Kuchiki Manor.
When Rukia returned home after school and saw that Kuchiki Byakuya was also there, she hesitated for a moment, then summoned her courage to greet him.
Byakuya was now the vice-captain of the Sixth Division, fully overseeing its operations. Kuchiki Ginrei had already prepared to hand over the captaincy, but due to the unresolved strain between them after the death of Byakuya's wife, the matter had been left in limbo.
Still, after everything that had happened with Rukia, it seemed that at least one burden on Byakuya's heart had eased.
"Onii-sama."
Byakuya was seated in the drawing room, reading. When Rukia entered and knelt formally at the entrance, he merely acknowledged her with a flat "Mm."
She remained kneeling, proper and tense, before speaking with hesitation. "Onii-sama, I returned to Shin'ō Academy today... I've been transferred to Class A. Was it you who helped me behind the scenes?"
Byakuya didn't even look up. "Such matters aren't worth my effort."
Rukia's body tensed, and she quickly bowed her head. "I'm sorry—that was presumptuous of me."
She had underestimated the influence of the Kuchiki name. Even without a direct intervention, just being a member of the family likely prompted the academy administration to act on its own.
Still, it wasn't strange she hadn't realized that before.
"I'll continue to work hard at Shin'ō Academy," she said. "I won't let the family's support and expectations go to waste."
Only then did Byakuya glance at her, face still calm. "No one has any expectations of you. Just don't disgrace the Kuchiki name."
"..."
Rukia hadn't expected such a cold response. She couldn't begin to fathom what he was truly thinking.
Why had they adopted her into the Kuchiki clan at all?
"If there's nothing else, you may go."
"...Yes."
Back in her room, everything was silent and still. She ate dinner alone—though the food was far more refined than at the Academy, it tasted hollow.
Is this how my life is going to be from now on...?
Rukia lowered her gaze, deep in thought.
...
The next day, two attendants escorted her to Shin'ō Academy, where they would wait for her to finish class and return home.
As soon as she entered the classroom, many students greeted her—some warmly, others respectfully. Everyone now called her "Kuchiki-san."
Back in Class B, she had been practically invisible. But in Class A, she was suddenly surrounded by people going out of their way to show kindness.
Rukia had never imagined she would ever be this popular. Even the instructor treated her differently—he always had a smile on his face now. She remembered attending his lectures back when she was still new, and his attitude then had been far from pleasant.
She knew exactly why all of this had changed—it was because of the Kuchiki name.
Among the students at Shin'ō Academy, the most prestigious was probably the vice president of the student council, Kasajirō Mitsugorō. The Kasajirō family already felt out of reach for most.
But the Four Great Noble Houses? They were like celestial beings, completely untouchable.
Just being in the same class as a member of the Kuchiki clan—even as an adopted daughter—was enough to make many students feel honored.
"Rukia, you're famous now," Momo said brightly.
Rukia felt uneasy. "I don't really like it."
All the attention made her anxious. Since returning, she felt constantly watched, no matter what she did or where she went.
Momo picked up on her discomfort and tilted her head, then suddenly grabbed Rukia's hand. "Let's go!"
Rukia blinked. "Where? Class is about to start."
Momo leaned closer and whispered with a mischievous grin, "We're skipping."
"Eh? But—"
"It's fine! If the teacher asks, we'll just say it's student council business."
With that, Momo pulled Rukia out of the classroom—only to bump into their instructor right at the door.
"Kuchiki-san, Hinamori-san—where are you two headed?"
"Sorry, Ishihara-sensei. Student council matters—we'll have to miss class."
The teacher beamed at Rukia. "No problem at all. If you fall behind, just let me know and I'll help you catch up."
And just like that, the two strolled out of the classroom and left the school building altogether.
Rukia soon realized they were headed to the student council office.
She wasn't entirely comfortable skipping class. Bearing the Kuchiki name made her feel she had to be the model student in every way.
But when they arrived, the office was empty.
"The president isn't here?" Momo looked surprised, maybe even a little disappointed.
"He's probably off training," Rukia guessed.
Everyone knew President Nobu rarely attended class and often trained on his own.
She watched as Momo sat herself right down in Nobu's usual seat and thought to herself—She probably just came to see him.
Suddenly, Momo noticed an asauchi propped up against the wall behind the desk.
"Is that... the president's Zanpakutō?"
She picked it up. "He's really careless, just leaving it out like this."
"In a place like this," Rukia said, "carrying it around all day would be inconvenient."
Momo considered that, then nodded. She examined the blade—it looked plain, no different from the ones they used in kendo class.
She couldn't resist unsheathing it.
"Momo..." Rukia warned quietly.
A Zanpakutō was something deeply personal. What Momo was doing felt out of line.
Realizing it herself, Momo quickly returned it to its place.
"If he didn't take it, what kind of training is he doing?"
"No idea. Could be Kidō, Hakuda, Shunpō..."
Momo leaned back in the chair, sighing with satisfaction. "Must be nice being president. No one ever tells him what to do."
"But as president, he's done a lot for the Academy and the student council," Rukia replied.
Momo laughed lightly and fixed her eyes on Rukia.
She just stared, without speaking, until Rukia began to fidget under the gaze.
"Is there something on my face?" Rukia asked, touching her cheek.
Momo finally looked away and leaned on the desk with one arm, picking up a pen to fidget with in the other.
"Rukia, I want to ask you something."
"..."
Rukia's heart gave a jolt. She had a bad feeling—whatever Momo wanted to ask, it wasn't going to be easy to answer.
She tried to keep calm. "What is it?"
The office fell silent. Momo kept twirling the pen—it was something she'd seen Nobu do, though she wasn't very good at it herself.
The pen slipped and clattered onto the desk.
Rukia's heartbeat stuttered with the sound.
Momo exhaled. "Never mind. Forget it."
"..."
Rukia's gaze wavered. She pressed her lips together, then suddenly found courage.
"Momo, I want to ask you something too."
"Hm?" Momo looked at her casually.
Rukia clenched her fists, then slowly loosened them. The words hovered on her lips for what felt like forever before she finally said it:
"Do you... like the president?"
"I do."
Momo answered without the slightest hesitation. Calm, open, resolute.
"A lot of people already know I like him. I never said anything, but I'm sure it shows. I never tried to hide it."
"..."
"And," she added after a pause, "the president definitely knows too."
She stared straight at Rukia, clearly waiting for a response.
But Rukia had no idea what to say. She could guess what Momo had wanted to ask earlier, and now she regretted asking her own question in return.
Should I say something now?
Something like: Aren't you worried Kanisawa-senpai likes him too? Aren't you afraid of competing with her?
But even if she asked, judging by Momo's reaction, the answer would be obvious.
"Rukia," Momo suddenly asked in return, "what about you?"
Rukia froze. Her breath caught, her heart trembled. She didn't dare meet Momo's gaze. Her voice trembled. "I... what do you mean?"
Momo smiled brightly, her tone unhurried. "You figured it out a long time ago, didn't you?"
"..."
The room was deathly quiet.
Knock knock knock—
A sudden knock broke the heavy stillness.
Rukia let out a sharp breath and quickly turned toward the door.
"Come in!"
The door swung open, and a tall figure stepped in wearing a black shihakushō. Both girls found her vaguely familiar, though they couldn't place her immediately.
But the vice-captain insignia on her sleeve made Momo quickly rise to her feet.
"You are...?"
The woman gave a gentle smile. "Sorry to intrude—I'm here to see Tachikawa-kun."
Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division... her name was Kotetsu Isane, if they remembered correctly.
Momo realized who she was—her striking height made her unforgettable. During the culture festival, she had been at the Fourth Division Captain's side.
"You're Vice-Captain Kotetsu, right? The president isn't here at the moment," Momo said at once.
A vice-captain of the Gotei 13 was still far beyond what students like them were used to.
Isane smiled. "Ah, I forgot it's class time. I'll wait for him then."
"Please, have a seat."
Since there was no tea in the office, Rukia went to pour her a glass of water and brought it over.
"Thank you." Isane's face carried a quiet strength, but her voice was soft and gentle—a curious contrast to her height.
"I remember you two. You performed at the culture festival, didn't you?"
"Yes, I'm Hinamori Momo. This is Kuchiki Rukia. We're both on the student council."
Kuchiki?
Isane glanced at Rukia with mild surprise.
The adoption hadn't spread much—it seemed she hadn't heard.
But she didn't linger on it. "Aren't you supposed to be in class? What brings you here?"
Rukia flushed with embarrassment. Momo's face also turned a little red. "We had some council business to take care of, so we—"
She didn't want to say they'd skipped class.
Isane gave a knowing smile. "Sounds like the student council keeps you busy. But make sure it doesn't hurt your studies."
"You're right. We'll be careful."
While Isane assumed Nobu was in class, both Rukia and Momo knew he was most likely off training—and who knew how long that would take?
Rukia debated whether to go look for him and let him know someone was waiting.
Meanwhile, Momo struck up conversation again.
"Vice-Captain Kotetsu, may I ask why you're looking for our president?"
Isane smiled. "It's nothing urgent—I just brought him a few books."
"Books?"
"I came across some Kaidō texts while sorting through my things. The Academy library doesn't have them, so I thought Tachikawa-kun might be interested."
Momo thought to herself—Do all Fourth Division officers care this much about future recruits, or is it just because it's him...?
"That's really thoughtful of you. I'm sure he'll be happy."
"I hope so. He seems genuinely interested in Kaidō. What about you, Hinamori-san? Do you like it?"
Momo's eyes lit up. "I do! I love Kaidō!"
Isane's impression of her instantly improved. "In that case, consider joining the Fourth Division after you graduate. We'd be happy to have you."
The two of them fell into a lively discussion on the topic. Momo's knowledge didn't compare to Isane's, but the vice-captain explained everything with patience.
Meanwhile, Rukia quietly stepped toward the door—just as it swung open from the other side.
"P-President...?"
Nobu stood in the doorway, hair still damp and dressed in light training clothes instead of his uniform.
"Rukia?"
He glanced into the room, clearly confused. "You're all here?"
Momo blinked. "President, what happened to you?"
Rukia caught a faint scent of soap and shampoo coming off of him. His damp hair clung to his forehead.
"I just took a shower," he said casually.
Momo: "..."
Rukia: "..."
Then Nobu looked to Isane. "Vice-Captain Kotetsu. What brings you here?"