10th Division Barracks.
"These are the questions used for the Student Council recruitment exams?"
Shiba Isshin stared in surprise at the two sheets of paper handed to him by Kaien.
"Where did you get these?"
"I asked for them directly. I am the honorary president, after all," Kaien replied with a cheerful smile.
Once Isshin had finished reading through the questions, he couldn't help but smack his lips in amazement. "Who came up with these? That Tachikawa Shin kid?"
"That's right."
"Interesting. This is really interesting. Hahaha!" Isshin burst out laughing, loud and unrestrained.
The sound drew Matsumoto Rangiku from the next room.
"Captain, what's got you so happy?"
"Oh, Rangiku." Kaien greeted her casually.
Isshin waved her over. "Take a look at these questions."
After reading through them, Rangiku's expression shifted to one of surprise.
"These are…"
"Even I wouldn't be sure how to answer some of these," Isshin chuckled. "That Tachikawa kid's got some nerve. What's he trying to test here? Their moral character?"
Kaien said, "The upper management at Shin'ō Academy agreed the Council should prioritize grades as the main metric. But because recruitment was scheduled right at the beginning of the semester, the freshmen didn't have any grades to reference yet. That gave Shin an opening to implement his own system."
Isshin rubbed his chin in thought. "I've got a feeling that kid has bigger ambitions than we think."
Kaien asked, "About what I mentioned before—offering him 3rd Seat. Did you talk to him?"
"Third Seat?" Rangiku interjected in shock. "You're offering him 3rd Seat directly?"
Kaien chuckled. "What's wrong with 3rd Seat? I started at 3rd Seat too."
"And you, Captain?" Rangiku turned to Isshin. "You agreed to this?"
Isshin sighed. "Whether I agree or not doesn't matter. The real question is—does he want it?"
Kaien frowned. "What do you mean? He didn't accept? Even 3rd Seat of the 10th Division isn't good enough for him? What is he after...?"
—
The Student Council interviews continued.
After some consideration, Hinamori Momo answered the first question: "I would do my utmost to flee the scene and immediately seek reinforcements."
None of the interviewers reacted strongly—many had given similar answers to that question.
Hisagi Shūhei followed up: "Explain your reasoning."
Hinamori replied clearly, "Since the threat is a Menos Grande, it's not something a Shin'ō student like myself could possibly withstand. Staying would only hinder my senior and likely lead to everyone's deaths. Escaping to alert Soul Society would be the wisest course of action—and I'd honor my senior's sacrifice by ensuring their efforts weren't in vain."
As she finished, she noticed all the Council officers scribbling notes in their booklets—each expression unreadable. Her heart raced.
Still, it was the most logical answer she could give.
She glanced toward the center seat—the President. He hadn't written anything down. He simply looked at her, that faint, knowing smile on his lips.
The reason for his smile?
[Hinamori Momo]Affection: 27+1 Spiritual Pressure Level & +1% Zanpakutō Unlock Progress for every 10 pointsUnlock "Home Run Bonus" at 90 AffectionEligible for Shinigami Keystone binding—bind to unlock Third Reward
He glanced at his own stats:
Spiritual Pressure Level: Lv 16Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: 9%
When he first met Matsumoto Rangiku, her affection had also skyrocketed in the early days. But Hinamori… this was their first real encounter, and already he'd gained two levels and Zanpakutō progress from her alone. It was hard not to be in a good mood.
"You answered very well," Shin said with a gentle smile, glancing at the others. "What do you all think?"
The officers paused, eyes turning toward her. Hisagi seemed a little exasperated. Momo's answer had been textbook—it wasn't anything special. Was Shin already smitten?
Momo, hearing the compliment, lit up with delight and bowed. "Thank you very much!"
The President is so kind…
[Affection: 31]
Tch. Shin's smile widened. "Let's continue."
"Next," said Hisagi, "please answer the second question."
Momo took a deep breath and continued the interview. The remaining two questions went smoothly. Encouraged by Shin's praise, she no longer felt so nervous—her answers flowed more easily.
When it was done, she stood there nervously waiting for their verdict. She felt confident in her answers, and the President had even praised her, but she still held her breath.
Hisagi finally spoke: "After our collective evaluation—congratulations, Hinamori. You've passed the interview. Please report to the Student Council headquarters at 7 a.m. tomorrow for your department assignment."
Momo beamed, bowing multiple times. "Thank you, everyone!"
Shin smiled. "Welcome aboard. You're dismissed."
"Yes! Thank you, President!"
[Affection: 37]
It's rising fast.
In all Shin's time at the Academy, only Rangiku had ever triggered the system's affection feature. Now Momo had done it in one sitting.
"President, you seem quite taken with her," came an oddly-toned comment from the usually silent Kasugōri Mitsugorō.
Shin didn't bother denying it. "She's adorable—who wouldn't like her? What, Mitsugorō, you don't?"
Kasugōri said nothing.
"Next up," Hisagi read the paper, "from Class B—Kuchiki Rukia. Bring her in."
Momo, just outside the room, didn't leave right away. Instead, she dashed back to the waiting classroom.
"Rukia! I passed!"
Rukia blinked, then gave her a small smile. "Really? Congratulations, Momo."
"Can I just call you Rukia?"
"Of course."
"Then you can call me Momo! I know you'll pass too—then we'll be Council members together!"
Rukia's smile stiffened slightly. She couldn't bring herself to share in Momo's excitement. The interview was next, and her nerves were mounting.
Right then, a Council member at the door called her name.
"Here!"
"Good luck, Rukia!"
"…Thanks…"
Her heart thundered in her chest as she walked toward the interview room.
Inside, Shin sat relaxed, his eyes drifting—but in truth, he was watching his system interface.
Of the three girls he'd encountered so far, Hinamori Momo seemed the easiest to "lock in." If he bound the Shinigami Keystone to her, the third reward shouldn't be difficult to acquire.
But the system had said so little about it—he was hesitant to make the call.
After all, one of these girls was the actual protagonist of the original story. Her third reward had to be… something else entirely.
While his thoughts churned, the girl stepped into the room.
Compared to Momo, she was even more petite. Her features weren't as cute—but in contrast to Momo's gentle softness, Rukia's face had a quiet steel to it. A noble sharpness. A spark that warned not to underestimate her.
[Kuchiki Rukia]Affection: 7+1 Spiritual Pressure Level & +1% Zanpakutō Unlock Progress per 10 pointsUnlock "Home Run Bonus" at 90 AffectionShinigami Keystone: BoundUnlock Third Reward upon full AffectionZanpakutō Bonus Ability: FrostThird Reward unlocks access to Second Keystone Binding
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