Chapter 32 A Kiss
Compared to Rukia and Kanisawa, Hinamori's personality was more well-received and popular within the Student Council.
Her late arrival immediately made her the center of attention.
And seeing her proactively sit next to Shin, with Hisagi Shuuhei even moving to make space, one couldn't help but overthink the situation.
Hinamori seemed to realize her actions might have been a bit bold. After sitting down, she couldn't help but glance at Shin beside her, seeing him eagerly talking to the Vice President.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro kept shifting unhappily to the side.
There were many noble students in the Student Council, but there were no conflicts between noble and common students, nor any scenarios where nobles looked down on others.
As the person from the most distinguished background, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro was clearly the head of these noble members.
And as the President, Shin's actions had completely dispelled any thoughts of disdain from these nobles.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro was initially dissatisfied with Shin appointing Hisagi and Kanisawa as heads of the Organization Department and Inspector Department, but after gradual observation, he found that both of them were indeed capable of the roles.
Both were diligent and responsible in their work, and even in high positions within the Student Council, they could silence criticism with their own abilities.
Overall, the atmosphere within the Student Council was actually very good, and it became even closer amidst the drinking.
"Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, you are a great hero of our Student Council! We can't do without you! If you graduate this year, what will become of our Student Council?!" Shin kept repeating, tirelessly.
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro knew perfectly well that this guy was just after his money.
He was a year ahead of Shin and was bound to graduate this year.
Shin had also considered who would be the Vice President next year. Although he wanted Hisagi to fill the vacancy, the higher-ups probably wouldn't approve; the Vice President would definitely have to be a noble.
Although there were many nobles in the Student Council, he wasn't very familiar with most of them apart from Kasumi Kōji Kogoro.
Moreover, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro was a good person, and Shin liked him. If Kasumi Kōji Kogoro left, would it be as easy to exploit him in the future?
"No, you should repeat a year! Just for the sake of our Student Council, this is our hard work!"
Kasumi Kōji Kogoro's face instantly darkened. What nonsense was this kid spouting? Make him repeat a year? He could afford to lose face, but Kasumioji couldn't.
As they spoke, a figure suddenly approached Shin, holding a wine glass in one hand, coming from another seat.
"President, I'd like to toast you. I admire you very much…"
Shin looked up and saw it was Kira Iziru.
After Kira Iziru joined the Student Council, Shin had paid attention to him, but Kira Iziru had always been a lukewarm personality, not very fond of standing out, and had little presence in the Student Council.
Countless people had already toasted Shin during the banquet. Besides Hinamori, Kasumi Kōji Kogoro, Hisagi, and Kanisawa, who were late, only Kira Iziru hadn't toasted yet. Shin guessed he probably came forward because he was afraid of seeming unsociable or disrespectful to the President if he didn't.
Shin, giving face, smiled and said, "Kira, I remember you performed very well during the Student Council assessment, but why have you become so quiet after joining the Student Council?"
Kira replied with slight restraint, "I am just a junior. It's best for me to learn from my seniors."
"Don't say that. The Student Council will rely on you juniors in the future."
After drinking a glass with Kira Iziru, even with his good alcohol tolerance, as the central figure of the banquet, he couldn't withstand so many people toasting him in turns and felt his thoughts becoming subtly sluggish.
He let out a long sigh, Shin felt he should speak less.
"President."
A cup of tea was offered from beside him, Hinamori Momo looked at him with a beaming smile.
"Hinamori, thank you."
Shin took a sip of water, then heard someone jeer, "Why is Hinamori so good to the President?"
"Yeah, I'm drunk too, I want water too, will someone hand me a cup of tea?"
"Hahahaha."
Shin glanced sideways; the one leading the teasing was Aoga.
Hinamori's cheeks flushed slightly, and she said with a hint of displeasure, "Aoga Senior!"
She then secretly glanced at Shin's reaction.
Shin merely feigned not hearing, shifting to a more comfortable sitting posture. There were no chairs or stools in the private room, many people were kneeling, but Shin sat on a cushion in a very undignified manner.
"As a subordinate, isn't it normal to care for the President?" Hinamori argued for herself when Shin remained silent.
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Aoga suddenly stood up, holding a cup of tea respectfully with both hands and offered it to Shin.
"President, please have some tea."
Being a group of drunk boys, seeing this amusing spectacle, they all joined in. Aoga and Shin's relationship was already quite good, which was why he dared to joke like this.
Everyone burst into laughter, making Hinamori's cheeks even redder.
Shin looked at Aoga with a smile, "Aoga, you want to join the Fourth Squad after graduation, right?"
Aoga froze.
"Then we'll have a long time to get along in the future."
Aoga immediately broke out in a cold sweat, "Shin, I was wrong!"
With that, he quickly sat back in his original seat and no longer stood out. The others seeing this, all booed.
However, such jokes seemed to clarify some things. Many members looked at the delicate and lovely Hinamori, secretly lamenting the pity.
But then they looked at Shin, who was at the center of the banquet, constantly surrounded by people, and felt that such a situation was only normal.
After drinking so much alcohol and water, Shin felt an urge in his stomach, so he got up and went to the restroom.
The lively atmosphere at the banquet continued, and Kanisawa, who had been mostly silent, also quietly left her seat.
Hardly anyone paid much attention to her, but Hinamori watched her retreating figure thoughtfully.
Shin, having relieved himself, was washing his hands when he suddenly heard footsteps.
"Kanisawa?"
He chuckled, "You're also using the restroom?"
Kanisawa's expression was calm; she merely leaned against the doorframe, watching him.
"Is something wrong?"
A glimmer flowed in her beautiful eyes, as if she had something to say, and Shin also faintly felt a premonition.
She parted her thin lips, "You remember what you promised me, right?"
"What?"
Kanisawa wasn't annoyed, merely reminded him, "You asked me to perform today, saying you would grant me a wish afterward."
Shin realized, "Ah, yes, I did promise you three of them."
"…"
"What do you want me to do?"
Kanisawa suddenly fell silent, biting her lower lip without a sound, as if hesitating whether to speak.
The more she acted this way, the more Shin felt that what she wanted to do was probably not a small matter.
"Shin…"
"…"
The restroom wasn't far from the private room; one could hear them playing drinking games over there, the atmosphere still noisy and lively.
In contrast, it was very quiet here, so quiet that Shin could clearly hear Kanisawa's somewhat unsteady breathing.
"…"
Shin believed he had never actively provoked Kanisawa. It wasn't that he was unwilling; the main reason was that Kanisawa's name wasn't in the system.
Perhaps Kanisawa was not an important character in the original history.
He remembered Kanisawa's original fate: Kira, Renji, and Hinamori encountered a Hollow during their first Soul Burial practical, and Kanisawa died during that practical.
And behind that practical, Aizen was undoubtedly pulling strings, testing Kira and the others' talents.
If she hadn't died, with her talent and strength, she would surely have become a high-ranking officer in a Squad decades later.
Her personality was light, she was serious in her work, always had a stern expression, and coupled with her current position as the head of the Inspector Department, she appeared even more strict and unapproachable, which made many people keep their distance from her.
As for Shin, she had always respected him, respected all his ideas, and at the same time, she wanted to help him, help him with many things.
She didn't like to contend for anything; she felt that with Shin's excellence, no one could keep up with him.
However, Shin's easygoing personality attracted many people around him, which suddenly gave Kanisawa a strange and strong sense of crisis.
If she didn't contend or fight, it might mean losing.
Feelings should be exclusive; Kanisawa didn't like others.
"Shin." Kanisawa suddenly called his name.
Shin suddenly saw a bright smile bloom on Kanisawa's face, like melting ice and snow.
"…"
"I want to kiss you."
"…"
Shin didn't show much surprise; he just stared blankly at Kanisawa. It was the first time he had seen a smile on Kanisawa's face, and it was even prettier than he had imagined.
This beautiful face, perhaps, should smile more often.
Kanisawa was waiting for his response. She wanted to see Shin's surprised expression, surprised that she would make such a request, surprised that she had hidden such feelings all along.
But she didn't see it, and not seeing it meant…
He had already noticed.
Kanisawa pursed her lips, looking at him, her heart starting to panic. She felt she had been a bit impulsive.
"Momoko, what are you doing here?"
A voice suddenly echoed from the corridor around the corner, instantly breaking the atmosphere at the restroom entrance.
"No, nothing…"
A series of hurried footsteps receding, and then Rukia's small head peeked out from the corner. Upon seeing Shin and Kanisawa standing there, she immediately fled the scene as if escaping.
Kanisawa became even more flustered. She suddenly felt helpless, standing rooted to the spot, unsure what to do.
She found it difficult to maintain her inner composure, her mind a jumble, so confused that Shin's figure in front of her seemed somewhat indistinct.
She didn't even notice him approaching until his face became clearer and clearer.
Shin leaned in and lightly kissed her forehead.
"Consider that your wish has been granted. Don't tell anyone."
Leaving a light remark, Shin departed.
Returning to the seats, Shin found Hinamori sitting next to Rukia, her head bowed low.
Shin sat down in his own seat, and when the people around him saw him return, they immediately invited him to join the game.
"President, you came back too slowly!"
"President, we were waiting for you!"
Shin laughed heartily, casting aside all distractions, and joined the drinking game.
Kanisawa returned a bit late, just as quietly as she had left, unnoticed by most.
Hisagi looked at her slightly flushed face, then at Shin beside him, and then at Hinamori, who had moved to the other side, and couldn't help but click his tongue.
He seemed to see through everything, picked up his wine glass, took a sip by himself, and then smiled bitterly.
How unfair…
That kid Shin!