Little Wonder [Rukia, Shiro]

There were a lot of things that one could call "embarrassing," but having to request a relationship disclosure form somehow managed to be one of the most generally discomforting things Rukia had ever done in her life. People obviously wanted to know more, and Rukia sure wasn't going to tell them. It wasn't any of their business and, well, they'd know soon enough anyway.

With a sigh, she simply returned to her office at Shino Academy, sending out a few memos to some of her students that needed her attention. Most of them just needed actual academic assistance, or just a commendation for their hard work. Only one them was being invited for a third reason.

Said invitee was, perhaps to her chagrin, her boyfriend. But there wasn't much to do now besides wait for him to come by.

Yep. That was certainly Shiro. She might have actually greeted him with something resembling a bit of cheer, had he not just come right in and started peering over her shoulder while he drank his milkshake so loudly. Maybe it wasn't too late to return this paperwork...

"If you're done getting my shoulder wet from all the condensation dripping off your cup, would you mind signing this paperwork so I can get it handed in?"

Looking up at him, Rukia's expression seemed fairly mixed, a combination of modest annoyance at how he'd entered and some obvious happiness to see him here. Despite herself, and despite his behavior, it was hard for one's mood not to brighten when your significant other showed up, wasn't it?"

"The faster you get it done, the faster you can brag about dating me. I'm sure you're looking forward to that, right?"

"I'd have liked peach more than vanilla, personally."

Rukia didn't take a sip from his milkshake, mostly because she just wasn't really in the mood for one at the moment than anything else. She didn't have a ton of issue drinking after people, much less someone she'd already kissed. Watching as he signed the paperwork, she made sure everything was finished before slipping it all into a plain folder.

"Well, all that's left is to go hand this into First Division and they'll handle the rest. You probably ought to start getting ready to be in someone else's class, you know. I doubt they'll believe me if I tell them I'll grade your test even harsher now."

She grinned a bit at that, and stood from her desk to give him a proper embrace. Nothing too amazing or deeply affectionate or anything, just a normal hug. But it was something.

"I'm looking forward to it too."

"As long as you don't have me doing all your homework for you."

Part of Rukia was annoyed that the hug she got in return was so negligible, but she couldn't say it was all that surprising from him, so she didn't mind much. Maybe she was just being lenient though.

"Glad you've got the whole day planned out for us."

It was just in her nature to give him a bit of lighthearted ribbing whenever he gave her the chance, and it wasn't as if he didn't do the exact same thing to her. That was sort of just how the two interacted, wasn't it? It was fun, in a way.

"I definitely didn't have anything in mind, though, so we can just spend the day around. I'm not doing anything else until tomorrow, so we've got some time."

"Maybe I don't want you to tell me, idiot."

Rukia's grin grew at first, though the seriousness of his voice and his expression gave her a bit of pause. This was clearly very important to him, but as he spoke, she could see why. It was true that she did know Shiro's past, given the records the Academy had informed her of when he'd been assigned to her class. Honestly, she had expected that he might end up being a headache, but she wasn't the sort to just give up on someone before she met them.

"I think it would be hypocritical of me not to give someone a fair chance after they've been put into a bad spot. You were just a student, nothing more. Treating you differently because of your circumstances wouldn't help anyone, and I don't think I'd like it much."

Leaning into his embrace a bit as they walked, Rukia thought about her own upbringing. She couldn't say she thought much of the way the nobility had turned out over the years, really. There was a lot of burden for not all that much benefit anymore, and the benefit there had been was always at the expense of others.