Chapter 5: Slippery
Seen through?
Matsumoto Rangiku lowered her gaze and said nothing, attacking again with her sword. The sharp blade in her hand transformed into several flashes of light, swift and difficult to discern which was real, or perhaps every single one was real.
Shin also reacted swiftly, blocking every one of her attacks. Swords clashed, emitting dazzling sparks.
Matsumoto Rangiku felt increasingly awkward. Shin seemed to be suppressed by her to the point of being unable to counterattack, yet he also tied her down, forcing her to continuously attack. Did Shin see through all her attacks? But due to the difference in speed, he could only defend. What if she stopped her offensive?
Matsumoto Rangiku gritted her teeth and suddenly withdrew her sword. In that instant, a cold glint flashed before her eyes. The unadorned Asauchi was inserted at an extremely tricky angle, almost grazing her cheek.
Did it miss?
Or did she dodge it? Still shaken, she vaguely glimpsed a strand of golden hair floating on the blade in front of her.
Matsumoto Rangiku swallowed, frozen in place.
Shin slowly withdrew his sword and took a step back.
"Miss Rangiku?"
"…"
Matsumoto Rangiku seemed to still be immersed in the shock brought by that last sword strike, unsure if she heard Shin's soft call.
Hisagi Shuuhei witnessed the entire exchange, watching as Rangiku, who had been suppressing Shin throughout, suddenly seemed to be defeated by a single strike.
Miss Matsumoto lost?
That's impossible…
Matsumoto Rangiku let out a long breath and sheathed her Zanpakuto.
"Is that how you defeated your teacher back then?" she asked.
Shin replied, "Mr. Nanba was much weaker than you."
In his duel with Sawataku Minamida, both of them used wooden swords, and Shin directly cut through his opponent's weapon.
Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly smiled. She didn't really want to smile, but she didn't know what expression to show besides a smile at that moment.
She lost just like that?
A dignified Vice-Captain, defeated by a Spiritual Arts Academy student who hadn't even graduated!
She only lost in swordplay, perhaps that's how it should be said.
Even though Matsumoto Rangiku found an excuse, she still found it hard to accept.
She recalled the first time she met Shin, in a dilapidated building in Zaraki District, a thin boy holding a sword, with several corpses lying at his feet.
She had actually forgotten this point.
This kid was far more than just cunning.
"I need to talk to you about something," Matsumoto Rangiku finally brought up the main topic, glancing at Hisagi Shuuhei nearby.
Seeing this, Shūhei immediately said, "I have something to do, so I'll be leaving now. You two chat."
The Swordplay Classroom became quiet again. Shin walked to the side, picked up a kettle, and took a sip.
Matsumoto Rangiku pondered for a moment and asked, "Did Vice Captain Shiba of the Thirteenth Division also invite you?"
"Hmm."
"What Seat did he offer you?"
Shin tilted his head and said, "Miss Rangiku thinks too highly of me. Seats in Squad Thirteen aren't just common cabbages by the roadside."
Matsumoto Rangiku thought, *So you know that too, kid.*
"Then which Squad do you want to join in the future?"
Shin slowly said, "I haven't decided yet. I still have some time before graduation, so there's no rush."
Matsumoto Rangiku then said, "If you are willing to come to the Tenth Division, you can start directly as a Seat Officer. The specific Seat will depend on your own ability."
Shin chuckled, "Miss Rangiku is so kind to me, but that's too far off for me. Let's consider it when I graduate."
Matsumoto Rangiku felt angry. She had shown such sincerity, and she secretly thought that this kid really thought highly of himself, did he think he was some extraordinary genius?
But on second thought, considering the swordsmanship he had just displayed, it was indeed something not just anyone could achieve.
The Tenth Division was the patrol and security Squad. The Squad members' work was not particularly dangerous, but it was busy every day. Her Captain, however, was a lazy fellow, and many Squad duties fell on her alone.
Matsumoto Rangiku very much hoped someone could come and share some of the burden with her.
In terms of strength, Tachikawa Shin could indeed be competent as a high-ranking Seat Officer after graduation. Even if he started from the Tenth Seat, with such talent, his promotion speed would be very fast in the future.
The Third Seat, also known as the Vice-Captain's assistant.
It wouldn't take too long for Tachikawa Shin to reach this position once he joined the Tenth Division.
Thinking of the Captain's instructions before she came, Matsumoto Rangiku chose to concede another step: "Why don't you propose a condition yourself? Which Seat do you want to be?"
Seeing Matsumoto Rangiku pressing him like this, Shin didn't want to appear too ignorant, so he said, "Miss Rangiku, I will prioritize the Tenth Division after I graduate. Vice Captain Shiba has also told me that I will not be going to the Thirteenth Division after I graduate."
Matsumoto Rangiku was suspicious: "Really?"
"Really!"
Shin first nodded very seriously, then chuckled and said, "I also hope to see Miss Rangiku every day."
Matsumoto Rangiku merely gave him a charming side-eye upon hearing that, smoothing a strand of hair behind her ear, then remembered the golden strand of hair that Shin had sliced off with his sword just now.
It was a pity she couldn't test this kid's true strength.
She wouldn't go so far as to use her full power in a duel with a Spiritual Arts Academy student who hadn't even graduated.
The two chatted for a few more sentences before Matsumoto Rangiku left the Spiritual Arts Academy and returned to the Squad Ten Barracks to report.
"This kid is really cunning."
Shiba Isshin burst into laughter after listening to Matsumoto Rangiku's narration.
"No wonder he could come up with such an idea. He's not an easy one to deal with, Rangiku. If you expect him to be your assistant and help you with Squad duties, I think it'll be tough."
Matsumoto Rangiku pouted, about to say something, but suddenly paused.
"I didn't say I wanted him to be the Third Seat, Captain? Also, what was that idea you just mentioned?"
Shiba Isshin then said, "There's nothing in our Squad besides the Third Seat that could satisfy him, is there? Maybe he doesn't even care for the Third Seat."
"Captain, you're exaggerating too much. This kid wouldn't be eyeing the Vice-Captain position, would he? And there's no one who becomes a Vice-Captain right after graduation. Even if they have the strength, they certainly wouldn't handle Squad duties well. Your nephew didn't also start from the Third Seat," Matsumoto Rangiku couldn't help but say.
Shiba Isshin chuckled, "Before Kaien, no one would have thought someone could be a Third Seat right after graduation. So-called geniuses are supposed to do things that ordinary people wouldn't expect. Otherwise, wouldn't the title of genius be too cheap?"
Matsumoto Rangiku furrowed her delicate brows, remaining silent there.
Shiba Isshin continued, "Let's leave this matter as it is for now. If that Tachikawa Shin wants to come to the Tenth Division, he will naturally come. If he doesn't want to, there's no point in us forcing the issue with the higher-ups. You've worked hard, Rangiku."
Matsumoto Rangiku, however, said, "No, Captain, you're definitely hiding something from me."
Shiba Isshin gently shook his head: "There's something that isn't suitable for public announcement yet, but you'll know about it soon enough."
"…"
Matsumoto Rangiku was utterly confused. She realized that something she didn't know about had happened between the Captain and Tachikawa Shin.
But they shouldn't have had any contact.
What exactly did that kid do…?