Kotsubaki Kotone said, "I found a few books related to healing arts. I thought you might be interested, so I brought them over."
Xin looked surprised and smiled. "Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu, that's very thoughtful of you!"
Kotsubaki Kotone asked again, "Tachikawa, did you just return from training?"
When she heard Xin mention taking a bath, she had assumed he had worked up a sweat during training and gone to wash up.
Xin shook his head as he walked into the office. "I just took a regular bath. I woke up a little late today, and the school Bathhouse happened to be empty, so I soaked for a while."
The three girls: "..."
Hinamori Momo and Rukia looked at Xin's casual clothes and damp hair, both thinking, President, you're way too relaxed. You really treat the school like your own home.
Xin had not expected anyone to be in the office at this hour. Looking down at his attire, he apologized, "Sorry, this is a little improper. Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu, please have a seat. I'll go change and be right back."
With that, Xin headed directly into the Storage Room inside the office, leaving the three girls staring at one another.
Two minutes later, Xin emerged in his school uniform, his hair dry as well.
Kotsubaki Kotone could not help saying, "Tachikawa, you really are... carefree."
Xin picked up the books she had brought and skimmed through them. They were indeed specialized books on healing arts, ones he had not seen in the Spirit Training Academy library. One glance was enough to tell how precious they were.
Still, Kotsubaki Kotone probably had not come solely to deliver books.
He said, "These books are far too valuable. Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu, are you really giving them to me?"
Kotsubaki Kotone smiled gently. "Books are meant to be read. They would only gather dust with me, so it is better to give them to someone who likes healing arts and let them serve their purpose."
Xin gave her a solemn bow. "Thank you very much, Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu."
Kotsubaki Kotone's expression softened as she beamed. "I'm glad you like them. Once you join the Fourth Division, we can discuss healing arts together."
Xin nodded, then turned to Hinamori and Rukia. "What are you two doing here? Isn't it class time?"
An awkward smile appeared on Hinamori's face. "The two of us remembered that there was still some Student Council work unfinished, so..."
Xin raised a brow, then understood that they had skipped class, only to happen upon Kotsubaki Kotone when she arrived.
What Student Council work could possibly require them to skip class? One of the Student Council's principles was that no work could interfere with its members' studies.
Of course, he, the President, was an exception.
Xin did not expose them in front of Kotsubaki Kotone. He merely said, "Go back first. That work can wait until classes end this afternoon."
"Yes!"
The two immediately and obediently left the office.
Only after Hinamori and Rukia had gone did Kotsubaki Kotone smile and say, "The Student Council members really are serious, responsible students."
Xin sat across from Kotsubaki Kotone and followed her lead. "They are both excellent members. After I graduate, they will be able to continue leading the Student Council."
Kotsubaki Kotone immediately asked, "Then when does Tachikawa plan to graduate?"
The Spirit Training Academy followed a six-year system. Xin was currently in his fifth year, so logically, he still had one year of schooling left. However, everyone knew that he had long since reached the level needed to graduate. After all, he had the achievement of killing a Menos Grande. Even many of the Thirteenth Division's Seated Officers would not dare claim they could casually kill a Menos Grande.
"Next year," Xin said.
The Spirit Training Academy had only one term each year, running from the beginning of the year to its end, without a summer break. By next year, Xin meant that he intended to complete all six years.
His greatest reason for doing so lay with Hinamori and Rukia. Staying with them day and night allowed him to keep receiving rewards from the system. Once he entered the Thirteenth Division, he would meet new people, but the system's Reaper's Wedge had already been bound to Rukia. He also wanted to bring his relationship with Rukia a little closer.
Besides, it was only one more year.
Kotsubaki Kotone pondered this. "But Tachikawa, you are already fully capable of graduating early. Why remain at the school? Becoming a full-fledged Reaper sooner should be the better choice for you."
Xin gave the same explanation as before. "The Student Council was only just established. If I left after serving as President for only a year, I really would not feel at ease. Besides, I still have some ideas I have yet to put into practice. I believe they would benefit the students as well."
Kotsubaki Kotone could not help saying, "Tachikawa, you really are a responsible person, and someone who thinks deeply of others."
"You flatter me, Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu."
Part of Kotsubaki Kotone's reason for coming this time was because of her own captain.
After watching the recording of Xin killing the Menos Grande, Unohana Retsu had asked her, "Is Tachikawa Shin graduating this year?"
The implication seemed to be that she was eagerly anticipating Xin joining the Fourth Division.
That was why Kotsubaki Kotone had come specifically to ask.
Her captain seemed never to have shown such concern for anyone before. There had been members in the past who awakened Kidō-type Zanpakutō, but they had only received a few simple words of encouragement. Perhaps her captain simply believed Tachikawa Shin's talent was extraordinary. He had killed a Menos Grande while still a student; if such talent were applied to exploring healing arts, the results would surely be even more astonishing.
Xin did not want to discuss his graduation date further. Instead, he picked up one of the healing arts books and said to Kotsubaki Kotone, "Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu, I happen to have many questions about healing arts. Would you be willing to answer them for me?"
The Fourth Division Lieutenant Captain's eyes lit up, and her smile widened. "Really? Good timing. I'm not in a hurry to return."
Kotsubaki Kotone truly loved healing arts, and by extension, she felt affection toward anyone who enjoyed them.
Healing arts did not actually hold a particularly high status among Reapers. Though they saved lives and healed the wounded, earning plenty of gratitude, more people still pursued overwhelming strength.
Xin was not simply using a random excuse to change the subject. He truly had questions about healing arts. Ever since Kotsubaki Kotone's previous lesson, he had put more effort into them, but the Spirit Training Academy's teachings were ultimately limited, and he had nearly mastered the books in the library.
As they spoke, Kotsubaki Kotone discovered that Xin's understanding of healing arts was far from shallow, which delighted her even more.
Time slipped away unnoticed. It was not until lunchtime, when another Student Council member entered the office, that Kotsubaki Kotone was roused from her immersion in explaining things to Xin.
"Is it already noon?" she said belatedly.
While they discussed healing arts, Xin had not shown the slightest impatience. He listened intently and kept asking all sorts of questions. She could feel his thirst for knowledge, making her feel that all her explanations and effort had been worthwhile. She found herself liking this future junior more and more.
"Time really flies. Thank you so much, Lieutenant Captain Kotetsu," Xin said with a smile. "Since it's lunchtime, let me treat you to a meal at the school cafeteria."
Kotsubaki Kotone shook her head lightly. "No, I should head back as well."
She was, after all, a Lieutenant Captain. On non-rest days, the Fourth Division had plenty of duties for her to handle.
As she prepared to leave, a faint reluctance suddenly rose in her heart.
Looking at Xin's refined face, Kotsubaki Kotone suddenly felt that perhaps she could make more time to visit the Spirit Training Academy and guide this junior more often. She would be happy to do so.
"Tachikawa, there is still more than half a year left this year. You can accomplish many things in half a year. I still think it would be better for you to join the Fourth Division sooner."
"Thank you for your advice." Xin merely smiled. "I'll consider it."
Affection: 47
After seeing her to the office door, Xin watched Kotsubaki Kotone's departing figure. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the system interface and gained a rough direction for how to raise Kotsubaki Kotone's Affection in the future.
Then he inadvertently noticed someone else's information.
Unohana Retsu Affection: 3
It had always been 2 before, right?
When had it become...
Since he had not seen Unohana Retsu again after the Cultural Festival, Xin had not noticed the change immediately.
After thinking it over carefully, he guessed it was likely still because of him killing the Menos Grande. If Shiba Kaien could know about it, then it was perfectly normal for Unohana Retsu to know as well.
Combined with Kotsubaki Kotone coming to see him this time, Xin vaguely guessed the reason.
If he joined the Fourth Division after graduating, he probably would not have much peace...
Tch!
Yet Xin let out a quiet laugh.
Though his spiritual pressure and body were still weak, if it came to pure swordsmanship, he was actually rather confident.
"What did the Fourth Division Lieutenant Captain come to see you for?"
Shūbīng, who had entered some time ago, asked.
"Nothing much. Just strengthening our relationship."
"You bastard!" There was always a hint of sourness in the way Shūbīng looked at him.
"Hm?"
"That really makes me jealous!"
"Then you should work harder too!" Xin laughed and gave his shoulder a firm pat.
Xin had another reason he did not want to graduate too soon: life at the Spirit Training Academy was actually very comfortable.
He had once said this to Shūbīng: "School is great. Being a student is great..."
There was no pressure at all, and no one around him whom he disliked. He spent every day gathered with his friends. The longer such days lasted, the better.
And so, those easy, leisurely days passed one after another.
Occasionally, little disturbances arose—perhaps some conflict between Student Council members and students. Kanazawa had always been stern and uncompromising in her conduct, so clashes between the Discipline Inspection Department and students were common.
But Xin did not consider that a big deal at all. He occasionally went to the Principal's Office to discuss the Student Council's future. He had less than two years left at the Spirit Training Academy, but Suzumebachi Gyosho would remain in office for much longer.
His relationships with Hinamori Momo and Rukia also continued to deepen.
But once Affection reached a certain level, it rose very slowly. After another two months, Rukia had only just climbed above 70.
Hinamori, meanwhile, still had not reached 80.
There had even been one time when Xin was patting Rukia's head and Hinamori caught him in the act. Her Affection instantly dropped by one point.
Xin had found that immensely regrettable at the time, because patting Rukia's head had not raised her Affection at all.
Once Affection reached the seventies, every additional point was difficult to gain.
Xin estimated that on a scale from 1 to 100, reaching 50 meant they could be considered friends. Above 60 meant closer friends, while above 70 meant close friends or trusted companions.
Of course, Affection did not entirely represent the emotional relationship between friends.
Since it only displayed the Affection of the opposite sex, the number contained many complicated factors. Take Kotsubaki Kotone, for instance. She and Xin could be considered fairly good "friends," yet her Affection was only in the forties.
Matsumoto Rangiku, on the other hand, had Affection above 60 toward Xin, but her relationship with him was nowhere near as close as Rukia's had been when her Affection was in the sixties.
It was even more impossible to say Rangiku liked Xin romantically. Having read the original story, Xin knew very well that Gin was the only one in Rangiku's heart.
If he had to analyze it, perhaps it was a certain appreciation for Xin. Though she never had much good to say aloud, she actually acknowledged him as a person.
Likewise, because Affection was only a number, it could not precisely convey the relationship between two people.
It was not as though reaching a particular Affection level meant one could definitely do a certain thing.
It could also represent the kind of friendship where they could entrust their lives to each other. Of course, for now, Xin had no plans to develop that kind of relationship with the women listed in the system.
The words "Full Course Reward" were displayed there so conspicuously. Naturally, Xin intended to claim everyone's rewards!
But Hinamori and Rukia made Xin realize that his relationships with them seemed to have reached a certain bottleneck, forming a delicate balance.
It left Xin conflicted and troubled, because if he found a way to treat one side better, the other side's Affection might decline.
Hinamori's feelings for him clearly contained romantic affection. One major trait of such feelings was possessiveness. No one was willing to share their beloved with someone else.
Whenever Xin made even slightly intimate gestures with Rukia and Hinamori saw them, she did not say anything and showed nothing on her face. But the changes in her Affection made Xin realize that she was unhappy, perhaps even angry.
It was only because she and Xin did not have an official romantic relationship that she had no reason to be angry.
Hinamori and Rukia.
How should he choose...
Xin began considering such things.
At 90 Affection, the Full Course Reward could be unlocked. After obtaining the Full Course Reward for someone bound by the Reaper's Wedge, he could also obtain a third reward and unlock a second Reaper's Wedge binding slot.
The system was cold text, but Hinamori and Rukia were living, real, independent people. They each had their own thoughts.
This was not really some 18R adult dating game where pressing the right button during an interaction could raise Affection.
If he chose to focus solely on Hinamori, her Affection might more easily reach 90, allowing him to claim that Full Course Reward. But then things would probably become difficult with Rukia.
The reverse was true as well. Besides, Rukia's Affection might not reach 90 so quickly either.
Xin found himself with a headache over it.
This was difficult!
Before you continue