Learning and Growth

Just as Kyōraku Shunsui said, a private box at a place like this wasn't the best setting for serious conversation.

Since this wasn't the first time Seiya had found himself the target of suspicion, he managed to remain calm for the moment.

"Captain Kyōraku, you…"

"You've already achieved it, haven't you?"

Earlier, it was a question born of curiosity.

Now, it was a statement of certainty.

Seiya watched as Kyōraku slowly turned his head, giving him a meaningful look.

"I've been keeping an eye on you for a while," Kyōraku began, swirling his sake. "Ever since your bout with Vice-Captain Ōmaeda."

"Even though that fight was limited to hand-to-hand combat and neither of you had any intent to kill, the way you handled yourself back then was… impressive."

He paused, then leaned back slightly.

"After that, I did some digging into your background."

Kyōraku's tone remained light, but his words were sharp.

"What I found was… quite ordinary. Your past doesn't suggest anything remarkable. Your time in the Rukongai? Completely unremarkable.

Let me think… yes."

Kyōraku's gaze sharpened.

"You were just an average, nameless drifter."

Seiya didn't respond, nor did he try to interrupt.

Because by now, he understood.

Kyōraku had come here with a purpose.

Unlike the tentative probing from Yoruichi, Kyōraku's approach felt more calculated, deliberate.

This wasn't a conversation.

It was an assessment.

"But then, something changed after you entered the academy," Kyōraku continued.

"And that turning point… was when you met Aizen, wasn't it?"

His tone remained casual, yet each word felt heavier.

"Ah, yes. Aizen… He's quite the enigmatic one."

"You two getting close… Well, I suppose that's a kind of fate in its own way."

Kyōraku poured himself another cup of sake.

"And I'd wager that your rapid growth is tied to him somehow, isn't it?"

There was no denying it.

Kyōraku's observations were spot on.

Despite all the precautions Seiya and Aizen had taken, it seemed Kyōraku had pieced it together.

"And then there's your Asauchi," Kyōraku continued.

"You applied for one barely a month after enrolling. Given the timeline, it's clear you've already achieved Shikai."

Kyōraku's gaze locked onto Seiya, studying his reaction carefully.

"With that kind of potential, you could've easily transferred to a higher-ranked class. Gained access to better resources, more opportunities…"

"But you didn't."

"You've been hiding something."

Seiya remained silent.

Kyōraku wasn't finished yet.

"And when Aizen was reassigned, you kept in touch, didn't you?"

Kyōraku chuckled softly, his voice light but filled with implication.

"At first, I wasn't too concerned. It's not unusual for students to remain close to their mentors, after all. I've been a student too, so I understand."

He paused to sip his sake, then continued.

"But the real turning point was that incident with Kiganjō."

"The fact that a mere student managed to injure a captain-level Soul Reaper? Everyone thought it was a joke."

Kyōraku chuckled again, shaking his head.

"Most people laughed it off, thinking someone was just using your name to poke fun at Kiganjō."

"But there are always a few people who like to dig deeper into things."

He leaned forward slightly.

"I'm one of them."

Kyōraku's expression grew more serious.

"Battles between Soul Reapers are fundamentally contests of spiritual pressure."

"And when the difference in power is too great, the weaker one can't even leave a scratch."

"But you did."

Kyōraku lifted his hand, gesturing toward Seiya with his index finger.

"The only explanation is that your spiritual pressure is already at a level capable of threatening a captain."

Silence hung in the air.

Seiya opened his mouth to respond, but Kyōraku beat him to it, waving his hand dismissively.

"Relax, relax. There's no need to explain anything."

"Honestly? I'm not that interested."

He offered a lazy smile, his playful demeanor returning.

"I only dug into this because I was curious. It's not really part of my job, after all."

Kyōraku adjusted his hat, pulling it down slightly over his eyes.

"I'm the captain of the Eighth Division. My job is to protect the Seireitei to the best of my ability."

"Whatever your reasons for hiding your strength, it doesn't concern me."

"In fact…"

Kyōraku grinned.

"I tend to like cautious people like you."

He chuckled softly.

"After all, dealing with thoughtful, careful individuals is like basking in the spring breeze."

"Compared to someone like Kiganjō, who wears his emotions on his sleeve… You're far more agreeable."

Kyōraku stood up, adjusting his robes. His gaze drifted toward the now-empty stage below.

"Whether the facade is real or fake, it doesn't matter to me."

"Even pretense has its purpose."

"As long as everything remains peaceful… That's all that matters, don't you think?"

Seiya took a deep breath, standing up as well.

"…Thank you for your guidance, Captain Kyōraku."

Some secrets are simply impossible to keep.

Between Yoruichi's sharp intuition and Kyōraku's meticulous investigation, Seiya realized that the Seireitei was an impenetrable fortress of information.

Its web of connections ran deep, tangled with centuries of history.

And Aizen knew that.

That's why he wanted Seiya to interact with these captains.

It wasn't just about gathering intelligence.

It was about learning.

Growing.

Using the strengths of others to overcome his own shortcomings.

Kyōraku turned, his usual lazy smile back in place.

"Well, I'm glad you understood what I was getting at."

With a chuckle, he added,

"Alright, that's enough for today."

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Powerstones?

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