Gusion took the new clothes from Aizen. "Thanks. Finished your exam?"
Aizen nodded, looking at the blood marks on Gusion's bare, muscular body. "Don't be discouraged. You survived, that's enough. Graduate in two years instead."
He'd just finished his exam and came to check on Gusion. In his mind, the worst-case scenario was collecting his roommate's corpse.
Seeing Gusion alive, he felt oddly relieved.
"Sōsuke, what're you talking about? I've already passed the assessment, just need to finalize graduation."
Gusion said as he dressed.
Aizen's eyes flashed with surprise. "You... passed? You beat Captain Unohana?"
He'd seen Captain Unohana when he arrived—maybe just after a fight, something about her presence unsettled him. He realized he'd totally misjudged; Unohana wasn't a lucky draw as an examiner, she was terrifying.
When he saw all the bloodstains on her, he'd resigned himself to collecting Gusion's body. Yet here Gusion was, alive, claiming he'd won.
"Well, not exactly beat. Captain Unohana had her Reiatsu suppressed, and was only testing me at first. If she'd gone all out, I wouldn't have lasted until Shikai."
Gusion said modestly, looking at Aizen. "Sōsuke, I owe you. I wouldn't have awakened my Zanpakutō so easily otherwise."
Aizen now noticed Gusion's weapon had changed; it was no longer a plain Asauchi, but a proper Zanpakutō.
Suppressing his shock, Aizen accepted the fact—his roommate was a monster, actually beating a Captain at equal rank.
"I didn't do much. It was all your hard work."
Aizen smiled. "Congrats, Gusion-kun, you made Academy history. I'll have to call you senpai from now on. So, have you decided which squad to join?"
Gusion shook his head. "Haven't thought about it. Let's just eat for now."
Which squad to join in the Gotei 13 didn't matter since he'd leave in two days anyway.
No matter which squad he joined, at most, he'd spend a day there, maybe take a stroll in the human world, then return to Endspace.
…
In the cafeteria, everyone who looked at Gusion did so with awe. News of him passing the test and beating Captain Unohana spread fast—no one knew where it came from.
"If you don't have any particular goal, why not join the Fifth Division? Lieutenant Hirako will look after you."
Aizen suggested—that he planned to join Fifth Division after graduation, so Gusion could wait for him there.
"That sounds good. Fifth Division, then."
Gusion said, swallowing a mouthful of steak.
Aizen was surprised. "So decisive? Aren't you going to ask about the division's atmosphere, conditions, benefits?"
Gusion smiled. "I haven't thought about it, but I trust your judgment, Sōsuke."
He'd be gone in a couple of days anyway. It didn't matter—might as well please his roommate.
…
"Not bad. You did it."
At the Academy graduation ceremony, the Captain-Commander looked at Gusion with emotion. He'd thought he'd set an impossible challenge, but Gusion won.
When Unohana volunteered to be examiner, the Captain-Commander had felt it was a shame—this promising young man probably wouldn't survive.
He admired Gusion's talent, but he wasn't softhearted—this was a trial Gusion had sought himself. If he could pass, the sky was the limit. If not, he'd die by his arrogance.
"Captain Unohana deserves the thanks for holding back."
Gusion said humbly. At the annual graduation, most captains attended; Unohana was there too.
The captains weren't just there to observe, but to scout talent.
Gusion now felt several burning gazes from the captains. He was the hottest commodity now.
He'd cleared Shinō Academy in three months, mastered all arts, and beat Unohana in a same-rank fight. Though still a student, everyone in Seireitei knew his name.
The captains all wanted him—they believed with his talent, he'd soon be a seated officer, maybe even a vice-captain or captain in time.
"Hahaha, don't be so humble. But young man, you've got all eyes on you."
The Captain-Commander was in a good mood. He glanced at the captains staring at Gusion and laughed: "So, Gusion-kun, want to join First Division?"
As soon as he said this, the other captains deflated. They'd all come for Gusion, but if the Captain-Commander wanted him, none of them had a chance.
Everyone was shocked, even the other captains—it was the first time they'd seen old man Yamamoto personally invite a graduate to First Division.
It showed how much he valued Gusion. He'd probably want to mentor him himself, maybe make him the next captain in a century.
"Thank you, Captain-Commander, but I already decided on a division."
To everyone's surprise, Gusion refused.
The students all looked at him like he was crazy—didn't he know what he was giving up?
But Gusion had his reasons—he could join any squad, except First Division. The Captain-Commander would want to keep teaching him, maybe keep him close.
If he disappeared, that'd be a problem.
Once he gained the right to return, he could choose to go back anytime, but if the time ran out, Endspace would forcibly pull him out—not a second longer.
He had a feeling he'd return to this world someday, so he didn't want to vanish right under the Captain-Commander's nose.
"Oh? Have you already chosen? Is it Fourth Division?"
The Captain-Commander knew Unohana had recruited Gusion and been his examiner, so she counted as his benefactor. If he wanted to follow her out of gratitude, that made sense.
But sending Gusion to the medical/support division was a waste of his combat talent.
Gusion looked at the captains, his eyes meeting Unohana's. She smiled gently and nodded at him.
"No, I want to join Fifth Division."
Gusion's answer made Unohana's smile freeze—she'd been ready to mentor him herself.
It made no sense—Gusion had no connection to Fifth Division. If he wanted a combat squad, why not the Eleventh Division?
"Great choice! Fifth Division has the best benefits!"
At this, current Fifth Division Captain Akimoto Yoshitaka couldn't help rushing forward, using shunpo to appear by Gusion's side, unable to hide his joy.
He'd thought there was no way he'd get a recruit like Gusion. Not with the Captain-Commander and Unohana in play.
Yet Gusion himself wanted to join Fifth Division—a gift from heaven!
Gusion looked at this unfamiliar Fifth Division captain—a clear side character, probably to be replaced by Hirako Shinji in a hundred years.
The Captain-Commander saw Gusion had made up his mind, and Akimoto was determined to keep him, so he dropped his persuasion.
He figured Gusion's talent would make him a captain sooner or later, not stuck in Fifth Division forever.