Third Seat

The so-called 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 hearing Shin's description, Shiba Kaien immediately grasped the significance of this so-called Student Council and the potential energy it could hold in the future.

Managing students, serving students?

Nowadays, most Soul Reapers in Soul Society were directly funneled through the Spirit Training Academy, and the outstanding ones among them had become core members. If this Student Council could truly be established, absorbing talented individuals during their academy days, then after they became full-fledged Soul Reapers, there would be an additional bond between them.

After Shin proposed this concept, countless pros and cons immediately flooded Shiba Kaien's mind.

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

The actual rulers of Soul Society were the nobles. Although Shiba Kaien himself was a noble, the influence of the Shiba family was far from what it used to be.

In Soul Society, the gap between nobles and commoners was nearly reproductive isolation. The Spirit Training Academy was almost the only path for commoners to become Soul Reapers, but nobles were different—many had their own training methods and could become Soul Reapers without ever entering the academy.

How would the nobles view this Student Council? Would they encourage their own juniors to enter the Spirit Training Academy for its sake?

Maybe he was thinking too far ahead. Perhaps the nobles wouldn't even allow it to be established!

The cafeteria was filled with various noises, all blurring into indistinct white noise in Shiba Kaien's ears. He stopped eating, his eyes fixed on the boy before him, flickering with uncertainty.

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

Shin's smile didn't waver. "No problem, I'm not in a hurry either."

Shiba Kaien gave a wry smile. "You little brat, you've surprised me."

Shin said slowly, "Vice-Captain Shiba, you might be overthinking this. It's just a small organization, and one that's subordinate to the Spirit Training Academy at that."

Shiba Kaien neither agreed nor disagreed, only saying, "If this works out, in two years when you graduate, will ordinary Seated Officers in the Thirteenth Division even catch your eye?"

"You're making me out to be far too greedy. I know my own limits."

Shiba Kaien said nothing more, didn't touch the rest of his meal, and after sitting there a moment, suddenly got up and left.

After the Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division departed, Hisagi Shūhei carried his tray over and sat down across from Shin.

"You told him?"

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

Hisagi Shūhei warned, "I don't think it'll be that simple, Shin. You're being too idealistic. We're just ordinary students."

When Shin had first brought up this idea yesterday, Shūhei was astonished that Shin would have such a thought, while also thinking it was a pipe dream.

"You're right. Precisely because we're just ordinary students, it's simple for us. Let others worry about the troublesome parts."

In the afternoon, it was swordsmanship class again.

Nanda Hidezawa was already waiting in the sword training hall. As students filed in one after another, his gaze suddenly locked onto the handsome boy walking in alongside Hisagi Shūhei.

Shin felt a chill run down his spine under that stare.

"Something feels wrong..."

Shūhei just shot him a look that said, You're on your own.

"How did you cover for me yesterday?"

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

"Shūhei, you—"

Before he could even stand still in the classroom, a cold voice from Nanda Hidezawa rang out: "Tachikawa, care to explain why you didn't show up for class yesterday?"

The other students had already knelt to the side, each wearing expressions of eager spectators.

Hearing this, Shin immediately stepped forward and bowed sincerely to Nanda Hidezawa. "I'm sorry, Teacher Nanda. Yesterday was my fault. I've deeply realized my mistake—I shouldn't waste my time studying at the academy. I promise it won't happen again!"

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

Aside from being well-behaved right after enrollment, by the second year this guy had grown lax, and skipping class was a regular occurrence. If not for his outstanding talent, a student like this would have been expelled long ago.

"I'll definitely change this time!"

Nanda Hidezawa was unmoved. Instead, he turned to the watching students and announced, "Today's lesson is Asauchi practical combat. All of you will face Tachikawa Shin alone. If you can defeat him, I'll add bonus points to your final grade for the year. No limit on challenges per person."

"..."

The sword training hall fell silent for a few seconds. Shin suddenly felt countless burning gazes fix on him from behind.

"Teacher Nanda, this isn't fair!"

"I think it's perfectly fair!"

The speaker was Kanazawa. She had already stood up, a black Asauchi in hand.

"Tachikawa, it's been a while since we sparred," Kanazawa said slowly.

An Asauchi was tossed over—it was from Shūhei. Shin couldn't help feeling there was a hint of schadenfreude in the guy's eyes.

Gripping the heavy blade in his hand, Shin took a deep breath. Seeing that there was no way out, he figured he'd just go through the motions with a few moves and then surrender.

Nanda Hidezawa spoke again: "Tachikawa, if you lose, I'll deduct points from your overall evaluation. You've skipped so many classes this year—who knows, you might have to repeat a grade."

Shin's grip on the sword tightened involuntarily.

Damn it all!

"Come on!"

Shin stepped to the center of the classroom, wearing an expression of utter resignation.

Nanda Hidezawa stood calmly at the edge of the room. The fourth-year students had already completed all their coursework, so this wouldn't set them back. And knowing Shin's skill level, he actually felt this kind of practical combat training would better spur the other students' improvement.

Still, he had underestimated the situation.

In just over half an hour, none of the twenty-plus students present remained standing—including the top students Kanazawa and Hisagi. Not a single one had lasted a minute against Shin.

Don't blame me. I'd love to give you extra credit, but I don't want to repeat the year either.

Shin sheathed his sword, silently muttering to himself.

"The gap is this wide..."

Nanda Hidezawa murmured, staring at the boy in the center of the classroom whose clothes weren't even rumpled.

He knew Tachikawa Shin's swordsmanship surpassed even his own, but he had no idea where the upper limit lay.

"Teacher Nanda, did I pass?" Shin asked with a beaming smile.

Sensing the kid was showing off, Nanda Hidezawa's face darkened. He pointed at several students still groaning on the floor. "Striking your classmates this hard—do you have any compassion left in you?!"

"Teacher Nanda, I used the back of the blade! Not a single one of them is bleeding!"

"You dare talk back?!" Nanda Hidezawa glared. "From now on, you'll be in charge of everyone's practical combat drills in swordsmanship class!"

At those words, the students on the floor erupted in wails of protest.

"No way, Teacher Nanda!"

"He's the one who messed up—why do we have to suffer?!"

"Teacher Nanda, you're playing favorites!"

After class, Nanda Hidezawa called Shin alone to the office.

Most of the Spirit Training Academy's teachers knew Shin and recognized him as a troublesome student under Nanda's charge. They were also well aware of Nanda Hidezawa's "favoritism" toward him.

Nanda Hidezawa sat down without bringing up the earlier incident.

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

Shin thought for a moment, then countered, "Didn't Kanazawa tell you?"

Nanda Hidezawa pushed up his glasses. "If you recognize your shortcomings and want to study more, taking a year to settle is indeed a good thing. But for you, will another year of study really fix your bad habits?"

"I'll work hard to fix them!"

"Hisagi and Kanazawa aren't applying for the graduation exam either—because of you, right?"

Shin laughed at that. "Teacher Nanda, even if they took the graduation exam, what are the odds they'd pass?"

Nanda Hidezawa fell silent. The graduation exam was extremely difficult for fourth-year students. While Hisagi Shūhei and Kanazawa had good grades, Nanda Hidezawa couldn't guarantee they'd pass—and after the graduation exam came the recruitment exam.

Nanda Hidezawa was a teacher who cared deeply about his teaching record, which was why he showed such "favoritism" toward Tachikawa Shin.

"Teacher Nanda, don't put all the blame on me. A person can only do as much as their ability allows. Whether they take the graduation exam is their choice, and whether I take it is mine. I want to stay at the Spirit Training Academy a while longer and have you keep teaching me. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

Nanda Hidezawa flipped through several stacks of documents on his desk and said, "Several families in the Thirteen Divisions have come to me, asking about your situation and your future division preferences. The graduation exam should be nothing to you. No matter which division you join, you'll be highly valued."

This happened every year. The top student of the Spirit Training Academy naturally drew the attention of the Soul Reapers' higher-ups, and Tachikawa Shin's defeat of him in a swordsmanship class had only increased the weight of that top-student status.

If Tachikawa Shin graduated this year and entered the Thirteen Divisions directly as a Seated Officer, Nanda Hidezawa wouldn't be surprised in the least—and he'd be happy to see it.

"Vice-Captain Shiba of the Thirteenth Division came to see you at noon today, hoping you'd join the Thirteenth Division, right?" Nanda Hidezawa asked.

Shiba Kaien had expressed this intention long ago and had even approached Nanda, Shin's teacher, to try and persuade him.

Shin nodded lightly. "Lieutenant Matsumoto of the Tenth Division also came to me. She said if I joined the Tenth Division, I could become the 23rd Seat directly."

The 23rd Seat—that was quite fitting.

Nanda Hidezawa thought so and asked, "Which one do you want to choose?"

Shin grinned lightly. "I want to keep being your student."

Nanda Hidezawa couldn't help but laugh, then turned serious. "Holding out for a better offer isn't a good practice."

"Teacher Nanda, you've misunderstood me." Shin looked innocent. "I mean every word!"

Nanda Hidezawa stared into Shin's eyes, silent for a long moment, but couldn't read his thoughts.

"The graduation exam is voluntary for you fourth-years. Since you're unwilling, then stay another year."

"Teacher Nanda, you understand me."

#

Two days later.

Shiba Kaien came to the Spirit Training Academy again and found Shin right after the afternoon classes ended.

"Has Vice-Captain Shiba made up his mind?"

"I want to hear your vision for this Student Council—its structure, specific duties, member roles, and so on. Have you thought it through carefully?" Shiba Kaien asked.

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

Shiba Kaien raised an eyebrow at the document Shin handed him. Taking it, he didn't rush to flip through it, instead asking, "When did you first get this idea?"

"About a year ago," Shin replied. "I saw how hard the Spirit Training Academy teachers worked managing the students, and it suddenly occurred to me that I could help share the burden for the teachers and the school."

Shiba Kaien countered, "Then why do you still skip class so often? If you're so considerate of the teachers' hard work, why not strive to be a model student with excellent conduct and grades?"

"That's different!" Shin argued stubbornly. "I don't cut class without reason—I really have things to do. My health isn't great, and I need more rest..."

Shiba Kaien didn't bother arguing further. Instead, he focused on reading the document in his hands.

The file laid out the Student Council's specific structure and functions in detail, down to each department and every member's division of labor. The more Shiba Kaien read, the more he felt this was a mature organization, not some makeshift operation.

This kid had really come fully prepared.

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

The Spirit Training Academy had never lacked geniuses. He himself had graduated in just one year, directly becoming Third Seat. And decades ago, there was Ichimaru Gin, who also graduated in a single year.

Compared to them, Tachikawa Shin's record could only be described as "excellent."

What could the title of genius bring?

It could make their start and promotions smoother after becoming Soul Reapers, but that seemed to be all.

But this Student Council—if it succeeded—what could it bring this guy...

Shiba Kaien didn't dare think too deeply. He needed to consider this carefully, discuss it with his captain, and talk it over with his uncle.

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

Shin spoke slowly. "Captain Ukitake of the Thirteenth Division has always been in poor health, but Vice-Captain Shiba, it will probably take a long time before you take his place."

Shiba Kaien's expression remained calm. Many things weren't that simple. The captain of the Tenth Division was his uncle. Could the Gotei 13 have two Captain Shibas at the same time?

Central 46 probably wouldn't allow it. His path to promotion was unusually difficult, and Shiba Kaien knew this well. His uncle was still in his prime. Fortunately, he was content in the Thirteenth Division and had no issue remaining Vice-Captain.

Shin's words revealed a lot.

The Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division was him, and the Third Seat was his fiancée. If Shin joined the Thirteenth Division, the highest he could likely reach was Fourth Seat.

No wonder he hadn't accepted Miss Matsumoto's offer of the Twenty-Third Seat.

"Third Seat of the Tenth Division," Shiba Kaien said again. "Would you be willing?"