Chapter 22: The Special Meeting Ceremony of the Shihōin Princess

Chapter 22 - 22: The Special Meeting Ceremony of the Shihōin Princess Katori Nanatsuki spotted the name Shihōin Yoruichi on the list! This was none other than the princess of the Shihōin Clan, one of the Five Great Noble Houses of the Soul Society and the heiress of the Tenshihō Banshōban. The future 22nd head of the Shihōin Clan, Captain of the Second Division, and Commander of the Onmitsukidō! Most importantly—she could transform into a black cat! Although Nanatsuki had already filled his quota for new disciples, that didn't stop him from quietly adding Shihōin Yoruichi to his personal recruitment target list. He recalled that Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi were childhood acquaintances and might be attending the Academy together. He quickly scanned the list again to check for Urahara Kisuke's name—if he was in the same class, then this was a chance he couldn't let slip. Unfortunately, Kisuke's name was nowhere to be found. "Katori-sensei, are you sure you don't need help with the Zanjutsu advanced course?" Danmu-sensei walked over and asked. "Don't worry about it. Among the sixth-year students, only a dozen or so signed up for the advanced Zanjutsu course. I think I can manage just fine," Nanatsuki replied. "Ah, I really owe you one then, Katori-sensei. Honestly, I should treat you to drinks for a whole week!" Danmu-sensei scratched his head awkwardly. He had assumed they would split the course, but Nanatsuki had taken all three weekly classes onto his own plate. "You're too kind, Danmu-sensei, there's no need for that. I've got plans this evening anyway. Besides, I'll admit I have an ulterior motive—now that the Katori-ryu Dojo has reopened for students, I'm using this as an opportunity to scout for promising swordsmanship talents." Nanatsuki didn't want to drink with Danmu-sensei for a week, so he offered a convenient excuse. "I see... That makes sense," Danmu-sensei nodded in realization. "Either way, thank you again, Katori-sensei! Let me know if you ever need anything. I'll be heading to class now—see you!" Once he left, Sakai-sensei, seated across the desk, said enviously, "The Zanjutsu Department is lucky to have a colleague like you, Katori-sensei. Over in Kidō, it's hard enough just to find a substitute." News of Nanatsuki picking up extra classes spread quickly. Most of the faculty appreciated having such a reliable substitute on staff. "If I were in the Kidō Department, I'd help you out myself," Nanatsuki joked. "Thanks anyway," Sakai-sensei laughed, then got up and left for her class. Nanatsuki glanced toward the empty seat of Tsunayashiro-sensei. Absent again. Skipping work again, it seemed. Still, that class was made up of students born in Seireitei—most came from well-educated families. Their progress wouldn't fall behind. Nanatsuki stood up. Time to teach. His first lesson this morning was for the sixth-year class. A few moments later, he arrived at the Zanjutsu room. There were 25 students already inside. He quickly did a headcount. The class had 26 students in total—one was missing. He checked the time. Roll call had finished, and it was officially time to start. The absent student? None other than the princess of the Shihōin Clan—Shihōin Yoruichi. Nanatsuki assumed she was either running late or skipping class, so he looked around for someone to ask. But suddenly, he felt a chill crawl up his back. The hairs on his neck stood on end. Someone was standing right behind him! Behind him stood a dark-skinned girl with purple hair. Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she raised a full bucket of water and aimed it over his head. "Hahaha!" Just then, her eyes widened. Nanatsuki's figure shifted ever so slightly—and the sheath of the Zanpakutō at his waist loomed large in her vision. 'Damn!' That thought barely passed through her mind before the scabbard slammed into her chin. She was launched into the air by the impact and crashed onto the floor. The bucket, flipping midair, landed squarely on her head. The water inside splashed out instantly, soaking her uniform. The wet fabric clung tightly to her tanned skin, revealing glimpses of her figure beneath. Her chin throbbed from the blow, and her head was spinning. It took her a good while to recover. Nanatsuki took one look at her dark skin and immediately guessed her identity. He glanced at the Status Interface. [Shihōin Yoruichi] [Talent: S] [Reiatsu: Lv42] [Fame Level: Stranger] [Status: Dazed (Failed...)] Just as he thought—Shihōin Yoruichi. He removed the bucket from her head, revealing soaked hair plastered to her forehead. "Shihōin-san, am I to take this as your welcome ceremony for your teacher?" Nanatsuki smiled. "Ah... It failed!" Yoruichi groaned. "I thought the one replacing Murata-sensei would be a pushover. Looks like I underestimated you, Katori-sensei!" She stood up and asked curiously, "How did you spot me? I thought my stealth was pretty good." She had trained extensively with elite instructors in the Onmitsukidō and had already developed impressive concealment skills. She respected Murata-sensei, who was strong in his own right. But after hearing a new teacher—one usually assigned to first-years—would be replacing him, she became suspicious. Even though she didn't like Zanjutsu much, she didn't want a weakling in charge. After all, even a temporary homeroom teacher would be leading them in Field Training. If he lacked strength, he'd be leading them to their deaths. Many of her classmates felt the same. Egged on by them, she decided to use her stealth to test his capabilities. "Your stealth was solid, but you were standing too close," Nanatsuki explained. "At first I didn't notice you either, but I'm particularly sensitive to people behind me. The moment you got close, I felt a chill run down my spine." "Looks like I still need more training." Yoruichi shook her head, droplets flying from her wet hair. "Your enthusiasm gave your teacher quite the scare," Nanatsuki said with a teasing smile. "Tch. Just punish me if you're gonna. I, Shihōin Yoruichi, own up to what I do!" "Then for this class, how about you copy the phrase 'I'm sorry' to soothe your teacher's traumatized heart?" "Huh? How many times?" "Let's say... until class ends. That should be enough comfort for me." "What?!" Nanatsuki's first encounter with the Shihōin princess hadn't gone quite how he expected, but it didn't stop him from proceeding with class. "Hello everyone. First, let me introduce myself. I'm Katori Nanatsuki, your acting homeroom teacher as well as your substitute Zanjutsu instructor. Oh, and I'll also be teaching your Zanjutsu advanced course this year. You can all call me Katori-sensei."