Tachikawa

"Come on, kid, don't be so ungrateful. Isn't a Seated Officer position enough for you? You're still a Spirit Training Academy student who hasn't even graduated. Getting treatment like this is already an incredible stroke of fortune!"

At the table, Xin looked thoroughly drunk, as though he were trying hard to make out the blonde woman with the stunning figure seated across from him.

The izakaya was rather noisy, and the tables were packed close together. However, Xin's table was especially eye-catching. Of course, Xin was not the one drawing attention—it was the woman sitting opposite him.

"A Seated Officer... which seat was it again?" Xin asked, his tongue thick with drink.

"23rd Seat."

"Third Seat, huh." Xin looked enlightened. "Well then, since Miss Rangiku has invited me so warmly, I can't exactly—hic—refuse."

Matsumoto Rangiku wore a strange expression as she looked at the young man before her. "Are you really drunk, or are you pretending?"

Then she smiled sweetly. "You can be the Third Seat too, if you want. As long as you can defeat our current Third Seat, I can handle the rest for you."

Xin immediately shook his head like a rattle drum. "I hate fighting and killing the most."

Matsumoto Rangiku picked up the chopsticks from the table and suddenly tapped him on the head, seeming a little annoyed.

"Don't forget who recommended you to the Spirit Training Academy in the first place!"

Yet Xin was not angry. Perhaps because he had happened to catch a glimpse of some scenery when she leaned over to hit him, he merely propped his cheek on one hand and lazily watched her, grinning foolishly. "Of course I remember how good Miss Rangiku has been to me. Miss Rangiku really is beautiful."

Matsumoto Rangiku raised a delicate brow, smiling without quite smiling. "Once you join our Division, you'll be able to see me all the time."

Xin waved a hand groggily. "No, I still have classes. How could I see you every day? I skipped Swordsmanship Class to come here today. I wonder whether Shūbīng covered for me."

Hearing his nonsense, Matsumoto Rangiku could not help wondering, Is this kid actually drunk?

She said, "I heard you're quite famous at school now. It would be one thing if an ordinary student skipped class, but you skipped Swordsmanship Class. Do you really think your teacher wouldn't know?"

Tachikawa Xin was currently a fourth-year student at Seirei Academy. Several years ago, Matsumoto Rangiku had happened to encounter him in the Rukon District. Seeing that his Spiritual Pressure Level was quite impressive compared to ordinary people, she had recommended that he become a Reaper.

And just as Matsumoto Rangiku had expected, this fellow had quickly displayed extraordinary talent at the academy, especially in swordsmanship. She had heard that he had personally defeated the Swordsmanship Class teacher during class.

A talent like that naturally had to be brought into her own Tenth Division! In the future, he could also help shoulder more of the Division's duties. After all, she had ended up with a captain who loved slacking off every day.

"Teacher Nanda..." Xin muttered indistinctly. "Teacher Nanda is so annoying, always nagging on and on..."

As he spoke, the arm supporting his cheek suddenly gave way, and he collapsed facedown onto the table.

"..."

Matsumoto Rangiku folded her arms before her chest and suddenly sighed.

How many times had this been now? Could it be that this kid already had a Division he wanted to join?

Her beautiful eyes shifted as she suddenly asked, "Did Vice-Captain Shiba come to see you? Did he ask you to join the Thirteenth Division?"

There was no response. Only the sound of even breathing reached her ears. He appeared to have fallen asleep.

Matsumoto Rangiku pursed her lips. What an ungrateful little brat!

She got up to pay the bill, but before leaving, she could not suppress her irritation and lightly kicked him once.

Only after lying sprawled over the table for quite some time did Xin slowly raise his head and rub his face, which had gone somewhat stiff from drinking.

"That woman can really drink!"

Matsumoto Rangiku

Affection: 63

For every 10 points of Affection gained, Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō unlock progress +1%

Full Course Reward unlocks when Affection reaches 90

A Reaper's Wedge can be formed. The third reward unlocks after it is formed.

Xin looked at the system interface. Numbed by alcohol, his thoughts had slowed as well. His alcohol tolerance was fairly poor, but fortunately, he had not said anything too unnecessary.

Her Affection had dropped by two points since last time. He had probably annoyed her.

Seirei Academy dormitories.

Hisagi Shūhei returned to the dormitory and discovered that his roommate, who had skipped class today, was already back. Xin was currently lying spread-eagled on his bed.

"When did you get back?" he asked.

"About two hours ago."

"Why didn't you go to class when you came back so early?" Shūhei could not help asking. Then he kindly reminded him, "Teacher Nanda was very angry today. You'd better be careful."

Xin curled his lip. "Teacher Nanda is still so petty. It was just skipping one class."

When he had returned, his mind had been a complete fog. Going to class then would have been asking for death. Only after sleeping in the dormitory for a while had he recovered a little.

Hisagi Shūhei ignored his shameless remark and instead asked, "Did you go see Miss Matsumoto again today?"

Xin lay on the bed with one leg crossed over the other, his gaze somewhat unfocused as though he were thinking about something. He casually gave an "Mm."

A lovely figure immediately flashed through Hisagi Shūhei's mind, and he asked again, "What did she want with you?"

"She invited me to join the Tenth Division. She said I could be a Seated Officer if I went."

Hisagi Shūhei's expression immediately changed.

"Which seat?"

"23rd Seat."

After his shock subsided, Shūhei's expression became somewhat complicated. Looking at Xin lying there, he fell silent for a moment.

When Xin noticed that he had stopped speaking, he turned to look at him and laughed. "What's wrong?"

Shūhei let out a soft breath, then shook his head. "The graduation exam is exactly one month away. Teacher Nanda asked Kanazawa and me to compile the list first for him to review and screen."

Seirei Academy had a six-year program. If students completed all the courses within four years, they could graduate.

Naturally, that was somewhat difficult. Only a small number of people met the standard, and after graduation, those people would generally become core members whether they entered the Thirteen Divisions, the Kido Corps, or the Onmitsukidō.

Still, graduating from Seirei Academy in four years was not particularly unusual.

"I'm not planning to graduate this year."

Shūhei froze at that, then asked, "Didn't you say that you and Miss Matsumoto had already..."

"I never said I agreed to it."

Hisagi Shūhei suddenly could not keep his expression under control. "You refused?!"

Xin's expression remained unchanged as he simply said, "I still want to stay at school for another two years..."

"You... But Miss Matsumoto already promised you a Seated Officer position!" Shūhei's tone suddenly rose considerably.

"It's only 23rd Seat. It's useless and flashy."

Xin did not care in the slightest. He gazed out the window, his eyes calm and distant.

Many cherry trees had been planted beside the dormitory. Petals drifted down in flurries, covering the winding path in pink. Young men and women dressed in white either lingered or hurried past, making for a scene like a painting.

"School is so nice. Being a student is so nice. Shūbīng, don't you like it?"

"..."

Shūhei had no answer. He had never been able to figure out what his friend was thinking.

Though his expression was relaxed, when those long eyelashes lowered, they seemed to hide more worries than anyone else's.

He had to admit that Xin's face was quite good-looking. No wonder he was so popular in class.

Shūhei went over and sat on his own bed, following Xin's gaze out the window. After a long silence, he suddenly said, "I'm not planning to graduate either."

Xin turned his head toward him, smiling brightly. "Oh?"

Shūhei folded his arms before his chest and said calmly, "I just feel that my overall abilities aren't solid enough yet."

"Mm, you really are pretty weak."

"..."

The harmonious atmosphere was suddenly shattered. Shūhei nearly failed to catch his breath. Watching Xin laugh there without a care in the world, he could not help clenching his fists.

Hisagi Shūhei was usually a rather serious and gloomy person, but Xin, who had known him for a long time, understood that this personality was really just a case of being secretly lecherous.

When Matsumoto Rangiku had first come to see him, Hisagi Shūhei had happened to run into her as well. From then on, his eyes had begun uncontrollably drifting toward her. Later, Xin often teased him about it, and every time, Shūhei would become embarrassed and angry.

Fortunately, Shūhei could not beat him.

Tachikawa Xin

Spiritual Pressure Level: Lv13

Spirit Energy Reserve: 20%

Zanpakutō unlock progress: 6%

Reaper's Wedge: Not formed

Quincy's Wedge: Not formed

Hollow's Wedge: Not formed

The smile on Xin's face faded slightly as he looked at Hisagi Shūhei.

"Shūbīng, I'm planning to do something over these next two years. Come help me!"

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