Black Rebirth – Asta’s Journey in Soul Society

Asta followed Kaien through the winding paths of the Seireitei, his steps heavier than usual. The warmth of the sun, the distant chatter of passing Soul Reapers, the scent of fresh air—all of it felt strangely distant like he was moving through a world that wasn't entirely real.

His mind was still trapped in the darkness of the trial.

The weight of his decision lingered, pressing down on his chest. He had made his choice, but that didn't mean it sat right with him. Every time he blinked, he saw the woman he had left behind, her weak, trembling breaths fading as he ran in the opposite direction.

Did she die?

He shook his head.

No. It was a test… wasn't it?

Kaien suddenly stopped walking, and Asta nearly bumped into him.

"We're here," Kaien announced, gesturing to a large open courtyard where Daichi stood waiting. The older Soul Reaper had his hands folded behind his back, his expression unreadable as his gaze settled on Asta.

Asta took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Daichi's eyes scanned him carefully as if searching for something. Then, with a slow nod, he spoke.

"You passed."

Asta's hands clenched at his sides. "That's it?" he asked, frustration bubbling up. "I passed? After everything that just happened, after…" His voice wavered slightly, but he forced himself to stay steady. "That choice—I still don't know if it was the right one!"

Daichi's expression remained calm. "That's the point."

Asta stiffened. "What?"

"The purpose of this trial wasn't to see if you could make the right choice," Daichi explained. "It was to see if you could make a choice at all—knowing full well that you would have to live with the consequences."

Asta fell silent.

Daichi's gaze sharpened. "Hesitation in battle can be fatal. But so can reckless action. A true warrior—one who shoulders the lives of others—must be able to decide, even when every choice is painful."

Kaien nodded beside him. "It's not about being happy with the decision. It's about accepting it and moving forward."

Asta lowered his head, his fists trembling.

Accept it… and move forward.

He thought back to everything he had been through in his life—the battles, the struggles, the people he had fought for. He had always been the kind of person who charged ahead, who refused to let anything stop him. But this trial had been different. It had forced him to see that strength wasn't always about swinging a sword the hardest.

Sometimes, strength was about bearing the weight of your own choices.

Slowly, he exhaled, lifting his gaze once more.

"…Alright," he said at last. "I get it."

Daichi studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "Good."

Then, for the first time since Asta had met him, Daichi's expression softened slightly.

"You did well."

Asta blinked. He hadn't expected that.

Kaien smirked and clapped him on the back. "That's the closest thing to a compliment you'll ever get from him."

Asta let out a small chuckle, though the weight in his chest didn't completely disappear. It probably never would.

But that was okay.

Because he wasn't going to let it stop him.

Daichi turned away. "Rest up. Your next trial begins soon."

Asta straightened, his usual determination beginning to return. "Yeah! Got it!"

As Kaien led him away, Asta felt something shift inside him—not a burden disappearing, but a newfound strength growing in its place.

He still had a long way to go.

But no matter how tough things got, he wouldn't stop moving forward.