"...And that is the situation. Please be careful when you go to the World of the Living for stationing duties."
Today, I am teaching at the Shino Academy.
Although I put the newcomers through the wringer during the first special class, it has been normal lectures ever since.
"—so it will be like this. The common sense in this area differs greatly from—"
Everyone is listening seriously.
As expected, it makes a difference when you discipline them the first time.
They understand clearly that while it's okay to joke around, they must not make me angry.
I've been doing this for quite a while myself, so I'm used to it by now.
"—will be as follows. Since this area requires academic knowledge, please memorize it well regardless of whether you are in the advanced class or the standard class, so you can utilize it in practical skills."
Also, my lectures generally target the entire student body.
Since it's conducted for the whole grade regardless of class, I hold it in the large auditorium every single time.
"...Well then, this is a good stopping point, so we will end here for today. Next time will be—. Good work, everyone."
I announce the schedule for the next session and end the class—or rather, it doesn't end there. Not with this lot.
"Sensei, may we ask for training again today!?"
"Rukia-san... and everyone else too?"
"Yes! Please!!"
"Y-Yes!"
"If it's not a bother... um..."
The ones who stopped me after the lecture were Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Izuru Kira, and Momo Hinamori.
These four asked me for training last time as well. For some reason, they are awfully eager to say, "Please train us."
I wonder why?
"Alright then, go to the training grounds and wait for me. I'll head over after I finish up a bit of work."
When I gave my consent, all four of them did a little fist pump as if to say "Yes!" and left in high spirits.
Young people are so nice...
'They are full of energy!! And they simply adore you, My Lord.'
Eh? Is that so??
'I think you would understand if you looked...?'
Sorry, I was staring at Hinamori-san's butt the whole time.
'What a coincidence, so was I!!'
...Eh? Can you realize that just by looking at a butt?
'Since ancient times, they say the butt speaks as much as the mouth...'
Seriously!? I didn't know that.
"Renji-kun, you really are full of energy and power!"
"Thank you very much!"
"Kira-kun, you are moving quite accurately. It seems you are properly pursuing the ideal movements you learned the first time."
"Thank you very much!"
Training time has already begun.
What we are doing is swordsmanship, just like the first special lecture. I have everyone holding wooden swords and we're going at it.
Currently, I am parrying the attacks of the two men while giving appropriate advice.
Renji-kun has a large build and is strong, so he fights dynamically.
Conversely, Kira-kun has polite swordsmanship, like a textbook. But this child sometimes loses his concentration just a little bit.
"But don't let your guard down! Look, your axis wobbled!"
"Agu! Th-Thank you very much!!"
See, just like this.
I lightly tap his thigh area with the wooden sword in my hand to call his attention to it.
'He is thanking you in a very loud voice...'
Kira-kun is a bit introverted, but he's a serious and good boy. I'm sure he's thinking, 'Thank you for the guidance.'
'(That is not what I meant... I feel like Kira-dono is stepping off the path of righteousness just a little bit...)'
"Yaaaah!"
"Taaaah!"
"Hinamori-san, don't shrink back, stick out your chest more! Holding back in training is rude to your opponent!! Rukia-san... I'm surprised. You've improved so much, you're like a different person from before!"
"I am sorry!"
"Thank you very much!!"
I continue to parry the attacks of the two women.
...Yes, I'm taking on all four at once.
Even if they are named characters with talent, they are still in their Academy days. At this stage, I won't fall behind even in a four-on-one. Their movements are sporadic, and they don't even know how to coordinate yet.
Though, if the shorter women attacked from below, Renji-kun from above, and Kira-kun coordinated with precise attacks, I would be quite troubled.
In the first place, Soul Reapers don't have many opportunities to coordinate, so perhaps they don't even think of it?
"Rukia! Since when did you get so good!?"
"Fufun, I will not tell you!"
Oops, seeing Rukia-san has fired up Renji-kun as well.
Actually, she is secretly receiving instruction from Byakuya.
I put her up to it.
When she consulted me on how to get along with her brother, I told her that would be the quickest way and would earn his respect... but the effects are immediate.
It's only been about two weeks since Byakuya started teaching her, yet she's improved this much.
Is this the educational know-how of the nobility!?
Not wanting to lose to Rukia-san, Renji-kun gets even more serious.
You want to show your good side to the girl you like; you can't afford to lose.
Alright, shall I give those feelings a little push?
"Come on, Renji-kun! Your swing is sloppy! The tip of your sword is wavering! Be conscious of the flow of movement! You'll be targeted the moment you break your stance!!"
"Yes!!"
Good answer.
Well then, is it okay if I instruct him a little more strictly?
But the one I want to train the most is—
"Hinamori-san! Your movements are falling apart! Reassemble it from your footwork! Incorporate spiritual pressure into your movements!!"
"I am sorry!!"
"I said your spiritual pressure is sloppy! You are the best at handling spiritual pressure in this group, so it's fine to step in one step further!!"
"I am sorry, I am sorry!!"
It's this girl.
I know she will be used by Aizen.
I end up thinking that I want to train her so that she can at least keep smiling.
It might be a bit strict, but please endure it.
"Haaah!!"
"Wait, Kira-kun? That's putting too much spiritual pressure into it! I appreciate the enthusiasm, but it's going to waste!"
Oh my? For some reason, Kira-kun has become awfully eager.
...Was there some part that flipped his switch?
Well, it's a good thing that he's motivated, so I won't worry about it.
"Mu! This is... I cannot lose either!!"
Oh dear, seeing everyone's movements, Rukia-san has fired herself up even more.
They are all having a good influence on each other.
This is a good flow.
And like that, the training continued until the four of them ran out of strength.
"Daaah!! I seriously thought I was gonna die during training today!!"
The Shino Academy—in the cafeteria of its dormitory, Renji raised a loud voice.
The training had ended just as the evening was coming to a close.
The sun had already set, and it was now right in the middle of dinner time. The cafeteria was crowded with many Academy students, so no one particularly cared or complained even if he raised his voice.
"You are exaggerating, Renji. Though, it certainly was tough today."
"But I think we learned a lot. The gains were worth the near-death experience."
"But we have to thank Sensei later..."
"True. That person is seriously amazing."
"She carried all four of us after we collapsed from exhaustion and delivered us to the dorms, after all."
Sitting at the same table as Renji were Rukia and the others, and they were exchanging their impressions of today's training.
In the end, she took on all four of them simultaneously, and even after they ran out of strength, she still had energy to spare and carried the four of them. She brought them to the dormitory entrance and left after telling them to first wash off the sweat and fatigue in the bath, and then eat a leisurely meal.
They were not short on topics of conversation.
"I wonder if we can become that strong too...?"
"That is wrong, Hinamori! It is not 'can we become,' but 'we will become'! Otherwise, we cannot justify the time she expressly set aside for us!!"
"Rukia-san, yeah! You're right!"
Just as they renewed their determination like that, dinner was served at the perfect timing.
"Here, thank you for waiting."
"Oh! Here it is, here it is!! Enough talk, let's eat."
"Ooh! That looks delicious!!"
An aroma that was irresistible to their empty stomachs rose up, and Rukia and Renji were the first to grab their chopsticks and shovel the dinner into their mouths.
Watching their hearty eating, Kira suddenly muttered.
"Come to think of it, do you know? They say Squad 4 serves hospital food that heals injuries and makes you stronger when you eat it."
"Hah!? You're kidding, right? Does something that convenient—"
"Ah, I've heard of that too!"
"—actually exist!?"
"Apparently, Sensei spread it so that injuries would heal faster and people wouldn't suffer the same wounds."
"Is that true!? Mumumu, Yukawa-sensei's depths are unfathomable..."
The creator of that method is the former Captain of Squad 12—currently Squad 0—Kirio Hikifune. It is not her... but it seems neither Kira nor Hinamori knows about those circumstances, and both thought she was the one who created it.
"We are being taught by such an amazing person, aren't we?"
"And us... if it's not conceit, Sensei has high expectations for us, right?"
"Yeah! That's why."
"To answer those expectations—"
"And to learn even more things—"
""—I want to join Squad 4.""
""...Eh!?""
"Hinamori-kun—"
"Kira-kun—"
""Too!?""
The world moved, just a little, in a strange direction.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]