Hinamori wandered back into the living room in a daze.
Everyone was still chatting, and aside from Rukia, no one seemed to notice that something in her expression was… off.
"What's wrong? Did you throw up just now?" Rukia asked.
Hinamori shook her head, her gaze drifting toward Hitsugaya and lingering there for a long while.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō's hair was a striking silver, so bright it stood out in any crowd.
But the strand she had seen clinging to the bathroom towel earlier had been a duller, ash-gray silver.
And among the people she knew, there was only one person whose hair matched that shade—Fourth Division's vice-captain, Kotetsu Isane.
It had been two years since Nobu graduated.
In that time, she and him had not met often.
Hinamori liked to think her feelings for Kaichō had never faded in the slightest… but what about him?
He spent every day with Vice-Captain Kotetsu, a gentle, beautiful woman…
Once that thought appeared, it refused to leave, circling endlessly in her head.
Whatever the others were talking about, she couldn't hear a word.
"Momo?"
"Ah?" She startled, realizing everyone was looking at her.
"W–what is it?"
"Looks like you really are drunk," Hisagi said with a grin.
"…"
Hinamori only pressed her lips together, saying nothing, her fingers curling unconsciously as she looked at Nobu.
"It's getting late," Hitsugaya spoke up then. "We should head out."
He'd noticed her state and wanted to get her home to rest.
Everyone began standing, making ready to leave.
"You people eat, drink, then just get up and go—no one's going to help me clean up?" Nobu said, helpless.
"Who makes guests work?" Hisagi said flatly. "Ignore him."
The others laughed as they filed out.
"See you, Kaichō."
"Bye, Nobu-aniki."
Nobu had half a mind to rope Aoshika into helping him, but she slipped away faster than anyone.
The lively atmosphere thinned to quiet in moments—but Hinamori hadn't left. She still sat on the sofa.
Nobu took note, poured her a glass of water. "Feeling sick?"
"…I'm fine." She took the cup, eyes lowered.
"Rest here a bit."
He went to start cleaning. His first stop was the bathroom, where he looked around carefully, finally picking up the towel hanging on the wall.
He sighed inwardly.
There were no personal belongings of Isane's in his home, but that didn't mean she hadn't left traces of staying here.
So it's been noticed…
Hinamori's affection stat hadn't changed—she was probably still unsure.
But this was bound to come out sooner or later.
Outside, after parting ways with Renji and the others, Rukia glanced back toward Nobu's place.
Why hasn't Momo come out yet…
She hesitated for a moment, walked around the corner—then abruptly turned back.
When she opened the door again, she saw Hinamori sitting alone on the sofa.
From the kitchen came the sound of running water.
"You came back?" Hinamori's eyes shifted slightly as she asked.
Rukia sat down beside her. "I was worried about you."
Hinamori gave a small smile. "Worried about me? Or worried I might do something to Kaichō?"
Rukia only pursed her lips, saying nothing.
Hinamori sighed. "People really can't trust each other completely… maybe they shouldn't."
From the kitchen: "Rukia? That you?"
"Yeah, it's me, Kaichō."
Rukia looked back at her. "What's wrong? You're not usually like this when you're drunk."
"…"
Her brows rose. "Don't tell me you confessed to him?"
But that didn't feel right—whether Nobu accepted or refused, Momo shouldn't look like this.
Instead, Hinamori spoke in a voice meant only for the two of them.
"Rukia, between you and me… who do you think will end up with Kaichō in the end?"
Rukia froze.
She hadn't expected such a direct question.
And it wasn't one she could answer.
"I was just… thinking about a lot just now," Hinamori continued. "About Kaichō.
Whatever you or I do, that's between the two of us. But Kaichō—he has to know how we both feel. If that's the case, why hasn't he made any move at all?"
"What exactly are you getting at?"
"If he likes you… or likes me… why won't he say it? We've made it so obvious…"
Rukia frowned faintly. She remembered—back at the fireworks festival, she'd asked him a similar question.
And his answer then hadn't been clear either.
She had chosen to trust him; she had always believed that two people should trust one another.
Not think the way Momo just voiced.
Hinamori's eyes fixed on her.
"Rukia… you and Kaichō…"
She broke off suddenly, fingers tightening around her cup, sinking into silence.
"What are you trying to ask?" Rukia said.
"…I don't know." Hinamori pressed a hand to her forehead. "Maybe I did drink too much."
What she wanted to ask was how far Rukia and Nobu had gone—if there had been anything intimate between them.
Hinamori had always thought Nobu liked her.
They had even kissed.
But at the fireworks festival, he'd held her hand… and Rukia's hand, too.
If he liked her, why would he also hold Rukia's hand?
Didn't he know what that meant to a girl?
And as for the hair on that towel… maybe it wasn't what she thought.
Maybe Vice-Captain Kotetsu had just visited and left it there by accident.
Rukia looked at her rare dispirited state, feeling a tangle of emotions.
"Why overthink it? If you want to know, just ask him directly," she said.
"…"
Momo didn't answer, only gripped the cup tighter.
Rukia reached out and took her hand.
"I'll ask him."
That made Hinamori panic. "Ask him what?"
Rukia met her gaze evenly. "What we both want to know. You've always seemed so confident about this. So have I. But confidence isn't the same as knowing the outcome. Why not settle it today?"
The living room still smelled of alcohol.
Water ran in the kitchen.
Hinamori stared blankly for several seconds, then blurted, "Don't."
"What are you afraid of?" Rukia pressed. "You should be the last one afraid."
"I—"
"You're afraid he'll choose me? Or afraid he'll choose you, and we won't be friends after?" Rukia's voice stayed steady.
"Fair competition between the two of us is absurd to begin with. Has it occurred to you that Kaichō might have guessed already? If he thinks we're treating him like some prize to fight over, how do you think he'll feel?"
Hinamori's thoughts tangled into knots.
She hadn't thought of that before, but now Rukia's words filled her with a gnawing mix of unease and irritation.
She had only wanted to like someone.
How had it turned into this?
The sound of running water stopped.
Nobu stepped out of the kitchen, saw them on the sofa, and smiled.
"Feeling better?"
The gentle smile and concerned voice only made Hinamori feel as though someone had reached into her chest and squeezed her heart tight.
---
T/N: heres ur updates :3 meeting the 4 chaps a week quota :3 do u think itd be better to do it earlier in the week to make u guys wait more for the bonus chapters
bonus chaps
100 stones -> 1 chapter
200 stones -> 2 chapters
300 stones -> 3 chapters
and so on
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