After Sōya and Akira's conversation that day, peace returned to the Soul Society.
Meanwhile, the Shin'ō Academy remained as chaotic as ever.
Uruoi Kaoru was burning through his monthly salary on blood pressure medication.
What frustrated him most was a certain student who skipped classes daily, claiming he needed to study at the 1st Division. This truant not only missed all theory classes but also avoided practical combat training, including basic courses like Zanjutsu and Hakuda.
According to Akira, the current courses held no value for him anymore — he'd rather spend his time training under a waterfall with weights.
At first, Uruoi dismissed this as mere excuses.
But when he visited the mentioned waterfall, he found Akira sitting cross-legged beneath the thundering waters. Despite the crushing force above, Akira remained motionless, as if rooted to the massive rock below.
After witnessing this several times, Uruoi realized that the Shin'ō Academy could no longer contain this troublesome student.
So, he set aside time for a heart-to-heart talk with Akira.
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"Actually, I think you're eligible for early graduation now."
Uruoi looked at the quiet youth before him and said earnestly, letting out a secret sigh of relief.
"Early graduation?" Akira was stunned, "But I thought failing all theory courses meant repeating the year?"
The walking heart-pill consumer nodded seriously.
"That rule exists, but I've been discussing your case with Principal Genshirō. It's clear that keeping you at the Academy would be a waste of time. Rather than continue like this, we might as well..."
{T/N: Now I'm certain of this: Genshirō Okikiba is the principal. Not Chōjirō Sasakibe. Sorry for this.}
Before he could finish explaining, a beautiful female teacher appeared in the hallway. She entered the office cheerfully, nodded to Uruoi, and made her way straight to Akira.
"Lord Kisaragi, about the talisman I ordered last time..."
Akira's eyes lit up with recognition, "Ah, Sayoi-sensei. The talisman is ready, please wait a moment."
While Uruoi watched in bewilderment, the two completed their transaction — money for goods.
"Akira Kisaragi, what is the meaning of this?" Uruoi demanded once the teacher had left.
Akira looked at him with genuine confusion, "Isn't it obvious? Sayoi-sensei gives me money, I give her talismans."
Uruoi felt his blood pressure climbing.
He'd thought Akira had reformed, but here he was, still conducting business behind everyone's backs — even selling shrine merchandise to teachers!
If he weren't painfully aware that he could no longer match this student in combat, he would have taken disciplinary action right then.
Apparently sensing Uruoi's rising blood pressure and Reiatsu, Akira furtively pulled out his last two talismans and whispered.
"Now, now, Uruoi-sensei. Given our teacher-student relationship, I'll offer you a 2% discount... Well, make that 1%. These two talismans will cost you just ₭1,980... Rounding this because I like you, it'll be ₭2,000—"
Before he could finish his sales pitch, Uruoi chased him out of the office.
Standing in the hallway, Akira tucked the talismans into his pocket and sighed helplessly.
"Old people these days are so full of pride and prejudice..."
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1st Division barracks, Training Hall.
After parting with his heart attack-prone teacher, Akira headed to Genryūsai's place.
He wanted not only to discuss some matters but also to request another intense training session.
When Akira made his request, Genryūsai wordlessly removed his captain's haori, hung it on a nearby coat rack, and led him straight to the training hall.
Without ceremony, the old master and young student began their violent exchange of blows.
Through these brutal sessions, Akira strategized how to gain an advantage against Genryūsai, the four-skills master, despite their vast difference in ability.
His waterfall meditation sessions were devoted to solving this challenge.
Using his 'Heart of a God' Trait, he could analyze their battles frame by frame, extracting valuable insights.
While Genryūsai's training was intense, he was also an excellent teacher. After each grueling session, he would carefully explain the flaws in Akira's techniques and the principles behind his own moves.
Though their training time was brief, Akira's progress was astronomical.
His Hakuda level had leaped from 40 to 50!
This was more challenging than his rapid advancement in Zanjutsu, but Akira remained pleased — especially considering it had only been a few days.
At this pace, mastering the Elemental Style seemed within reach!
In the training hall, Genryūsai's muscles swelled with power, radiating pressure like an active volcano. In one explosive step, he crossed several meters, materializing before Akira.
His muscles quivered with surging power, producing audible ripples.
His fingers curled into a fist with mountain-crushing force, generating a wind pressure that nearly broke the sound barrier as it bore down on Akira's face.
⤫ Genso Ryū: Atsuryoku Sōsai ⥤ Elemental Style: Crushing Pressure! ⤬
Rather than meeting the attack head-on, Akira retreated while tensing his body like a drawn bowstring, his muscles creaking with strain.
Genryūsai's experienced eyes flickered with surprise as he recognized the strategy.
He's charging up!
Like a bow at full draw, Akira was accumulating power to release several times the normal destructive force at the crucial moment.
Not bad, quite perceptive, kid!
Though Genryūsai nodded approvingly, his brow soon furrowed, expression turning fierce.
However, when the individual difference is so obvious it can't be overcome, this kind of pure clash will make the weaker one instantly—
Shatter!
Genryūsai stood his ground, making no move to press his advantage. His right arm drew back, muscles rippling like waves on water, as his fingers clenched into a fist with a hair-raising crack.
When his fist descended, hot winds howled forth, threatening to sweep away his opponent like a mere straw.
Yet Akira refused to fall. As the scorching wind approached, he planted his right leg, shattering the floor beneath him and using that force to launch into a spin.
In the next instant, violent winds carrying unstoppable momentum shot straight toward Genryūsai's bald head:
"Eat my—"
The youth's roar echoed through the training hall.
⤫ Genshiki-ryū: Kaze no Tatsumaki ⥤ Origin Style: Wind Tornado! ⤬
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