Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!

It was the weekend, and also Shin's day off.

Looking at the crowd gathered at his doorstep, Shin sighed. "You guys seriously think my place is a public gathering spot now, huh?"

At the front stood Hinamori Momo, grinning cheerfully. "President, we came especially to celebrate your promotion! At the Academy we don't get news right away, and getting everyone together was really hard!"

Hinamori, Kira, Renji, and Ikkaku had each brought a small gift.

Behind them stood Hisagi, Kanisawa, and Aoga—empty-handed.

"Came without gifts?" Shin asked Hisagi.

Hisagi rolled his eyes. "Didn't I already congratulate you before? Just showing up again should be enough. What, you want a present too?"

Even though Shin was now a full-fledged captain, among friends they still treated him like they used to.

They all piled into the living room, picking spots and making themselves at home without hesitation.

Shin noticed someone missing and asked, "Rukia didn't come?"

Kira explained, "There's student council stuff today. She couldn't make it."

Renji nodded toward the table. "But she did send a gift."

Shin gave a small nod.

He understood. Rukia's absence wasn't just about work.

Maybe it was better this way. He didn't want too many things coming to a head all at once.

"What's for lunch?"

"Anything's fine."

"Got booze?"

The living room broke into a chaotic chorus.

Shin peeked into the kitchen—there wasn't enough food left for everyone. He glanced at the carefree group sprawled out like royalty and sighed.

A Captain, reduced to catering for this bunch!

"Not enough food or drinks," he called out. "Who's going out?"

"You go, President."

"Yeah, Shin. We're guests—how could you ask us to run errands?"

"Go on, Shin-senpai! Be quick!"

Shin: "…"

Damn freeloaders.

After a brief moment of deliberation, Shin summoned a Hell Butterfly and sent word to a couple of 10th Division members, instructing them to pick up a full banquet from a restaurant.

Hey, being a Captain had its perks—why not use them?

Sure enough, not long after, two squad members showed up with a spread that had everyone stunned. They must have rushed the moment Shin's request came in. The efficiency of privilege.

"Wow! This looks amazing!"

"Must've cost a ton."

"Shin, did you abuse your authority to get your subordinates to do this? Shame on you!" Hisagi said—while stuffing his face.

Shin shot him a look. "Just eat."

—

They drank, traded toasts, and reminisced about old days and how the student council had evolved.

Kira took the opportunity to start complaining about Hinamori, accusing her of slacking off on her duties.

Hinamori flushed and objected. "Don't listen to Kira, President. He's the lazy one, always trying to shove his work on me!" She turned to Ikkaku. "Ikkaku, back me up—I'm right, right?"

Ikkaku kept his head down, pretending to eat.

"Renji?"

"I got no clue. I'm not involved with council stuff."

Hisagi and Aoga chuckled quietly, amused. Now that they were full-fledged Shinigami, the whole scene brought on a wave of nostalgia.

Hinamori and Kira's bickering continued—neither side backing down.

Eventually, Kira changed topics. "What if I joined the 10th Division?"

Shin's eyes flicked toward Hinamori. The idea made sense. Now that Shin was Captain, student council alumni like Kira might want to follow, hoping their connection might ease their path.

Shin wouldn't mind having capable people under him.

Still, he said, "I don't recommend it. Kira, you're the top of your class. You've got real potential—becoming a seated officer, even a Vice-Captain, won't take you long. But in the 10th, you won't even make it to Third Seat."

Hitsugaya Toushirou was already entrenched as 10th's Third Seat, and Shin wouldn't displace him unless he had no choice. Even if Toushirou unlocked his Bankai soon, he'd have to wait for a captaincy vacancy.

If the timeline held, Soul Society's upheaval was still decades off.

Kira scratched his head. "My instructor said I had a good shot at early graduation… but I really have no idea what squad I should pick."

Renji muttered through a mouthful of food, "How come no one talked to me?"

Hinamori scoffed. "Because your Kido and theory scores are trash. Early graduation? Not happening."

Renji grumbled. "But I'm top in swordsmanship and Hakuda!"

"So what? The exam's way harder than a simple brawl."

"You looking down on me?"

"I never said that. Don't assume."

"Ugh!"

Renji threw up his hands. Everyone burst out laughing.

After a pause, Shin spoke. "Kira, maybe consider the 3rd Division."

Kira blinked. Even Ikkaku looked up, surprised at the suggestion.

"But... the 3rd's Vice-Captain is Captain Shiba's wife. I'm not saying she's not capable, but wouldn't that limit my prospects?"

Realizing Ikkaku was there, he corrected himself quickly.

The 3rd also had a dedicated Third Seat in Togakushi Rikuu—someone who'd invested decades into the squad.

Shin chuckled. "Exactly. She and Kaien will probably have a kid soon, right, Ikkaku?"

Ikkaku nodded. "Big bro said so. My uncle too."

"So if she gets pregnant, she'll take leave. And once they have a child, I doubt Kaien will keep her in a high-pressure role."

Kira fell silent, contemplating.

Maybe the 3rd was a great opportunity after all. With Kaien freshly instated, the squad was still stabilizing. A new capable officer could rise fast.

"Shin-nii, what about me?" Ikkaku asked suddenly.

"You're not going to the 3rd?"

"Big bro said no."

Shin understood. If Kaien's wife and younger brother both joined his squad, it would look like nepotism. And the Shiba family didn't have the political clout of the Kuchiki or Shihouin clans.

But if not the 3rd or the 4th… where should Ikkaku go?

"Come to the 9th," Hisagi offered.

"8th's open too," Kanisawa added.

"Pick 4th!" Aoga chirped.

Ikkaku had real talent. He just happened to be overshadowed by freaks like Shin and Hitsugaya.

Hisagi and Kanisawa both saw it.

"I want to join the 10th," Ikkaku said. "I don't care about my rank—I just want to keep learning from Shin-nii."

"You're still far from graduation," Shin said with a smile. "No need to rush that decision."

Renji muttered, "No one's gonna ask what I want?"

Hinamori, deadpan: "No one cares."

"DAMN YOU, HINAMORI!"

He stood up, slapped his chest, and shouted, "Listen well! I'm going to the 11th! I'm a genius, and none of you need to waste your breath trying to recruit me—I've made up my mind!"

"…."

The room went silent.

Hisagi nodded. "Got it. No one's trying."

Aoga: "Rest easy, we're definitely not."

Kanisawa: "Delusional."

Hinamori facepalmed. "Embarrassing."

The lunch dragged into the late afternoon. By four or five, everyone was tipsy and slowly trickled out.

Shin cleaned up the aftermath, then collapsed onto the couch.

But before he could fully relax, there was a soft knock at the door.

Maybe someone forgot something?

He glanced around, then went to answer it.

Standing there… was Kuchiki Rukia.

"President… it's been a while," she said softly.

Shin blinked, surprised. Then he smiled. "Done with student council business? Everyone already left."

Rukia's lips tightened. "You know that's not why I didn't come."

"…."

So she'd learned Hinamori's sharp tongue.

Shin stepped aside. "Come in."

There was still a faint scent of alcohol in the air. Rukia glanced around—everything looked the same as last time.

Shin poured her a glass of water. "So? Why are you here?"

"I don't know."

She held the cup in both hands, head lowered.

Just like Hinamori had, not long ago.

"When Kira said we should all come… my thoughts were a mess."

She paused, then said, "And it's your fault."

Shin chuckled. "Want me to apologize?"

"…Would you?"

"If it helps. But that's all it'll be—an apology."

"…."

Rukia looked up again. "Hinamori told me… you and Vice-Captain Kotetsu broke up."

"She said that?"

"Is it true?"

"We never officially broke up."

Her hands tightened around the cup. "So unless something is official, it doesn't count. If you never say you're together, you're not really together."

Then, with clear eyes, she stared straight at him.

"Don't you think that's cruel? You knew how Hinamori and I felt. You knew. But you still chose her. What were you thinking? That we were just two girls offering ourselves up for free? That it didn't matter what you did, because you'd never have to take responsibility?"

She was usually reserved, far less bold than Hinamori—but somehow, she had the courage to say what Hinamori hadn't.

"I admired you. Respected you. When you said you liked me, I never dreamed something like that was even possible. But now I have to ask—was your 'love' always this cheap? Something you can just throw out whenever you feel like it, without meaning anything at all?"

As her words fell quiet, so did the room.

Shin looked at her. He'd known—one day, this would happen.

Someone wouldn't be able to take it. Someone would lash out.

But maybe because of Rukia's kind, gentle nature… she didn't explode. She didn't scream.

She simply came… alone, after everyone else had gone.

And that… hurt more.

"I'm sorry, Rukia."