Chapter 10: The Reaper's Wedge – Binding

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Tenth Division Headquarters.
“Are these the questions for the Student Council’s recruitment exam?”
Isshin Shiba looked at the two sheets of paper handed to him by Hiyori, astonished.
“Where did you get these?”
“I just went and asked for them directly. After all, I am an honorary president,” Hiyori Shiba said with a smile.
After Isshin Shiba finished reading through the questions, he clicked his tongue in admiration. “Who came up with these? That Tachikawa Shin?”
“Exactly.”
“Interesting, really interesting. Hahaha,” Isshin Shiba laughed heartily.
His laughter attracted Rangiku Matsumoto, who was outside.
“Captain, what’s got you so happy?”
“Miss Rangiku,” Hiyori greeted her.
Isshin Shiba beckoned Rangiku to take a look at the test questions as well. After reading them, she appeared quite surprised.
“This is…”
“Even if I were to answer these, I’m not sure I’d get them right,” Isshin Shiba said with a grin. “That Tachikawa Shin really knows his stuff. What is he testing with these questions? The candidates’ character?”
Hiyori explained, “Regarding the recruitment standards for the Student Council, the higher-ups at the Spiritual Arts Academy have already decided that academic performance is the main criterion. But since the recruitment happens shortly after the freshmen begin, and they don’t have effective grades yet, Shin took advantage of this loophole to implement his own system.”
Isshin Shiba pondered, “I have a feeling this kid has some big plans.”
Hiyori asked, “Did you ask him about the Third Seat position I mentioned before?”
“Third Seat?” Rangiku exclaimed, “You want him to become the Third Seat directly?”
Hiyori chuckled, “What’s wrong with the Third Seat? Didn’t I start there myself?”
“Captain, you agreed to it too?” Rangiku turned to Isshin Shiba.
Isshin Shiba replied helplessly, “Whether I agree or not doesn’t matter; the key is whether Tachikawa Shin is willing.”
Hiyori mused, “What do you mean? He hasn’t agreed? If he can’t even tolerate the Third Seat of the Tenth Division, what on earth does he want…”

#

The Student Council interviews continued.
After careful thought, Momoka Hinamori answered the first question: “I would choose to flee the scene at full speed and seek reinforcements promptly.”
Everyone present reacted calmly; answers to this question varied widely, and Momoka’s was not uncommon.
Shuhei Hisagi pressed on, “Explain your reasoning.”
Momoka said, “Since we are facing a Hollow, it’s not something a mere Spiritual Arts Academy student like me can resist. Staying would only hinder my seniors and likely lead to total annihilation. Therefore, quickly escaping to seek Soul Society’s aid is the wisest choice. This chance of survival would not betray my seniors’ noble sacrifice.”
After she finished, the Student Council members sat quietly, jotting notes in their notebooks, making her feel somewhat anxious.
No matter what, this was the answer she had carefully considered and deemed most appropriate.

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She noticed the president sitting in the middle wasn’t taking notes but simply observing her quietly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
As for why Shin was smiling, it was because he noticed a change in the system interface.
[Momoka Hinamori]
[Affinity: 27]
[Every 10 affinity points gained increase Spiritual Pressure Level by 1 and Zanpakutō Unlock Progress by 1%]
[Affinity 90 unlocks full bonus]
[Can form a Shinigami’s Covenant; forming it unlocks a third bonus]
He checked his own info screen again.
[Spiritual Pressure Level: Lv.16]
[Zanpakutō Unlock Progress: 9%]
When he first met Rangiku Matsumoto, her affinity rose quickly in the early stages as well. Momoka Hinamori, on their first meeting, had already boosted his Spiritual Pressure Level and Zanpakutō Unlock Progress by two levels, which naturally pleased him.
“Good answer,” Shin said with a smile, then glanced at the others nearby. “What do you think?”
The officers scoring Momoka’s performance looked over; Shuhei Hisagi sighed. Momoka’s response was decent but nothing exceptional. He wondered if Shin would even favor this girl.
Momoka felt joyful upon hearing Shin’s praise and quickly bowed. “Thank you for your compliment.”
The president was such a kind person…
[Affinity: 31]
Tsk!
Shin’s smile broadened. “Continue.”
Shuhei Hisagi said, “Next, please answer the second question.”
Momoka took a deep breath and proceeded with the interview. The remaining two questions went smoothly, and with Shin’s encouragement, she became less nervous and answered confidently.
After finishing all the questions, she stood there anxiously awaiting their judgment. She felt her performance was adequate, plus the Student Council president’s encouragement, yet her heart remained unsettled until the result came out.
Shuhei Hisagi spoke, “After our joint evaluation, Hinamori-san, congratulations on passing the interview. Remember to report to the Student Council headquarters office at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Your specific role within the council will be assigned then.”
Momoka was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, senior brothers and sisters, for your recognition!”
Shin also smiled lightly. “Welcome to join us. You may leave now.”
“Yes! Thank you, President!”
[Affinity: 37]
Gaining affinity so quickly.
Shin felt a surge of emotion. In these years at the Spiritual Arts Academy, aside from Rangiku Matsumoto, he hadn’t encountered any other women with system affinity.
“The president seems to really like her,”
Kōjirō, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly said sarcastically.
Shin didn’t deny it, smiling, “Who wouldn’t like such a cute girl? Kiriōji-san, do you dislike her?”
Kōjirō chose to say no more.
“Next candidate, Rukia from Class B, send her in.”
After Momoka left the interview room, she didn’t rush away but went to the waiting room for other freshmen. Approaching Rukia, she excitedly said, “Rukia! I passed!”
Rukia was momentarily surprised, then smiled. “Really? Congratulations, Hinamori-san!”
“I’ll just call you Rukia, if you don’t mind?”
“No, not at all.”
“Then just call me Momoka! You’ll definitely pass too. Then we’ll be colleagues in the Student Council!”
Rukia wasn’t overly joyful inside as she still had her interview coming up and was quite nervous.
At that moment, a Student Council member called her name at the door.
“Here!”
“Good luck, Rukia!”
“Thanks…”
Rukia’s heart pounded as she stepped toward the interview room door.
Shin sat at his seat, his gaze distant but actually focused on the system interface.
Among the three women he had encountered, Momoka Hinamori seemed the easiest to handle. If he formed the Shinigami’s Covenant with her, obtaining the third reward wouldn’t be too difficult.
But the system’s description about this was scant, and he dared not decide rashly.
After all, one of them was the original story’s heroine, so the third reward would surely be different.
Lost in thought, the figure at the door had already entered.
Her stature was even smaller than Momoka’s, and her appearance less cute. Compared to Momoka’s gentle look, this young woman’s delicate brows and eyes held a resolute and heroic spirit. With close observation, one couldn’t help but feel reluctant to underestimate her.
[Rukia]
[Affinity: 7]
[Every 10 affinity points gained increase Spiritual Pressure Level by 1 and Zanpakutō Unlock Progress by 1%]
[Affinity 90 unlocks full bonus]
[Shinigami’s Covenant formed]
[Achieving full bonus simultaneously unlocks third reward]
[Zanpakutō additional ability: Freezing]
[Third reward achievement unlocks second Shinigami’s Covenant]

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