Squad Ten Barracks
"These are the recruitment exam questions for the Student Council?"
Isshin Shiba stared at the two sheets of paper Kaien had handed him, astonishment written plainly across his face.
"Where did you get these?"
"I asked for them directly. I am, after all, an honorary chairman," Kaien Shiba replied with an easy smile.
Isshin's expression only grew more animated as he read through the questions.
"Who came up with these? That Mizuhara Shin?"
"Correct."
"Hah! Interesting. Very interesting!" Isshin burst into hearty laughter.
His booming voice drew Rangiku Matsumoto in from outside.
"Captain, what's got you in such a good mood?"
"Ah, Rangiku," Kaien greeted.
Isshin handed her the papers. After reading them, even she looked visibly startled.
"These are…"
"Even if you asked me to answer them, I'm not sure I'd get them right," Isshin said with a chuckle. "That Mizuhara Shin really knows what he's doing. What exactly is he testing with questions like these? Character? Judgment?"
Kaien explained, "The upper leadership of the Spiritual Arts Academy already discussed the recruitment criteria. Academic performance was to be the primary standard. But the recruitment was scheduled so soon after the freshmen enrolled that there aren't any meaningful grades yet. That loophole gave Shin the opportunity to implement his own methods."
Isshin rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I have a feeling that kid's ambitions aren't small."
Kaien then asked, "About the Third Seat position I mentioned before—did you speak to him?"
"Third Seat?" Rangiku blurted in surprise. "You're planning to let him take the position directly?"
Kaien laughed lightly. "What's wrong with Third Seat? Didn't I start from Third Seat myself?"
"Captain… you agreed to that?" Rangiku turned toward Isshin.
Isshin sighed helplessly. "Whether I agree or not hardly matters. The real question is whether that Mizuhara Shin is willing."
Kaien fell silent for a moment.
"What do you mean? He refused? He looks down on Squad Ten's Third Seat? Just what is he aiming for…?"
Student Council Interviews – Continuing
The interviews were still underway.
After careful consideration, Momo Hinamori answered the first question:
"I would choose to escape at full speed and immediately seek reinforcements."
The panel's expressions remained neutral. Various versions of this answer had already been given; Momo's response was hardly unusual.
Shūhei Hisagi followed up. "Explain your reasoning."
"If we encountered a Menos Grande," Momo replied steadily, "it's an enemy far beyond what a Spiritual Arts Academy student can handle. Staying would only burden the senior leading us and could result in total annihilation. The wisest course is to retreat quickly and request support from Soul Society. Preserving even a sliver of hope would not betray the senior's willingness to sacrifice themselves."
As she finished, she noticed the Student Council members jotting notes in their notebooks. Her heart trembled slightly.
No matter what, this was the conclusion she had reached after serious thought.
She also noticed something else.
Mizuhara Shin, seated in the center, wasn't writing anything at all. He simply watched her quietly, a faint smile playing at his lips.
The reason for that smile was visible only to him.
On the translucent system interface hovering in his vision, the numbers had shifted.
[Momo Hinamori][Favorability: 27][Every +10 Favorability → Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō Unlock Progress +1%][At 90 Favorability → Full Bond Reward Unlocked][Soul Reaper Wedge Available — Third Reward Unlocks After Binding]
He shifted his focus to his own panel.
[Spiritual Pressure Level: Lv.16][Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: 9%]
When he had first met Rangiku Matsumoto, her Favorability had also risen rapidly during the early stages. But this was their first meeting, and Momo had already raised his Spiritual Pressure by two levels and advanced his Zanpakutō unlock progress.
Naturally, Mizuhara Shin felt pleased.
"That was a very good answer," he said with an easy smile, then glanced at the others. "What do you all think?"
The department heads looked up from their scoring sheets. Hisagi suppressed a sigh. Momo's answer had been acceptable, nothing more. He couldn't help wondering whether Shin had taken a particular interest in her.
Meanwhile, Momo's heart leapt at the President's praise. She bowed quickly.
"Thank you very much for your compliment."
The President is so kind…
[Favorability: 31]
Tsk.
The smile on Shin's face deepened slightly.
"Let's continue."
Hisagi nodded. "Please answer the second question."
Momo took a steadying breath and continued. With Shin's earlier encouragement, her nerves gradually eased. The remaining two questions passed without incident, and she began responding more fluidly.
After finishing all three, she stood in place, waiting anxiously for the verdict. She believed she had performed reasonably well—especially with the President's earlier affirmation—but until the result was announced, her heart remained suspended.
Finally, Hisagi spoke.
"After collective evaluation, Hinamori, congratulations. You have passed the interview. Please report to the Student Council Headquarters Office at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Your specific duties will be assigned then."
Momo's eyes widened in disbelief and joy.
"Thank you, senpai!" she said repeatedly, bowing again and again.
Shin smiled lightly. "Welcome to the Student Council. You may return now."
"Yes! Thank you, President!"
[Favorability: 37]
It's climbing fast.
Shin couldn't help reflecting on it.
During his years at the Academy, aside from Rangiku Matsumoto, he hadn't encountered any other women tied to the system.
"The President seems quite fond of her."
Kasumioji Kōgorō, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke in a faintly sardonic tone.
Shin didn't deny it.
"A cute girl like that—who wouldn't like her? Or does Kasumioji find her disagreeable?"
Kōgorō chose not to respond.
"Next candidate—Rukia from Class B. Send her in."
After leaving the interview room, Momo didn't head home immediately. Instead, she returned to the waiting classroom for the remaining freshmen.
She hurried over to Rukia, brimming with excitement.
"Rukia! I passed!"
Rukia blinked, then smiled warmly.
"Really? Congratulations, Hinamori."
"I'll just call you Rukia, okay? You don't mind?"
"Not at all."
"Then you can call me Momo! You'll definitely pass too. Then we'll be colleagues in the Student Council!"
Rukia didn't feel quite as elated. Her own interview still awaited her, and her heart was pounding.
At that moment, a Student Council member called her name from the doorway.
"Present!"
"Good luck, Rukia!"
"Mm… thank you."
Her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ears as she walked step by step toward the interview room.
Seated at his position, Mizuhara Shin appeared absentminded—but in truth, his gaze was fixed upon the system interface.
Among the three women he had encountered so far, Momo seemed the easiest to secure. If he bound the Soul Reaper Wedge to her, obtaining the Third Reward likely wouldn't be difficult.
But the system's description was frustratingly vague. He dared not make a rash decision.
After all, one of them was the original story's heroine.
The Third Reward tied to her would undoubtedly be different.
His thoughts were still drifting when the door opened.
A small figure stepped inside.
She was even more petite than Momo. Her features were not as soft or overtly cute; where Momo carried a gentle warmth, this girl's delicate brows held firmness—an undercurrent of resolve and sharpness that made one instinctively cautious.
The system interface updated instantly.
[Rukia Kuchiki][Favorability: 7][Every +10 Favorability → Spiritual Pressure Level +1, Zanpakutō Unlock Progress +1%][At 90 Favorability → Full Bond Reward Unlocked][Soul Reaper Wedge: Already Bound][Full Bond Reward Also Grants Third Reward][Zanpakutō Additional Ability: Freeze][Third Reward Unlock Enables Second Soul Reaper Wedge]
Shin's pupils contracted slightly.
Already bound.
And an additional Zanpakutō ability—Freeze.
So that's how it is.
Interesting.
Very interesting.