Restricted Death

Chapter 171 The Office at Night
Inside the 10th Division barracks, Shin, dressed in a pure white haori, stood with Matsumoto Rangiku in front of a group of newly joined members, undergoing a simple induction ceremony.

“So many familiar faces. I’m sure you all know me.” Shin said with a smile. It had only been a little over three years since he became a Grim Reaper. Three years ago, these people were also about three years into their studies at the Spirit Arts Academy, so they had naturally met him, the student council president.

Hinamori stood at the very front of the team, her eyes fixed on Shin, a bright smile on her face.

"I am Tachikawa Shin, the captain of the 10th Division. Welcome to the 10th Division. I don't like to talk too much nonsense in such formal occasions. I wish you all the best in doing your best in the 10th Division."

Such a statement was far too brief, leaving Matsumoto Rangiku feeling helpless.

But she soon noticed that the newlyweds all had smiles on their faces, as if such a brief remark made them feel welcome.

After all, he was the former president.

Xin didn't put on any airs and remained as easygoing as ever.

Matsumoto Rangiku then took over her captain's speech and reiterated to the new recruits some things they needed to remember after becoming Shinigami.

These newcomers are not all members of the student council; in fact, some are not even from the Academy of Spiritual Arts.

The Spirit Arts Academy is not the only channel for sending Shinigami to the Gotei 13. Some noble families in Seireitei can send their children into the Gotei 13 without studying at the Spirit Arts Academy, provided they pass the examination.

Matsumoto Rangiku concluded by saying that a team member would be specifically responsible for the arrangements for these newcomers and would guide them to gradually become familiar with the team's affairs.

After the induction ceremony, just as Shin was about to leave with Matsumoto Rangiku, a figure darted over and blocked his way.

"President!"

Unsurprisingly, it was Hinamori.

Hinamori smiled with a hint of reserve and said, "From now on, you should call me captain."

"Hinamori, congratulations on your successful graduation."

Looking at her now dressed in her Shinigami uniform, Shin chuckled and said, "The way you call me 'Captain' doesn't sound very respectful."

Hinamori puffed out her cheeks: "It's because I'm close to you, Captain, so naturally I can't treat you like an ordinary superior."

She then bowed to Matsumoto Rangiku and said, "Vice-Captain Matsumoto."

Matsumoto Rangiku looked at the two of them with a strange expression. She had gleaned a lot of meaning from their conversation.

It seems that what she casually mentioned to Shin earlier was true; their relationship is more than just "friends."

"Hello, Hinamori-san,"

Xin said, "You've just joined the team today, so you'll have a lot to do. If you need anything in the future, just ask the senior who's in charge of arranging things for you."

"Can't I ask the captain?" Hinamori said.

With a hint of helplessness, he said, "You can contact me about work-related matters. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."

After all, there were many newcomers who had just joined the team not far away, and Xin didn't want to say too much to her at this moment.

"team leader……"

Hinamori was about to say something when Matsumoto Rangiku stopped her, smiling and saying, "Hinamori, I happen to be a little free right now, so why don't I show you around our squad?"

Hinamori paused for a moment upon hearing this, then glanced at Shin's receding figure before a smile returned to her face: "Okay, thank you for your help."

Seeing her like this, Matsumoto Rangiku suddenly gestured to Shin's back and asked her with a smile, "What's wrong? Do you like him?"

Hinamori nodded quite readily: "Yes."

This straightforward admission was somewhat unexpected for Matsumoto Rangiku. Normal girls, even if they had such thoughts, would show some shyness when faced with such a question.

But Hinamori didn't show any of that on her face; it seemed as if liking Shin wasn't anything special.

Matsumoto Rangiku paused for a second, then laughed, "I didn't expect you to admit it so directly. You're really different from others."

Two days ago, when she was talking to Shin about the graduates of the Spirit Arts Academy, he didn't seem to be very interested in Hinamori. Could it be that it was just unrequited love?
Rangiku Matsumoto still remembers the scene where Shin confessed his feelings to another girl in front of her.

That was a confession, wasn't it...?

The letter clearly stated that she liked him, but it's estimated that the two of them are not together.

Hinamori countered, "Why can't I admit that I like someone?"

"..."

"If your feelings for that person are strong enough, you will naturally have enough courage to face all kinds of problems. In my opinion, if you have to hide your feelings for someone, then you don't like them enough."

Matsumoto Rangiku was stunned by what she said and stood there for a few seconds, momentarily lost in thought.

The girl in front of him was petite, but the words she spoke made Matsumoto Rangiku feel that she should not be underestimated.

A smile returned to her face: "You're right. Let's go, I'll show you around our Tenth Division."

Matsumoto Rangiku put aside the many thoughts that had flashed through her mind just now, and as she left the area with Hinamori, she also told Hinamori about her purpose.

"Hinamori, you're a member of the student council at the Spirit Arts Academy, right?"

"Yes, I was the Minister of Organization in the Student Union before graduation."

"So what's your relationship like with your president? I'm talking about the current president."

“You mean Rukia?” Hinamori laughed. “We’re best friends.”

Matsumoto Rangiku laughed and said, "Your guild leader didn't graduate this year, right? Does she have a preferred squad? If not, you could consider persuading her to join our 10th Squad. You're all friends, so you can look after each other, right?"

"..."

Hinamori suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Hinamori?" Matsumoto Rangiku looked at her strangely.

Hinamori said with a smile, "Rukia has already decided to join the 13th Division after graduation."

"I see. Is there no room for negotiation?" Matsumoto Rangiku asked.

Hinamori shook her head: "Rukia is from the Kuchiki family. She said that going to the 13th Division was arranged by her older brother, who is now the captain of the 6th Division. She wouldn't go against such a thing."

"I see." Matsumoto Rangiku, realizing that it was futile, gave up.

"Then you must know some classmates who have good grades, right? When you see them again, you can persuade them to join our Tenth Division."

"I understand, Vice-Captain Matsumoto. I'll keep an eye on it. By the way, there's a student in the Spirit Arts Academy named Shiba Ganju. He's also the top student in his class and plans to join our 10th Division after graduation."

Matsumoto Rangiku knew of Shiba Ganju, but her eyes lit up when she heard about the "chief" and the "plan to join the 10th Division".

"Really? That's wonderful! Hinamori, you're truly our squad's lucky charm!"

"This has nothing to do with me. Ganju came because of our captain," Hinamori waved her hands repeatedly.

“But I only found out about this because of you.” Matsumoto Rangiku took her hand very kindly. “Hinamori, I like you a lot.”

Hinamori couldn't help but feel a little shy at the vice-captain's enthusiasm; she hadn't expected him to be so approachable.

Is it because of faith?
Did the chairman secretly give her some instructions, which is why the vice-captain treats her so differently?

Hinamori couldn't stop thinking about it.

Looking at Hinamori's charming and adorable appearance, Matsumoto Rangiku thought to herself: Good girl, grow up quickly! In the future, you must be a good helper to your older sister and share her burdens! Don't be like that Hitsugaya guy!
#
Hitsugaya had just returned from patrolling the streets when he immediately went to see Hinamori, who was overjoyed to see him.

"Toshiro!" She waved to him vigorously, causing a smile to involuntarily appear on Hitsugaya's face.

"He does look somewhat like the Grim Reaper now."

Hitsugaya looked at Hinamori, who was dressed in a Shinigami uniform, and commented.

"What are you saying? I'm already a formal Grim Reaper, and besides, in terms of the time I entered the Spirit Arts Academy, I'm your senior!"

"Whether someone is a senior or not should naturally be determined by the time they joined the Thirteenth Division," Hitsugaya said. "How does it feel to be in the Tenth Division?"

Hinamori was also looking for someone to confide in, and the sudden absence of Rukia, Kira, and Renji made her feel a little uneasy.

Before, I always thought I would hurry up and get to the 10th Division, and after arriving at the 10th Division, there were indeed many new and interesting things.

Although I know many people around me, none of them are as numerous as Rukia and her friends.

I didn't even get to exchange more than a few words with the president...

She had imagined that today's meeting with the chairman would be something special, but it turned out to be completely different from what she had expected.

A casual greeting.

Then leave.

The president is now the team leader, so he must be very busy.

Hinamori proactively found an excuse for Shin.

"It's great. The seniors are all very warm and friendly, and the vice-captain is also a very nice person. Today, she personally showed me around our team dormitory."

"You mean Vice Captain Matsumoto? She showed you around our barracks?" Hitsugaya asked with a strange expression.

Hinamori nodded vigorously: "That's right, the vice-captain is not only beautiful, but also has no airs at all."

"..."

Hitsugaya paused for a moment, then asked, "Did she say anything to you?"

"He talked a lot about our Tenth Division, including many things to be aware of! Although I had some knowledge of the rules and regulations of the Gotei 13 before, it was not as detailed as what Vice-Captain Matsumoto said."

"Other than that?"

Hinamori sensed that Hitsugaya's attitude was a bit off, and after thinking for a moment, she added, "Oh right, he also mentioned that I should persuade some of the students from the Spirit Arts Academy to join our 10th Division after graduation."

Hitsugaya sighed inwardly and said to Hinamori, "Our vice-captain is not as simple as you think. You'd better be careful."

Hinamori was slightly displeased: "Why are you talking badly about him? I think the vice-captain is great."

Hitsugaya simply said, "...Anyway, just remember what I said. You'll definitely find out what kind of person the vice-captain is in the future."

When he first joined the 10th Division, Matsumoto Rangiku was extremely enthusiastic towards him. At that time, he naively thought that she was a very reliable and trustworthy senior.

It wasn't until he became the third seat that Hitsugaya realized that all the kindness she had shown him before was just a way to get him to do more work for her.

Hinamori found it strange, but after thinking about it for a moment, she didn't ask any further questions. Instead, she said, "By the way, we have a party tonight. Would you like to come along?"

"What party?"

"This gathering of student council members among us new recruits is a way to celebrate everyone joining the 10th Division together."

"Since it's your gathering, why should I go?" Hitsugaya wasn't interested.

“You were a member of the student council too,” Hinamori said matter-of-factly. “And you know them all.”

"Did you invite the team captain?"

"Why invite him?" Hinamori asked.

"The team leader is also in the student council."

Hinamori rolled her eyes, seemingly thinking Hitsugaya was a bit silly: "How could the captain be like us? He must have his own things to do, and besides, he's the captain now! How could he just casually come to a gathering like ours?"

Hitsugaya was speechless for a moment after hearing this: "You could think that he's the captain now, but you never thought that I'm the third seat?"

"What happened?"

"..."

Hitsugaya couldn't help but say, "Do you know what the Three Seats mean? Many people spend their entire lives and still can't even become a Seat official!"

In the Gotei 13, the Third Seat is definitely a high-ranking member. Especially within a squad, the Third Seat and the Vice-Captain jointly oversee the squad's affairs. For ordinary Shinigami members, the Third Seat is their most direct "superior".

Hinamori shrugged: "I know, but aren't you still you?"

"...And what about the captain?"

"A captain is still a captain."

"..."

Hitsugaya looked at Hinamori's indifferent and somewhat calm expression and suddenly didn't know what to say.

Hinamori still considers him her childhood friend from growing up together.

But for the captain... it's a completely different feeling.

He said, "You guys go ahead and have your get-together. I won't go. I'm not that familiar with anyone else besides you."

"OK then."

#
into the night.

The letter is still in her office and hasn't left. Matsumoto Rangiku said today that she would take Hinamori to get acquainted with the 10th Division, but she hasn't been seen all day since.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Xin realized the woman had probably skipped work to go out again.

He had no choice but to stay and handle the work that Matsumoto Rangiku had left behind.

Because I only took over in the evening, there was a bit of a rush.

After cursing Matsumoto Rangiku in his heart, Xin finished everything and lay down on the chair to rest.

There was a sudden knock on the office door at that moment, a rare occurrence at this time.

"Enter."

It wasn't Matsumoto Rangiku who pushed open the door, but Hinamori.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed. After entering, she closed the door, leaned against it, and chuckled as she read the letter.

"President~"

"You really are still here~ hiccup!"

Her voice was a little unsteady, and Xin's expression shifted slightly when he saw her like this.

"you've been drinking?"

(End of this chapter)