Listen Here!
Such a monotonous day had befallen him. As words sprouted from his parted lips, he couldn't help but wonder about what was going on within the Seireitei. Given that he had been keeping an "eye" on the situation around the Soul Society, the man couldn't help but be intrigued at what was going on around him. Those within the Kido Corps were on the move and the 5th Division was filled with quite the amount of spunk, from the looks of it. Particular Reiryoku signatures stood out more than others, but their abundance also told him that there was something important going on. While this was pressing and certainly piqued the man's interest, he was not intent on ending his lessons for the day just yet. The raw Reiatsu that emanated from the 10th Division hadn't reached him, but it certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. Such a foul signature was one that he hadn't been familiar with, but he certainly wished to go and see what all the fuss was about. What would they do if he were to go and inquire? Surely, he'd catch them in a state where they needed help of some sort. Well, unfortunately, that was too bad, really. Hopefully, there would be enough damage for him to assess in the aftermath of what was happening at the 10th Division's barracks later. Although, their recent incident would've likely been cleaned up by the time he got to assess it. These prospects intrigued him, truly. However, what intrigued him the most had to be the current Spiritual Power that was coming from the Central Seireitei. A laugh almost left the man before it was forced back down; a present for later, no doubt.
Chalk swiftly tapped against the blackboard, writing down notes that the students should be taking. At this particular moment, there were no absentees nor troublemakers, despite his hopes for one. With every tap on the board, the man's crimson gaze seemed to grow more dense, losing its radiance and placing a rather ominous gaze in its place. With his back turned to the students, he was free to make whatever face he wished. Ears attuned with their breathing and the footsteps of those walking through the hall, Ensō would have no issue adjusting his expression before he would hear the words 'What's wrong?' Oh, how he despised the question. There weren't many times that he was asked this, but when he was, he often brushed it off with a smile and redirected the inquiry towards a different topic, making the person forget all about it.
Tap, Tap, Tap
His chalk continues to drain itself on the board, growing smaller as he continues on. Surely there's an exam for the young Shinigami in training soon. Perhaps the students would all pass with flying colors. He was, after all, the Vice head instructor at the academy. In all his years he hadn't failed in molding a student properly and ensuring that they were sent to the right Division. Given the climate of the Soul Society at the moment, it had become more difficult than ever before to send students to a Division without hesitance. Captains had clashed and tensions ran high between others. The recent events were certainly the cause for the large pools of Reiryoku present at the Central Seireitei. The Shinigami couldn't quite shake his desire to go and observe in silence. Suppressing his presence was minuscule, there were ways to remain out of sight; existing while not existing at the same time. For one that held the title of 'Obedient Man,' Ensō was certainly quick to disobey. Yet, in all of his years as a Shinigami, especially as a seated officer of the 3rd Division, he hadn't shown this side to others. Save
her, no one had seen him and his excitement for rising tensions and the presence of a possible battle.
What is she doing right now...?
Pondering this as his body remained on autopilot within the classroom, his mind drafted images of Omoni, and when they had crossed one another in the past. A sensation ran through his body as his hand almost began to shake with excitement. A piece of the chalk had broken off. Turning back to the students as he withdrew another piece of chalk from the desk whilst discarding the broken one, a gentle smile met their innocent faces.
Garbage
His thoughts were venomous, but his face said otherwise. Not a sound had been made since the chalk had split and he'd opened the oak wood desk to grab another piece. It seemed that these young ones were intent on learning as much as they could. Given his position, it certainly made sense. After all, those within this classroom had shown high aptitudes in one or more areas and he deemed that their education would be left to him. Yes, it was his job to teach garbage — those beneath him. In time, they too would become a part of his toy box. A student always listens to teacher, such is common knowledge and practice. Planting the seeds of influence within them, to say that he had connections with those going into different divisions was an understatement. They endured years of training under his tutelage and became well-rounded and particularly refined for their projected Division. An image of the 3rd Seat had always been etched into a student's brain, ensuring that their commitment and appreciation of Ensō would never be forgotten. Widdling down the new piece of chalk by about ten percent, he had finished his lesson. Turning back around to the students, his voice came forth, serene and kind
"Alright, everyone, that is it for our notes today! We're going to shift gears and head on out to the courtyard designated for Kidō practice."
It was time to bear witness to their Kidō prowess, he would be able to see if those whom he had designated to train harder than others more attuned for Kidō had listened to him. If not, they would have surely disappointed him, something that his students clearly feared, despite the instructor's calm nature. There was no eerieness and no threats, just kindness. Their fears had manifested in the form of the hope to not disappoint, after all, Shin'ō Academy would shape their futures.
"You two."
His right index releases itself from his palms as he points to two students that sat by one another, their gaze meeting his while he ascertains that they are a bit afraid of what he is going to say next. The taste of their doubts accumulated with each passing second as he elects to remain silent while adjusting his Zanpakutō.
"Go ahead and clean up the board for me and be sure to make the classroom presentable for other teachers, if you would. I'd appreciate it tremendously. And try to finish in a quick yet efficient manner so that you can make practice on time, I'll make an exception for tardiness since I've delegated this task to you both."
"It's our pleasure, Sensei, we'll get right on it!" They respond, gleeful that they've been chosen for such a tedious task. What fools they were.
His tone remains unchanged as their doubts flee from his tastebuds, replaced by a bitter relief that he deems foul as he walks out of the room and closes the door without making a sound. The wooden planks creak beneath his feet as he passes other classrooms, averting his gaze intentionally as he's not interested in the slightest. Those that were not a part of the groups that he taught were uninteresting and probably wouldn't ascend into a seated rank anytime soon. If they did, it would certainly be a miracle or a miscalculation by the officers within their respective Division. Reaching the targets used for the Kidō practice, the instructor stood a few inches from the center target as the students prepared to engage in practice when given the signal. A particularly passionate set of eyes catch his attention as he looks over his students. Aiko — one of those who he told needed to practice their Kidō skills more — has certainly caught his attention. That look in her eyes is one of determination and perhaps even accomplishment, given that her face is adorned with a rather proud smile. She stands in the center, her target is the painted wooden board to the left of the Shinigami.
"Ok class, without further ado, let us begin!"
His excited tone reaches the students, their spiritual energy begins to flush and focus as they begin their incantations. His firestone orbs hone in on Aiko who appears to have the most control, despite her history of bad attempts. She's clearly undergone effective training and perhaps it will produce results.
""Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south!"
Her incantation is refined and quick, not sloppy in the slightest. With both palms outstretched, the vermillion aura gathering around her arms comes to a controlled center within her palms as a spiral of energy matching the aura manifests itself within her palms. With each passing second, it grows larger and larger. Taking a silent step onto the gravel, the man considers stopping her at the risk of the spell exploding, but he realizes that this is too quick of a judgment given that there are no fierce fluctuations within her technique. A pristine chant comes to an end when she announces her spell
"Hadō #31: Shakkahō!"
The red energy formed into a massive vermillion ball with no appendages, it was indeed a perfect incantation. Steady hands guide her aim toward the target as it is propelled forward, reaching the target in the same second that she calls out the name of the Hadō. While potent, her aim was not as perfect as her spell. It goes slightly off trajectory, coming fairly close to the instructor's face as he watches the scene unfold before him, his eyesight allowed a degree of foresight given his perception of the spell. With an outstretched right hand, he makes contact with the Hadō, his palm taking the brunt of its force as his fingers slowly begin to clamp down, dispelling her polished technique entirely. Aiko had destroyed most of the target but had almost hit the man in the right cheek with the spell as well. Many would be quick to yell or tell her how dangerous her actions were, but the instructor was quite impressed, to say the least. As if the spell had never existed, the man's hand is completely fine. The only reminder of what once existed is the small plume of smoke that ceases within a couple of seconds as he walks up to Aiko with a rather large smile, electing to speak before he reaches her.
"Aiko!!! You really have come a long way! I didn't expect your Kidō to come this far in such a short time!"
Exclaiming his surprise and content feelings for her progress, the man applauds the girl along with her fellow classmates. It becomes clear that he has created an environment in which there is room for competition, but there is also room for praise. A quick bow followed by a barrage of thanks reaches his ears as his insides churn, his disgust growing even more. Sure, she had potential, but she wasn't good enough; not in his eyes. After the applause dies down, he allows the training to continue, correcting the incantations of some, while helping others center their minds and stopping those on the verge of a spell that is sure to backfire. Class ends for the day while the Sun is still high within the sky, leaving the man to retreat back to his office in peace. Pen hits paper as his clean cursive writing fills his office with noise. Jotting down notes about Aiko's progress as well as other students, he is satisfied with what he taught today, despite his lingering disgust with those he teaches. Leaning back in his comfortable chair, the man's eyes close yet he remains aware of what is going on around him. A sudden whistle fills the room as he turns off the heat that has boiled the water within his kettle. Reaching with his left to pull open a drawer, he finds a black set of tableware; a plate and a cup. Placing them at the center of his desk which is now empty, he takes out a packet of what appears to be instant coffee from the same drawer as the tableware. Grasping the kettle, he fills the cup to a couple of centimerers below the top.
The kettle is placed back in its original location as he sits at his chair, his posture straightened as he tears open the packet of instant coffee and pours it in; the grains mixing with the boiled water and he uses the opposite end of the now empty packet to stir his coffee. Steam emits from the cup as his nose is filled with the sweet aroma of black coffee. Yes, he was rather simple; he enjoyed a fine dark roast. Holding the bottom of the cup with his left and his right pressed it into his lips, he began to sip his coffee. Bitter yet refined grains, despite it being instant. After all, he had paid quite a bit of money in order to get high-quality instant coffee. Yes, he could make coffee that wasn't instant, but no, he wasn't going to bother doing that. After a good ten minutes had passed, the cup was empty and he placed it into an empty sink that remained next to the portable stovetop that the kettle sat on. Draining the now lukewarm water, it joined his tableware in the sink as he rinsed and washed them.
Spinning around in his chair, the image of Jinnosuke slamming open his office door crept into his mind. It remained there, as reality held the man in the infirmary. Perhaps it was time to visit him and mess with him. Without backing his chair up or an intense focus, Ensō vanished. As if he were never present in the first place, not a single noise was made due to his muted movements and intentions. With a single Shunpo, he found himself in front of the 4th Division Barracks, fully intent on entering the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho to visit Jinnosuke.
Southeast Seireitei ------> 4th Division Barracks ------> Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho
