Restricted Death

Chapter 159 The President is Truly Ruthless
Shin is not a lazy person, otherwise he would not have persisted in cultivating even though he knew that the benefits of self-cultivation were far lower than the system rewards, and he has always been present for all the field missions of the Fourth Division.

Team affairs were not difficult for him to handle, and Shin was quickly adapting to life as the captain.

The 10th Division is a patrol and security unit whose main responsibility is to ensure the safety of Seireitei and Rukongai. They send out small teams to patrol the streets every day, but their focus is mainly on Seireitei.

The members of the 10th Division are also getting used to their new captain. They have heard all sorts of rumors about Tachikawa Shin, but recently, what the officers have heard most often is bad things about their captain coming from their own vice-captain.

This stemmed from the fact that Shin couldn't help but tease Matsumoto Rangiku with his words every time they faced each other.

One good thing about the members of the 10th Division is that the positions of the division's officers were not immediately adjusted after the new captain took office. It is common for the new captain to promote a Shinigami he is familiar with or bring in a new person from another division to take on important responsibilities.

This is not good news for the 10th Division; for every person who goes up, someone else is destined to come down.

The only trustworthy person they could recruit was Hisagi Shuhei, but Shuhei himself was unwilling to come.

Aoshiro's goal is to become an excellent medical reaper, and he can't possibly bring that along. As for Kanazawa...

Xin felt it was best to keep his distance from her.

"team leader."

Hitsugaya Toshiro knocked on the door of the captain's office and walked in. He saw Shin casually lying on the chair with his legs propped up on the desk in a very unladylike manner.

This scene looks somewhat familiar...

He placed the documents on his desk.

"Why are you the one delivering it? Where's Matsumoto?" Shin asked casually.

Hitsugaya Naoto said, "She doesn't want to come."

The reason she didn't want to come was obvious: in recent days, Matsumoto had been saying all sorts of bad things about Shin to others.

Xin didn't ask any more questions. He looked up at him and suddenly laughed: "It suddenly feels like I've returned to the Spirit Arts Academy."

Hitsugaya tilted his head. Back in the days of the Spirit Arts Academy Student Council, Shin often saw Shin taking a break like this in the Student Council headquarters office, and he hadn't changed this habit.

“Indeed, I never expected you to become my captain,” he said.

His feelings for Shin were somewhat complicated. A large part of the reason he became the Grim Reaper was because of Shin, and Shin had also indirectly saved his grandmother, for which he had always been grateful.

Besides gratitude, Hitsugaya had always silently regarded Shin as his goal. After entering the Spirit Arts Academy, he realized that his talent was different from ordinary people. He could easily leave those around him behind. Even those who were several years ahead of him and were called outstanding students, such as Shuhei, were not taken too seriously by him.

Only faith can always lead him forward.

Furthermore, it's all because of Hinamori...

"What, do you think I'm in your way?" Xin asked with a smile.

"No," Hitsugaya denied. "I haven't even reached the threshold of Bankai yet, and I'm still far from being a captain. But you could promote me to be your lieutenant, Captain."

"Aren't you afraid Matsumoto will beat you up for saying that?" Shinra said.

“She can’t beat me anymore.” Hitsugaya shrugged.

"Really?" Shin raised an eyebrow slightly. "Matsumoto is quite strong among the vice-captains."

“I’ve never fought her, but I don’t think I’ll lose,” Hitsugaya said.

The way he said those words made Shin feel that they were somewhat similar to himself.

Confident enough.

“Now that I have mastered Bankai, I will naturally strive to become a captain,” Hitsugaya said.

"Then work hard and I wish you become the captain soon."

"There's one more thing," Hitsugaya added. "The Spirit Arts Academy has invited the captain to teach a class."

"Who invited you?"

"Teacher Nantian."

"I'm too lazy to go, I'll think about it later." Xin waved his hand.

"I will reply to Teacher Nantian with this message."

"..."

Shin looked at Hitsugaya speechlessly, unsure whether he was joking or serious.

"You kid."

After becoming the team leader, he had more freedom in terms of time, and seeing that there was nothing else going on in the team, he planned to go back early.

I haven't seen Matsumoto Rangiku all day. I wonder if she went somewhere to drink.

They even said he was lazy and irresponsible, but now it's clearly her who's being irresponsible.

He secretly planned to teach his adjutant a lesson when they met again. The way the team members were looking at him was strange, as if they knew some unknown side of him. This was all thanks to Matsumoto Rangiku.

When he got home, Xin saw a figure at his door.

She was wearing the red and white school uniform of the Spirit Arts Academy. She had been sitting there, but immediately stood up when she saw the letter. After not seeing her for many days, the girl seemed a little haggard. She forced a smile at the letter, but quickly suppressed it.

"President..."

"Hinamori."

Xin walked over, looked at her up close, and then opened the door.

"Come in first."

Hinamori silently followed behind Shin as they approached the living room.

Xin poured her a glass of water and gestured for her to sit down on the sofa.

"How long have you been waiting?"

Hinamori sat on the sofa, took the water glass, pursed her lips, and replied, "Not long."

"Is there a problem?"

Hinamori saw Shin casually take off his captain's haori and throw it aside, and said, "Congratulations on becoming captain."

Xin smiled and said, "Thank you."

Since that day, the three of them have never met again. If Hinamori hadn't taken the initiative to find him today, Shin wouldn't have known when he would have gone to the Spirit Arts Academy on his own initiative.

One of the reasons he refused Hitsugaya's offer to teach at the Spirit Arts Academy was because of Hinamori and Rukia.

Hinamori's eyes suddenly reddened.

Xin sat at the other end of the sofa and asked helplessly, "What's wrong?"

Hinamori shook her head first, then said, "The captain is... becoming quite distant with me now."

“You’re overthinking it… I’ve been quite busy lately and haven’t had time to visit you at the Spiritual Arts Academy,” Xin said.

"Yes, I know." Hinamori lowered her head.

"How have you been lately?" Xin casually chatted with her.

"Kira, Abarai, everyone is doing well..." Hinamori said slowly. "Kira is now the vice president of the student council, Abarai is the president of the kendo club, and Ganju has also grown a lot since then."

She briefly recounted the recent situations of the people in their small circle, but she and Rukia were not among them.

"And what about you?" Xin asked.

"..."

Hinamori held the water glass in both hands, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "No."

When it was Shin's turn to fall silent, Hinamori, seeing that he didn't speak, bit her lower lip and whispered, "I miss the student council president."

"..."

"Has the president thought about me?"

Xin adjusted his posture slightly and said, "Have you thought about it?"

Upon hearing this, Hinamori immediately raised her head, her eyes seeming to light up.

She hesitated for a moment and said, "About what happened last time... I'm sorry, I shouldn't have acted so recklessly. Does the president hate me?"

"nor."

Hinamori pursed her lips, lowered her head, and remained silent for a while before asking, "How are the Chairman and... Vice-Captain Kotetsu?"

"We haven't seen each other for several days," Xin said truthfully.

Hinamori was taken aback by his words: "Huh?"

The letter asks directly: "Which aspect are you referring to?"

"I..." Hinamori stammered. She originally wanted to ask Shin if he was really with Kotetsu Isane, but Shin's words stunned her and her mind became chaotic.

"The president just said... we haven't seen each other for several days?"

Hinamori believes that if Kotetsu Isane is really with the president, they should already be living together. Even if they are not living together, Seireitei is only so big, and they shouldn't be apart for several days.

“I’ve been quite busy lately, and so has she,” Xin said.

This statement sounds too vague and ambiguous.

Hinamori gritted her teeth and mustered her courage to ask, "President and Lieutenant Kotetsu...aren't they together?"

Xin seemed to have anticipated her question, his expression remained largely unchanged, and he calmly replied, "We were together."

"..."

Hinamori felt as if these words had struck her mind like a thunderbolt, and she stood there stunned.

We were together...

Did they really date?!
She was right back then, so the reason why Shin rejected her and Rukia was because of Kotetsu Isane!

After that day, she thought about this question more than once.

Being in a good position gives one an advantage. After the president graduated and joined the Fourth Division, she saw the president very few times, while the president was able to spend every day with Kotetsu Isane.

On one hand, feelings fade, while on the other hand, feelings develop over time.

This should be a very normal thing.

Hinamori had considered this possibility long ago, but she simply refused to believe it.

She could have kept her feelings for the president unchanged, and continued to love him deeply...

Why can't the president be one?
An indescribable feeling of sorrow and bitterness welled up in my heart.

Hinamori sniffed, forcing herself to remain calm. She didn't want to appear hysterical in front of the president, and she hated that side of herself. She knew the president probably did too.

"Why did we break up?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she tried her best to remain calm.

Xin thought for a moment and said, "We've had some disagreements."

"I see." Hinamori responded, then added, "President, you must really like her, right? Lieutenant Kotetsu is gentle and beautiful. If there's a disagreement, why don't you try to resolve it?"

Shin didn't answer immediately. Looking at Hinamori, who was sitting there with her head down, he suddenly chuckled softly.

"To resolve this difference, someone has to make changes and compromises, and I am not someone who will compromise."

"..."

"So Hinamori, you don't know me well enough."

Hinamori unconsciously clenched her fists while holding the water glass.

Xin continued, "Let me make some things clear to you."

"As Grim Reapers, our lifespans are too long, and we have existed in this world for far too long. I don't think I can maintain feelings for just one person for hundreds or thousands of years. Hinamori, you are cute and cheerful, and I do like you very much. But I am a very self-centered person. I will not allow myself to be possessed. So what you want, I can't give you, and what I want, you definitely can't accept either. Although the scene last time wasn't very nice, it was a pretty good result for both of us."

"..."

Hinamori stared blankly at the letter, stunned for a long time.

Xin then said, "If there's nothing else, go back. Don't you have class this afternoon? Did you skip class? I'll go to the Spirit Arts Academy again after I'm done with this busy period. It's been quite a while since I've seen everyone."

Hinamori silently placed the water glass back on the coffee table. She didn't seem to have much of an emotional reaction; on the contrary, she was unexpectedly calm. Shin had no idea what she had been thinking.

"President," Hinamori said, taking a deep breath, "I plan to graduate next year."

Xin pondered for a moment and said, "Your grades are quite good. If you prepare well, it shouldn't be difficult for you to graduate early. Captain Unohana and Vice-Captain Kotetsu of the Fourth Division are both very nice people. Aoshika is also there, and he will definitely take good care of you."

Hinamori shook her head: "I'm no longer planning to go to the Fourth Division."

Xin wasn't surprised. He paused briefly and asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Hinamori simply stared straight at him, the meaning in her eyes self-evident.

Shin said helplessly, "I don't recommend you come to the 10th Division, Hinamori. You have the potential to be a vice-captain, but you can't be a vice-captain in the 10th Division."

He won't replace Matsumoto Rangiku and Hitsugaya Toshiro.

"It doesn't matter," Hinamori said. "I don't care about this. Is Captain Tachikawa going to reject my graduation application?"

"It's possible. If another squad takes a liking to you, I'll definitely let you have it."

Hinamori's eyes immediately reddened again.

Upon seeing this, Xin felt a headache coming on and said, "Alright, alright, whatever you want."

Hinamori looked at him with red eyes, and didn't show any joy when she heard Xin agree.

"The president is much colder towards me than before."

"Really? I don't think so."

Hinamori suddenly moved closer to Shin, grabbed his arm, and stared at him with her big, watery eyes.

Xin slightly struggled free and said, "What are you doing?"

Hinamori didn't say anything, but simply rested her head on Shin's shoulder.

"The president is so heartless," she muttered.

"I think I'm very kind."

Xin said that he seemed to accept the way she was leaning on him and sat calmly on the sofa.

The two nestled together quietly, and in this position, Shin couldn't see Hinamori's expression; he could only hear her breathing, which had become even.

Hinamori suddenly tilted her head back and quickly pecked Shin's cheek. Before Shin could react, she released Shin's arm and stood up.

"President, I'm going back now."

With that, she turned around and strode quickly toward the entrance.

"Goodbye, President."

Xin watched her departing figure, then reached out and touched the spot on his cheek where she had just kissed him, his expression enigmatic.

(End of this chapter)