inner robe.
Then, as if something struck him, he turned to Rangiku. "Hey, what was the name of that student you wanted to recruit into our division again?"
"Tachikawa Shinichi. Captain, can you please start taking things seriously? If other squads snatch up all the talent, I'll be the one buried in paperwork. Are you trying to work me to death?"
"Tachikawa Shinichi…" Isshin muttered, repeating the name to himself.
Seeing him take interest, Rangiku began explaining more about the student. "He's from the 80th district of Rukongai — Zaraki. I ran into him during a mission. His spiritual pressure was unusually strong for a common soul, so I recommended he enroll in the Spiritual Arts Academy to become a Soul Reaper."
"The 80th district, huh…" Isshin clicked his tongue. He knew what kind of place that was.
Rukongai had 80 districts in each direction surrounding Seireitei. The 1st was closest, safe, clean, and resource-rich. The 80th… was the furthest — barren, famine-stricken, and plagued with constant violence and killing for survival.
"What kind of person is he?" Isshin asked.
Rangiku paused to think. "A genius. He's a fourth-year now, and he's scored perfect marks in all four disciplines — Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō. Especially swordsmanship. He even defeated his Zanjutsu instructor during his third year. But he's also a slippery one. I offered him a spot in our squad after graduation — the 23rd Seat — and he turned me down."
"You mean even you couldn't convince him?" Isshin looked utterly shocked. He glanced at his vice-captain's considerable… assets, then suspiciously wondered if this Tachikawa Shinichi was truly into women at all.
Rangiku, catching the meaning in his gaze, twitched with irritation.
"23rd Seat…" Isshin recalled that the 23rd Seat in their division had recently retired due to illness.
"Isn't that too low for someone you just called a genius? Think about all the greats who started off as prodigies. Shouldn't we offer him a higher rank?"
Upper Seats were typically from the 3rd to the 10th — the elite officers involved in core division affairs.
Rangiku looked a bit taken aback at how highly Isshin regarded him. "But none of our top ten seats are currently open. And according to his records, he doesn't even have a Zanpakutō yet."
Isshin waved dismissively. "Most Soul Reapers don't manifest their Zanpakutō until after they join a division. And besides, you said he's a slippery one. Are you sure you even know all his secrets?"
Rangiku hesitated. In the end, it was the captain's call.
"So… which seat are you thinking of offering?"
Isshin smiled. "Why not talk to him again? See what he thinks. The Academy is on break now, right? He should have plenty of time."
After final exams, students at the Spiritual Arts Academy were given an extended break. Since some students came from deep within Rukongai, the Academy continued to provide food and housing during the holiday.
Many of the training halls and classrooms were left unused and available for students to reserve. Any damages caused during use were recorded and billed to the student upon graduation — payable over time.
Inside a large, empty swordsmanship hall, the clash of steel echoed.
Two figures danced and darted around each other, locked in a fierce duel.
Or rather, one was clearly teaching the other.
"Too slow, Shūhei! Do you even realize how many openings you're showing right now?"
"And you're blaming me for not graduating early because of you? Don't expect me to go easy on you just because you're sulking."
Gritting his teeth, Hisagi Shūhei held his asauchi with both hands and lunged forward, trying to land a blow.
But the other boy — Tachikawa Shinichi — read every move with ease. Whether dodging or parrying, he handled Shūhei's every strike without breaking a sweat.
Another attack missed. As Shinichi sidestepped and slid beside him, Shūhei swung horizontally out of desperation.
Shinichi raised his sword — calmly, precisely.
Clang!
A sharp ring split the air as Shūhei's sword was knocked from his hands. His grip gave out from the shock, his arms trembling.
He stared at the asauchi now lying on the wooden floor and finally slumped down, gasping for air.
Shinichi casually picked up the fallen weapon and tossed him a water bottle.
After gulping it down, Shūhei looked over at his friend, who was now idly twirling his blade.
"I really regret staying at school over break."
Shinichi smirked. "You asked me to train with you. What, you giving up already?"
Shūhei didn't know how to respond. He lay flat on the floor. Losing to Shinichi wasn't a blow to his pride — he always lost to him.
What bothered him was the ever-growing gap. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't even see Shinichi's limits, let alone catch up.
"Shinichi… how strong are you, really?"
Shinichi replied lazily, "Wouldn't saying it outright ruin the fun? I'd rather you figure it out for yourself. And if one day, you actually push me to go all-out — I'll give you a genuine compliment."
Just then, a slow, steady applause echoed from the doorway.
"What a cool thing to say."
Leaning against the frame was a voluptuous figure bathed in sunlight. Golden hair shimmered like silk, framing her confident smile. Her uniform clung to her curves, and the deep neckline revealed a healthy dose of strength and self-assurance.
Rangiku Matsumoto.
Seeing her, Shūhei jumped to his feet, flustered.
"L–Lieutenant Matsumoto!"
Wait, when did she even get here?! Did she see me lose that badly?!
Then he glanced at Shinichi.
Of course… she's here for him again.
Removing her shoes at the entrance, Rangiku stepped in with elegance. The badge on her sleeve marked her as 10th Division's Lieutenant. Her Zanpakutō — deep crimson — rested across her back.
"What brings you to the Academy, Rangiku-san?" Shinichi asked with a hint of amusement. It had been a month since they last met.
"A stroll, mostly," Rangiku said, her gaze fixed on him. Then, resting a hand on her sword's hilt, she smiled. "Watching you two spar got me itching for a little action myself. Care to give me a match?"
Shūhei gulped and instinctively stepped back.
She wants to test Shinichi? Does she know how strong he is?
Shinichi laughed nervously. "Please, don't bully a poor student like me. You're a lieutenant!"
But Rangiku wasn't giving him a choice. She drew her blade and pointed it sideways. "It's just a friendly match. And it's a rare opportunity for a student to spar with a lieutenant. Make the most of it."
Before he could protest again, she moved.
Fast.
A blur. Even Shūhei couldn't follow her motion.
Clang!
Shinichi had blocked.
She smiled brightly. "Not bad."
Leaping back, she stood three meters away, eyes sharp.
"Ready? Here I come."
Shinichi inwardly sighed, raising his blade.
He knew exactly what this was.
Shiba Kaien had already asked him once if he'd join the 13th Division as a 3rd Seat.
Shiba Isshin, Kaien's uncle, was the 10th Division Captain. Matsumoto Rangiku was the lieutenant.
They were here to test him.
To see his worth — not as a student, but as a potential seated officer.