When Shin returned to the Student Council office, he found Hinamori already inside.
He sighed inwardly. Sooner or later, this had to be dealt with.
"President..."
Hinamori stood up nervously, looking very much like soone who'd just been caught red-handed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I... I originally ca to find you," she said quietly.
"What do you an?"
"Kaizawa-senpai ca by just now."
A bad feeling crept into Shin's chest.
"And then?"
"She saw here and asked why I wasn't in class. I told her I ca to find you, and she said I was skipping class and said she'd tell my horoom teacher. I... I ended up arguing with her," Hinamori admitted, her head dropping lower with each word.
"Just arguing?" Shin's tone was level.
"...I may have said so harsh things."
Hinamori's guilt twisted in her gut. Kaizawa-senpai was soone close to the President. During the internship in the World of the Living, the President had even taken a Hollow's blow to protect her.
That kind of bond—a life-and-death trust—she had ridiculed. It was too much. She'd gone too far.
Shin took a deep breath. "How harsh?"
Hinamori couldn't answer. She couldn't bring herself to repeat what she'd said. She glanced at Shin's face. He looked upset.
"President, I'm sorry. It was my fault, I..."
"Did you skip class to co here?"
"...Yes."
"Did Kaizawa say anything inappropriate to you?"
"...No. I'm sorry, President. I'll go apologize to Kaizawa-senpai."
She looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Shin's mind was a ss. All of this is my own damn fault.
He sat down in his chair and let out a long sigh.
"Hinamori, go back to class."
"..."
She hesitated, then stepped closer. Her voice trembled. "I'm really sorry for how I treated Kaizawa-senpai. I was just... so angry..."
"Aren't you usually soone who controls her emotions?"
"I..."
He waved a hand to dismiss her. "That's enough."
"President..."
Her eyes turned red instantly.
Shin just felt exhausted. Deeply, utterly exhausted.
And frustrated.
Maybe he had pushed things too fast, and now everything was unraveling.
He hadn't seen Rukia yet today either—no idea how she was taking things.
Hinamori finally left the office. Outside, she covered her face, on the verge of breaking down. She didn't even know why things had gotten this bad.
She and the President had just taken a major step forward.
But everything that followed... was miserable.
That afternoon, Hinamori finally returned to class.
She sat there in a daze. Soone sat beside her, and she thought it was Rukia—her eyes lit up.
But when she turned, it was Renji.
The disappointnt was obvious on her face. She turned away without a word.
"Um... Hinamori..."
Renji fumbled awkwardly.
"What is it?" Her voice was flat and tired.
"I need to talk to you."
"..."
He took a deep breath and rushed the words out.
"Hinamori, I think you're a really great girl. You're cute, your grades are amazing—especially in Kidō—you're kind, cheerful, thoughtful..."
Hinamori gave him a puzzled look mid-complint.
"But..." Renji added, "there's only one girl I have feelings for. And Hinamori, you already know who that is. I'm sorry, but I'm not the one you should be fighting Rukia over."
Hinamori blinked slowly, her expression blank. She glanced toward Kira nearby, who wore a clear "Don't drag into this" face.
Renji continued earnestly. "I hope you and Rukia can go back to being friends."
"...Pfft."
She suddenly burst out laughing. It was bright, cathartic—the kind of laugh that expelled all the pent-up gloom she'd carried.
"Renji, you're kind of... adorable."
Renji looked panicked. "I'm serious! I only like—"
"Alright, alright." She cut him off with a smile. "I appreciate it. It's nice how devoted you are to Rukia, but... you misunderstood . I never had those kinds of feelings for you—not even a little bit. Whatever's between Rukia and , we'll figure it out. This isn't your battlefield."
Renji blinked. She doesn't like ?
Their exchange was drawing attention from nearby students. Even Kira, embarrassed for Renji, ca over and dragged him away.
Once quiet returned, the smile faded from Hinamori's face.
The next morning, she arrived early. When she opened the classroom door, she saw Rukia already sitting at her desk.
"Ruki—"
Joy flickered in her expression. She was about to call out, then paused.
They were alone.
She walked over slowly.
"Rukia..."
Rukia had heard her approach. She raised her head at the sound of her na. Hinamori noticed she didn't look well.
"...Momoka."
Being called that again made Hinamori smile.
"Morning, Rukia."
"Mm."
She stood there, unsure. Then:
"I'm sorry."
They spoke at the sa ti. Both froze.
Hinamori quickly said, "I'm the one who owes you an apology, Rukia."
Rukia shook her head. She looked like she wanted to say more, then gestured. "Let's sit."
They sat. Hinamori t her gaze.
"I shouldn't have treated you like that. You were right. Pushing you and Renji together... I had my own reasons. And when I told you I liked the President, it was selfish. I figured that if I said it first, then you'd..."
"I admire your courage for saying it first," Rukia interrupted gently. "Soone had to."
Hinamori reached for her hand.
"But Rukia, I don't want to lose you as a friend."
"... either."
"So can we go back to how we were?"
Rukia hesitated, her voice soft. "It won't be exactly the sa. What about the President?"
Hinamori choked up for a second.
She wanted to say that she and Shin had already gotten closer—that things were different now.
But looking at Rukia, she couldn't bear to.
After so thought, she made a decision.
I won't say anything yet. I won't define our relationship either. Rukia's bound to the Sixth Division, and I'll go to the Fourth. In another year, we'll graduate. Ti might change her heart.
When that day cos, I'll tell her everything.
She smiled.
"Then let's make it a fair competition."
"...?"
Rukia stared, unsure how to respond.
To her, it didn't feel fair at all. Shin had already told her he liked her. She hadn't told Hinamori that.
So what kind of fair was this?
But she couldn't bear to lose Hinamori either. If she told the truth now... she might.
After a long pause, Rukia gave a faint nod.
"...Alright. A fair competition."
Reviews
All reviews (0)