Chapter 10: End-of-Year Testing
Let me explain more about the end-of-year testing more before we actually get back to the story. At the end of each year that a student has been at the Academy, he or she must take a test. Depending on each person's score, he or she will be elevated a certain amount of levels. A perfect score means that you instantly graduate. That's what I was aiming for when I took the test.
The day of our tests, Haruka had her test scheduled immediately before mine, so we walked to the testing area together.
"Good luck!" I told Haruka as she was called into one of the rooms that testing takes place in.
She nodded and smiled as she walked into the room. I sat down in a chair to wait for her to finish her testing, and near the end of her testing, an hour later, I felt her spiritual pressure spike far higher than the first time we met, which showed how much more powerful she had gotten over the year.
A few minutes later she walked back out and my name was called.
"How'd you do?" I asked her.
She shrugged. "I'll tell you later," she told me, although from the look in her eyes, she wasn't happy. I didn't spend any more time to think about it, though, because my name was called right then.
I walked through the door and sat at the desk in front of me, which had a packet of questions and writing utensils to use.
"Please, take as much time as you need to answer the questions," a person told me as I sat down. He must've been making sure I didn't cheat or anything.
I picked up my writing utensil and began answering as many questions as I could. I didn't know them all, unfortunately, but I tried my best for all of them.
"Finished?" he asked me forty-five minutes later as I pushed the packet toward him.
I nodded and he showed me to a courtyard, where one of the Kido teachers was waiting.
"Please, demonstrate one Hado spell, one Bakudo spell, and one healing Kido," he told me, gesturing toward an area with targets, the teacher himself for the Bakudo, and somebody with a broken arm lying on a mat. There was a Squad Four member nearby in case anything went wrong.
"I'll start with Hado," I replied, drawing my Zanpakuto. I had recently learned of a new Hado technique that I have shown much talent for, and I like to use it. I focused my hand behind the blade and began the incantation. At the end, I added, "Hado #32: Okasen!"
Energy gathered around my blade during the incantation, and when I finished speaking a ray of yellow energy launched itself from the blade, destroying multiple targets and severely burning the wall behind it.
"Now, Bakudo?" the teacher asked me as I walked toward him.
I nodded. "I'm sorry if this hurts," I told him, pointing a finger at him. I had actually forgotten the incantation to this one. "Bakudo #1: Sai!" I commanded. His arms locked behind his back, and no matter how much he struggled, he didn't escape until I released the spell.
"Very…impressive," he panted as he recovered from resisting the spell. "Now, healing."
I nodded and hesitantly walked toward the injured person. I felt bad for whoever volunteered for this, especially for this one. I'm not the greatest at healing Kido.
"Don't forget, I'm here if anything goes wrong," the Squad Four person told me.
I nodded and lowered my hands until they were an inch above the broken leg. I began the process to funnel healing Kido, and a green glow enveloped us as I slowly but surely healed his leg. By the end of the testing he looked relieved and his leg was healed.
"I still suggest you have a second look at it," I told the Squad Four member as I was directed to an area for my Hakuda and Hoho testing. I was given a short break to recover from the Kido before I was directed to the area where the Hakuda teacher is.
"Try as hard as you can to beat me," she told me. I nodded and made sure to use my energy to augment my speed and agility as I used flashstep to send several rapid attacks at her, although she blocked them all. I tried as hard as I could for a solid ten minutes before she actually started trying, knocking me to the ground. I wasn't too tired out from it because I just used some of my spiritual energy to ease any sores and make sure I wasn't tired as I moved on to the Zanjutsu portion, which Captains Zaraki and Shiba would be overseeing.
"You are to show us the full extent of your relationship with your Zanpakuto, including Shikai if you have achieved it," Captain Shiba told me.
I nodded and focused on my Zanpakuto.
"So, are you finally going to show off?" the Spirit asked as I summoned him.
I nodded and smiled. "Yeah, I am," I replied before gripping the hilt tightly in both hands. "Soar, Hisan Taka!" I roared. The slight breeze around us increased in speed and strength until it almost blew all the papers away, when it died down to reveal Hisan Taka's Shikai form. It was between the length of a katana and a nodachi, and was much wider. The edge had ridges, shaped like a falcon's feathers.
"That's a first," Captain Shiba muttered. "It usually takes more than a year to achieve Shikai," he added. "How long have you been able to do this?" he asked me.
I thought back to the first time I summoned the Shikai in my Inner World. "Since…our first meditation class with our Zanpakuto," I replied.
Mutters spread throughout the line of teachers that would be examining as well. My teacher looked infuriated that I lied, but I didn't really care.
Captain Shiba nodded, impressed. "Show us your full ability with your Shikai," he told me.
I nodded and focused on the sword, facing several dummy targets. "Hisan Taka: Umou Yaiba!" I commanded, using the first attack that Hisan Taka taught me.
Light gathered around the edge of the blade, and when I swung it, several dozen energy daggers flew out, glowing blue as they struck the targets, impaling them all.
"Impressive," Captain Shiba commented. "Is there anything else you can do with it?" he asked me.
I smiled and nodded. The air around me picked up in speed, and when I swung my Zanpakuto again, I launched waves of air that solidified into miniature tornados. I was never told the name of the attack. Also, I focused on the air around me as I used it to more than double the speed of my flashstep, almost moving faster than a Lieutenant's speed.
"Impressive," Captain Shiba added. "He's using his power over the air to increase his speed." I nodded to confirm his theory.
He smiled as a Soul Reaper walked out onto the field. "You are to face this Soul Reaper in combat," he told me.
"Seriously? A full-fledged Soul Reaper?" I demanded.
He nodded and looked at the Soul Reaper. He nodded and dove at me, Zanpakuto already drawn. I blocked his attack and swung at his waist. He easily blocked it and countered with a feint to my right, and then going for my left, where I was completely open.
"Oh, I forgot to show you one more feature of Hisan Taka's Shikai form," I added as I reached into my top robe with my left hand and pulled out a short blade that I blocked with.
"Impressive, very nice block," Hisan Taka said in my head. I smiled and launched the Soul Reaper back with a large gust of air.
"Interesting," Captain Zaraki muttered as I continued to fight the Soul Reaper.
The fight continued for five more minutes, when I used Shakkaho to launch him back.
"He uses Kido well while fighting," Captain Shiba commented. Zaraki just shrugged and continued to watch. Fortunately, I was at the top of my class in that area, so I continued to fight against him. It turns out he wasn't able to use Shikai, though, but made up for it through sheer ability. The fight lasted about thirty more minutes until the Soul Reaper had run out of energy. I had enough spiritual pressure, though, that I ended up winning the fight, albeit barely.
"Congratulations on winning your fight," Captain Shiba told me. "We will send you your results tomorrow," he added.
I nodded and bowed. "Thank you, Captains," I replied before walking out. I returned my Shikai to its sword form, although it was different this time. The entire sword, including the scabbard, had turned completely white. In my opinion, it made it look even cooler.
"What took you so long?" Haruka asked me when she saw me walking out.
"The practical testing took a while," I replied.
She nodded. "I sensed your spiritual pressure spike earlier," she told me. "Are you okay?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I just blew the Captains' minds," I told her.
She raised an eyebrow. "Shikai?" she asked.
I nodded. "Shikai."
We received our results the next day via Hell Butterflies that arrived at each of our rooms right when we woke up.
"Akaguu, don't attack it!" I yelled at Akaguu as he leaped at the Butterfly. It dodged his attack, though, and landed smoothly on my finger.
"Your tests results have been processed," the voice from it said. "You got 90 points out of a possible 100. Because of this, you have been elevated to the sixth-year level. You will continue to stay in this room, and all students officially have a week of free time, starting the moment this message ends. During this time, you are also expected to get extra learning supplies."
I smiled as it flew away. It wasn't as good as I hoped, but it was still good.
"Looks like we'll be going to see Koharu later," I told Akaguu as he jumped into my arms. He just made his twittering noise as I rubbed his head.
There was a knock at the door a few seconds later. "Door's open," I called. I sensed the spiritual pressure as Haruka's, and my hunch was proven right as she walked in.
"Hey, I just got my results," she told me.
I smiled. "Me, too. What were yours?" I asked her.
"I've been elevated to fifth-year," she replied.
I nodded. "Congrats," I said.
"What were your results?" she asked me.
"Sixth-year," I replied.
She broke out in a grin. "Congrats!" she told me. "I knew you would do well!"
I smiled. "Thanks. You did pretty well yourself," I told her.
She shrugged. "Yeah, only with you helping me. If it weren't for you, I would've failed the Zanjutsu part," she explained.
I nodded. "Well, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have done very well in healing Kido," I replied. "Anyways, what are you going to do for the week off?" I asked her.
She shrugged. "I'll probably just stay around here and get more supplies for my next year," she replied. "You?"
"I'll probably spend some time with Koharu and Hanataro, as well as getting more supplies as well," I told her. "You're welcome to join us, if you wish," I added.
She smiled and nodded. "I'd like that, thanks," she told me.
I nodded and packed enough things for a couple weeks at Koharu's before meeting Haruka outside my room, Akaguu wrapped around my neck and sleeping.
"Ready to go?" Haruka asked me when she got there. She also had a bag of clothes with her as well.
I nodded and adjusted my bag on my back while making sure not to awaken Akaguu. "Let's go, then," I told her as we started walking out of the building. "Do you still remember how to get to Squad Four Barracks?" I asked her.
She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do, just make sure to keep up," she told me before using flashstep for a headstart.
"You asked for it," I said as I moved Akaguu so that he was in my arms, then took off for Fourth Squad as fast as I could, using all of my shortcuts to cut the time in half, although I scared a few Soul Reapers and almost ran into a large wall that hadn't been there a year previously. I still arrived with plenty of time to spare.
"Hey, Takumi!" I heard a familiar voice call from behind me. I turned around just in time for Hanataro to tackle me in a hug. "I missed you so much, Takumi!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, getting attention from everyone else in the area.
"I missed you too, Hanataro, but can you let me go now?" I asked him as I used up my remaining breath that he had squeezed out of me. "Kinda...can't...breathe..." I gasped out.
He giggled and released me. He always does that when he's excited. "Hehe...sorry about that. Anyway, where's Haruka?" he asked me. "I thought she was coming as well."
"I'm...here..." I heard Haruka pant when she arrived.
"She's still getting used to using flashstep over large distances," I explained to Hanataro.
He smiled and nodded. "Heck, I don't even know flashstep so you're doing pretty well."
She nodded and thanked him before we walked inside and to the house, where Akaguu jumped off my shoulders and ran around the outer courtyard, twittering in happiness as he ran up the cherry tree next to the house.
"Wow, it looks like nothing changed here," I whispered as I took it all in.
"We make sure to keep the yard in good condition," Hanataro explained. "Captain Unohana likes the cherry blossoms."
I smiled and nodded before we walked inside, where Koharu was waiting for me, hand on her hip.
"You're later than expected," she snapped.
A/N: I'm back again! Well, it seems Takumi has managed to elevate himself to the sixth year! Yay! I'm sorry if the description of the Academy isn't good, there are very few details on the finer workings of the Academy.
Anyway, until next time!
~dicarten_ice