Caught between Rukia and Hinamori at once, Shin couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
It wasn't that he lacked a conscience—he wasn't cold-blooded. These were two real, living people, not abstract ideas. Sure, it might look like he wanted to have his cake and eat it too, but that didn't an he was completely shaless.
Still, guilt was just a feeling. It wouldn't stop him from doing what he had to.
"President... Did you co back just to see —us?" Hinamori asked hesitantly.
Shin nodded. "I took a day off."
Then he added to both of them, "Now that Rukia's the student council president, you two don't need to call that anymore."
But Hinamori pouted quietly, murmuring,
"But in my heart... you'll always be the president. The only one..."
Rukia rolled her eyes, very visibly.
Still, Hinamori didn't press it. Maybe because Rukia was right there, she hesitated before asking,
"Then... what should we call you?"
"Call whatever you want," Shin said with a chuckle.
That only made things worse—now they both looked troubled.
Both girls clearly had terms of endearnt in mind but were too cautious to say them aloud in front of each other. They each felt they were close enough to Shin to call him by na—but doing so might sound too forward or disrespectful.
To them, Shin wasn't just soone they admired romantically. He was soone they deeply looked up to, soone who felt a step beyond them.
But to call him "Tachikawa" or "Tachikawa-senpai" would feel far too distant.
Hinamori silently thought: If only Rukia weren't here, I could call him Shin... easily.
Seeing their indecision, Shin chuckled again. "You can ease into it later. No rush."
That seed to relax both of them.
He noticed Hinamori's affection ter had climbed—sa as Rukia's, now at 89.
Despite not seeing her for over a month, it had steadily risen. Just seeing him again had bumped it up one more.
Rukia, on the other hand, was stuck at 89. She needed a push—so event to take her to 90.
Shin casually asked, "I saw your desk earlier, Rukia. You're prepping for student council recruitnt?"
Rukia nodded. "Yes. We're mostly following your approach. Kira's handling the details—he's the new Director of Organization."
"Is that so?" Shin smiled. "Kira's always been solid. Though he's a bit stiff, like Hisagi."
Hinamori chid in, "He's not stiff at all! When he's with people he knows, he talks more than Asano!"
Shin laughed. "And you, Hinamori?"
Rukia answered for her, "Momo's the new Director of Academics."
Then she gave a quick summary of the student council changes.
Shiba Ganju was now assistant to the president, taking over Rukia's old role.
The vice president was still Kakutō Hayaha, but now he actually participated in student council work—unlike back when Shin was in charge, when he was more of a mascot.
That, Shin thought, was a good thing. Rukia was still young and needed reliable support.
Most of the other departnts were headed by familiar nas. As for Renji Abarai—still a free agent. Despite being close to Rukia, she hadn't promoted him arbitrarily.
Shin grinned. "You're all underestimating Abarai. He might surprise you."
In the original tiline, Renji beca 6th Division's lieutenant. He couldn't be that useless. Maybe he just hadn't 'awakened' yet.
Hinamori snorted. "Let's not. I don't want Abarai throwing the student council into chaos."
Rukia also ntioned that Headmaster Shakubō had t with her recently, offered so encouraging words, and said he had high hopes.
Shin sat quietly, a little wistful. Everyone at the Academy had been so good to him. That's why he'd hated leaving in the first place.
"President... could you co visit us more often?" Hinamori asked eagerly.
Shin sighed. "I'd love to, but I've got my hands full in the 4th Division."
Which was true. As Third Seat, he had real responsibilities now. And all those ideas he'd pitched to Isane and Unohana—he actually planned to carry them out.
Rukia reminded Hinamori, "President Shin is now the 4th Division's Third Seat."
Hinamori reacted almost exactly like Rukia had earlier—but she grinned brightly.
"Then if I join the 4th Division soday, you'll keep looking after , right?"
Rukia said nothing, but her silence was heavy.
Shin glanced at Hinamori. "You really planning on joining the 4th?"
Hinamori puffed her chest.
"President, I was top of our year in Kaidō! Don't underestimate !"
Kaidō was a subcategory of Kidō, and Hinamori had always excelled at it.
Normally, she had three years left before graduation.
Three years...
Shin smiled. "Well, that's a long ti from now. No rush."
They chatted for a while longer, until class was about to start. Shin urged them to head back.
Neither girl seed enthusiastic. Given their council roles, they had plenty of excuses to skip.
But Shin frowned, putting on a stern face.
"The student council isn't about special privileges!"
That finally got them moving.
Just as they reached the door, Hinamori spun around and dove back into his arms, hugging him tight.
Feeling her soft body pressed against him, Shin dared not move. He could already feel Rukia's cold, furious glare.
"Alright, off you go. I want to visit my old teacher before I leave."
Reluctantly, Hinamori released him.
But to Shin's surprise, Rukia suddenly stepped forward too—leaning into him, wrapping her arms briefly around his waist.
Shin: "..."
Hinamori stiffened in place. Her hands clenched at her sides.
Rukia didn't linger. She let go quickly and walked out of the office without a word.
Hinamori stood frozen for a mont, watching Rukia's back. Then she turned to Shin.
There was sothing unreadable in her gaze.
Then she followed after her.
Once outside the building, Hinamori finally spoke up.
"Rukia... are you upset?"
"...No," Rukia replied quietly, not slowing her steps.
Hinamori sighed.
To be fair, her outburst earlier had been impulsive. She hadn't ant to upset Rukia. She'd just missed him—terribly.
She tried to sound sincere.
"It's my fault. I just missed him so much... I couldn't help myself."
Rukia glanced sideways at her.
"I know. I missed him too."
"..."
Hinamori gave an awkward little laugh.
"So... I guess we're even now, right?"
Even?
Was that... how this worked?
Rukia suddenly stopped walking.
So did Hinamori.
Her heart skipped.
What's she going to say...?
"Momo," Rukia said softly,
"Have you been... secretly feeling proud of yourself?"
Hinamori's smile froze.
"What... do you an?"
Rukia turned to her.
"You think—because the President already graduated, and we've still got three years left... because you said you'll join the 4th Division, and I can only go to the 6th... that there's no chance between and the President, right?"
"..."
Rukia took a deep breath.
She stood still for a mont, then spoke again—her voice low but firm.
"We said we'd compete fairly. So I won't fight you over little things like this."
"But let make one thing clear."
"When it cos to him... I will never, ever give up."
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