Chapter 7: Use job titles when working!
The Central Spirit Art Academy Freshman Entrance Ceremony.
Normally, only the entire faculty and newly admitted Freshmen would attend.
However, Tachikawa Shin was standing among the teachers, next to Sawataku Minamida.
Principal Chojiro Sasakibe was on the stage, addressing the newly admitted first-year students, delivering a very official speech, encouraging students to study hard and strive for progress in school, hoping they would soon become excellent Shinigami.
Tachikawa Shin was somewhat distracted, standing there with his gaze wandering.
Sawataku Minamida lightly kicked his shin, reminding him to concentrate.
The newly admitted students were full of enthusiasm and anticipation for their future school life, and Chojiro Sasakibe's speech was quite effective.
"Next, we invite our Central Spirit Art Academy Student Representative, Student Council President, fifth-year Tachikawa Shin, to come to the stage and deliver a speech."
The Spiritual Arts Academy had never had a student representative speak at a Freshman Entrance Ceremony before.
Hearing his name called, Tachikawa Shin finally straightened his lax expression and slowly walked onto the podium.
The entrance ceremony venue was large, with hundreds of students standing below, many curious about what this Student Council was and what kind of person this Tachikawa Shin was.
Tachikawa Shin also had a prepared speech, given to him by a Spiritual Arts Academy teacher, the general content of which, in addition to encouraging the Freshmen, was to promote the Student Council to them.
Tachikawa Shin's speech didn't cause any trouble; he finished his remarks properly and then stepped off the stage.
After the ceremony, Tachikawa Shin was about to return to his dorm when he was stopped by someone.
"Who are you?"
This person was also a student, wearing a white school uniform, but Tachikawa Shin had no impression of him.
"Kasumi Kōji Kogoro," the person said indifferently.
Tachikawa Shin pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then grinned and said, "It's you, huh? This is our first time meeting."
This person was the designated Vice President, from the Seireitei noble family Kasumioji, and a current sixth-year student at the Spiritual Arts Academy.
It was also this person who dashed Tachikawa Shin's original idea of having Shūhei Hisagi serve as Vice President.
"I've heard of you often," Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said.
Tachikawa Shin rubbed his chin, muttering, "Am I really that famous?"
The Kasumioji are an upper-tier noble family in the Seireitei, second only to top-tier nobles like the Kucihki and Shihōin, but historically, the Kasumioji family has always had female heads, and the status of males within the clan is much lower.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro looked at Tachikawa Shin and frowned, saying, "I saw the list of Student Council executive appointments, and you've stuffed a lot of your friends into department head positions?"
Tachikawa Shin replied, "Not that many, really, only two."
Following the deliberations and decisions from above, the Student Council was divided into seven major departments:
Presidium, Academic Department, Organization Department, Inspector Department, Arts and Culture Department, Publicity Department, and Finance Department.
Thirteenth Division Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien served as the Student Council's sole honorary chairman.
What Kasumi Kōji Kogoro was referring to was Tachikawa Shin appointing Hisagi Shuuhei as the head of the Organization Department and Kanisawa as the head of the Inspector Department.
Both were key departments.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro saw that Tachikawa Shin admitted it directly without even explaining, and his brows furrowed even deeper: "Why did you make such a decision without consulting me?"
Tachikawa Shin looked innocent: "This is our first time meeting today, isn't it? Before this, I didn't know where to find you, and the Student Council had already been under construction for half a month before the Freshmen's enrollment. I didn't see you concerned then either."
His words implied that the other party was the one who had appeared out of nowhere.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro's expression darkened; he had also been suddenly informed by his family that he was to be the Student Council Vice President, and hearing that the President was Tachikawa Shin further shocked and confused him.
Tachikawa Shin was quite famous within the Spiritual Arts Academy; many knew he came from the Zaraki District of Rukongai, the place with the worst public order. He was rumored to often skip classes. How could such a guy be the President, and he was supposed to assist him?!
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said, "I think your appointment of these two people is entirely out of self-interest. I disagree."
Tachikawa Shin retorted, "Then, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, do you understand them both?"
"I'm a year ahead of you; you should call me senior."
Tachikawa Shin smiled, "We're discussing Student Council internal work right now, aren't we? So when we're working, shouldn't we address each other by our positions? You should call me President!"
"You!"
What Tachikawa Shin didn't expect was that this angry-looking Kasumi Kōji Kogoro actually held back.
"President, I believe the candidates for the heads of the Organization Department and Inspector Department should be re-evaluated. I also have the right to participate in the selection."
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro's change in attitude surprised Tachikawa Shin, and then he found it uninteresting. Where were those nobles who looked down on commoners and acted haughtily?
"Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, if you think there's anything wrong with my decision, you can personally investigate them both before deciding if they are suitable."
"I will!" Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said seriously, "I just hope... President, you won't abuse your power when the time comes!"
Tachikawa Shin waved him off and walked past him, feeling that his rigid impression of this Kasumi Kōji Kogoro had lessened considerably.
What does it mean to abuse power?
If he couldn't benefit those around him, wouldn't his position as President be for nothing?
However, he was also confident that Hisagi Shuuhei and Kanisawa were excellent in their own right.
There were many new faces in the school; the aura they exuded was different from the older students—younger, more vibrant, as if curious about everything.
Tachikawa Shin was like that when he first arrived.
Cherry blossoms, carried by the breeze, floated throughout the campus, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.
Tachikawa Shin truly enjoyed this peaceful leisure. If he didn't know about the future, he would genuinely want to stay in school forever, being a student for life.
Before the Freshmen started school, the Student Council had already recruited some members from among the older students, establishing a basic core.
And among these members, many were not chosen by Tachikawa Shin.
Except for Shūhei and Kanisawa, all the department heads were noble students.
To be honest, Tachikawa Shin didn't care; this Student Council was just a tool for him.
It's just that there was so little he could do now. Like that Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, no one could say what the Student Council would become in the future.
Several bulletin boards were set up in the Central Plaza, explaining specific information about the Student Council to the Freshmen gathered there, and recruiting new members from the first-year students.
Tachikawa Shin's gaze swept across, and he suddenly stopped in place.
[Rukia]
[Affection: 7]
[For every 10 points of affection gained, Spirit Pressure Level +1, Zanpakuto Unlock Progress +1%]
[Full Base Reward unlocked when Affection reaches 90]
[Shinigami's Wedge can be formed; Third Reward unlocked after formation]