Backstage.
As Rukia stepped down from the stage, she let out a long sigh of relief.
"It's finally over."
She had never been that nervous in her life—not even during the student council entrance evaluation. This was far more nerve-racking.
Hinamori Momo, on the other hand, was in high spirits. "Did you hear how the audience cheered for us? I think we did great! I even noticed one of the captains really enjoyed it!"
Kaisawa tugged at her costume and simply muttered, "I just want to change out of this thing. It's uncomfortable."
Amid the backstage staff and other students waiting to perform, one figure stood out like a sore thumb.
A silver-haired boy, wearing an ill-fitting, oversized Academy uniform, stood stiffly among the crowd. Passersby couldn't help but point and whisper.
"Momo!"
He called out to the three girls.
Hinamori lit up and hurried over, smiling brightly. "Did you watch properly? What did you think of my performance?"
Hitsugaya Tōshirō scrunched his mouth to the side. "It was… average."
He didn't really mean that. After spending so much time around Momo, this was the first time he'd seen this side of her. Truthfully, when he first saw her walk out in that outfit, he'd been stunned.
"Huh? You didn't like it?"
Hitsugaya avoided a direct answer. "Your show's over, so I should head home. My grandmother's still waiting."
"Wait! I want to introduce you to our student council president. You coming here today was all thanks to him—you should thank him in person, right?"
"…Fine."
Tōshirō figured she had a point. He should at least say thanks.
Hinamori's eyes sparkled. "So, Shiro, what did you think of the Academy?"
Hitsugaya knew what she was really asking. He didn't answer.
Seeing the festival in person had definitely been a surprise. It was nothing like life in Rukongai. Here, kids his age shared goals, worked together, laughed together… It was something he couldn't help but feel drawn toward.
No wonder Momo always looked so happy now—more confident, more radiant.
Aside from Momo, he didn't have any real friends. Most of the local kids in their district avoided him.
The truth was, Tōshirō was far more mature than others his age.
But still—he had his grandmother to take care of. She needed him. He couldn't just leave her alone.
"Momo, are you going to change?" Rukia called from nearby.
"Coming!" Momo turned and called back.
"Wait for me, okay? I'll change real quick and then we'll go meet the president."
Momo headed off with Rukia and Kaisawa to the dressing room.
Rukia started venting immediately, talking about some slip-ups in their performance—missing a step, nearly tripping over Kaisawa, and so on.
They hadn't had much rehearsal time, after all.
"Well, it's done now. No point overthinking it," Momo said with a smile. "I thought the audience liked it."
"At least we didn't mess up too badly."
After changing back into her uniform, Rukia glanced at the vivid kimono she'd worn earlier. It still didn't feel real. She almost couldn't believe she'd actually gone up on that stage.
"By the way, Rukia—what's going on between you and Abarai?" Momo asked suddenly, teasing.
Momo and Renji were classmates, and thanks to Rukia's connection with both of them, they all knew each other fairly well.
At the question, Rukia immediately gritted her teeth. "That idiot! I can't believe he yelled my name like that during the performance!"
Momo giggled. "He was genuinely cheering you on! You should ask him later what he thought—ask if he liked it."
Rukia wasn't dense—she immediately caught the implication in Momo's tone and started to panic.
"Why would I ask that? It's not like he has any taste or anything!"
"Oh? You sure?"
Kaisawa, already changed and with her makeup removed, quietly said, "I'm heading off."
"Thank you for everything!" Rukia and Momo said quickly in unison.
Once Kaisawa had left, Momo couldn't help but say, "I still can't believe Kaisawa-senpai agreed to do it. That must've taken a lot out of her."
Rukia thought for a moment. "I feel like… she only did it because of the president."
Momo's smile shifted subtly. "Is that so…"
Rukia nodded. "I noticed earlier—he was standing with some of the captains."
Momo smiled again. "Why's that surprising? It's the president. He could become a third seat the moment he graduates. Of course it makes sense for him to talk with captains."
She'd heard about the third seat offer from Rukia—how Shiba Kaien had once said the president would've been given that position had he chosen the Tenth Division.
Even if he didn't go to the Tenth in the end, if that was the offer there, surely the Fourth Division would make him a third seat too.
Either way—getting any seated position was already impressive. A high seat, even more so.
"Rukia, which division do you want to join after graduation?"
"I haven't really thought about it. You?"
Momo tilted her head. "I think… I'm way better at Kidō than anything else."
"You want to join the Kidō Corps?"
The Kidō Corps was a special organization, separate from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
Momo shook her head. "I heard the Kidō Corps hasn't had a Grand Kidō Chief in years. But Rukia, if I'm good at Kidō, maybe I should work on Kaidō too—healing techniques?"
"Kaidō?"
Rukia blinked, suddenly realizing something as she looked into Momo's bright, thoughtful eyes.
"Momo, you—"
Someone knocked on the dressing room door—probably someone impatient about how long they were taking.
Momo smiled. "Let's go. We'll talk more later."
"…Okay."
They stepped out of the dressing room together. Back in their uniforms, they looked once again like their usual selves—fresh-faced and youthful.
"Shiro!"
Momo waved to Hitsugaya, who had been waiting nearby.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Don't call me Shiro in public! Do you want me to shout your nickname in front of everyone?" Hitsugaya grumbled.
Momo shivered instantly. That nickname was one she absolutely couldn't let anyone at Shin'ō Academy hear.
She quickly changed the subject with a smile. "Let me introduce you—this is my good friend, Rukia."
"Nice to meet you," Rukia greeted with a smile. "I've heard a lot about you from Momo. You're Hitsugaya Tōshirō, right?"
Hitsugaya gave a polite nod. "Aren't we going to meet your president?"
"Not just yet. We'll have to wait until the festival wraps up. He's with the captains right now. But we can go check out the next few performances in the meantime—then I'll show you around!"
Tōshirō hesitated. "How long is this going to take?"
"Oh relax! Your grandma will be fine!"
"…"