Bleach: The Fifth Division Captain

A girl dressed in the standard uniform of the Shin'ō Academy stood in the corridor.

She initially had her back to Seiya Arima, but upon turning around, her face came into view.

Black hair, slim build.

Her appearance radiated an aura of calm and intelligence, a stark contrast to Isane Kotetsu's more androgynous demeanor.

Seiya couldn't help but notice her distinctly feminine elegance, an inherent softness often associated with women of Eastern heritage.

Her violet eyes framed by thick-rimmed glasses glimmered with intelligence. Her long hair was neatly tied at the back, bangs swept to the left and held in place with a small clip.

The glasses—thick frames no less—further accentuated her scholarly aura.

Seiya caught her gaze, and the person beside her, one of his classmates, quickly gestured toward him.

"Ah, see? I told you he wouldn't have gone far. Arima-kun, this upperclassman is here to see you."

Here to see me?

The girl stepped forward.

Standing at a height barely reaching Seiya's collarbone, she looked him over, her expression thoughtful, almost as if appraising a rare specimen.

"Are you Arima Seiya?"

Her tone was polite, but her assessing gaze carried an unspoken curiosity, as though she were examining something unusual.

"Uh… yes, that's me. Is there something I can help you with?"

The girl gracefully adjusted her glasses, her movements exuding poise.

"My name is Ise Nanao, from Class 5-4."

Whoa…

Though he had already speculated, hearing it confirmed was still a bit of a shock.

The highly popular and intelligent Nanao Ise, future vice-captain of the Eighth Division under Shunsui Kyōraku, was standing right in front of him.

Ise Nanao… so she's only a few years ahead of me. No wonder Yamamoto has such influence—half the Gotei 13 seems to be made up of his former students.

As Seiya's thoughts wandered, Nanao took half a step forward, speaking in a calm, serious tone.

"Arima Seiya, regarding the damage caused to the kendo dojo, the student council requires you to assist with an inquiry to confirm the details."

Her words were formal, but her demeanor was calm and professional.

She stepped aside and made a polite gesture, signaling for him to follow.

"Please cooperate with us as we clarify the situation."

So that's what this is about.

Seiya recalled Isane mentioning earlier that the damage, while potentially covered by a repair budget, would still require formal documentation and investigation.

He nodded and responded easily.

"Understood, Ise-senpai. Please lead the way."

Nanao seemed momentarily surprised by his cooperative attitude, giving him another quick once-over before turning to lead him down the hall.

The two walked briskly through the school's corridors, soon leaving the areas typically frequented by lower-year students.

Without someone to guide him, Seiya doubted he could have navigated this part of the campus on his own.

As they walked, Nanao's voice broke the silence.

"I apologize for taking up your time during such a precious break. It must be an inconvenience to handle something like this."

Seiya quickly waved his hands in denial.

"Not at all. This was my mess to begin with. It's only right that I help clear it up."

"Hmm. It seems this year's incoming students include someone quite responsible."

"Ahaha… I wouldn't say that, but thank you."

Nanao turned her head slightly, offering a faint smile.

"Don't be so tense. I know Kotetsu Isane quite well. She's already explained much of the situation to me."

Oh, so they're acquainted. That's a relief.

Seiya exhaled softly, feeling a bit less pressure. If Nanao was already informed and had a favorable impression of him, it was like having an ally.

"That's reassuring to hear. I might need more guidance, so I'll rely on your help, Ise-senpai."

"A good attitude. Keep it up when you meet with the student council seniors. The smoother this process goes, the quicker we can all move on."

Nanao's tone softened slightly, perhaps to ease the serious atmosphere.

Seiya was momentarily reminded of her portrayal in the original story—calm, pragmatic, and not afraid to take decisive action. At that time, she had even suggested taking down Sado Yasutora without hesitation.

Compared to her future self, the Nanao before him now was far less cold and sharp.

Perhaps it was a reflection of the toll that years of responsibility would eventually take on her.

Work truly wears people down, doesn't it? Even Kotetsu Isane became so jaded later…

Suppressing an internal sigh, Seiya noticed a shift in Nanao's demeanor.

Her gaze briefly lowered to his waist, lingering on the Asauchi hanging there. Her expression darkened slightly.

"Arima-kun, forgive my curiosity… but have you already been accepted by your Asauchi?"

The question caught Seiya slightly off guard, but there was no reason to withhold an answer.

He lightly placed a hand on the blade at his side, nodding.

"Yes. With Aizen-sensei's approval, I was able to receive one early."

"I see… so it was Aizen-sensei's permission…"

Nanao's tone carried a subtle undertone of envy or perhaps melancholy.

Ah, right.

Seiya remembered now—Nanao had struggled with her Asauchi in the original story. She had never fully bonded with one, unable to imprint her soul onto it.

Her reaction made perfect sense.

Carrying an Asauchi around her might feel like I'm showing off, rubbing salt into her wounds.

Feeling awkward, Seiya tried to think of something to say to lighten the mood.

After a pause, he cleared his throat.

"Ise-senpai…"

Nanao glanced at him, her voice calm.

"Yes?"

"I've been struggling with my kido practice recently. If it's not too much trouble, could I ask for some guidance?"

Though Nanao had difficulty with her Asauchi, she excelled in kido. In another timeline, she might have joined the Kido Corps instead of becoming a vice-captain.

The request seemed to brighten her mood. Though her expression remained subdued, her tone noticeably lifted.

"Kido? Of course. I'd be happy to assist where I can."

It worked!

Their conversation shifted as Nanao began to share her insights on kido. Though polite, she occasionally slipped into a critical tone, pointing out flaws in Seiya's understanding.

Her corrections, though well-intentioned, had a way of landing like small daggers.

Seiya's pride took a few hits, but he endured.

Even as she admonished him with phrases like, "You didn't know this?" or "That's basic knowledge for academy students," he reminded himself that her criticisms weren't malicious.

He soldiered on, and the effort paid off.

[You exchanged kido insights with Ise Nanao. Kido +5.]

Oh? Actual progress? Nice.

Despite the sting of her words, Seiya couldn't deny that Nanao's instruction had been effective.

"Well, that's all for now," Nanao concluded, adjusting her glasses. "I'd like to continue another time, but for today, I think this should suffice."

"Thank you, Ise-senpai. I appreciate your guidance."

Nanao's lips curved into a faint smile.

"It's surprising… to see someone as talented as you struggle with anything."

Seiya scratched the corner of his mouth, smiling awkwardly.

"Uh… I guess I still have a lot to learn."

"It's not a bad thing. It makes you more… relatable."

Her tone softened as she added, almost to herself, "Ah, forgive me. That was a bit rude."

"No offense taken, senpai," Seiya replied with a laugh.

He adjusted his expression to one of mock solemnity, pointing to his face.

"Besides, it's nice to know you've been considering things from my perspective. That kind of thoughtfulness is much appreciated!"

Nanao flushed a bright red.

"You… you're too glib!"

Her voice wavered with frustration, but her usual composure quickly returned.

By the time they arrived at the student council office, the air between them had lightened considerably.

"Well, this is where I leave you," Nanao said, gesturing to the door.

"Thanks again for your help, Ise-senpai."

"…"

For a moment, Nanao seemed to hesitate.

Then, pushing up her glasses, she turned away.

"Next time, if you still have questions, feel free to ask."

With that, she walked off, leaving Seiya with much to ponder.

"Ants and Elephants."

As Nanao's figure disappeared, Seiya's mind lingered on her earlier words.

"Only by acknowledging one's weaknesses can one truly feel grounded."

The phrase resonated with him.

Strength and power had their pitfalls—arrogance, isolation, fear from others.

True balance lay in understanding both one's strengths and flaws.

Perhaps, he thought, even elephants could learn to walk lightly among ants.