Shin’s File

After seeing Aizen and Gin off, Tachikawa Shin and Rukia returned to the student council office.

"That Captain Aizen was really kind," Rukia couldn't help saying. "I was nervous at first, but the more time I spent near him, the calmer I felt."

Shin glanced at her, listening to her thoughts on Aizen, thinking to himself—You might've calmed down, but I was on edge the entire time.

Now that it was over, he felt a bit ridiculous. I'm just a student at Shin'ō Academy—why would someone like Aizen take particular interest in me? Perhaps he'd just overthought everything from the start.

If I really wanted to seem normal, I should've just acted like Rukia.

It's the ones who look nervous who invite suspicion.

"You did well today too, Rukia."

She shook her head. "Not at all. I barely did anything. And I even got to listen to an entire class—it was really helpful. Captain Aizen's views on Kidō are quite different from what our teachers say."

She was referring to the class Aizen had given to Class A. As a Class B student, she wouldn't have had that chance without being part of the student council.

Shin guessed what she was thinking and said, "If you keep working hard, you can move up to Class A next year."

"I'll do my best!" Rukia nodded firmly.

Renji and Hinamori were both in Class A—she wanted to catch up to them.

"If you ever don't understand something in your studies, you can come ask me anytime. I might not be on Captain Aizen's level, but I might be able to help clear up a few things."

"Really?" Rukia's eyes lit up with a bit of surprise.

[Affinity: 37]

Shin chuckled softly and reached out to pat her head. She was so petite, only reaching up to his chest—his hand easily landed atop her dark hair.

Rukia flinched slightly, but didn't shy away. She let his hand rest there.

"Of course. As long as you want to ask."

[Affinity: 38]

Nice feel, Shin thought idly.

Fourth Division Barracks.

"Vice-Captain, this just came from the Academy—student records."

"The Academy?"

Kotetsu Isane had just returned to the barracks and was stopped by a seated officer. It was technically her day off, but also the date of a Soul Reaper Women's Association event—held right here in Squad Four's compound.

She took the file from the officer, puzzled. It's only been about a month since the school year started… why are they sending over student records now?

"All right. I've got it."

With her short silver-grey hair tied in thin braids and her calm, refined features, Kotetsu Isane looked every part the gentle soul she was. But her nearly 190 cm height made her an outlier, towering over most of the men in her squad—a fact that made her a bit self-conscious.

She began reading the file—it was for a student from Shin'ō Academy.

Tachikawa Shin.

She muttered the name aloud, finding it familiar. Then it clicked: back when the Academy was reviewing candidates for early graduation, they had seen this name.

Tachikawa Shin had been listed among the elite students recommended for early graduation.

And now, there was that student council people kept talking about—it seemed he was the president of that, too.

The Fourth Division, being the medical squad, handled healing, emergency response, and daily care for the wounded. Because of that, they were at a natural disadvantage when it came to attracting new recruits—most students didn't list Squad Four as their preferred placement.

That meant their newest members were often reallocated by the Central 46 based on their performance in Kaidō.

Isane continued reading the record—and then stopped.

Forget the full marks in all four disciplines—Zanjutsu, Hakuda, Hohō, and Kidō—the final line noted something far more important.

"Zanpakutō ability: unknown specifics. Healing properties confirmed. Tentatively classified as Kaidō-type."

She blinked, reading it over again, her expression turning serious.

Zanpakutō with healing abilities were extremely rare. Even she, as the vice-captain of Squad Four, didn't possess one—hers was an ice-type.

And this Shin wasn't just anyone—he was the top of his class, acing every subject with no weak points.

Since when did someone like this ever get assigned to Squad Four?

She quickly grabbed the file and rushed toward her captain's private room.

When she pushed open the door a bit abruptly, she immediately paused.

The room wasn't empty.

Inside were Lieutenant Ise Nanao of Squad Eight, Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku of Squad Ten, and Lieutenant Kusajishi Yachiru of Squad Eleven.

Unohana Retsu's interests outside medicine included ikebana—flower arranging. These three were core members of the Soul Reaper Women's Association, and each of them sat with a vase, surrounded by blooms of all kinds.

"You're here, Isane," Unohana greeted her with a gentle smile, unfazed by the interruption.

"Captain…"

Isane nodded politely to the other lieutenants. Nanao was following Unohana's teachings seriously. Rangiku, on the other hand, was slouching lazily, tossing daisies into Yachiru's lap like she was feeding a pet.

Yachiru was chewing on flower petals.

The whole scene was a little surreal.

Isane tore her eyes away and approached Unohana.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Captain. This just arrived from the Academy—I thought you should take a look."

Unohana accepted the file calmly.

"You work too hard, Isane," Rangiku teased from the side.

"It's your day off, isn't it? Still stuck with paperwork?"

"Are you saying I'm not a good captain?" Unohana asked sweetly, glancing over the file.

"…Absolutely not!" Rangiku shivered and shook her head furiously.

Isane explained, "I just happened to run into the messenger on my way here."

Unohana finished reading and gave a quiet nod. "A Kaidō-type Zanpakutō… how rare. Tachikawa Shin may be a candidate for our Fourth Division after graduation."

Rangiku blinked.

"Who?"