Inside the academy building.
"....."
Robin slowly opened his eyes, his breathing steady and controlled, then lowered his legs to the floor after sitting in a long meditation posture that had left his body calm but his mind burning with thought.
He interlaced his fingers and squeezed them tightly, his knuckles paling under the pressure.
As he handed the Cosmic Elder's announcement to Temari, part of him had secretly hoped that Soul Society would refuse it, that Timari would refuse to hand it, or that Lord Morval would give a direct order to delay the announcement or block it entirely. Of course, that would have caused a massive rift between them and an even greater disaster, but still... in some way, deep inside, he had hoped that someone would stop him from walking this path, even if he was the one that choose it.
A path he must walk. Without doubt. Without retreat.
