Inside the Shino Academy cafeteria, students gathered in groups of twos and threes as they came and went. Ren found a quiet spot by the window and sat down, while Ise Nanao carried her food tray over and quietly sat across from him.
Resting on the bridge of Nanao's nose was a pair of thin-rimmed glasses, her soft black hair framing her cheeks; her appearance hadn't changed much from before. Ren, however, had shed his school-day naivety, gaining the composure and sharpness characteristic of a full-fledged Soul Reaper.
Nanao lowered her head to take small bites of her rice, but she couldn't resist stealing glances at Ren out of the corner of her eye.
'He really has changed a lot compared to before.'
After finishing their meal, the two walked side by side along the academy's tree-lined path. Cherry blossom petals drifted on the breeze, landing gently on the tips of Nanao's hair. Ren noticed this and reached out to brush the petals away. Meeting his gaze, Nanao froze for a second before slightly turning her head away.
Not far away, sunlight streamed through the library windows, casting a warm golden canopy of light and shadow across the ground. Standing by the entrance, Ren looked at the familiar wooden door, feeling for a split second as if he had traveled back to last year.
Back then, he was just an ordinary academy student whose daily life consisted of attending classes, training, and burying himself in the library. Nanao would always sit by the window with a thick Kido tome spread out before her, reading in absolute silence. Ren would sit right across from her, gathering the Kido fragments that dropped from her.
Ren found himself momentarily lost in nostalgia.
"What are you thinking about?" Nanao's voice called out from beside him.
Ren snapped out of it, a faint smile touching his lips. "Just thinking about the past. We used to come here to read all the time back then."
"Yeah. You've been gone for almost a year now, and I'll be graduating by next year too." Nanao spoke up again, her voice soft and delicate. "Ren, are you very busy in Squad 4?"
"It's alright. Between clinical duties, training, and handling squad affairs, there's quite a lot to keep me occupied."
Nanao nodded in understanding. After all, Ren was already a 4th Seat. At that moment, she couldn't help but recall when Ren was still at the academy. Back then, Ren kept a completely low profile, constantly hiding his true capabilities. Looking at him now, the difference was like night and day.
"Come on, let's head to the training grounds." Ren smiled, tapping Nanao's shoulder as he turned toward the Kido training grounds on the west side. "Let me see how your Kido practice has been coming along lately."
Nanao quickened her pace to catch up, walking right by his side.
Before long, the two arrived. The Kido training grounds were wide and level, with targets set up in the distance where a few students were practicing Hado, kicking up clouds of dust with every explosion.
At Ren's signal, Nanao stepped into the center of the field. Taking a deep breath, she held her hands before her chest, a pale red spiritual pressure flickering at her fingertips as she incanted the spell. Her posture was textbook perfect, and her spiritual pressure flowed smoothly. Yet, Ren could instantly spot numerous areas where her Kido could be improved.
"With your Shakkaho, you're guiding the spiritual pressure too hastily. Releasing it before it hits the pivot point naturally compromises its power."
Nanao nodded. "I know, but I always seem to misjudge the timing."
Ren pondered for a moment. "Let me demonstrate it for you."
Ren took a step back, letting his hand rest naturally in front of him. An instant later, a blazing Shakkaho manifested out of thin air, its fiery crimson glow ripping through the atmosphere. It streaked forward, slamming dead-center into the target with a resounding explosion.
As the smoke cleared, the target was completely incinerated—its destructive force leagues beyond Nanao's attempt.
Nanao's eyes widened in disbelief. "A chantless Shakkaho?!"
Ren nodded. "Did you feel the shift in spiritual pressure?"
Nanao stared at Ren in utter shock, her mouth slightly agape, completely at a loss for words. She remembered that when they practiced Kido together last year, even if Ren had been holding back, he was at most slightly stronger than her. Yet in less than a single year, he could already cast a chantless Shakkaho? Even among the seated officers of the Gotei 13, not everyone could pull off a chantless Shakkaho.
"How... how did you do that?" her voice was laced with bewilderment.
"Just practice a lot. If you want to learn, I can teach you." Ren replied nonchalantly, finding the shocked expression on Nanao's face quite entertaining.
Then, Ren raised his hands, cupping them slightly as spiritual pressure pooled frantically within his palms. Crackles of lightning hissed to life as the rudimentary form of Hado #63: Raikōhō materialized in his hands. A violent spiritual pressure swept across the vicinity, the blinding electrical discharge of the Raikōhō solidifying rapidly.
Nanao's face turned stark white. Stepping forward hastily, she grabbed Ren's sleeve, her voice trembling with panic. "That's Raikōhō! Hey, don't let it blow up in your face!"
Ren chuckled, dispersing the spiritual pressure in his palms. "I won't. See? Perfectly under control. Just teasing you. Don't be scared."
He gently patted the top of Nanao's head, her hair soft and smooth beneath his touch.
Nanao clutched her chest and exhaled a sigh of relief. Knitting her brows with a complex gaze, she shot Ren a reproachful glare. "To think your Kido has already become this formidable..."
Yet deep within her eyes, there was astonishment, admiration, and an inexplicable warmth. Just a few months ago, they were still sitting together reading books, training, and debating Kido theories. Back then, although his Kido surpassed hers, the gap hadn't been this unbridgeable. Now, he could perform feats she didn't even dare to imagine.
Steadying her heartbeat, she looked at Ren, her expression turning earnest. "Tell me, if I dedicate myself to learning Kaido, do you think my application to join Squad 4 will get approved when I graduate next year?"
Ren paused. Looking at the quiet yet tenacious girl before him, he shook his head gently. "There's no need, nor do you have to go out of your way to prepare for it."
Nanao blinked, her eyes behind her glasses clouded with confusion. "Why?"
"Your placement has already been arranged by someone else," Ren replied evenly, offering no further elaboration. He knew very well that Nanao's ultimate destination was never Squad 4, but Squad 8. That old geezer Kyoraku would never let Nanao leave his sight.
"Arranged? Who do you mean..." Nanao tilted her head, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Ren shook his head, refusing to clarify. "You'll find out when you graduate next year."
Seeing his demeanor, Nanao knew it was useless to press him on matters he wished to keep secret, so she simply nodded.
At that moment, glancing at the distant sky, Nanao suddenly recalled something. Letting out a soft gasp, she hurriedly gathered her textbooks. "Oh no! I have another class this afternoon. I have to go!"
Ren nodded. "Go ahead."
Nanao trotted away, but after a few paces, she turned back around to wave at Ren. Her retreating figure gradually receded beneath the sunlight, melting into the canopy of trees.
Ren stood in place, watching her go as a helpless chuckle escaped him. Then, turning on his heel, he made his way toward the sophomore training grounds.
The sophomore training grounds were bustling with activity and a clamor of voices. Standing at the edge of the field, Ren watched the students go through their drills. To his current eyes, their techniques appeared entirely too green. Even though he had been one of them just a few short months ago, now, he had already outpaced them by a massive margin.
Among the crowd, a certain black-haired figure stood out remarkably. Holding his Zanpakuto, his movements were sharp and aggressive, and the dense, stable spiritual pressure enveloping his body completely eclipsed the surrounding students.
Moments later, Shiba Kaien seemed to register the scrutiny. Turning his head, he paused in surprise upon spotting Ren, but a bright, cheerful grin instantly broke across his face as he strode over.