"Sō-san, don't like the food?"
Masatsuki Aozaki glanced at Sōjun Kuchiki, who sighed softly, then shifted his gaze to the nearby table reserved for teachers.
The long table was adorned with exquisitely carved food boxes, clearly from an esteemed household. Servants stood attentively by, bowing as they carefully arranged the boxes in perfect order.
As the heir of the Kuchiki family—one of the Four Noble Families—Sōjun Kuchiki embodied nobility in every aspect, even in something as simple as dining. The difference between a true aristocrat and someone like Masatsuki, a self-made "rich man," was apparent at a glance.
Compared to this refined young master, the so-called "luxurious meal" Masatsuki and his friends were enjoying barely deserved the title.
"Well, Masatsuki, you can call me Kuchiki-sensei or Sōjun-sensei, but 'Sō-san' isn't quite right." Sōjun Kuchiki offered a warm smile and gestured invitingly.
"Help yourself to whatever you'd like."
Is this really the so-called "perfect gentleman" Sōjun Kuchiki? He's almost too kind.
He wasn't as strict as his father, Ginrei Kuchiki, nor as cold and distant as his son, Byakuya Kuchiki.
Masatsuki silently marveled at the difference but spoke with genuine admiration.
"You're truly a generous person. Well then, we won't hold back."
Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed a few slices of wagyu beef, tuna sashimi, and premium sushi, acting as though he belonged at the table.
Rangiku Matsumoto stared at the food before swallowing hard, but unlike Masatsuki, she wasn't shameless enough to dig in the moment someone extended an offer.
Gin Ichimaru let out a helpless sigh.
He had long known Masatsuki was socially awkward. Back in Rukongai, that very trait had somehow landed Gin in the role of his reluctant subordinate. Now, even in Seireitei, Masatsuki showed no intention of changing his ways.
Gin's narrow eyes darted toward Sōjun Kuchiki, subtly assessing his reaction. Seeing that the nobleman wasn't offended, he sighed in relief.
Sōjun Kuchiki chuckled softly and turned his attention to Rangiku, who sat beside Masatsuki, staring longingly at the meal before her.
"Matsumoto, Ichimaru, you should eat as well. With your talent, a meal like this isn't nearly enough to support your growth."
"You'll both become exceptional swordsmen one day, tasked with protecting Soul Society. Don't waste your potential."
With that, he pushed two food boxes toward them.
In the end, Rangiku couldn't resist and reached for the chopsticks.
Gin, however, politely lowered his head and nudged the box back.
"Thank you, Kuchiki-sensei, but this is already more than enough for me…"
"You've never had real food before, have you?" Masatsuki interrupted before Gin could finish. "This stuff is even better than what I've had in the World of the Living. If you don't try it, you'll regret it."
Without waiting for a response, Masatsuki grabbed a grilled fish from the box and dropped it into Gin's bowl.
"Oh, right. This is for you."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to Sōjun Kuchiki.
"As long as the price is right, I can take care of anything."
"I know. The 'handyman,'" Sōjun Kuchiki replied with an amused smile. "The admissions instructors already told me about you."
"They said there was a student handing out business cards to the female teachers during the exam, claiming to offer all kinds of 'services.' Apparently, you had them all completely captivated. That was you, wasn't it?"
Masatsuki gave a sheepish smile.
"If nothing unexpected happened, yeah, that was probably me. Honestly, I didn't expect the teachers' demand to be so… high."
Then, as if realizing he needed to clarify, he quickly added, "But just so we're clear, some services are strictly for beautiful women. Don't get the wrong idea."
"What kind of 'service' only caters to women…" Sōjun Kuchiki took the business card, slipping it into his pocket. For a moment, he paused—then chuckled.
"Hmph, you little troublemaker. Still, you should take on fewer of these jobs. A young man's health is important, you know. Moderation is key."
"You actually understand what I mean?" Masatsuki raised an eyebrow.
"Understand what?" Sōjun Kuchiki blinked at him innocently. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Masatsuki was now absolutely certain—Sōjun Kuchiki knew exactly what kind of "services" he was offering.
"Alright, that's enough joking around."
Sōjun Kuchiki smiled and waved a hand dismissively.
"After dinner, head back to your dorms and get some rest. If you have time, go over the Reiryoku Refinement Technique that was distributed today. Since you don't have a Zanpakutō yet, this is the best way to train your Reiatsu."
"Tomorrow, my Zanjutsu class is first. Don't be late."
"And don't wander around after dark. Seireitei isn't exactly peaceful right now."
Masatsuki Aozaki's expression shifted as if something had come to mind.
"The rebels are getting that bold? They'd actually go after students from the Shin'ō Academy? Aren't they afraid that Captain-Commander Yamamoto might…"
He mimicked a slicing motion with his hand.
Sōjun Kuchiki let out a bitter smile.
"This situation is complicated and involves a lot more than you think. It's not something students like you should concern yourselves with."
"What you need to focus on is your own safety. Leave the dangerous matters to us."
Seeing that Sōjun didn't want to elaborate, Masatsuki didn't press further. They weren't close enough for that kind of conversation anyway.
Sōjun slowly stood up, gathered his emptied food box, and turned to leave.
Masatsuki left the cafeteria with Rangiku and Gin, taking a casual stroll with them before escorting them back to their dorms. Afterward, he made his way toward the faculty dormitories.
He had a business deal to take care of—his first transaction at Shin'ō Academy.
...
The next morning, Masatsuki woke up in a large, soft bed.
Sunlight streamed in, casting a glow on his defined features—sharp nose, deep, star-like eyes, and long black hair cascading down his back. His refined yet slightly unruly aura made him all the more captivating.
He slowly sat up, stretching his bare body. His well-defined muscles flexed subtly, enhancing his masculine charm.
Simply put, from every angle—he was undeniably attractive.
"My Reiatsu has increased."
His sharp senses detected a subtle change within his spiritual body, and a smirk tugged at his lips.
After last night's nearly two-hour battle, waking up to find his spiritual body and Reiatsu strengthened was no surprise.
It made perfect sense.
The fundamental difference between a physical body and a spiritual body was that the former was composed of Kishi, while the latter was formed from Reishi.
While their organs functioned similarly, spiritual bodies had two specific points corresponding to the dantian and lower dantian in physical bodies—Saketsu (Chain of Fate) and Hakusui (Soul Sleep)—key nodes responsible for generating Reiryoku.
At the core of it all was the Soul Core, the very energy that sustained the existence of a spiritual body.
According to the biological knowledge Masatsuki retained from his past life, dopamine secretion in the human brain was closely tied to physical activity.
High-quality exercise was known to improve kidney function, increase cardiac output, raise blood pressure, and enhance overall heart performance.
Over the years, he had always felt his spiritual body growing stronger through battle, and after practicing the Reiryoku Refinement Technique, that sensation became even more pronounced.
Of course, his ability to enhance his Reiatsu so effectively had more to do with his natural talent.
His extraordinary perception of Reishi allowed him to absorb it even during movement—something most people couldn't do.
"Masatsuki, are you awake?"
A soft, teasing voice drifted from beside him.
A delicate, rosy face peeked out from beneath the sheets.
Beneath the covers, faint traces of blood could still be seen—proof of last night's intense "battle".