Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

"So, Aizen-sensei has been reassigned back to the Fifth Division?"

"Yeah, but I heard he'll still teach a monthly calligraphy class, so he'll occasionally return to the academy."

That said—

"Doesn't it feel a little lonely?"

Isane bit her spoon, her expression filled with quiet reflection.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Seiya, sitting across from her and digging into a steak, asked in confusion.

"Well, Seiya-kun, you had a fairly close relationship with Aizen-sensei, didn't you?"

"I heard he helped you a lot, offering guidance. Now that he's left his teaching post…"

"Doesn't it feel like a bit of a loss?"

Ah… if you put it that way.

In terms of their former student-teacher relationship, Seiya might have felt regret. After all, their time together had only spanned a little over a month.

There were still so many things he wanted to learn from Aizen Sōsuke, but just like that, the man departed without hesitation. What a heartless teacher!

But circumstances had changed.

Swallowing his bite of steak, Seiya broke into a wide grin.

"Not. At. All!"

Isane squinted at him suspiciously.

"...Your smile is kind of creepy, you know."

"It's a sign of good health! A healthy glow!"

"Well, as long as you're keeping your spirits up, I guess that's a good thing."

"After all, life's about moving forward, right? Staying stuck in the past won't get you anywhere."

After a brief pause for reflection, Seiya steered the conversation elsewhere, smiling as he spoke.

"Speaking of moving forward, Isane-senpai, you've been interning with the Fourth Division lately, right? Have you already decided on your career path after graduation?"

Isane set down her empty bowl and nodded with a soft smile.

"Yeah… To be honest, my skills in other areas are pretty average. The more popular divisions like the First, Sixth, and Eighth aren't really options for me."

Seiya nodded thoughtfully.

The Gotei 13 divisions weren't just different in name; their roles and responsibilities varied greatly.

The First Division, as the leading division, was responsible for assigning tasks and coordinating the other twelve divisions, making it the most coveted.

The Sixth Division, led by nobility, operated primarily to protect noble interests.

The Eighth Division handled intelligence and administrative work, making it popular for its relatively light workload.

It wasn't hard to see why these divisions were the most sought after.

"I was a little nervous at first," Isane admitted, "but after meeting Captain Unohana, I felt more at ease."

She fidgeted with her empty bowl, her smile turning bashful.

"She's incredibly kind and meticulous. If I can train and work under her, I think I'd be perfectly content."

So, is this fate's inertia at work, or do their personalities just naturally align?

"Anyway, for now, I'm focusing on improving my healing techniques to better prepare for joining the Fourth Division!"

Having a strong sense of determination wasn't a bad thing.

However—

"The Fourth Division's recruitment doesn't explicitly require healing expertise, does it?"

Isane's expression grew stern.

"It's about attitude, Seiya-kun! And honestly, your carefree approach is what's problematic!"

Getting lectured in return, huh? Life's full of surprises.

Has her admiration for Captain Unohana already surpassed her fondness for me? How frustrating…

Seiya merely sighed inwardly. Then, snapping out of his thoughts, he offered her a warm nod and a few words of encouragement.

"If it's you, Isane-senpai, I'm sure you'll make it."

For once, he refrained from his usual teasing remarks, and Isane beamed back at him with a determined expression.

"Thanks, Seiya-kun! I'll do my best!"

"Yeah, no problem…"

Seiya briefly considered inviting her to hang out to strengthen their bond but ultimately decided against it.

With Kiganjō potentially lurking outside, waiting for a chance to ambush him, dragging Isane into danger felt too irresponsible.

I need to deal with that threat first.

After parting ways with Isane outside the cafeteria, Seiya returned to his classroom, his expression complicated.

Since Aizen had returned to the Fifth Division, three days had passed. Initially, Seiya thought his "sensei" might whisk him away from the academy entirely.

Yet instead, Aizen's instructions were to… wait.

"For now, continue living your life as you have been, Seiya-kun. There are a few things I need to take care of first."

What is this, some kind of undercover operation?

Don't tell me this will turn into a "three years later, then another three years" scenario!

"Good evening, Seiya-kun."

Along the way, acquaintances and strangers alike greeted him.

Seiya, ever affable, returned their greetings with nods. As he observed the various students bustling about, a bittersweet thought crossed his mind.

We're no longer on the same path, are we?

Indeed, standing in a different place often revealed an entirely different view.

Where his initial days at Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy had been marked by curiosity and eagerness, now only a faint sense of alienation remained.

The lectures offered little challenge or stimulation; he'd already outgrown them.

If he wanted to grow further, he'd need to seek out stronger individuals to train with.

But how am I supposed to do that now that Aizen isn't here?

Guess I'll have to figure something out myself.

With no better ideas, Seiya headed to the dojo for his nightly sparring session with Tōsen.

Thanks to his improved swordsmanship and growing rapport with Tōsen, their practice matches had become more diverse and engaging.

As long as they didn't go too far, anything was fair game.

It was like a daily pop quiz—low stakes but high in enjoyment. Occasionally, Seiya even gained a point or two in attributes.

Upon arriving at the dojo, Seiya settled in to wait for Tōsen.

When they finally met, however, Tōsen greeted him with unexpected words.

"Come with me, Seiya."

"Aizen-sama is waiting for you."

Seiya quickly realized what this meant.

Under the radiant full moon, in the stillness of the night—

Beneath the glow of light and warmth lay shadows and chilling silence.

This was the time Aizen would choose…

To make his move.