Shiba Isshin frowned, wanting to say more.
But seeing Aiyan's calm expression, clearly disregarding Hirako Shinji altogether, Isshin opened his mouth but didn't know what to say in the end.
After all, he had witnessed everything between the two.
From start to finish, it was Hirako Shinji who provoked things.
If it were him, and someone kept picking on his younger brother without reason, he wouldn't have held back either. He might've done exactly what Aiyan did or worse.
"I can't speak for Hirako."
"But as his lieutenant, I still want to thank you for holding back."
"Despite everything, you showed mercy again and again… You didn't take his life."
"Thank you, Captain Aiyan."
At that moment, Sarugaki Hiyori arrived.
Her reaction surprised many.
As the 5th Division's lieutenant, she had watched Hirako get slashed down, bloodied and humiliated. Yet instead of blaming Aiyan, she came forward, bowed respectfully, and offered her thanks.
"It's nothing," Aiyan replied casually. "I already said, I won't take it to heart."
"Go check on him. I didn't kill him, and with Captain Unohana treating him, he'll survive. But for the next month, don't expect him to even get out of bed, let alone walk around in shoes."
Looking at Hiyori's sincere thanks, a strange glint flashed behind Aiyan's glasses.
He was starting to understand something.
Why his younger brother, a ruler in their past life, enjoyed toying with subordinates and enemies alike.
He had just publicly humiliated Hirako Shinji—cut him down, stolen his captain's seat—and yet Hirako's own lieutenant came forward to express gratitude.
This twisted situation... felt amazing.
No wonder Aizen always kept Hinamori and Hitsugaya alive despite everything. It wasn't just a strategy. Sometimes, controlling people's emotions gives greater satisfaction than just killing them.
A throne desired by all… and a sword pointed at it.
One wants to kill the king, the other forces them to kneel.
"On behalf of Hirako, I sincerely thank Captain Aiyan for his mercy," Hiyori said with conviction.
Just as those words left her mouth,
Hirako Shinji, not far away, still being healed by Unohana, heard it and coughed up another mouthful of blood.
Whether from the injury… or sheer rage… no one could tell.
He passed out on the spot.
Unohana, while treating him, thought she heard him whisper with the last of his consciousness—
"…Hiyori betrayed me…"
A small figure dashed through the paths and buildings of the campus, fast like a shadow—like a buzzing hornet.
Every step carried her more than 50 meters forward. In mere moments, she crossed the entire grounds.
From the Academy gate to the First Class, it took her just over a minute.
The girl landed silently, kneeling before the waiting Shihouin Yoruichi.
"Lady Yoruichi," said Sui-Feng respectfully, kneeling with one knee down.
Every word, every gesture was filled with deep admiration.
As someone born into the lower noble Feng family, Sui-Feng dedicated her life to protecting the Shihouin family. To her, Yoruichi was more than a noble.
"Sui-Feng, how did it go?" Yoruichi asked with a smile, not treating her like a servant, but a friend.
The rest of the class looked over curiously.
Even the proud Kuchiki Byakuya didn't turn his head, but his ears were fully focused.
After all, this was a captain-level duel.
A newly graduated student, challenging a senior Gotei captain? Such a thing hadn't happened in centuries. It wasn't just the Academy that was paying attention—Seireitei itself was watching.
Sui-Feng's voice was calm, but inside she felt slightly sour. Still, she didn't lie. She told the truth, clearly and directly.
"I knew it," Yoruichi said, smiling with delight.
"He was destined to win."
"Graduation and straight to captain…"
"In over 2,000 years of Academy history, this has never happened before."
"Aiyan Sōsuke… his name will be etched into the history of the Soul Society."
Kisuke Urahara, Komamura Sajin, and others all gasped in disbelief.
Even though they had expected Aiyan to win—especially after what he did to Hirako in the Kendo gym before, pinning him like a picture on a wall—this was still something else.
That was just swordsmanship.
Neither had used Shikai or Bankai back then.
So there was still some doubt left.
Now, with confirmation that Aiyan had defeated Hirako in a full duel… everyone was stunned.
After all, Hirako Shinji wasn't just any opponent.
He was a captain of the Gotei 13.
Aiyan was just a student only a month into being a Shinigami.
"Tell us everything, Sui-Feng!"
The class leaned forward, eager to know every detail.
"Aiyan used Shikai and won in a single move."
"There was no equal battle, only one-sided domination."
"Oh, and Hirako tried to use Bankai to fight back. But he didn't even get the chance. Aiyan disarmed him before he could even activate it."
Sui-Feng explained everything calmly, without exaggeration.
"Defeated a Gotei captain in one blow?"
"Didn't even let him use Bankai?"
"What kind of strength is that?!"
"He's only been training for a month!"
"When we graduate… we'll be greeting him as Captain Aiyan."
The students were shaken.
This wasn't just genius. It was monstrous.
He had joined the same class as them only a month ago. While they were still attending lectures, he had already defeated a captain and taken his position.
Students and captains—two completely different worlds.
Power, status, identity… everything had changed.
"His strength has reached such a level?" Byakuya thought, fists clenched tightly.
Ever since losing to Aiyan, Byakuya had thrown himself into training.
He had accepted fragments of the Soul King from Kuchiki Ginrei and pushed himself far beyond his limits.
Each day, his growth was visible.
He had truly believed he could catch up.
He believed he saw the light of surpassing Aiyan.
He realized it was all an illusion.
That "light" was nothing more than a mirage.
An unreachable dream.