In my own room in the student dormitory.
I am sitting in zazen, concentrating my consciousness. I correct my posture and concentrate deeply—deeper than anything else—to the point where I don't care about anything else at all.
Even if I were hit, I wouldn't break my concentration—if you clear your mind, even fire is cool—without caring about any trivial matters, deeply, deeply—I place the Asauchi on my lap and focus my mind solely on the sword.
What I am doing now is a method called Jinzen, which was devised over a long period of time to converse with the Zanpakutō. Diving into the inner world and deepening synchronization—simply put, you have to do things like this to become friends.
But if you don't become friends with your own Zanpakutō like this, you cannot become strong as a Soul Reaper. Because apparently, synchronizing also increases the Soul Reaper's own spiritual power.
By repeating dialogue and being acknowledged by the Zanpakutō, and hearing its name, the Zanpakutō becomes capable of Shikai, the first stage of ability release. If you call its name and release it, the shape of the sword changes, and you can use special abilities unique to each sword.
Shape changes can be like becoming a spear or claws, and special abilities can be like manipulating fire or cold.
...Well, seemingly there are cases where only the shape changes and there are no special abilities at all ! ...But that area is completely unknown until you actually do Shikai; it's a Schrödinger's cat that you won't know until you open the box.
It's understandable that it's called by the slang (derogatory term?) "Zanpakutō Gacha."
And, among Soul Reapers, almost all seated officers—those with a rank—have mastered Shikai. So, if you can awaken even to Shikai during your Academy days, they say you can become a Soul Reaper with seated officer treatment right at that point !
In that sense too, there is no harm in mastering it.
So, closing my eyes like this, cutting off all information from the outside world, indulging in meditation, thinking only of the sword—... Hah ! I'm not sleeping, I'm not sleeping ! !
...Ahem.
Pouring my heart into the sword—thinking of nothing else—concentrate, concentrate—
■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□■□
"Huh?"
Until just now, I was certainly performing Jinzen in my dorm room.
But what is this?
When I realized it, I was in a very perplexing space.
However, this is... how should I express it?
What catches my eye is a number of lined-up civilized buildings.
There are train tracks and trains, highways, department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, tower apartments, and huge radio towers, with office buildings lined up.
But as if integrated with those artificial objects, huge trees and flowers are also growing.
Giant trees that look hundreds of years old—maybe even a thousand years if things go poorly?—like Yakushima cedar trees are wrapped around buildings, and flowers are blooming nonchalantly from on top of asphalt roads.
Should I say it's a scene like Tokyo and a jungle combined? Put nicely, it's a harmonious whole; put poorly, it's just chaotic.
"...Is this my inner world? I finally made it... ! ! I'm not dreaming, right !?"
Is it some kind of metaphor or suggestion? I am curious, but for now—just for now, I dismiss such things from my thoughts as trivial matters.
Instinctively happy, so happy, I pinch my cheek without thinking.
"...Ouch. It's definitely not a dream !"
Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh ! ! Three years of struggle ! I finally entered my inner world ! !
Even though Renjōji-san and Ayase-san had already reached this stage in their first year ! ! I hadn't at all, so I thought this was a problem beyond dialogue until graduation ! !
While everyone was saying things like "I can't hear the name" or "It has a super cheeky personality," I can say goodbye to the life of pretending not to hear out of consideration and quietly moving away ! !
"Then next is conversation with the main body of the Zanpakutō, right? It should be somewhere..."
If I recall correctly, in the original work... Ichigo entered it to become a Soul Reaper, right? At that time... what was he doing? Surely...
"Well, whatever."
Remembering it won't change anything. In the first place, as mentioned before, Zanpakutō are infinitely varied; even if I imitate others, it will only serve as a reference for one possibility.
"More importantly, I feel something strange...?"
Looking around and around, I finally realized.
"That's right ! There is no sound ! Even though there are things, I don't hear anything ! !"
If it were in a city, the noise of the crowd would echo, the running sounds of trains and cars, and depending on the place, sounds from monitors like street TVs or speakers.
Even in a forest, it is the same. Compared to the city, it is certainly quiet, but even so, if the wind blows, there is the sound of leaves and grass swaying. If there are insects or beasts, I should hear some kind of presence or at least one cry.
None of that exists... All I hear are the sounds created by me.
Is this what a world where time has stopped feels like?
"Is there anything, or anyone?"
If I search, the main body of the Zanpakutō should be somewhere. First, let's find that, start from self-introductions to each other, and become friends.
"...Umm..."
There are many blind spots because of the buildings and trees. Searching these one by one is—
"Hmm? Just now, something...?"
Something moved as if grazing the edge of my vision.
"A pitch-black... rubber, ball? No, was it called a Super Ball?"
When I went to that place fearfully, what was there was an object that could only be described that way.
Appearance-wise, it is a beautiful, beautiful sphere that could be called a perfect sphere.
The color is pitch black, perhaps matte-processed, reflecting no light at all... or rather, it has a scariness and beauty as if it is absorbing light.
Is the size about a volleyball, no, a basketball? It is large enough to hold with both hands, and when I hold it, it is squishy and elastic, somewhat soft.
It feels like a texture that could become addictive.
"But why is such a thing here? Did someone roll it? Or did something that was somewhere roll and fall down?"
Even looking around, there is no one. Only this rubber ball is in my hands.
"...Receive."
Coming up with it randomly, I lightly toss up the rubber ball. I intended to put almost no force into it, but it flew surprisingly well.
"Toss."
Anticipating the landing point, this time I toss it up again, emphasizing accuracy.
"Attaaaaack !"
And jumping to match the timing of it falling, I hit it with all my might ! The rubber ball flew about three hundred meters away in an instant.
It flies better than expected. Besides, it is also proof that my physical ability has improved.
"Then this time... Seeeerve ! !"
Picking up the one that rolled away again, this time from bottom to top. I launch it with all my strength !
"Ooh."
While watching it soar surprisingly high, I estimate lightly in my head.
Whether I hit it sideways or upwards, there seemed to be plenty of room left. In other words, this space is much vast than I imagined.
Both upwards and sideways are considerable; if things go poorly (or well), it wouldn't be strange if it were about ten kilometers square.
However, even if there is a harvest regarding the vastness, it is a problem that the crucial dialogue with the Zanpakutō is nonexistent.
But using it like a ball like this reminds me of my student days.
...Though I was bad at volleyball.
It doesn't matter, but I wonder how long the trope "There is always a ball stuck in the gymnasium ceiling" will be understood?
At my school, not just balls, but jump ropes were stuck there.
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