Kotetsu Isane's thoughts hadn't been very settled lately.
Ever since that day when Nobu had laid bare his feelings to her, there had been no follow-up. When the two met alone, they only discussed work matters, never touching on anything else.
And with Isane's personality, it wasn't likely she'd bring it up herself. Every time, she could only watch him leave with eyes full of quiet grievance.
The joint sparring and exchange meet between the Fourth Division and Tenth Division had been held as scheduled, progressing smoothly. The two divisions were already full of enthusiasm for it—but in the end, the Fourth's performance was still not great.
Most of those who took the field this time were regular members. Hitsugaya of the Tenth hadn't fought; with his strength, it would've been a bit like bullying.
A few days after the exchange meet ended, Shiba Kaien, Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth Division, suddenly came to Fourth Division looking for Nobu.
Seeing that Kaien seemed to be here for a heart-to-heart, Nobu found a little izakaya with him.
"I heard… you turned down the position of Third Division Captain?"
After they'd poured drinks for each other, Kaien lifted his cup—but took a sip himself before anything else.
"Has that gotten out already?" Nobu couldn't help but smile.
Kaien nodded.
"I'm just not interested in being Third Division Captain."
"I see…"
Nobu ran his fingers along his own cup, guessing that Shiba Isshin's plans might already be taking shape.
Sure enough, after setting his cup down, Kaien said directly:
"Our Captain… two days ago, he suddenly suggested I go for the Third Division Captain's seat."
"Do you have the confidence?" Nobu countered.
Kaien blinked at that.
"You don't seem the least bit surprised."
"Surprised about what?"
"…"
Kaien had no answer, then broke into a smile. After a moment's thought, he said,
"Hard to say. If you're not after it, then it means I'd be competing with Vice-Captain Ichimaru… but…"
He sighed.
"I never once thought about leaving the Thirteenth."
Nobu raised his cup and clinked it against his.
"For you, that's a good thing, right? Finally making it to the top."
It was a good thing. Yes, it was.
Kaien still didn't understand why the Head-Captain's side would give him such an opportunity. His uncle was already Captain of the Tenth Division, after all.
He'd always thought—as long as his uncle held the post, he himself was leagues away from ever becoming a captain.
Not that he resented it. He respected Captain Ukitake deeply—utterly. Even if it meant being Vice-Captain of the Thirteenth forever, he'd accept it willingly.
And he wanted his uncle to remain Tenth Division Captain forever.
But now, suddenly, this chance had come. For reasons unknown, both the Head-Captain and Central 46 had loosened their stance, allowing both him and his uncle to hold captaincy simultaneously.
The change of a Thirteenth Division Captain would take decades, at least.
Miss this opportunity, and who knew when the next might come?
Kaien said slowly,
"Before, I thought Captain Ukitake couldn't do without me, that the Thirteenth couldn't do without me. But now… Captain Ukitake's illness has healed. Kiyone and Sentarō are both excellent…"
Nobu chuckled.
"Since you see it so clearly, what's there to hesitate over?"
Kaien let out a long breath.
"You're right. If it works out, it's a cause for celebration all around. Even Ado's been urging me to do it… so what am I hesitating for…"
There was a trace of wistfulness on his face.
The two kept clinking glasses, sitting in the izakaya for a long while. In the end, Kaien didn't actually say much else.
Maybe he'd just been feeling some nerves and melancholy before such a major life decision, and wanted someone to drink with.
For a thing that should please everyone, there was no reason not to agree.
"We've never crossed blades, you and I," Nobu said suddenly.
Kaien grinned, his cheeks flushed from the drink.
"I've no wish to fight you. If I lost to you, that'd be far too embarrassing."
"Even Ichimaru Gin's lost to me—what's there to be afraid of?"
Kaien still shook his head.
"Forget it, kid."
Nobu figured he just wanted to preserve a bit of senpai dignity in front of him, so he smiled and let it drop.
He didn't think Kaien could beat him anyway.
Though, between Ichimaru Gin and Kaien… that was harder to say.
Nobu didn't know Kaien's true strength, but if he'd mastered bankai, that meant captain-level power.
Ichimaru Gin, however, would surely still hold back—just as he had against Nobu.
Nobu knew Gin's real trump card, having seen the original work, and knew Gin wouldn't reveal it now.
Another week passed, and First Division suddenly sent word to all squads.
The new Third Division Captain would be decided between Fifth Division Vice-Captain Ichimaru Gin and Thirteenth Division Vice-Captain Shiba Kaien.
The two would fight under the eyes of all captains, vice-captains, and senior seated officers.
The victor… would become Third Division Captain.
The duel was set for two weeks later.
The news spread across Seireitei in a heartbeat.
Gin and Kaien had long been compared as prodigies—both graduating from Shin'ō Academy in just a year, both becoming Third Seats right after graduation.
Now, as vice-captains of their respective squads, they would clash for a captaincy.
Naturally, it drew massive attention and a storm of speculation, overshadowing all lingering talk from the exchange meet. It became the hot topic in everyone's mouths.
Unfortunately, the duel wouldn't be fully open to the public. Attendance was strictly limited—aside from the Thirteenth's higher-ups, only members of Central 46 could watch.
But before that match, another matter in Seireitei was catching attention.
Shin'ō Academy's annual bunka-sai—the cultural festival—was beginning again.
Every division had received invitations.
When Nobu heard the news, he couldn't help but remark,
"Time flies."
"It really does," Isane replied, her gaze on Nobu, voice low. "It feels like that first time I saw you in class at the Academy… was just yesterday."
Her tone was odd, and so was the look in her eyes.
The Academy student who came to deliver Fourth Division's invitation was a girl named Hinamori. Isane remembered her.
Clearly, she'd come for Nobu—asking after him several times. Unfortunately, he'd been out on an assignment then.
Still, Isane had noticed it at once—this Hinamori Momo clearly had some special feelings for Nobu.
It gave Isane a sudden twinge of crisis.
Nobu sensed something was off, but only said aloud,
"This year's festival will be a little different from before… something to look forward to."
"…"
He left it at that, chatted with Isane a bit, and then took his leave—leaving her watching his back with even more confusion.
What on earth does he mean by this…?
Isane's favorability dropped by two points. Nobu wasn't worried. Since that day when Kiyone had barged in and ruined his moment, he'd adjusted his strategy.
Let her sit for a while.
...
Another year's festival.
It had grown bigger each year. This time, with Rukia as Student Council President in charge, there was no need—like in Nobu's day—to scramble for sponsors.
The Kuchiki family had money to spare.
The setup was much the same as always, though.
Nobu returned with Aoshika, not going straight to the Student Council office, but instead wandering the campus at leisure.
From time to time, they'd bump into familiar faces, exchanging greetings.
"The two of you look pretty relaxed."
As they were reminiscing, a familiar voice spoke.
It was Hisagi, dressed in a shihakushō, zanpakutō at his waist, standing a short distance ahead.
Nobu grinned.
"And you don't?"
Since becoming shinigami, they'd had few chances to meet—Fourth and Ninth Division didn't have much overlap. Same with Kamezawa.
Their last meeting had been at the exchange meet.
"You've been making waves lately," Hisagi remarked as they walked three abreast.
"It's fine," Nobu replied casually.
"I thought you'd go for Third Division Captain."
"Not interested."
"If you did, you'd be the youngest captain in Soul Society's history—and the fastest promotion from graduation," Hisagi said.
Aoshika nodded in agreement, just as puzzled.
"Those are just empty titles," Nobu said easily. "Not worth much."
They strolled on.
"Not going to see the Student Council?" Hisagi asked.
"They're busy today—no need."
Still, they ran into one of the Council's members.
Shiba Ganju.
"Nobu-aniki! Hisagi-senpai! Aoshika-senpai!"
He was carrying a stack of huge boxes taller than himself.
"What's all that?"
"Helping my sister move stuff."
There'd be a fireworks display tonight.
The three pitched in to carry things to their destination, following Ganju.
Shiba Kūkaku was there, flanked by two towering men.
Nobu remembered—they should be Shiba retainers.
"What brings you here?"
Kūkaku looked mildly surprised to see him.
"Ran into them on the way," Ganju explained, then introduced Hisagi and Aoshika.
Kūkaku just gave a brief nod.
"All set so early? It doesn't start till tonight," Nobu asked—it was still only morning.
"Better early than late."
Kūkaku looked full of excitement.
"I'm really looking forward to tonight."
She grinned.
"Don't worry—this'll be the liveliest night Seireitei's seen in a hundred years!"
After parting with the Shiba siblings, Nobu wandered a bit more with Hisagi and Aoshika, then prepared to leave, planning to return in the evening.
"Kaichō!"
A voice called to him. The speaker was hurrying over, slightly out of breath, as if she'd been searching specifically.
"Rukia."
Hisagi and Aoshika exchanged a glance, greeted her, and wisely left.
Rukia walked up to him, eyes fixed on his.
"Kaichō comes to the Academy and doesn't visit the Student Council?"
"I figured you'd be busy today—no need to disturb you," Nobu said.
Truthfully, he'd also thought that if he ran into both Rukia and Hinamori at the same time, it'd just be trouble.
"We are busy, but…"
Her voice trailed off. She'd only come because Ganju had told her he'd run into him.
Glancing around at the crowded campus, Nobu suddenly took her hand—and in a flash step, they vanished from sight, drawing startled exclamations.
In the corridor of a teaching building, most students were in the plaza, leaving it quiet here.
After so long apart, they were in each other's arms again—Nobu even lifted her small frame, pinning her to the wall, and kissed her without a word.
The breathless closeness lasted a long while before he finally let her go.
Rukia looked like she'd just "come back to life," gulping in air.
"Did you miss me?"
She nodded, cheeks flushed.
"Me too."
"Could you… put me down first…"
At that, Nobu released his hands from her hips, letting her stand again.
She said nothing, just lowered her head to straighten her slightly rumpled clothes.
Nobu savored the moment just past, sighing inwardly.
Rukia's face was cute enough, but… her figure really was on the modest side.
"Kaichō's turned bad," Rukia said suddenly, head down, ears red.
Nobu blinked, then smiled.
"Why? You didn't like it?"
He tilted her chin, but she turned her head away, cheeks burning.
What she meant by him "turning bad" was that his hands had been… less than well-behaved just now.
It hadn't been like that before. Their kisses had been passionate, yes, but clean and pure.
But just now—his hands had gone to her backside, and even tried to move forward…
She wasn't exactly resisting, but she wasn't confident about her body. She knew she wasn't the type most men liked. She feared that if he really felt it, he might not like her anymore…
Compared to Vice-Captain Matsumoto—that was what men liked.
Even Hinamori had more to her.
Rukia had never thought about such things before, but Nobu's "crossing the line" just now had suddenly stirred those thoughts—leaving her shy, but also a little anxious.
Seeing her silent, Nobu ruffled her hair gently.
"Then I'll behave next time."
"…"
Her blush deepened. She hesitated, shook her head—then, feeling that wasn't right, quickly nodded instead.
That made him laugh.
"So which is it?"
"…It doesn't matter. Whatever Kaichō wants."