The results of the written exam were posted on a large board in the Shin'ō Academy plaza. Barely a few dozen nas made the list.
A sea of students crowded forward to check, so disappointed, so elated—others beating their chests in frustration.
Petite as she was, Rukia couldn't push through the crowd. She had to shout toward Renji, who was standing closer: "Renji, what does it say?!"
"Rukia! Your na's on the list—you passed!" Renji turned around with a wide, joyful grin.
Rukia's heart instantly lightened. She smiled back in relief. "And what about you?"
Renji didn't answer. He was still scanning the list top to bottom, his eyes wide, going over it again.
"N-No way..."
He murmured, realization dawning.
Once they'd moved away from the crowd, Rukia asked again, "What about you? You passed too, right?"
Renji scratched his head. "No... My na's not on it."
Rukia blinked, her faint smile fading. She pressed her lips together. "I see..."
She quickly tried to cheer him up. "Renji, it's nothing to be discouraged about. The exam questions were weird, and besides, we're still students—learning to beco Shinigami is the real focus here. You made it into Class A already, that alone says a lot."
Renji shrugged like he didn't care, then grinned and gave her shoulders an encouraging squeeze. "It's fine. What matters is you made it! You've got the interview next—go all out!"
Rukia hesitated. "Actually... I'm not even sure I want to join the Student Council..."
"What're you talking about?!" Renji cut in. "They had tons of applicants, and only a handful made it past the first round. That ans the Student Council's legit—they're looking for real talent. Rukia, don't throw away this chance!"
Rukia stared into his eyes. Sincere. Encouraging.
She gave a small nod.
—
The day after the results, the interviews began.
With only a few dozen applicants left, the workload wasn't too heavy. Shin, Kasugōri Mitsugorō, and the heads of each departnt were all present. They had commandeered two adjacent classrooms—one for conducting interviews, the other as a waiting room.
"Hello."
Rukia, waiting alone in the room, looked up at the voice. It was a girl about her age, hair tied into a neat bun, her features bright and sweet.
"Hi." Rukia stood and returned the greeting.
"I'm Hinamori Momo. Don't think we've t before—we must be from different classes?" The girl smiled warmly and easily.
"I'm Rukia, from Class B."
But Momo showed no hint of disdain. Her friendly smile stayed in place. "I see. I'm in Class A. I have no idea what the interview's gonna be like. The written test was tricky enough—I didn't think I'd even pass."
She struck up a natural conversation. There weren't many girls among the applicants, and Rukia just looked like the most approachable one.
"I didn't think I'd pass either," Rukia replied.
"So what did you write for that question—you know, the one about getting assigned to a squad you didn't want?"
Rukia thought a mont. "I wrote that it doesn't matter. Any squad is fine."
"Really?" Momo tilted her head. "Would that answer be acceptable?"
"What about you, Momo?"
Momo sighed. "I wrote a whole essay. Sothing like—if I didn't get into my preferred squad, I'd believe the higher-ups made that decision for a reason. I'd reassess my strengths and weaknesses and do my best in the squad I was placed in. It was probably too much..."
Rukia quickly shook her head. "Not at all! I think that's a thoughtful answer. I couldn't have written sothing like that."
She rembered talking with Renji after the exam—his answers had been very short. He didn't even seem upset to be cut.
"Hinamori Momo, Class A!"
A senior student called from the classroom door.
Momo stood up. "That's ."
"Good luck," Rukia said.
As Momo stepped out, she saw a senior at the door to the interview room chatting with a blond male student.
"Congrats on making it into the Council, Kira. Seems like the President really favors you."
So he passed too. Another Class A student, probably...
Momo thought he looked familiar, but it was still early in the sester—she hadn't learned everyone's face yet.
They passed each other in the hall, and Momo paused outside the interview room. She took a deep breath and entered.
The room was quiet and spacious. A row of desks was arranged at the front—probably the Council leadership. In the center sat a boy she recognized from the entrance ceremony—Tachikawa Shin, the President.
Across from them stood a single, lonely desk.
Momo stepped up. There was a sheet of paper on it, similar to the written test, with a few questions printed.
Before she could study them, soone from the panel spoke.
"Hello, Hinamori. Please introduce yourself—tell us about your strengths, interests, and which departnt you'd prefer to join in the Council."
Being the first Student Council recruitnt ever, there was no precedent to go by. Momo had spent all night wondering what kinds of questions they'd ask.
With so many eyes on her now, nerves kicked in. She felt her breath catch. After a pause, she bowed stiffly.
"I'm Hinamori Momo, Class A, first year..."
Her introduction was plain. A little dry. She said she liked reading, studying, and hoped to make friends during her ti at the Academy. As for departnt preference—any was fine.
After finishing, she felt her answer had been underwhelming.
"Don't be nervous."
It was Shin, smiling softly from the center seat.
"Everyone here is still a student, just a few years ahead of you. This is just so we can get to know you—nothing to worry about."
So that was the President...
Momo looked at his kind expression. He was unexpectedly easy to talk to, and it cald her a little.
Kanisawa shot a sideways glance at Shin.
Hisagi Shūhei followed up, "You'll see three questions in front of you. You have three minutes to read and prepare. If you're ready sooner, feel free to begin."
Momo nodded and looked down at the paper.
1. During a soul burial internship in the Human World, you encounter a nos Grande. Your upperclassman tells you to run while they stay behind to hold it off. What do you do?
2. You are a mber of the newly ford Student Council. Many students at the Academy think the Council is useless. What would you do to change their opinion?
3. You're the head of the Finance Departnt. A holiday is approaching. The Public Relations Departnt asks for funds to host a campus-wide event. At the sa ti, Academy leadership requests money to buy gifts for all teachers. You can only fund one. What's your decision?
Momo felt her head spin. Each question trickier than the last.
She thought again of the blond boy she'd passed earlier. How had he answered?
These weren't the kind of questions with "correct" answers. Everything depended on reasoning and logic. Momo took a deep breath and focused.
"I'm ready."
She didn't wait for the three minutes.
Sweeping her gaze across the interviewers, she reminded herself: They're just students too... but I can't take any of them lightly.
That boy—the President—had spoken at the entrance ceremony, right after the Headmaster. He clearly wasn't ordinary.
And the person beside him had the refined air of a noble.
These were tricky questions, but that only made her more certain—joining the Council wasn't just so casual student club.
Hisagi Shūhei spoke up again. "Please answer the first question."
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