These words startled everyone present.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya could not help but retort, "What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Xin's expression remained unchanged as he merely watched him. The next instant, the spiritual pressure within him surged out violently. The sudden eruption of spiritual pressure left Toshiro unable to breathe for several seconds.
Only after Xin withdrew his spiritual pressure did Toshiro begin gulping for air, his face flushed red.
"Did you feel that? That's what another person's spiritual pressure feels like," Xin said slowly. "Let me ask you: ever since you were little, haven't people your age generally been unwilling to get close to you?"
"..."
Toshiro raised his head blankly and looked at Hinamori.
"Hinamori is an exception, because she possesses spiritual power herself. But in the Rukon District, most people are ordinary people without spiritual power. They can't endure the spiritual pressure leaking from you. Being around you makes them feel very uncomfortable."
Hinamori could not help saying, "But I had quite a few friends in the Rukon District too..."
"You're different from him. I already said it—his spiritual pressure is very strong, stronger even than that of many current Spirit Training Academy students. He simply doesn't know how to control it."
Toshiro slumped both hands onto the table, his mind relentlessly replaying the events of the past.
Xin was absolutely right. Ever since he was little, aside from Hinamori, no one had wanted to play with him. Other than Hinamori, the only person in his life had been his grandmother.
Then Grandma...
Grandma had always been in poor health...
Toshiro's pupils widened slightly as he realized something. Could it all have been because of him?
"There's one more thing. Spiritual powers attract one another. Today, you came to the Spirit Training Academy, a place where everyone possesses spiritual power. The spiritual pressure within you will become more restless than before, and the harm it causes ordinary people around you will become even greater. If your grandmother has no spiritual power, then temporarily leaving her is the best choice for both of you."
Toshiro sat there in a daze.
Hinamori wore a worried expression as well. She had not expected the President to say something so serious.
But on careful thought, it all seemed right. Toshiro's grandmother truly had always been unwell, and when Hinamori had visited her last time, she had seemed even worse.
Could it really have been because of Toshiro?
If so, how devastated would Toshiro be...
Xin sighed softly and continued, "You should seriously consider coming to the Spirit Training Academy to learn how to become a Soul Reaper and how to control your spiritual pressure. Then you can return to your grandmother's side and be with her every day."
Hisagi Shūhei looked at Toshiro with some surprise. To be honest, he had sensed spiritual pressure fluctuations within Toshiro, but he had nowhere near Xin's level of precision. He could not tell at a glance that it had reached the point where it threatened ordinary people's lives.
"Toshiro..." Hinamori called softly.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya slowly raised his head and looked at Xin.
"Thank you..."
Xin smiled faintly. "You're Hinamori's childhood friend. Once you come to the Spirit Training Academy, you'll also be my junior, my underclassman, and my friend. I was only giving you a reminder. It's nothing."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya stood up with great seriousness and bowed deeply to Xin.
"Hinamori... take me home."
Xin also said to Hinamori, "Go ahead. Things won't be so busy this afternoon."
After lunch, Hinamori Momo left the Spirit Training Academy with Toshiro.
Shūbīng could not help asking Xin, "Xin, is that Toshiro really as impressive as you said?"
Xin pondered for a moment. "At least Sixth Rank Spiritual Pressure."
Shūbīng's pupils contracted sharply. Sixth Rank Spiritual Pressure—that was already the level of a Seat Officer, perhaps even an Upper Seat Officer!
What rank had he tested at when he first enrolled...
After his shock faded, Shūbīng felt a deep sense of defeat. He had trained so hard at the Spirit Training Academy for so long, yet he was inferior to some kid who had never even trained here?!
He had always ranked near the top among students of his year. Yet because Xin existed, he had never considered himself some outstanding genius student.
It was only natural for Xin to be stronger than him, because he could see that Xin worked no less hard in private than he did.
But that Toshiro—what did he have that Shūbīng did not...
Seeing Shūbīng suddenly fall silent, Xin could not help chuckling. "What's wrong? Feeling discouraged?"
Seeing that Xin was still smiling, Shūbīng could not help retorting, "Xin, don't you feel anything at all? That Toshiro was stronger than either of us when we first enrolled! Much stronger! This is just too..."
What he wanted to say was that it was too unfair.
Why were people born with such vast differences?
"Shūbīng, when you get married and have children in the future, your children will naturally possess spiritual power. But there are many ordinary people in the Rukon District with no spiritual power. That's simply how the world is. There's no point talking about fairness or unfairness. Strength also means responsibility. Toshiro may shine brilliantly after becoming a Soul Reaper, but his power will be used to protect the Soul Society. Just as we now enjoy the stable order left behind by those before us, are you also going to complain about why the Captain-Commander is so much stronger than you?"
Shūbīng could not help muttering, "That reasoning is a bit too grand..."
Sixth Rank Spiritual Pressure, an Upper Seat Officer...
He would surely become a Lieutenant Captain, perhaps even a Captain, in the future.
Could Shūbīng become a Captain?
He did not dare entertain such hopes. Becoming a Lieutenant Captain was already his greatest goal.
But Xin... Xin definitely could, right!
He firmly believed it in his heart. Xin could see through the level of spiritual pressure within Toshiro at a glance—wasn't that because he had already reached, or even surpassed, that realm?
The Third Seat position the Tenth Division had promised Xin could not possibly have been based solely on Xin's talent. It was because he already possessed the ability.
How much harder did Shūbīng need to work to attain that...
Evening.
The Cultural Festival ended successfully, and the students who had celebrated wildly all day finally returned home satisfied.
Only a sparse handful of students remained in the plaza, cleaning up the aftermath and preparing to tidy the place.
The Student Council had also finished a full day's work, and everyone was exhausted.
Xin took all the Student Council members to a barbecue restaurant outside the Spirit Training Academy to treat them, naturally using the remaining public funds.
Whenever he thought of it, Xin felt grateful to Kasumi Oji Gorō, their generous benefactor.
He planned to toast Kōgorō a few more times.
There were quite a few Student Council members, nearly enough to book out the entire barbecue restaurant. They occupied three private rooms and deliberately opened the sliding doors separating them.
Slices of meat sizzled over the grills, steaming as they cooked. The students raised cups and traded drinks. There was no need to worry about drinking age restrictions—everyone present was older than they looked.
Strictly speaking, none of them were human. Their bodies were formed from spirit particles, and their lifespans stretched for centuries.
"Sorry I'm late."
Because of Toshiro, Hinamori Momo was the last to arrive. She pushed open the door, saw the lively scene inside, and immediately smiled.
"Yo, Hinamori!"
Because of her cute appearance, Hinamori was very popular in the Student Council. Although she was only a first-year student, many people greeted her as soon as she arrived.
Rukia waved at her and pointed to the seat beside her that she had deliberately saved.
"Momoko, over here!"
But Hinamori merely smiled at her and walked straight toward Xin's seat.
"President, may I sit here?"
Rukia silently withdrew her hand.
Xin currently had one arm around Kōgorō's neck. Hearing her, he casually replied, "Of course."
Shūbīng very consciously shifted aside, making room for her.
Hinamori sat down beside Xin with a bright smile.
Kanazawa sat opposite Xin. Amid everyone's merriment, she remained somewhat quiet. After Hinamori entered, she began rubbing the wine cup on the table, her gaze flickering uncertainly.
I wish everyone a happy New Year. New year, new beginnings—this year will definitely be a prosperous one!
(I got fired up on New Year's Eve. I feel like I'll definitely blow up next year!)
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