The true culprit behind the Real World training incident was ultimately identified as a Twelfth Division member named Sanada Ryōichi. He had preemptively planted spiritual bait within the barrier to lure Hollows and murdered the assigned barrier team before making his escape.
As for his motive—it matched what Shiba Kaien had told Nobu.
With that, the matter was officially concluded. To the students of the Shin'ō Academy, it had been a narrow brush with danger. But the deaths of numerous Shinigami required someone to take the fall.
Word had it that Captain Kurotsuchi of the Twelfth Division was reprimanded, and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads dispatched operatives to pursue Sanada Ryōichi.
Nobu figured Sanada was probably already dead.
As time passed, the incident gradually faded from people's minds. At most, it became a side note—something students would occasionally bring up when they talked about Nobu.
Life returned to normal. Nearly three weeks passed in a blur.
That morning, after breakfast, Nobu was planning to head to the student council office for a quick nap. He'd always wanted to put a bed in the office—something to make resting more comfortable—and had pestered Kasakurōji Mitsugorō multiple times about it. Every time, Mitsugorō had firmly refused.
When Nobu reached the office, he noticed the door was slightly ajar.
Someone's been here.
He was a little surprised. At this hour, no one ever came by except him.
But as soon as he stepped inside, he saw a petite girl standing there.
"Rukia?"
"President!"
Her face lit up the moment she saw him, and she hurried over with quick steps.
Nobu gave her a good look. She hadn't changed at all—still in her red-and-white school uniform, her short black hair curled upward at the ends, her fair face flushed with excitement.
"You're back. It's been a while."
Smiling, he reached out and gently patted her on the head. "I missed you while you were gone, you know."
Rukia's cheeks flushed deeper. She lowered her gaze and murmured, "I… missed you too. And everyone else."
Nobu walked over and sat down in his chair. "So, how've things been at the Kuchiki estate? Come on, tell me everything."
She looked like she had a lot bottled up and couldn't wait to speak. She nodded quickly, then began recounting her past few weeks in detail.
The day she was taken back to the Kuchiki estate, she was told she'd be staying there from then on.
But the place they housed her was a separate wing. She spent two days alone there, and during that time, aside from the servants who brought her food, she didn't see a single soul—not even Kuchiki Byakuya.
Those two days were filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Her mind ran wild, imagining all kinds of bleak outcomes. She even regretted agreeing to return.
It wasn't until the third day that she was summoned by the current head of the Kuchiki clan, Kuchiki Ginrei. He informed her that she would officially be adopted into the family—as Kuchiki Byakuya's younger sister.
The ceremony was grand and solemn. Many of the clan's prominent members attended. Rukia didn't understand any of it, but thankfully a maid stayed by her side to guide her through the formalities.
Afterward, they relocated her to a new room and assigned numerous attendants to care for her. They gave her new clothes, new belongings, and even arranged for four Shinigami instructors to personally tutor her in Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Shunpō, and Kidō.
For more than half a month, she had been immersed in noble etiquette, philosophies, and rules.
Some of it she could accept. Some of it she couldn't quite make sense of.
For instance, according to noble decorum, she should have performed a formal bow upon seeing Nobu just now—she'd practiced that bow dozens of times.
But the moment he reached out and ruffled her hair, everything she'd memorized vanished in an instant.
The president's hand… it just puts me at ease.
She had worried that, after coming back, things might feel different—that she'd feel distant from everyone.
Life at the Kuchiki estate had been exhausting. But she knew full well that everything she was receiving was something most people could only dream of. She didn't complain, and she worked hard at everything they asked of her.
Yesterday, she had finally mustered up the courage to approach Kuchiki Byakuya and request permission to return to the academy.
Thankfully, her "older brother" had granted it.
"You've really gone through a lot in such a short time," Nobu said with a tinge of awe.
"It wasn't that much," Rukia replied, scratching her head bashfully. "I know it's all good for me, so I can't really complain. I just… I just really missed being back here."
"You're not wrong." Nobu suddenly smirked. "But now that you're the noble Lady Kuchiki, is it really still appropriate for you to be my assistant?"
Rukia straightened up, flustered. "President, I'm fine with it!"
Nobu stroked his chin. "If I keep making you run errands like I used to, think the Kuchiki family will come after me?"
That old man who came last time didn't seem too fond of me, he thought. If I push it any further, they might just tell me to keep my distance.
Rukia insisted, "Everything you have me do is to help me grow. If anyone from the Kuchiki family misunderstands, I'll explain it to them myself!"
Nobu looked at how serious she was and couldn't help reaching out to gently pinch her cheek. "Rukia, Rukia... you're just too cute. I was teasing you."
Rukia blushed and stepped back. His gesture had felt a little too intimate—but she didn't know how to say that out loud.
How would you even bring something like that up…?
Still, if Momo had seen that just now, she'd definitely get the wrong idea.
Luckily, it was early in the morning. Momo probably wouldn't show up at the office at this hour. Rukia had timed it specifically to avoid her.
"It's almost time for class. You heading over?" Nobu glanced at the clock.
Rukia stood up. "I'll go to class now. President, if there's any work today, you can count on me like always!"
Walking out of the student council office, Rukia felt lighthearted—her steps noticeably bouncier.
Life at the Kuchiki estate had been suffocating. Most days, she didn't even have anyone to talk to. The servants were respectful, but distant. As for her new big brother—he was practically a ghost in the house. Even when she did catch a glimpse of him, she never dared to initiate conversation.
Kuchiki Byakuya always had that icy, unapproachable look. Just standing in front of him made her feel under immense pressure.
By contrast, being with the president felt so much more comfortable.
She had missed the academy. She missed Momo, Renji, Kira, Hisagi-senpai, Kanisawa-senpai... and most of all, the president.
The more time passes without seeing them, the more deeply I miss them.
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T/N: I DONT THINK ANY OF YOU READS THE THOUGHTS SECTION SO IM GONNA JUST TRY POSTING IT HERE
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