You are Nakashiri Koharu, Co-Lieutenant of the 5th Division, vessel of two spirits, and you’ve just received a letter addressed directly to you, from the Tenjiso, the same people who are likely responsible for the aforementioned spirits residing within you. The same people who also disposed of Kameko and are after you, if her letter is to be believed.

You hold the letter unopened in your hand for a moment, thoughts racing. Finally, you open it. There’s some basic pleasantries at the beginning which you just skim through, to get to the part that matters.

“...A joint training operation has been agreed upon between the Gotei 13 and the Tenjiso, and the 5th Division has been chosen for this. Please gather at the West Temple in one week’s time with a hundred to two hundred shinigami of your choice.”

You frown. There’s very little information here. What exactly is this training? Shouldn’t this be something for Aizen? Though, knowing him, he is very likely aware of everything. Could be he got a letter of his own.

His face flashes in your mind, with that fake smile and calculating gaze, awaiting your next move at the table.

As you consider your options, you meet up with Izumi who has finished her little mission with checking up on Toru-kun.

“So how is he?” You glance over at the orchards of the 4th Division, Izumi walking beside you.

“Oh he’s doing great. Well, I mean ‘great’ as in he’s fine and okay.”

“...He’s bottom class, isn’t he?” You shake your head.

“Don’t you worry! Some of the greatest shinigami started there you know!”

“Right,” you give her a smirk, “so how is he then? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“For one, he goes as Sanju Toru. I thought he didn’t have a surname.” Sanju, huh? What a nice way to hone him. “He has a smart friend with him though, but he still gets picked on by the first class nobles. And one in particular… well. You’re not gonna believe this.”

“It’ll take a lot to surprise me, Izumi-chan.”

“...It’s Shiraka Yuuma.”

>1/3