Just then, a 10th Division's member walked in carrying a stack of documents. "3rd Seat Hitsugaya, these are new documents. The Captain and Lieutenant aren't here, so could you handle them?"
"Where did the Captain and Lieutenant go?" Toshiro asked.
The member said somewhat awkwardly, "The Captain and Lieutenant went out to have fun, so we have to trouble you, 3rd Seat Hitsugaya."
Toshiro frowned. "Put them there. If Captain Shiba and Lieutenant Matsumoto won't handle them, I'll deal with them after my break."
Then, Toshiro left the 10th Division and headed to the Shin'o Academy.
A month had passed. The Academy's break had ended, and the new semester had started. Momo and the others should be at school.
…
Shin'o Academy.
In a large lecture hall, a public class was in session. The lecturer was a famous elderly professor with round glasses and thinning hair, so many students attended.
The professor wrote a problem on the blackboard, preparing to have someone solve it.
"Me, me! I know this one! Let me do it, teacher!" Renji stood up excitedly, raising his hand upon finally seeing a problem he could solve.
The professor looked at Renji. "Uh, you're... Renji, right? It's good you raised your hand. But if I let you write on the board, the surrounding students would have to brace themselves defensively. So, I'll solve it myself today."
Renji often caused various mishaps.
Explosions during Kido practice, crashing into walls during Shunpo practice… countless incidents, sometimes affecting others. Many teachers knew of him, so they avoided letting him demonstrate new Kido, perform Shunpo, or solve problems on the board.
Renji sat down awkwardly.
"What a clueless guy."
"Is it because he's from the 78th District of the Rukongai?"
"So eager to show off."
"That guy really has no class."
Immediately, murmurs of mockery spread.
"Quiet! Next problem," the professor said.
After class, other students left the classroom.
"Renji."
Rukia walked over to Renji, looking at him with concern.
"Ah, it's bad, I can't laze around. Unlike you, I'm a Class 1's student. I'm really busy," Renji quickly said, picking up his textbooks to leave.
He didn't want Rukia to see him like this.
"Renji!" Rukia hugged her textbooks and said seriously, "I prefer Renji when he's spirited and raises his hand!"
Hearing Rukia's words, Renji stiffened, his face turning red.
Rukia continued encouraging, "So, keep raising your hand spiritedly, okay?" She raised her thin arm to cheer him on.
Renji blushed. "Wh-what's with the sudden words?"
"Many students come from upper-class backgrounds. A stable life where we can eat our fill, dress warmly, and study every day is already very happy for us. But they can't understand that. It can't be helped," Rukia said, a trace of sadness on her face as she recalled the hardships of her past with their companions.
As children, Rukia and Renji lived with many other companions.
But the 78th District of the Rukongai was a chaotic place. Even adults struggled to survive, let alone a group of children.
By the time Rukia and Renji grew up, only the two of them remained alive from their original group.
"Yeah," Renji said, also sounding downcast.
Then, they headed to their respective classes.
Students from noble families grew up in affluence, receiving elite education. Their grades were generally higher than those from the Rukongai.
Thinking this, Renji vowed inwardly: 'We barely escaped the harsh life of the Rukongai to come here. How can I let them look down on me again? I must… must make them see me in a new light.'
On the way back to class, Renji suddenly thought of something else: 'What did Rukia mean by 'prefer' just now? Was she encouraging me, or does she... like me?'
Thinking about it made Renji blush.
"No, no, no. How could Rukia possibly like someone like me?" Renji shook his head repeatedly.
At his core, Renji was very insecure. Having grown up with Rukia, it wasn't necessarily true that Rukia had no feelings for him at all.
Class 1's Classroom.
Seeing Renji enter, Momo quickly approached. "Renji, where were you just now?"
"What's up, Momo?" Renji asked, puzzled.
Momo said happily, "Renji, the teacher just announced the second test results. Kira, you, and I all passed!"
"Great! If we pass the next one, we can be like Hisagi-senpai and secure a spot in the Gotei 13 before graduation!" Renji almost jumped for joy.
Many students couldn't guarantee joining the Gotei 13 even after graduation, let alone second-year students far from graduating. This privilege was reserved for the most outstanding few.
"Momo, I'm going to tell Rukia the good news. I'll go first!" Excited, Renji couldn't wait to share his joy with Rukia.
"Hey, Renji, why so hurry?" Toshiro, who had just arrived at the Class 1's classroom, also heard the news.
Toshiro said happily, "In that case, Momo, Kira, let's all go together. I just got my salary. I'll treat everyone to a fancy meal at a big restaurant."
Hearing Toshiro's treat, Renji instantly cheered. "Hey, Toshiro, you won't be stingy this time, telling me not to order this or that, right?"
"Don't worry. Eat to your heart's content this time," Toshiro laughed.
"Good then," Renji nodded.
Thus, they all went to find Rukia.
Along the way, Renji excitedly ran ahead, while Toshiro, Momo, and Kira walked and chatted.
When they reached Rukia's class, they were told she had gone to the training room. So, they headed to the training room.