A few sparse stars dotted the heavens; on the ground, shadows thinned and scattered.
The crowds that had gathered at the Shin'ō Academy were already mostly gone. After a full day of celebration, the air had begun to quiet.
Tachikawa Shin found himself still accompanied not only by Rukia and Hinamori, but also by several members of the Student Council. Rukia had invited him to join their post-festival gathering that night.
Catching up with familiar faces he hadn't seen in a while, Shin chatted and laughed, complimenting them on this year's Culture Festival. He remarked it had been more successful than the past two years.
The group had gathered at a yakiniku place and stayed late into the night, drinking freely. Many students huddled around Shin, asking all sorts of questions about the Thirteenth Division and the recent inter-squad sparring exhibition.
At one point, Shin casually asked which divisions the soon-to-graduate students were aiming for. Unsurprisingly, very few had chosen the Fourth Division.
It wasn't unexpected—though the Fourth was trying to reform its image, change came slowly. Reversing years of unfavorable reputation would take time.
By the time the party ended, a heavily drunk Hinamori was clinging to Shin's arm, refusing to let go.
Helpless, Shin had to talk her down for quite a while before one of the girls helped escort her home.
"You're really gentle with Momo, aren't you?"
Rukia's voice drifted out beside him, casual—yet deliberate.
She didn't need to return to the Academy dorms, so now only the two of them remained.
"You're upset?" Shin asked.
Rukia pursed her lips and stayed silent.
Far ahead, the last of the Student Council group disappeared around a street corner. Behind them, the warm lights of the yakiniku shop still flickered, along with the sounds of the shopkeeper cleaning up.
"Shin… Do you know that Momo likes you?"
"I do."
"Then… what do you think about that?"
Her voice was quiet, eyes clear but evasive, refusing to stay still.
"You held my hand today… and hers too. You ate what I fed you… and then what she fed you. Everything you did for her, you did for me, too. I can't help but wonder—when I'm not around, are you the same with her…"
Her voice drifted lower and lower, and she looked away, downcast.
Shin tilted his head.
"Isn't that what you both wanted?"
Rukia stiffened.
Shin continued, "I noticed it early on—you and Hinamori. Whenever one of you did something with me, the other would immediately mirror it, and both of you seemed to tolerate it. It was strange. Especially you, Rukia."
Her mind went blank.
He'd figured it out.
The shock pushed aside the original reason she'd even brought this up.
Shin looked at her dazed face and chuckled lightly, "So? What was the agreement you two made?"
"I…"
How was she supposed to answer that? Say they agreed to 'fair competition'? That kind of talk might've been fine between her and Momo, but if Shin knew… Wouldn't that just make them look shallow?
Would he feel like he was being treated like some kind of prize?
Would he think they weren't serious about this relationship?
He had to know. That's why he was playing along.
A swell of panic made her freeze.
Shin sighed, walked up, and gently ruffled her hair.
"If I've figured it out, then I understand why you're doing it," he said.
Rukia looked up, her eyes nervous.
"Are you mad…?"
He poked her forehead. "What do you think?"
"I'm sorry, Shin… Momo is my best friend. But…"
She tried to explain, but nothing coherent came out. The words stuck halfway, and silence returned.
"Forget it," Shin said softly, pulling her gently into his arms.
Rukia pressed her face against his chest, and asked in a muffled voice, "Then… do you like Momo?"
Shin answered casually, "Sure. She's cheerful, cute, and serious about her work."
Rukia froze.
He tightened his embrace. "But the way I like her… isn't the same as how I like you."
Only then did she breathe again.
She figured Shin was referring to the kind of admiration one had for a diligent junior. And if that was it, Momo truly was deserving.
But now that Shin had told her this, maybe… maybe she should talk things out with Momo properly.
"…What's that bulge in your pocket?"
"Eh?"
Before Rukia could react, Shin's hand had already slipped into her uniform pocket and pulled something out.
Her brain short-circuited. "Ah—!" she gasped and frantically tried to snatch it back.
Of course, she couldn't. Shin raised his hand to get a better look—and his expression turned odd.
Rukia's face burned bright red. She couldn't meet his eyes. Even her fingers trembled.
"…Give it back…"
Without a word, Shin returned it to her hand. She stuffed it back into her pocket like she was hiding contraband and hung her head so low it almost disappeared into her chest.
"I—I'm leaving…"
Her voice was stiff. She turned to escape—but Shin grabbed her and pushed her back against the wall.
"Shin…"
Her eyes widened, uncertain and afraid, glistening like violets under moonlight. Those eyes were, in his view, the most beautiful part of her. No one else came close.
"What… What are you going to do?"
He kissed her before she could protest.
When her body softened beneath him, he finally let go.
Breathing unsteadily, Rukia leaned back against the wall and looked up at him.
Shin smiled faintly. "Is it because of what happened this morning?"
She bit her lip and said nothing, unconsciously pressing her thighs together.
He leaned in closer, until their noses brushed.
"I want to check."
No…
She thought it, but her voice didn't come out. The world in her eyes blurred, like a watercolor left in the rain. She shut her eyes.
Hss—
His hand was cold.
Shin wanted a place of his own.
He'd lived in dorms at the Academy, then at the squad barracks in the Fourth Division, and before that, he wandered in Rukongai without a fixed home.
Until recently, he hadn't seen the need. But now, he thought—having a private space wouldn't be so bad.
Maybe then he wouldn't have let Rukia leave that night so easily.
Thankfully, the process was simple. While Seireitei was meant for nobles, seated officers of the Gotei 13 had housing privileges. As Third Seat of the Fourth Division, Shin only needed to submit an application. Within a week, he'd likely have a house.
He wouldn't be able to pick the district or size—that kind of luxury was reserved for Captains—but it was enough.
As Shin began preparing for his new residence, the long-anticipated battle between Gin Ichimaru and Kaien Shiba for the position of Squad 3 Captain was finally upon them.
This wouldn't be like the previous exchange bouts.
This was war.
No restrictions. No rules. Any method, any weapon, anything went—so long as you won.
Even killing blows would be forgiven, though it wasn't likely either Gin or Kaien would go that far. They knew each other. There was no deep grudge.
And in the end, the final say still lay with the Head Captain and the Central 46. If the victor used underhanded tactics, the appointment could be contested.
Still, everyone expected this fight to be more intense than anything from the exhibition matches—perhaps even more thrilling than the one between Shin and Gin.
For many, it didn't matter who won. They just wanted to witness a captain-level duel. So soon after the last battle, another chance to watch history unfold had come.
That day, Retsu Unohana led several seated officers from Squad 4 to the Squad 1 compound.
They arrived at the massive open-air arena, already packed with spectators.
Kyoraku, Ukitake, Isshin Shiba, Aizen… most of the captains were already there, chatting in their usual circles.
As always, Ukitake and Aizen, both known for their gentle temperaments, were calmly talking and laughing. There was no tension, despite their lieutenants facing off.
Gin and Kaien were present but stood apart from their captains—already squared off from opposite sides of the ring.
Kaien looked calm. Gin wore his ever-present smile.
Plenty of familiar faces were present: high-ranking officers from Squad 13, members of the Kido Corps, and officials from the Central 46.
Shin even spotted someone unexpected—Kaisawa.
He hadn't known she'd be coming, but it looked like she was doing well in Squad 8.
She stood quietly behind her captain and vice-captain and acknowledged Shin's gaze with a simple nod.
Meanwhile, the Squad 3 delegation remained under the command of Li Ku Hoshigakure, a man who had long known he'd never rise beyond Third Seat—but he still deeply cared about the outcome of today's battle.
For Hoshigakure, Kaien Shiba was the better candidate. Well-known, well-liked, and strong. If it came down to a choice between Shin and Kaien, he would've chosen Kaien too.
Unohana went to greet the other captains. Shin approached Kaien.
"How do you feel?"
Kaien smiled. "Not bad."
He didn't look nervous. That surprised Shin a little. Maybe Kaien had something up his sleeve.
Shin wasn't sure how strong Kaien truly was—but maybe, just maybe, he'd see his Bankai today.
Kaien was relaxed. "It's just a fight. Win or lose, I'll give it everything."
A beautiful woman standing nearby, however, clearly wasn't as calm. Her worry showed.
Shin felt someone watching him. He looked up and saw Isshin Shiba meeting his gaze. Both nodded, steady and calm.
Nearby, Rangiku Matsumoto kept sneaking glances at Gin.
Shin said to Kaien, "I think you're going to win."
Kaien laughed. "Then you'd better call me Captain Kaien when this is over."
He was joking, but there was truth behind it. If two Shiba Captains existed at once, people would need to tell them apart.
"Sure."
The two shared a laugh. Kaien looked at him thoughtfully and added, "You'll be a captain one day too."
"Hope you're right. Just don't start judging me harshly when I am."
Kaien laughed heartily. "Never."
"…Why would I do that?"
"No reason. Good luck."
After Squad 4, more squads arrived. Once nearly everyone was gathered, Head Captain Yamamoto said a few words. Then Sasakibe stepped up to host.
As the lieutenant stood atop the arena platform, the crowd fell silent.
The battle for the Squad 3 captaincy was about to begin.