The moon was hidden behind heavy clouds, making the night exceptionally dark. The *sōzu* in the courtyard clacked rhythmically, but rather than providing a sense of tranquility, it felt somewhat oppressive.
Inside the residence of the Squad 1 Captain-Commander, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni set down the scroll in his hand and looked toward the door, as if waiting for someone. Under his gaze, the paper door slid open, and a figure appeared in the doorway. It was none other than Shihouin Kōe.
The two hadn't seen each other for a week; their last meeting had been at the Shin'ō Academy's entrance ceremony for new students.
"I thought you would have come looking for me much earlier." Yamamoto pointed to the seat opposite him, his voice unhurried. "You have grown much more patient."
"At first, I couldn't figure it out. I thought Master would summon me back immediately." Kōe sat cross-legged opposite Yamamoto, his head bowed. "But after staying in the Sword Room for so long, I thought it through and managed to settle my nerves."
Hearing this, Yamamoto nodded in satisfaction. He had long since known about Kōe achieving Shikai in the Sword Room a week ago.
Normally, after new students selected an Asauchi, they would remain in the Sword Room to commune with their blade for three days. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This time, because of Kōe's presence, the supervising instructor had privately extended the duration to a week. Yamamoto had known about this and tacitly approved. Looking at it now, it was a good thing.
The incident had caused a massive uproar. However, if Kōe had returned immediately back then, it would have easily invited suspicion, thereby risking the exposure of another matter entirely. Compared to that, achieving Shikai was actually nothing.
"Kōe, do not bow your head. You have done nothing wrong!"
"But..." Kōe looked troubled, slowly raising his head. "I still caused trouble. A huge mess, at that."
"Haha, I am more than happy to see this kind of trouble. In fact, the more, the better!"
"But if I had restrained myself a bit more back then, the situation would be much better. It wouldn't have caused such a massive uproar."
"Not bad... not bad at all!" Yamamoto stroked his beard, nodding continuously in deep satisfaction. "But I do not blame you. Opportunities are fleeting. No matter the circumstances, one who abandons an opportunity is unworthy of becoming strong."
Yamamoto stared into Kōe's eyes, speaking with absolute seriousness. "If given another chance, I believe you would still make the same choice, would you not, Kōe?"
The room fell into a brief silence. Kōe thought about it. Although he had been completely engrossed at the time, he could have forced himself to pull back if he really tried.
*'What's right in front of me is the most important. I'll deal with the trouble later.'* That was what he had been thinking at the time. If he had to choose again, there was a high probability he would do the exact same thing. Yamamoto wasn't wrong.
"Master is right. That kind of thing really isn't easy to hold back." Kōe nodded firmly, but in the blink of an eye, his face fell. "So what do we do now?!"
"It seems I am the more patient one after all, haha!"
Watching Yamamoto laugh heartily, Kōe felt as if ten thousand crows were cawing as they flew over his head. *'Are you still the strict, old-fashioned Captain-Commander I know? Besides, is being more patient really something to be this proud of?!'*
"Ahem!" Kōe coughed dryly and tapped the low table in front of him, reminding him, "Business first. Be serious, Master!"
"Then let us discuss business." Yamamoto put away his smile and continued, "Possessing two Zanpakutō is indeed too shocking to the world. If Central 46 were to find out, they would likely lock you up for research."
Yes, Kōe had possessed an Asauchi since he was a child and had just achieved Shikai a year ago. Adding the one he awakened a week ago, he now possessed two Zanpakutō. Two completely different Zanpakutō.
This was what he feared the most. Everyone knew that above geniuses were monsters, but what they didn't know was that there was another tier above monsters: test subjects.
An image surfaced in his mind: an all-white room, a person with their limbs bound and eyes blindfolded. That person was Kōe himself.
Plucking a hair today, draining a tube of blood tomorrow, day after day, year after year. Who knows, maybe one day he would just be sliced open for anatomical study. And it felt like those days were currently waving at him.
Thinking of this, Kōe's face turned pale. Yamamoto looked at his ashen face and asked with a smile, "What, are you scared?"
Kōe nodded. Probably no one could calmly accept such a fate. Then, as if realizing something, his eyes widened, and he stared at Yamamoto in sheer horror.
Central 46 represented the Seireitei, and Old Man Yama in front of him also represented the Seireitei. *'Don't tell me he's already sold me out! Did I just walk right into a trap?'*
Seeing Kōe's reaction, Yamamoto only needed a moment of thought to guess what was going through his mind.
"What kind of person do you take your Master for!" Yamamoto scolded in exasperation, lightly tapping Kōe's forehead with his finger. He continued, "Rest assured, I do not intend to tell anyone else about this matter."
"At least, not until your wings are fully fledged."
"Master is wise!" Kōe gave a thumbs-up, shamelessly flattering Yamamoto.
"But will Central 46 take the initiative to investigate? Also, I'm afraid..." Kōe stopped himself mid-sentence, pointing his index finger upward before falling silent.
"If Central 46 were going to investigate, do you think you could have stayed peacefully in the Sword Room for a whole week?"
"Master means...? They don't believe that having two Zanpakutō is possible either?"
Yamamoto nodded and continued, "They left after I brushed them off with a few words. When something surpasses comprehension, no matter how true it is, it will be treated as a lie or a myth."
"As for the higher existences..." Yamamoto also pointed upward. "They know but do not interfere. Consider it tacit approval. Just put your mind at ease."
It wasn't until this moment that Kōe truly felt relieved, letting out a long sigh. Just now, he was genuinely terrified that Yamamoto would tie him up and deliver him straight to Central 46. Make no mistake, sacrificing his own kin for the greater good was absolutely something Yamamoto was capable of doing.
However, it was a pity that Yamamoto's words just now only meant he would help conceal the fact that Kōe had two Zanpakutō, not that he would fully back him up and guarantee his absolute safety.
This meant that from now on, he could only use one Zanpakutō in front of others. Given that Kōki had already been exposed, he had no choice but to use it. In truth, Kōe felt that his other Zanpakutō was much stronger. What a shame.
Still, this was already the best-case scenario. Kōe was a very easily satisfied person; avoiding a catastrophe was more than enough to keep him grinning from ear to ear.
"Do you have nothing else to say to me, Kōe?"
"Oh, thank you for your protection, Master! Master is mighty!"
Looking at Kōe, Yamamoto didn't know what to say for a moment. To the outside world, this young disciple of his was like a hedgehog—anyone who provoked him would be paid back tenfold, refusing to suffer even the slightest grievance.
But when it came to Yamamoto, he was as breezy as the clouds, never fighting or competing for anything. They say the crying baby gets the milk, but Kōe neither liked to cry nor cared for the milk. Sometimes, it truly left Yamamoto not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Yamamoto knew about Kōe's other Zanpakutō. Just like his own, Kōe's Zanpakutō was fully deserving of the title 'strongest.' In fact, he felt that Kōe's Zanpakutō was even stronger than his own! It had even greater potential!
Yet, looking at the current situation, Kōe fully intended to seal that blade away. To put it nicely, he was easily satisfied; to put it harshly, he was content with mediocrity and willing to let himself rot! He was certainly filial, but Yamamoto did not like him being filial in this particular regard.
"What, do you no longer like that sword? Do you not want it anymore?"
"How is that possible!" Kōe scratched his head. "But this blade has already been seen by others. It can't be helped. I have no choice but to give up on the other one..."
"Listening to your words, it sounds like you harbor some dissatisfaction toward your Master?" Yamamoto probed.
"No dissatisfaction at all!" Kōe immediately straightened his back, waving his hands frantically. "Master is doing this for my own good. I completely understand and support Master's decision from the bottom of my heart!"
Kōe's words brought Yamamoto a sense of comfort; he hadn't raised this disciple in vain! But at the same time, it left him dissatisfied. He decided to push a little harder to rile Kōe up.
"You are allowed to be dissatisfied, and you are allowed to feel wronged!" Yamamoto raised his voice, continuing, "You should fight me for it! After all, this is something that belongs to you!"
Kōe frowned slightly, falling into deep thought. Seeing this, Yamamoto couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart. *'I've finally drawn out this brat's resentment!'*
"Master..."
"Mm!"
"Are you testing me?"
"Mm! ...Hm?"
Yamamoto suddenly changed his tone, as if realizing something wasn't quite right.
"You really don't need to do this. I'm genuinely not dissatisfied." Kōe patted his chest heavily, pledging solemnly, "I absolutely, one hundred percent respect Master's decision. Please rest assured!"
Time seemed to grind to a halt.
*Clack... clack... clack...* The *sōzu* in the courtyard continued its rhythmic sounds.
Proving that the only ones who had been paused were Yamamoto and Kōe.
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