No Questions

Time flew by, and before anyone knew it, the day for reporting to Shino Academy of Spiritual Arts had arrived.

To avoid being late, Saikyō set out early in the morning, heading straight for the academy.

"So many people!"

After finally arriving at the academy gate, Saikyō couldn't help but be slightly taken aback by the sight before him—a large crowd, a sea of people jostling for space.

Looking around, almost all the faces were unfamiliar.

The newcomers here weren't yet in the student uniforms. They were dressed in a variety of clothes, indicating that they had come from Seireitei or from various districts of Rukongai.

"It seems Shino Academy really expanded their enrollment this year to attract more talents. But, it doesn't look like there are any particularly strong people here," Saikyō thought as he assessed the crowd.

He scanned the area with his senses, and except for a very few individuals, none seemed like they could possibly pose a challenge to him.

The vast majority of those present had only weak spiritual power, not even one-fifth of the strength of an average Shinigami soldier.

But then Saikyō reminded himself that, historically, this was more than a century before the plot involving Ichigo Kurosaki began. The number of true prodigies was few and far between in this long stretch of time.

Shiba Kaien was one of the rare talents of the era, and Ichimaru Gin was the other. According to Saikyō's calculations, Gin was still a few years away from joining the Gotei 13.

There wasn't any competition right now.

Of course, that meant he would be the number one in the special training class!

Next.

It was time for a long wait.

While waiting, many sharp-eyed individuals recognized Saikyō's face.

"Hey, look at that guy over there!"

"Isn't that the guy I saw at Drunken Immortal a while ago?"

"He looks like Saikyō!"

"No way? Is that really the First Genius of Shino Academy? And he's this handsome?"

...

More and more murmurs began to fill the area, and soon enough, Saikyō found himself at the center of everyone's attention without having done anything at all.

All around him, eyes focused on his presence.

It wasn't just because of his special identity as "Young Master Shihōin" or his strikingly handsome appearance. It was also because of his newfound reputation as "Shino Academy's First Genius."

Saikyō's mere appearance had caused a stir.

"Whoa… how does anyone even recognize me like this?"

Surrounded by countless onlookers, even someone as confident as Saikyō felt a bit uneasy. He had originally planned to keep a low profile, but now it seemed that such a notion was impossible.

Fortunately, at that moment…

The gates suddenly opened.

The instructors of Shino Academy of Spiritual Arts emerged from the academy in an orderly line, immediately attracting everyone's attention.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

An elderly man with white hair stepped forward. His voice, amplified by Reiatsu, easily silenced the crowd.

"In my hand, I have the list for each class. You will all be assigned a class based on this list. Later, you will assemble in your designated rooms." The old man spoke efficiently.

The list was soon posted.

Each freshman began to gather according to the information provided, heading to their respective classes.

Saikyō, too, followed along.

---

Scene Shift.

First Grade, Special Training Class.

The classroom wasn't very large, holding a total of fifty students.

But with Saikyō's arrival, the atmosphere became lively, with many students eager to get acquainted with him.

As people gazed at him with admiration, Saikyō simply nodded politely.

Not long after arriving, he had already become the most popular student in the entire class!

Soon.

There was the sound of footsteps approaching from outside.

"The instructor's here!"

Someone announced.

The students, including Saikyō, all turned their attention to the door of the classroom.

A few seconds later, a figure appeared.

"No way… it's her?!"

Saikyō blurted out, stunned, as he recognized the figure.

Another familiar character from the story had shown up.

The figure had golden braids, dark brown eyes, a pair of noticeable canine teeth, and a fierce expression. She wore a traditional black Shinigami uniform, looking for all the world like a small but fierce girl.

That's right!

It was Hiyori Sarugaki—the vice-captain of the Twelfth Division and a future member of the Visored!

"It seems the rumors were true. Hiyori really is here to be a mentor… but she's way too unpredictable," Saikyō muttered internally.

In his memory, Hiyori was notorious for her volatile nature.

She had an arrogant attitude, often found people irritating, and was quick to lash out—especially with her trademark attack: a thrown flip-flop.

Her fiery temper and impulsive personality made her someone no one wanted to provoke.

And now, she was standing in front of the class as their instructor. To be honest, Saikyō found it hard to believe.

If it were Lisa or even Mashiro, things might have been better. At least they wouldn't have thrown slippers at every little disagreement!

Now, though, he couldn't help but be wary. If she got angry and decided to throw one of those flip-flops his way, he might end up like Hirako Shinji—a bruised face being the least of his worries!

"Alright, you little brats… My name is Hiyori Sarugaki, and I'm the vice-captain of the Twelfth Division. From today onwards, I'll be your instructor."

Wearing a pair of flip-flops, Hiyori stomped up to the front of the classroom, her small frame exuding a commanding presence.

"Because of my responsibilities with the Twelfth Division, I won't always be around, so I'll be using a 'free-range' teaching approach."

She folded her arms and scanned the room with a challenging look.

From the very first moment, Hiyori established her authority, and all the students felt a chill run down their spines.

The entire classroom became so silent that you could hear a pin drop!

"What's the matter with you all? Stop acting like I'm going to eat you."

Seeing the fearful faces in the classroom, a smug smile appeared on Hiyori's face.

The reason she had agreed to be an instructor was purely on a whim.

She had originally thought of it as just something fun to do, but she hadn't expected the academy to assign her to the special training class.

Maybe it was her fiery temperament that made her a good fit for the role!

"Um… Sensei, what are the specific courses we'll be taking?" One student finally plucked up the courage to ask.

And just like that—

Whoosh!

Hiyori's flip-flop flew through the air.

Bang!

With a loud thud, the sandal hit the student square on the forehead, knocking him to the ground.

The entire classroom erupted in chaos!

"What?!"

"He just asked a simple question!"

"Sensei Hiyori is way too fierce!"

"How are we supposed to survive this class?!"

...

The students were in an uproar.

Facing Hiyori's special move—The Flip-Flop of Doom—everyone was terrified, afraid that they would be the next target.

"Yup, that's exactly the Hiyori I remember. If there's a disagreement, she's going to settle it with violence," Saikyō thought to himself, glancing at the podium.

She really didn't play by the rules, and even he found it difficult to handle her erratic nature.

"Alright, listen up, you little punks. In the future, don't bother asking unnecessary questions. I'll decide what courses you take and when." Hiyori said, her voice lowered in warning.

The message was clear.

Don't ask.

If you do, expect a slipper!