A Kiss

Compared to Rukia and Kanazawa, Hinamori's personality was more accepted and popular within the Student Council.

Her late arrival immediately made her the center of attention.

And seeing her actively sit next to Xin, with Hisagi Shūhei even making space, it couldn't help but make people think.

Hinamori seemed to realize her actions might have been a bit bold. After sitting down, she couldn't help but glance at Xin beside her, seeing him eagerly talking to the Vice President.

Kasumi Oji Gorō kept shifting away with a hint of disdain.

There were many noble students in the Student Council, but there were no conflicts between noble and ordinary students, nor any instances of nobles looking down on others.

Kasumi Oji Gorō, being from the most prominent background, was clearly the leader of these noble members.

And as the President, Xin's actions left these nobles with no room to feel superior.

Gorō was initially displeased with Xin appointing Shūhei and Kanazawa as heads of the Organization Department and Disciplinary Department, respectively, but after careful observation, he found that both individuals were indeed capable.

Both were diligent, responsible, and their positions of authority within the Student Council allowed them to silence any gossip with their abilities.

Overall, the atmosphere within the Student Council was actually quite good, and it only improved further around the drinking table.

"Classmate Kasumi Oji, you are a great contributor to our Student Council. We can't do without you. What will we do if you graduate this year!" Xin said tirelessly, over and over again.

Kasumi Oji Gorō knew perfectly well that this guy was after his money.

He was one year ahead of Xin and was bound to graduate this year.

Xin also pondered the question of who the Vice President would be next year. While he wanted Shūhei to fill the position, he doubted it would be approved from above; the Vice President would inevitably have to be a noble.

Although there were many nobles in the Student Council, he wasn't very familiar with most of them besides Gorō.

Moreover, Gorō was a good person, and Xin liked him. If Gorō left, would it still be this easy to "reap the rewards"?

"Why don't you just repeat the year? Do it for our Student Council, this is our hard work!"

Gorō's expression darkened. What nonsense was this guy spouting, asking him to repeat a year? He couldn't afford to lose that face, and the Kasumi Oji family couldn't afford it either.

As they were talking, a figure suddenly approached Xin, holding a wine glass. They had come from another table.

"President, I'd like to propose a toast to you. I admire you greatly..."

Xin looked up and saw it was Izuru Kira.

After Kira joined the Student Council, Xin had paid attention to him, but Kira had always been lukewarm, not one to stand out, and had little presence in the Student Council.

Countless people had already toasted Xin. Besides the late Hinamori, Gorō, Shūhei, and Kanazawa, only Kira hadn't proposed a toast. Xin figured Kira was probably worried about seeming unsociable or disrespectful to the President if he didn't, which was why he had come forward.

Xin, being gracious, smiled and said, "Kira, I remember you performed very well during the Student Council assessment. But why have you been so quiet since joining the Student Council?"

Kira said with a bit of shyness, "I'm just a junior. I just need to learn from my seniors."

"Don't say that. The Student Council will rely on you juniors in the future."

After drinking a toast with Izuru Kira, even though his alcohol tolerance was good, as the central figure of the banquet, he couldn't withstand so many people taking turns to toast him. His thoughts were starting to feel a bit sluggish.

Letting out a sigh, Xin felt he should speak less.

"President."

A cup of tea was handed to him by Hinamori Momo, who looked at him with a smile.

"Hinamori, thank you."

Xin drank some water and then heard someone instigate, "Why is Hinamori so good to the President?"

"Yeah, I'm also drunk. I want to drink water too. Can someone give me a cup of tea?"

"Hahahaha."

Xin glanced over. The one leading the teasing was Aoshika.

Hinamori's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said with a hint of annoyance, "Senior Aoshika!"

She then secretly glanced at Xin's reaction.

Xin pretended not to hear, shifting into a more comfortable sitting position. There were no chairs or stools in the private room; many people were kneeling, but Xin sat on a cushion with no regard for proper posture.

"As a subordinate, isn't it normal to care about the President?" Hinamori said, defending herself when Xin remained silent.

"So that's how it is."

Aoshika suddenly stood up, holding a cup of tea with both hands, and respectfully handed it to Xin.

"President, please have some tea."

It was already a group of drunk young men, and seeing this little drama, they were even more eager to join in. Aoshika and Xin had a good relationship, which was why he dared to joke like this.

Everyone laughed, making Hinamori's cheeks even redder.

Xin smiled at Aoshika and said, "Aoshika, you want to join the Fourth Division after graduation, right?"

Aoshika froze.

"Then we still have a long time to spend together in the future."

Aoshika was immediately startled, sweat beading on his forehead. "Xin, I was wrong!"

With that, he quickly sat back in his original seat and stopped trying to stand out. The others let out a chorus of "Boo!"

It seemed this kind of joke had clarified some things, and many members, looking at the charming and cute Hinamori, secretly thought it was a shame.

But then they glanced at Xin, who was seated in the center of the banquet, being the center of attention, and felt that this was the normal state of affairs.

After drinking so much alcohol and water, Xin felt a sudden urge in his stomach and got up to go to the restroom.

The lively atmosphere at the banquet continued, and Kanazawa, who hadn't spoken much, also quietly left.

No one paid much attention to her, but Hinamori watched her retreating back, lost in thought.

Xin, having relieved himself, hurried out of the restroom and was washing his hands when he suddenly heard footsteps.

"Kanazawa?"

He chuckled, "You're going to the restroom too?"

Kanazawa's expression was calm, and she simply leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

"Is something wrong?"

A glimmer of light flowed in her beautiful eyes, as if she had something to say, and Xin vaguely sensed something was amiss.

Her thin lips parted slightly, "Do you remember what you promised me?"

"What?"

Kanazawa wasn't annoyed, she just reminded him, "You asked me to perform today, saying you'd grant me a wish afterward."

Xin suddenly remembered, "Ah, yes, I did promise the three of you."

"..."

"What do you want me to do?"

Kanazawa suddenly fell silent, biting her lower lip as she stood there without a sound, as if hesitating whether to say it out loud.

The more she acted like this, the more Xin felt that what she wanted to do was probably no small matter.

"Xin..."

"..."

The restroom wasn't far from the private room, and they could hear that drinking games were likely being played over there, the atmosphere still noisy and enthusiastic.

In contrast, it was very quiet here, so quiet that Xin could clearly hear Kanazawa's slightly unsteady breathing.

"..."

Xin felt he had never actively provoked Kanazawa, not because he didn't want to, but mainly because Kanazawa's name wasn't on the system.

Perhaps Kanazawa was not an important person in the original history.

He remembered Kanazawa's original fate: during the first Soul Burial practice for Kira, Renji, and Hinamori, they encountered a Hollow, and Kanazawa died during that practice.

It was certain that Aizen was behind that practice, testing Kira and the others' abilities.

If she hadn't died, with her strength and talent, she would definitely have been an Upper Seat Officer in some Division decades later.

She had a calm personality, was serious in her work, and always wore a stern expression. Coupled with her current position as head of the disciplinary department, she appeared even more strict and unapproachable, which made many people keep their distance from her.

She had always respected Xin very much, respecting all his ideas, and at the same time, she wanted to help him, to do many things for him.

She didn't like to compete for anything; she felt that with Xin's excellence, no one could catch up to him.

But Xin's casual personality attracted many people to him, which suddenly gave Kanazawa a great sense of crisis for no reason.

If she didn't compete, she might mean losing.

Feelings should be exclusive; Kanazawa didn't like others.

"Xin." Kanazawa suddenly called his name.

Xin suddenly saw Kanazawa's face burst into a bright smile, like ice and snow melting.

"..."

"I want to kiss you."

"..."

Xin didn't show much surprise or shock; he just stared blankly at Kanazawa. It was the first time he had seen Kanazawa smile, and she was even more beautiful than he had imagined.

Perhaps this pretty face should smile more often.

Kanazawa waited for his response, wanting to see Xin's surprised expression, surprised that she would make such a request, surprised that she had hidden such feelings for so long.

But she didn't see it, and not seeing it meant...

He had already noticed.

Kanazawa pursed her lips and looked at him, her heart starting to panic. She felt she had been a bit impulsive.

"Momo, what are you doing here?"

A voice suddenly rang out from the corridor around the corner, instantly breaking the atmosphere at the restroom door.

"N-nothing..."

A sound of hurried footsteps receding, and then Rukia's small head popped out from around the corner. Seeing that it was Xin and Kanazawa standing there, she immediately fled the scene as if escaping.

Kanazawa became even more flustered. She suddenly felt at a loss, standing there unsure of what to do.

She struggled to maintain her composure, her mind a muddled mess, so much so that Xin's figure seemed blurry.

She didn't even notice him approach until his face became clearer and clearer.

Xin leaned in and gently kissed her forehead.

"Consider this fulfilling your wish. Don't tell anyone."

Lightly leaving those words, Xin departed.

Returning to the seating area, Xin found Hinamori sitting next to Rukia, her head bowed.

Xin then sat down in his own seat. The people around him, seeing him return, immediately invited him to join their game.

"President, you're taking too long!"

"President, we were waiting for you!"

Xin laughed heartily, casting aside his distracting thoughts, and joined the drinking game.

Kanazawa returned a bit late, just as quietly as no one had noticed her leave.

Shūbīng looked at her slightly flushed face, then at Xin beside her, and then at Hinamori, who had moved to sit on the other side. He couldn't help but purse his lips.

As if he saw through everything, he picked up his sake cup, took a sip, and gave a bitter smile.

It's just not fair...

That Xin kid!

There were too many things happening for the New Year, so this is the only chapter today. My apologies. I wish everyone a Happy New Year.