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The Kurosaki household is bizarrely quiet, no shouting, no crashing, none of its usual chaos. Their father has carefully engineered this rare calm for his daughters, determined to give them the space to study for their exams. Even so, silence alone proves insufficient for true focus, especially for a Black-headed Kurosaki.
In Karin’s room, books, guides, and loose papers lie scattered messily across her desk. A tight heaviness settles in her stomach as she glares at the clutter,far too much to revise. Her gaze drifts to the calendar, the date stark and unkind. Tomorrow is her last exam. She exhales, long and slow. Focus refuses to come. Finally, she lowers her head onto the desk, closing her eyes and allowing herself a brief pause in hopes of gathering her concentration again.
“Honey,” her father busts into her with his usual energetic spirit,” I'm going to the supermarket and have some work there.”
As Karin pushes her head up, turns around her head, “ No problem, Goat-chin. Have a safe trip.”
“Actually, since I have work there, It'll take more time than usual.” He adds.Then he projects his iconic assuring grin,”But your daddy doesn't want a poor result in your exam, so you better study.”
“Okay.” Karin responds with a monotonous tone.
With that Isshin closes the door,not further distracting his daughter from her study.
Karin lets out a groan, she feels a dull pressure in her chest, like an uncompleted sigh.Though she spins her pen, it is not helping her about her thought slipping out.
She gets out from her study desk, and starts stretching, then doing some push ups, then squats. Finally, she thinks to herself, some football drills will help to regain her concentration.
She walks towards her closet and opens it, but she doesn’t find her ball.
She blinks absently. Tilting her head to the side as she frowns her eyebrows, thinking where has her ball gone?
She launches a full-scale search of the house, checking every nook and cranny. First stop: Yuzu’s closet,empty, both of her sister and the ball. Next is Ichigo’s room, equally unhelpful. She even dares to investigate her father’s room, then the kitchen, and finally the clinic. In the end, all that effort amounts to nothing. The ball remains missing, and her determination is officially defeated.
Karin stomps her feet on the floor, cursing under her breath as she wastes not only her time but also her energy. Feeling defeated, she returns to her room.
As she sits on her chair, she inquires herself about her boredom. She thinks to herself, her exam has continuing for like a month. For around a whole month she hasn't played football or contracted with her friends.The last time she played football was with Toshiro.
Toshiro Hitsugya.
A groan escapes from her mouth, as she remembers his name. It has been a month since she last had a last conversation with him.
Karin will never admit out loud, she misses him a lot though.
At the thought of Toshiro, a plan snaps in her brain.
She relaxes, not from ease but assurance. A smile touches her mouth not reaching the eyes, her eyes gleams, quick and knowing as she realises her mischievous plan.
Without further delay, she grabs her phone from the drawer. She starts tapping instinctively as she has done it thousands of times.
Then with a sharp breath, she presses the video-chat button. Yes, she wants to see his face.
The screen keeps ringing for more than a minute, yet Karin feels no irritation. Her mind drifts to that shady shopkeeper who had handed her this device with far too much confidence. Calling him an inventor feels like an exaggeration. A joker with strange toys suits him better, even if his inventions somehow always work.
“Hello?” a deep voice she hears in her silent room. Karin looks down to her phone screen, notices Toshiro with his normal shinigami attire, but something is off about his facial expression.
She notes that his face isn’t emotionless stoics but his lips were curled up into a small smile.
“Hey there.” Karin said as she recognizes subtle change in her mood and tone, a smile is tucking on her lips.Yes, she missed him.
“ Missed me so much?” Toshiro asks with a smirk.
“ Of course, I missed the grade schooler captain, didn’t I?” Karin sarcastically agrees with him.
“Your sarcastic comments are unbearable.” Toshiro replies and runs a hand through his hair out of frustration. “So, is your exam over?” he asks while l
“No but tomorrow is my last exam.” She answers.
“That's good.” He pauses, then asks, “What about your preparation?”
“Tomorrow will be the chemistry and the preparation is-” Karin continues.
“Unsatisfactory.” he interrupts with a sharp comeback, one side of his mouth is lifted.
“ I mean kinda.” karin goes along with his statement.
He feels a tight pull in the chest,a flicker of worry crossing his face. He doesn't want her to fail in the exam. “Karin, will you make it?” He asks her.
“You don't have to be hyper concerned.”Karin assures. “It'll be hard though.” Waving a hand in front of her in an assuring manner.
He lets out a sigh of relief as he feels his chest loosening “Really, then it is good. But you should prepare for your exam.”
“Screw that, I am exhausted from the study and no longer focus on it-” Karin groans like a worker collapsing after a day of back-breaking labor.
”Whatever, what about your work, Toshiro?” she asked further.
“At present the work pressure is low, most of the squad officers in the barracks.” Toshiro informs. “I was thinking about -” He stops midsentence,hesitating to continue and starts scratching the back of his head.
Karin notices through the screen, his shoulder is hunched a little bit and a red flush is visible on his cheek. “ Toshiro,is something wrong?” she interrogates while leaning forward to the screen to examine him.
“Actually, I planned a date for us since there is not a lot of work and your exam is about to end.” Toshiro announces his plan with embarrassment as his cheeks are flushed with crimson.
“Oh my gad-” Karin doesn’t applaud with excitement but rather with a teasing tone. “I have never imagined that you will be that much lovesick.”
“Is planning a date a crime?” Toshiro remarks, as he lifts his chin as well as chest high, trying to cut out from her teasing.
“ But it proves that you missed.” Karin exclaims
“Whatever, when will you be free?” Toshiro asks dryly.
“What about tomorrow after the exam?” Karin suggests. “ An after-school date sounds fun, doesn't it?”
“So eager to have me?” Toshiro teases with a smirk on his mouth.
“Not that, but I need you besides the date-” Karin replies “I need your assistance in my exam.”She adds further.
“What kind of assistance? “ Toshiro raises an eyebrow at her sudden request.
“…I need help,” Karin mutters, avoiding his eyes. “Exam-related. Questionably legal.”That, unfortunately, was the entire point of calling him.
“No. Never. Not in this lifetime,” Toshiro barks, finally catching on. “What kind of request is that?”
He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I deal with Hollows and soul balance,not exam fraud.”
“Don't be so mean,Toshiro.” Karin replies. “I don’t want to stand below, It'll hurt my prestige.”
“If your prestige matters to you, why don't you study?” He scolds.
“Chemistry is cruel to me-” Karin sarcastically blames.”But I have revised most chapters.” She adds.“So little assistance from the shinigami captain won't be wrong, will it?”
“Karin, it’s totally inappropriate.” He states while pinching his nose bridge. “You’re asking a Shinigami to interfere with mortal academic evaluation.” He glares directly at her for her childishness as he removes his hand from his face.
“Please,please.”She begs.”Will you leave your girlfriend in this great distress?” She presses her palm together in front of the screen, as if she is praying.
He sighs for the last time, letting his head slouch forward. Then, with both hands, he brushes his face as well as his hair. “Okay, I'll try.” he remarks dryly.
“This is my one and only Toshiro.” Karin burst into cheers. “ Okay, so you have to land in my house before my exam. Then, I'll explain the plan in detail.” She expresses her idea further. Not aware of how he is feeling now.
“Okay,” he says from the other side of the phone, his voice low and tired.
Karin senses that something is off. “Toshiro, is something wrong?”
Toshiro sits back, his gaze is fixed on something else instead of her.“You didn’t call because you wanted to see me,” he says, voice tight. “You called because you needed something.”
Karin froze at his statement. She feels a heavy tightness settle on her chest, heart aching,eyes unfocused. A wave of guilt hits her as she realizes how selfish her sudden demand was.
Then, Karin inhales deeply to regain her composure and to spill the beans. “Yes, my main intention was to use you.” She admits,biting her lips nervously.”But, my mind was troubled and I couldn’t focus on studying. Then I called you and..”she fidgets,scratching her scalp,glancing down.“ Your calm voice helped me to relax a little bit.” She exhales softly, eyes softened, a wistful smile tugging at her lips “Toshiro I really missed you.”
She realizes that her recent actions are slowly softening her, making her feel more like a lovesick girl than the strong, tomboyish self she once prided herself on. Yet, the thought of Tōshirō makes her heart race in a way that feels worth every little crack in her nature. She would never mind these quiet sacrifices, these fluttering vulnerabilities, all feel like a small price to pay for him.
Toshiro, though quite irritated, can't stay angry with her for that long because it also makes him immature. Moreover he is so fond of Karin that no matter what she does, a part of him can’t help but soften and forgive her almost instantly.
“Whatever,have my best regards for your premeditated academic dishonesty.” Though he formally pronounces his best wishes for her, his voice drips with sarcasm.
At first, Karin is shaken by his strong sarcastic wish with advanced level vocabulary. Soon she realizes he is no longer angry with her for her selfishness.
So,she plays along with him,”Without you captain, I can't execute this operation.” she replies.
“Okay,see you in the morning.” He responds. Though he is no longer angry,his mood is not light.
His stone-like demeanor doesn't go unnoticed by Karin . For that reason, she breaks her character again, “Toshiro, I love you.” She confesses, her cheeks glowing red, almost betraying her inner turmoil.
Toshiro catches his breath unexpectedly. He knows that she does but it is too sudden to admit it. Further, he also feels that warmth spreading through her chest because of her sudden confession. But he plans to mess with her further.“It's a lie.” he states.
“Certainly, it is.” She agrees, eyes bright, sparking with a hint of mischief, lips curved up.
“Then, what's the truth?” Toshiro frowns, fearing for any sarcastic joke from her.
“I love my idiot very much.” She exclaims.
“And see you in the morning, so have some preparation.” She waves at him before she hangs up the call.
Toshiro is staring at the blank screen with wide eyes, cheeks painted with crimson,lips pressing into a thin line. Moreover, he is fortunate to have no one in his office today, especially his lieutenant.
Meanwhile, Karin's fist crashes against the desk,the impact rattling the desk,her jaw tight as she curses herself for acting like a foolish girl obsessed with Toshiro. Besides, she feels at least safe in knowledge that no one has witnessed this moment,especially her fraternal twin sister. Even worse, she can't deny the fact, Toshiro's presence is enough to break her strong tomboyish demeanor.
Karin lets out a final groan, sets her phone aside, and turns back to her preparations for tomorrow. After all, the call leaves her feeling lighter,more relaxed than she cares to admit.
The morning comes as usual. But for Karin, today's morning isn’t her usual exam morning where students are tense with revising contents for the test. It is true to sense that she has been preparing for the exam, but not in an honest and appropriate way. She has made some small sheets containing important topics for theory related questions. Moreover she has also come up with ideas for communication.
Karin has told her sister she needs extra time for revision and insistes that she go on ahead without her. Yuzu has protested, reluctant to walk alone, but Karin stands firm, shooing her off despite the guilt tugging at her chest.
She is sitting in her chair,chewing her lips, foot bouncing instinctively, her shoulder seems to be refusing to relax, eyes drifting again and again toward the table clock resting on the corner. This eagerness of her is caused by Toshiro as he agreed to assist her in the exam inappropriately.
At last, her waiting ends with the soft scrape of a window being forced open. A heartbeat later, a Shinigami captain drops inside, barely making a sound as he lands on the floor.
“So ready to commit dishonesty in the exam and then have a date.” Toshiro says
Karin fights back to roll her eyes, because his sarcasm is not demonstrating his sense of humor but his annoyance. He is still furious about her last wish. How stubborn he is, Karin thinks to herself.
Karin pushes up herself from the chair, taking steps confidently towards him, while maintaining eye contact with him.
“Toshiro, I know you are not interested in this matter but-” she says as she stops before him. “You’re the only one I feel comfortable being childish with and making nonsense demands.” she admits,lowering her head, avoiding his gaze.”
Toshiro smiles softly at her vulnerable demeanour which she rarely displays. “To be honest, it makes me irritated that you called me after a month to use me.” He tells while he places his hand under her chin to lift her face to meet with his tender gaze. “But it came to my realization that you’re not that type of person to ask for help.” He states her strong nature.
Karin feels some lightness, as if some kind of burden has been lifted.She also notices
a faint shine in his turquoise eyes. She frees herself from her gentle grasp and bounces back to her desk. “It's good to hear that you have something called understanding.” She compliments him while grabbing and arranging her sheets for cheating. Toshiro just rolls his eyes at her sarcastic praise.
“Here.” Karin hands over the sheets. “ These are some sheets which will pass me when I ask.” she adds further.
Toshiro stares down at the sheets, eyes narrowing as if questioning content. “ How and when will I pass this?” He asks.
“ I have invented ways for our communication.” Karin pronounces, a firm smirk lingering on her lips.
“What are the inventions?” He asks dryly.
“We are going to use our own sign language.” she replies, flashing a grin.
“What’s the difference?” Toshiro demands details.
“Our one will be uncommon and unique.” She says, eyes sharp.
“How?” He asks in a flat tone.
“At first to come closer I will clench my left fist and slide it on the desk backward.” She explains while she slides her fist backward to demonstrate the sign to Toshiro.
“Why don’t you use the come-hitter or some normal sign?”
“Because it’s common and can grab anyone's attention.” Karin explains.
“So, fist moving backward is the sign for me to come near you.” Toshiro notes. “Anything else?”
“If I run my finger across a question, which means you have to collect the answer from anyone else.”
“Why don’t you write it on the sheets.”
“It is about stoichiometry math and I can't predict which math they will give.” Karin explains
“And lastly if I have sheets and the guard comes near me, you will take it away from me with your flash step, okay?”
Toshiro takes a moment to process everything Karin has just said. His hand rises to his chin, eyes narrowing in deep, exaggerated thought, as if he’s solving a problem far beyond his pay grade.
“Karin,” he finally says, solemn and grave, “you are hopelessly corrupted.”
Karin doesn’t miss a beat, “ After all, something I had learned from you.” She remarks, one corner of her mouth lifted, hint of challenge sparking in her eyes.
Before Toshiro can follow up with another dry remark, Karin cuts him off.“My exam’s about to start. We need to go now.”She doesn’t wait for his response. Reaching out, she grabs his hand and tugs him as she is leading or forcing him.
Karin and Toshiro walk side by side through the crowded street, the noise of the city pressing in from all directions. The road and sidewalk are packed with people,students, shopkeepers, and hurried passersby. None of them are aware of the silent Shinigami moving among them.
Karin casts a quick glance at Tōshirō’s hands. Empty. No sheets.A flicker of unease stirs her curiosity. Leaning slightly closer, she lowers her voice to a careful whisper, mindful of the eyes and ears around them.“Where did you hide my sheets?” she asks, barely moving her lips.
Her heart thumps as she straightens again, pretending to be lost in thought, just another girl walking down the street. The last thing she needs is someone noticing her murmuring to thin air in broad daylight.
“Don’t panic. It’s under my security,” Toshiro assures her, his gaze flicking sideways to catch her obvious nerves. “Dating a Shinigami has its perks.” His lips twitch, just barely. “You just have to survive the drawbacks.”
Unfortunately, Karin doesn’t get the chance to fire back with another bold remark.Thanks to the very inconvenient audience milling around them. Too many people, too many curious eyes, and far too little privacy for arguing with an invisible Shinigami in public.
They walk silently as they reach the school and the hall where the exam will be held.
Karin steps into the exam hall, and Toshiro follows close behind. He pauses, scanning the room. The air is thick with nervous energy. students hunched over their desks, some whispering hurried last-minute notes, others sitting in tense silence. Anxiety hangs over
Though he has scanned the room precisely, he doesn't get a sign of a fairheaded Kurosaki.His gaze moves quickly, then settles back on Karin.“Yuzu isn’t here,” he states.
“Her exam’s in another room,” Karin replies as she drops into the seat by the window, the chair scraping softly against the floor.
“Is this room filled with deadbeats?” Toshiro questions further as he has noticed the heavy anxiety plasters on students' faces.
“Except me,” Karin boasts shamelessly, despite having dragged Toshiro along to help her cheat in the exam.
“Benefits of having me.” Toshiro remarks dryly.
Actually,Karin, she is not fearing failing or having lower grades. Because if today her brain betrays her, she has her shinigami boyfriend for backup. She plans to utilise Toshiro invisibility to Its fullest extent, resting her cheek against her palm, an arrogant smirk lingering on her lips.
She turns her towards Toshiro who is boringly standing, she winks at him.
In return, Toshiro rolls his eyes at her unearned confidence.
Their unspoken exchange is cut short by the sharp ring of the bell.
A moment later, the door swings open and a woman strides in, arms stacked with papers clearly the exam invigilator. Her heels click sharply against the floor as she surveys the room. At once, chairs scrape back and students hurry to their seats, the earlier murmurs dying into uneasy silence.She stops at the front, eyes cold and unwelcoming.“Students,” she announces, her voice thin and stern, “today is your chemistry exam and your final one. I expect absolute discipline. Any form of misconduct will result in immediate suspension.”
The threat hangs heavily in the air as she begins distributing the question papers and MCQ sheets. Pages rustle. Desks creak. Pens are set down with nervous care.
When she reaches Karin, the invigilator pauses, casting her a long, suspicious glare. Karin merely rolls her eyes and accepts the papers without a word. The brief clash doesn’t escape Toshiro’s notice.
After the last sheet is handed out, the invigilator’s voice cuts through the room once more.
“In a few minutes, the MCQ section will begin. Do not move your heads unnecessarily. Anyone caught doing so will be suspended.”
A few students groan under their breath. Karin doesn’t. Today, she has the upper hand.
The bell rings again short, final, decisive.
“You may begin,” the invigilator snaps.
Instantly, the hall fills with sound: calculators clicking rapidly, papers shifting, pens scratching against answer sheets. Tension hums through the room like static.
Karin lifts her question paper and scans the first page, eyes sharpening as she searches for the correct answers.
“I’m here,” Toshiro murmurs quietly beside her. “Just signal if you need anything.”
“No problem.” Karin reply is less than a whisper, head hanging low,lips barely moving avoiding any kind of suspicion.
Toshiro stands beside her, watching her in silence as she reads through the questions. Her brow furrows in concentration, her lower lip caught briefly between her teeth while her fingers tap quickly at the calculator. She fills in each answer with careful, unhurried strokes.
He’s never seen Karin this focused before. The realization catches him off guard and, unexpectedly, he finds himself drawn to it.
After a few minutes of watching her work, boredom creeps in. Standing around with nothing to do is not Toshiro’s idea of entertainment.
Then, a troublesome idea strikes.
He notices the back of Karin’s neck exposed beneath her high ponytail and, smirking faintly, reaches out. With just one finger, he gives it a quick, teasing poke, tracing lazy, meaningless patterns.
Karin jolts. A startled shiver runs up her spine, not pleasant, just distracting. She stiffens, grip tightening on her pen.
Without even turning around, she snaps into action. Her free hand shoots back and pinches hard.
Toshiro yelps under his breath and jerks his hand away, glaring at her.
Karin doesn’t look up from her paper.
Toshiro, evidently unwilling to learn, does it again. His finger drifts back, tracing lightly along the back of her neck.
Karin jerks upright with a sharp inhale.
She reaches back to pinch him once more but this time, Toshiro is ready. He pulls his hand away just in time, looking far too pleased with himself.
Unfortunately for him, Karin has other options.
A sudden, vicious stomp lands squarely on his foot.Toshiro stiffens, biting back a sound as a sharp jolt of pain shoots up his leg.
Karin tilts her head just enough to fix him with a sideways glare, cold, warning. Then she calmly turns back to her paper, pen moving as if nothing happened.
Toshiro clearly hasn’t learned his lesson. This time, he tries a new tactic,takes a new approach. He slips quietly behind her, positioning himself just out of reach, safe from any immediate retaliation. Leaning forward, he lets out a sharp, mischievous breath on the back of her neck.
Karin jerks upright so suddenly that a few nearby students glance at her, and the invigilator’s sharp eyes immediately zero in.
“Kurosaki, what’s wrong?” the invigilator demands.
“Nothing,ma’am,” Karin snaps, her voice deceptively calm. Inside, she’s trembling with barely contained fury. Fingers tighten around her pen.She is boiling with anger which successfully makes Toshiro uncomfortable and steps aside.
A few minutes later, Toshiro stands beside Karin, back leaning lightly against the wall, arms crossed, eyes dull and unfocused. The exam hall hums quietly around them.A sudden, light jab at his shin makes him glance down. His gaze shifts upward to Karin. Her hand moves across the desk with careful precision. He frowns, eyebrows knitting together as he studies the motion. Slowly, he recognizes the signal.
He steps closer, narrowing his focus, and sees her finger tracing a specific question, number six.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, voice low, careful not to draw attention.
“See what answers the others filled in for this question,” Karin whispers, lips barely moving.
Tōshirō glances at the exam paper for the first time. His eyes scan the text “What is the minimum measurement capacity of a Paul-Bunge balance if a 5 mg rider is used?”
Toshiro moves quietly down the aisle, his eyes flicking over the front rows. He leans just enough to catch glimpses of the students’ answer sheets. The first student has marked C, the second A, the third also C, and another hasn’t even touched the paper yet. As he scans more students, a pattern begins to emerge most have selected C. Toshiro narrows his eyes, the corners of his mouth tightening. Carefully, he concludes that C is probably the correct answer.
He walks back to Karin, “It would be C.”
“Exactly, it would be 0.0001 gram.” Karin whispers confidently marking the right answer.
Then, Toshiro notices Karin is running her finger on the last question, question number twenty-five.
He scans the question, “Which solution is best to use if acid gets into the eyes.” Without further delay, Toshiro headshot for scavenging the answer.
Before Toshiro can move, the invigilator’s sharp voice cuts through the tense hum of the exam hall.“In five minutes, your MCQ section will be over!”
“Faster,” Karin orders, her voice low but commanding. Tōshirō nods reluctantly and obeys.
He moves quickly, scavenging answers from the front rows. Pencils scratch, papers shuffle, and students mutter softly to themselves, oblivious to the quiet espionage happening beside them.
Finally, he returns to Karin.“It’s option A,” he whispers, eyes scanning for any trouble.
“Okay… Sodium Bicarbonate,” Karin mutters, tense fingers flying across the paper as she writes the answer down.
“Toshiro ! Please find the answers for questions nine and eleven immediately!” she snaps, her tone sharp, time ticking away like a metronome.
Without hesitation, Toshiro sets off again, scavenging through the crowd.
Then, suddenly, the bell rings, cutting through the room like a warning the MCQ section is over.
“Sorry to say, but I’m collecting your papers now and I do not want to hear any requests,” the invigilator announces, her thin, unpleasant voice.
Students continue writing absently, filling in answers they hope are correct. Karin glances at Toshiro with desperate hope, but he hasn’t yet found the exact answers. The invigilator is now dangerously close, and time is almost up.
Thinking fast, Toshiro decides to shout the answer he thinks is correct according to his observation, so cups his hand near his mouth like a makeshift speaker and shouts“Nine would be A, and eleven would be D.”
Karin doesn’t hesitate. She writes down the answers with unwavering trust in him.
Finally, the invigilator snatches her sheet, giving a sharp nod.
Toshiro approaches her quietly.“Did you answer everything?” he asks.
Karin lifts one corner of her mouth in a small smirk.“Yeah,” she replies. Then, suddenly, her eyes flash with menace as she glares at him.
“No thanks for disturbing me,” she warns.
Toshiro can only chuckle under his breath.
“Okay, Toshiro,” Karin whispers, lips barely moving so no one else can hear. “The theory questions are coming next.”She lowers her head until it’s almost parallel to the desk, hair shielding her mouth.“You need to stay ready with the sheets. If the invigilator comes near me while I have one, you take it away before she notices.”
Toshiro exhales quietly. “You shouldn’t rely on me this much,” he mutters. “At this rate, I’ll start thinking you’re hopelessly obsessed with me.” A faint smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.
Karin smirks back without lifting her head. “I see. Your flirting has improved,” she whispers. “At least, you can give me some motivation for that kind of improvement.”
“Desperate for motivation, huh?” Tōshirō says dryly. He inhales as if preparing for a speech. “Karin Kurosaki, do your best.”
A small, genuine smile touches her lips. She doesn’t look at him.
Then he adds, almost thoughtfully, “Though your best isn’t exactly impressive.”
Karin drops her forehead onto the desk. Thud. The impact rattles the surface.
“Kurosaki,” the invigilator snaps, stopping beside her. “Lift your head. This is not the time for sleeping.”
Karin jolts upright just as fresh answer sheets and question papers are placed in front of her. She grabs them absently and begins filling in the basics name, class, roll number, subject. Her mind is still buzzing.
Then she feels it: a brief, soft brush against her temple. Once. Then gone.
Karin tilts her head just enough to shoot Toshiro a lethal sideways glare. He’s wearing a firm, entirely unapologetic smirk.
“Motivation,” he murmurs. “If you fail, I’ll pretend I don’t remember you.”
Karin stomps her foot hard against the floor, teeth grinding as she mentally curses him. Diabolical. Absolutely diabolical.So this is his strategy, sweet words wrapped in pure provocation. As if he thinks he can win her over with this sugary motivation.
“I’m not going anywhere. Focus on the exam,” Toshiro assures her, leaning back against the window as his gaze drifts over the hall.
The room is almost unnervingly quiet, the soft scratch of pens against paper, the faint rustle of turning pages, and the occasional click of a calculator still audible. No Hollows. No disturbances. For once, it’s a strangely fortunate day quiet enough to pass as recreation, he muses.
His thoughts wander back to his own days at the Shinigami Academy, to a time when other students kept their distance, wary of the so-called child prodigy who never seemed to struggle.
His attention returns to Karin. She’s writing furiously now, racing the clock. He leans closer, studying her work with more care this time.
“Is that even Japanese?” he remarks dramatically.
Karin freezes. Yes, her handwriting is terrible but she absolutely does not need commentary.
After a brief pause, he adds helpfully, “You should burn the page.”
Karin responds by lightly slamming her fist against the desk just enough to vent her anger. Otherwise it will draw the invigilator’s attention.
Toshiro decides it’s best not to disturb her any further. He closes his eyes, letting the quiet of the exam hall settle over him like a soft shadow. The scratching of pens and the faint rustle of paper is almost hypnotic, and he feels himself beginning to relax.
Then, something light but sharp hits his face and falls to the floor with a soft thud. His eyes snap open. Karin is there, her fist pulled back as if she just threw it. Toshiro groans, half in annoyance, half in amusement, and leans forward slightly. “What's wrong?” he asks, his voice calm but edged with his usual quiet curiosity.
Karin’s eyes dart around before she lifts her free hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide a mix of urgency and embarrassment. “Give me the sheet of the basis of the periodic table,” she whispers, her tone firm but almost pleading.
Without a word, Toshiro’s hand moves faster than anyone can follow. From nowhere, he produces the sheet and sets it down in front of her, sliding it just far enough to keep it hidden from prying eyes. The paper lies perfectly flat, untouched, and ready.
Karin’s shoulders relax slightly, and she offers a quick thumbs up in silent gratitude. Toshiro leans back again, letting his eyes close once more, though the faintest smirk tugs at his lips. Helping her isn’t exactly his idea of fun, but the corners of her panic and determination are mildly entertaining.
Toshiro rests, leaning against the window, eyes closed. He isn’t thinking about anything practical. All he wants is to spend a quiet moment with Karin, just the two of them, but not like this. The soft sunlight brushes his face, and for a moment, the world feels calm.
That calm doesn’t last long, it shatters when the thin, unpleasant voice of the invigilator cuts through the room. “Kurosaki, what’s that sheet?”
Karin freezes. Her eyes widen, a flush of panic rising across her cheeks. She swallows hard, and her voice trembles as she answers, “Where… ma’am? There aren’t any sheets, except my answer paper.” She lies.Every head in the class seems to turn toward her, and Toshiro feels a flicker of irritation at the sudden attention, though he stays still.
Before anyone can notice the sheet lying nearby, Toshiro’s hand moves like water, silent and invisible. The sheet vanishes from sight, hidden somewhere no one can find.
Karin takes a shaky breath, her fear still lingering like a thin veil. Then, almost imperceptibly, her posture straightens, and her voice gains a firm edge. “Ma’am, you can investigate,” she says confidently, eyes locking with the invigilator’s. There is no evidence to contradict her now.
The invigilator approaches, scanning her desk, but finds nothing. After a tense moment, she returns to her previous location, leaving Karin’s chest rising and falling a little faster than normal, her initial terror melting into triumph. Toshiro opens one eye, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, clearly amused by the subtle shift in her demeanor.
“Do you need any sheets or anything else?” Toshiro asks.
“At least, not for now.” Karin snooks her head.”And thanks, that was a close call.” She acknowledges his help.
Toshiro does nothing but smirks.
After standing there for over an hour, Toshiro can no longer relax. His legs ache, his back stiffens, and boredom gnaws at him. He doesn’t want to regret helping Karin, so he needs a plan to pass the time.
His eyes catch an extra pen lying on Karin’s desk. Absently, he picks it up and starts spinning it between his fingers, watching her furrowed brow as she scribbles furiously on her exam sheets.
A mischievous idea strikes.
Quietly, he begins doodling on her spare answer sheets. On the first, a dragon stretches across the page; on the second, a football; and on the third, a crude sketch of his zanpakutō.
Karin, completely absorbed in the exam, suddenly hears the faint scratch of pen on paper. She tilts her head and catches sight of Toshiro mid-doodle.
“Stop haunting me!” she snaps, unable to contain herself. The shout echoes through the hall, drawing the attention of half the class.
The invigilator’s sharp voice cuts through the chaos. “What’s going on, Kurosaki?” she demands, rising from her desk and striding toward her.
Quick as a flash, Karin grabs her eraser and begins frantically erasing Toshiro’s doodles before anyone notices.
“Kurosaki, you’re causing trouble during the exam. Behave immediately!” the invigilator warns, her tone icy.
Karin doesn’t reply, keeping her head down, erasing furiously.
Toshiro groans under his breath, watching his brief escape from boredom crumble into the void of her efficiency.Now he has to stand there still.
After standing still for half an hour, Toshiro realizes there’s something important he needs to tell Karin.
This time, he grabs a pen from a nearby student and scribbles a quick note. Quietly, he taps her shoulder.
“What do you want?” she murmurs, eyes glued to her paper.
Toshiro slides the note in front of her. Karin glances down and reads it.
“Can you read this?”
She whispers tiredly, “Yes, I can.”
Before she can react further, Toshiro snatches the note back and scribbles a new one. He slides it to her again. Karin reads:
“Miracles do happen.”
Her foot stomps against the floor, a sharp little punctuation to his old-fashioned joke. Toshiro grins, clearly pleased with the reaction, and drops the note somewhere else before anyone notices.
Then his eyes flick to the clock, calculating how much time is left. He slides in front of her desk, takes a deep breath, and shouts,“Karin Kurosaki! You have only one hour left to finish!”
Karin jumps at the sudden volume. For the first time in the entire exam, she glares straight into his eyes, teeth gritted. She lunges for his collar but thanks to Toshiro’s reflexes, she misses.
“You better finish faster,” he warns, voice teasing but sharp.
Karin mutters something under her breath, scowling, and bends back to her paper but the tension lingers, electric, almost playful.
Toshiro feels extremely bored and so decides to see what karin has written. He slightly leans forward to examine her answer.
“Isn’t it math of average life?” he asks curiously.
“Yes, it is.” Karin replies as her eyes glued to the paper.
After a brief, Toshiro marks, “I see, you have killed the molecules.”
“Where is it coming from?” Karin asks not to feel disturbed at his sarcasm.
“That's half life.” His voice is low and dangerously unimpressed. “You used the wrong formula,” he continues. “Avarage life is one over lambda. 0.639 doesn’t belong here.” he corrects her.
Karin stomach drops, she grips tightly the pen as she realizes what she has done. Without delaying, she writes down math carefully and has a new answer for the outcome.
“Now better.” Toshiro praises. “You almost murdered the nucleus.” He adds sarcastically.
Toshiro, I also have a problem with another calculation,” she admits, her voice barely above a whisper. She flips back to an earlier page where an unfinished solution sprawls across the paper, numbers trailing off like they gave up halfway.
“What a slacker,” Toshiro mutters, unimpressed.
Karin doesn’t rise to the bait. She needs him right now. “In this limiting reaction, I’m not getting the expected answer,” she whispers, tapping the margin with her pen.
Toshiro leans in, scanning the work. A short pause. Then a quiet click of his tongue. “I see. Stoichiometry.”His eyes narrow. “Oh, impressive. Another disaster,” he says dryly. “Why does potassium suddenly have a mass number of forty when it gained only one extra mass?” The sarcasm is sharp but controlled.
Karin exhales through her nose and starts erasing the entire calculation, crumbs of rubber scattering across the desk.
“You shouldn’t erase,” Toshiro says. “You should burn the page.” He sounds almost sincere.
Karin only grits her teeth, knuckles whitening around the eraser, and keeps scrubbing.
“Toshiro, one more problem,” she says, her voice tight with desperation.
“Tell me,” he replies, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. “Where don’t you have a problem?” His tone drips mockery.
Karin ignores him. There’s no time for jokes. She points to the equation, a calculation on nuclear decay. “I think the answer is way too big to be right,” she admits silently, keeping her lips still so no one nearby, especially the invigilator, notices.
Toshiro leans closer, scanning her work. He hums under his breath, eyes narrowing. “Let me see… if the undecayed nuclei are larger than N nought,” he mutters, sighing dramatically, “then we’ve accidentally invented nuclear reproduction.”
Karin shoots him a sharp look. “Just find the mistake and fix it,” she hisses, impatience clear in the rigid set of her shoulders.
Toshiro rolls his eyes, exasperated but amused, and begins inspecting the page. His finger traces the lines of her calculation like a conductor leading an orchestra. “Ah,” he finally says, “there’s an inverse problem hiding in here.”
“Where?” Karin presses, still not seeing it.
“Your formula is off,” he says flatly, leaning back slightly with a small, satisfied smile. “It should be: N equals N nought times e to the minus lambda t.” He points carefully, correcting every detail.
Karin scrambles to rewrite the equation. Each correction feels like a stab to her pride. Every time he points out a tiny mistake, she feels smaller and smaller, but she doesn’t stop.
How? she wonders, astonished. How does a spirit who’s been dead for a thousand years know this much about science? Her eyes widen slightly as she watches him lean back, casually observing her corrections with that same calm, knowing expression. The sheer impossible knowledge he carries leaves her completely dumbfounded.
“Karin, your family will be badly disappointed, if they witness this.” Toshiro discourages her to being a pathetic. “And you have less than half an hour.” he reminds her further.
Karin does nothing but grit her teeth, tapping the pen against her paper. Then, in a whisper barely audible over the scratch of pencils, she calls, “Toshiro, hey, Toshiro.”
He doesn’t look up at first, so she takes matters into her own hands. She flicks her eraser, and it bonks him squarely on the forehead. Toshiro frowns, rubbing the spot, and Karin can’t help but smirk. There’s something deeply satisfying about seeing him disturbed.
“What do you want?” he asks, voice low and slightly annoyed.
“Give me the sheet for organic chemistry,” she whispers, keeping her eyes glued to her paper.
“Which one?” he presses, raising an eyebrow.
“Carboxylic acid to alkyne,” she replies, voice tight with focus.
Toshiro crouches down dramatically, reaching into a bag that seems to appear out of nowhere. The faint rustle of papers echoes across the hall as he digs through it, fingers skimming pages with exaggerated care. Finally he pulls out the exact sheet and slides it across the desk to her, making sure it lands perfectly in her grasp.
Standing up again, Toshiro leans slightly over her shoulder, arms crossed. “You might mess up again,” he says, voice deadpan. “So I have to watch everything you write.” His expression leaves no room for debate,he’s completely lost faith in her ability to avoid mistakes.
Karin rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue.“Whatever,” she mutters, flipping open the sheet and starting to copy the answers with careful precision.
Toshiro now simply observes, eyes tracking every stroke of her pen, ready to intervene at the first sign of disaster. Karin can feel his presence like a hovering shadow, and though it’s mildly irritating, she can’t deny it keeps her on her toes.
“Kurosaki, explain it!” the invigilator suddenly shouts, her voice sharp enough to slice through the quiet of the exam hall.
Before Karin can even glance at the sheet in front of her, Toshiro’s hand shoots out, snatching it away in one swift motion. He hides it effortlessly in the sleeve of his shikkshou, his expression calm as if nothing happened.
“Ma’am, how can I help you?” Karin asks, her tone dripping with sarcasm. This time, she doesn’t feel fear,there’s no evidence of dishonesty yet.
“Look in your precious bag,” the invigilator orders, pointing firmly toward the floor.
Both Toshiro and Karin’s gazes drop to the bag resting there. Karin feels her cheeks burn crimson as she notices the design: her own face printed boldly on it, along with the words My Love Karin.
“Truly, it’s a lovely thing, Kurosaki,” the invigilator remarks with a thin smile. “But bringing inappropriate items is a violation of the rules.” She picks up the bag.
Toshiro and Karin both freeze, stomachs dropping as dread coils tight in their chests. They know exactly what she will find.
After a tense moment, the invigilator announces, “Look, everyone, what I’ve found.” She moves to pull out the sheets.
In a flash, Toshiro snatches every sheet from her hands and tosses them out the window. The classroom gasps. Students swivel their heads in confusion, whispering among themselves, trying to understand what just happened.
“Where are the sheets, Kurosaki?” the invigilator demands, voice rising with anger.
Karin’s hands tremble, her heart pounding. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she murmurs timidly, though her stomach twists in fear.
“You brought cheat sheets in this bag. Now hand them over!” the invigilator barks, leaning forward. Her eyes bore into Karin like daggers.
“No! I didn’t! There is no proof of me cheating!” Karin snaps, trying to keep her voice steady even as frustration and panic boil inside her.
“Throughout the entire exam, you’ve been talking to thin air or some ghost,” the invigilator hisses, yes Karin all effort to avoid suspicion goes in vain, snatching Karin’s answer paper from her desk. “You’ve caused unnecessary trouble for the whole hall. Leave, Kurosaki.”
Karin grits her teeth, fists clenching. “It’s unfair!” she yells, stomping the floor as heat rushes to her face. Every nerve is alive with indignation.
“Whatever. I will call your father for a discussion,” the invigilator warns, voice cold and final.
Karin storms out of the exam hall, shoulders stiff with fury. Toshiro follows calmly behind her, hiding a small smirk, but inside he feels the slightest thrill at how perfectly chaotic their little mischief turned out. Karin’s frustration radiates like fire, and he can’t help but admire the intensity even if she would never forgive him for it.
“Karin, I’m sorry,” Toshiro says quietly, his hand brushing against hers as they walk down the corridor.
“Wow,” Karin snaps, crossing her arms and glaring at him. “You act like a jerk the whole time, made me almost get suspended from the exam, and now you say sorry?” Her voice shakes of anger.
“Like I said, I’m sorry,” Toshiro replies calmly, meeting her eyes. “But don’t forget, I’ve been helping you the whole time.” His lips twitch into a faint smirk. “I’m sorry for my insincerity too.”
Karin huffs, cheeks still pink. “And what kind of bag was that?!” She shouts.
Toshiro shrugs, still calm. “It’s a custom bag… with your photo. It’s a charm for me.”
“Why did you have to add that line?” Karin stomps her foot, part indignation, part embarrassed laughter threatening to slip out.
Toshiro smiles gently and takes her hand in his. “Karin, relax.”
Karin’s heart skips a beat at the touch. She wants to pull away, still irritated, but the warmth in his hand is grounding, and for a moment, she lets herself feel safe. Her shoulders loosen slightly, though a small part of her remains flustered.
“So, what are they going to do now?” Toshiro asks, walking side by side with her, his thumb brushing over hers absentmindedly.
“I don’t know,” Karin mutters. “Maybe they’ll just fine me and take a re-test again.”
Toshiro lets out a tired sigh, slumping slightly. “So, our date today is probably canceled.”
“Most likely,” Karin replies casually, though her grip on the football she carries tightens slightly.
Toshiro glances at her, a soft frown tugging at his features. “Karin, I just wanted to spend time with you during our free time. What are we going to do if they make you take the exam again?” They stumble in front of the storage room near the corridor.
“Wait a minute,” Karin says, pulling her hand from his and disappearing into the storage room.
“Where are you going?” Toshiro asks, frowning.
She doesn’t answer. A few minutes later, she returns, a football tucked under her arm. “Toshiro, let’s go to the rooftop. I missed playing with you too much,” she says, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Toshiro blinks, confused by the sudden change in tone. “The invigilator isn’t going to call your father, are they?” His concern seeps through, soft and unshakable.
“I don’t care,” Karin replies, a small grin tugging at her lips. “And there’s a rule for today’s game.”
“What?” Toshiro asks, raising an eyebrow.
“If I win, I’ll think about whether you deserve my forgiveness,” Karin says, tossing the ball lightly between her hands.
Toshiro frowns, a corner of his lips twitching. “And if I win?”
“Then, there’s no forgiveness,” she says matter-of-factly, her smirk growing. “Toshiro lets go to have some challenges.” She grabs his hand to take him to the top.
After all the chaos, Karin chooses fun instead of sulking. The realization warms Toshiro from the inside. As she drags him toward the rooftop, her grip firm and impatient, he lets himself be pulled along, a quiet smile settling on his face.
The tension from the exam, the accusations, the near disaster, all of it begins to loosen its hold. Karin’s stubborn energy, her refusal to stay upset, feels like a small miracle. Toshiro watches her determined steps, the way her shoulders are already lighter, and thinks that this is exactly who she is. When things fall apart, she runs forward instead of stopping.
He follows her willingly, almost happily, letting the echo of their footsteps fade behind them as the promise of open air and laughter waits above