The ultimate culprit behind the Human World internship incident was identified as Twelfth Division member Sanada Ryoichi. He had planted spiritual bait within the Kekai to attract Hollows in advance, then harmed members of the barrier team before fleeing.
As for his motive, it was exactly as Shiba Kaien had told Xin.
With that, the matter was settled. For the Spirit Training Academy students, it had been a close call without real danger, but someone still had to answer for the many Soul Reapers who had died.
It was said that Twelfth Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi had been reprimanded, while the Thirteenth Division had dispatched Soul Reapers to hunt down Sanada Ryoichi.
Xin guessed that Sanada was probably dead as well.
As time passed, many people gradually forgot about the incident. Perhaps the Spirit Training Academy students would only recall it whenever Xin happened to come up in conversation.
Life returned to peace, and more than half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
That morning, after breakfast, Xin planned to head to the Student Council Office and take another nap. He had always wanted to put a bed in the office so he could rest more comfortably, and he had begged Kasumi Oji Gorō many times over it. Every time, however, Kōgorō had firmly refused.
When Xin reached the office door, he found it slightly ajar.
Someone had been here.
Xin was mildly surprised. At this hour, almost no one besides him would come here.
But when he walked inside, he saw a delicate young girl standing there.
"Rukia?"
"President!"
The moment Rukia saw him, delight appeared on her face, and she hurried over.
Xin looked her over again. She did not seem to have changed at all. She still wore the red-and-white school uniform, her short black hair flicking up at the ends, while a flush of excitement colored her tender, fair face.
"You're back. It's really been a long time."
With a smile, Xin reached out and rubbed her head. "I missed you a lot while you were gone."
Rukia's cheeks seemed to redden further at that. Lowering her head, she softly replied, "I... missed the President too. And everyone else."
Xin walked over and sat in his seat. "How have things been at the Kuchiki household these past few days? Come on, tell me all about it."
Rukia looked as though she had plenty she wanted to say. At his words, she immediately nodded and began earnestly recounting her experiences at the Kuchiki household over the past half month.
After she had been taken to the Kuchiki household that day, she was immediately arranged to stay there.
However, she had been placed in a separate residence. She stayed there for two days, and during that time, she saw no one except the servants who delivered her meals each day, not even Kuchiki Byakuya.
During those two days, Rukia had been terribly worried, her mind constantly running wild.
Because she did not know what she would have to face in the future, she imagined all sorts of miserable endings. She had even regretted coming to the Kuchiki household.
Then, on the third day, the current head of the Kuchiki family, Kuchiki Ginrei, came to see her and told her that she would be adopted into the Kuchiki family that very day, becoming Kuchiki Byakuya's adopted younger sister.
Many members of the Kuchiki family attended that day. The occasion was grand and solemn, and Rukia understood nothing. Fortunately, a maid stayed by her side the entire time, reminding her what she needed to do.
After that day, the Kuchiki household arranged a new residence for her. Many servants attended to her daily needs, provided her with plenty of clothes and necessities, and even specially assigned four Soul Reaper instructors to teach her courses in Zanpakuto, Kidō, Hoho, and Hakuda.
For more than half a month, she had been studying all manner of noble knowledge, principles, and rules at the Kuchiki household.
Some of it she could accept, while some of it she simply could not understand.
For instance, according to noble etiquette, when she had just seen Xin, she should have performed a special formal greeting. She had practiced it many times at the Kuchiki household.
But the moment the President saw her, he had simply started rubbing her head, and Rukia immediately forgot all those noble formalities.
The President's hand made her feel safe.
At first, she had worried that after returning, she would grow distant from everyone.
Life at the Kuchiki household had been exhausting these days, but she knew that all of it was something many people could only dream of and never obtain. She had not complained in the slightest, instead doing her best to handle every task well.
Yesterday, she had worked up the courage to seek out Kuchiki Byakuya and ask to return to the Spirit Training Academy to continue attending classes. Fortunately, her "elder brother" had agreed.
"I never expected you to go through so much in such a short time," Xin said with emotion.
"It wasn't really anything." Rukia scratched her head somewhat bashfully. "I know that a lot of it is good for me, so I didn't dare complain. It's just... I just wanted to come back and see everyone sooner."
"You're right." Xin suddenly teased her. "But now that you're the young lady of the Kuchiki family, is it still appropriate for you to keep being my assistant?"
Rukia hurriedly said, "President, I'm fine with it!"
Xin rubbed his chin. "If I keep casually ordering you around to run errands like before, I wonder whether the Kuchiki family will hate me for it."
That old man from the Kuchiki family who had come last time did not seem to look at him very kindly.
If he had been any more overbearing, Xin guessed he would have warned him to stay away from Rukia in the future.
Rukia said, "Everything the President asks me to do is for the sake of training me. If the Kuchiki family misunderstands, I'll explain it to them properly!"
Seeing how serious she was, Xin could not help reaching out and gently pinching her cheek again. "Rukia, Rukia, you're too cute. I was only joking."
Blushing, Rukia took a step back. She felt that the President's actions were a little too intimate, but she did not know how to bring it up.
How was she supposed to say something like that...?
Still, if Momoko saw it, she would probably misunderstand again.
Fortunately, Momoko should not come to the office at this hour. Rukia had specifically chosen the time before morning classes.
"Class is about to start, isn't it? Are you going?"
Xin asked as he glanced at the time beside him.
Rukia rose to her feet. "Then I'll go to class first, President. If there's any work today, you can still leave it to me without worry, just like before!"
Rukia left the Student Council Office in a rather cheerful mood, her steps noticeably lighter.
Life at the Kuchiki household had been stifling. Normally, she did not even have anyone to talk to. Though the servants all treated her with great respect, they also kept their distance. As for her new elder brother, he was nowhere to be seen every day. Even when he was home, she did not dare take the initiative to speak with him.
Kuchiki Byakuya wore a cold expression every day, and standing before him placed enormous pressure on Rukia.
By comparison, she felt much more comfortable when she was with the President.
Every day, she missed everyone at the Spirit Training Academy—Momoko, Renji, Kira, Senior Hisagi, Senior Kanazawa... and the President.
The longer they went without seeing each other, the deeper her longing became.
Please vote with monthly tickets. The series goes premium on the 13th, this Thursday.
Before you continue