Work Hours Require Formal Titles!

Seirei Academy Freshman Entrance Ceremony.

Normally, only the entire faculty and newly enrolled students would attend.

But at this moment, Shin stood among the teachers, beside Nanda Hidezawa.

Principal Suzumebachi Gyosho was on stage delivering a speech to the first-year students below. The content was official—encouraging students to study hard, strive for progress, and become excellent Soul Reapers as soon as possible.

Shin was somewhat distracted, standing there with a vacant gaze.

Nanda Hidezawa lightly kicked his shin to remind him to focus.

The newly enrolled students were full of enthusiasm, looking forward to their school life with anticipation. Suzumebachi Gyosho's speech was effective.

"Next, let us welcome the student representative of Seirei Academy, Student Council President, fifth-year student Tachikawa Shin, to deliver a speech."

The academy had never had a student representative speak at a freshman entrance ceremony before.

Hearing his name called, Shin straightened his lazy expression and slowly walked up to the podium.

The ceremony hall was large, with hundreds of students standing below. Many were curious about what the Student Council was and what kind of person Tachikawa Shin might be.

Shin also had a prepared speech, given to him by the academy's teachers. Its content, aside from encouraging the new students, was mainly to promote the Student Council.

Shin's speech caused no trouble. He delivered it properly and stepped down.

After the ceremony, Shin was about to return to his dorm when someone stopped him.

"You are?"

This person was also a student, wearing a white uniform, but Shin had no impression of him.

"Kasumi Oji Gorō." The man spoke flatly.

Shin thought for a moment, then grinned. "Oh, it's you. This is our first meeting."

This was the Vice President appointed by the higher-ups, a sixth-year student from the Kasumi Oji Clan, a noble family in Seireitei.

He was also the reason Shin's original plan to have Hisagi serve as Vice President had fallen through.

"I've heard a lot about you." Kasumi Oji Gorō said.

Shin rubbed his chin, muttering, "Am I really that famous?"

The Kasumi Oji Clan was upper-class nobility in Seireitei, just below top-tier clans like Kuchiki and Shihōin. However, the clan had always been led by women, and the status of its male members was much lower.

Kasumi Oji Gorō frowned at Shin. "I saw the Student Council officer appointment list. You stuffed a lot of your own friends into department head positions?"

Shin replied, "Not that many. Only two."

After deliberation by the higher-ups, the Student Council was divided into seven departments: Presidium, Academic Department, Organization Department, Discipline Inspection Department, Arts Department, Publicity Department, and Finance Department.

Thirteenth Division Lieutenant Captain Shiba Kaien served as the sole Honorary President of the Student Council.

What Kasumi Oji Gorō referred to was Shin appointing Hisagi Shūhei as head of the Organization Department and Kanazawa as head of the Discipline Inspection Department.

Both were key departments.

Seeing Shin admit it directly without even explaining, Kasumi Oji Gorō's frown deepened. "Why did you decide this without consulting me?"

Shin looked innocent. "We only met for the first time today, right? Before this, I didn't know where to find you. Besides, the Student Council was already being set up half a month before the new students arrived. I didn't see you showing any concern back then."

His words implied that the other party was the one who had appeared out of nowhere.

Kasumi Oji Gorō's expression darkened. He had been suddenly notified by his clan to take on the role of Student Council Vice President, and upon hearing that the President was Tachikawa Shin, he was both shocked and confused.

Tachikawa Shin was a well-known figure at Seirei Academy. Many knew he came from the Gokō District of the Rukon District, the area with the worst public order. Rumor had it he often skipped class. How could such a guy be President, and he was supposed to assist him?!

Kasumi Oji Gorō said, "I think your appointments of these two are purely out of personal bias. I disagree."

Shin countered, "Then, Kasumi, do you know anything about them?"

"I'm a year above you. You should call me senior."

Shin smiled. "We're discussing internal Student Council work now, right? Shouldn't we address each other by our titles? You should be calling me President!"

"You!"

To Shin's surprise, the visibly angry Kasumi Oji actually held back.

"President, I think the appointments for the heads of the Organization and Discipline Inspection Departments should be reconsidered. I also have the right to participate in the selection."

Kasumi Oji Gorō's change in attitude surprised Shin, then he found it boring. Where was the noble arrogance, the disdain for commoners?

"Kasumi, if you think there's something wrong with my decision, you can go and observe the two of them yourself before deciding if they're suitable."

"I will!" Kasumi Oji Gorō said seriously. "I just hope... President, that you won't abuse your power for personal gain!"

Shin waved him off and walked away, his rigid impression of Kasumi Oji lightening somewhat.

What did he mean by abusing power for personal gain?

If he couldn't benefit the people around him, what was the point of being President?

Still, he was confident that Hisagi Shūhei and Kanazawa were excellent in their own right.

There were many new faces on campus. The aura they gave off was different from the older students—younger, more vibrant, as if curious about everything.

When Xin first arrived, it was just like this.

Cherry blossoms drifted through the campus, carried by the gentle breeze, and a faint, elusive fragrance hung in the air.

Xin truly savored this quiet leisure. If he hadn't known what the future held, he would have wanted to stay at school forever, a student for life.

Before the new students had even started, the Student Council had already recruited some members from among the returning students, forming a basic core.

And quite a few of those members weren't chosen by Xin.

Among the department heads, aside from Shūbīng and Kanazawa, every single one was a noble student.

To be honest, Xin didn't care. To him, the Student Council was just a tool.

But the problem was that there was so little he could do right now. Take that Kasumi Oji Gorō, for example—no one could say for sure what the Student Council would become in the future.

Several bulletin boards had been set up in the central plaza, where they were explaining the specifics of the Student Council to the gathered new students, recruiting first-year members to join.

Xin swept his gaze over them, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.

[Rukia]
[Affection: 7]
[For every 10 points of Affection gained, Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō Unlock Progress +1%]
[Affection reaches 90: Full Course Reward unlocked]
[Reaper's Wedge can be formed. Upon formation, third reward unlocked.]

I drank too much and almost forgot to update.