"Excuse me, coming through!"
Renji sprinted down the corridor towards the training room, leaving Toshiro and the others behind.
Watching Renji, Toshiro said helplessly, "Good grief, has Renji forgotten you're not supposed to run in the corridors?"
Kira smiled. "Well, it's understandable… the feeling of wanting to share good news with someone you like."
Although Renji never explicitly told them he liked Rukia, it was obvious to anyone with eyes.
Thinking about their future relationship, Toshiro couldn't help but say, "With his emotional intelligence, he's still far from winning Rukia over."
Seeing Toshiro and Kira chatting, Momo teased, "Kira, even Renji likes Rukia. Don't you have someone you like?"
Among them, Toshiro and Momo were a pair, and Renji liked Rukia… only Kira had no one he liked.
Hearing Momo, Kira said somewhat sheepishly, "Not yet. These things depend on fate."
Training Room's entrance.
Renji, having outpaced the others, arrived first.
He pulled open the door excitedly. "Rukia, listen! I passed the second test! If I pass the next one-"
Before he finished, Renji sensed something was off.
There were extra people in the training room, clearly not Shin'o Academy's students based on attire.
Two wore Shihakusho, standing like guards. An elderly man with gray hair and round glasses stood respectfully beside a young man like a steward.
The leading young man wore a Kenseikan and a silver-white scarf around his neck. Handsome with an aloof expression… it was 6th Division's Captain, Kuchiki Byakuya.
'A Kenseikan? Nobility?' Renji thought, looking at the hairpin.
"Oh, it seems we have an interruption," The steward-like old man said, frowning at Renji who barged in.
Byakuya glanced indifferently at Renji and stepped forward to leave.
The steward looked at Rukia. "We'll take our leave then. We hope for your prompt reply."
He hurried after Byakuya.
'What immense Reiatsu! Probably not weaker than Toshiro's!' Renji watched Byakuya approach, unable to move, heart pounding, cold sweat dripping.
Although Toshiro had strong Reiatsu, he suppressed it around them to avoid affecting them.
But Byakuya, while not actively releasing pressure, didn't suppress his natural spiritual presence, rendering Renji immobile.
Byakuya walked past Renji as if he didn't exist, not even glancing at him.
'Ignoring me completely? I used to think all powerful people were as amiable as Toshiro,' Renji thought self-deprecatingly.
Only after Byakuya left did Renji's tense body relax.
"Renji," Rukia called.
Hearing Rukia's voice, Renji snapped back. "Oh! Rukia, the atmosphere just now seemed heavy. What were you talking about?"
Rukia looked troubled, not speaking.
Renji asked worriedly, "What's wrong, Rukia?"
"They want me to become an adopted child of the Kuchiki Clan," Rukia suddenly said.
Renji stiffened, stunned.
Rukia said sadly, "They said I could graduate directly from Shin'o Academy and be assigned to the Gotei 13 immediately. Renji, I-"
Renji suddenly patted Rukia's shoulder, interrupting her, then forced a smile. "That's great, isn't it, Rukia! Becoming a great noble in the Kuchiki Clan… wonderful!"
"Huh?" Rukia looked at Renji in disbelief.
Renji pretended to be happy. "As an adopted child there, you'll enjoy wealth and luxury. You can eat whatever you want, unlike that stingy Toshiro who never lets us order expensive dishes. Damn, so enviable! And graduating immediately… almost as fast as that genius Toshiro. So jealous! Amazing! Hahaha!"
"Is that so?" Rukia pushed Renji's hand off her shoulder, her tone sorrowful and disappointed.
"Thank you," Rukia said, turning to leave, a tear falling.
Renji stood there, desolate.
Corridor.
Toshiro and the other two, slower than Renji, continued walking unhurriedly.
Suddenly, a group approached from the opposite direction. Students respectfully made way… it was Byakuya's group.
When reaching Toshiro, Byakuya suddenly stopped.
Not because Byakuya wanted to greet Toshiro, but because Toshiro and the others stood right in the middle of the path with no intention of giving way.
The steward beside Byakuya stepped forward arrogantly. "Hey, you lot! Do you know who stands before you? If you value your lives, move aside now!"
Hearing this, Toshiro frowned, his gaze icy as he stared at the steward, simultaneously releasing Reiatsu to bear down on him.
The steward instantly felt overwhelming pressure, his body stiffening, unable to move.
Seeing this, Byakuya stepped forward, shielding the steward.
"My apologies for my subordinate's rudeness," Byakuya said calmly.
Though outwardly composed, Byakuya was inwardly shocked: 'Such powerful Reiatsu! Probably not inferior to mine… no, stronger than mine.
"I am Kuchiki Byakuya, head of the Kuchiki Clan and Captain of the 6th Division. State your name, Shinigami," Byakuya said, staring at Toshiro in Shihakusho.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro, 3rd Seat of the 10th Division," Toshiro replied.
Byakuya understood. "I see. So you're the man who defeated Zaraki Kenpachi."
Then Byakuya turned to scold the steward. "Do not act in ways that tarnish noble dignity again."
"Yes, Master!" The steward said respectfully.
"Then, farewell," Byakuya said, walking past Toshiro.
As Byakuya passed, Toshiro thought: 'Kuchiki Byakuya came to the Shin'o Academy? Is this when Rukia gets adopted by the Kuchiki Clan?'
After Byakuya left, Toshiro was about to find Renji and Rukia to ask, when he saw Rukia suddenly run out of the training room.
Toshiro quickly approached. "Hey, Rukia?"
But Rukia ignored Toshiro and the others, running right past them.
Moreover, Toshiro thought he saw something moist in Rukia's eyes, something slide from her face.
Instinctively, Toshiro reached out and caught it.
"Tears?" Toshiro opened his right hand. In his palm, a teardrop quickly froze into a crystal clear ice crystals bead.