"—Kyoka Suigetsu."
His Zanpakuto was released, and the glimmer of its blade was burned into the eyes of everyone present.
At this point, the objective is achieved. The rest is all just a sideshow.
"This is my Shikai. Though, perhaps Vice-Captain Yukawa over there has already shown you her Shikai as a model."
"No, no, since this happens every year, I make absolutely sure not to show it until Captain Aizen arrives. Please rest assured."
"Hahaha, I thank you for that."
"But everyone, we do this exchange every year. This is Captain Aizen's standard bit, so please make sure to laugh."
After I said that, laughter finally rang out.
Well, from the exchange so far, I think you've all vaguely figured it out.
Currently, we are right in the middle of Aizen's "I'm Gonna Totally Hypnotize Everyone in the Seireitei Plan: Academy Edition."
'My Lord! No, I think it is vaguely conveyed, but... you are omitting too much explanation!!'
...Ah, right.
To be correct, we are in the middle of a lecture at the Shino Academy. Specifically, it is the day of the special lecture by Captain Aizen.
Gathering the Academy students in the large auditorium for a special lecture by an active captain! And it's Captain Aizen, who, if you don't know his true nature, is a kind, handsome man who is also incredibly capable at his job! If such a Captain Aizen is giving a lecture, then you gotta see it even if you have to pawn your wife and kids! That's the level of popularity, with everyone participating every time.
And by demonstrating his Shikai as part of the lecture content, he casually increases the number of people who have fallen under Kyoka Suigetsu's spell.
Of course, if he just showed his Shikai and lectured, it would only feel unnatural.
Showing the Shikai is a given, but besides that—efficient ways to use Kido, basics of tactics. Explanations about the characteristics of each squad, and so on.
Every year, Aizen changes his approach and lectures on various things.
And this is actually useful.
He lectures in a way that is easy even for Academy students to understand, yet the content is efficient, making them think, "Maybe I can do it too! I want to try!"
My, oh my... even so, good work every single year...
I was the one who made various unreasonable requests to make this special lecture by Aizen an annual event.
Because I knew that this person who crushed his glasses had a hobby of "showing off his Shikai."
And since the result will be that everyone sees it sooner or later anyway, there is no reason not to utilize it.
I actively approached him, making him spit out the knowledge he possesses as the price for being able to show off his Shikai.
In other words—
Geh heh heh!
If you want to resent someone, resent yourself for putting on the mask of a captain who is handsome, considerate, caring of his comrades, kind, helpful, strong, and trusted and respected by everyone!!
As long as you are wearing that mask, I will utilize you thoroughly and suck the marrow from your bones!!
—That is my intention.
So please contribute to the Seireitei even a little.
After all, great damage will occur later because of you. It's compensation for the future!
Well, there is that premise.
Since we are both active officers, I always accompany him as an assistant during this special lecture every time. So I'm used to laughing off the opening with, "It's usual for Aizen to show his Shikai; it's his standard bit."
Considering the above!
Since becoming an instructor, I have definitely seen the light of this Shikai at least once a year.
I am being hypnotized every single time, every single year.
Hypnosis on top of hypnosis, and another layer of hypnosis on top of that.
It's being layered one after another like making a mille-feuille, creating a state of multiple hypnosis.
Without a doubt, the inside of my head must be completely blank.
'Oraa! Hypnosis! Hypnosis release!! ...Wait, don't do that, Hypnosis!! It is!!'
I remembered, we were lovers♥
Geez, Nubatama...♥ You're terrible!♥ Why didn't you tell me sooner?♥
If it's you, I'll listen to anything♥
Kya! I said it♥ Embarrassing... but, well, I love you so much♥
Oh my♥ Oh my♥ Being Nubatama's girlfriend is like a dream...♥
I'm going to become an even naughtier girl, okay?♥
'I am terribly sorry, My Lord!! So, well then... wear this super lewd swimsuit, and with the mat and lotion...'
Since when—were you under the illusion that I was hypnotized?
'...What... did you say...'
If this were a Jump manga, it would be "To be continued next week!" right here.
'My, oh my, playing hypnosis is fun, is it not!!'
Ah, while we were doing that, Aizen's special lecture ended.
"Captain Aizen, thank you again for this year."
I speak to Aizen, whose work is finished.
"Thank you as well for inviting me this year, Vice-Captain Yukawa. Thanks to you, Vice-Captain, it was a success again this time."
"There you go being humble again. We only had a simple meeting; you decided almost everything from the arrangements and all, didn't you, Captain Aizen?"
Truly, he is super competent when he's wearing the mask of a good boy.
It's the same every year, but there's almost no role for me to play.
"By the way, were there any students who caught your eye this year?"
"Eeeh!? Suddenly asking that, I am troubled..."
"Come now. You say that, but in the end, you take the good kids to your own place. You are unfair, Captain Aizen."
...If I recall, Hinamori-san caught his eye, right?
So she was "taken home" and "eaten"... supposedly, right?
Was I wrong...??
"You are one to talk, Vice-Captain Yukawa; rumor has it you are inviting good kids to Squad 4?"
"Well, look, I am an instructor, after all. It is also my job to suggest appropriate career paths to those with aptitude."
Also, I am doing the job of grabbing blue fruits.
"Above all, in my case, even if I desperately recruit for six years, getting a 'I might consider it?' is the best I can hope for. Whereas you, Captain Aizen, attract both men and women just with this special lecture."
Ah, I hate it, I hate it. This is why handsome guys are...
"I have gotten used to being asked by Academy students, 'How can I join Squad 5?' or 'Can you put in a good word for me with Squad 5?' but it still hurts, you know."
I got so annoyed once that I introduced them to Squad 8.
"Besides, it seems the number of kids coming to the Academy wanting to become Soul Reapers because of you is increasing, Captain Aizen. If you like, I do not mind if you take over as lecturer and give lectures every week in my place?"
"Even now I come in between my duties as captain... every week? That is a bit..."
But there is a vice-captain who comes every other week, so you could do it easily, right?
...Ah! If I bind him with work so tight he doesn't even have time to sleep and turn him into a workaholic, maybe he won't have the time, energy, or will to raise a rebellion?
"But Captain Aizen's special lecture is that well-received every year. After all, it is to the point where they always include it in the annual schedule."
"About that annual schedule, could you perhaps spare me soon? Rather than me continuing to talk forever, I think it would broaden their horizons if there were lectures from other captains and vice-captains as well."
"If we were to request other captains now, the students would start a riot. So, please give up."
Well... to an outsider, it looks like a harmonious atmosphere, but to someone who knows the reality, what a chilling conversation it is...
'It looks like an evolved form of the common "misunderstanding skit"!'
A few days passed since Aizen's perfect special lecture.
While I was working in Squad 4, my Denreishinki rang.
"Yes, this is Yukawa... Hah!? Eh, is that true!? Yes, yes... situation unknown!? Understood, Squad 4 will head out immediately as well!!"
"Um... Vice-Captain, about that conversation just now..."
Even if they can't hear the content, they can hear what I said. So if I say "will head out as well," they'd be curious.
"It is an emergency! It appears that Academy students undergoing practical training in the World of the Living were attacked by someone! Details such as the injured are unknown!!"
When I spoke briefly to the nearby squad members, all of their faces turned pale.
"Vice-Captain! Just now, the same contact came from the Academy as well!"
"Yes, I heard it directly too!"
I see.
I am an instructor, after all, and this is Squad 4.
Because it's an emergency, someone contacted me directly, and someone also contacted Squad 4. So like the "delivery orders clashing" just now, it became a double contact.
Oops, this isn't the time to be impressed!!
"Today's dispatch team, head to the scene immediately! Others, finish preparations to receive them! Since the number of injured and the scale are unknown, assume the worst-case scenario!! Squad 4, moving out!"
"""""Yes!"""""
I briskly shout instructions and move people, but...
Did such an incident... ever happen? I have absolutely no memory of it...
Twisting my neck in confusion, I headed to the scene as well, where there were two injured people.
"Kanisawa-san!? And Aoshika-kun too!?"
"Se-Sensei... Ho, llow... gu... aaah!!"
"Don't speak! It will affect your wounds!!"
She's been hurt pretty badly... especially this huge sword wound-like injury.
There are other terrible smaller ones, but first I have to heal this injury!
"I will handle this large wound. You guys handle the smaller wounds! Also Aoshika-kun—look after that boy too!!"
"""Yes!"""
I give instructions, and while healing her injury, I ask the nearby Academy staff.
"What on earth happened?"
"A pack of Hollows... apparently a pack of Hollows suddenly appeared... This is the first time something like this has happened during practical training..."
They're flustered. Well, if Hollows suddenly appeared...
Wait, hold on!
"A pack of Hollows!? Don't tell me there are still students fighting!?"
"No, that is!! Captain Aizen of Squad 5 and Vice-Captain Ichimaru happened to be nearby and headed to rescue them; they are dealing with the opponents! These two fought to protect the underclassmen until the captains arrived and were injured."
I see, judging from the extent of the injuries, they suffered severe wounds but kept fighting.
Right, they were admirable.
"However, since their injuries were particularly severe, while the captains were fighting, we saw an opening, opened a Senkaimon, and brought them from the World of the Living!"
"Is that so..."
However, just the words "happened to be nearby" and "Captain Aizen" lining up makes it... how should I put it... a pitch-black incident.
"Then, what about the other trainees?"
"The report said they were uninjured, so until Captain Aizen and the others defeat the Hollows, they are waiting in a location deemed safe and looking for an opportunity to evacuate... oh?"
While we were talking like that, a Senkaimon opened, and new students burst out from it with the momentum of fleeing rabbits. Everyone had an expression of relief at finally escaping from fear.
"Speak of the devil... Are you guys okay!? What is the situation!?"
It seems they are confirming the situation, but in that case, I'll leave that to them and concentrate on recovery here. Kanisawa-san has a serious injury that could affect her life, but if it's this much—
"...Hah!! A-Are... Ah! Sensei!! Ouch ouch ouch...!!"
"Kanisawa-san, don't move yet. The smaller wounds aren't closed."
She regained consciousness and tried to jump up, so I calmed her down.
"S-Suddenly Hollows appeared, but I thought I had to protect the underclassmen...! I, I...!!"
"Yes, yes. I can tell well from the state of your injuries. Even with severe wounds, you did your best. Good work."
I lightly pat her head.
"Yes! It is thanks to you, Sensei!! Because you instructed me..."
"I was only instructing; that your efforts were rewarded is because you did your best properly."
...Truly, truly, it's good that she did her best.
It's a guess from the state of her injuries and her spiritual pressure increase rate, but if she hadn't trained, she undoubtedly would have died. If I had known this would happen, I should have trained her enough to become the top of her year.
"Rest for a little while. Leave the rest to me. How is Aoshika-kun's condition over there!?"
Since she passed the critical point, I look at Aoshika-kun's condition this time.
He is also seriously injured, but at this level, I can leave it to the squad members.
And while I was doing that, this time Captain Aizen and the others came out of the Senkaimon.
Following them, Hisagi-kun with a bandage wrapped around his head appeared, and finally, the three of them—Renji, Kira, and Hinamori—came out.
...It's just the three of them.
Rukia-san is improving, but she is still in the standard class. It's not that she lacks ability, but due to the timing of class organization, she just can't move up to Class 1. Her promotion at the next timing is almost certain, though.
"Good work. Captain Aizen, and Vice-Captain Ichimaru as well."
"Vice-Captain, you were here."
"Ah, thanks greatly."
However, Vice-Captain Gin... he will become a captain later.
A mysterious handsome man who smiles with narrowed eyes... naturally, he would be popular.
Plus, he even has a standard bit about 13 kilometers.
"We will look at Hisagi-kun's wound at Squad 4 as well, but do you captains have any injuries?"
"Do not worry. We have not suffered a single scratch."
I suppose so. I can tell just by looking, but just in case.
Captain Aizen and the others are unharmed, but I guess I'll lightly examine Hisagi-kun and the three at the very back.
...Hmm, even so, this incident... probably, undoubtedly, was set up by Aizen.
Otherwise, the timing is too good.
The probability of encountering a Hollow during practical training isn't that high, and it's impossible that the Hollow just happened to be a strong individual capable of inflicting that much injury on Hisagi-kun and the others.
It's too artificial.
...However, I don't understand the purpose at all.
Because the only thing gained by causing this incident is implanting "Heheh, I'm strong, right? It's okay to fall for me!!" into the students who went out for practical training.
As proof, the eyes of the three who came out last are filled with nothing but respect, like "Captain is amazing."
Was there some other business, and this was incidental, or rather, the purpose was to divert attention? But if it's Aizen, he could easily conceal such traces or facts... Causing an incident poorly or sticking his neck in seems like the demerits of standing out would be greater, but...?
...Then as I thought, was the purpose of this a self-made performance to say "Ora! Look at my strength!!"?
'(･∀･) Ji-saku-ji-eeen (Self-made performance)'
(･A･) Jien ikunai! (Self-made performance is not good!)
'( ´･ω･｀) Shoboon (Dejected)'
...Creating a stage for a self-made performance just to draw in Hinamori-san, or doing a nationwide pilgrimage of legwork to desperately hypnotize the officers of the Gotei 13; having to do things like an underground idol.
Being an enemy boss is surprisingly tough... You can't do it unless you're diligent.
Even though there's no guarantee that effort will definitely be rewarded...
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]