Third Seat

The official organization among students was the Student Council, intended to serve as a bridge and link between the Spirit Training Academy and its students.

After listening to Xin's description, Shiba Kaien immediately realized the significance of this so-called Student Council, as well as the potential power it could hold in the future.

Managing students, serving students?

Nowadays, most Soul Society Shinigami came directly from the Spirit Training Academy. The outstanding ones among them had become key figures. If this Student Council could truly be established and recruit talented people during their academy years, then after becoming official Shinigami, they would have another bond tying them together.

After Xin proposed the concept, countless advantages and disadvantages immediately came to Shiba Kaien's mind.

The key was whether this Student Council would be allowed to exist.

The actual rulers of Soul Society were those nobles. Although Shiba Kaien himself was a noble, the Shiba family's influence was long gone from what it once was.

In Soul Society, the gap between nobles and commoners was nearly enough to create reproductive isolation. The Spirit Training Academy was practically the only path for commoners to become Shinigami. Nobles were different; many had their own training methods and could become Shinigami without attending the academy.

How would the nobles view this Student Council? Would they encourage their own juniors to enter the Spirit Training Academy because of it?

Perhaps he was thinking too far ahead. Maybe the nobles would not permit it to be established at all!

The cafeteria was filled with noisy chatter, but in Shiba Kaien's ears, it all became indistinct white noise. He stopped eating and stared at the boy before him, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

"I need to think this over carefully," Shiba Kaien finally said.

The smile on Xin's face did not fade. "That's fine. I'm not in a hurry either."

Shiba Kaien smiled faintly. "You've certainly given me a surprise, kid."

Xin spoke leisurely. "Vice-Captain Shiba, perhaps you're making this too complicated. It's only a small organization, and it would still be subordinate to the Spirit Training Academy."

Shiba Kaien neither agreed nor disagreed. He only said, "If this works out, then in another two years, when you graduate, would ordinary Seated Officers in the Thirteenth Division even catch your eye?"

"You think I'm far too greedy. I know my own limits."

Shiba Kaien said nothing more. He did not touch the rest of his meal, and after sitting there only a short while, he suddenly got up and left.

After the Thirteenth Division's Vice-Captain departed, Hisagi Shūhei carried his tray over and sat opposite Xin.

"You told him about it?"

"I could only tell him. He's the only one who can help me." Xin lowered his head and began eating.

Hisagi Shūhei reminded him, "I don't think it'll be that simple, Xin. You're imagining it too ideally. We're just ordinary students."

When Xin had brought up this idea yesterday, Shūbīng had been surprised that he would think of something like this, but he had also felt that Xin was indulging in wild fantasies.

"You're right. Precisely because we're only ordinary students, it's simple for us. Someone else can worry about all those troublesome matters."

That afternoon was Swordsmanship Class again.

Nanda Hidezawa had been waiting in the swordsmanship classroom early. As he watched the students trickle in, his gaze suddenly locked onto the handsome boy entering alongside Hisagi Shūhei.

Xin felt his scalp prickle under that stare.

"Why does it feel like something's about to happen..."

Shūbīng merely gave him a look that said he should take care of himself.

"What did you tell him about me yesterday?"

"The truth. Lieutenant Matsumoto of the Tenth Division wanted to see you."

"Shūbīng, you..."

He had only just taken his place in the classroom and had not yet sat down when Nanda Hidezawa's cold voice rang out. "Tachikawa, can you explain why you didn't attend class yesterday?"

The students in the classroom had already knelt off to one side, each of them looking over eagerly for a show.

Hearing this, Xin immediately stepped forward and bowed deeply to Nanda Hidezawa with utmost sincerity. "I'm sorry, Teacher Nanda. I was wrong yesterday. I've deeply realized my mistake. I should not have wasted the time I had to study at the academy. I promise there won't be a next time!"

Nanda Hidezawa sneered. "How many times have you promised me that already?"

Aside from being relatively well-behaved when he had first enrolled, this fellow had started becoming lax in his second year. Skipping class had become a regular occurrence. If not for his exceptional talent, a student like him would have been expelled long ago.

"I'll definitely change this time!"

Nanda Hidezawa remained unmoved. He turned to the students watching the spectacle and announced, "Today's lesson is Asauchi combat practice. All of you will face Tachikawa Xin alone. If you can defeat him, I'll award extra points at my discretion on your year-end exams. There is no limit to how many times each of you may challenge him."

"..."

The swordsmanship classroom fell silent for several seconds. Xin suddenly felt countless heated gazes fixed on his back.

"Teacher Nanda, that isn't fair!"

"I think it's perfectly fair!"

The speaker was Kanazawa. At some point, she had already risen to her feet first, gripping a black Asauchi.

"Tachikawa, it's been a long time since we last sparred," Kanazawa said slowly.

An Asauchi was tossed toward him. It was Shūbīng, and Xin could not help feeling there was a hint of schadenfreude in the boy's eyes.

Holding the heavy sword in his hand, Xin took a deep breath. Seeing that the matter could no longer be avoided, he decided he would casually exchange a few moves with whoever came up and then surrender.

Nanda Hidezawa spoke again at that moment. "Tachikawa, if you lose, I'll deduct points from your overall evaluation. You've skipped so many classes this year. I wonder whether you'll have to repeat the year."

Xin's grip on the sword tightened involuntarily.

Damn it all!

"Come on!"

Xin stepped into the center of the classroom with the air of someone going all out.

Nanda Hidezawa stood steadily at the edge of the classroom. These students had already completed all of their fourth-year studies, so this would not delay anything. Moreover, knowing Xin's level, he felt that this sort of combat practice would better promote the other students' progress.

But he had still underestimated the situation.

Just over half an hour later, none of the more than twenty students present remained standing. Even Kanazawa and Shūbīng, the two top students, could not last a single minute against Xin.

Don't blame me. I really wanted you all to get extra points, but I don't want to repeat the year either.

Xin sheathed his sword, muttering silently to himself.

"The gap is this great..."

Nanda Hidezawa murmured as he looked at the boy standing in the center of the classroom, whose clothes had not even suffered the slightest damage.

He knew Tachikawa Xin's swordsmanship was even stronger than his own, but not even he knew where the boy's upper limit lay.

"Teacher Nanda, I pass, right?" Xin looked at him with a beaming smile.

Feeling that the boy seemed to be showing off, Nanda Hidezawa's expression darkened. Pointing at several students lying on the ground and groaning in pain, he snapped, "You struck your fellow students so heavily. Do you have even a shred of kindness in your heart?"

"Teacher Nanda, I used the flat of the blade! Not one of them is bleeding!"

"You still dare argue?!" Nanda Hidezawa glared. "From now on, you'll be responsible for everyone's combat practice in swordsmanship class!"

The instant he said that, mournful cries erupted from the students lying on the ground.

"No, Teacher Nanda!"

"He's the one who made the mistake, so why are we the ones suffering!"

"Teacher Nanda, you're playing favorites!"

After class, Xin was summoned alone to Nanda Hidezawa's office.

Most of the Spirit Training Academy's teachers knew Xin. They knew he was one of Teacher Nanda's troublesome students, and they all knew of Nanda Hidezawa's "special favor" toward him.

After sitting down, Nanda Hidezawa did not mention what had happened in class.

"Why don't you plan to graduate this year?"

Xin considered it briefly, then asked, "Didn't Kanazawa tell you?"

Nanda Hidezawa adjusted his glasses. "If you've recognized your shortcomings, want to learn more, and wish to spend another year building your foundation, then that is indeed a good thing. But for you, would one more year of study be enough to fix those bad habits of yours?"

"I'll work hard to change!"

"Hisagi and Kanazawa also don't intend to apply for the graduation assessment. Is that because of you?"

Xin smiled upon hearing that. "Teacher Nanda, even if they took the graduation assessment, what are their chances of passing?"

Nanda Hidezawa fell silent. The graduation assessment was extremely difficult for fourth-year students. Hisagi Shūhei and Kanazawa both had excellent grades, certainly, but Nanda Hidezawa could not guarantee that they would pass smoothly. Furthermore, after the graduation assessment came the Division entry assessment.

Nanda Hidezawa was a teacher who cared greatly about his teaching results. That was why he "favored" Tachikawa Xin so much.

"Teacher Nanda, don't put all the responsibility on my head. A person can only do what their ability allows. Whether they take the graduation assessment is their choice, and whether I take it is mine. I want to remain at the Spirit Training Academy a while longer, and I want you to teach me a little more. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

Nanda Hidezawa then looked through several stacks of documents on his desk and said, "Several Divisions have come to ask me about your situation and which Division you intend to choose in the future. The graduation assessment should be nothing to you. No matter which Division you enter, you'll be highly valued."

This happened every year. The Spirit Training Academy's Top Student would naturally attract the attention of the Shinigami higher-ups, and Tachikawa Xin had once defeated him in a swordsmanship class, making the Top Student's standing even more substantial.

If Tachikawa Xin graduated this year, Nanda Hidezawa would not be surprised in the slightest if he entered the Gotei 13 and began directly as a Seated Officer. In fact, he would be quite pleased to see that happen.

"Did Vice-Captain Shiba of the Thirteenth Division seek you out at noon today because he hopes you'll join the Thirteenth Division in the future?" Nanda Hidezawa asked again.

Shiba Kaien had revealed this intention long ago. He had even sought out Xin's teacher, hoping he would persuade Xin.

Xin nodded lightly. "Lieutenant Matsumoto of the Tenth Division also sought me out. She said that if I joined the Tenth Division, I could directly become the 23rd Seat."

The 23rd Seat was quite suitable.

Thinking this, Nanda Hidezawa asked, "Then which do you want to choose?"

Xin grinned. "I want to continue being your student."

Nanda Hidezawa was amused by him as well, but his expression soon turned serious again. "Waiting to sell yourself at the best price is not good behavior."

"Teacher Nanda, you misunderstand me." Xin looked innocent. "Everything I said was true!"

Nanda Hidezawa stared into Xin's eyes for a long while, unable to make sense of his thoughts.

"The graduation assessment is voluntary for fourth-year students in the first place. Since you're unwilling, stay another year."

"Teacher Nanda, you really understand me."

Two days later.

Shiba Kaien came to the Spirit Training Academy again and sought out Xin just as afternoon classes ended.

"Have you thought it through, Vice-Captain Shiba?"

"I want to hear your plans for this Student Council. Its organizational structure, specific responsibilities, members' positions, and so on. Have you thought through those details carefully?" Shiba Kaien asked.

Xin directly pulled out a stack of documents and handed them over.

Shiba Kaien raised an eyebrow slightly at what Xin handed him. He accepted it, but rather than opening it immediately, he asked, "When did you first have this idea?"

"About a year ago," Xin answered. "I saw how hard the teachers at the Spirit Training Academy worked to manage the students, so I suddenly thought of helping the teachers and the academy shoulder some of that burden."

Shiba Kaien countered, "Then why do you still skip class so often? Since you're so considerate of the teachers' hardships, why don't you work harder to become a student with both excellent character and grades?"

"That's different!" Xin argued stubbornly. "I don't skip class without reason. I really do have things to do. My health is poor, so I need more rest..."

Shiba Kaien did not argue with him further about that. Instead, he began seriously reading the documents in his hands.

The documents laid out the Student Council's exact structure and functions in full detail, down to the division of duties for each department and every member. The more Shiba Kaien read, the more he felt this was a highly mature organization rather than a makeshift group.

This kid had truly made thorough preparations.

Shiba Kaien's thoughts raced. He put away the documents and looked at Tachikawa Xin before him.

The Spirit Training Academy had never lacked geniuses. He himself had graduated after only one year and directly become Third Seat. Decades ago, Ichimaru Gin had likewise graduated after just one year.

Compared with them, Tachikawa Xin's record could seemingly only be called "excellent."

What could the title of genius bring someone?

It could make their start and promotion after becoming Shinigami smoother, but that seemed to be all.

But if this Student Council succeeded, what would it bring this boy...

Shiba Kaien did not dare think too deeply. He still needed to consider this matter carefully, discuss it with his captain, and discuss it with his uncle.

"Tell me, which Division do you plan to join after graduation?" he asked again.

Xin spoke slowly. "Captain Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division has always been in poor health, but Vice-Captain Shiba, it will probably still take you a long time to replace him."

Shiba Kaien's expression remained unchanged. There was more to it than that. The captain of the Tenth Division was his uncle. Could the Gotei 13 have two Shiba captains at the same time?

Central 46 likely would not allow it. His future promotion would be far from easy, and Shiba Kaien understood that clearly. His uncle was still in his prime. Fortunately, Shiba Kaien was quite content in the Thirteenth Division. There was nothing wrong with remaining Vice-Captain forever.

Xin's words revealed a great deal of information.

The Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division was him, while the Third Seat was his fiancée. If Xin went to the Thirteenth Division, it seemed the highest position he could reach would be Fourth Seat.

No wonder this kid had not accepted Miss Matsumoto's offer of the 23rd Seat.

"Third Seat of the Tenth Division," Shiba Kaien spoke again.

"Are you willing?"