First Division —Captain's Office
Inside the First Division's captaincy, the air felt heavy.
Captain Yamashiro Genzan stared at the boy standing in the center of the room, his expression dark, his gaze filled with scrutiny and contemplation. Only a few days had passed since he'd warned Kisaragi Akira to keep a low profile… and yet the kid had already caused a storm big enough to make anyone's blood pressure spike.
Yes, the outcome had been good.But the boy had no idea what kind of vortex he had thrown himself into.
"You look rather pleased with yourself."
After a long silence, Yamashiro finally spoke, his deep voice rumbling through the office. His half-closed eyes lifted just enough to reveal a glint of sharp light.
Before Akira could answer, the captain continued:
"You assisted the current head of the Shihara Clan, helping her obtain the recognition of the Heavenforged Armament. You salvaged the clan's declining fate, earned their personal gratitude, and essentially became a benefactor to the entire Shihara household."
Akira's brow twitched.He could hear the blade hidden behind those words.
"The conflicts between noble houses," Yamashiro said, "are far more complicated than you imagine."
He paused briefly, then said with a deeper weight:
"If the previous assassination incident occurred because your protective charm disrupted someone's plans, then this latest Shihara matter has placed you directly in opposition to certain factions."
He had reviewed Akira's file back when he was still at the Spiritual Arts Institute. And after Hirako Masanobu's report, he'd paid even closer attention.
His honest evaluation?
A genuine prodigy.Barely half a year since entering the Academy and already possessing vice-captain-level strength. In all of history, only a handful could match such talent.
Unfortunately… his methods were impulsive. His caution was lacking.
To stand independently, Kisaragi Akira still had a long road ahead.And without proper guidance, he could easily stray into dangerous paths.
Akira absorbed the words quietly.
So he had been dragged into noble faction disputes long ago… Even turning down Kuchiki Aomine's earlier offer hadn't saved him from being entangled in power struggles.
In hindsight… he'd been too young, too naïve.
"So what do I do…?" Akira asked, his face collapsing."Is it too late to cut ties with the Shihara Clan now?"
He wasn't afraid of trouble, but too much trouble was still exhausting.One assassination attempt was manageable, but if it happened every few days, he'd die of annoyance before danger.
"It's too late," Yamashiro replied flatly.
Akira let out a long, defeated sigh.
He hadn't even been discharged from the infirmary, and he was already stamped with a political label. He could already imagine how troublesome his future life was going to be.
Life is harsh… a young man sighs.
Speaking of which—What would Sousuke do in his place?
That thought dragged him into deeper contemplation.
Minutes passed.Yamashiro, expecting the boy to ask for advice, eventually looked up—only to find Akira completely spacing out, staring at nothing, his mind clearly off on a distant journey.
A thick vein bulged on the captain's shiny forehead. His fist tightened.
Sensing the sudden spike of murderous aura, Akira snapped back to reality and looked up innocently.
"Captain," he began, "since I've already gone this far, turning back doesn't seem possible, right?"
Yamashiro nodded. That part was correct.
But Akira's next words made him question everything he knew about sanity.
"In that case," Akira said solemnly, "instead of flip-flopping between factions… I should just walk straight down one path until it's pitch black."
A pause.
"Shihara Yorika asked me before if I wanted to marry into the Shihara Clan."Akira grimaced in agony."If I say yes now, I think I'm still in time!"
Silence.
Yamashiro stared at him.
He had the sudden realization that he truly could not keep up with the younger generation's logic anymore.
Though… the idea wasn't entirely without merit.
Still, he shook his head.
"It's not that simple," he said. "If you openly join one faction, their enemies will do everything possible to eliminate you. No one allows their rival to gain fresh strength."
"And with your talent… assuming you don't die prematurely, your future is limitless."
Akira nodded knowingly—then his eyes lit up.
"Captain, do you have a better idea?"
Yamashiro nodded solemnly.
"One word… Genryū."
"Akira, you got played."
In a corner of the Shin'o Cafeteria, Aizome Sōta set down his chopsticks and said this with a perfectly calm face.
"Huh? What do you mean?"Akira swallowed half a pork cutlet and blinked.
"It's simple," Aizome replied.
He flicked away another student's chopsticks as they reached for his fried fish, then explained:
"It all comes down to perception."
"Neither the protective charm nor the Heavenforged Armament proves that you've fully aligned with any particular faction."
"As long as that point remains uncertain, those lofty nobles won't risk killing you. In fact, they'll offer olive branches—hoping to recruit you as a weapon to wield."
"Even the Shihara Clan's gratitude is a useful bargaining chip. It'll only raise your value."
"There are no eternal enemies—only eternal interests."
Akira inhaled sharply.
"Then… did I just take the wrong path?"
Aizome stared at him in silence.
After a sigh, he said, "You should never say that in front of Captain Yamashiro. If you do, I might not be able to collect what's left of your body."
He continued:
"Genryū was founded two thousand years ago, originally known as Genji Seminary—the predecessor of the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy."
"Technically, joining Genryū is like entering a more advanced academy."
"Of course, there are downsides."
Akira tensed slightly."What downsides?"
"Before, when you messed up, the captain might have spared you out of appreciation for your talent—or because regulations limited the punishment."
"But now…"
Aizome smiled faintly.
"He can justify strict discipline with the excuse of 'harsh training produces excellence.'"
Akira's eyes widened at the sight of that familiar face smiling with unmistakable words written all over it—
Schadenfreude.
His heart ached.
When had the once kind, gentle Aizome developed such terrible habits?!Where did it all go wrong!?
"Finish eating," Aizome said, ignoring Akira's despair as he set down his bowl.
"After this, we're heading to the rear mountain."
"The inscription on the Kido pattern… is ready for the next stage."
...
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