Over the following days, Shimo Kyōraku continued to display his talent without restraint.
Though it was only a fraction of his true ability, it was enough to demonstrate just how quickly he was progressing.
At the Shin'ō Academy, there exists a rule allowing for early graduation—any student who meets the strength requirements may apply.
As a high-ranking noble, Shimo was naturally spared many of the administrative hassles.
But that didn't mean he held any special privilege that placed him above the Academy itself.
He still had to follow the proper procedures.
What's more, he needed to remain enrolled for at least two years.
---
Dormitory No.1.
Shimo sat cross-legged on a cushion, eyes closed, brows slightly furrowed, both hands resting on his Zanpakutō.
Within the world of his Zanpakutō, Shimo was climbing—step by step—up an endless staircase.
His body trembled uncontrollably, but he did not falter.
With veins bulging and unwavering resolve in his eyes, he forced himself to lift his foot and ascend to the next step.
Instantly, an overwhelming spiritual pressure engulfed him.
In his current state, he couldn't withstand it—and was forcibly ejected from the Zanpakutō space.
Drip. Drip...
Sweat fell to the wooden floor, each drop echoing like a crack in the silence.
After a brief rest, Shimo slowly returned to normal.
"Two months… and I've only made it up ten steps."
His voice was tinged with frustration.
"Clearly, this isn't going to be as easy as I thought."
"And the system hasn't issued any new missions for quite a while."
His eyes drifted to the mission panel:
[New check-in mission issued: Check in continuously for two years at Shinō Academy and graduate as an exemplary student.]
[Mission reward: First ability of your Zanpakutō's Shikai.]
At first, Shimo thought this task would simply grant him the power of Shikai. But based on past experience, he suspected the reward wasn't so straightforward.
There had to be more to it.
He had a feeling that once he climbed high enough within his Zanpakutō's inner world, its true name would naturally be revealed to him.
Besides, with his current level of spiritual pressure, attaining Shikai shouldn't be too difficult.
So what exactly did the system mean by "first ability"?
His mind drifted into speculation.
After a moment, he shook his head.
"It's still too early to dwell on this."
"No need to rush—I can't digest everything at once anyway."
The limits of his capacity meant he had to grow bit by bit.
"...But now it's time to keep a promise I made."
---
Next door.
Shimo knocked on the door.
Clack—
The wooden door slid open slightly, and a black onion-shaped bun poked out, looking around warily.
"Idiot Shimo, what do you want?"
Rukia's tone was cold. She was clearly still sulking.
"I brought you a gift."
Shimo didn't mind her attitude—he knew he was the cause.
A few days ago during art class, he had once again mocked her drawing without mercy.
Since then, Rukia had been brooding.
Though she still sat beside him in class, the stubborn girl had sworn not to speak a single word to him for three days.
Today was day four.
"A gift?"
Rukia's expression softened with curiosity.
"What kind of gift?"
Shimo slid the door open and pulled her out of the room.
"You'll know when you see it."
"I'm taking you to meet someone."
Her curiosity burned like a thousand scratching paws in her chest, but no matter how many times she asked, Shimo kept his mouth shut.
Eventually, to her surprise, they exited the Shin'ō Academy grounds altogether.
"Hey! Where are we going?"
"You're not allowed to leave the Academy without permission from a teacher!"
Rukia tried to pull him back.
But with her petite frame, she was no match for Shimo's strength.
"If you keep struggling, I'll just carry you there."
The moment he said that, Rukia's body froze. Some dark memory clearly flashed through her mind.
And just like that, she became as docile as a kitten, letting Shimo take her hand and lead her deeper into the Seireitei.
If word got out that she was carried through the Gotei 13's barracks, especially after becoming a Shinigami...
She shuddered. The consequences were too dreadful to imagine.
"You don't have to worry about getting punished," Shimo said calmly. "I already cleared it with the instructors before we left."
Rukia blinked in confusion, then gave a small nod.
She still had no idea what this so-called "gift" was, or why it required venturing this far into Seireitei.
---
As the surrounding architecture grew ever more ornate, a sense of unease began to creep into Rukia's heart.
Her months of study had given her a decent understanding of the Seireitei and Soul Society.
Judging by the landmarks, she began to recognize some of the noble households.
"The Ryūdōji Family... the Ukitake Family... the Fēng Clan..."
"This is... the noble district of Seireitei!"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Shimo—are you taking me to your family's estate?!"
Shimo suddenly halted in his tracks.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"...That's actually not a bad idea."