The two bursts of spiritual pressure were from Yumichika and Asano Kiyoshi. Blue spiritual energy and a dark, ink-like aura erupted in an instant.
Almost immediately, they blocked the oppressive energy coming from the nobles!
As the spiritual pressures collided, the surrounding desks and chairs creaked under the strain, and a few chalk sticks that had fallen to the ground were crushed to powder. Even the air seemed to freeze, as a thick atmosphere of tension began to spread throughout the classroom like gunpowder smoke.
Looking at the scene before him, Asano Kiyoshi felt no fear. Though his personality was gentle, he was not weak.
He understood what needed to be done at any given moment. The spiritual pressure of the nobles was directed at all three of them— Ikkaku had stepped forward on their behalf. If he still chose to shrink back or act as some peacekeeper now, it would be shameful. Though his mental age was far beyond a teenager, "a man remains a boy at heart until death!" A little hot-blooded passion now and then wasn't a bad thing.
His ink-black spiritual pressure was striking, like a looming thundercloud pressing down from the heavens, standing out amidst the many surging energies like a crane among chickens. Seeing this familiar aura, Komamura Kojirō narrowed his eyes slightly and said to Asano Kiyoshi, who stood between his two companions:
"Heh, the top student?"
Hearing the clearly provocative tone, Asano Kiyoshi smiled slightly and stepped forward. His dark aura flared again, dominating much of the space. Looking at the nobles, he smiled politely and said:
"Yes, I'm the top student of Class A—Asano Kiyoshi. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll probably stay at the top. I hope we can all get along peacefully from here on out. Let's take care of each other."
His tone was calm and composed, his expression friendly, and his voice warm. He radiated confidence, like a shining sun.
As soon as he finished speaking, a crisp applause rang out. Everyone instinctively turned toward the sound. A silver-haired man with the face of a jade statue walked into the classroom, wearing a pristine white captain's haori. On the back of the haori were the characters for "Thirteen."
The man's voice was gentle but tinged with weariness and frailty. He looked at Asano Kiyoshi, still clapping as he smiled and said:
"A very fine speech. Well handled."
At the sight of this man, the previously clashing spiritual pressures dissipated instantly. With the tension gone, a gentle breeze finally flowed into the heavy classroom. Almost every student bowed slightly and greeted him with respect:
"Captain Ukitake!"
Ukitake gently waved a hand, indicating they didn't need to be so formal. Then, with a kind gaze, he looked over everyone and said:
"Everyone, please find your seats and sit down. From now on, you are classmates. Let's avoid incidents like this from happening again."
Asano Kiyoshi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika chose seats near the back by the window. Asano discreetly wiped sweat from his forehead. He had only just acquired his Asauchi, and although his spiritual energy had increased significantly, the intense confrontation just now had already drained nearly half of it.
Ikkaku leaned over and whispered:
"You're actually pretty good with words, huh!"
Asano smiled without replying.
Yumichika handed him a small piece of bread and said:
"Eat this after class. It'll help your spiritual energy recover."
Without being overly polite, Asano accepted the bread. He needed to replenish his strength to properly prepare for his upcoming meeting with Old Man Yamamoto.
Still, as he took the bread, he couldn't help but marvel at how keen his Zanpakutō—especially one of the Kidō type—was at sensing spirit particles.
While the three whispered among themselves, Ukitake began his address:
"Everyone, first of all, congratulations on being accepted into Class A at the Shin'ō Spiritual Arts Academy. Due to some health issues, I'll be your main instructor moving forward. I'll be teaching you the basics of Soul Society—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, Kidō, and more.
"My first and most important rule is this: No hostile or malicious competition of any kind is allowed in this class. That includes intentional harm or attempted murder. If such things happen, I will expel the offender on the spot. Depending on how serious it is, I may even send them straight to the 'Maggot's Nest'!"
At these words, many students turned pale. The Maggot's Nest was one of the most terrifying places in all of Soul Society. Anyone sent there either became nothing more than a pile of dirt—or worse, a test subject for the Research and Development Bureau. No good outcomes awaited those who ended up there.
As Ukitake said this, he intentionally cast a meaningful glance at the noble students—his gaze laced with warning. Then his eyes swept to Asano Kiyoshi's group, but this time his look was not one of caution—only of concern.
After making this critical announcement, Ukitake went over the rest of the day's logistics—class schedules, dormitory arrangements, and so on.
Once everything was explained, he gave the class a formal congratulation and informed them they were free to leave for now. He reminded them to report to the training field at 1 p.m. sharp to hear a speech from the Head Captain—who was also the Principal of the Shin'ō Academy.
After Ukitake left, the class buzzed with discussion. Everyone agreed on one thing—being personally taught by the Captain of Squad Thirteen was a great honor. Not only did it mean top-tier instruction, but it also opened doors to future connections.
Following Ukitake's warning, the noble students did seem to tone things down a bit, no longer openly targeting Asano and the others. But everyone knew—it wasn't over yet.
Asano, Ikkaku, and Yumichika made their way to the student dorms and selected a four-person room. Class A's accommodations were quite nice. In other classes, students had to cram twelve to a room. But since many nobles in Class A chose not to live on campus, space was plentiful.
The three of them then went to the cafeteria, which resembled a university dining hall from Asano's previous life. There were many food stations, and the prices were reasonable. A decent lunch cost about 10–15 rings. Yumichika ordered milk and a bowl of noodles, Ikkaku got a few rice balls, and Asano mirrored Yumichika's choice with a bowl of noodles.
The afternoon assembly was fairly dull, but Asano made sure to pay close attention—he wanted to leave a good impression on the Head Captain.
At last, the long-winded speech ended, and Asano found himself standing before the door of the Headmaster's office. He looked at the ancient-looking door, took a deep breath, and gently knocked.