Kotsubaki Kotone

Hinamori Momo's home was in Junrinan, District 1 of the West Rukon District. Compared to many people at the Spirit Training Academy, she had been born into exceptionally good circumstances.

The environment here was second only to the Seireitei, and there was no need to worry about public safety or food.

Taking advantage of a rest day at the Spirit Training Academy, Hinamori Momo returned home and stopped by to see the younger boy next door.

"Anyway, the Spirit Training Academy really is a wonderful place. Our Student Council President can already come into contact with important figures like Lieutenant Captains and Captains on a daily basis. He's also incredibly kind, with none of the airs toward subordinates or younger students. If only I'd been the one chosen as the President's assistant back then... Honestly, are you even listening, Shiro-chan?"

On the wooden corridor, the silver-haired boy was focused on eliminating the huge slice of watermelon in his hands. Hearing the girl beside him call him by that nickname again, he unceremoniously spat watermelon seeds onto her.

"Didn't I tell you not to call me Shiro-chan? Why do you come back every time there's a break? Is a Shinigami school really that free?"

"I came all this way to see you, you know. The Student Council has work to do every day." Hinamori Momo was somewhat displeased by his attitude.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya set the watermelon rind he had finished gnawing on aside and picked up another slice.

"You've praised that President of yours to me plenty of times already."

"Because he really is great!"

Toshiro Hitsugaya's expression turned sour, as though he had no interest whatsoever in what Hinamori Momo was saying.

Hinamori Momo then said regretfully, "It's a pity I was assigned a task and wasn't there when the Fifth Division Captain came to inspect the academy. I heard he's a very easygoing person too. Shiro-chan, Shinigami are different from what we imagined before. There are so, so many good people."

She then tried to persuade him again. "Shiro-chan, you should come try the Spirit Training Academy too. I think you'd definitely pass the entrance examination. Then you could make lots of new friends as well."

Toshiro Hitsugaya continued burying his head in his watermelon.

Hinamori Momo continued, "And if you can join the Student Council, we can be together often again."

Toshiro Hitsugaya was not appreciative. "What's so good about being with you often?"

"Shiro-chan, that really hurts my feelings."

"Stop calling me Shiro-chan, Bedwetter Momo!"

The main reason Tōshirō Hitsugaya did not intend to attend the Spirit Training Academy was that he needed to care for his grandmother. Her health had always been poor, and he felt he could not simply leave her behind. He needed to stay by her side.

Summer was a little hot, and cicadas chirped endlessly in the trees.

Hinamori Momo slowly ate her watermelon, swinging her dangling legs as she gazed at the clear sky and dreamed, "I have to work hard and become an outstanding Shinigami."

Because Xin had skipped class rather frequently, he was once again summoned by Nanda Hidezawa for a talk.

"You brat, have you forgotten everything you promised me before? The Student Council cannot become an excuse for you to act recklessly! And since you're the Student Council President, you should set an even better example!"

"But the Student Council really does have a lot of routine affairs to handle. I'm contributing to the Spirit Training Academy too!" Xin explained with an innocent look. "Teacher Nanda, although I've missed some classes, I'll still make time to train. My grades won't suffer!"

"Cut it out!" Nanda Hidezawa was not buying any of it. He knew this student's temperament far too well.

"Good grades do not mean you can do whatever you want. Do you know that your repeated absences will be recorded in your file? When you graduate, what will the Division you join think after seeing your record?"

Xin chuckled. "Naturally, they'll think I'm a rare talent and cultivate me vigorously."

Nanda Hidezawa glared. "Get serious! I'm warning you: from today onward, attend every class properly. If you dare skip class again, I'll report it to the Principal. I refuse to believe the Principal will tolerate such undisciplined behavior from you. Then your position as Student Council President might be removed!"

Xin said helplessly, "What if the Student Council really has something important to deal with?"

"Come ask me for leave. I'll approve it depending on the circumstances."

"..."

That afternoon, Xin made a rare appearance in the classroom, which many of his classmates found novel. How long had it been since their esteemed President last attended class?

"Teacher Nanda called you in for a talk?" Shūbīng asked with a faint smile as he looked at the listless Xin beside him.

Xin lazily answered, "Mm."

It was not that he was too lazy to attend class. The fifth-year curriculum at the Spirit Training Academy no longer offered him much improvement. The teachers would not teach anything more advanced, and in Xin's view, rather than listening to such lessons, he might as well visit the library and read books on advanced Kido to improve himself.

The fifth-year curriculum placed greater emphasis on practical training. Soul Burial internships in the Human World were noticeably more frequent than in previous years, and lower-year students were sometimes brought along as well.

Xin had naturally gone before. Back when he was still a first-year student, he had been rather excited during his first trip to the Human World.

But there were still several decades until the era of Kurosaki Ichigo from the original story. Technology was far from advanced, and there was truly nothing worth seeing. After going twice, he lost interest.

That afternoon's class was Healing Arts Class. Since they had joined the Student Council, Hisagi Shūhei and Kanazawa had stepped down from their positions as class monitors. The new monitor was a somewhat familiar-looking classmate. Before class began, he went up to the podium and addressed everyone. "Teacher Oizumi won't be teaching today. The one substituting for us shortly will be Fourth Division Lieutenant Captain Kotsubaki Kotone."

The Fourth Division?

Xin was slightly surprised. It was rather rare for a Lieutenant Captain from one of the Thirteen Divisions to substitute for a fifth-year class.

"The Fourth Division? Isn't that the Division you'll be joining in the future?" Shūbīng asked in surprise.

Xin neither confirmed nor denied it, but his attention sharpened.

When the class bell rang, the classroom fell silent. A tall figure slowly entered through the front door of the Lecture Hall.

"She... is so tall!"

At the sight of her, quite a few students could not help letting out low cries, and some began whispering among themselves.

Kotsubaki Kotone's height, intimidating even to male students, had indeed shocked most of the class at once. A woman nearly 1.9 meters tall—there was probably not another person like her in the entire Spirit Training Academy.

She wore a black Shinigami Robe and the Fourth Division lieutenant's armband on her arm, yet she was a strikingly beautiful woman.

Listening to the various sounds from below, Kotsubaki Kotone could guess what they were murmuring about. It made her somewhat awkward. Being the center of attention like this was practically exposing what she considered her height-related flaw for everyone to discuss.

Still, she slowly walked up to the podium and addressed the students. "I am Kotsubaki Kotone, Lieutenant Captain of the Fourth Division. I will be teaching in Teacher Oizumi's place today. Hello, students."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over the students before her. Very quickly, she precisely locked onto Xin among the not-so-large group of students. Xin happened to be looking at her as well.

Kotsubaki Kotone

Affection: 9

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