Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes narrowed in silence. She slashed again—blade flashing in a whirlwind of cuts, each arc fierce and deceptive, impossible to tell which were feints and which were real.
Shin met every strike with perfect timing, intercepting each blow cleanly. Sparks danced between steel like fireworks in bloom.
To anyone watching, it looked like Rangiku had him on the defensive—but she knew better. Her relentless offense wasn't breaking through, and worse, she couldn't stop. She was being baited. He wasn't countering, but he was controlling the pace.
Has he seen through every one of my strikes?But he's not fast enough to fight back—he can only defend.So what if I stop attacking…?
Gritting her teeth, Rangiku suddenly withdrew. In that precise instant, a flash of silver split the space between them. A humble Shinai thrust forward—not with brute force, but with angle—its trajectory passing a hair's breadth from her cheek.
Did he miss?
…or did she just barely dodge it?
Her breath caught. She stared at the blade—and the golden strand of hair now resting atop it.
Swallowing hard, Rangiku froze.
Shin lowered his sword and took a step back.
"Miss Rangiku?"
"…"
She didn't reply, still shaken from that final thrust.
Hisagi Shūhei had seen it all. To him, it looked like Rangiku had been in control the entire time—until she suddenly lost.
Did she… lose?No way…
Rangiku exhaled long and slow, finally sheathing her Zanpakutō.
"Was that how you beat your Zanjutsu instructor too?" she asked.
Shin replied casually, "Namita-sensei's way weaker than you."
That duel had used wooden swords. Shin had cleaved his teacher's weapon in half.
Rangiku let out a laugh—one that felt strange, even to her. It wasn't really amusement. It was confusion. She didn't know what other expression to make.
That's it? I lost?
A Vice-Captain. Defeated by a student who hadn't even graduated.
No—not defeated. Just in swordsmanship.Let's call it that.
Even telling herself that, Rangiku struggled to accept it.
She remembered the first time she saw him—in a shattered ruin in Zaraki District. A scrawny boy with a blade in hand, corpses at his feet.
She'd forgotten that moment.
He's not just slippery.
"I came here for a reason." Rangiku finally got back to the point. She glanced sideways at Hisagi.
"I'll get going," he said quickly. "You two talk."
The dojo fell silent again. Shin took a long drink from the water jug.
Rangiku took a breath, then asked, "Did Vice-Captain Shiba from Squad Thirteen invite you too?"
"Yeah."
"How high did he offer?"
Shin tilted his head. "Miss Rangiku, you flatter me too much. Squad Thirteen's Seated Officer posts aren't exactly lying around like cabbages."
Rangiku thought, So the little brat does know his own worth.
"So? Which squad are you aiming for?"
Shin replied lazily, "Haven't decided. I've still got time before I graduate. No rush."
Rangiku then said, "If you join Squad Ten, you'll start as a Seated Officer. The exact rank depends on your capabilities."
Shin gave her a boyish grin. "Miss Rangiku, you're always so good to me. But that's still a long way off. I'll think about it after graduation."
Rangiku's jaw clenched. She'd come with a real offer—one with weight—and he'd brushed it aside like it was nothing. Does he really think he's some untouchable prodigy?
Then again… after seeing that swordplay…
Squad Ten handled patrols and policing. The job wasn't dangerous, but it was busy, and her captain was chronically lazy. Most of the squad's workload fell on her shoulders.
She desperately needed someone reliable.
Based on what she'd seen, Tachikawa Shin could handle a high-seated position right out of the gate. Even if he started at Tenth Seat, with his talent, he'd rise fast.
Third Seat—right under her—wasn't far off.
Thinking back to her captain's words, she sighed and relented.
"…Why don't you name your price? What seat would you accept?"
Seeing how far she was willing to go, Shin felt he shouldn't keep pushing the line.
"Miss Rangiku," he said, "I'll give Squad Ten priority consideration after graduation. Vice-Captain Shiba already asked me too, but I told him I won't be joining Squad Thirteen."
Rangiku narrowed her eyes. "Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Shin nodded solemnly… then smiled. "I want to see Miss Rangiku every day, after all."
Rangiku rolled her eyes, sweeping a lock of hair behind her ear. She thought about that golden strand he'd sliced off earlier.
Shame. I couldn't get him to show his true strength.
She wasn't about to go all-out against a student—not even one like him.
After a bit more idle chatter, Rangiku left the Academy and returned to Squad Ten to report in.
"That kid really is slippery," said Shiba Isshin, laughing heartily after hearing Rangiku's report.
"No wonder he came up with something like that. He's no pushover. But Rangiku, if you're hoping he'll become your right hand and lighten your workload… don't hold your breath."
Rangiku pouted, ready to snap back—then paused.
"Wait… I never said anything about him becoming Third Seat. Captain, what 'idea' are you talking about?"
Isshin smirked. "What else? Aside from Third Seat, what else could we offer him that'd be worth it? And honestly, he might not even want that."
"Don't be ridiculous," Rangiku scoffed. "He wouldn't be aiming for Lieutenant, would he? No one graduates and becomes a Vice-Captain right away. Even if they're strong enough, they don't know the first thing about handling squad affairs. Didn't your nephew start from Third Seat too?"
Isshin chuckled. "Before Kaien, no one expected anyone to become Third Seat fresh out of the Academy either. That's what makes a genius—they do the things normal people don't even dream of."
Rangiku frowned, falling silent.
Isshin continued, "Anyway, leave it be for now. If Tachikawa Shin wants to come to Squad Ten, he will. If he doesn't—no point forcing it. Thanks for your effort, Rangiku."
But she wasn't convinced.
"No, Captain. You're hiding something from me."
Isshin gave her a casual shake of the head. "There's something I can't talk about yet. But you'll know soon enough."
"…."
Rangiku left with more questions than answers.
She had the nagging feeling something had already happened between her captain and Tachikawa Shin—something she didn't know about.
But when could they have met?That kid… just what did he do?
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