Chapter 28: Lucia on the Stage

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The raised platform toward the back of the Spirit Arts Academy square.

This was where the various classes would soon perform their programs.

Captain Kyōraku Shunsui and the other captains had already arrived, gathering together and discussing the performances.

A notice had been posted nearby, listing the program order and starting time.

“So the first performance is by the student council,” Kyōraku Shunsui said, stroking his chin. “Kanie, Momo Hinamori, and Rukia. Just hearing their names makes them sound like very adorable girls.”

Fortunately, Isane Kotetsu was not with him at the moment. Otherwise, she would certainly have given him a look of contempt.

“I’ve met that Rukia girl. She really is quite cute,” Shiba Kaien remarked.

Kyōraku’s eyes lit up at once. Admiring beautiful girls was one of his greatest pleasures.

“I’ve been wondering for a while now whether that boy Tachikawa refuses to graduate because he wants to stay in the student council and enjoy the company of all those lovely girls.” Shiba Kaien brought up Shin again, and it was clear that he harbored a deep grudge.

Ukitake Jūshirō and Aizen were making idle conversation nearby.

Kuchiki Ginrei stood off to one side with a relaxed smile, saying nothing. Though he was not the oldest person present, he was already a grandfather, and even his grandson had married. He was not particularly interested in this so-called Culture Festival. He had come this time only to do Shiba Kaien a favor. His own grandson was about the same age as Kaien, and would eventually succeed him; the two of them would therefore be spending a long time together in the future.

He had originally wanted to bring his grandson along, but ever since that incident, the boy had grown increasingly taciturn and withdrawn, unwilling to associate with others.

This had left Kuchiki Ginrei deeply worried. His son had already died in the line of duty, and he had placed all his hopes in his grandson.

A large crowd had already gathered around the platform, all waiting for the performances to begin. Since Kyōraku and the others were captains, people had voluntarily made room for them at the front.

Kyōraku Shunsui and Shiba Kaien were discussing something when Kyōraku caught sight of Isane Kotetsu and Rangiku Matsumoto among the crowd nearby. He waved to them in greeting.

“Isane-chan!”

Isane pretended not to see him, continuing to chat with Rangiku.

Kyōraku was deeply wounded by this. Shiba Kaien could not help laughing when he saw it.

“You’re all here already.”

At that moment, Captain Unohana Retsu arrived with Isane Kotetsu and Shin.

“Captain Unohana,” Aizen greeted her with a smile.

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“How did you find the festival after looking around?”

“This Culture Festival is certainly lively. They’ve done a fine job with many of the exhibits.”

“Indeed,” Kyōraku agreed. “It would have been wonderful if we had had festivals like this when we were students.”

He and Ukitake Jūshirō had been among the Spirit Arts Academy’s first students. At that time, the headmaster had been the Captain-Commander himself. The Academy had still been rather primitive in those days, having only recently been rebuilt from the Captain-Commander’s Genji School.

The captains chatted among themselves, while Shin said little and simply stood quietly to one side.

Before long, someone stepped into the center of the platform. It was the head of the student council’s Arts and Culture Department, who delivered the opening address.

“Welcome, everyone, to the performance venue of the first Culture Festival of the Shin’ō Spirit Arts Academy. The following programs have been carefully prepared by each class to celebrate this occasion. We hope you enjoy them at your leisure.

“Our first performance is a dance drama presented by student council members Kanie, Rukia, and Momo Hinamori…”

The students might not have been very familiar with Rukia and Momo Hinamori, but they knew Kanie all too well. She was the head of the Discipline Committee, a stern and serious person who showed no mercy in carrying out her duties.

Naturally, they were all the more curious to see what Kanie would look like dancing. Amid the enthusiastic cheers from below, the head of the Arts and Culture Department withdrew, and three figures slowly emerged from behind the backstage curtain.

Momo Hinamori came first. She had changed into a brilliant pink kimono, and her carefully applied makeup made her look considerably more mature.

Rukia followed behind her. Unlike Hinamori, she still wore an unmistakably shy expression, as though she was unaccustomed to wearing such an outfit in front of such a large audience.

Kanie still wore her usual expressionless face, but the stiffness in her steps revealed that she was feeling just as uncomfortable.

“How wonderful…” Kyōraku Shunsui watched with a broad smile. He thought that it would be perfect if all these lovely, beautiful girls joined the Eighth Division after graduating.

The venue gradually fell silent of its own accord. Yet that silence only placed greater pressure on the three girls standing onstage. At that very moment, the musicians backstage slowly began to play.

Shin watched the scene with a smile. Then, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed that Captain Kuchiki Ginrei of the Sixth Division was staring fixedly at Rukia on the stage.

The usually composed and dignified captain was now experiencing a storm of emotions within.

She looks so much like her! Far too much like her!

The girl on the stage was virtually identical in appearance to the granddaughter-in-law of the Kuchiki family—the woman he had never acknowledged.

“Go for it, Rukia!”

A jarringly inappropriate voice suddenly rang out from the crowd. Everyone looked over in displeasure and saw a red-haired boy waving excitedly toward the stage.

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Rukia, who had already been nervous and shy, turned even redder. She cursed Renji inwardly for being such an idiot.

Shin watched Kuchiki Ginrei’s reaction, deep in thought.

It was inevitable that Rukia would eventually be discovered by the Kuchiki family. Perhaps, compared with the original timeline, it would happen somewhat earlier.

Regardless, Byakuya Kuchiki was at least genuinely kind to Rukia.

But living among the Kuchikis might not be easy for Rukia. Having a powerful, outstanding, stern, and cold elder brother had also made her even less confident.

The performance had begun. The three girls slowly danced to the accompaniment of the music, their movements gentle and unhurried, as if they were softly recounting a touching story.

Although none of them were professionals, quite a few people still found the performance thoroughly enjoyable.

Entertainment throughout the entire Soul Society was scarce, not merely at the Spirit Arts Academy. Aside from a limited number of nobles, most people had never witnessed a dance drama such as this.

The three girls onstage each had their own distinct style, and all three were pleasing to the eye. Many of the spectators were completely absorbed.

By Shin’s standards, the dance drama might not even have been considered average, but this was, after all, a school event. There was no need to be overly critical.

Several minutes later, the music came to an end.

Kanie, Momo Hinamori, and Rukia took their bows and left the stage. A thunderous wave of cheers and applause erupted from the audience.

“Bravo!”

Kyōraku Shunsui also applauded enthusiastically, showing his support.

At that moment, however, Kuchiki Ginrei suddenly spoke.

“Forgive me, everyone. I’ve just remembered that I have something else to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”

The other captains were somewhat puzzled by this. Shiba Kaien wondered whether Ginrei thought the dance had been particularly poor.

But Kuchiki Ginrei offered no further explanation. He simply turned around and walked away.