Chapter 8 Rukia and Renji
"Rukia, what are you looking at?"
A red-haired boy with a striking hairstyle pushed through the crowd and came to his companion's side, also looking at the notice board.
"Didn't they mention the Student Council at the ceremony?"
Beside him was a petite and pretty girl with short, black, upturned hair, her deep purple eyes fixed on the notice board, deep in thought.
"Huh, do you want to join this Student Council?" the red-haired boy asked.
"I haven't thought about it, just looking."
"If you're going to join, I'll join too!"
"It's not that easy. It also says there will be an assessment."
The red-haired boy, however, looked nonchalant: "We'll definitely pass!"
As the two spoke privately, a figure suddenly stood before them.
"Are you Freshmen interested in joining the Student Council?"
This person was tall, with a very striking long face, plus a pair of small eyes that were almost invisible even when open, leaving a deep impression at first glance.
"I'm Aoga, a fifth-year student. If you want to join the Student Council, you need to register first. May I have your names?"
Aoga said, already taking out a roster without waiting for a reply, looking at the two.
The red-haired boy immediately responded cheerfully, "Oh! My name is Abarai Renji, and she's Rukia!"
"Renji, you..."
Rukia hadn't made up her mind. She knew nothing about this Student Council; she had only come to look because many people were gathered there, and she was curious.
Aoga marked their names and then asked, "And your classes?"
"I'm in Class A, and she's in Class B."
Aoga's pen paused. He subtly wrote "Inferior" after Rukia's name and "Superior" after Renji's.
Class A in each grade was a special advanced class, meaning it gathered "Excellent Students." First-year students, having just enrolled, had no academic records to refer to, so class assignments were based on their spiritual pressure levels.
However, a person's initial spiritual pressure could determine many things.
The Student Council's recruitment standards were already set, clearly written in the regulations: priority was given to those with excellent academic records.
This was not decided by Tachikawa Shin, the President, but rather by discussions and agreements from higher-ups, which determined the Student Council's recruitment thresholds and various rules and regulations.
"The first written exam will be held in three days. If you pass, there will be a second interview, and passing the interview will allow you to become a member of the Student Council."
"That's so much trouble," Abarai Renji finally said.
"Only by passing through layers of screening can one prove their excellence," Aoga smiled.
Leaving the crowd, Rukia complained about Abarai Renji's impulsiveness: "Idiot! Didn't I say I hadn't thought about it yet? Why did you just sign us up!"
Abarai Renji scratched his head: "There's no need to overthink it, right? If you want to go, just sign up."
Rukia sighed helplessly: "I... Ugh, I just saw that many students from our term have already signed up. The competition is definitely fierce, and I might very well be eliminated."
Abarai Renji, however, said: "I don't think those guys are that great. We'll definitely pass."
Rukia was speechless. Being assigned to Class B meant she was a good deal behind Renji in spiritual pressure and aptitude. She just didn't know what the assessment standards for this Student Council were...
#
The Spiritual Arts Academy allocated a very spacious classroom specifically for the Student Council to use as its headquarters office. The Spiritual Arts Academy highly valued the Student Council, so it provided excellent conditions in all aspects.
For example, the chair Shin was currently lounging in, and the high-grade wooden desk in front of him.
As Kasumi Kōji Kogoro walked in, he saw the President of the Student Council unceremoniously propping his feet on the desk, and his face immediately darkened.
"Yo, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro!"
Shin saw him enter and greeted him very amiably.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro walked expressionlessly to the desk. Many of the facilities and equipment in this office were sponsored by his family, and this desk, in particular, was a style and wood he had personally chosen.
He suppressed his inner anger and said in a deep voice, "Tachikawa Shin, you don't look like a President at all! It's too vulgar!"
Shin tilted his head and smiled, "What can I do? I just happen to be the President."
"You!"
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro was so angry that his breathing hitched, his chest rising and falling erratically.
Shin then slowly lowered his legs and said with a slight smile, "Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, your family is really rich! It's great to have you as Vice President. The Student Council will have to rely on you a lot in the future!"
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro merely snorted. Shin's "rich" only referred to him furnishing the office with these items, and he disdained to respond. His Kasumioji family was an upper-tier noble family in Seireitei, controlling the Soul Society's weapon-forging technology, second only to top ancient noble families like Kucihki, Shihōin, and Tsunayashiro. The extent of their family wealth was something this Tachikawa Shin probably couldn't even imagine.
He placed a thick stack of documents on the desk.
"These are the Freshman registration files I just retrieved from the Spiritual Arts Academy's archives."
"So many!" Shin clicked his tongue repeatedly.
"Most of the Freshmen have signed up, wanting to join the Student Council," Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said.
Shin picked up the documents and casually flipped through a few pages. He noticed that the stack of documents had been categorized, with a small portion forming one category, clipped separately, and the rest forming another.
"These are all Class A students. The Student Council needs to recruit members from the Freshmen, and you only need to select from these," Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said.
Shin, however, calmly removed the clip holding those documents and mixed them with the remaining ones.
"What do you mean?" Kasumi Kōji Kogoro frowned.
Shin leaned back in his chair and asked, "Do you know what it would be like if all the first-year members of the Student Council came from Class A?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
"If that were the case, then the Student Council would become a complete privileged organization, lording over the students."
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro frowned and remained silent.
"There aren't many people in Class A in total. If most of them join the Student Council, then what would Class A become?"
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said, "You are aware of the Student Council's recruitment threshold."
Shin said, "I am aware, but it's still uncertain which of these Freshmen are truly excellent students. The biggest changes in Class A members happen in the second year, as you should also know."
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro said in a deep voice, "If you are determined to do this, I will report the situation to the Spiritual Arts Academy's Principal."
Shin chuckled, "The Principal is very busy every day. There's no need to bother him with such a small matter. I've already decided, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro. If Class A students are excellent enough, they will naturally pass the assessment."
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro didn't argue much with Shin. He stayed for a while and then left. Before leaving, he turned back and told Shin, "Don't put your legs on the table anymore. It's too vulgar!"
Shin began to look through the students' files. He knew in his heart that if Kasumi Kōji Kogoro's prejudice was very deep, he wouldn't have bothered to bring the files of students outside of Class A.
Not a bad guy at all.
And very rich, too!
Besides Rukia and Abarai Renji, whom he had met earlier at the plaza's notice board, Shin also found two familiar names in the Freshman files.
Hinamori Momo.
Kira Iziru.
Both were from Class A, and their files recorded their origins, each coming from higher-numbered districts of Rukongai.
Shin's gaze moved back and forth over their files, his fingers gently caressing the paper.
The office door was pushed open, and Hisagi Shuuhei and Kanisawa entered together.
"You're quite leisurely."
Shūhei looked at Shin with his feet on the desk and immediately felt a little unbalanced.
"Who said that? I'm also busy with work."
Shin gestured to the documents in his hand.
The two walked up to the desk and looked at the thick stack. Shūhei exclaimed, "So many? Are they all joining the Student Council?"
"Mm."
Shūhei couldn't help but say, "How long will the interviews take?"
Kanisawa, however, said calmly from the side, "Not that many. The written exam will eliminate ninety percent of the people."
Shūhei was stunned, then said, "The competition is really fierce."
Shin said, "These Freshmen, having just entered the academy, are always full of curiosity and enthusiasm for everything."
He put down the documents and straightened his posture, stretching.
Kanisawa, however, noticed that the very top file belonged to a girl. It had a photo printed on it; she was pretty and cute, with her hair tied in a bun.
She glanced at Shin and suddenly said, "This girl is quite cute."
Shin immediately nodded upon hearing this, gently stroking his chin and saying, "Right? I think so too. I just happen to need an assistant..."
Shūhei looked at him speechlessly.
#
The written exam three days later.
Because many members had signed up for the Student Council, the written exam was held in a large lecture hall.
As they were newly enrolled students, the content of the written exam did not assess their professional theory, but they were all rather tricky questions, mostly asking how they would handle certain situations, which had no fixed answers.
There was also a very special one.
[Did you undergo spiritual pressure training before enrollment? If yes, please answer the questions on page 2. If not, you may leave it blank. Leaving it blank incurs no penalty, answering incorrectly incurs a penalty, and answering correctly does not add points.]
After the written exam, the Student Council members graded the papers, directly eliminating 90% of the members.
Among them, Abarai Renji from Class A was directly eliminated.
His paper was graded by Shūhei.
[How would you handle being assigned to a Squad different from your preference after graduation?]
Abarai Renji's answer: I would apply to the Captain to change Squads.
[You have become an ordinary Shinigami Squad member and have not become a Seat Officer for ten years. Discuss your thoughts and actions?]
Abarai Renji's answer: It's impossible for me not to become a Seat Officer in ten years.
[Your friend tells you that your superior has been taking bribes and acting improperly for others. What would you do?]
Abarai Renji's answer: Report them!