Restricted Death

Chapter 127 Misunderstanding
Kotetsu Isane walked into the room with a somewhat bewildered expression. She recognized most of the people present. Shiba Kaien was the first to greet her with a smile: "Vice-Captain Kotetsu."

"...Captain Hai... Captain Haiyan."

Yongyin felt a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe. She just thought about all the random thoughts she'd had since yesterday and suddenly felt a little ridiculous, and an indescribable sadness welled up inside her.

She forced a smile and then found a seat among the crowd.

"Ganju, is the food ready?" Shiba Kaien called out towards the kitchen.

And Shiba Ganju wasn't the only one busy in the kitchen; Kira Izuru was also there.

"Almost done, almost done!" Yanjiu replied anxiously from in front of the stove.

Upon hearing the urging from outside, Kira couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Why are the two of us guys cooking?"

Yanjiu was helpless; after all, he was the lowest-ranking among these people.

The people in the living room sat together chatting, occasionally discussing how Xin's residence should be decorated and furnished.

However, they didn't know much about this aspect and only described what they thought a house should look like.

Kotetsu Isane sat quietly to the side, her gaze sweeping across the room. She was only familiar with Aoshika and Kaien. Some of the others she knew were people like Hinamori, Rukia, and Hitsugaya Toshiro, while others she hadn't met before, such as Renji, Shuhei, and Kani Sawa. But judging from Hinamori Momo and Kuchiki Rukia, she guessed they were probably friends of Shin from the Spirit Arts Academy.

She didn't participate in the discussion, but silently drank her tea, as if trying to dilute the bitterness in her heart.

So embarrassing, so shameful, so awful...

Yongyin felt increasingly uncomfortable as she thought about it, and her eyes started to sting. She quickly tilted her head back.

She glanced at the letter and saw him chatting and laughing with Hinamori and the others.

Yongyin wanted to leave right now, but she felt it would be too impolite and might make others think too much, putting Shin in an awkward position as well.

However, she always seemed a little awkward and out of place here, and because she was the vice-captain, Rukia and the others didn't dare to talk to her casually.

Hinamori took the initiative to speak to Isane: "Vice-Captain Kotetsu, do you remember me?"

Yuon paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "I remember, your name is Hinamori Momo, right?"

Hinamori leaned closer and said, "Yes, I want to join the Fourth Division after I graduate!"

If she were to encounter a Spirit Arts Academy student like this under normal circumstances, Yuu would definitely be happy. She loves the Dao and the Fourth Division, but now she only feels more bitter.

The girl was clearly after Xin; she liked Xin, and her words and actions just now made it quite blatant.

She figured that not only she could see it, but everyone else must have seen it too.

And what about the letter? Does the letter also know?
As Yuu-on thought to herself, she suddenly felt a pang of envy for Hinamori's personality. She wished she could be like her.

Yuuto smiled and replied to Hinamori, "That's great, the Fourth Division will definitely welcome you too."

Hinamori happily replied, "Yes! I'll definitely go!"

When this topic came up, Shiba Kaien's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said to Hinamori, "Actually, you could also consider joining our Third Division. Our Third Division is currently in need of outstanding juniors like you. If you come to our Third Division, you'll receive excellent treatment!"

Hinamori shook her head repeatedly: "No, I want to go to the Fourth Division!"

As she spoke, she glanced at the letter.

Such a reaction was far too obvious, and most of the people present were aware of Hinamori's feelings for Shin, so they were not surprised.

Xiu Bing said quietly, "This tea tastes a bit strange."

Hinamori feigned embarrassment and called out, "Shuhei-senpai!"

Hitsugaya picked up his cup, took another sip of water, and lowered his eyes, remaining silent.

Rukia remained silent, quietly observing the letter's reaction.

After seeing Hinamori's thoughts, Shiba Kaien did not press the matter, and then turned her eager gaze to Kira, who was carrying out the food.

"Kira-kun, which squad do you want to join after graduation?"

Kira was taken aback by the question, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "I haven't decided yet, maybe... it'll be the Fourth Division."

"Why do you also want to join the Fourth Division?" Kaien asked, puzzled.

Kira said directly, "Since Shin-senpai is in the Fourth Division, if I go to the Fourth Division, Shin-senpai should take care of me, right?"

Shin immediately smiled and said, "Of course, and our Fourth Division Captain Unohana and Isane are both very nice people."

Shiba Kaien immediately stepped forward and put his arm around Kira's shoulder: "Are you confused? The Fourth Division is a medical team, not just anyone is suitable. I remember you were the top student in your cohort, right? Come to the Third Division, I can take care of you, and your talents will be better developed in the Third Division! I guarantee you'll soon be a seated officer!"

Shin feigned displeasure and said, "Captain Kaien is wrong. Does coming to the Fourth Division really hinder Kira?"

Xiubing raised his hand and said, "Actually, our Ninth Division is not bad either."

Kani Sawa said indifferently, "The Eighth Division is also very good."

Hitsugaya chimed in, "And our Tenth Division too!"

Shiba Kaien couldn't help but yell, "You bunch of bastards!"

Despite being the captain, he was very approachable and quickly became acquainted with Xiubing, Kani, and the others.

Kira had never encountered such a situation before, and he looked embarrassed: "Well... I really haven't decided which squad I want to join yet."

Actually, there was another reason why he wanted to go to the Fourth Division: if he filled in another division in the support divisions, there was a chance that he would be transferred to another division, but the Fourth Division would not.

Moreover, it doesn't mean that once you join a certain squad, you will stay in that squad forever; you can apply to transfer to another squad in the future.

Rather than choosing an unpredictable future, he might as well just choose the Fourth Division. He didn't dislike the Fourth Division; Shin-senpai and Aoshika-senpai were there, and Hinamori would be there in the future too. He had quite a few acquaintances.

Kotetsu Isane simply watched them talk quietly from the side, though she wasn't particularly interested in what they were discussing, even though it was about the Fourth Division.

Undeterred, Shiba Kaien tried to persuade Kira to join the Third Division again, while Shin deliberately interfered: "Kira, have you thought this through? Getting promoted in the Third Division isn't easy. You can only reach the third seat at most."

Because the vice-captain of the Third Division is Kaien's fiancée.

Shiba Kaien was amused by Shin's words: "Do you think the third seat is like a cabbage growing on the roadside? Isn't the third seat good enough? You're not even a third seat yourself now, are you?"

Shin said, "I think that with Kira's talent, his future achievements will definitely be more than just three seats."

Kira was flattered and said, "Senior Shin, you flatter me."

Unable to resist Haiyan's enthusiasm, he finally nodded to her: "Thank you for your appreciation, Captain Haiyan, I will seriously consider it!"

Shiba Kaien immediately beamed with joy: "That's more like it!"

Then, he turned his attention to Renji Abarai.

Renji Abarai immediately declared, "I want to join the Eleventh Division!"

No matter how much Kaien Shiba tried to persuade him, Renji remained unmoved: "I'm going to the Eleventh Division!"

Haiyan was at her wits' end and had no choice but to give up.

He glanced at everyone present, looked at Rukia, and said nothing.

“Big brother, you haven’t asked me yet,” Shiba Iwasaru couldn’t help but say.

Shiba Kaien retorted irritably, "Go to whichever squad you want, kid!" Ganju looked aggrieved, which made everyone burst into laughter.

As dinner time approached, Shiba Kaien looked at the sumptuous meal on the table, first praising Kira's cooking skills, and then asked Shin, "Isn't there any sake?"

Xin rolled his eyes: "It's so late, what if someone's drunk? I only have one bed here."

Hearing this, Hinamori's heart suddenly raced. She glanced at the water in the glass on the table, where ripples were spreading across the surface.

After dinner, everyone dispersed, and Xin saw them off one by one at the door.

Kotetsu Isane was the last to get up. She walked to the door and subconsciously clenched her fist.

"I believe you, too..."

“Sister Yongyin.” Xin suddenly interrupted her, “You seem a bit off today, you’ve been looking sullen the whole time.”

"..."

Kotetsu Isane smiled and said, "Really? No... I guess I've been busy these past few days and haven't had a good rest, so I don't look too well."

She stood at the doorway, her eyes gleaming like water under the light from inside the room. She gazed at the letter for a long time, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, before saying, "I should go now. You should get some rest."

After saying that, she turned around to leave, but found that Xin suddenly grabbed her hand.

A soft sigh sounded behind him, like a pebble falling into a lake, stirring up ripples in Kotetsu Isane's heart.

"I think I understand, Yongyin-nee."

"..."

I understand. What did he understand? Did he understand his own feelings?

Kotetsu Isane's breath hitched for a few seconds until a hand suddenly reached out, passed over her body, and closed the door directly.

She was forced to turn around by the letter.

"I believe you..."

Yongyin's eyes shone like shattered glass as she stared blankly at the letter.

……

Meanwhile, Hinamori and the others, having left Shin's house, parted ways with Rukia at the crossroads. Hinamori then went back to the Spirit Arts Academy with Kira and the others.

She glanced unintentionally in the direction of Xin's house again and found that the door had suddenly closed.

Before the door closed, there was clearly still one person standing at the door...

"Hinamori?"

Kira called her name.

"What are you looking at?"

"what?"

Hinamori responded blankly, but her mind was in turmoil.

Am I seeing things...? No, Vice-Captain Kotetsu is the Chairman's superior, so it's normal for them to have something to say to each other...

There's no need to overthink it.

She said this to herself in her heart.

"Hinamori is gone."

"okay."

in the room.

Xin looked at Yongyin with clear and sincere eyes: "I'm sorry, Yongyin-jie, I didn't express myself clearly yesterday..."

Kotetsu Isane pursed her lips tightly, and in an instant, all the bitterness and grievances in her heart surged up.

But she still forced herself to say, "Why are you suddenly saying all this? I..."

She didn't want to explain the misunderstanding she had made; it was a matter of dignity she needed to uphold. She didn't want to appear too pathetic or ridiculous in front of Xin. She felt that it was better for her to leave now, without anything happening or anything more being said.

However, he held her hand tightly, then suddenly leaned forward and hugged her tightly.

Kotetsu Isane froze instantly, his center of gravity shifting backward, and he was pinned against the back of the door by Shin.

"I believe you... what do I need to do..." Her voice began to tremble involuntarily.

"I'm sorry, Yongyin-nee."

Kotetsu Isane tilted her head back, looking at the light on the ceiling, listening to Shin's apology, her throat bobbing.

"Xin, you didn't do anything wrong. It's late... I should go back..."

Xin held her tightly and shook his head.

"Actually, I've been hesitant ever since I said those things to Yongyin last time."

"...What are you hesitating about?" Yongyin couldn't help but ask.

"Was I too hasty and caused you trouble, Sister Yongyin?"

"..."

"So, I didn't dare to mention that kind of thing to you anymore. I was afraid that you would reject me."

As he spoke, he suddenly released her, then took a step back and looked at her apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Yongyin-jie, I acted impulsively again."

"..."

Kotetsu Isane stood there blankly, staring at the letter for a long time without saying a word.

She suddenly remembered her first meeting with Xin, in the classroom of the Spiritual Arts Academy, in her class. Among the countless bewildered eyes below the podium, only Xin's was the clearest.

That was a gaze she would always remember, so pure that even now, thinking of it makes her heart tremble.

She recalled all the times she had spent with Shin over the years. She often went to the Spirit Arts Academy to explain the knowledge of the Dao to him alone. His attitude was always so serious and sincere. Thinking about what Shin had done after joining the Fourth Division, whether it was to compete for the third seat in the intra-division competition or to represent the Fourth Division in the exchange tournament, Shin always had a confident look on his face.

But why did he suddenly lose confidence when it came to himself?

Is it because of my own indecisiveness?
She was still feeling lonely and heartbroken because of today's misunderstanding. If she were to leave now, what would Xin think?
Thinking about it carefully, she and Xin had only known each other for a short time, less than three years. Compared to the lifespan of the Grim Reaper, this time was far too short and could have passed by in a short time when no one paid attention to it.

But the memories of the letter were so long, so long that even now, when she recalls them, her thoughts linger for several moments, so long that she has unknowingly become immersed in them.

Suddenly, Yongyin stepped forward, leaned down slightly, and kissed Xin's lips amidst his somewhat surprised gaze.

"Well……"

(End of this chapter)