"Hado #31: Shakkaho!"
The flames surged like a shooting star, yet they only grazed the edge of the target, nearly missing entirely.
"Stay focused. Don't let your mind drift."
Hearing Ren's voice from behind her, Nanao composed herself.
'Damn it... who do you think is responsible for all these distracting thoughts in my head...'
In the next instant, Nanao felt her indignation flare up.
Visualizing the target as Ren's face, she unleashed a fury-filled Shakkaho that instantly reduced it to splinters.
"Excellent!"
The proctoring instructor looked at the Shakkaho, which excelled in both power and accuracy, and couldn't help but voice his praise.
Looking back to see Ren's approving gaze, a wave of warmth welled up in Nanao's heart.
But as she recalled yesterday's events, her mood grew turbulent again. She gave a soft huff and deliberately turned away, refusing to look at him.
Ren was left scratching his head in bewilderment.
'Since when did she develop a tsundere streak?'
Before long, the current group of examinees finished their turn, and it was nearly Ren's time.
He had spent the last few days preparing thoroughly for today's test.
Ren scanned the surroundings. Dozens of students from the elite class were gathered by the field, and the air was thick with tension.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out at the entrance of the training grounds.
Several instructors hurried toward the entrance, their expressions turning instantly respectful the moment they saw the arrival.
The students all turned to look as well, whispers spreading through the crowd like ripples on water.
"That's... Lieutenant Aizen of Squad 5! Wow, he's so handsome!"
"Why is Lieutenant Aizen here at the Spiritual Arts Academy?"
"I heard he occasionally comes to inspect the new students and offer guidance..."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, a figure walked slowly into the training grounds.
Aizen appeared in his black shihakusho, flanked by several instructors.
The proctoring instructors bowed, and the students currently undergoing testing instinctively straightened their backs.
Having a lieutenant from the Gotei 13 visit personally was a rare honor.
Aizen smiled and nodded to the instructors, his gaze slowly sweeping across the students on the field.
His gaze was peaceful, as if he were just browsing casually.
But when those eyes passed over Ren's position, they paused for an imperceptible moment.
Ren maintained a facade of respectful curiosity like the other students, though he felt a bit apprehensive inside.
'Aizen... what is he doing here?'
While Aizen had indeed visited the Academy to observe classes before, he rarely made an appearance during these early-term assessments.
Aizen exchanged a few quiet words with the lead instructor before walking to the sidelines.
His posture was relaxed and leisurely, as if he truly had just stumbled upon the test by chance.
The testing continued.
When it was Ren's turn, he deliberately throttled his performance.
He performed a textbook Shakkaho, keeping both his spiritual pressure output and accuracy at a mediocre level.
This was the 'safe shot' he had carefully practiced over the past few days to maintain his ranking in the lower-middle tier.
"Passable," the instructor noted in his ledger. "Next."
Ren retreated to the sidelines, sensing eyes on him.
He turned and met Aizen's warm gaze.
Aizen gave him a slight smile and a nod, as if in approval.
Ren lowered his eyes and bowed modestly in return.
However, his mind was far from calm. He wondered if he was being biased by his prior knowledge.
Although Aizen cast glances at the examinees at random, Ren felt that he was being looked at more frequently than others.
'Is Aizen focusing on me a bit too much?'
Once the morning testing session concluded and the students took a break, Aizen descended from the viewing platform.
He walked slowly across the training grounds, chatting with several instructors and occasionally stopping to ask about a student's performance.
Many students were left feeling overwhelmed by the honor of his approachable manner.
Then, he headed in Ren's direction.
Ren was chatting with Nanao, whose mood had softened somewhat, when he noticed the stir around him.
Nanao turned and saw Aizen approaching. She quickly bowed. "Lieutenant Aizen."
Ren followed suit, bowing in greeting.
"No need for formalities," Aizen said, his voice warm and resonant. "You two are fifth-year students, aren't you? Your performance in the test just now was quite good."
Aizen's gaze shifted to Ren. "What is your name?"
"Hasumi Ren, Lieutenant Aizen."
Ren felt a chill as he looked at the smiling Aizen.
At that moment, he was finally certain.
'Aizen is here specifically for me.'
"I watched your Kido test earlier," Aizen said, adjusting his glasses. "Your Shakkaho incantation was perfect, and your spiritual pressure control was very stable, but..."
He paused and smiled. "I got the feeling you weren't using your full strength. I wonder if it was just my imagination."
Ren's heart tightened, but he maintained a slightly embarrassed expression.
"I'm embarrassed you saw through that, Lieutenant. My mastery of Shakkaho isn't quite there yet, and I was worried about making a mistake. I opted for a more stable execution instead."
"Caution is a virtue," Aizen nodded. "However, a Soul Reaper must occasionally take risks in battle. Being too conservative can lead to missed opportunities."
"I will take your words to heart, Lieutenant."
"I didn't mean it as a criticism," Aizen said with a smile. "In fact, the ability to hide your true edge to achieve a goal is a talent in its own right."
He paused, his gaze deepening. "Ren, what are your plans for the future? Which squad do you hope to join after graduation?"
Nanao perked up at the question.
Ren pondered for a moment before answering cautiously, "I haven't made any specific plans yet. Graduation is still some time away, after all."
"A very practical attitude." Aizen nodded in approval. "Each of the Gotei 13 squads has its own unique character. It's important to find the path that suits you best."
He looked straight into Ren's eyes, his voice gentle yet possessing an undeniable charisma.
"Squad 5 has always been dedicated to nurturing promising new talent. If you are interested, you should consider joining us after you graduate."
The air around them seemed to freeze for a split second.
Nanao's eyes widened in surprise, and the other students eavesdropping nearby wore expressions of envy or shock.
Those words were essentially a personal invitation from the Lieutenant of Squad 5 himself. For an Academy student, this was an immense honor.
But in Ren's mind, alarm bells were ringing.
Why would Aizen, for no apparent reason, extend an invitation to a mediocre fifth-year like him?
He thought back to the encounter in the valley of West District 2 a few days ago.
Ren was almost certain that the person hidden in the shadows back then had been Aizen.
'He noticed me after all.'
"I'm deeply honored by your appreciation, Lieutenant."
"However, as I mentioned, there's still time before graduation. I'd like to give it more thought before making a decision."
"Don't feel pressured by my words. Just follow your heart."
Aizen looked at him, that gentle smile still on his face.
"Well then, I look forward to your future performance."
He patted Ren on the shoulder and turned to walk away.
Ren stood rooted to the spot, watching Aizen's retreating back.
To him, that brief exchange—every word and every glance—felt like dancing on the edge of a blade.
'My luck really is terrible.'
"Ren, Lieutenant Aizen seems to think highly of you. He even wants you in Squad 5. What do you think?"
Nanao's voice snapped Ren back to reality.
He thought for a moment.
"I'm terrified."
Nanao: ?