Chapter 31: Hinamori Takes the Initiative
These words startled the few people present.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya couldn't help but retort, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Xin's expression remained calm, his eyes simply fixed on him. The next moment, his spiritual pressure surged out, and this sudden burst of spiritual pressure made Hitsugaya gasp for a few seconds.
Only when Xin reined in his spiritual pressure did Hitsugaya breathe heavily, his face flushed red.
"Did you feel that? That's what another person's spiritual pressure feels like," Xin said slowly. "I want to ask you, ever since you were young, have people your age generally been unwilling to approach you?"
"..."
Hitsugaya looked up blankly, and he looked at Hinamori.
"Hinamori is an exception because she also has spiritual power within her. But in Rukongai, there are more ordinary people without spiritual power. They can't stand the spiritual pressure leaking from you and will feel very uncomfortable being around you."
Hinamori couldn't help but say, "But I also have many friends in Rukongai..."
"You are different from him. As I just said, his spiritual pressure is very strong, even stronger than many Spiritual Arts Academy students now. He just doesn't know how to control it."
Hitsugaya's hands lay flat on the table as he began to recall past events in his mind.
What Xin said was completely true. Ever since he was young, apart from Hinamori, no one had ever wanted to play with him. His life, besides Hinamori, only consisted of his grandmother.
And grandmother...
Grandmother's health had always been very poor...
Hitsugaya's pupils slightly widened. He realized something. Could it all be because of him?
"Furthermore, spiritual powers attract each other. When you come to the Spiritual Arts Academy today, a place where everyone has spiritual power, the spiritual pressure within you will become more restless than before, posing a greater danger to ordinary people around you. If your grandmother doesn't have spiritual power, then temporarily leaving her is the best choice for both of you."
Hitsugaya sat there somewhat dejectedly.
Hinamori also looked worried. She hadn't expected the President to say something so serious.
But on second thought, it all seemed to make sense. Toushiro's grandmother's health had indeed always been poor, and it was even worse the last time she went back to visit her.
Could it really be because of Toushiro?
If that's the case, how sad must Toushiro be...
Xin sighed lightly and continued, "You should seriously consider coming to the Spiritual Arts Academy to learn how to become a Shinigami and how to control your spiritual pressure. When that time comes, you can return to your grandmother's side and be with her day and night."
Hisagi Shuuhei, who was beside him, looked at Hitsugaya with some surprise in his eyes. To be honest, he had felt spiritual pressure fluctuations within Hitsugaya, but it wasn't as detailed as Xin's, who could instantly see that it had reached a level that could threaten the lives of ordinary people.
"Toushiro..." Hinamori softly called out.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya slowly looked up, and he looked at Xin.
"Thank you..."
Xin smiled faintly, "You are Hinamori's childhood friend. Once you come to the Spiritual Arts Academy, you will also become my junior, my subordinate, my friend. I'm just giving you a reminder; it's nothing significant."
Tōshirō Hitsugaya, however, stood up very seriously and bowed deeply to Xin.
"Hinamori... please take me back."
Xin also said to Hinamori, "Go ahead, it won't be that busy in the afternoon anyway."
After lunch, Hinamori Momo left the Spiritual Arts Academy with Hitsugaya.
Shūhei couldn't help but ask Xin, "Xin, is that Hitsugaya really as formidable as you say?"
Xin mused, "At least Six-Tier Spiritual Power."
Shūhei's pupils constricted. Six-Tier Spiritual Power! That was already the standard of a Seat Officer, or even a High-Ranking Seat Officer!
What tier was he measured at when he first enrolled...
After the shock, Shūhei felt a deep sense of frustration. He had worked so hard cultivating at the Spiritual Arts Academy for so long, yet he couldn't compare to a kid who hadn't even started training at the Spiritual Arts Academy?!
Among his peers, his grades had always been among the top, but because of Xin's presence, he never considered himself an excellent genius student.
It was only natural for Xin to be stronger than him, because he could see that Xin's private efforts were no less than his own.
But that Hitsugaya, how could he...
Seeing Shūhei suddenly fall silent, Xin couldn't help but chuckle, "What's wrong? Feeling discouraged?"
Shūhei saw him still smiling and couldn't help but retort, "Xin, don't you feel anything at all? That Hitsugaya is stronger than both you and I were when we first enrolled! Much stronger! This is too..."
What he wanted to say was, it's too unfair.
Why is there such a difference in innate abilities between people?
"Shūhei, when you get married and have children in the future, your children will also be born with spiritual power. But in Rukongai, there are many ordinary people without spiritual power. This world is simply like this; talking about fairness or unfairness is meaningless. Strength also means responsibility. Hitsugaya might shine brightly after becoming a Shinigami, but his power will be used to protect the Soul Society. Just as we now enjoy the stable order left to us by our predecessors, are you also going to complain about why the Captain-Commander is so much stronger than you?"
Shūhei couldn't help but grumble, "Your reasoning is a bit too profound..."
Six-Tier Spiritual Power, High-Ranking Seat Officer...
He would definitely become a Vice-Captain or even a Captain in the future.
Could he become a Captain?
Shūhei didn't dare to dream so big; becoming a Vice-Captain was already his biggest goal.
But what about Xin? He could definitely do it, right!
He was convinced that Xin could discern Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure level at a glance precisely because he had already reached or even surpassed that realm.
The Third Seat offered to Xin by the Tenth Division couldn't have been solely based on Xin's talent; it was even more so because he already possessed the ability.
How much more effort would he need to put in to achieve that...
#
Evening.
The Cultural Festival concluded successfully, and the students, who had celebrated wildly all day, finally returned content.
On the plaza, a few scattered student figures were moving about, cleaning up the aftermath and tidying the area.
The Student Council also finished their day's work, and everyone was utterly exhausted.
Xin took all the Student Council members to a barbecue restaurant outside the Spiritual Arts Academy to treat them, naturally using the remaining public funds.
Whenever he thought of this, Xin would feel grateful to Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, the god of wealth.
He planned to toast Kasumi Kōji Kogoro a few more times.
The Student Council had quite a number of people, almost taking over the entire barbecue restaurant, occupying three private rooms, with the separating doors deliberately opened.
Meat slices sizzled on the grills, emitting white steam. The students exchanged toasts, not needing to worry about not being of legal drinking age, as everyone present was older than they appeared.
Strictly speaking, they weren't human; their bodies were constructed from spiritual particles, and their lifespans stretched for hundreds of years.
"Sorry I'm late."
Hinamori Momo was the last to arrive because of Hitsugaya. She pushed open the door and saw the lively scene in the room, a smile immediately appearing on her face.
"Oh, Hinamori!"
Because of her cute appearance, Hinamori was very popular in the Student Council. Although she was only a first-year, many people greeted her as soon as she arrived.
Rukia waved to her, pointing to the seat she had specially saved for her beside her.
"Momo, over here!"
Hinamori, however, just smiled at her and walked directly to Xin's seat.
"President, can I sit here?"
Seeing this, Rukia silently withdrew her hand.
Xin, currently with one arm around Kasumi Kōji Kogoro's neck, casually responded, "Of course you can."
Shūhei even consciously moved aside, making space.
Hinamori sat down smilingly, leaning against Xin.
Sitting opposite Xin was Kanisawa, who was somewhat taciturn amidst the general merriment. After Hinamori entered, he became even more withdrawn, rubbing the wine glass on the table, his eyes flickering uncertainly.