Kuchiki Manor.
Returning home after class, Rukia found that Kuchiki Byakuya was also present. After a moment of hesitation, she gathered her courage and went to greet him.
Byakuya was now serving as the Vice-Captain of the Sixth Division, managing all division affairs. Kuchiki Ginrei had long intended to pass the role of Captain onto him. However, lingering tension between grandfather and grandson—rooted in the matter of Byakuya's late wife—had stalled that transition.
But with Rukia's adoption, a part of Byakuya's burden seemed lifted.
"Brother…"
Byakuya was seated in the drawing room, reading. When Rukia knelt formally at the entrance and greeted him, he responded with a cold, indifferent "Mm."
She remained rigidly poised, then cautiously asked, "Brother, today I was transferred into Class A… Was that your doing?"
Byakuya didn't even glance at her. "Such matters are beneath my concern."
Rukia stiffened and bowed her head. "Forgive me. That was presumptuous of me."
She had underestimated the reach of the Kuchiki name. Her class transfer didn't require the family's interference—the Academy faculty would've arranged it of their own accord.
But she couldn't have known that.
"I'll continue working hard at the Academy, to live up to the family's expectations."
Only then did Byakuya finally glance her way. "No one expects anything of you. Just don't disgrace the Kuchiki name."
"…Understood."
Rukia hadn't anticipated such coldness. She couldn't read him at all.
Why had they brought her into the family?
"If there's nothing else, you may leave."
"…Yes."
She returned to her quarters. Quiet. Empty. Dinner, as always, was eaten alone. The food was far more refined than the Academy's, but it tasted of nothing.
Is this what life will be like from now on…?
The next day, two servants escorted her back to the Academy. They would wait for her at the gate until classes ended.
As soon as she entered Class A, many students greeted her—warmly, respectfully, and all addressing her as "Kuchiki-san."
In Class B, she had been nearly invisible. In Class A, she was a star.
Even the teachers treated her differently. She remembered one of them from joint lectures, a man who'd always looked irritable back then—now he smiled constantly.
She knew it wasn't her they saw—it was her surname.
Among the Academy's students, only Kasumiōji Kōgorō, the Student Council Vice-President, came from a noble family. And even the Kasumiōji clan felt distant to most.
But the Four Great Noble Houses… they lived above the clouds.
Studying beside a member of the Kuchiki family, even an adopted one, was an honor.
"Rukia, you're famous now," said Momo, grinning.
Rukia looked uncomfortable. "I don't really like it."
So many eyes on her—it felt suffocating. It was as if she couldn't move without being watched.
Momo noticed her discomfort, tilted her head, and suddenly grabbed Rukia's hand. "Come on."
"Where are we going? Class is about to start."
"We're skipping."
"Eh? But—"
"If the teacher asks, just say it's Student Council business."
They left the classroom. Just as they reached the doorway, the teacher walked in.
"Kuchiki-san, Hinamori-san? Where are you two headed?"
"Sorry, Ishihara-sensei. Student Council duties. We'll miss class."
The teacher smiled at Rukia. "No problem. If you fall behind, come ask me later."
And just like that, they walked out of the classroom and off campus.
Rukia quickly realized Momo had taken her to the Student Council office.
She hadn't really wanted to skip class. With the Kuchiki name, she felt she had to uphold the image of a model student.
But when they arrived, the office was empty.
"…President's not here?" Momo looked disappointed.
Rukia guessed, "He's probably off training."
Everyone knew Shin rarely showed up to class. Most of his time was spent training.
Momo flopped into his usual chair. Rukia watched her, wondering if Momo had dragged her out just to see Shin…
Then Momo noticed the asauchi mounted on the wall behind the desk.
"This is… the President's Zanpakutō?"
She picked it up. "He's really careless, leaving it out like this."
Rukia replied, "It'd be inconvenient to carry it everywhere on campus."
Momo nodded, examining the sword. It looked like any standard asauchi, the same as they used in Zanjutsu class.
She drew the blade.
"Momo…" Rukia frowned. "That's not very respectful."
Realizing her mistake, Momo quickly sheathed it and put it back.
"If he's training without his Zanpakutō… then he must be working on Kidō, Hakuda, or Shunpo?"
"Most likely."
Momo leaned back in the chair, letting out a relaxed sigh. "President's life sure is enviable. Nobody dares discipline him."
Rukia said, "But he works hard for the school and the Council…"
Momo giggled and turned to stare at her.
Her eyes locked on Rukia's face.
"…What?" Rukia touched her cheek, unsettled. "Is something there?"
Momo finally looked away, propping her chin on one hand while twirling a pen with the other.
"Rukia, can I ask you something?"
"…Sure?"
A sudden unease clutched Rukia's chest. Whatever Momo wanted to ask—it would be hard to answer.
"...What is it?"
Silence. The pen slipped from Momo's fingers and clattered on the desk.
She sighed.
"Never mind. I won't ask."
Rukia's eyes trembled. Her lips pressed together.
She took a breath.
"Then… I have a question for you, Momo."
Momo looked up.
Rukia's hands clenched and released. She hesitated for a moment, then finally said it:
"…Do you like the President?"
"Yes."
Momo answered immediately—frank and certain.
"Everyone probably knows. I've never said it out loud, but it's obvious, right? I've never tried to hide it."
"…And," she continued, "the President definitely knows too."
She stared directly at Rukia, clearly waiting for a reply.
Rukia couldn't find one.
Maybe she should ask: Do you know Kaisawa-senpai likes him too? Aren't you worried about rivals?
But Momo's tone told her exactly how she'd respond.
Then Momo asked in return, "What about you, Rukia?"
Rukia's breath caught.
"…W-What do you mean?"
Momo smiled sweetly. "You knew, didn't you?"
The room fell into an icy silence.
Knock, knock, knock—
A sudden knock shattered the tension.
Rukia exhaled with relief and turned toward the door.
"Come in!"
The door opened.
A tall figure in a black shihakushō stepped inside. Both girls found her familiar, but couldn't immediately recall her name.
The badge on her arm caught Momo's eye—a lieutenant's insignia.
"Excuse me," the woman said gently. "I'm here to see Tachikawa-kun."
It clicked.
Kotetsu Isane—Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division.
Momo remembered her clearly. That statuesque frame was hard to forget. During the Cultural Festival, she'd stood beside Captain Unohana.
"You're Vice-Captain Kotetsu, right? The President isn't here at the moment."
Isane smiled. "Ah, I forgot it's class time. Then I'll wait."
"Please, have a seat."
They welcomed her in. Rukia went to pour water, as there was no tea in the office.
"Thank you," Isane said, her tone soft and gentle despite her height.
"I remember you two," she said after a moment. "You performed at the festival, didn't you?"
"Yes! I'm Hinamori Momo, and this is Kuchiki Rukia. We're both on the Student Council."
Kuchiki…?
Isane blinked, a bit surprised. She hadn't heard that the Kuchiki family had taken in a new ward.
Still, she didn't pry. "Aren't you two supposed to be in class?"
Momo flushed. "There were… Student Council matters to handle…"
She didn't dare admit they were skipping.
Isane nodded knowingly. "Sounds like a busy Council. But don't let it hurt your studies."
"Understood."
They assumed Shin was in class.
But Rukia guessed he was off training again. And if he was, there was no telling how long he'd be.
She thought of going to fetch him.
Meanwhile, Momo asked casually, "Vice-Captain Kotetsu, what brings you here?"
"Nothing urgent," Isane smiled. "I just came to drop off a few books."
"Books?"
"Yes. I found some texts on Kaido while organizing our archives. The Academy library likely doesn't have them, so I thought Tachikawa-kun might be interested."
Momo mused—was the Fourth Division always this caring toward future recruits? Or was it because he was him?
"President will definitely be pleased," she said.
"I hope so. He seems quite devoted to Kaido. How about you, Momo-san—what do you think of it?"
Momo's eyes lit up. "I'm very interested in Kaido!"
Isane's opinion of her immediately improved. She responded warmly, "Then you should consider joining the Fourth Division after graduation. We'd be happy to have you."
The two fell into a lively conversation about healing arts. Isane patiently answered all Momo's questions, even as Momo clearly lacked the technical depth.
Rukia decided it was a good time to slip out and find the President.
Just as she reached the door, it swung open—
"P-President?!"
Shin stood there, hair damp, not in uniform but in a loose, casual outfit.
"Rukia?"
He peered into the room.
"You guys…"
Momo tilted her head. "President, what happened to you?"
Rukia, being closest, caught the faint scent of shampoo and body wash. His hair was still wet—he'd just showered.
"I went to take a bath," Shin said casually.
Momo: "…"
Rukia: "…"
Then Shin looked toward Isane.
"Vice-Captain Kotetsu? What brings you here?"