Toshiro Hitsugaya

The captains did not stay at the Spirit Training Academy for the entire day. Though there were still events scheduled for the afternoon, they planned to leave at noon.

Xin accompanied Unohana throughout, seeing them off all the way to the academy's main gate.

"Today was truly quite interesting. This Cultural Festival is a rare thing. It feels like it will be held every year from now on, and every year will have a little more fun to look forward to."

Kyōraku Shunsui appeared to be in a fine mood. Before leaving, he spoke to Xin with a cheerful smile.

"Tachikawa, you have indeed set an excellent precedent. The history of the Spirit Training Academy will remember your name." Ukitake Jūshirō's words were considerably more formal.

"It is a pity that Tachikawa has already decided on a Division. Otherwise, I certainly would not have been able to resist trying to poach you for the Fifth Division," Aizen said with a smile as well.

"Captain Aizen, would it be such a pity for him to join our Fourth Division?" Unohana Retsu asked with a beaming smile.

"You misunderstand!" Aizen immediately looked as though he were breaking out in a cold sweat.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Xin also responded formally, "Please allow me to thank all the captains and Lieutenant Captains on behalf of all the teachers and students of the Spirit Training Academy for coming here to support us. You are also welcome to visit the academy often in the years to come."

The captains turned and departed with their respective adjutants.

Only after seeing them off did Xin feel the hunger in his stomach.

He first returned to the Central Platform, where he found Hisagi Shūhei still directing people here and there.

"Still busy?"

Hearing him, Shūhei looked over and asked, "The captains have all left?"

"They left."

Shūhei could not help complaining, "You had it easy. I'm exhausted after today."

"You think following those captains around was easy?" Xin said irritably.

Upon thinking it over carefully, Shūhei realized that was true. If it had been him, he would certainly have been even more nervous standing before the captains.

This really seemed to be work that only Xin could handle.

Ever since the Student Council had been established, Xin's standing within the Spirit Training Academy had risen tremendously. Even their homeroom teacher, Nanda Hidezawa, could not interact with captains as frequently as he did.

And among the students, no one else had managed to enter the captains' field of vision as early as Xin had.

"President!"

Hinamori Momo and Rukia called out as they approached, with a white-haired boy following beside them.

A smile appeared on Xin's face. "It's you two. I watched your performance today. You did wonderfully. Even the captain of the Eighth Division was praising you."

Hinamori chuckled. "President, don't forget our agreement!"

She was referring to Xin's promise that as long as they were willing to perform onstage, he would grant each of them one wish.

"I remember." Xin smiled softly, then looked toward the white-haired boy.

The oversized Spirit Training Academy uniform he wore looked rather comical, enough to make anyone laugh.

However, the fluctuations of spiritual pressure he gave off surpassed even those of many academy students. He probably did not know how to control it, so he made no effort to restrain it.

"This is your friend?"

"Yes!" Hinamori immediately introduced them. "This is Tōshirō Hitsugaya. Toshiro, this is our President, Tachikawa Xin."

Toshiro studied the kind-faced man before him. After a moment's thought, he gave a slight bow. "Hello. Thank you very much for everything today."

Xin merely smiled. "It's nothing. I could see how much Hinamori cared about this. Well, it's just about mealtime anyway. Let's eat first."

The five of them went together to the Spirit Training Academy cafeteria.

Hinamori kept introducing the academy's dishes to Toshiro, telling him which ones were delicious and which ones he would probably like. Toshiro simply listened quietly.

After finding a place to sit, Hinamori was the first to speak again.

"President, you were with the captain of the Fourth Division all day today. Have you already decided to join the Fourth Division after graduation?"

"Probably." Xin spoke with food still in his mouth.

Hinamori said, "I heard the Fourth Division is different from the other Divisions. It specializes in studying Healing Arts. We haven't even begun formally learning Healing Arts yet."

"You'll learn it later. Healing Arts is also an extremely profound subject, but what the academy teaches is fairly basic, and it is not valued as highly as the other courses. If you are interested when the time comes, you will have to find ways to put in the effort yourself."

Hinamori nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Then President, your Healing Arts must be incredible too!"

Xin laughed. "I'm only average. It's because my Zanpakutō is a Kidō type that I was recommended for the Fourth Division."

"I don't believe that. I heard long ago that President, you perform at the Top Student level in every subject!"

"Who said that? In our year, the best Healing Arts grades clearly belong to Aoshika, right, Shūbīng?"

Hisagi Shūhei merely kept his head down and ate. At that, he gave a muffled "Mm."

Toshiro silently ate beside them. The Spirit Training Academy's food was indeed quite delicious, and there was a wide variety as well. He quietly watched Hinamori as she kept asking questions, then glanced at Tachikawa Xin sitting across from him.

"President, what does it feel like to follow captains around? What are those captains like?" Hinamori asked curiously again.

"They're all quite good. Their personalities differ, but you can tell they are all good people. And very powerful."

"I felt it too. Their spiritual pressure is completely different from ours!" Hinamori nodded seriously at that.

"If the President joins the Fourth Division, will he become Third Seat right away?"

Xin looked helpless. "Who did you hear that from?"

"Rukia!"

Rukia immediately spoke up nervously. "Sorry, President. It was because of the time Vice-Captain Shiba came before..."

"It is not as simple as you think. At the end of the day, I am only a student. If I graduate smoothly, I should begin as an ordinary Soul Reaper. Being a Seated Officer is not merely an honor; it also represents responsibility."

"What a wonderful thing to say, President!" Hinamori said with a sweet smile. "But I believe that even if you start as an ordinary Soul Reaper, President, you will rise through the ranks very quickly!"

Xin only smiled. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Toshiro, who was quietly eating beside him.

"Toshiro Hitsugaya, is it? Do you want to attend the Spirit Training Academy?"

Hearing his name called so suddenly, Tōshirō Hitsugaya froze. The others' gazes all turned toward him as well.

"Hinamori really hopes you will come, and becoming a Soul Reaper is also a very honorable thing."

In the Soul Society, there was no better profession than being a Soul Reaper.

Seeing their President suddenly trying to persuade Toshiro, Hinamori was delighted.

Toshiro put down his chopsticks, hesitation showing on his face.

After remaining silent for a long while, he finally said, "I still have a grandmother at home who needs taking care of..."

"Forgive me for speaking bluntly." Xin cut him off. "You probably do not realize it yourself, but I can sense that the spiritual pressure within you is very strong. Such powerful spiritual pressure means you have astonishing talent, but you do not know how to control it yet. That is not a good thing for ordinary people around you who have no spiritual pressure."

Toshiro was bewildered. "What do you mean?"

"The spiritual pressure inside you is leaking out constantly, and ordinary people cannot withstand high-intensity spiritual pressure. If your grandmother has no spiritual power..."

Xin paused.

"You'll kill her!"