From that day onward, Fujimori Makoto, now bearing the title of "Assistant Instructor," became a transfer student in the Kidō study group at the Genji Academy.
However...
"Um... Lord Fujimori."
The slightly plump middle-aged Kidō instructor looked troubled. Only after class did he invite this esteemed figure into the office, struggling to phrase his words carefully:
"Actually, Shinigami each have their own strengths, don't they?"
"Some excel in swordsmanship, others in Shunpo!"
"So, if someone isn't skilled in Kidō, isn't that perfectly normal?"
"Really, you don't have to..."
Listening to Honda Kyougo's tactful tone, Fujimori Makoto kept a straight face: "Instructor Honda, if you have something to say, please say it directly."
"..."
Honda Kyougo took a deep breath, his expression regretful:
"My deepest apologies, Lord Fujimori."
"That... cough!"
"A student who spent two whole months yet still couldn't master even the first Bakudō... haha... cough... I've never seen such a case before."
"Of course, I'm not mocking you!"
"It's just that your situation... haha... well, it's rather challenging."
Fujimori Makoto stood nearby, watching as the man's lips nearly stretched to his ears. After holding back for a long time, he finally couldn't take it anymore: "You're clearly laughing your head off!"
"No!"
"Don't spout nonsense!" Honda Kyougo refused to admit it—he had no intention of offending this supposedly talented new instructor. "You must have misheard."
"That's not it." Fujimori Makoto, who had always sailed smoothly through life, was hitting his first major roadblock. He couldn't accept it. "Controlling spiritual energy is so difficult. How do other students even learn it?"
Honda Kyougo adjusted his glasses and theorized: "According to our Kidō research group, your issue likely stems from your Zanpakutō."
"If the Zanpakutō refuses to cooperate, it's often extremely difficult for a Shinigami to control their internal energy."
"Our suggestion is that you should try communicating with it more."
Fujimori Makoto looked down at the shabby little sword wrapped in a "Restraint Bead Bracelet" at his waist and let out a long sigh.
"Alright, I've troubled you enough."
With no other choice, he turned and left the office.
Immediately after, he heard uproarious laughter erupt from inside.
"I haven't even left yet!"
The laughter in the office abruptly stopped.
A moment later, subdued chuckles could still be heard.
"..."
"Damn it all." Fujimori Makoto gritted his teeth and kicked the trash can at the hallway entrance.
As he walked back to his dorm, he stared at his status panel, utterly baffled.
Why couldn't he do it?
—PI—
Name: Fujimori Makoto
Reiatsu: Fifth Rank · Mid (Vice-Captain Level)
Four Skills:
Zan: 9th Tier (16/100) — [Secret Technique (1)]
Hakuda: 6th Tier (89/100) — [Hand-to-Hand Combat]
Kidō: 1st Tier (99/100)
Hohō: 7th Tier (76/100)
Zanpakutō: Unreleased
Talent Points: 0
Bond Traits: Sword Prodigy (Unohana Yachiru Lv1), Footwork Enthusiast (Saitō Furafushi Lv1), Wall of Lamentation (Chōjirō Sasakibe Lv1), Learn from All (Katori Unagiya Lv1)
Romance Traits: None
Note: The upper limits of Reiatsu, Four Skills, Zanpakutō Release, and Bond/Romance Traits are all constrained by innate talent. Can be bypassed or modified via [Talent Points].
—END—
For some reason, the "Kidō" skill bar seemed frozen in place, unmoving.
And there was no indication of a talent restriction.
It was simply... he just couldn't learn it!
As a once-in-a-generation prodigy, Fujimori Makoto refused to believe this was how things should be. Hadn't he diligently attended Kidō theory classes?
This had to be that damn sword's fault!
It was enough to make him tear his hair out.
When he returned to the dorm and opened the door, a small head popped out from the room.
"Big Brother Makoto! You're back!" Eishima Kourin greeted him cheerfully, her eyes fixed on his bulging chest.
"I'm back."
As he spoke, Fujimori Makoto naturally pulled out an oil-paper package from his robes and handed it over: "Here, snacks I bought for you today."
"Wow!"
"I love you, Big Brother Makoto."
The moment she saw the treats, Ko-chan immediately perked up and happily accepted them.
"Yeah, yeah."
Fujimori Makoto smiled in response.
After asking around the Genji Academy, he'd learned that in the past, when members of the Genryū (Original Flow) found children with potential, they'd usually just inform them of their status—very few actually brought the kids back.
The reason was simple: resources were limited.
In fact, even students who came to enroll on their own often couldn't make it—if you couldn't even pass the entrance exam, how could you hope to join the Genji Academy?
It wasn't that easy, kid.
The Soul Society was never short on people with spiritual energy potential.
What it truly lacked was the cream of the crop—the most exceptionally talented few.
Training one of the latter was worth a thousand, even ten thousand of the former.
This was the reality of the Soul Society.
With no other choice, Fujimori Makoto had to take little Kourin under his wing and raise her in his dorm.
This was the—Fujiwara Clan Plan!
"By the way, Big Brother Makoto," Ko-chan mumbled through a mouthful of crackers, "Big Sister Katori came by earlier and took the papers on your desk."
"It's fine, they were meant for her anyway." Fujimori Makoto was still preoccupied with his Kidō woes and didn't mind the daily ten-minute effort he spent copying novels for her.
"Oh, and! I made rice!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Just as Fujimori Makoto was nodding along, he suddenly looked at the tiny Ko-chan, then at the high kitchen counter. There weren't even any small stools in the house. He couldn't help but ask, "Wait... how did you cook, Ko-chan?"
"Well..."
Ko-chan seemed unsure how to explain. She just waved her hand in the air a few times.
Then, something happened that made Fujimori Makoto's eyes nearly pop out of his head.
Two golden ropes materialized in mid-air, wrapped around Ko-chan's waist, and gently lifted her up to hover right in front of the kitchen counter.
Ko-chan, still munching on her crackers, turned to look at Fujimori Makoto, who was staring in shock.
"...Like this!"
"Big Brother Makoto, can we eat now?"
"Huh... huh?"
Fujimori Makoto stared at the finger the little girl had just flicked in the air as if it were a golden finger!
"Wait, wait, wait!"
"That thing you just did—how did you do that?!"
Fujimori Makoto's face was a picture of astonishment.
That was clearly "Bakudō Number Four: Rope Trick"!!
And it was incantationless!
For someone who hadn't even mastered "Bakudō Number One," this was an insurmountable chasm!
"Hmm?"
Little Ko-chan tilted her head in confusion, not quite understanding his reaction. "Didn't you do this at home a few days ago, Big Brother Makoto?"
"I just learned it by watching."
"But I didn't remember the chant you used."
"..."
Is this the inequality of the human world?
Fujimori Makoto looked at the scene before him, at a loss for words.
Come to think of it, weren't the future temporary souls and artificial souls also this kid's inventions?!
Someone who toyed with souls—how could their Kidō talent possibly be lacking?
Whether it was Aizen or Urahara Kisuke, weren't they both capable of incantationless "Hadō Number Ninety-Nine"?
At this thought, Fujimori Makoto swallowed hard and blurted out:
"Ko-chan, try using it on me!"
"Okay."
Ko-chan didn't think much of it and casually flicked her finger at Big Brother Makoto.
In an instant, two ropes shot toward him.
They instantly bound his wrists and ankles.
Fujimori Makoto fell to the ground, but his face wore an expression of peculiar enjoyment.
This was the real deal!
[Ugh! Pervert!]
[A pervert who teaches kids bondage techniques!]
[At least I play with older kids!]
Even the shabby little sword couldn't take it anymore.
Was it becoming more unrestrained?
Could it now speak even without anyone around?
"Shut up, what do you know?"
Fujimori Makoto easily broke free and stood back up.
Then, he saw a notification pop up on his status panel.
[Kidō +1]
[Kidō: 2nd Tier ↑]
Wait a second?!
Did improving Kidō also require getting beaten up?
With the increase in his Kidō skill, Fujimori Makoto clearly felt his control over spiritual particles improve by a notch. He froze for a moment.
At the same time, fragments of knowledge related to "Bakudō Number Four: Rope Trick" seemed to surface in his mind.
Could he improve like this?!
This revelation ignited a fire in his heart!
In that instant, Fujimori Makoto's gaze toward Eishima Kourin was as if he'd found a priceless treasure.
Ko-chan felt Big Brother Makoto's gaze was a bit strange.
Was it because I ate too much?
Children's worries were always odd.
So, Ko-chan switched from gobbling her crackers to nibbling them daintily.
Fujimori Makoto suddenly reached out and gently patted her little head, adopting the tone of a suspiciously kind uncle:
"Ko-chan."
"Would you like to go to school with me?"
Ko-chan gave him a troubled look:
"Huh? Me?"