After the freshmen orientation assembly concluded.
Led by their homeroom teacher, Suō Tsukasa and Hitsugaya followed the crowd to a spacious and bright classroom.
The classroom was in a traditional Japanese-style washitsu format, with desks neatly arranged.
A massive, wooden-framed blackboard dominated the front wall. Outside the window, the spring scenery of the courtyard, full of life, added a touch of tranquility to the otherwise solemn classroom.
All the elite class freshmen took their seats in order, waiting for the homeroom teacher on the stage to speak.
"Do not seek aesthetics in battle.
Do not seek virtue in death.
Do not only strive to save your own life.
If you wish to protect what is worth protecting, strike down the enemy who must be defeated, even from behind."
"The above is from the Shin'ō Academy Textbook: Great Compendium of the Shinigami Creed."
The homeroom teacher's gaze slowly swept over every young face below the stage.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Kamiki Bokushu, the homeroom teacher for Class 1, Year 1."
"First, congratulations to all of you for passing the selection process, and welcome to Class 1, Year 1."
"You are all the cream of the crop among the freshmen. I hope that in the future, you will not only succeed in joining the Gotei 13 but also truly grasp the true meaning of the passage from the textbook just now."
The homeroom teacher, Kamiki Bokushu, placed both hands on the desk. His voice was not loud, and his pace of speech was calm, yet every word was clearly distinguishable.
"Next, we will proceed with freshmen self-introductions, starting with the student with the number one student ID."
Without unnecessary small talk, he cut straight to the chase.
As his voice fell, everyone's gaze instantly focused on the small, silver-haired figure in the front row.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō stood up expressionlessly and walked to the center of the podium, which nearly reached his neck in height.
His indifferent gaze swept over the students below, silencing the previously murmuring crowd.
"Hitsugaya Tōshirō, West 1 District."
Brief and concise, without a single extra word, he gave a slight nod and turned to walk down the stage.
Cold and unapproachable, his self-introduction perfectly matched the first impression he left on everyone.
"Next."
Kamiki Bokushu said nothing about his performance, just nodding slightly.
The Mid-Tier Nobles, Low-Tier Nobles, and commoners of the Seireitei.
Those from the inner districts of the Rukongai, and those from the outer districts.
The differences in background and environment made it difficult for students to become friends.
The relationships between peers were more like that of competitors, and the atmosphere in the elite class was even more tense.
"I am Suō Tsukasa, from the West 3 District. I look forward to working with all of you in the future."
Suō Tsukasa, student ID number two, slowly stepped onto the stage.
In stark contrast to Hitsugaya's coldness, he stood tall with a perfectly appropriate gentle smile on his face.
His introduction was also brief, but the composed demeanor and distinguished appearance in his words made him impossible to ignore, even though he hailed from the Rukongai.
The self-introductions proceeded in order of student ID number.
Perhaps influenced by the first two, everyone's introduction was very short.
When the last student finished their introduction, Kamiki Bokushu once again stepped onto the podium.
"Very good. The course schedule and textbooks have all been distributed to your desks."
"Remember, every assessment at the Shin'ō Academy is related to your future assignment to the Divisions."
"The elite class means more resources, and also means fiercer competition and stricter elimination."
"Whether you can still remain here a year from now depends on your own efforts and performance."
"That is all for today. Classes officially begin tomorrow."
"Dismissed!"
As the words fell, and the homeroom teacher turned and left.
The atmosphere in the classroom immediately eased. The freshmen below either contemplated alone or talked in hushed tones with acquaintances; most packed up their textbooks and got up to leave.
"Hitsugaya, I plan to look around a bit first."
The way the two addressed each other had quietly changed since the guidance session that morning.
"How about you?"
Suō Tsukasa neatly stacked his textbook back into the drawer and turned his head to look at Hitsugaya, who was still seated and flipping through his textbook beside him.
He had already glanced through the textbook during the self-introduction segment.
The Shin'ō Academy textbooks hadn't undergone much revision over the years, and he already knew their contents by heart.
He had already mastered what needed to be learned from the books. Other parts that were limiting, guiding, or meaningless were not worth wasting his time on.
The material in the textbooks wouldn't bring him any new insights; his goal was the Shin'ō Academy library.
In the Soul Society, knowledge and information were priceless.
There were only fourteen places in the entire Seireitei where knowledge and historical information could be acquired relatively openly.
The Shin'ō Academy and the internal libraries within the living quarters of the Gotei 13 Divisions.
"Suō, I won't go."
"I'm heading back to the dorm."
Hitsugaya shook his head. He knew very well that what he lacked most right now was a foundation.
In every aspect except his Reiatsu level, he was already too far behind Suō Tsukasa.
"Alright, we won't have lunch together then."
"Remember to eat a balanced and appropriate amount. I'll be going now."
"Mhm."
After leaving his instructions, Suō Tsukasa said no more. After leaving the classroom, he turned and walked in the opposite direction of the dormitory area.
Hitsugaya's mental age was far more mature than his appearance suggested, and he didn't need to be constantly monitored like a child.
Passing through the corridor that connected the academic building and the central courtyard.
The deeper one went into the academy, the sparser the flow of people became.
Gradually, the sound of Suō Tsukasa's footsteps was the only sound echoing clearly on the floor of the corridor, until he reached the building whose door plaque read 'Library.'
Pushing open the wooden door, the hinge let out a low groan; his arrival broke the silence of the place.
The library's internal space was more magnificent than the building appeared from the outside. Rows of towering bookshelves stood like colossal peaks.
Tiny dust motes floated in the air, silently dancing in the columns of light that slanted in from the high windows.
Behind the wide wooden counter at the entrance, a female administrator wearing silver-rimmed glasses looked up.
She put down the book list she was organizing and her gentle gaze observed the newcomer through her lenses.
"Someone with the time to come here at this hour, a freshman?"
"Yes."
"It's rare for boys to enjoy reading like you do, heading straight for the library on the first day of school."
The administrator smiled slightly. The composed young man before her was well-suited to the atmosphere of this room full of books.
With a hint of appreciation and curiosity, she recalled that not many freshmen were so eager for books.
"There are no places to read in the Rukongai."
Suō Tsukasa replied calmly.
"That's unusual."
"The foundational texts are over there. If you can't find a book, feel free to come and ask me."
This understated explanation turned the curiosity in the administrator's eyes into a slight understanding, and she replied gently.
The administrator lightly pushed up her glasses, pointing towards a row of bookshelves on the right.
"Okay, thank you."
After thanking her, Suō Tsukasa walked straight into the depths of the bookshelves.
The young man's footsteps gradually dissolved into the sea of books, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
The administrator watched his retreating back, then continued organizing the book list in her hands, welcoming every arrival who thirsted for knowledge.
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