Dream on, Dreamer(Hiroe/Emelie)

"Do not seek aesthetics in waging war.

Do not seek virtue in death.

Do not think your life is your own.

If you wish to protect the things that are worth protecting, then cut down the enemy you ought to defeat from behind.”

Walking through the halls of the Shinigami academy, Hiroe continued to ruminate on a particular section of the Shino Academy's textbook she had glanced over ever since she settled in to the academy. Words that still remained with her even though she had become accustomed to her time spent here. What future awaits her when she graduates from here? She wonders. She ruminates. It's a thought she doesn't have to pay too much attention to, being a first year.

The woman who mentored her from a young age had always told her to take her dream of becoming a seated member seriously. Do not look at it as if it was the highlight of your life but a career you had to embrace wholeheartedly. It wasn't some type of trophy you showed off to your friends but a lifestyle that demanded training and endless refinement of technique.

Compared to those who truly wished to change the scales of the world or bring a sense of order to their respective districts in the Rukongai, Hiroe had felt somewhat intimidated by what it meant to fight for something, to surrender her destiny to the unknown. If step one of her dream was a success, she would be fighting and purging hollows or, worse, other unknown entities she had no prior knowledge of.

At that point, it could certainly be said her life would no longer be promised to her, compared to the simplistic life she could have chosen as a tailor in a warm and loving home. Rumination complete, Hiroe decided she would continue to explore this path and learn what she desired to fight for beyond achieving the initial dream.

Walking towards the training hall, a place where a blossoming Shinigami could train as freely as they desired without an instructor, Hiroe set her bag down as she placed her hand at the hilt of her Asauchi. She could train with her practice sword but Hiroe desired to become bonded with her blade and explore the connection anytime an opportunity decided to present itself.

This scene felt somewhat familiar to her as she recalled the last person she met when she was here before. It made her feel good to make a habit out of training. With practice and dedication, she'd be where she neeed to be in no time. Lofty thoughts, to be certain, but there no was o shame in dreaming, right?

Among the hustle and bustle of her fellow students, Hiroe didn't particularly notice Emilie but the crimson-haired woman hardly wasted anytime in making her presence known. Hiroe turned to face her as she gazed down at the vibrant woman, somewhat left at a loss of words. Her confidence nature coupled with her energetic posture was something Hiroe wasn't commonly use to among most students. There were some who were friendly, of course, yet many others who were always focused on their own status quo. It made the forging of bonds quite a tricky venture, even for a young woman like HIroe who always a dreamer at heart, a student with a heart of gold.

Emilie was both a breathe of fresh air, yet also a symbol of potential envy! The moment she rose up to face her and tower over her, her self-consciousness about her size came racing to the forefront of her mind. Goddamit. Why did she always have to feel like a midget around every person she met? First it was Kaito, then it was Shiro, then it was Lerna... Gah! Why did fate curse her so!? Just one growth spurt. Was that so hard to ask? Hiroe hid her pouty expression as her eyes wandered from side to side thinking of how to reply only to be hit with the question of the name of her sword. Ah!?

Another sword to strike her in her poor dreamer's heart. "No... I'm still... um... in the Asauchi phase. My Zanpakuto hasn't revealed it's name to me yet." Hiroe turned her face towards the ground with a pout as she rolled her eyes. Of all the people to approach her, she had to be the victim of a student flexing on her. Perhaps the intent wasn't so, but she sure felt like it!

She was hit with the third year and then this woman talking about how great her bond was with Ai - the name of her Zanpakuto. Some people were just born with skill, huh? Hiroe comically held back a few tears before she composed herself and came up with a reply.

"H-Hiroe. First year. Pleasure to meet you, Emilie" Yeah, she was kind of lying through her teeth. "

The initial introduction may have felt shaky, to say nothing of forcing Hiroe into a position she wasn't quite familiar with, but the silver-haired woman recovered enough to maintain some form of composure. Hiroe was typically the one who was upbeat and energetic, who would ask the questions and tease or prod but this crimson-haired woman circling and analyzing her? Leagues above her on a scale she couldn't quite compare. Even so, her attitude didn't seem to be one where she was flaunting to make her feel bad. That line of thought allowed Hiroe to feel a sense of relief as a comfortable smiled formed on her lips, her emerald gaze following the woman.

"You know your zanpakuto's name but have no shikai? That's... kinda cool, honestly. Like, I know it sounds peculiar but I have yet to ever hear about something like that."

Hiroe's gaze would remain on the woman as she gazed at her blade before stroking her chin thoughtfully. Admittedly, Hiroe had something of a teacher before she even reached the academy - a mentor who had trained her in the art of swordsmanship. It was the aspect of her repertoire she took pride in the most. If she was being genuinely honest, it was the only skill she held so far. Even so, she aimed to grow stronger in other areas. She owe it to herself to grow stronger. There was no turning back now.

"I'll be honest, I got a bit of a helping hand years before I even entered the academy. A seated member of the Gotei showed me how to wield and train with a sword properly, and that inspired me to apply as a first year. Can't say all the first years are the same. They vary in terms of overall skill. As for me? Naturally, I excel in the swordsmanship classes. I'm gaining a slight grasp of kido. I think I'm terrible at Hakuda. I'd say I'm pretty balanced, though?"

Hiroe could certainly relate to the notion of feeling utterly useless as it pertained to the subject of Kido. It wasn't as if the young woman believed she'd never attain a proper understanding but compared to the type of spellcasters she heard tales of?

The feeling of being outclassed always weighed heavily on her mind. Be that as it may, she felt that if she put her mind to it, if she embraced it with as much passion as she did wielding a sword, that such skills would never be too far out of reach.

Gazing at Emilie, she felt a sense of kinship wash over her. That initial sense of shame she felt was no longer present. Emilie was boisterous but in a fashion that didn't feel as if she was mocking anyone. She seemingly desired to see others succeed as much as herself. To be certain, Hiroe didn't feel as though her Hakuda would lead her anywhere. She was such a small woman that the idea of trying to layer a series of strikes on anyone's body seemed somewhat comical at best.

On the other hand, she recalled reading texts detailing past exploits of prior members of each division. Female soul reapers like Soifon or Rukia danced through her mind - women who weren't the tallest by any measure of the word, yet still succeeded in emerging victorious through several conflicts.

Emilie was right. There was nothing to stop her from evolving and getting better. Why stay in her own head about it?

"You're right. I guess I'm downplaying myself too much. Anyway, I'm more than happy to let you teach me! I'm not prideful about that type of stuff. I'm actually flattered more than anything else," Hiroe extended her hand towards Emilie as she tilted her head to the side with a joyous expression.

"Hey, if you want to be my friends, I'm totes game. It'd be an honor, even. "

Hiroe couldn't help but chuckle at her comment about this Sol fellow and how he only offered her a five percent off coupon at a Ramen Shop. She wasn't one to judge, considering her own roots. Hiroe was but a meager tailor in a shop until she decided to choose the path of becoming a member of the Gotei. Everyone had their roots somewhere. She just hoped hers would bear fruit. She couldn't bear returning home to her parents empty-handed.

Her next action had caused the silver-haired Shinigami to blush as Emelie pulled Hiroe towards her, placing her hand against her chest, her palm positioned above her breast. She was not familiar with this form of hands-on contact and her natural reaction was to merely turn red as she gazed up at the woman, listening to her words.

Sheesh, this woman was a different type of energy Hiroe had to be prepared for. Emilie was a breathe of fresh air compared to some soul reapers who chose to ignore her in the Academy, but she was also an energetic flame that might burn the tailor if she wasn't careful.

As Emelie let go of her hand and went to pick up her sword, she turned back to Hiroe, inquiring about the woman's instruction. Hiroe tilted her head in curiosity before shaking her head. She didn't receive any instruction outside of what was offered by the academy.

"Not to my knowledge, no. Most of my instruction comes from the teachers, though I certainly wouldn't mind receiving instruction and lessons from those on a higher grade level than my own," she would remark with a smile, gazing back at Emilie.