"Really, is that true?"
Newly infatuated young girls are often prone to anxiety.
"Of course it's true. Weren't we often together before? You know my situation. I only met Matsumoto when I went to buy medicine for you." Toshiro explained.
"Mm." Momo's face flushed, feeling her reaction had been excessive.
"Hello, I'm HinamoriMomo, Toshiro's childhood friend... and girlfriend." Momo introduced herself to Rangiku, feeling somewhat shy by the last part.
"Ara, ara, so you've already defined the relationship at such a young age?" Rangiku laughed.
"Hmph, I'm eighty years old this year. I'm quite old already." Toshiro hated discussing topics like age and height the most.
"Pfft, haha, 'old man'… yes, indeed, if measured by human years." Rangiku laughed heartily, even bending over. Even Momo couldn't help but smile slightly.
Compared to humans, souls in the Soul Society have long lifespans, but their growth and development are extremely slow. Eighty years old is roughly equivalent to a human child of eight or nine.
"Cough, Matsumoto, let's just get going." Toshiro changed the subject.
"Mm, to avoid any issues, leaving earlier is better." Rangiku nodded.
Shin'o Academy, also known as the Shinigami Academy, is located within the Seireitei. It was founded two thousand years ago by Captain-Commander Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni of the Gotei 13. Only by passing its exams can one become a Shinigami.
The Seireitei is where Shinigami live and work, separated from the Rukongai where commoners reside by walls and connected through four gates. Generally, commoners are not allowed to enter.
Outside the White Road Gate connecting West Rukongai to the Seireitei, a steady stream of people flowed.
Usually, only Shinigami could enter the Seireitei, but today, ordinary commoners were entering one after another.
Today was Shin'o Academy's enrollment day. Anyone with even a glimmer of hope of passing would come to try, much like the China's college entrance exams in his previous life… something that could change one's destiny.
As long as one could achieve good results and enter Shin'o Academy, they could become a Shinigami after graduation, escaping the impoverished life of the Rukongai and becoming their family's pride.
Led by Rangiku, Toshiro and Momo didn't have to wait like the others, who could only enter in groups under a Shinigami's guidance once enough people gathered.
The vast Shin'o Academy currently had no students aside from the exam candidates and the teachers overseeing the exams. The other students were on spring break and hadn't started school yet.
"Yo, if it isn't Matsumoto. What brings you here?" Suddenly, a middle-aged teacher overseeing the exams greeted Rangiku.
"Of course, I came to see you, Kimura-sensei." Rangiku replied. Kimura was a teacher at Shin'o Academy who had once taught Rangiku.
"Ah, I wouldn't dare to have the Lieutenant of the 10th Division come see me personally. So, what's the real reason you're here this time?" Kimura asked with a kind smile.
"I'm here to bring someone for the exams… these two children." Rangiku pointed at Toshiro and Momo behind her.
"Oh, they are quite young, especially the silver-haired boy. But are you sure, Matsumoto? If their results aren't good, even if you brought them, I won't let them pass." Kimura said seriously.
Friendship aside, work was work. Kimura always separated personal and professional matters. He wasn't deliberately making things difficult for Toshiro… it's just that considering Toshiro's age, the idea of him passing the exam seemed unbelievable.
"Hehe, Kimura-sensei, don't you worry. I absolutely have no intention of asking you to go easy. Please apply the strictest standards. You're definitely in for a surprise."
Rangiku seemed to already envision Kimura being as shocked as she had been back then.
"So, which of you two wants to go first?" Kimura asked.
"I'll go first." Having witnessed Toshiro's strength, Momo had no doubt about his ability to pass the entrance exam. She just wasn't sure about her own situation.
"The assessment is simple… just a Reiatsu test." Kimura said.
Although it seemed simple, the strength of one's Reiatsu determined a Shinigami's future achievements. Aizen once said that battles between Shinigami are battles of Reiatsu. Whether this statement is entirely true or not, it certainly holds some truth.
"Place your hand here and release your Reiatsu at full power."
Kimura pointed at something that looked like a black box connected to a display screen at one end.
"Yes, I understand." Momo said solemnly.
Following Kimura's instructions, Momo placed her hand on the device and released her Reiatsu at full power.
"Oh! 7th-level Reiryoku. That's an excellent result. Entering the Special Advancement Class won't be a problem at all." Kimura exclaimed in surprise.
Shin'o Academy's entrance exam categorizes Reiryoku into nine levels. This isn't the universal standard for Shinigami, and it's only used to assess students.
Levels one and two represent the level of an average person just awakening their powers. Reiatsu of this degree is basically useless, and the academy generally doesn't accept such candidates.
Levels three to five can only enter the regular class. As for the Special Advancement Class, only level six and above can enter. Most in that class are level six, while level seven is already top-tier.
Moreover, as long as one can remain in the Special Advancement Class, they can basically join the Gotei 13 and become a Shinigami after graduation.
As for level eight, that appears only once every few decades or even a century. As long as nothing goes wrong, they can basically master Bankai and even become a Captain of the Gotei 13.
Level nine has only appeared a few times in Shin'o Academy's history.
Level nine corresponds to the Reiatsu of a Third Seat among Shinigami. Achieving this level without the academy's systematic training is extremely difficult.