Bleach: Reborn — Chapter 159 - Rewards — Face to Face

On the awards platform, Wayne stood at the second-place spot, waiting quietly for the old man to come pin the medal on him.

"How much were you actually holding back against me?" Kitagawa Sawa asked in a low voice from the champion's position at the center.

"Why obsess over that? You won. Isn't that enough?" Wayne kept his eyes closed, not bothering to turn his head. "You'll be a teacher soon. We'll have plenty of chances to meet. Do you really enjoy beating up on students who don't even have a Zanpakuto yet?"

"..." Kitagawa Sawa found himself with no comeback. Over at third place, Yagami Kina covered her mouth and giggled, her orange eyes fixed on Wayne with a glimmering light. Wayne couldn't see her anyway, staring at him like this wouldn't bother him. What she didn't know was that under Wayne's Reiatsu perception, every last one of her little movements fell squarely within his awareness.

"I want to fight you again. A real fight. Fair and square."

"Utterly pointless."

"It matters to me."

"To me, it's a waste of time." Wayne frowned. People single-mindedly obsessed with chasing victory were nearly impossible to dissuade. "A meaningless fight like that — I'd rather go cut down Hollows. Even if a Hollow ate me, I still wouldn't fight you."

"Sigh..." Kitagawa Sawa let out a soft breath, then pressed on. "What do you want? Spirit plants? Elixirs? Money? What would it take?"

"Only children pick one. I'll take them all." Wayne turned his head toward him. "You pick the time and place. One spirit plant upfront as a deposit."

"Pick one from my rewards later."

"Deal." Wayne's answer came quick and cheerful. He glanced toward the rewards table, which hadn't been brought up yet. "Mmm... smells good."

"Pfft — hahahaha!" Yagami Kina burst out laughing beside him. Of course. In front of his little sister, he kept up that dependable big-brother act. The moment those restraints came off, he got a whole lot livelier.

"Can I come watch when you two fight?"

"Mm. Of course." Wayne had no reason to refuse. She wanted to pull him into the Kidō Corps, and he fully intended to make use of those resources in return.

"Then let's set it for after you get your Zanpakuto and awaken it," Kitagawa Sawa said after a moment's thought. "Once sixth year ends, I'll graduate and come back to teach. I'll find a way to take charge of your year — that'll help you awaken your Zanpakuto faster too."

"Speaking of which, are there any tricks to awakening one?" Wayne asked, turning his head at the sudden shift in topic.

"Zanpakuto awakening takes several forms. The most common one: after receiving an Asauchi, you infuse it with Reiatsu and nurture it. Over time, the Asauchi develops a blade spirit. Once you gain the ability to communicate with it and learn its name, awakening follows." Kitagawa Sawa kept his voice low as he explained. "Inside the Seireitei's Cave of Trials, there's a cavern built specifically for student awakenings. The amplification effect it produces comes from 12th Division research. The Cave of Trials opens to the academy twice a year, precisely so students can awaken their Zanpakuto as early as possible."

"Mm. Is that how you awakened yours?" Wayne pressed.

"I awakened autonomously." The corner of Kitagawa's mouth lifted with a hint of pride. "Not long after I received my Zanpakuto, I felt Shien's call. I entered a meditative state on my own, communed with it, and earned its recognition."

"Is that so."

"That's the second type I mentioned." Kitagawa continued. "Some people are born with the talent to communicate with their Zanpakuto. Before they even receive one, they've already sensed it, in dreams, in meditation. Once they get their Asauchi, they can awaken it almost immediately. Rumor has it there was a senior in one cohort who awakened his Zanpakuto the very moment he received it. A shame, really, that genius later died fighting Hollow beasts during an invasion by a Vasto Lorde-class ruler from Hueco Mundo. He hadn't fully matured yet. Give him another ten years, and he absolutely would have been a captain candidate."

"A Vasto Lorde-class Menos invasion?" Wayne searched his memories of Hueco Mundo's history. "Szayelaporro?"

"Eh? You know about that?" Kitagawa was visibly startled. This was something that had happened centuries ago.

"I've heard bits and pieces." Wayne sidestepped the subject. "Are there other methods?"

"Mm. There's a more radical approach. Some rather strange awakening methods."

"Like what?"

"Cases where the blade only awakens when its wielder faces a life-or-death crisis."

"Forcing an awakening? Extreme awakening?"

"You could call it that." Kitagawa nodded. "Historically, plenty of students have awakened their Zanpakuto that way. That's why Soul Society starts arranging live combat training against Hollow beasts once students enter their fourth year. But live combat means casualties. The academy takes a 'select the best, accept the losses' approach. Students unlucky enough to run into a Hollow beast too strong for rescue teams to reach in time... all you can say is 'my condolences.'"

"I see." Wayne was lost in thought. "Then—"

"Young man. Don't reach too far beyond your grasp."

Old Man Yamamoto's deep voice rang out like an evening drum at sunset, near dusk, yet resonant and forceful. The awards had reached their group while they were absorbed in conversation, and none of them had noticed.

"Step by step. Steady and solid — that's the proper path. Don't squander your talent."

As he spoke, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto placed the sixth-year runner-up badge into Wayne's hands.

"Yes, Headmaster." Wayne accepted the medal with both hands and seized the chance to release his Reiatsu, probing the Captain-Commander's power.

The Reiatsu surged toward him like a tsunami. A shudder ran through Wayne's entire body.

If Wayne's current Reiatsu was a pool of water, the Captain-Commander's was an ocean. They weren't even in the same realm of existence. Even at his peak as a Vasto Lorde, Wayne had never possessed Reiatsu so vast and overwhelming.

"Young man. No need for alarm." The Captain-Commander pulled his Reiatsu back the very next second. He knew Wayne was blind, he wouldn't fault him for probing. He simply reined himself in to keep the pressure from driving Wayne to his knees. "The future belongs to you. Work hard. I hope the next time I see you is at a division induction ceremony."

"Yes, sir." Wayne bowed his head.

The old man gave a slight nod at Wayne's attitude, then moved on toward Kitagawa beside him.

"Such overwhelming Reiatsu. No wonder they call him the strongest in Soul Society." Wayne drew a deep breath to steady himself. "I wonder what level Aizen's Reiatsu is at right now. If the old man ever faced Aizen without being hypnotized... what would that fight even look like?" After all, when Aizen went searching for the Ōken, he'd specifically created Wonderweiss Margela just to deal with the old man. That alone showed how much he feared him. Even with hypnosis in play, he'd still added another layer of insurance.

"Even at my peak, I couldn't compare to the old man. One punch would've blown me apart. And what did Szayelaporro even use to attack Soul Society back then?" Wayne shook his head and cast the thoughts aside. One step at a time. To climb back to peak combat strength, he'd need time, accumulation, and relentless training, none of it could be skipped. He looked down at the medal in his hand, his expression heavy. His thoughts drifted far away.

Minutes later, the awards ceremony ended. All the students returned to their dormitories, Wayne and Nakai among them. Now came the reward distribution, each student's prizes would be delivered by someone from the 2nd Division. They needed to be in their rooms to receive them.

"Tsukishiro Hinamori, correct?"

Soon enough, a knock came at the door. Wayne, the runner-up, was among the first to receive his delivery. Outside the room, a crowd of students had gathered, peering in with naked envy. The 2nd Division officer at the door was someone Wayne recognized. The other party just didn't recognize him.

Tall and burly. Gold chains, gold rings. A chonmage hairstyle, his Shihakushō adorned with a purple noble family collar.

If this wasn't 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda, who else could it be? If he weren't holding a roster right now, he'd probably be holding rice crackers instead.

"That's me." Wayne nodded.

"Huh... so you really are blind." Ōmaeda leaned forward, chin in hand, scrutinizing Wayne closely.

"May I ask who you are?"

"Oh! I'm 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda." He straightened up and jabbed a thumb at his chest with a grand gesture, then remembered Wayne was blind and couldn't see a thing. He coughed awkwardly. "I'm here to deliver your Ranking Tournament rewards."

"Much appreciated. Please, come in." Wayne gestured, stepping aside to let Ōmaeda enter.

"No need. After you, I've still got to head over to the Yagami house." Ōmaeda waved a hand, then set down the box he'd been carrying on his back and picked up a sheet of paper, studying it carefully. The 2nd Division captain had likely gone to Kitagawa personally. Second and third place? That was errand work for the lieutenant.

"Let's see here... sixth-year second place, reward is one piece of Spirit Armor. Since you're a first-year student, the reward is multiplied sixfold: Spirit Battle Skirt, Spirit Gauntlets, Spirit Battle Boots, Spirit Haori, Spirit Pendant, a full six-piece set. All prepared for you at once. Hah! The 12th Division really does favor you. No scattered individual pieces."

"I didn't expect it to turn out this way either." Wayne shrugged.

"Next, the challenge rewards from the Round of 64 through runner-up. Basic Reiryoku Potion and Basic Soul Potion, three bottles each. That said, I heard from Seventh Seat Mizusue that you've already used a Reiryoku Potion, so the basic one from your reward has been deducted. You'll only receive three bottles of Basic Soul Potion. No issues?" Ōmaeda raised an eyebrow.

"Of course." Wayne nodded. He didn't care about three bottles of potion, but from Ōmaeda's expression, it seemed the lieutenant planned to pocket those three bottles himself. As a runner's handling fee, Wayne had no objections. The Ōmaeda family was high nobility, wealthy. Money was never an issue. But goods? Those were harder to come by.

"Heh heh. Hinamori, my friend, goods received." Ōmaeda clapped Wayne on the shoulder with a friendly pat, clearly pleased with how well Wayne understood the game. He handed over all the rewards.

"Thank you for your trouble, Lieutenant. Would you care to stay for tea?"

"Haha, no, no. Other business awaits. Another time, I'll treat you to drinks, Hinamori my friend." Ōmaeda smiled and took his leave without any intention of lingering. Work still waited.

"Then I won't keep you. Please, go ahead." Wayne gave a slight bow and saw the lieutenant off.

Back in the room, Wayne set the box on the floor and let Yū Nakai open it, pulling the rewards out one by one.

Nakai's eyes shone with envy and wonder as he examined each piece. He'd never seen equipment like this before. This was the stuff of his dreams.

"Big bro! Tsukishiro big bro! This gear is insane!" Stars practically sparkled in Nakai's eyes. "A complete Spirit Gear set. Combined with your own Reiryoku, the defensive boost is massive. This is the 12th Division's finest work! Even an ordinary student could fight a Hollow beast wearing this!"

"As you said, it's gear for ordinary people." Wayne was indifferent. To students, this equipment was the pinnacle. But once warfare escalated to the captain level, it was nothing more than decoration. Decoration that would hinder your own performance, at that.

"There are three bottles of Soul Potion in the box. I'll trouble you to deliver them to Kira and Momo. Keep one for yourself too, it'll help you a lot." Momo had only agreed to one match in the Challenge Tournament, which meant she'd only qualify for a Basic Reiryoku Potion. That was why Wayne wanted to bring her one. Kira had made it to the Round of 32 and earned a Soul Potion of his own, but this extra bottle was Wayne's investment in the Kira family, something to help him take control of his inheritance faster.

"Eh? Me?" Yū Nakai's face lit up. "Can I? Really?"

"Mm. This stuff doesn't do much for me. You all keep it." With that, Wayne stood, gathered the six pieces of Spirit Gear, and headed to Mizusue's squad quarters. He still needed to discuss with her whether to sell the set as a whole or piece by piece.

When he arrived, the beautiful woman with lake-blue hair was seated in her room, counting stack after stack of silver-ring notes. As one of the big winners in this gambling event, Mizusue was practically glowing. The notes covered her entire table, and her eyes had gone wide as cash registers.

"Mizusue-sama. I'm here."

"Mm. Sit. Pour your own tea." Mizusue couldn't be bothered to play host, they were long past formalities anyway. She kept counting, utterly unconcerned that her ungraceful sitting posture might be revealing a little too much to Wayne's gaze.

"How much did you rake in this time?" Wayne sat to the side and picked up a teacup from the small table.

"Close to ten million silver rings." Mizusue swept her hair back and smiled at him. "Twenty percent of that is yours. Let's call it two million, rounding up for you."

"Thank you, Mizusue-sama." Wayne nodded, accepting the figure without hesitation. "Also, there's this set of equipment. I'd like you to help me estimate its value."

"Oh?" Mizusue looked up at the box Wayne pushed toward her. "What's this?"

"The tournament reward. A full Spirit Gear set. I'd like you to appraise it, or find some merchants. I want to trade it for spirit plants."

➤ Next: Victory Banquet