Ren stood beneath a tree beside the school building, his back leaning against the trunk as his gaze rested on the nearby exit. After leaving the training grounds, he had come straight to this spot, waiting along the path that led to the student dorms.
Students filed out of the building in small groups. Ren's eyes swept across the crowd, searching for a specific silhouette.
Twilight deepened as the last rays of sunlight vanished behind the roof of the academy dorms, and the figures bustling around the Spiritual Arts Academy grew sparse.
A small, silver-haired figure strolled out casually from the distance. He wasn't tall, dressed in the standard Academy uniform. His short silver hair gleamed coldly under the lamps, hanging down over his forehead and obscuring his brows.
Gin Ichimaru's eyes were narrowed into thin slits, completely hiding his gaze. Though his demeanor seemed lazy and nonchalant, he possessed a sharp vigilance far beyond his years, quietly scanning his surroundings.
As he stepped out of the school building, his footsteps caught slightly. He turned his head and looked toward where Ren was waiting, those narrowed eyes opening just a fraction wider.
Ren Hasumi—the Soul Reaper who had saved Rangiku in the Rukongai and helped stabilize her soul.
His first instinct was to turn around and avoid him, but the lingering doubts and concerns in his heart glued his feet to the floor. They had crossed paths briefly during the day, so he hadn't expected Ren to linger around the Academy until now.
Gin hesitated briefly, glanced around, and then walked over.
"Ren." Gin's voice was very soft. "I didn't expect to run into you here."
Ren smiled. "I came by today to substitute for a Kaido class. I happened to hear that a genius had enrolled in the Academy, so I stopped by to check on you."
Gin's eyes swept over their surroundings, as if confirming whether anyone was watching them. Then, he lowered his voice. "I noticed earlier that Aizen is here too."
"I know," Ren nodded.
Gin stared at him, falling silent for a moment before waiting for Ren to elaborate.
Ren glanced around, then set off, gesturing for Gin to follow. Gin hesitated briefly before following closely behind. The two of them walked in tandem, cutting through a small path until they reached a secluded corner.
There, Gin hushed his voice further. "What exactly are you trying to do? If Aizen is nearby, doing this will completely expose me to him."
Seeing how tense he was, Ren gave a faint smile. "What's the rush? No need to be tense, I know what I'm doing."
Gin stared at him, unable to fathom the man's intentions. But with Ren right in front of him, Gin pursed his lips. Ultimately, he couldn't suppress the thing he cared about most.
"How is... Rangiku?" His voice sounded calm, but Ren could catch the underlying thread of worry.
"She's doing well." Ren turned around to look at him. "She's currently resting and recovering in Squad Four. Her body is mostly healed. Captain Unohana is looking after her personally, so you don't have to worry."
Gin lowered his head, his silver bangs shadowing his eyes. "That's good."
Ren leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. "There's one more thing I should probably let you know. Rangiku might enroll in the Spiritual Arts Academy as well. She has great talent. With the right training, she'll make an excellent Soul Reaper in the future."
Hearing this, Gin's fingers clenched slightly before slowly relaxing. Becoming a Soul Reaper meant Rangiku would have the power to protect herself. She would no longer be a helpless, defenseless Rukongai girl. That was inherently a good thing.
Yet, becoming a Soul Reaper also meant she would join the Gotei Thirteen and come into contact with the very people he wanted to shield her from. As he rapidly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, Gin felt a tight squeeze in his chest.
"Do you think... she should become a Soul Reaper?" Gin looked up at Ren, his voice quiet.
"I believe she should," Ren said after a moment's thought. "She has the potential, and she has the desire.投 Besides, once she becomes a Soul Reaper, she'll have a better chance of surviving in this world, won't she?"
Gin nodded. "I suppose you're right."
Ren stared at him and suddenly added, "If you wait a year or two, you might be able to attend the Academy together with her."
Gin lifted his head, a complex emotion flickering across his narrowed eyes. Attending the Spiritual Arts Academy side-by-side with Rangiku—Gin tried to picture the scene.
But a moment later, he erased the image from his mind. From the moment he resolved to approach Aizen, it became impossible for him to be involved with Rangiku ever again. He had to maintain his distance from her; otherwise, his actions would drag her down with him.
Gin shook his head. "I won't wait. I don't have that much time." His voice was flatly calm. "I've reviewed the curriculum. I intend to graduate early."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "How long?"
"One year. I will graduate from the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy in one year."
Ren looked at him, a trace of admiration in his gaze. "That really is impressive. What do you plan to do after graduation?"
Gin fell silent for a short while. Then, he spoke slowly. "I will join Squad Five."
Ren's brow twitched slightly. "Squad Five?"
"Yes. And before I join, I'll catch Aizen's eye."
"How?"
Gin's voice remained even. He looked up at Ren, a flash of chilling light crossing his eyes. "I will kill a seated officer of Squad Five right in front of Aizen. Then, I will take his place."
Ren fell silent for a brief moment. "Are you absolutely sure about this? That person is innocent."
Gin's fingers tightened slightly. "I know, but it's the fastest way."
Only by doing this could he show Aizen his ruthlessness, his talent, and his utility. A man like Aizen would never take in a mediocre hack; he only favored ambitious people who dared to spill blood.
"I know Aizen Sosuke is the lieutenant of Squad Five. I will do whatever it takes to get his attention, stay by his side, and climb the ranks step by step. I want to watch every single thing he does and figure out all his hidden trump cards until I find the perfect opportunity."
Ren watched him, remaining silent for a very long time. Then, he sighed. "Let me help you."
Hearing this, a look of confusion flashed in Gin's eyes. "Help... me?"
Ren didn't answer. He simply stared at Gin, a meaningful smile playing on the corners of his lips. Then, Ren turned around, his back to Gin, and looked past the dense bamboo grove toward a nearby shaded path.
Gin followed his gaze. In the next instant, his heart skipped a beat, and the blood in his veins seemed to freeze solid.
He saw a figure slowly step out from the distant bamboo grove. A characteristically warm smile was plastered across the man's face, but behind those black-rimmed glasses lay eyes as deep as a bottomless abyss. It was impossible to tell how long he had been standing there, but right now, he was quietly observing the two by the path.
A faint grin tugged at Ren's lips as he softly called out to him.
"What a twisted sense of humor..."
"Lieutenant Aizen."