Human World Internship

With Rukia suddenly no longer hovering around him, Xin felt a little unaccustomed to it.

News that Rukia of first-year Class B had been adopted by the Kuchiki family quickly spread throughout the Spirit Training Academy. Many people envied and resented Rukia for receiving such a tremendous opportunity. That was the Kuchiki family, one of the Four Great Noble Clans!

Hinamori had also specifically come to ask about Rukia. She had known about it at the time, but she did not know Rukia had taken a month of leave.

"When we see Rukia again, I wonder what she'll be like," Hinamori could not help but sigh.

An orphan from the Rukon District had leapt into becoming a top-ranking noble of the Seireitei. Even those around her would likely find such a drastic change in status difficult to adjust to. Who knew how Rukia herself would handle it?

Rukia's temporary departure merely became a topic of conversation among the students and did not greatly affect anyone else's lives.

With nothing better to do, Xin went to the classroom to attend a lesson.

Hisagi Shūhei was quite surprised to see him. "What do you need?"

"Can't I come to class if I don't need anything?"

"How strange!" Shūbīng said bluntly.

Quite a few classmates found it novel to see Xin. He also spotted Kanazawa in a seat some distance away.

Ever since the Student Council dinner after the Cultural Festival, she seemed to have been deliberately avoiding Xin. Even the Student Council's routine affairs were usually handed over to other members to coordinate with him.

Xin greeted her with a beaming smile. This normally stern disciplinary committee member suddenly flushed and turned her head away.

Today's lesson was about methods of communicating with a Zanpakutō, and their instructor was also their homeroom teacher, Nanda Hidezawa.

Teacher Nanda's eyes nearly popped out when he saw Xin. So this brat still remembered he was a student!

When it came to Xin, he had already been forced into taking a hands-off approach. Knowing he could not change the boy's bad habits, he could not be bothered wasting the effort.

This brat's reputation and standing at school had already surpassed his own. Even the Principal thought highly of him.

The material covered in class was neither advanced nor obscure to Xin. Ever since obtaining his Zanpakutō, he had crammed this kind of knowledge, practically studying every book related to Zanpakutō in the library.

The class passed peacefully.

When the dismissal bell rang, Nanda Hidezawa called several names from the podium.

"Hisagi Shūhei, Kanazawa, Aoshika, come here."

Hearing this, Xin casually asked, "What are you being called for?"

Shūbīng explained, "It should be about taking first-years to the Human World for internship training. We're supposed to lead the group. Teacher Nanda already informed me in advance."

Xin froze at those words. Human World internship training...

There were two kinds of Human World internships: Soul Burial practice and simulated Hollow combat training.

After studying at the Spirit Training Academy for a period of time, first-years could undergo the latter kind of internship under the guidance of upperclassmen.

Simulated Hollow combat training simply meant fighting low-level Hollows in a Kekai space set up somewhere in the Human World.

"How did I not know about this?"

Shūbīng looked speechless. "You don't even come to class once a month. How could you possibly know?"

"When do we leave?"

"Three days from now, probably."

"Is it first-year Class A?"

"They should be starting with Class A."

Xin abruptly stood up. "I'm going with you."

"Going... where?" Shūbīng was a little stunned.

To put it bluntly, this job was just babysitting the younger students. As upperclassmen, they had already gone through Human World internships many times.

When Kanazawa saw Xin emerge alongside Shūbīng, she instinctively avoided his gaze.

The four of them went to Nanda Hidezawa's office together.

Teacher Nanda was equally puzzled to see Xin with them. "What do you need?"

Xin directly recommended himself. "Teacher Nanda, a task like leading a Human World internship should naturally be handled by the best student in the class. I think I happen to be that kind of student."

Nanda Hidezawa was speechless. If you came to class normally every day, I'd naturally have called on you. You're usually nowhere to be seen—where was I supposed to find you?

Although they would be fighting Hollows, the actual risk was very low. Apart from the upperclassmen leading the group, active-duty Soul Reapers would also be secretly overseeing things. The Hollows let in were all weak fodder with little combat ability, meant for the first-years to practice on.

After a moment of consideration, Nanda Hidezawa said, "In that case, you'll lead the group this time. Although the first-years will be the main participants, I hope you'll carry out your duties responsibly."

Human World internships were familiar territory for Xin and the others, so there was no need for further instructions.

Both Shūbīng and Aoshika found it strange that Xin, who had always shown no interest in classes, had suddenly volunteered for such a thankless task.

Kanazawa, however, did not think that way.

With her head lowered, there was only one thought in her heart.

Did Xin come specifically because of me...?

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. Given Xin's usual personality, let alone volunteering, he would likely find every possible excuse to refuse even if Teacher Nanda had personally sought him out.

Kanazawa could think of no other reason besides him doing it for her.

Come to think of it, she really had been too distant toward him these past few days.

If Xin had not come, Hisagi Shūhei would most likely have been the main person responsible for leading the group this time. Shūbīng was now quite happy to have it easy.

Nanda Hidezawa explained the details of this Human World internship, including the exact time and location in the Human World, the Soul Reaper Division they needed to coordinate with, and the class members participating in the internship.

He organized everything into a document and handed it to Xin.

On their way back, Shūbīng reminded them, "Prepare the things you'll need to bring in advance."

Aoshika replied, "Got it."

They would be spending two or three days in the Human World this time, so they needed to prepare food and the like.

Even if Xin had not come to class today, he would have learned about the Human World internship from Shūbīng later.

The two Student Council department heads would be leaving for several days, so naturally they had to notify him beforehand.

Kanazawa, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly stopped walking and called out, "Xin."

Shūbīng glanced at them, then proactively pulled Aoshika away.

Xin stopped as well and looked at her.

Kanazawa hesitated before asking, "Why did you voluntarily join us this time?"

When she asked that question, she already had an answer she wanted to hear.

Xin glanced at the document in his hand and smiled faintly. "Because of you."

"..."

Kanazawa's face instantly turned bright red.

She did not know that if Xin had not come this time, she would very likely have died in the Human World.

She did not know what Xin was thinking, nor did she know that someone might already have secretly laid some kind of plot behind this Human World internship.

She only felt that perhaps what she had been hoping for was true. It had come true.

Kanazawa's voice trembled slightly. "What... do you mean by saying something like that?"

Xin did not explain. He merely rolled the document in his hand into a tube and lightly tapped her forehead with it.

"You don't need to know."

There was no way he could explain something like this. Was he supposed to say outright that Aizen might be behind it?

With that, Xin turned and left.

Kanazawa, however, raised a hand to cover her forehead as she blankly watched his retreating figure grow farther away.

The place he had kissed her last time had been her forehead too...