That night.
Momo Hinamori had never expected Captain Soifon to be so easy to talk to. After hearing her description, the Captain immediately decided to set out for the Rukongai to "cure" Shiro-chan's illness.
Obediently wrapping her arms around the back of Soifon's neck, Momo Hinamori lay in Soifon's arms like a small bird. Her face turned slightly red; after all, she had never been carried like this in her life, especially not by such a gallant and dashing woman.
However, Soifon's reasoning was simply that Momo Hinamori's Shunpo was too slow—it was more efficient for her to just carry the girl. Momo Hinamori figured she was right.
Holding Momo, the two of them turned into an afterimage and vanished, racing across the rooftops of the Seireitei.
So fast...
The intense wind pressure made it impossible for Momo Hinamori to even open her eyes. She had to bury her face against Soifon's chest just to find some space to breathe.
Squinting, she could see the scenery behind them stretching out continuously. In a mere blink, they had already arrived before the Great Gate separating the Seireitei and the Rukongai.
"Captain Soifon... don't we need to go to the Fourth Division?" Momo Hinamori lifted her head, looking at Soifon dizzily as the nauseating speed of the Shunpo finally came to a halt.
It wasn't that she doubted Soifon's strength, but everyone had their own specialty. For something like treating an illness, wouldn't they need to find one of the masters from the Fourth Division?
"Why would we need anyone from the Fourth Division?" Soifon led Momo Hinamori toward the gate. "By the way, which Rukongai district is your friend in?"
Subconsciously, Momo Hinamori pointed the way. "West Rukongai, District 1—Junrinan."
Leaping once more while holding Momo, Soifon caught a glimpse of the girl's hesitant expression and felt a bit amused. "Didn't I tell you? Your friend isn't actually sick."
"Eh?!" Momo Hinamori was shocked to hear this, yet she found it hard to believe. If it wasn't an illness, why would ice crystals suddenly start forming on his body?
"If I'm not mistaken, this phenomenon is a sign that his Zanpakutō is about to awaken." Relying on the fact that she had already read the 'script' of this world, Soifon spoke with absolute confidence.
"How amazing! As expected of Captain Soifon!" Momo Hinamori didn't doubt Soifon's judgment for a second, looking up from the Captain's arms with eyes full of worship.
In the shadows in the distance, space itself distorted slightly. Sōsuke Aizen, dressed in a black cloak, brushed aside the shimmering barrier of Kyokko and stepped out from beneath a large tree, watching Soifon's speeding silhouette before curiously following after them.
Out of caution, after using Bakudō to hide his form, Aizen had also donned the black cloak that concealed spiritual pressure as a double layer of insurance.
Why had Soifon shown such special care for this particular batch of students after all these years? In just these two days, her interaction with the students had exceeded all her teaching years combined.
Surely she hadn't managed to pluck yet another talented sprout, had she? This damn competitive streak...
…
Junrinan was the First District; it was not far from the high walls of the Seireitei and was considered one of the Rukongai districts with relatively good security.
Under Momo Hinamori's guidance, as they drew closer, Soifon's spiritual senses already picked up the fluctuations of Tōshirō Hitsugaya's chilly spiritual pressure.
It felt exactly like walking past a large shopping mall with the air conditioning on full blast on a scorching summer day—getting hit with that sudden shiver from the cold air at the entrance.
Arriving before Tōshirō's small house, a faint firelight flickered through the paper-covered windows. The new semester at the Shin'ō Academy began in September—summer had just left, but autumn hadn't quite arrived—yet the Hitsugaya household needed to burn a fire for warmth. As expected of Hyōrinmaru.
"Shiro-chan!"
Jumping down from Soifon's arms, Momo Hinamori stepped forward and knocked on the thin wooden door. The door opened a crack, revealing the face of a young boy with short white hair and emerald-green eyes.
He saw Momo Hinamori first, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, before he noticed Soifon standing not far behind her.
"I told you not to call me Shiro-chan..." Tōshirō was a bit dissatisfied with the name. "Momo, shouldn't you be at the Shin'ō Academy? Did you get expelled or something?"
He certainly had a way with words.
"I did not!" Momo Hinamori retorted crossly, stepping aside. "I specifically invited a high-ranking figure from the Seireitei to help look at your illness! And you're being so ungrateful!"
"A high-ranking figure?" Tōshirō's gaze fell back on Soifon, sizing her up. "Her? She doesn't... really look that big of a deal."
Soifon's lip twitched, but she decided not to argue with a child.
Momo Hinamori nearly lost her soul from fright. "Shiro-chan!!"
She hurriedly turned and bowed ninety degrees to Soifon. "I am so sorry! Captain Soifon! He's just a child, he doesn't know any better and was just joking!"
As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed the still-confused Tōshirō, forcibly pushing his head down. "You apologize too!"
Just then, a weak coughing sound came from inside the house. "Tōshirō... are there guests?"
A white-haired, stooped old woman emerged from the room leaning on a cane. "Grandmother! Why are you up?!"
Tōshirō hurried forward to support the elderly woman, his face full of worry. The grandmother gently patted Tōshirō's hand, her gaze moving past him and Momo to look at Soifon at the door. "Is it... a Lord Shinigami?"
Seeing that his grandmother had spoken, Tōshirō stopped being stubborn. He followed her gaze toward Soifon, his eyes carrying a hint of plea. "Lord... Shinigami, could you look at my grandmother's illness first?"
"She doesn't need treatment," Soifon's voice rang out inside the cramped house. "Your grandmother isn't sick. And neither are you, Tōshirō."
The moment those words fell, Tōshirō froze. Soifon's gaze settled on him.
"It is because your Reiatsu is too strong, while your grandmother is just an ordinary soul with no spiritual power. If left alone, there will come a day when your grandmother dies because of your Reiatsu, Tōshirō."
Tōshirō's face instantly turned deathly pale. He stared at his trembling hands as if he didn't quite want to believe Soifon's words. If that were true, how was he supposed to live with his grandmother?
"Tōshirō, when you sleep at night, is there often a voice calling out to you?" Soifon increased the dosage of her words, continuing mysteriously. Every word she spoke was like a heavy hammer striking Tōshirō's heart.
"Yes," Tōshirō said dejectedly. "Yes... Lord Shinigami." To think she could even guess that—it seemed she was telling the truth.
"Then... what should I do..." Tōshirō lifted his eyes, looking at Soifon and Momo in a daze. "What about Grandmother..."
"Become a Shinigami, Tōshirō." Soifon had been waiting for him to ask. "With your talent, controlling your leaking Reiatsu won't be a problem."
As long as he could control his Reiatsu, wouldn't he be able to live with his grandmother? Tōshirō was still hesitating, looking at Soifon and then looking at his grandmother with reluctance.
Momo Hinamori continued to urge him, "Shiro-chan, just agree."
After a long silence, Tōshirō finally lowered his head slowly. "Please... Lord Shinigami."
Soifon smiled. "My name is Soifon. Call me 'Teacher.'"
"Yes, Teacher Soifon!" This title was much easier to accept than 'Lord,' and Tōshirō changed his address immediately.
[Mission Triggered: Sit Upon the Frozen Heavens]
[Mission Completed]
[Mission Reward: Talent (Where is the peak of a Shinigami? You don't need to tell me; I'll see it for myself.)]
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