When Nobu returned to the student council office, he found Momo already inside.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. What needs to be faced, must be faced.
"President…"
Momo stood up nervously, looking like she'd done something wrong.
"What are you doing here?" Nobu asked.
"I… I originally came looking for you," Momo mumbled.
"What do you mean?"
"Kanisawa-senpai was here earlier."
Nobu suddenly had a bad feeling.
"And?"
"She saw me sitting here and asked why I was here. I… I told her I was looking for you, and then she said I was skipping class and that she'd report me to my homeroom teacher, and I… I lost my temper and argued with her a bit," Momo said, her voice growing quieter.
"Just an argument?" Nobu asked calmly.
"…I might've said some… unpleasant things."
As she said it, Momo remembered: regardless of how she felt, Kanisawa was still a close friend of the president. During their internship in the World of the Living, he'd even taken a direct hit from a Hollow to protect her.
To reduce that kind of bond to what she'd said… she really had gone too far.
Nobu took a deep breath. "How unpleasant?"
Momo couldn't find the words. She couldn't exactly repeat what she'd said verbatim. Stealing a glance at Nobu's expression, she felt like he was probably upset.
"President, I'm sorry. It was my fault. I just—"
"Did you skip class to come here?" Nobu interrupted.
"…Yes."
"Kanisawa didn't say anything cruel to you, did she?"
"…I'm sorry, President. I was wrong. I'll go apologize to her," Momo said, her voice nearly cracking as her eyes filled with tears.
Nobu's thoughts were tangled. This is all my fault.
He walked over to his chair, sat down, and let out a long sigh.
"Momo, just head back to class for now."
"…Okay."
She hesitated, then stepped closer to him again and whispered, "I didn't mean to treat Kanisawa-senpai like that, I really didn't. I was just so angry at the time and—"
"Aren't you usually someone who keeps her emotions in check?" Nobu asked, looking at her.
"I…"
He waved his hand, indicating she should go.
"President…"
Momo's eyes reddened instantly.
Nobu could only feel frustration—deep, relentless frustration.
Maybe I pushed things too fast. No wonder everything's a mess.
He didn't even know how Rukia was doing—he hadn't seen her all day.
Momo eventually left the office. The moment she stepped outside, she covered her face, on the verge of breaking down.
Why is everything falling apart like this?
Things had just started moving forward between her and the president… but everything that came after had only made her more miserable.
That afternoon, she finally returned to class.
Sitting there in a daze, she suddenly sensed someone sitting down beside her. Thinking it might be Rukia, her face lit up—
But when she turned, it was Renji.
The disappointment was written all over her face. She turned away, saying nothing.
"Uh, Momo…" Renji started hesitantly.
"What is it?" she replied listlessly.
"I wanted to talk to you."
"…Okay."
Renji took a deep breath and launched into his speech: "Momo, I think you're a really amazing girl. You're cute, your grades are excellent—especially in Kidō—you're kind, cheerful, understanding…"
Momo gave him a strange look, sensing where this was going.
"But," Renji continued, "there's only one girl in my heart. And I think you know who that is. So… I'm sorry, Momo. I'm not worthy of your feelings. And I hope you and Rukia won't fight anymore because of me."
Momo's expression went blank. She glanced at Kira, who sat not far away, wearing a this has nothing to do with me look.
Renji, meanwhile, looked sincere. "Momo, I hope you and Rukia can go back to being friends again."
"…"
Momo didn't get angry. Instead, she burst out laughing—an open, unrestrained laugh that seemed to purge all the frustration and negativity bottled up inside her.
"Abarai… you're honestly kind of adorable."
Renji panicked. "Momo, I was serious! I really only like—"
"Okay, okay." She cut him off, waving a hand. "I get it. I appreciate the sentiment. And your devotion to Rukia is admirable. But… you've misunderstood. Maybe I gave you the wrong impression before, but I don't have any feelings for you. Not even a little. Whatever's going on between me and Rukia, we'll sort it out. You don't have to get involved in girl business."
Renji looked confused. She doesn't like me?
Their exchange drew a few curious stares from nearby classmates. Even Kira looked like he was dying of secondhand embarrassment and quickly came over to drag Renji away.
Once things quieted down again, Momo's smile faded. Her eyes dimmed.
...
Another day passed.
Momo arrived at school early. As she pushed open the classroom door, she saw that someone was already seated at her desk.
It was Rukia.
"Ru—"
She lit up, ready to call out, but stopped herself.
The room was still empty except for the two of them. Momo walked over.
"Rukia…"
Rukia had already heard her footsteps. When she heard Momo call her name, she slowly looked up—and immediately noticed how pale Momo looked.
"…Momo."
The way Rukia said her name made Momo smile.
"Good morning, Rukia."
"Mm."
Momo hesitated, standing beside her desk.
"…I'm sorry."
They both spoke at the same time, startled into silence.
Momo quickly followed up, "No, it's me who should be apologizing, Rukia."
Rukia hesitated, then nodded slightly. "Let's sit down."
Momo sat at her desk and looked at her. "I shouldn't have treated you that way, Rukia. You were right. Trying to matchmake you and Renji was selfish of me. And… admitting I liked the president like that, that was selfish too. I thought if I said it first, then you… I'm sorry, Rukia."
Rukia spoke softly. "It takes courage to speak up first. There's nothing wrong with that. Someone had to say it."
Momo reached out and held her hand. "But Rukia… I don't want to lose you as a friend."
"…I know."
"Then can we go back to how things were before?"
Rukia's expression grew distant. "Can we really go back? What about the president?"
Momo's throat tightened.
She wanted to tell her that things between her and the president had already changed—but looking at Rukia's face, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
After a long internal struggle, she made a decision.
She wouldn't say anything to Rukia just yet. Nor would she rush into defining things with the president.
This needs time. After all, Nobu would graduate in just over a year. He was bound for the Fourth Division. So was she.
But Rukia would definitely join the Sixth Division.
By then, maybe Rukia's feelings for him would fade.
That would be the time to tell her everything.
Momo smiled. "Then let's compete fairly."
"…?"
Rukia blinked, clearly caught off guard.
To her, it didn't feel fair at all.
The president had once told her he liked her—and she'd never told Momo.
So-called "fair competition"… in her mind, Momo was already out of the running.
But she didn't want to lose Momo as a friend either. If she told her the truth, would Momo be able to handle it?
After a long, quiet battle with herself, Rukia simply nodded.
"…Alright. Fair competition."