Those words stunned everyone present.
Hitsugaya Tōshirō immediately shot back, unable to suppress himself:
"You're talking nonsense!"
But Shin's expression remained calm. He simply fixed his gaze on Hitsugaya, and the very next instant, unleashed his spiritual pressure in full.
The sudden surge struck like a wave crashing through stone—dense, suffocating, and absolute. Tōshirō choked for a few seconds, chest tight and lungs starved for breath. When Shin finally drew his reiatsu back, Tōshirō was left gasping, face red and drenched in cold sweat.
"You felt it?" Shin asked, voice even. "That's what it's like to be under someone else's reiatsu. Now let me ask you—since you were a kid, haven't people your age always avoided being around you?"
Tōshirō blinked, stunned.
He turned toward Hinamori.
"She's the exception," Shin said. "Because she has spiritual power herself. But in Rukongai, most people don't. And when someone like you, overflowing with uncontrolled reiatsu, gets close to them… it makes them sick. They feel suffocated."
"I… I have a lot of friends in Rukongai," Hinamori protested weakly.
"You're not the same," Shin explained. "I told you, his spiritual pressure is strong—stronger than many current students at the Academy. He just doesn't know how to suppress it."
Tōshirō's hands lay flat on the table, his thoughts spinning wildly. Scenes from his childhood flashed in his mind—lonely moments, whispered gossip, cold shoulders. Yes… everyone avoided him. Everyone except Hinamori and his grandmother.
His grandmother… Her health had always been fragile. She had gotten worse lately.
Tōshirō's pupils trembled as the realization struck.
Could it… could it really be because of him?
"There's more," Shin continued. "Reiatsu attracts reiatsu. That's why today, when you stepped into a place like the Academy—where everyone has spirit power—your own began to stir, grow restless. The more time you spend in places like this, the stronger your pressure will become. And if your grandmother has no spiritual power, then for both your sakes… leaving her side, at least for now, is the kindest thing you can do."
Hitsugaya sat frozen, his mind blank, a stunned silence dragging across his young face.
Hinamori, watching him, wore a look of genuine worry. She hadn't expected the President to drop something this heavy. But thinking back, she had to admit it made sense. Her last visit, Tōshirō's grandmother had looked worse than ever.
If this really was his fault...
How must he feel?
Shin sighed gently. "Think about it. If you come to the Academy, you'll learn to become a Shinigami. You'll learn how to control your reiatsu. Then, when you're strong enough, you can return to her. Live beside her again."
From the side, Hisagi Shūhei watched Tōshirō with a flicker of surprise. He'd sensed the boy's reiatsu too, but not in such fine detail—not to the extent Shin had dissected it, gauged it, understood its danger.
"…Tōshirō," Hinamori whispered.
The boy lifted his head slowly, his gaze settling on Shin.
"…Thank you."
Shin gave a gentle smile. "You're Hinamori's childhood friend. If you join the Academy, you'll be my junior. My kouhai. My friend. This isn't a favor. Just a reminder."
Hitsugaya stood, straightened his back, and bowed low from the waist.
"…Hinamori. Take me home."
Shin turned to her. "Go ahead. The rest of today won't be that busy."
After lunch, Hinamori escorted Hitsugaya away from the Academy.
Shūhei turned toward Shin. "Is that kid really as strong as you said?"
Shin thought for a moment. "…At least sixth-class spiritual pressure."
Shūhei's pupils shrank. Sixth class? That was already the realm of seated officers—maybe even upper seats.
And him…? What had his own reading been during his first evaluation…?
Shock faded into a gnawing pit of frustration. He'd trained so long, so hard, and now a kid who hadn't even entered the Academy already outclassed him?
He'd always placed near the top of their year. But that was only in comparison to other students. Shin was different—Shin was supposed to be exceptional. Shūhei had seen firsthand how hard he trained.
But this Tōshirō…
What had he done to deserve it?
Shin noticed Shūhei's silence and smirked. "What's wrong? Feeling discouraged?"
Shūhei scowled. "You're still laughing? Doesn't it bother you? That kid's stronger than we were at admission. Way stronger! That's just—"
He wanted to say unfair.
Why were people born with such impossible gaps between them?
Shin met his gaze calmly. "Shūhei. One day you'll marry. Have kids. And they'll have spiritual power, because of you. But there are families in Rukongai who never awaken it—who will live and die powerless. The world is already unfair. Complaining about it won't change a thing."
"Strength means responsibility. If Tōshirō becomes a Soul Reaper, he'll protect Soul Society. Just like we enjoy the safety those before us fought for."
"You going to complain the Captain-Commander's stronger than you too?"
Shūhei muttered under his breath, "You don't have to go full philosopher on me…"
Sixth-class pressure… likely to become a Vice-Captain, maybe even a Captain.
Could he ever become a Captain?
Shūhei didn't dare dream it. Vice-Captain was already the limit of his ambition.
But Shin? Shin absolutely could.
If Shin could read Tōshirō's reiatsu that clearly, it meant he was already beyond that level. There was no way the Tenth Division offered him Third Seat purely on potential—they knew he was qualified.
How could he ever catch up?
Evening.
The culture festival ended in a resounding success. After a whole day of laughter and excitement, the students finally began to trickle away.
The square was nearly empty, only a few lingering figures cleaning up the aftermath.
The Student Council, having finished their duties, was thoroughly exhausted.
To celebrate, Shin treated the entire Student Council to a barbecue dinner just outside the Academy—paid for, of course, with leftover public funds.
Shin privately thanked Kamitarō Gōgorō, their benevolent noble sponsor, for funding their lavish feast. He planned to pour Gōgorō a few extra drinks in his honor.
The restaurant was nearly overrun by their numbers. Three private rooms had to be opened and combined, the partition walls folded aside to fit them all in.
Steam rose from sizzling grills, laughter echoed over clinking glasses. No one here worried about drinking ages—technically, none of them were human. Their bodies were made of spirit particles, and most had already lived for decades, if not centuries.
"Sorry I'm late!"
Hinamori entered last, having seen Tōshirō off. She opened the door and paused at the rowdy scene before her—then broke into a bright smile.
"Hey, Hinamori!"
She was quite popular within the Student Council. Cute and friendly, even as a first-year, she had plenty of admirers. Several students called out, waving her over.
Rukia waved and pointed to the seat beside her.
"Over here, Momo!"
But Hinamori just smiled at her friend and turned—walking straight toward Shin's table.
"President, can I sit here?"
Rukia's hand dropped silently to her lap.
Shin had one arm slung around Gōgorō's shoulders, mid-toast. "Of course," he replied without thinking.
Shūhei, seated beside him, quietly shuffled over to make space.
Hinamori settled beside Shin with a bright smile, sitting close.
Across from them, Kanzaki Kezawa sat silent. Her gaze flickered to the side, hand stroking the rim of her cup, lips pressed in a faint line.
Something inside her quietly shifted.
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For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !
100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update)
So give stones if you want mooooar !