In the blink of an eye, the day of the opening ceremony arrived. All incoming first-year students gathered in the grand auditorium on the first floor of the Shin'ō Academy's main building.
Kurotsuki Renya adjusted the collar of his blue-trimmed male school uniform, standing neatly in the formation of the First-Year, Second Class queue. His gaze was fixed on the teachers and dignitaries standing on the raised platform at the front.
Today marked the formal start of the academic year. Every student from first to sixth year was present, filling the hall with hundreds of Shinigami trainees.
Renya had been placed in the First-Year Second Class, alongside Aizome Aiji and Kiriyama Ihei. Rukia, however, had been assigned to First-Year Third Class and would not be studying directly with them.
The first speaker, a dignified elder with a weathered face and long grey hair tied neatly, was the Headmaster of Shin'ō Academy — Ushōmaru, a long-serving administrator and former seated officer in the Gotei 13. He began to recount the history of the institution.
"Shin'ō Academy was founded nearly two thousand years ago by none other than the current Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni. From the day of its founding, the Academy has trained over twenty thousand Shinigami, many of whom gave their lives in service to protect the balance between the worlds…"
His voice carried with practiced authority as he urged the students to take pride in their path. "I trust that every one of you will uphold the duty of a Shinigami: to protect the Soul Society, the Human World, and to maintain the flow of souls between realms."
The speech lasted more than half an hour, followed by several senior instructors introducing themselves and outlining their departments — from Kidō to Zanjutsu — for nearly two more hours.
Renya's attention sharpened when a man in a pristine white haori stepped forward. He had short, well-kept brown hair, calm brown eyes behind thin black-rimmed glasses, and an unassuming smile. His haori bore the insignia of the 5th Division.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Even though the man's defection was still decades away, Renya knew the truth — the Hōgyoku was already in his possession, and the early stages of his Hollowfication experiments were likely underway. He was not yet the betrayer history would remember, but the seeds had already been planted.
Aizen spoke warmly, his tone disarmingly pleasant. "The teachers before me have already said much. I won't take too much of your time. I will only say this: if any among you have an interest in calligraphy, I would be pleased to have you join my club."
With that, he bowed slightly and stepped down.
Calligraphy? Renya recalled that in the original timeline, Aizen had indeed run the Seireitei Calligraphy Association during his years as a captain. It was yet another of his carefully cultivated façades — approachable, refined, and utterly trustworthy.
Next to Renya, Aizome smiled. "Now that's a teacher I like. Straightforward, unlike the rest."
Another student whispered, "You know that's Captain Aizen of the 5th Division, right?"
Shino Mori, a girl standing nearby, sighed dreamily. "Not only is Captain Aizen refined and kind, but he's a master of calligraphy too. And he's a captain! He's the perfect man."
Renya frowned slightly. He knew Shino Mori's future. In the original timeline, she had idolized Aizen, joined his calligraphy class, then later entered the 5th Division under him. Even after his betrayal, she had blindly clung to her admiration, ignoring all evidence of his crimes. It was the sort of devotion Aizen exploited with precision.
The ceremony concluded soon after Aizen's departure. Students dispersed, some heading back to their quarters in Seireitei, others — mostly those from the Rukongai — remaining in the dormitories.
Renya, Aizome, and Kiriyama lingered briefly outside, waiting for Rukia. They soon spotted her chatting and laughing with other girls from her class. Aizome smirked. "Looks like she's already making friends. No need to tie her to our little group."
Renya nodded in agreement, and the three returned to their dormitory.
The next day, formal lessons began.
For first-year students, the curriculum consisted mostly of foundational studies — Soul Society history, Hollow ecology, Konso procedures, and basic theory on spiritual energy control. Physical training was limited to introductory Zanjutsu (swordsmanship) and Hakuda (hand-to-hand combat).
These classes focused more on building spiritual pressure and basic combat readiness than on advanced techniques. Higher-level training, such as Shunpo (Flash Step) and Hadō/Bakudō (basic Kidō), would only be introduced to those who reached at least a 4th-class spiritual power level. Failure to achieve this by the end of sixth year meant expulsion.
There were also specialized training tracks — the Onmitsukidō (Stealth Force) demanded exceptional skill in Shunpo and Hakuda, while the 4th Division's medical unit required mastery of Kaidō healing techniques. The 12th Division's Shinigami Research and Development Institute recruited top graduates with exceptional Kidō skill and intellect.
Renya had not yet chosen his path. For now, his goal was simple: grow strong enough to face Aizen's conspiracy when it came.
That morning, Renya, Aizome, and Kiriyama entered their assigned classroom. After taking his seat, Renya neatly arranged his books.
The instructor — a stern-looking man in his fifties wearing the standard black shihakushō — introduced himself and began the first lesson: history.
Through his lecture and the accompanying textbook, Renya learned details about the ancient formation of the Soul Society: how Shinigami had existed since the dawn of human souls, how Hollows had arisen from the negative emotions of the dead, and how these two forces had been locked in conflict for over a million years.
Shinigami had grown stronger by refining their Zanpakutō and Kidō arts, while Hollows evolved through devouring one another. Over time, Hollows were classified: standard Hollows, Menos Grande, Gillian-class, Adjuchas-class, and finally, the near-mythical Vasto Lorde — beings whose power could surpass even a Gotei 13 captain.
Two thousand years ago, Yamamoto Genryūsai had unified the Soul Society, formed the Gotei 13, and founded Shin'ō Academy to ensure a steady supply of trained Shinigami.
Following history was Hollow studies. The instructor explained the nature of the hole in a Hollow's chest — the mark of its emptiness — and the mask that concealed its lost identity. He emphasized that Hollows could be purified through a Zanpakutō's Konsō, sending the cleansed soul to the Soul Society, but destroying them outright would disrupt the balance of souls between realms.
This, the instructor noted, was the core reason for the centuries-long conflict between the Shinigami and the Quincy, whose method of eliminating Hollows erased them completely.
Renya diligently recorded every detail, filling his notes with careful diagrams and annotations. He asked thoughtful follow-up questions after class, earning approving nods from the teacher — and curious looks from classmates.
To Aizome, this was unnecessary. "Why bother with all that? Fighting skill is what matters if you want to be a Shinigami."
Renya disagreed. Knowledge was as much a weapon as a Zanpakutō. Somewhere in these lessons, he believed, might be a key to countering Aizen when the time came.