The adjustments in Fourth Division's seated positions were announced shortly afterward.
Clearly, Unohana Retsu and Kotetsu Isane had already made these preparations beforehand, simply using Nobu's appointment to Third Seat as an opportunity to finalize them.
Shingyōji Sen and Naitō Shōgo now jointly held the Fourth Seat, with Shingyōji continuing as head of the First Advanced Relief Team.
Meanwhile, Nobu assumed the duties of Third Seat and simultaneously took over as head of the Seventh Advanced Relief Team.
After completing the handover with Shingyōji, Nobu was given his own private office—though compared to his previous one at Shin'ō Academy, it felt notably modest.
He also took the liberty of bringing Aoshika into his relief team, placing his friend directly under his command.
In a blink, Nobu had already been in the Fourth Division for a little over a month. Now, it was time for Shin'ō Academy to start the new academic term.
That day, Nobu requested leave and returned to the Academy.
He chose to come during class hours, so the Student Council office was empty when he arrived.
Stepping back into this familiar space filled him with a faint nostalgia.
The arrangement of furniture had changed a bit since he'd left, though his former desk remained mostly untouched—save for a new photo frame.
It contained a group photograph of the entire Student Council taken just before Nobu's graduation. In the picture, Nobu stood smiling brightly at the center, flanked by Rukia and Hinamori, everyone looking radiant—even the usually tough Kanisawa wore a rare gentle expression.
Nobu traced the photo lightly with his fingertips before idly flipping through notes and documents scattered on the desk.
The Student Council was busy preparing for recruitment season again.
From the meticulous notes, Nobu could tell the new president took her responsibilities seriously—far more seriously, it seemed, than he'd taken his own.
Nobu leaned back comfortably, gazing quietly out the window at the rows of sakura trees, savoring this long-missed tranquility.
After some time, the office door finally creaked open.
"Pres... President?"
Nobu turned at the familiar voice. Standing in the doorway was a petite figure, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yo. Long time no see, Rukia."
A smile broke across Nobu's face.
Rukia was still dressed in the familiar red-and-white Shin'ō Academy uniform. She paused briefly at the doorway, then hurried toward him with quick, anxious steps.
She halted in front of Nobu, intending to speak, but before she could utter a word, he pulled her swiftly into his arms, pressing a sudden, assertive kiss upon her lips.
"Nnn—!"
Rukia instantly went limp in his embrace, offering no resistance at all.
When Nobu finally released her, Rukia's clouded eyes quickly cleared. Face flushed bright crimson, she hastily straightened her disheveled uniform.
She stammered for words, her train of thought completely disrupted by Nobu's sudden gesture.
"President, you shouldn't do things like that..."
She protested softly, yet her flushed cheeks clearly betrayed her lack of true objection.
"Like what?" Nobu asked teasingly, a smile on his lips.
Rukia bit her lip gently. "You should ask first... before doing something like that."
Nobu laughed heartily. "If I had paused to ask, 'Can I kiss you?' wouldn't that totally ruin the mood?"
"..."
Rukia stared at him quietly, eyes filled with gentle reproach.
She finally changed the subject. "President, why are you here?"
"Today's the first day of classes, isn't it? I thought I'd stop by to check on things," Nobu replied casually. "This afternoon is the welcoming ceremony, right? Are you speaking?"
Rukia nodded, anxiety flickering across her face. "I feel like I might mess it up."
Nobu propped his chin on folded hands, grinning lightly. "It's just one speech. Don't overthink it. You'll be judged by how you perform as president in the long run."
But that comment made Rukia even more uneasy. The pressure of succeeding Nobu was overwhelming; she knew every move she made would be compared to his accomplishments.
As for the future, she didn't have much confidence.
"How is everyone else?" Nobu asked casually.
"They're fine…" Rukia hesitated briefly, deciding not to add, "Momo misses you a lot too."
"Oh, right," Rukia suddenly remembered something. "Vice Captain Shiba of the Thirteenth Division came by the other day, asking about my preferred division after graduation."
"Kaien-senpai never takes a break, does he?" Nobu chuckled. "So, what are your thoughts?"
Rukia shook her head slightly. "I don't really know. Momo says I'll definitely join the Sixth Division after graduation."
To most people, that seemed an obvious outcome, considering Kuchiki Byakuya was her older brother and now captain of the Sixth Division.
Yet no one anticipated Byakuya would later arrange for Rukia to join the Thirteenth Division instead.
In truth, Rukia had other considerations on her mind.
She gazed intently at Nobu, eyes bright with uncertainty. "President… where do you think I should go?"
"The Thirteenth Division would be good," Nobu said softly. "Captain Ukitake and Vice Captain Shiba are both wonderful people."
Nobu understood what Rukia was hinting at. But he didn't see any reason for her to join the Fourth Division just for him. Rukia's Kaidō skills were only average, and besides, he was fairly sure Byakuya had already mapped out her future.
More importantly, Nobu thought privately, if Rukia joined the Fourth Division, it'd probably complicate things with Yone-nee…
Rukia merely mumbled an unhappy, "Oh…" not having heard the answer she'd secretly hoped for.
Seeing her expression, Nobu stood and gently ruffled her hair.
"The Fourth Division doesn't really suit you. You should think carefully about your future and your own strengths."
Rukia's spirits lifted slightly at his touch.
She then asked about Nobu's life in the Fourth Division. He mentioned his promotion to Third Seat in passing, which didn't surprise Rukia at all—in her eyes, that outcome had always been inevitable. In fact, she assumed most people felt the same way.
Even back at the Academy, Nobu had already been highly sought after by both the Tenth and Thirteenth Divisions.
As the two chatted leisurely, footsteps sounded from outside again.
"President?!"
The girl who appeared at the door—Hinamori Momo—paused for just an instant, then broke into an enormous smile of pure delight.
Before Nobu could greet her, Hinamori rushed forward, enveloping him in a swift, fierce embrace that nearly toppled him back into his chair.
"…"
Nobu glanced down awkwardly at the girl clinging tightly to him, then shot a helpless glance at Rukia, whose expression had turned quietly resentful.
He sighed softly, gently patting Hinamori's back.
"Momo, is this really appropriate?"
She lifted her head from his chest, eyes rimmed red. "President, I've missed you so much!"
"…I've missed you too. But honestly, we haven't been apart that long. Isn't this about the same length as our usual Academy breaks?"
Considering Rukia was standing nearby, Nobu tried to keep his tone comforting yet neutral.
Still, Hinamori refused to release him. She looked up, eyes glittering, demanding suddenly, "President, why did you leave without even saying goodbye that day?"
She was referring to the day Nobu reported to the Fourth Division without telling anyone else.
Nobu sighed softly again. "You cried so hard during the farewell dinner. If I'd said goodbye again, you would've cried even harder."
Hinamori's eyes sparkled with tears of frustration.
Finally, Rukia intervened impatiently, "Momo, you're making the president uncomfortable."
Only then did Hinamori recall Rukia's presence, reluctantly stepping away from Nobu's embrace.
Rukia eyed Hinamori with slight irritation. The fact Nobu had kissed her just moments before, only for Momo to behave so boldly afterward, left her inwardly annoyed—though she dared not openly complain.
Looking at the two lovely girls standing before him, Nobu felt a sudden headache coming on.
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