Captain Material? Not According to the Gotei 13!

Lei's eyes shot open. Groaning, he pushed himself up off from the wooden ground and blinked at his surroundings.

"Ughhh. What just…" His words trailed off as the surroundings came into picture.

… Why does this give me a sense of deja-vu?

The ceiling above him was old and wooden, with visible cracks that let slivers of pale moonlight seep through. It smelled faintly of damp wood and something earthy—herbs, maybe. A soft voice chuckled nearby. Startled, Lei turned his head to see an elderly woman stirring a pot over a small fire. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her thin frame was wrapped in a simple robe. 

"Ah, you're awake," she said, her voice carrying that thin timbre characteristic of the friendliness that comes with old age. "Good, good. Rest a little longer, child. I'll fetch my grandson. He'll want to see you." Before he could collect himself, the woman was already out the door.

That's right. I must have passed out from the pain. Again.

"Ugh, what a system," Lei mumbled, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Others give unlimited powers. Mine makes me pass out twice in one day."

He groaned again and tried to get up, wincing as soreness ran through his body. Something about the way he passed out must have been bad for the muscles. Hopefully, it wasn't too awkward. He continued examining the room.

What is this place? Who are these people? And why did her grandson want to see me?

While he was in his thoughts, the door creaked open moments, and a boy stepped in, his eyes narrowing the instant they landed on Lei. He was small, with silver hair that practically glowed in the dim light, and his expression carried the weight of someone who had already decided they didn't like you.

"You're awake," the boy said bluntly, crossing his arms. "Good. Now leave."

Lei blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, what?"

"You're taking up space and resources we can't afford to spare," the boy continued, his tone flat but firm. "If you can move, you should go."

Before Lei could respond, the old woman reappeared, clucking her tongue like an annoyed hen. 

"Toshiro, that's no way to treat a guest," she scolded, shaking a ladle at the boy. "He was passed out. He needs rest and food. You'd think I raised you better."

Toshiro? As in Hitsugaya Toshiro? 

"Granny, he's a stranger," the boy—Toshiro—retorted, glaring at Lei. "We don't even know-"

A threatening raise of the ladle made the body stop his next words. That didn't stop him from continuing his icy glare at Lei though.

The woman ignored this, turning her warm smile back to Lei. "Don't mind the boy," she said. "He means well but has the manners of a snapping turtle. Stay, eat dinner with us, and rest here tonight. It's already late."

Lei hesitated, but realizing he had no better options, gave a small nod. "Thank you. I appreciate it."

Dinner was a quiet affair at first. As they ate, the boy continued to glare at him from across the table, while the old woman filled the silence with cheerful chatter. For his part, Lei was enjoying the simple yet surprisingly tasty food and wondering how to confirm his guesses about the identity of the white-haired boy before him. 

"So," she began, her tone conversational, "what's your name, young man?"

"Lei," he answered after swallowing a mouthful of rice. "Lei Zhang."

"Well, Lei, Toshiro tells me that he found you passed out in the middle of a clearing. Do you remember what happened?"

Lei paused, unsure how much to reveal. "I… don't really know. One moment I was walking, and the next… I woke up here."

It was then that the door slid open again, and a young girl stepped inside. She had soft features, dark eyes, and a warm smile that lit up the room. Lei guessed she was about the same age as the boy, Toshiro.

"I'm back!" she announced, her tone bright and cheerful. Her gaze landed on Lei, and she tilted her head curiously. "Oh, who's this?"

"This is Lei," the old woman said, gesturing toward him. "He'll be staying with us tonight."

The girl's eyebrows rose, but she simply shrugged and sat down. "Nice to meet you, Lei. I'm Momo."

Well that confirms it. 

Lei nodded, offering a small smile in return. "Nice to meet you too."

As they ate, the conversation shifted toward Momo's impending departure for the Shinigami Academy.

"I leave in a few days," she said, her tone a mix of excitement and nervousness. "It's a big opportunity. I want to do my best."

"The Academy?" Lei echoed, his interest piqued.

"Yes," Momo said, her eyes lighting up. "It's where you train to become a Shinigami. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it if you want to protect people."

Lei leaned back, considering her words. The system's panel had mentioned his goal: becoming a captain in the Gotei 13. If this Academy was the first step, it made sense for him to go. Besides, he had nowhere else to go.

"I think I'll go too," he said suddenly, surprising everyone at the table.

Momo blinked. "You will?"

Lei nodded. "If it's where people go to learn to become Shinigami, then it's where I need to be. I might… need some help getting there, though."

The old woman chuckled. "Well, that's quite the decision. And what about you, Toshiro? I think you'll be a wonderful Shinigami." 

Lei met the boy's glare calmly. "I agree. From what I can see, you're strong—stronger than most kids your age, I bet. If you have a chance to do something great with that strength, why not take it?"

The grandma looked tenderly at Toshiro and whispered, "Seeing Momo AND you succeed would make me the happiest person in the world."

Toshiro looked surprised, seemingly catching on to some hidden implication in the exchange. But then he scowled, his eyes flickering to Lei. "I don't need some random stranger telling me what to do."

Lei decided to leave it at that, knowing better than to push too hard.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Lei lay on the futon, staring at the cracked ceiling. His body ached, but his mind was sharper than it had been in days.

"System," he whispered.

The blue screen appeared before him, its glowing text casting faint light on his face.

---

Status:

Name: Lei Zhang

Reiryoku: 1005

Skills: None

Items: None

Buffs:

* Beginner Gains - 365 days remaining

Main Goal: Become a captain in the Gotei 13

---

Lei stared at the screen, a giant smile creeping on his face. The implication on the screen is that an average person probably had only 5 reiatsu. In comparison, his current amount was enormous - the beginner gift pain was worth it. 

With renewed confidence, he let the screen fade and closed his eyes. Tomorrow would be the start of something new.

——

Unbeknownst to Lei, Toshiro was constantly monitoring him. 

What - what is that smile? 

A chill ran through his body at the sight. In Rukongai, criminals and cutthroats abound. But he had never seen a smile so clearly indicative of conspiracies and evil like the one before him. By the time he slept, only one thought remained in his mind.

There's no way I'm letting Momo go alone with him!