Reaper's Wedge Binding

Chapter 10: Reaper's Wedge · Binding

Tenth Division barracks.

"This is the Student Council recruitment exam?"

Shiba Isshin stared at the two sheets of paper Kaien handed him, utterly astonished.

"Where did you get this?"

"I went and asked for it directly. I am an Honorary President, after all." Shiba Kaien said with a grin.

By the time Shiba Isshin finished reading through the questions, he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. "Who came up with these questions? That Tachikawa Shin?"

"That's right."

"Interesting. Very interesting, hahaha." Shiba Isshin burst into laughter at that.

His laughter drew Matsumoto Rangiku in from outside.

"Captain, what's so funny?"

"Miss Rangiku." Shiba Kaien greeted her.

Shiba Isshin had Rangiku come over and take a look at the exam sheet as well. After reading it, she looked visibly stunned.

"This is..."

"Even if you asked me to answer these, I wouldn't necessarily get them right." Shiba Isshin said cheerfully. "That Tachikawa Shin really has a way about him. What's he testing with questions like these? The students' character?"

Shiba Kaien replied, "Regarding the Student Council's recruitment criteria, the Spirit Training Academy's higher-ups already discussed it. Academic performance was supposed to be the main benchmark, but the recruitment period was set right after the new students enrolled. These freshmen don't have any valid grades to go by yet, so that left a loophole for Shin to push through his own system."

Shiba Isshin mused, "I get the feeling that kid has bigger ambitions than he lets on."

Shiba Kaien asked, "About that Third Seat matter I mentioned before—did you ever ask him about it?"

"Third Seat?" Rangiku blurted out in surprise from the side. "You want to make him Third Seat outright?"

Shiba Kaien chuckled. "What's wrong with Third Seat? Didn't I start from Third Seat myself?"

"Then, Captain, did you agree?" Rangiku turned to look at her own captain.

Shiba Isshin sighed helplessly. "What difference does it make whether I agree or not? The key is whether that Tachikawa Shin is willing."

Kaien frowned. "What do you mean? He didn't agree? He looks down on even a Third Seat in the Tenth Division? What exactly is he after..."

#

The Student Council interviews continued.

After careful thought, Hinamori Momo answered the first question. "I would choose to flee the scene with all my strength and promptly seek reinforcements."

The assembled crowd's expressions remained unchanged. Answers to this question varied widely, and Momo's response was hardly rare.

Hisagi Shūhei pressed further. "State your reasoning."

Momo said, "Since I'm facing a Menos Grande, it's obviously something a student like me from the Spirit Academy can't resist. Staying would only cause trouble for my senior and likely lead to everyone being wiped out. So quickly leaving and seeking help from Soul Society is the wisest move. That extra chance at survival wouldn't betray the noble sacrifice my senior made."

After she finished answering, she saw the Student Council members sitting there scribbling notes in their own booklets, which made her heart uneasy.

Regardless, this was the answer she had carefully considered and deemed most appropriate.

She noticed that the President sitting in the middle hadn't written anything in his booklet. He was just quietly watching her, a faint, elusive smile on his lips.

As for why Shin was smiling, it was because he noticed the change on his system interface.

Hinamori Momo Affection: 27 For every 10 points of Affection gained, Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō Unlock Progress +1% Affection reaches 90: Unlocks Full Course Reward Eligible to form Reaper's Wedge. Forming it unlocks Third Reward.

He then checked his own status screen.

Spiritual Pressure Level: Lv: 16 Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: 9%

Back when he first met Matsumoto Rangiku, her Affection had also shot up quickly in the early stages. This was only his first meeting with Hinamori Momo, and she had already raised his Spiritual Pressure Level and Zanpakutō Unlock Progress by two points each. Naturally, Shin felt pleased.

"That was a very good answer." Shin said with a smile, then glanced at the people beside him. "What do you all think?"

The several officers who were evaluating and scoring Momo's performance looked over at his words. Hisagi Shūhei felt exasperated. Momo's answer was only average at best. He couldn't help but wonder if Shin had taken a liking to this girl.

When Momo heard Shin's praise, joy welled up inside her. She quickly bowed. "Thank you for your kind words."

This President is such a kind person...

Affection: 31

Tch!

The smile on Shin's face grew even wider. He simply said, "Continue."

Hisagi Shūhei spoke up. "Now, please answer the second question."

Hinamori Momo took a deep breath and continued with the rest of the interview questions. The remaining two questions went without any major mistakes, and thanks to Xin's encouragement, she wasn't as nervous anymore, gradually answering more smoothly.

After finishing all the questions, Hinamori Momo stood there anxiously waiting for everyone's judgment. She felt she had performed well enough, especially with the Student Council President's encouragement earlier, but her heart was still in her throat until the results came out.

Hisagi Shūhei spoke up: "After our collective evaluation, Hinamori, congratulations on passing the interview. Please report to the Student Council headquarters office at 7 a.m. tomorrow, where your specific duties within the council will be arranged."

Hinamori Momo was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you for your recognition, seniors!"

Xin said with a light smile: "Welcome aboard. You can head back now."

"Yes! Thank you, President!"

Affection: 37

It's rising fast.

Xin sighed inwardly. In all his years at the Spirit Training Academy, aside from Matsumoto Rangiku, he hadn't met any other women with system affection points.

"The President seems to like her quite a bit."

Kōgorō, who had sat silently the entire time, suddenly spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

Xin didn't deny it and chuckled: "Who wouldn't like such an adorable girl? Kasumi Oji, you don't dislike her, do you?"

Kōgorō chose not to respond.

"Next up is Rukia from Class B. Call her in."

Hinamori Momo didn't rush to leave after exiting the interview room. Instead, she went to the classroom where the remaining new students were waiting for their interviews. She approached Rukia and said excitedly: "Rukia! I passed!"

Rukia was taken aback, then a smile spread across her face: "Really? Congratulations, Hinamori!"

"Is it okay if I just call you Rukia?"

"Of course, not at all."

"Then you can just call me Momo too! I'm sure you'll pass as well, and then we'll be colleagues in the Student Council!"

Rukia wasn't all that thrilled inside, as she still had her own interview ahead and was feeling nervous.

Just then, a Student Council member at the door called her name.

"Here!"

"Rukia, good luck!"

"Yeah, okay..."

Rukia's heart pounded as she walked step by step to the interview room door.

Xin sat in his seat, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the system interface.

Among the three women he had already interacted with, Hinamori Momo seemed the easiest to handle. If he bound the Reaper's Wedge to her, obtaining the third reward shouldn't be too difficult.

But the system's explanation on this matter was far too sparse for him to make a hasty decision.

After all, one of them was the original story's heroine, so the third reward was bound to be different.

As his thoughts wandered, the figure at the door stepped inside.

She seemed even smaller in stature than Hinamori Momo, and her face wasn't as cute. Compared to Hinamori's gentle demeanor, her delicate features carried a hint of resolve and spiritedness. Upon closer inspection, one couldn't help but feel a sense of not underestimating her.

Rukia

Affection: 7

Every 10 points of affection: Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō Unlock Progress +1%

Affection reaches 90: Full Course Reward unlocked

Reaper's Wedge already bound

Achieving Full Course Reward grants the third reward

Zanpakutō additional ability: Freeze

Achieving the third reward unlocks the Second Reaper's Wedge