Daylight faded into night.
The dormitory supervisor stood before the new students, slowly and steadily announcing the various regulations of the dormitory area.
From curfew hours to item placement, from courtyard sweeping to light restrictions, the rules flowed forth smoothly and in detail.
Suō Tsukasa stood at the front of the group, listening with deep concentration.
He had never imagined observing this world from a bird's-eye view.
Having transmigrated and become a member of this world, he wouldn't become complacent due to his knowledge of it.
Ultimately, the memories in his mind only allowed him to see one corner of this world.
The Soul Society was vast; even in the West Three Districts, he was only familiar with the surrounding two or three streets, let alone the Seireitei and the Shin'ō Academy here.
"...Please keep the above regulations in mind."
"There are still many details I could not fully elaborate on at this moment. You are required to carefully read the student handbook daily and commit it to memory."
The dormitory supervisor's voice was steady and powerful. After speaking, his gaze leveled at the students before him as he instructed them.
The Shin'ō Academy was founded after the Thousand-Year Blood War with the Quincy ended. As the Soul Society entered a stable period of development, the Genji-juku (Original Private School), founded by Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13 and founder of the Original Style school, Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, was renamed to its present form.
Though a millennium has passed since the renaming, the school spirit has largely continued the founder's serious and upright style.
As the core institution for training Shinigami in the Soul Society, the Academy also trains students for the Kidō Corps and the Stealth Force.
From enrollment to graduation, all training and life for the students revolve around clear combat abilities, with strict discipline enforced.
This purpose essentially dictates that the Academy adheres to a highly goal-oriented, militarized management system.
"Yes."
Suō Tsukasa bowed and answered in unison with the crowd.
"Very good."
"Next, I will assign the dormitories. If anyone has objections, you may raise them."
"I will do my best to coordinate for you."
Nodding in satisfaction at the response of the crowd, the dormitory supervisor took out a scroll of names from his pocket.
Looking toward Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Suō Tsukasa at the front of the line, he sought their opinions.
"Both students are from West Rukongai, and your district numbers are very close."
"Assigning you to the same courtyard shouldn't cause any issues, right?"
As an experienced supervisor, he had a set of effective allocation methods that had been used for years.
The foremost principle, 'optimally matching the excellent,' deeply understood the ancient saying that one is affected by one's company.
People in the same courtyard could not only cultivate team awareness but also promote mutual improvement.
Even if there was competition, it was mostly healthy under the strict school rules.
Secondly, based on background and identity, Mid-Class Nobles must never be assigned to the same courtyard as commoners, regardless of whether they were from the Seireitei or Rukongai.
"Understood."
"Mhm."
Suō Tsukasa and Tōshirō Hitsugaya replied one after the other.
"Good. These are the keys to your room cabinets. Keep them safe."
Having successfully assigned the two equally exceptional individuals to the same courtyard as neighbors, the supervisor handed out the two keys, engraved with 'Sakura One' and 'Sakura Two,' with a satisfied smile.
In previous years, assigning the top-tier student dorms always required considerable thought.
He particularly recalled the trouble caused when a Mid-Class Noble was assigned to the same courtyard as a Low-Class Noble. The undisguised look of disgust led to turmoil, and the memory of that scene was upsetting.
In contrast, this year's top students were all commoners from Rukongai, which surprised him but also saved him quite a bit of worry.
Taking their keys, the two walked through the moon gate of the small courtyard.
The moment their feet landed on the path, the fine gravel beneath them crunched softly, welcoming the courtyard's new occupants.
Stepping into the courtyard, their view immediately opened up.
An old pine tree stood in the corner of the courtyard, its posture vigorous and its leaves like clouds, casting a serene silhouette in the twilight.
On the other side of the courtyard, a small pond was clear as a mirror.
Beside the pond, a bamboo water-filler, after collecting a full scoop of clear water, quietly dipped down and knocked its full offering of water onto a round stone with a dong sound, enhancing the tranquility of the entire courtyard.
The independent small courtyard and the peaceful environment were in stark contrast to the crowded longhouses of the Aoba Dormitory opposite.
"A very nice courtyard."
"Indeed."
"I look forward to studying alongside you, Hitsugaya-kun."
"Likewise, Suō-kun."
This was the first formal greeting between them after several meetings, and the most they had ever spoken.
The brief conversation dissipated in the twilight and the clear chime of the bamboo water-filler. At the fork in the path, they turned and walked into their respective small houses.
Click—
Pushing open the wooden sliding door, the layout was one room and one bathroom. The clean and spacious interior exuded a faint fragrance.
His gaze swept over every detail of the room: the writing desk, the tea table, the storage cabinet, and the bathroom area sectioned off by a thin bamboo screen along the wall.
"Oh, a surprise."
When his eyes went past the bamboo screen and landed on the white ceramic object in the bathroom, Suō Tsukasa felt a surge of inner delight.
The room was still of classical Japanese style, yet injected with a slightly advanced element—a toilet.
He truly hadn't expected such a convenience to be equipped in the dormitory of the Shin'ō Academy, which retained an ancient style for thousands of years, giving a sense of temporal crossing.
"Sigh, if only the Department of Research and Development paid more attention to civilian electrical appliances."
At this moment, Suō Tsukasa thought with a touch of regret.
Human desires are endless. Seeing an old familiar object made him yearn for those practical household electrical appliances.
The Department of Research and Development, overseen by Squad 12, possesses the Soul Society's most cutting-edge technology.
Unfortunately, influenced by the personal eccentricities of its Captain, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the entire organization's research direction leans towards various bizarre and unpredictable fields, with no one focusing on these civilian appliances.
Leaning his Asauchi (Shallow Hit) against the sword stand by the bed, he then unbundled his package on the desk and put its contents away.
While the Academy provides essential living supplies and uniforms, it does not prohibit students from bringing personal items.
Aside from the wooden sword Oboroyo, Suō Tsukasa only brought a change of clothes and several small white porcelain bottles.
The porcelain bottles contained Suō Tsukasa's cultivation resources.
Unlike the freedom of Rukongai, the strict discipline of the Shin'ō Academy meant his personal habit of five meals a day would be hard to maintain.
His personal cultivation could not be halted for this, so he devised a backup plan.
Picking up a porcelain bottle, he removed the wooden stopper, poured out a black, round pill, and swallowed it.
This was the Sanyuan Dan (Three-Essence Pill) that Suō Tsukasa had refined after multiple attempts and adjustments.
The pill's name suggests its purpose is to supplement one's fundamental essence. While lacking the mystical effects of pills in xianxia novels, it was more than sufficient for satisfying hunger and replenishing qi and blood.
Made primarily from Huang Jing (Siberian Solomon's Seal), Ginseng, and Angelica Sinensis, supplemented with red dates and honey for flavor, the prescription seemed ordinary but was the best he could achieve with the limited resources in Rukongai.
Feeling the warmth rising within his body, Suō Tsukasa once again thanked the treasures of his memories.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the room and began his daily, unwavering evening meditation.
The moonlight outside the window gradually brightened, then was quietly obscured by a passing cloud.
Between the waxing and waning light, time silently slipped away in concentration.