Chapter 19 Huche Yongyin
Hinamori Momo's home was in Rukongai, Junrin'an, in the first district of West Rukongai, which was considered a very good background compared to many people in the Spiritual Arts Academy.
The environment here was second only to Seireitei, and there was no need to worry about public safety or food.
Taking advantage of a Spiritual Arts Academy holiday, Hinamori Momo returned home and stopped by to see her neighbor's younger brother.
"Anyway, the Spiritual Arts Academy is really a great place. Our Student Council President can already interact with big figures like Vice-Captains and Captains on a daily basis, and he's also very kind, treating his subordinates and junior students without any airs. If only I had become the President's assistant back then… Really, are you listening, Shiro-chan?"
On the wooden corridor, the silver-haired young man was engrossed in devouring a large piece of watermelon. Hearing the girl beside him call him by his nickname again, he unceremoniously spat a watermelon seed onto her.
"Didn't I tell you not to call me Shiro-chan? Why do you come back every holiday? Is Shinigami school that idle?"
"I rarely come to see you! The Student Council has work to do every day!" Hinamori Momo was slightly displeased with his attitude.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya put the gnawed watermelon rind aside and picked up another piece.
"You've praised your President to me many times already."
"Because he's really good!"
Hitsugaya's expression was a bit sour, seemingly uninterested in what Hinamori Momo was saying.
Hinamori Momo then said with a look of regret, "It's a pity I was assigned a task and wasn't present when the Fifth Divsion Captain came to inspect. I heard he's also a very easygoing person. Shiro-chan, Shinigami aren't like what we imagined before! There are many, many good people."
She then urged, "Shiro-chan, you should also try the Spiritual Arts Academy. I think you'll definitely pass the entrance exam, and then you'll be able to make many new friends."
Hitsugaya continued to bury his head in the watermelon.
Hinamori Momo continued, "And if you can join the Student Council, we can often be together again."
Hitsugaya was ungrateful: "What's so good about being with you often?"
"Shiro-chan, what you said really hurts."
"Don't call me Shiro-chan, Bed-wetter Momo!"
The main reason Tōshirō Hitsugaya didn't plan to go to the Spiritual Arts Academy was to take care of his grandmother at home. His grandmother's health had always been poor, and he felt he couldn't abandon her; he had to stay by her side.
The summer day was a bit hot, and cicadas buzzed incessantly in the trees.
Hinamori Momo slowly ate her watermelon, her dangling legs swinging back and forth. She looked at the clear sky and envisioned, "I must work hard and become an excellent Shinigami."
#
Because he often skipped classes, he was called in by Sawataku Minamida for another talk.
"You brat, have you forgotten everything you promised me before? The Student Council cannot be an excuse for your recklessness! And since you are the Student Council President, you should set an even better example!"
"But the daily affairs of the Student Council are truly numerous! I'm also contributing to the Spiritual Arts Academy!" he explained innocently. "Mr. Minamida, although I've missed some classes, I will also make time to cultivate; it won't affect my grades!"
"Nonsense!" Sawataku Minamida didn't fall for his act; he knew his student's temperament too well.
"Just because your grades are good doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. Do you know that your repeated skipping of classes will be recorded in your file? What will the Squad you join think when they see your file and resume after you graduate?"
He chuckled, "Naturally, they'll think I'm a rare talent and cultivate me vigorously."
Sawataku Minamida glared, "Be serious with me! I warn you, starting today, you will attend all future classes honestly. If you dare to skip class again, I will report it to the Headmaster. I don't believe the Headmaster will tolerate such lax behavior, and then your Student Council presidency might be revoked!"
He said helplessly, "What if the Student Council really has important matters to attend to?"
"Ask me for leave, and I will approve it depending on the situation."
"…"
For the afternoon class, he uncharacteristically appeared in the classroom, which made many classmates feel curious. How long had it been since their esteemed President attended class?
"Did Mr. Minamida talk to you?" Shūhei asked with a faint smile, looking at his listless friend beside him.
He lazily hummed in affirmation.
It wasn't that he was lazy and unwilling to attend class. The Fifth-year Spiritual Arts Academy courses offered him no further improvement; the teachers wouldn't teach anything deeper. In his opinion, instead of listening to such classes, it was better to go to the library and read some advanced Kido books, which he considered a way to improve himself.
The fifth-year courses leaned more towards various practical applications. The number of Soul Burial internships in the Human World was significantly more than in previous years, and sometimes junior students would also be brought along.
He had naturally been there. When he was a first-year, he was quite excited about his first trip to the Human World.
However, the current time was still several decades away from Kurosaki ichigo's era in the original work. The level of technology was far from advanced, and there was nothing really worth exploring. After two visits, he lost interest.
This afternoon's class was Koten. Since joining the Student Council, Hisagi Shuuhei and Kanisawa had relinquished their class monitor duties. The new class monitor was a somewhat familiar classmate. Just before class began, he walked to the podium and addressed the students: "Today, Teacher Ōizumi will not be teaching. Our substitute teacher will be Vice-Captain Kotetsu Isane of the Fourth Division."
Fourth Division?
He was slightly surprised. It was quite rare for a Squad Thirteen Vice-Captain to substitute for a fifth-year class.
"Fourth Division? Isn't that the Squad you're going to join in the future?" Shūhei asked in surprise.
He neither confirmed nor denied, but he did perk up.
After the class bell rang, the classroom fell silent, and a tall figure slowly walked in through the front door of the lecture hall.
"She… is so tall!"
Upon seeing her, many students couldn't help but let out low gasps, and some whispered amongst themselves.
Kotetsu Isane's height, which made even men feel intimidated, indeed shocked most students. A woman nearly 1.9 meters tall; there was probably no second person like her in the entire Seireitei.
She wore a black soul reaper uniform and a Fourth Division Vice-Captain's armband on her arm, and she was a remarkably beautiful woman.
Kotetsu Isane listened to the various sounds from below, guessing what they were murmuring about. This made her slightly embarrassed; such a public occasion was equivalent to exposing her perceived height flaw for everyone to discuss.
But she still slowly walked onto the podium and addressed the students, "I am Kotetsu Isane, Vice-Captain of the Fourth Division. Today, I will be temporarily teaching the class. Hello, students."
As she spoke, her gaze swept across the students in the front, and she quickly and precisely locked onto his figure among the relatively small group of students. Coincidentally, he was also looking at her.
[Kotetsu Isane]
[Affection: 9]