Chapter 10 Death Wedge Binding
Squad Ten Barracks.
"These are the Student Council's recruitment assessment questions?"
Shiba Isshin looked at the two pieces of paper Kaien Shiba handed him, greatly surprised.
"Where did you get these?"
"I went and asked for them directly. After all, I'm an honorary President," Shiba Kaien said with a smile.
After Shiba Isshin finished reading the questions, he marveled, "Who made these questions? Was it Tachikawa Shin?"
"That's right."
"Interesting, truly interesting, hahahaha," Shiba Isshin burst out laughing upon hearing this.
His laughter attracted Matsumoto Rangiku from outside.
"Captain, what are you so happy about?"
"Miss Rangiku," Shiba Kaien greeted her.
Shiba Isshin then had Matsumoto Rangiku come over to look at the test paper. Matsumoto Rangiku appeared quite surprised after reading it.
"This is…"
"Even if you asked me to answer these questions, I might not get them all right," Shiba Isshin said with a chuckle. "This Tachikawa Shin really has a way. What is he assessing with these kinds of questions? The students' character?"
Shiba Kaien said, "The higher-ups of the Spiritual Arts Academy had already decided that the Student Council's recruitment threshold should primarily be based on academic performance. However, the recruitment period is set shortly after the Freshmen start school, so these Freshmen don't have effective grades to use as a reference. That's how Shin found a loophole to implement his own method."
Shiba Isshin mused, "I have a feeling this kid has big ambitions."
Shiba Kaien asked, "Did you ask him about the Third Seat position I mentioned to you before?"
"Third Seat?" Matsumoto Rangiku, who was nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "You want him to directly become Third Seat?"
Shiba Kaien chuckled, "What's wrong with Third Seat? Didn't I start as Third Seat as well?"
"Then, Captain, did you agree?" Matsumoto Rangiku turned to look at her Captain.
Shiba Isshin said helplessly, "What good would my agreement do? The key is whether Tachikawa Shin is willing."
Kaien Shiba pondered, "What do you mean, he didn't agree? He doesn't even care for the Tenth Division's Third Seat. What exactly does he want to do…"
#
The Student Council interviews were still ongoing.
After careful consideration, Hinamori Momo answered the first question: "I would choose to escape the scene with all my might and promptly seek rescue."
The expressions of those present remained normal upon hearing her answer. There were all sorts of responses to this question, and Hinamori Momo's answer was not particularly rare.
Hisagi Shuuhei pressed, "State your reasons."
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Hinamori Momo said, "Since it's a Menos Grande we've encountered, it's certainly not something a Spiritual Arts Academy student like myself can resist. Staying would only cause trouble for the senior and likely lead to complete annihilation. Therefore, swiftly leaving to seek assistance from the Soul Society is the wisest course of action. This extra glimmer of hope would also not betray the senior's great righteousness in bravely sacrificing himself."
After she finished answering, she saw the Student Council members sitting there, each writing and drawing in their notebooks, which made her feel uneasy.
Regardless, this was indeed the most suitable answer she had come up with after careful deliberation.
She noticed that the President, who was sitting in the middle, wasn't writing in a notebook. He was just quietly watching her, with a faint smile playing on his lips.
As for why Shin was smiling, it was because he noticed the change in the system interface.
[Hinamori Momo]
[Affection: 27]
[For every 10 points of Affection gained, Reiatsu Level +1, Zanpakuto Unlock Progress +1%]
[Full reward unlocked when Affection reaches 90]
[Can forge a Shinigami's Link; third reward unlocked after forging]
Then he looked at his own information interface.
[Reiatsu Level: Lv: 16]
[Zanpakuto Unlock Progress: 9%]
When he first met Matsumoto Rangiku, her affection also increased rapidly in the early stages. Hinamori Momo, whom he had only met for the first time, directly increased his Reiatsu Level by two levels and his Zanpakuto Unlock Progress. Naturally, Shin felt pleased.
"That's a very good answer," Shin said with a smile, then glanced at the others beside him: "What do you all think?"
The cadres who were evaluating Hinamori Momo's performance looked over upon hearing this. Hisagi Shuuhei felt helpless; Hinamori Momo's answer could only be considered mediocre. He couldn't help but wonder if Shin had taken a liking to this girl.
And when Hinamori Momo heard Shin's praise, her heart filled with joy, and she quickly bowed, saying, "Thank you for your compliment."
This President is a very kind person…
[Affection: 31]
Tsk!
Shin's smile grew wider, and he simply said, "Continue."
Hisagi Shuuhei said, "Next, please answer the second question."
Hinamori Momo took a deep breath and continued with the interview questions. The remaining two questions also went smoothly, and with Shin's encouragement, she wasn't as nervous and gradually answered with ease.
After answering all the questions, Hinamori Momo stood in place, somewhat anxiously awaiting their judgment. She felt that her performance should have been fine, coupled with the Student Council President's encouragement earlier, but her heart was still pounding until the results were out.
Hisagi Shuuhei spoke, "After our joint evaluation, Hinamori, congratulations on passing the interview. Please remember to report to the Student Council headquarters office tomorrow at 7 AM. Your specific duties within the Student Council will be arranged then."
Hinamori Momo was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you all for your approval!"
Shin also said with a light chuckle, "Welcome to our team. You may return now."
"Yes! Thank you, President!"
[Affection: 37]
It's increasing so fast.
Shin couldn't help but sigh with emotion. In his several years at the Spiritual Arts Academy, besides Matsumoto Rangiku, he hadn't encountered any other female with system affection.
"The President seems to like her very much."
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, who had been sitting beside him without saying a word, suddenly spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
Shin didn't deny it and said with a chuckle, "Who wouldn't like such a cute girl? Does Classmate Kasumi Kōji Kogoro dislike her?"
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro chose to remain silent.
"Next up is Rukia from Class B. Please call her in."
After leaving the interview room, Hinamori Momo didn't rush off. Instead, she went to the classroom where the remaining Freshmen were waiting for their interviews. She approached Rukia and excitedly said, "Rukia! I passed!"
Rukia was startled by this, then a smile appeared on her face: "Really? Congratulations, Hinamori!"
"I'll just call you Rukia, do you mind?"
"No, not at all."
"Then you can just call me Momo! You'll definitely pass too, and then we'll be colleagues in the Student Council!"
Rukia wasn't particularly happy inside, because she still had her interview coming up and was feeling nervous.
At this moment, the Student Council member at the door called out her name.
"Here!"
"Rukia, good luck!"
"Okay, thanks…"
Rukia felt her heart pounding as she walked step by step to the door of the interview room.
Shin sat in his seat, his gaze unfocused, actually observing the system interface.
Among the three women he had encountered so far, Hinamori Momo seemed to be the easiest to deal with. If he were to bind the Shinigami's Link to her, then obtaining the third reward shouldn't be too difficult either.
However, the system's description of this was extremely sparse, so he didn't dare to make a hasty decision.
After all, one of them was the female protagonist of the original work, so this third reward would definitely be different.
As his thoughts drifted, the figure at the door had already entered.
Her figure seemed even more petite than Hinamori Momo's, and her appearance was not as cute as Hinamori's. Compared to Hinamori's gentle demeanor, there was an added touch of firmness and heroism in her delicate brows and eyes. If one observed closely, it would be hard not to feel a sense of not daring to underestimate her.
[Rukia]
[Affection: 7]
[For every 10 points of Affection gained, Reiatsu Level +1, Zanpakuto Unlock Progress +1%]
[Full reward unlocked when Affection reaches 90]
[Shinigami's Link has been forged]
[Achieve full reward to simultaneously obtain the third reward]
[Zanpakuto additional ability: Freeze]
[Achieve third reward to unlock the second Shinigami's Link]