Like

In the kendo dojo at dusk, two figures weaved past each other in the center of the room, their wooden swords clashing with sharp, violent cracks.

"Stop, stop for a second!"

Izuru Kira panted heavily and waved for Renji Abarai, who was about to attack again, to pause.

With that, he collapsed onto the floor, gasping for breath as he said, "You're a monster. Do you seriously never get tired?"

Renji Abarai stood where he was, his expression still charged with excitement.

"Kira, we've barely even started. You're not usually this weak!" He seemed somewhat dissatisfied as he rested his wooden sword on his shoulder.

Izuru Kira said irritably, "If I had to fight you until I was exhausted every day, even an iron man couldn't take it!"

Renji Abarai curled his lip and gave the wooden sword in his hand a hard swing, clearly still wanting more from their match.

Hinamori Momo, who had come with them and watched their sparring from the side, kindly handed Izuru Kira a water flask. Seeing how exhausted he was, she snapped at Renji, "Abarai, stop treating everyone like they're freaks like you. Someone like you should join the Eleventh Division after graduation!"

Rather than getting angry after hearing Hinamori, Renji said with considerable pride, "That's exactly what I intend to do."

But Hinamori had only said it casually. She had not expected Renji to truly plan on joining the Eleventh Division after graduation, and she immediately asked in surprise, "You're serious?"

"What?"

"I mean about the Eleventh Division."

"Of course I'm serious." Renji said. The Eleventh Division was a combat Division with an extremely strong martial culture. It possessed the greatest fighting strength among the Thirteenth Division, and most of its members did not care much for Kido. That was precisely what appealed to Renji, whose Kido grades were terrible.

"What about Rukia?" Hinamori asked again.

"What about Rukia?"

"You idiot, Rukia belongs to the Kuchiki family now. After graduation, she'll most likely be going to the Sixth Division!"

"Is that so?" Renji was suddenly stunned. He truly had not considered it.

Hinamori could not help showing the expression of someone looking at a hopeless fool.

The Sixth Division was the noble Division. Most of its members were Soul Society nobles. Its current captain was Kuchiki Ginrei, head of the Kuchiki family, while its Lieutenant Captain was Kuchiki Byakuya, who would likely take over as captain of the Sixth Division in the future.

Therefore, it was only natural that Rukia would join the Sixth Division after graduation.

"Are you really going to leave Rukia behind and join the Eleventh Division by yourself?" Hinamori asked again.

Renji stood there hesitating for a long while before saying, "Which Division Rukia joins after graduation is her freedom. How could I interfere? Besides, my relationship with Rukia isn't what you all think..."

Hinamori could not help scolding him. "You really are self-centered. I never said Rukia should follow you into the Eleventh Division. I meant you!"

Izuru Kira, standing nearby, could not help adding, "Abarai, honestly, all of us can see how you feel about Rukia."

Renji suddenly felt his face heat up. Embarrassment, unease, shame, and irritation all surged up at once.

But the Sixth Division was not somewhere he could simply join because he wanted to. Its standards were extremely high. Rukia was now a Kuchiki, so joining the Sixth Division would not be a problem for her, but he was only an ordinary commoner student.

To be honest, Renji Abarai did not particularly want to join a noble Division.

But Rukia...

Hinamori's words had indeed reminded him. If they joined different Divisions after graduation, would not their chances to see each other normally become very few?

He could not exactly persuade Rukia to join the Eleventh Division with him, could he?

"Abarai, what are you thinking about?"

Hinamori's voice rang out again.

Renji came back to himself and looked at her blankly. "Nothing."

Hinamori let out a heavy sigh. Her gaze on Renji flickered uncertainly, and after considering it for a moment, she said, "Abarai, there are many things you can't expect girls to take the initiative on."

Though Renji looked tall and imposing, he suddenly became timid. Stammering, he said, "You... you misunderstand. I'm actually... not what you think."

Hinamori wanted to say more, but Kira suddenly reached out from the side and tugged her sleeve, gently shaking his head.

At that moment, Kira had probably guessed some of what Renji was thinking.

Rukia was now the Kuchiki family's young lady. That fact alone made her someone Renji could only admire from afar.

Although they still spent every day together and seemed the same as before, it was only because they were still in school.

At school, they could study in the same class, but after graduation, that would no longer necessarily be possible.

Izuru Kira changed the subject. "Come to think of it, I still haven't decided which Division I want to join after graduation. What about you, Hinamori?"

Looking at Renji's state, Hinamori inwardly sighed in regret and casually replied, "The Fourth Division, probably."

"What a coincidence."

"What's such a coincidence?"

Izuru Kira smiled. "I heard the Eleventh Division has a prejudice against the Fourth Division."

Hinamori burst out laughing as well. She had heard about that too, and she looked at Renji as she asked, "Abarai, will you look down on me if I join the Fourth Division someday?"

Renji seemed preoccupied. Hearing her, he only smiled awkwardly.

Elsewhere.

Inside a meeting room at the Spirit Training Academy.

Xin was giving a detailed report to a group of academy leaders headed by Suzumebachi Gyosho about his plans to establish various student clubs at the school.

As his assistant, Rukia stood beside him, diligently taking notes. She mainly recorded the remarks made by the school leaders.

It was a very formal meeting, and everyone listened intently. By now, no one dared to underestimate the young Student Council President anymore.

After Xin finished his presentation, Suzumebachi Gyosho spoke. "We have all read the report you submitted beforehand. What you presented this time was even more complete than what was in the report. It is clear that you were well prepared again."

Xin chuckled. "Isn't being well prepared what I should be doing?"

Suzumebachi Gyosho smiled as well. "Personally, I think highly of the prospects of these student clubs. Once implemented, I believe they will certainly receive the students' support and welcome."

Xin's proposal was ultimately approved by an overwhelming majority. After the meeting ended, the Principal stopped Xin alone to speak with him for a while.

Rukia waited quietly by the door.

When Xin was finally the last one to emerge, she immediately followed him. "President."

"Ah, you worked hard too, Rukia."

"President, I didn't really do anything. I only wrote a few things down."

"That was still hard work."

Xin glanced through the hallway window at the scenery, which had already darkened. "It's gotten so late. Come on, I'll treat you to dinner."

Rukia hesitated. At this hour, she should have returned to the Kuchiki residence.

"What's wrong?"

Xin was walking ahead, but he turned back to look at her.

Rukia was still wavering inside, but when she met Xin's gaze, she answered almost as if possessed, "N-Nothing."

Xin smiled brightly. "Then let's go. We'll eat outside the school. I'm tired of the cafeteria food too."

It was almost time to rest. At this hour, students were not allowed to leave the Spirit Training Academy freely, but as the Student Council President, he had privileges.

Rukia followed Xin out of the Spirit Training Academy's office building. As they neared the school gates, she finally could not help saying in a low voice, "President, someone is waiting for me outside the school. I need to go tell them."

A servant from the Kuchiki family was currently waiting to take her home after school.

In truth, the Kuchiki residence was not far from the Spirit Training Academy. Rukia felt she did not need servants to pick her up and take her back, and she had brought it up to the Kuchiki family, but her request had been rejected.

They had said that until she officially became a Soul Reaper, she had to have servants accompany her whenever she went out.

"All right. I'll wait for you."

Rukia immediately left at a brisk pace.

A few minutes later, Rukia came running back.

"President, sorry to keep you waiting."

Xin casually ruffled her hair and smiled. "Why are you being so formal?"

"..."

Rukia pressed her lips together without speaking, merely lowering her head and letting him do it.

She seemed to have grown accustomed to it. The President would always touch her head now and then, making her hair even messier. Fortunately, she did not usually wear elaborate hairstyles, or she definitely would not have been able to endure such "mistreatment" from him.

Her simple short hairstyle with the flipped-up ends could be restored with a casual touch-up after the President had "ravaged" it.

Because of that, she had barely changed her hairstyle.

Sometimes Hinamori would drag her along to get a haircut, but she would only have it trimmed a little shorter.

Rukia thought that if Hinamori's bun hairstyle were rubbed like this by the President, it would surely become a complete mess.

Thinking of that, she suddenly could not help laughing.

"What are you laughing about?"

"N-Nothing!"

The two entered an izakaya not far from the Spirit Training Academy. There were usually quite a few academy students there as well.

Seeing that Xin had ordered alcohol too, Rukia asked, "President, do you like drinking?"

"It depends on the time. Sometimes I feel like having a little."

Rukia thought that the academy leaders had approved the President's club proposal today. It should have been something worth celebrating, so that was probably why he was drinking.

"Would you like some?"

"I'll pass." Rukia waved her hands repeatedly.

It was not that she could not drink. It was simply already time for her to return to the Kuchiki residence, yet she was still outside. If she went back smelling of alcohol, it would be far too improper.

Even now, she still lived cautiously every day in the Kuchiki household.

Xin watched her with a smile. "What's wrong? Having a little should be fine, shouldn't it?"

Rukia looked troubled. "President, please don't persuade me anymore. I am willing to drink with you, but today is a special situation, so please understand..."

Seeing this, Xin did not intend to make things difficult for her. Before he could speak, however, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

"I say, kid, are you trying to get a girl drunk because you have ulterior motives?"

Smack!

A liquor bottle suddenly landed on the table before them with a loud sound. A pale, delicate hand gripped it.

An arm also draped itself over Xin's shoulder, while a heavy body pressed directly against his back. A strong scent of alcohol swept over him from the side, mixed with a woman's fragrance.

That scent was familiar too.

Xin turned his head and saw Matsumoto Rangiku's exquisite profile. Her face was flushed from drinking, her lips held a half-smile, and her eyes looked half-drunk.

"Miss Rangiku?" Xin said in surprise. "What a coincidence."

Matsumoto Rangiku then sat down unceremoniously beside Rukia. Rukia quickly shifted farther aside.

She had clearly seen the Tenth Division Lieutenant Captain armband on Matsumoto Rangiku's arm.

Matsumoto Rangiku lifted her slender neck and looked as if she were smiling at Xin, but she ignored him and instead turned her gaze toward Rukia.

"Hello there. I'm Matsumoto Rangiku."

"Hello. I'm Kuchiki Rukia."

"Oh, so you're the newly adopted... child of the Kuchiki family?"

"...Yes."

Matsumoto Rangiku looked at Xin again and giggled. "So you're trying to climb the social ladder, huh?"

Xin was not annoyed, though he said, "Miss Rangiku, that is rather rude and offensive of you to say."

Rukia hurriedly explained as well, "Lieutenant Matsumoto, you misunderstand. The President and I do not have that kind of relationship!"

"Oh." Matsumoto Rangiku responded, then let out a belch.

"Then sorry, I misspoke."

She was certainly forthright. Rukia could tell that she had drunk too much, so she chose to sit silently to the side, only secretly glancing at Xin.

"Why are you here, Miss Rangiku?"

"I just finished a mission and came over to relax. What about you two?"

"More or less the same. We just finished dealing with some things and came out to relax."

Matsumoto Rangiku looked suspicious. "What could a student like you possibly be busy with? And besides, the Spirit Training Academy shouldn't allow students out this late, right? Yet you brought this Miss Kuchiki, a girl, out alone."

"Rukia doesn't live in the dormitories. She'll be returning to the Kuchiki residence later. I'm the President, so I can enter and leave the school freely."

Matsumoto Rangiku burst into laughter again. "You say you're getting special treatment with such confidence."

At that moment, the izakaya owner brought over the food and drinks Xin had ordered.

Xin poured himself a cup and took a sip. Matsumoto Rangiku then placed her own cup in front of him. Seeing that, Xin picked up the bottle and filled it for her.

Matsumoto Rangiku watched him with a smile. "Tell me, kid, do you remember who brought you out of the Rukon District?"

"Of course I remember. I have always kept Miss Rangiku's kindness firmly in my heart."

Matsumoto Rangiku raised a brow. "Then what did you do later? Was that how you repaid me?"

Xin sighed helplessly. "Miss Rangiku, you should know the reason. Before that, I truly had decided to join the Tenth Division, but then I awakened my Zanpakutō."

Matsumoto Rangiku gave no sign whether she believed him or not. Her drunken eyes flickered.

"You really aren't very loyal."

"Being too loyal makes you suffer."

"You think I would harm you?"

"Of course not. I trust Miss Rangiku very much. When I first arrived in the Seireitei, Miss Rangiku was the person I trusted most."

Matsumoto Rangiku clicked her tongue, then drained the alcohol in her cup. Rukia tactfully picked up the bottle and filled her cup, then filled Xin's as well.

"She's the young lady of the Kuchiki family, yet you're having her pour you drinks like this?"

Rukia quickly said, "Lieutenant Matsumoto, that has nothing to do with it. I respect the President very much, so I'm willing to do this."

Xin drank with an innocent expression.

Matsumoto Rangiku threw an arm around Rukia's neck and told her, "This guy always acts spoiled even after getting what he wants. You need to watch out. You'll suffer if you stay with him."

Rukia's face instantly flushed scarlet.

"I-I..."

She wanted to explain, but her thoughts were in turmoil and she did not know how to begin.

Xin spoke then. "Miss Rangiku, please don't sow discord. How could I possibly let Rukia suffer?"

"Oh?" Matsumoto Rangiku raised the corner of her mouth. "What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Xin asked in return.

Matsumoto Rangiku looked at Rukia, who sat there red-faced and at a loss, then looked back at Xin.

"Could it be... you really..."

She had originally wanted to set a verbal trap and tease the two of them, but she found Xin's expression utterly calm and frank.

That immediately made Matsumoto Rangiku feel bored, and she suddenly felt that she should not have asked.

But Xin said then, "I like her."