Bleach : I Need To Rizz To Become Stronger ?!-Chapter 49: Did I Trouble You?

The events of last night echoed back in her mind like echoes from the Dangai: warped, inescapable.

"A lot better," Rukia managed with a smile.

"Still not used to living at the Kuchiki estate? Maybe you should ask if you can move back to the academy dorms. We could share a room again."

"No need. I'm doing fine there," Rukia shook her head softly.

Hinamori didn't press the issue. She looked down the path, where scattered cherry petals had begun to coat the ground like snow.

"Yesterday, Kira, Renji, and I were talking about which Divisions we wanted to join after graduation. Do you know where Renji wants to go?"

Rukia thought for a moment. "I've never really asked him."

Hinamori smiled. "He said he wants to join the Eleventh Division. Honestly, it suits him."

Rukia chuckled. "That does make sense."

"But if Renji goes to Eleventh Division... what about you?" Hinamori asked suddenly.

"...What do you mean?"

"You'll probably end up in the Sixth, right? If Renji goes to Eleventh, you two won't see each other much anymore."

Hinamori's hair ornament chimed faintly as she tilted her head—a silver bell they had picked together during their last visit to Rukongai. But in the sunlight now, the gleam looked colder.

Rukia always thought of Hinamori as someone bright, someone kind, someone who always looked out for her. She was closer with most of the Student Council than Rukia ever managed to be. She'd helped her through a lot, including dealing with seniors who seemed set on making her life difficult.

Hinamori really was wonderful. She deserved all the good things in the world.

But... not everything.

"Renji wants to go to the Eleventh. As his friend, I should support that," Rukia said softly. "If something that doesn't exist yet becomes a burden, that's not right."

A whole, unblemished cherry blossom drifted down and landed on the back of Rukia's hand. She picked it up and crushed it absentmindedly. Petal and juice seeped into the creases of her palm.

Hinamori smiled. "You're different from me. What exactly is going on between you two, anyway?"

Rukia let out a small laugh. "You're right—we've never really talked about future Divisions. I should ask him sometime."

Her tone was calm. Just like how Shin had sounded the night before—clear, even, composed.

That same tone gave her voice unexpected strength.

She suddenly remembered odd, disjointed things: smoothing out the wrinkles on Shin's uniform while he napped in the Student Council office... the heat that lingered on her face when he patted her head...

Her eyes were quiet, luminous, but Hinamori felt an unexplainable tension in her chest as she watched her.

Hinamori spoke again: "I guess once we graduate, we might not see each other as much either. You'll be in Sixth. I want to go to Fourth. Even just thinking about it makes me feel weird."

"Then why don't you come to the Sixth too?" Rukia offered, half-joking.

"Me?" Hinamori laughed softly, then replied casually, "No way."

She caught sight of Rukia's hand, fingers stained with pink from the crushed blossom. The color was vivid—too vivid. It made her uncomfortable.

Evening.

Rukia hadn't found Shin in the office. So she sat in his chair instead, her fingers tracing the edges of scattered papers. Sunset filtered through the window, laying warm gold across her furrowed brows, painting shadows across her quiet heart.

Joining the Kuchiki Clan had its perks.

She no longer lived in the dorms. After classes ended each day, her time was hers again. No one would come looking for her now.

No one knew she was in the Student Council office at this hour.

The door opened with a soft creak.

"Rukia?" Shin entered, carrying a stack of freshly sorted documents.

"President!"

She stood quickly, stiff and flustered.

"Do you need something?"

"N-no..."

Shin laughed. "Then why haven't you left?"

"...I do need something."

He walked over and poured two cups of water, pressing one gently to her cheek. The warmth startled her, and when she looked up, she met his smiling eyes.

"Go on."

Silence.

Say it, say it...

Rukia clutched the cup with both hands. The water inside trembled with ripples.

Outside the window, students drifted across the courtyard like paper lanterns. Shin stood straight beside the desk, one hand on its edge, the other holding his own cup. Sunlight traced one side of his shoulder in fading gold; the other half already sunk into indigo dusk.

"President..."

Her voice was soft, barely audible.

"If... hypothetically... someone was too afraid of losing something important, so they never reached out to grasp it... isn't that... stupid?"

"Who's to say?"

Shin smiled. "I'm not exactly a therapist."

Was that a deflection? Or did he just not want to answer?

Rukia lowered her eyes and drank silently.

Then Shin asked, "Rukia, did I trouble you?"

Her instinct was to deny it.

Normally, if Shin said something like that, she'd rush to reassure him.

But this time, she couldn't.

Because the truth was—yes, he had.

Last night, she hadn't slept a wink.

So much had happened, and Shin acted as though none of it concerned him. Like he was just an observer in someone else's story.

But she—her entire soul had been turned upside down. Emotions, questions, fears all jumbled together.

President...

You're infuriating.

She stayed silent, head bowed, trembling ever so slightly.

Then shadows fell over her—it was Shin, stepping closer.

His long, slender fingers brushed gently against her cheek. It was more intimate than any touch before.

Her breath caught. She should pull away. She should.

But she didn't.

His fingertips slid lightly to her lips.

Her heart began to pound violently.

Because when she looked up—he was staring right into her eyes.

No, no...

Her mind screamed. Her body froze.

She was scared. Scared he'd do something irreversible.

Was he going to kiss her?

Her brain blanked at the thought.

But then—

"Rukia," he murmured. "Did I do something wrong?"

"..."

"Maybe... maybe I should have asked something from you. Maybe then you wouldn't be so troubled."

"Then why didn't you?" Rukia asked, the question escaping her lips before she could stop it.

"Because I didn't want to," Shin said simply.

"Why not?"

"There's no why. I just didn't."

He didn't kiss her. He withdrew his hand.

She felt a rush of relief, and also... something else. A pang she couldn't name.

"Rukia," he said. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."

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She stared for a long time.

And finally, deep inside, she arrived at a conclusion:

He doesn't want to force things.

Rukia looked down into her cup. The water shimmered faintly, catching a fragile, golden sadness only twilight could reflect.