"And another thing, how many times have I told you not to call me 'little man'?"
Rangiku giggled and began tracing circles on his shoulder with her fingers. "Don't worry, I'll get Isane to dig up some information for you. But Captain Unohana has been keeping her distance from outsiders lately, so watch what you do."
Arata looked at her helplessly. This woman was clearly enjoying herself.
After breakfast, Arata put on his shinigami uniform and strapped his Zanpakutō, Meigetsu, to his waist.
Rangiku straightened his collar out of habit, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Be careful on the way."
Arata nodded, turned, and left the kendo club.
Many teachers had already begun patrolling the paths within the academy.
When they saw Arata, many nodded in greeting, with a teasing glint in their eyes.
Over the past two months, his relationship with Rangiku had almost become the hottest topic in the entire Soul Society.
From the initial shock to today's congratulations, Arata had to admit that the shinigami in Soul Society were far more open-minded than he'd imagined.
"Saito-sensei!"
As soon as he approached the gates of the Shinō Spiritual Academy, a group of students surrounded him.
On the first day after the break, they all seemed full of energy.
"We heard you're dating Vice-Captain Matsumoto from Squad 10?" a bold girl asked directly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and gossip.
Arata cleared his throat lightly and said, "We can talk about private matters after the opening ceremony. For now, head to the square and line up. If you're late, don't say I wasn't merciful."
…
In the central square of the Shinō Spiritual Academy, over a thousand students stood in orderly lines.
Tall cherry trees swayed in the breeze, and pink-white petals fell like snow, adding a touch of grandeur and poetry to the opening ceremony.
Arata stood behind the stage, his gaze sweeping across the black-clad crowd below.
The captains of the Gotei 13 sat in the front row, with Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni in the center. His intimidating aura silenced the entire square.
Behind him, the captains and vice-captains of each squad stood in order.
Arata cleared his throat, lowered his head, and double-checked the speech in his hands.
He had worked on that script for an entire week, revising it at least ten times.
As the lead professor of the Kendo Department, this was his first time giving a speech at such an important ceremony.
"Everyone together," Captain Yamamoto slowly stood. His voice, though quiet, carried clearly across the entire square. "Today marks the beginning of a new academic year at the Shinō Spiritual Academy, and it also signals a key turning point in the academy's reform."
As Captain Yamamoto continued to explain the reform plans, Arata noticed that the students in the crowd began whispering quietly.
The reforms included the establishment of specialized teaching departments, an increase in practical training, the introduction of captain-level shinigami as instructors, the establishment of special scholarships, etc.just as discussed at the captains' meeting two months earlier.
What drew the most attention was the provision that from this year, outstanding students would have the chance to directly participate in the daily duties of the Gotei 13.
He spoke fluently for over half an hour.
"Next, I invite the lead professor of the Kendo Department, Saito Arata, to give the opening address." At that moment, Yamamoto Genryusai's words pulled Arata back to reality.
Arata took a deep breath and walked toward the podium.
As soon as he stepped up, the square fell silent, and thousands of eyes turned to him—including the scrutinizing gazes of the captains.
"Dear students, honored elders," Arata spoke in a calm and strong voice. "It is an honor to stand here and lead this opening ceremony. I'm also very grateful to the captain for giving me the opportunity to share my understanding of kendo with you."
His gaze swept across the crowd and briefly paused on Rangiku.
She was resting her cheek on her hand, staring at him without blinking, a gentle smile at the corner of her lips.
"Kendo is not just a combat technique, but a spiritual practice," Arata continued. "At the Shinō Spiritual Academy, you will learn how to swing a sword and how to fight."
"But more importantly, you must learn why you even hold a sword in your hand…"
Midway through his speech, Arata noticed the captains in the front row beginning to react.
Kyoraku Shunsui nodded slightly, Ukitake Jūshirō smiled approvingly, and even the usually cold Kuchiki Byakuya raised his eyes.
Even Aizen nodded and applauded, as if he fully agreed with Arata's words.
Only Ichimaru Gin still kept his eyes half closed, with an unreadable expression.
"Remember, students, the greater the power, the greater the responsibility." Arata's voice grew stronger.
"The sword in your hand is not for killing, but for protecting."
"To protect your comrades, to protect the Soul Society, and to protect everything that is dear to you."
When he finished the last sentence, the square erupted in thunderous applause.
"Well said!"
"Awesome, sensei!"
"That's just like Arata-senpai, words of enlightenment!"
Arata saw Rangiku stand excitedly and start clapping, only to be helplessly pulled back down by Shiba Isshin.
Renji and the other three, hidden in the crowd, were also loudly chanting Arata's name, as if they had become crazed fans.
Even Captain Yamamoto rarely nodded in approval.
"Next is the entrance test for the newly enrolled students," Arata announced. "All first-years, please proceed to the examination field in order."
The testing ground was on the eastern side of the square and consisted of twelve massive stones that measured spiritual pressure.
It was a new product specially designed by Kurotsuchi Mayuri and the Technology Development Bureau for this year's entrance exam.
All the newly enrolled students had to do was place their hands on the stone and release their spiritual pressure. The stone would glow in different colors based on the intensity of their spiritual energy.
According to a preset classification of color levels, the strength of each student's spiritual pressure could be clearly determined.
Arata stood at the center of the exam platform, overseeing the entire process.
"Miyamoto Taketo, blue, sixteenth level spiritual pressure!"
"Sasaki Goro, blue, fifteenth level spiritual pressure!"
"Oda Nobumasa, white, seventeenth level spiritual pressure!"
"Hatano Yuzuki, green, tenth level spiritual pressure!"
"…"
The results of the first few dozen students were average. While there were some with talent, in Arata's eyes they were still at most at the level of lower-ranked officers.
That was until a silver-haired boy stepped forward.
"Name?" Arata asked routinely, head down while recording the data.
"Hitsugaya Tōshirō." The boy replied, lifting his head.
The name made Arata flinch slightly. He immediately looked up for a better look.
Silver hair, emerald green eyes.
And that unmistakable short stature.
No doubt about it, that was Hitsugaya Tōshirō!
Arata nodded with satisfaction. It seemed that fate had brought another important encounter his way.
"Just place your hands on the stone and release your spiritual pressure with all your strength."
"O-okay…" Tōshirō seemed a bit surprised. This tall instructor hadn't spoken this much to anyone else.
When Tōshirō's hand touched the spiritual pressure measuring stone, a stunning scene unfolded.
The stone instantly changed from white to blue, then green, then purple, and finally began to be covered with tiny ice crystals!
"Purple! A color I've never seen before!" someone in the crowd shouted.
Even the captains in the front row stood up in surprise.
They knew what the purple color meant at least level six spiritual pressure!
In the past hundred years of the Shinō Spiritual Academy's existence, the only student who had measured level six spiritual pressure at the entrance was Shiba Kaien.
This young man named Hitsugaya Tōshirō was already displaying such strength at the entrance exam. It was highly likely he would become a genius whose achievements wouldn't fall short of a vice-captain's.
Arata narrowed his eyes. So even at this stage, little Shiro already possessed such strong spiritual pressure?
Just as he was about to announce the result, a girl with a bun hairstyle burst out of the crowd.
"Arata-senpai, this is the little brother I brought! Just call him Shiro!" Hinamori Momo called out excitedly, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Momo, I'm here to study," Tōshirō quietly told Hinamori Momo. "Don't cause me trouble."
Arata smiled, marked a special note next to his name on the list, then loudly announced:
"Hitsugaya Tōshirō, purple, level six spiritual pressure!"
"Welcome to the Shinō Spiritual Academy, Hitsugaya Tōshirō. I hope you find your own path here."