That night, after finalizing the flyer design and some other details with Rangiku, Arata didn't stay long.
Instead of returning to the Saito family residence, he went back to the academy's kendo club.
Although the area where the Saito family lived was peaceful and safe, it was still too far from Seireitei and the Shinō Spiritual Academy, making the commute extremely inconvenient.
Arata even planned to spend the full two months of summer break at the academy.
After all, the rest lounge had everything, including all the bedding.
The next morning, the early sunlight spilled into the rest lounge through the paper windows.
Arata rubbed his tired eyes.
After returning to the kendo club the night before, he had stayed up all night writing a detailed proposal for the association's establishment and didn't fall asleep until dawn broke in the east.
After all, this was something that would go before old Yamamoto, so he had to write it seriously to make sure everything went smoothly.
Arata quickly washed up, placed the application in a folder, and then took out a tea set and a tin of neatly packed black tea from the locker.
1st Division Barracks.
"Please inform Vice-Captain Sasakibe that I have something important to discuss with the captain." Arata bowed slightly and showed the officer the document in his hand.
"Saito-kun, please wait a moment." Sasakibe Chōjirō immediately understood and entered the captain's room.
After a short while, he opened the door from inside.
"Come in."
When he opened the door and stepped inside, he saw Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni sitting at the desk, seriously reviewing documents.
When he saw Arata enter, the old man put down his brush, and his gaze instantly softened.
"Arata, what brings you here?" Yamamoto asked in his deep voice.
"Captain, I recently had an unexpected idea. I hope to establish a Tea Art Association in Seireitei to gather those interested in tea culture for exchange."
Arata respectfully handed over the prepared proposal. "This is the plan I've drafted. Please review it, Captain."
Yamamoto took the thick stack of documents, quickly flipped through them, and slightly frowned.
"Establishing an association is quite a significant matter—"
But as soon as Arata opened the tea tin he brought, the aroma of black tea naturally filled the room.
Yamamoto's nose twitched involuntarily.
"This is…"
"I happened to obtain some tea and brought it especially for the captain to try." Arata skillfully took out the tea set and began brewing.
As hot water was poured in, the refreshing fragrance of tea instantly filled the entire room.
Yamamoto's eyes suddenly widened, even Sasakibe beside him couldn't hold back and took a deep breath.
"Good tea!" Yamamoto took a sip and surprise flashed in his eyes.
"The aroma is both full and mild, and the fragrance is rich. This must be very high-quality black tea."
Arata simply smiled without saying anything and continued to pour tea for the two of them.
After three rounds of tea, Yamamoto Genryusai set down his cup, and the stern expression on his face had already softened quite a bit.
"Arata, I've read your proposal." The old man pulled a stamp from the drawer. It was a special stamp of the 1st Division for approving documents.
"In principle, I agree with your application, but there are a few conditions."
"Captain, please go ahead."
"First, the association's activities must not interfere with your daily duties in the divisions or your future teaching duties at the Shinō Spiritual Academy."
"Second, you must raise all necessary funds for activities yourself. Seireitei will not provide any financial support."
"Third—" Yamamoto paused, "the association must submit a monthly report of its activities to the 1st Division."
Arata nodded internally and respectfully said, "Thank you, Captain. I'll remember that."
Once the stamp was applied, the establishment of the Tea Art Association was officially approved.
As Arata was leaving, Sasakibe Chōjirō quietly saw him off.
"Saito-kun, hm…" the usually serious Vice-Captain Sasakibe showed a slightly puzzled expression for the first time. "The captain asked me to inquire where that tea came from…"
"Please tell the captain that his student will bring more next time." Arata winked knowingly, and Sasakibe immediately showed a grateful smile.
After exiting the 1st Division barracks, Arata was in very good spirits.
He checked the time and saw it was still early, so he decided to head straight to the 2nd Division and start the day's training plan.
However, just as he turned a corner, a round figure rushed straight into him.
"Ouch!"
"Vice-Captain Ōmaeda?" Arata supported Omaeda Marechiyo, who nearly fell on him. "Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"
"Arata-kun!" Omaeda wiped sweat from his forehead and said, panting, "Sorry, sorry, there's been a commotion on Noble Street, so the captain sent me to handle it."
"Noble Street? What happened?" Arata was a bit confused.
Even if someone got drunk and caused a scene, it shouldn't require sending a vice-captain.
Omaeda looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then lowered his voice: "Recently, a few minor noble families have been arguing over a piece of land, and the situation has gotten quite chaotic. Captain Soi-Fong saw things getting out of hand and sent me to restore order."
His scalp itched with distress. "Just great! I was planning to take you to see the new training ground of the 2nd Division, but now I can only…"
"No worries, go ahead and take care of that." Arata patted his shoulder understandingly. "I can speak directly with Captain Soi-Fong about the training arrangements."
"Then I'll leave it to you!" Omaeda said with relief and hurried off.
Watching Omaeda's retreating back, Arata was lost in thought for a moment.
The land dispute wasn't really serious enough to require Omaeda's intervention.
There were likely deeper reasons behind it.
Although the original story didn't mention much conflict among the nobility, it didn't rule out the possibility of various conspiracies or uprisings.
He hoped nothing unexpected would happen before then.
Arata shook his head, thinking he might be overthinking things.
That group with nothing but money and no military power, even if they made a lot of noise, that's all they could do.
As the guard at the gate had said, the 2nd Division was much quieter than expected.
As soon as they saw him, the guards immediately bowed and let him in.
"Saito-kun, Captain Soi-Fong is at Training Ground Seven."
Walking down the hallway, Arata arrived at a vast, luxuriously designed open training ground.
At the center of the field, Soi-Fong, in a sleeveless black training outfit, was engaged in routine combat training with three masked soldiers from the patrol corps.
Her movements were so fast they were nearly invisible, and her short black bangs sliced the air with sharp lines.
The three soldiers coordinated attacks from various angles but couldn't even touch the edge of her clothes.
"Too slow!" Soi-Fong's cold voice rang out, and her figure suddenly vanished.
In the next moment, three dull thuds echoed.
The three soldiers groaned simultaneously, dropping to their knees while clutching their stomachs, their faces pale.
Arata stood to the side, unconsciously holding his breath.
This was the power of the 2nd Division's captain, Soi-Fong: pure physical speed fused with shunpō techniques.
Although Arata's current physical state could also reach similar speeds in bursts, the shunpō mastery Soi-Fong wielded was still far beyond his.
"Who's there?!" Soi-Fong suddenly turned her head, her sharp gaze slicing like a blade.
Arata stepped forward and smiled.
"Sorry for the intrusion, Captain Soi-Fong."
———
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