Later that night, in the barracks of the 8th Division of the Gotei 13, something is happening in the Captain's quarter.
For past centuries the captain of the 8th Division was Shunsui Kyoraku and it seems like no matter how much he tossed and turned, he couldn't get a good night for tomorrow's event.
[Kyoraku's POV]
"Good grief, it seems like I can't get a good night sleep," Kyoraku sighed as he began to recall what happened this morning at the Captains' meeting.
[Flashback]
"Due to recent events, we are desperately in need of shinigamis who can fill the gap in our division," Captain Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto continued, "the remaining shinigamis who retained seated positions in our divisions can't exactly fill the gap."
"So how are we supposed to stabilize the situation if our seated officers cannot be satisfactory?" Jushiro Ukitake wonders.
"I had my lieutenant, Chojiro, look through the students the Shinigami Academy who would be worthy of in our squad," Yamamoto replied, "So Chojiro show us what have you discovered."
"Yes Captain," Chojiro Sasakibe continued, "As you can see the size of this year's 1st class is possibly the smallest batch in the history of the Shinigami Academy. There are 50 students to be exact. However these students are quite possible one of the highest achieving class ever."
Chojiro then started handing out files of the students to all of the captains. The captains then began flipping through the file.
"Wow amazing! Some of these students are constantly scoring 90 or 100 points on the advanced level exams," Jushiro exclaimed.
"Not only that, it seems 3 students from the 1st class are already Shunpo experts," Retsu Unohana, captain of the 4th division took notice.
"Yes, as you can see this could be the most accomplished batch the academy has witness," Chojiro continued, "Including those 3 students that Captain Unohana had mentioned, there are 7 more students that should be considered." Chojiro then showed the list of the students.
"Onabara, the head teacher of the 1st class, has recommended these 10 students to be at least seated officers of any of our division," Chojiro reported, "please note that the order of the list is not in any order based on the capabilities of the students."
Ginrei Kuchiki then noticed one particular name: Sakuya Hanabishi. Ginrei starts caressing his moustache in deep thought. [I see it looks like Sakuya has decided to become shingami] Ginrei thought to himself.
"What's wrong old man Kuchiki?" Kyoraku asked Ginrei, who seems in trance. "Nothing is just that I think I may know one of the promising students," Ginrei replied adamantly.
"Who? Which student?" Kyoraku asked again, but this time with more curiosity. "No never mind, it's nothing," Ginrei trying to brush it off. "Ginrei…" Kyoraku pouted.
"For tomorrow, all of the captains will go to the academy and will personally observe the students to see if they can fit into any of their divisions. Any remaining Vice-captains are to accompany their captains. The squads, who do not have captains or lieutenants to fill in, will have the next highest seated officer to attend. Meeting adjourned." Captain Commander Yamamoto ended.
[End of flashback]
"Shinigami Academy..." Kyoraku whispered and closed his eyes only to be met with fragments of memories from his younger days.
When Kyoraku was able to finally fall asleep, it seems like a dream has come to torment him.
[Dream in Kyoraku's POV]
I soon opened my eyes found myself somewhere in a garden. It was pretty clear that I was somewhere near one of the noble houses. Just then the wind blew and music started playing. "a flute?" I asked myself as I headed towards the source of that whimsical music.
I finally reach the place where the music was coming. I started scanning the area: it was patio but with the wabi-sabi conscience still intact. The wind blew again towards the direction where I finally laid eyes on a young woman standing on an opened raised deck with her back facing me. From what I could see the woman's long hair was brown almost auburn from the ray of sunlight and from the looks of her hands her skin was peach colored. Next to her was a pinwheel attached to the deck, just there spinning as the wind blew. I could still see that in her hand was the flute she was playing. The wind blew again, this time it carried a scent… Lavender perhaps? No, the scent wasn't floral. It had a more refreshing citrus-y scent.
Just then the woman started leaving. "Wait," I begged her. She tops and just as she was about to turn to face me…..
*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring*Ring*
I reluctantly opened my eyes and found myself back in my room at the captain's quarter. "Damn," I whispered as I covered my face, "it's going to be looooong day," I groaned as I didn't have the energy to get up.
[Later that day…]
In the hall of the Shinigami Academy, one of the proctors finally posted the test rank on the board. Many of the stfudents from the 1st class gather and try to see what score they received.
Touya and Sakuya were walking towards the hall to see their rankings. "Touya! Sakuya! Congrats on being the top 10 ten again!" one of their classmates greeted them. The classmate's name was Miyabi Higurashi
"Thank you Miyabi, it seems like you were also in the top 10 as well," Sakuya thanks her sheepishly. "Hey did you guys found out that today Captains of the Gotei 13 will be coming here to check out our class?" Miyabi revealed. "Why would they come at a time like this?" Touya exclaimed.
"Remember how few years ago there was huge scandal how one of the captains was experimenting in obtaining hollow powers? It looks like due to the insufficient numbers of shinigamis in Gotei 13, they need recruitment from the Academy," Miyabi recounted.
"Calling it a scandal is understated," Sakuya stated, "they're mostly like here to see who to recruit as seated officers in the divisions. Quite possibly even potential shinigamis to fill the Captains' positions."
"Is that so, Sakuya?" Miyabi wondered. "Captains do not usually come to our school, unless they are visiting professors teaching electives," Sakuya replied.
"Eeehhh… I guess we have to super impress the captains," Touya exclaimed as he seemed excited about the prospect.
"It's going to be a looooong day," Sakuya groaned as she put her head down.
Later that morning…
The remaining captains of the Gotei 13 arrived at the entrance of the Shinigami Academy including the Captain Commander. "Is everyone here?" Captain Yamamoto asked. "Yes all of them are present sir," Sasakibe replied. "Well then, let's go in," soon after the Captains followed behind their Commander.
The captains who were present were Genryusai Shikeguni Yamamoto, the Captain commander, Retsu Unohana, Captain of the 4th division, Ginrei Kuchiki, Captain of the 6th division, Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the 8th division, and Jushiro Ukitake, Captain of the 13th division.
The only captain who was yet again not present was Kenpachi Kiganjo, Captain of the 11th division. The captain of the 11th division was known to be a defiant one as he did what he pleased and barely going to captain meetings.
From the lieutenants and seated officer, the ones who were present were Chojiro Sasakibe, Marenoshin Omaeda, Chikane Iba, Seinosuke Yamada, Sousuke Aizen & Gin Ichimaru, Sojun Kuchiki, Jin'emon Kotsubaki, Kaname Tosen & Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
Meanwhile somewhere in at the Academy:
A fellow teacher walks into the 1st class and began scanning the room looking for someone. The person he was looking for was sitting on her chair gazing out in the window.
"Ah! Sakuya-san please come to Onabar-sensei's office," the teacher asked Sakuya.
"Right now?" Sakuya wondered. "Yes right now. Sensei seems tensed," the teacher confirmed.
"Understood," Sakuya stood up and started heading out.
