"Ascension to Godhood: You shall become a god."
For Sōsuke Aizen, a character whose essence was practically certified by the author as divine, this ability seemed only fitting.
Haruki was naturally eager to acquire such a power, yearning for it intensely. But Aizen was an even more dangerous individual than Gin Ichimaru. At least with Gin, Haruki had a single-digit favorability score. Aizen, however, held a flat 0 favorability toward him.
Favorability could be negative—Haruki had encountered someone who disliked him enough to score a -20. But Aizen neither disliked nor liked him. It was a neutral, indifferent zero.
Aizen's demeanor was akin to a god's indifference toward mortals. While outwardly amiable, he felt no emotional fluctuations toward someone like Haruki.
To Aizen, Haruki was likely nothing more than an ant, far beneath even Renji, Kira, or Hinamori, whom Aizen might at least deem "useful."
Winning over Aizen, then, seemed nearly impossible. But the allure of his ability was undeniable—what power could be more tempting than the ability to ascend to godhood?
Determined, Haruki resolved: I must find a way to befriend Aizen.
...
Meanwhile, Haruki shifted his focus to more attainable targets. Even nameless seated officers in the original story had abilities of their own.
After a stint of training, Haruki struck up a conversation with Tanimoto Tetsu, the 6th Seat responsible for overseeing his training. Tanimoto's ability was "Destructive Death Beam."
"Destructive Death Beam: A black beam of destructive energy is fired from your fingers, bypassing all defenses to pierce the target's body."
This was exactly the offensive power Haruki needed. Since his relationship with Tanimoto was already decent, it didn't take much effort to raise his favorability to 60 through casual conversation. With that, Haruki gained a one-time use of Destructive Death Beam.
Feeling satisfied, he returned home after work, stopping along the way to buy some snacks and sake.
...
Haruki's home, once belonging to his minor noble family, was spacious, featuring a large courtyard with two persimmon trees. Although the house was grand, Haruki lived there alone.
Upon returning, he switched on the lights despite the daylight. Shadows in the Seireitei harbored potential dangers, such as Quincy spies. While they were unlikely to target a small fry like him, Haruki preferred to avoid any chance of being watched.
To that end, he avoided shadows and always kept his surroundings well-lit, even while sleeping.
Settling in, Haruki pulled out a book on Kido techniques to study. As a noble's descendant, his original self had harbored ambitions to restore the family's glory. Yet, due to his lack of talent, those dreams had never been realized. Nevertheless, his house contained a wealth of study materials.
...
After about half an hour, Renji arrived with Kira and Hinamori. Haruki warmly welcomed them.
"Come in, come in! I bought some sake—let's drink together."
Haruki cheerfully brought out the sake and snacks, then turned to Hinamori. "Hinamori, if you're not into drinking, I also picked up some Delicacy Mochi just for you."
"Delicacy Mochi?" Hinamori's eyes lit up. "Wow, that's expensive! Haruki-senpai, isn't this too much?"
Delicacy Mochi was a popular treat in the Soul Society, similar to chocolate truffles with a boozy center made from premium sake lees. Delicious as they were, they contained high alcohol content—enough to intoxicate someone with low tolerance after just one piece.
"Don't worry about it. Haruki-senpai is loaded!" Renji quipped. "But isn't it bad to drink before training?"
"Exactly, which is why we'll start with some guidance," Haruki replied.
Activating Stern Master-Apprentice Bond, Haruki could immediately pinpoint areas for improvement in his "students." The trio would also benefit from a strong learning buff during the ability's three-day duration.
Leading them to the courtyard, Haruki began their training.
"Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō form the foundation of a Shinigami's skills," he explained. "As individuals, you'll naturally excel in some areas and struggle in others. Renji, I know you well enough to say your Kidō could use some work."
Turning to Renji, he continued, "So, let's start by improving your Zanjutsu."
Looking at Kira and Hinamori, he added, "Feel free to observe. While everyone's path to progress is unique, you might still learn something from Renji's training."
The three nodded eagerly, and Renji drew his Zanpakutō. Since he hadn't yet learned Shikai, the blade remained an ordinary katana.
Thanks to his ability, Haruki quickly identified flaws in Renji's stance and techniques, guiding him to make corrections. Renji, who had struggled with certain concepts at the academy, found Haruki's instruction surprisingly effective.
"How does Senpai notice these details when even the academy's seated officer instructors didn't?" Renji thought, increasingly impressed.
Renji's favorability: 73.
In a short time, Renji's favorability had climbed past 70. Elated, Haruki redoubled his efforts.
...
Next, Haruki worked with Kira and Hinamori. As the top student of his class, Kira was a rare "all-rounder," excelling across all four core disciplines. Haruki tailored his guidance to refine all aspects of Kira's abilities.
For Hinamori, the focus was primarily on Kidō, though Haruki also introduced her to basic healing techniques.
As the training progressed, Haruki noticed something remarkable: not only were his "students" improving rapidly under his guidance, but he, as their instructor, was also learning and growing through the process.