Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

"So, Seiya-kun, your confession was rejected?"

Aizen spoke with a gentle smile, seated comfortably at his desk.

Before him, Seiya scratched his head awkwardly, his face full of embarrassment.

"N-no, I wouldn't call it a flat-out rejection. I mean, she didn't exactly say it so bluntly..."

Aizen stood and poured a cup of warm water, handing it to Seiya.

"But she did say something along the lines of, 'Let's start as friends,' didn't she?"

Seiya nodded cautiously, murmuring his thanks.

"Aizen-sensei, how are you so knowledgeable about this stuff?"

"That's because I'm usually the one being confessed to."

Guh!

Sometimes, Aizen could say things that were seriously aggravating.

Noticing Seiya's annoyed expression, Aizen chuckled lightly.

"Well, enough joking. Seiya-kun, you should understand, right? Someone like Isane probably already has feelings for you."

Of course, Seiya had sensed as much.

"But it still stings when your confession doesn't go as planned, doesn't it?"

Seriously, are you reading my mind?

"Heh. While you may think I'm teasing you, I believe relationships with girls require patience. You have to spend time together and build rapport."

He continued, his tone calm and teacherly.

"Small gifts, shared conversations, and moments beyond the mundane are what deepen bonds."

Aizen sipped his tea with satisfaction.

"While passionate emotions can shorten the distance between two people quickly, what truly cements a connection are the quiet, consistent efforts over time."

He glanced meaningfully at Seiya.

"From what I've observed, Isane seems like the traditional type. Your approach was... shall we say... a bit too bold."

The words were tactful, but the subtext was clear: You fumbled it, kid.

Seiya's face turned red with embarrassment. He sighed deeply, his earlier energy visibly deflated.

"Feeling discouraged, Seiya-kun?"

"That obvious, huh, Aizen-sensei?"

"You look like a defeated rooster."

Though Aizen wasn't being intentionally harsh, the comment still stung.

Seeing Seiya's sullen demeanor, Aizen smiled warmly.

"But I must admit, I didn't expect you to be the type to take the initiative. Is this the kind of thing driven by youthful hormones?"

Caught off guard, Seiya glanced away, scratching his cheek in discomfort.

"Well, wanting a girlfriend I can hold hands with or hug isn't that weird, is it?"

Aizen froze momentarily, then laughed heartily.

"Ha! That's wonderfully youthful. But are you sure it's wise to share such personal desires with me?"

Adjusting his glasses, Aizen's expression turned mischievous.

"You know I might use it as a story to amuse others."

Seiya waved it off nonchalantly, smiling wryly.

"I trust you unconditionally, Sensei. If you choose to do that, I'm sure you have your reasons. I wouldn't mind."

Aizen fell silent for a moment, his gaze deepening.

"...I see. That kind of trust feels rather heavy."

"Well, in any case, let's leave it at that. I'll just have to work harder next time!"

"Good. It's always best to keep moving forward."

"Can't stay down forever, right?"

Slapping his cheeks lightly, Seiya drained the rest of his water and stretched.

"Anyway, let's talk about something else. Sensei, tomorrow's the field trip to shadow one of the squads. Do you have any recommendations?"

Aizen turned his chair back toward his desk, tapping a finger thoughtfully on the surface.

"Do you have any particular squad in mind, Seiya-kun?"

Seiya shrugged with a grin.

"Not really!"

It was just a one-day shadowing assignment, unlikely to involve anything too significant. But Seiya had a hunch Aizen would have something lined up for him.

Show me what cards you're holding, Aizen-sensei!

Perhaps amused by Seiya's straightforwardness, Aizen chuckled softly and pulled a letter from his desk drawer.

"Actually, two days ago, I received a letter from Captain Shinji Hirako of the Fifth Division. He specifically requested you join his squad for this field exercise."

"Wait, really?"

Seiya was genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected a captain to take an interest in him.

"Does that surprise you, Seiya-kun?"

"Well, yeah... a little."

"Then take this chance to get acclimated. Word of your victory over Vice-Captain Ōmaeda has spread throughout the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."

Aizen's tone was light, but there was a gleam of amusement in his eyes.

"You may not feel it yet, but you've already become a rising star in the eyes of many."

Raising a hand, Aizen began ticking off his fingers.

"I've heard that Captain Yoruichi often mentions your name during gatherings. Captain Unohana of the Fourth Division is now aware of you as well."

"Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi of the Third Division has expressed interest in meeting you. And Captain Love Aikawa of the Seventh Division..."

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Seiya waved his arms frantically, his head spinning.

"Aizen-sensei, please! That's too much to take in!"

Chuckling, Aizen leaned back in his chair.

"Well, now you understand the influence you've garnered, don't you? At this rate, even Captain-Commander Yamamoto might take an interest in you."

Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni?

The thought made Seiya's jaw drop.

"Why would he care about me?"

"Because your white-knuckle brawl with Ōmaeda showcased your skill in Hakuda—techniques the Captain-Commander himself values highly. It's no surprise he'd take notice of someone employing his preferred methods."

Seiya groaned, burying his face in his hands.

"All this just because of one fight..."

"Seiya-kun," Aizen continued, "it seems you still don't fully grasp the significance of what you achieved. An academy student, demonstrating Seventh Rank Reiatsu within a month of enrollment—it's nothing short of extraordinary."

"But it's all thanks to your guidance, Sensei," Seiya replied earnestly.

This wasn't false humility; Seiya genuinely believed it. Without Aizen's instruction, his progress would've been much slower.

Aizen studied him quietly, his thoughts unfathomable.

It wasn't often someone expressed such sincere gratitude toward him. For a moment, Aizen felt an unfamiliar flicker of warmth.

But it was fleeting.

"...In any case, Seiya-kun," Aizen finally said, his tone steady once more, "we'll need to make some adjustments. Tomorrow, you won't be going to the Fifth Division."

"Wait, what?"

Seiya blinked in confusion.

"But isn't that a direct request from Captain Hirako?"

Aizen didn't answer immediately. Instead, he calmly summoned a stream of energy to his hand, which coalesced into a small flame. The letter in his other hand caught fire, its ashes dissipating into the air.

"I've made alternate arrangements that I believe will better suit you."

"What about Captain Hirako...?"

"You never read the letter, did you?"

"Well, no..."

"Then let's pretend it never existed."

What the heck? Is this really how Aizen and Hirako interact?

Aizen's serene smile remained, his tone as calm as ever.

"Don't worry about it, Seiya-kun. I have somewhere more interesting in mind for you."

Seiya hesitated, curiosity evident on his face.

"And where's that?"

Aizen adjusted his glasses, his voice steady.

"The Twelfth Division—home of the Research and Development Institute."