Fujimoto Tōma left his dorm early that morning.
He wore a clean uniform, his sword strapped across his back, and a small pack slung over one shoulder.
It wasn’t heavy. Just basic field supplies.
Today was... unusual.
Class A had been ordered to accompany several near-graduation seniors for an off-campus training exercise.
Which made zero sense.
They were first-years.
Why send rookies on external training already?
Tōma didn’t get it, but rules were rules.
On the way to class, he spotted Mizuno Rika standing near the path, hands behind her back, staring into space.
"Waiting for Renji?" Tōma asked as he walked up.
She looked up.
"Oh. Tōma. Yeah."
Her eyes drifted to his bag and sword.
"...Where are you going?"
"Our class is doing an off-campus exercise in the human world," he said. "Renji didn’t tell you?"
"...He didn’t."
Rika’s eyes narrowed.
Sowhere in the distance, Takeda Renji’s survival odds quietly dropped.
"...Why only your class?" she muttered. "That’s not fair."
Tōma tilted his head.
"Rika, can you do a favor?"
"Huh? What kind?"
"Check if there’s ever been a case where first-years were sent on external training with seniors."
She blinked.
"...That’s random."
"Yeah. That’s why I want to know."
She hesitated, then shrugged.
"Fine. I’ll ask around."
"Thanks."
First-years on external duty was weird enough.
But the timing was worse.
The order had been issued imdiately after the Fifth Division captain and vice-captain visited the academy.
Coincidence?
Maybe.
But Tōma didn’t like coincidences.
"By the way," he added, "do you know the nas of the Fifth Division captain and vice-captain?"
Rika stared at him like he’d just said he didn’t know what gravity was.
"...You’re serious?"
"Should I know?"
She paused, then sighed.
"...Right. Everyone thinks you’re aiming for the ninjutsu corps, not frontline duty."
Tōma opened his mouth.
Closed it again.
...Fair.
"The captain’s na is Aizen Sōsuke.
The vice-captain is Ichimaru Gin."
Tōma froze.
"...Say that again?"
She repeated it.
His pupils shrank.
Aizen Sōsuke.
Oh.
So that’s why I couldn’t read him at all.
He let out a slow breath.
"...That tracks."
Hidden boss.
Master manipulator.
Walking disaster wrapped in a polite smile.
And Ichimaru Gin wasn’t exactly harmless either. That man scread "future war criminal."
So yeah.
Everything suddenly made sense.
"Tōma? You okay?"
"...Yeah. Just had a mont."
Right then, Renji stepped out of the classroom.
"Tōma? Rika? What are you two doing out here?"
Rika rounded on him.
"YOU DIDN’T TELL ABOUT THE OFF-CAMPUS TRAINING?!"
"...Oh. That."
"ONLY CLASS A GOES?!"
"Because we’re stronger!"
She leapt up and tried to karate-chop his head.
He dodged.
They argued.
Tōma tuned them out.
Yeah. Childhood-friend energy checks out.
Minutes later, Class A assembled at the academy gate.
Three senior students waited for them.
The one in front stepped forward.
"I’m Hisagi. Sixth-year. Team leader for today."
"I’m Kaizawa," the girl beside him said.
"I’m Aoga," the third added.
Whispers rippled through the first-years.
Kira leaned toward Renji.
"Hisagi Shūhei," he murmured.
"He’s famous. First student in years to pre-register for the Thirteen Divisions before graduating. Guaranteed officer material."
"...Huh."
They drew lots for three-person teams.
Tōma looked at his slip.
He’d been paired with two strangers.
anwhile, Renji, Kira, and Momo were grouped together.
...That felt deliberate.
"Guess I got ranked as background noise," Tōma muttered.
Rules were brief.
Sixth-years had already gone ahead to the human world to set up barriers and observation points.
First-years would fight simulated Hollows inside the zone.
"Combat isn’t risk-free," Hisagi said flatly.
"Stay alert."
Then they stepped through a dinsional gate.
Night.
Urban outskirts.
Barriers shimred faintly overhead.
Tōma frowned.
...That barrier feels thin.
Then his perception twitched.
He turned his head.
There.
Empty air.
Except it wasn’t empty.
A massive shape crouched there.
Invisible.
Skyscraper-sized.
And very real.
"...You’ve got to be kidding ."
The simulated Hollows hiding nearby felt like paper cutouts by comparison.
Tōma walked straight up to Hisagi.
"Team leader. I can sense a real Hollow over there. Huge. About the size of a building."
Hisagi stiffened.
"...Where?"
Tōma pointed.
Nothing visible.
Kaizawa snorted.
"What? There’s nothing there."
Hisagi raised his radio.
"Observation team, confirm if there’s any abnormal Hollow activity near—"
Static.
No reply.
Hisagi’s expression darkened.
"...Again. Confirm Hollow activity."
Nothing.
Tōma nodded once.
"It’s cloaked. But it’s there."
Hisagi inhaled sharply.
"...All first-years! Training is canceled! Fall back imdiately!"
Right on cue—
The air distorted.
The invisible Hollow dropped its camouflage.
A towering monster slamd into view and roared.
Panic exploded.
"RUN!" Hisagi shouted.
He drew his sword and charged straight at it.
Tōma watched him go.
...Brave idiot.
Renji.
Kira.
Momo.
They stayed.
Of course they did.
Tōma sighed.
"...Fine."
He followed.
Not to fight.
Just to heal.
And to watch.
Because this whole thing slled like a setup.
And if Aizen Sōsuke showed up next...
Things were about to get interesting.
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