The Kuchiki Family

"Are you alright, Momo?"

On the way back after the party ended, Rukia couldn't help but ask Hinamori.

Hinamori's reaction had changed too drastically; something must have happened.

Thinking about the Student Council President and Kanazawa-senpai she'd seen standing by the restroom door earlier, she wondered if they had done something that Hinamori happened to witness.

Rukia wasn't stupid. As an observer, she clearly understood Hinamori's feelings and could guess what Kanazawa-senpai might be thinking. For someone as outstanding as the President, it would be strange if she didn't develop some feelings after spending so much time with him.

So, it was perfectly normal for Momo to admire the President. Rukia was just surprised by how bold Momo had been.

Did Kanazawa-senpai and the President look good together?

Rukia didn't think so.

Hinamori pursed her lips, her expression gloomy, and shook her head. "I'm fine."

Seeing this, Rukia sighed quietly. She had no experience with this and didn't know how to comfort someone. She just felt that if the President didn't have those kinds of feelings for Hinamori and Kanazawa-senpai, their actions would likely trouble him.

She glanced at Tachikawa Shin, who was walking at the front of the crowd, talking with Shūbīng.

If it were her, she would definitely be troubled.

The next day.

After the cultural festival, many students were still reminiscing about it, with their conversations still revolving around what had happened yesterday.

The Principal of the Spirit Training Academy was very satisfied with the success of the cultural festival and highly praised Xin.

The Student Council had indeed done something very good for the students of the Spirit Training Academy. The academy had never had such vitality before, and this made Suzumebachi Gyosho feel that the Spirit Training Academy had become different under his management.

The Student Council had gained greater trust from the Spirit Training Academy and would be able to obtain greater authority in the future.

Xin also took the opportunity to share some of his new ideas with the Principal.

Interest clubs.

These would also be used to enrich students' extracurricular lives.

However, Suzumebachi Gyosho didn't immediately agree. He frowned and said, "Won't this affect the students' studies?"

Xin explained, "Of course, not just any club can be established as an interest club. To start, we can establish clubs that are beneficial to students' academic performance, such as Swordsmanship Club, Kido Club, and Kaido Club. We will strictly control their types, numbers, scale, and membership. If they develop smoothly, we can gradually expand to include more healthy and positive club types."

Unlike the Student Council, these clubs would simply be gatherings of like-minded individuals to study, discuss, and progress together. During the Spirit Training Academy's extracurricular time, many students had nothing to do, and self-study could be a very boring affair. Principal Suzumebachi immediately saw the benefits that these interest clubs could bring.

After careful consideration, Suzumebachi Gyosho remarked, "You truly have a lot of clever ideas."

He then added, "First, create a detailed charter for me to review. I will discuss it with the campus leadership."

Upon returning to the Student Council headquarters office, Xin began to meticulously plan and document everything on paper.

It was currently class time, and he was alone in the office.

That's right, he had skipped class again. Xin didn't care at all. If Teacher Nanda asked later, he would just say the Principal had something to discuss with him.

In many aspects, his authority and influence within the Spirit Training Academy already surpassed that of Nanda Hidezawa, an ordinary homeroom teacher.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Xin casually checked the time; class wasn't over yet.

"Please come in."

It wasn't the Spirit Training Academy's leadership outside the office door, but several men dressed in exquisite white robes.

Xin looked up and was slightly stunned.

These people were clearly Nobles. Among them, a young man with handsome features and an elegant, noble aura was surrounded by others, making him stand out even more.

Tsuken-boshi...

The identity of the visitor was immediately clear to Xin.

Yesterday, at the cultural festival, Kuchiki Ginrei had seen Rukia performing on stage. It wasn't strange, then, for members of the Kuchiki family to come looking for him today.

"You are Tachikawa Shin, the President of the Student Council, correct?"

The one who spoke was an old man. He wasn't Kuchiki Ginrei and appeared even older than him.

However, for people in the Soul Society, their appearance often didn't match their actual age.

"That's right."

"This is young master Kuchiki Byakuya." The old man introduced the youth beside him with a very concise statement.

But just the name "Kuchiki" already represented a great deal.

Xin rose from his seat and walked to the desk. "May I ask why the esteemed members of the Kuchiki family are here?"

Without any prior notice from the Spirit Training Academy, their ability to bypass the academy's leadership and teachers directly demonstrated the astonishing status of the Kuchiki family in the Seireitei.

"There is a student named Rukia in the Student Council, isn't there?"

"That's right."

"We need to see her."

There was no politeness in this person's words. The implication was that Xin should go and fetch Rukia.

Xin's face showed no sign of displeasure. He simply pointed to the wall clock and said, "It's almost time for class to end. Rukia will come after class."

"You want us to wait?"

Xin looked confused. "Rukia is in class right now. Shouldn't you be waiting? If you're really in a hurry, you can go find her in her classroom. She's in Class B of the first-year students."

Kuchiki Byakuya reached out and stopped the elder who was about to say something more. He then looked at Xin and asked, "What's your relationship with Rukia?"

His voice was a little cold, and the expression on his face was also cold.

"She's a member of the Student Council, and I'm the President of the Student Council," Xin stated simply.

"What is Rukia's position in the Student Council?"

"President's Assistant."

"Your assistant?"

"That's right."

Kuchiki Byakuya showed no superfluous expression; his indifferent face revealed neither joy nor anger.

Xin knew why they had come, so he didn't ask any further questions.

His silence prevented Kuchiki Byakuya from saying what he had intended to explain, so he continued to inquire about Rukia's situation.

"How is Rukia's performance in the Student Council?"

"Quite good. She's serious and responsible, intelligent and quick-witted. In terms of interpersonal relationships, she respects her seniors and gets along well with her peers."

Except for a lack of confidence, and she wasn't very proactive in speaking.

"You said she was in Class B just now?"

Class B was the regular class, which was much inferior to Class A.

It seemed Kuchiki Byakuya hadn't investigated anything at all. He probably just learned about Rukia from Kuchiki Ginrei yesterday and had rushed over today.

"Class B is also quite good," Xin said.

Kuchiki Byakuya looked at Tachikawa Shin. He was currently the Lieutenant Captain of the Sixth Division. He could have taken over as Captain from Kuchiki Ginrei long ago, but his marriage had caused a major conflict with his family, and the matter had been delayed for a long time.

He had also heard many rumors about this Student Council President.

Since Kuchiki Byakuya had not attended the Spirit Training Academy, having received his education privately within the family, he had no particular opinion about this so-called Student Council.

As the Sixth Division was a noble division, there were few commoner Shinigami among its members. Even though Tachikawa Shin had caught the attention of many due to his talent, this was not within the scope of their Sixth Division's considerations.

The atmosphere turned cold for a moment. A servant beside them brought a chair for Kuchiki Byakuya to sit down.

Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Xin returned to his own seat to attend to his work.

The members of the Kuchiki family frowned secretly, seeing that Xin had left them waiting.

A few minutes later, the bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Kuchiki Byakuya seemed to sense it, but within a minute after class ended, the first person to enter the office was not Rukia, but Kasumi Oji Kōgorō.

He had come to see Xin about something but was surprised to see the Kuchiki family members in the room.

"Byakuya... Lord Byakuya?"

Kuchiki Byakuya stood up politely and looked at Kōgorō, thinking for a moment. "You are... from the Kasumi Oji family?"

Kōgorō bowed respectfully. "I am Kasumi Oji Kōgorō. I didn't expect you to remember me. May I ask why Lord Byakuya is here?"

Not to mention that the Kuchiki family was more prominent and noble than their Kasumi Oji family, Kuchiki Byakuya's position as Lieutenant Captain of the Sixth Division was enough reason for him to be so respectful. Moreover, Kasumi Oji Kōgorō would most likely join the Sixth Division after graduation.

Kuchiki Byakuya said calmly, "Looking for someone."

"Looking for someone?"

Kasumi Oji Kōgorō was stunned and then looked at Xin, who was sitting there, with surprise in his eyes.

Could it be...

Kuchiki Byakuya glanced at the time on the wall clock again, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said to the servant beside him, "Let's go first."

"Young Master Byakuya?"

Kasumi Oji Kōgorō immediately bid them farewell. "Farewell, Lord Byakuya."

Perhaps Kuchiki Byakuya felt that there were too many outsiders present, or perhaps he suddenly had another idea.

Xin also stood up and said, "Farewell, Lieutenant Captain Kuchiki."

After leaving the office, Kuchiki Byakuya walked down the corridor and met a figure rushing towards him. The familiar appearance made him freeze in place instantly.

Rukia saw a group of strangers coming out of the Student Council office and couldn't help but feel a little strange. She consciously moved to the edge of the corridor and bowed slightly to them as a sign of respect.

The elder also looked surprised.

"Young Master Byakuya, she... she's just like Lady Hisana..."

Kuchiki Byakuya let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes.

"First, thoroughly investigate all of her information... and that Tachikawa Shin."

"Yes."

In the office.

Kōgorō was asking Xin why someone from the Kuchiki family had come.

"They came looking for Rukia."

"Looking for me?"

Rukia happened to appear at the office doorway, overheard their conversation, and was greatly surprised.

"Looking for me... for what?" she asked, a little frightened. Those people were clearly nobles, and she had no connection to them at all.

Kōgorō also found it strange, "Are you telling the truth?"

"Of course, I am."

Rukia walked in slowly, "President, are they really looking for me? What do they want with me?"

"I don't know. They didn't say. I told them you'd come after class, and they were waiting for you, but then they suddenly left."

"..."

Xin then teased, "Maybe someone saw you performing on stage yesterday, and these noble lords took a liking to you."

Rukia took him seriously and froze on the spot, terrified.

Kōgorō frowned, "What nonsense are you talking about? Lord Byakuya isn't like that."

He deeply respected Kuchiki Byakuya, not just because he was from the Kuchiki family, but also because Byakuya himself was an exceptionally outstanding Shinigami, always his goal.

Xin casually retorted, "Then why do you think they were looking for Rukia?"

"How should I know."

Xin glanced at the frightened Rukia and first asked Kōgorō, "Do you need something?"

Although Kōgorō was the Vice President, he rarely stayed in the office.

Kōgorō then remembered his purpose, "Wasn't a large portion of the money for the cultural festival left over?"

"Is that so... I suppose so..." Xin pretended not to know. "I remember we spent quite a lot."

Kōgorō frowned, "Don't play dumb. How much money is left?"

Xin scratched his head, "That, I'll have to check the accounts to know. Why are you asking?"

"That's my money."

"Wasn't it your sponsorship money for the Student Council?"

"It was sponsorship money for the cultural festival."

Xin sighed, "Classmate Kōgorō, you can't be so petty. You're the Vice President of the Student Council, why be so calculative?"

"I'll check the accounts myself."

Kōgorō ignored Xin's words and turned to leave.

"Classmate Kōgorō, Lord Kōgorō!"

Xin called out twice but didn't stop him. He watched Kōgorō disappear through the office doorway.

Rukia then asked somewhat flusteredly, "President, I... what should I do?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Rukia bit her lower lip and remained silent.

Seeing that she was so easily flustered, Xin said, "I was just guessing earlier. You don't need to worry too much. They're probably looking for you for something else."

"But what if..."

Xin chuckled, "Those are people from the Kuchiki family, the most prominent and noble family in the Seireitei. So many people want such an opportunity but have no way to get it."

"I don't want to..."

Xin asked with a light laugh, "Oh? Do you have someone you like? Is it that Renji?"

Upon hearing this, Rukia glanced at Xin. After a pause, she said, "Renji and I aren't like that."

"You don't like Renji?" Xin looked genuinely surprised.

"..."

Rukia pursed her lips, "I just don't want... to be treated like that."

Seeing her so worried, Xin walked over and patted her head, "Don't worry, I won't let you be treated like that."

Rukia trembled all over, but hearing those words, she relaxed considerably.

"...President."

Xin was paying attention to the change in favorability on the system when another person appeared at the office doorway.

"Hinamori."

Xin greeted her as usual.

Rukia's expression changed drastically. She quickly took a step back and looked at Hinamori standing there, her face flushing red.

But after the blush, what followed was an unconcealable panic.

"Momo... Momo..."