Mirai slowly pulled back his finger. He looked down at Hiyori Sarugaki. She was struggling on the ground, still trying to get up.
He spoke calmly, "The Kidō I just used had less than half of your spiritual energy. Yet, it still defeated you."
"Do you know why?"
Hiyori pushed herself up with effort and sat cross-legged. She glared at Mirai with a fierce look and spoke with frustration.
"It shouldn't be like this! Aisuke said, 'A Shinigami's battle is a battle of Spiritual Pressure! As long as the Spiritual Pressure is strong enough, any ability will lose its effect!'"
Even though she still looked angry, her tone had naturally softened.
"Ai... Aisuke?!" Mirai's mind buzzed when he heard that name, especially that famous quote. He was momentarily stunned.
The muscles near his eyes twitched uncontrollably. He instinctively looked toward the brown-haired young man standing quietly by the field, Sōsuke Aizen.
Damn it! That really is a line I wrote! It's a quote Aisuke used in the academy when he defeated an arrogant senior!
He saw Aizen looking down slightly. It was impossible to see Aizen's expression right now.
Mirai's mouth twitched. He forced himself to look back at Hiyori on the ground.
Is this girl... actually a fan of my book?!
He felt a chill. If word got out that I beat up a fan of my own work in person, how could I keep my reputation!
He quickly stepped forward and crouched down. He reached out a hand to Hiyori and spoke in a more serious tone.
"That sentence itself is not wrong."
"Hmph! Then why did I lose!" Hiyori looked at the hand in front of her. She hesitated but finally placed her hand in his.
A gentle force pulled her up from the ground.
Her body still felt a bit weak, but she stood firm and immediately pushed Mirai's hand away.
Mirai didn't mind. He withdrew his hand and continued to explain.
"That is because, at the point where I attacked you, the 'intensity' of the spiritual energy in my Kidō was much higher than the 'intensity' of your defense. That's all."
"Huh?" Hiyori tilted her head. Her face was a complete blank.
Mirai looked calm. Like a patient teacher, he began to gesture with his hands.
"For example, let's say the total amount of spiritual energy you released just now was 10. But when you attacked, you subconsciously put most of it—about 6—into your hands and your Zanpakutō for maximum power."
"The remaining 4 parts of spiritual energy instinctively covered your whole body as a basic defense."
"Most people don't even realize this instinctive defense exists, let alone how to control it precisely."
He glanced at the graduates behind him. They were listening closely and looked thoughtful. He felt a sense of satisfaction from teaching and explained even more.
"However, spreading those 4 parts of energy across your whole body doesn't mean every part of your body has a defense of 4."
He pointed toward Hiyori's heart and neck.
"You instinctively send more spiritual energy to protect these vital areas."
"But I attacked your thigh," Mirai's finger moved toward the outside of her leg.
"At that moment, the defensive spiritual energy there was probably only about 1."
"So, even though I only used a Kidō with a spiritual energy value of 2, by concentrating it on one point, I easily broke your defense of 1."
"In that situation, the 'intensity' of my attack point was higher than the 'intensity' of your defense point. Do you understand?"
After speaking, he watched the blonde girl. The confusion in his heart was gone.
So, she used such a special way to get my attention because she likes my book?
He hoped he hadn't hit her too hard. He wanted to keep this valuable reader.
Every reader who pays for a subscription is like a patron to the author! He couldn't afford to offend them!
Hiyori lowered her head slightly. She nervously played with the edge of her clothes. She whispered in a small, reluctant voice.
"...I understand."
Mirai felt a wave of relief.
That was close. It seemed he had calmed her down.
But he felt that wasn't enough. He needed to provide some "fan service."
He showed what he thought was a cool and gentle smile. He reached out his hand again, this time with his palm facing up.
"If you have the latest issue of Seireitei Communication... I can give you an autograph? Using my pen name, of course."
Hiyori snapped her head up. She saw his handsome face and lazy smile so close to her. A rush of heat hit her brain, and her face turned bright red.
She slapped Mirai's hand away. She bared her teeth and roared.
"Wait... wait until you can publish a full book before you think about giving autographs! Baldy!"
After shouting, she didn't look back. She dashed behind Captain Kirio Hikifune and hid herself completely.
Mirai stood there.
His hand was frozen in mid-air, and his smile turned to stone.
Ba... Baldy?! She called me a baldy again?! Are this girl's eyes just for decoration?
Can't she see my thick hair in this ponytail?!
Don't get angry. What's wrong with a reader shouting a bit? It means she loves the work deeply! Yes, that must be it!
Mirai kept comforting himself in his head.
However, the atmosphere in the training ground became lively because of the fight and the explanation.
The graduates looked at Mirai with respect. They whispered to each other about the theory of spiritual energy control he had just shared.
Lisa Yadōmaru was also deeply shocked. She adjusted her glasses and muttered to herself.
"So... spiritual energy control can actually be this precise?"
She began to imagine how she could control her energy as accurately as Mirai did.
Shunsui Kyōraku gently patted her shoulder. He whispered a reminder.
"Lisa, don't get too stuck on the details."
"Mirai's method isn't wrong. But you should know that if you put almost all your energy into an attack, you are basically giving up your defense. That is very dangerous."
He paused and spoke with more meaning.
"To do what he does, you don't just need to overcome your body's instincts. You also have to overcome the natural fear of being 'defenseless.' That can't be learned overnight."
Lisa looked up and pushed her glasses. Her eyes reflected a cold light.
"Captain, can you please take your hand off? Otherwise, I might report you to Central 46 for workplace harassment."
"Eh?!" Shunsui Kyōraku pulled his hand back quickly as if he had been burned. He looked innocent and panicked.
"Lisa! It's a mistake! A huge mistake! I was really just showing a Captain's concern!"
...
Now, two of the top three graduates had already found their places.
Only Sōsuke Aizen was left. He was still smiling and had graduated first in Kidō.
Aizen walked calmly into the center of the field. He stopped in front of Mirai.
Mirai looked cold and tried to keep his dignity as a senior. However, his hands behind his back were opening and closing. His palms were even a bit sweaty.
No way! Mr. Aizen, you aren't actually thinking about joining our 9th Division, are you?!
Wouldn't it be better to go to the 5th Division and play high-level mind games with that old fox Shinji Hirako? That's where you belong!
I'm just a low-level character. Please let me go and don't mess with me!
Internally, he was screaming. But his feet felt stuck to the ground. He could only stand there stiffly.
Aizen had a smile that felt like a warm breeze. He slowly spoke, "Fifth Seat Mirai, actually I..."
"Hey, Sōsuke Aizen."
A voice that sounded like a thug but carried authority interrupted Aizen.
Mirai turned his head with extreme gratitude. He saw Shinji Hirako walking over with his hands in his pockets.
Shinji! My savior! You came at the perfect time!
Quick! Take this ultimate trouble away! Only you can handle him!
Shinji Hirako walked close. His dull eyes glanced briefly at Aizen.
Finally, his gaze landed on Mirai. A strange smile appeared on his face. Then, he spoke to Aizen.
"Why don't you join our 5th Division instead?"