Chapter 361 - 361 Confession
At the same time, in the guest room where Rurichiyo was staying at the 10th Division.
After Nukui escaped, Sojiro returned to the 10th Division. Learning that Toshiro was here, he also came to the room.
"Oh, Sojiro, you're back. Did you capture the enemy?"
Toshiro asked casually.
Sojiro found it somewhat difficult to speak: "Well..."
"Hmm? What's wrong? Did you kill the enemy directly?"
"Really, Ashido just reported that most of the captured enemies chose to commit suicide. Even those who were stopped from doing so refused to speak a word. It seems these people were all death warriors."
"So I was originally planning to interrogate the enemy leader after you brought him back."
Toshiro frowned.
"Well..."
"Forget it. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter. I roughly already know who the intruders were this time and what their purpose was."
Before Sojiro could speak, Toshiro waved his hand.
"No, not dead. He escaped!"
Sojiro seized the opportunity to quickly say.
"Escaped? With your strength, you couldn't stop him?"
Toshiro asked with some surprise.
"No, although he had a strange sword and could exert Captain-level strength combined with his own power, he was still no match for me. I was just too careless. After using my Shikai to freeze him, I let my guard down, and in the end, he escaped."
Sojiro explained.
Toshiro muttered to himself, "A strange sword? So it was him after all..."
"Hey, Toshiro, who is this 'him' you're talking about?"
Rurichiyo beside him shook Toshiro's arm back and forth.
Earlier, Rurichiyo had been frightened. Toshiro had comforted her for a long time before she calmed down. But since then, she had been clinging to Toshiro's arm without letting go.
"Behave yourself, Rurichiyo!"
Toshiro pressed on her head, making her sit down obediently.
Then Toshiro looked deeply at Rurichiyo and finally spoke: "Actually, the people who infiltrated the 10th Division this time were all..."
"Hitsugaya-dono!"
Kenryu suddenly interrupted.
Although Kenryu had no evidence, he could guess that the infiltrators this time were definitely Kumoi's people.
So Kenryu didn't want Toshiro to tell Rurichiyo the truth.
"Kenryu, at this point, I think there's no need to continue hiding it."
Toshiro said seriously.
"Nobility doesn't just represent rights… it also represents obligations. Rurichiyo will eventually grow up and assume the heavy responsibility of the Kasumioji Clan."
"If you and Enryu keep treating her like a child, letting her grow like a flower in a greenhouse, she will never mature. Can you and Enryu protect her for a lifetime?"
"Even if you wanted to protect her for life, do you have the strength to do so?"
Toshiro spoke earnestly to Kenryu and Enryu.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Kenryu and Enryu couldn't help but lower their heads.
They indeed did not have that strength.
"So, Rurichiyo must eventually grow up. Although this incident is a crisis for her, it is also a tempering experience. As long as she gets through this trial, Rurichiyo will grow up, right?"
Toshiro said again.
"Hey, Toshiro, Kenryu, what are you talking about?"
Rurichiyo looked confused, but her heart vaguely felt a sense of unease.
"Kenryu, you should be the one to explain. You know more about the Kasumioji Clan's affairs than I do, right?"
Toshiro signaled to Kenryu.
"Yes, Hitsugaya-dono."
Kenryu responded, then said seriously to Rurichiyo, "Rurichiyo-sama, the people who infiltrated the 10th Division this time were probably here for you."
"For me?"
Rurichiyo exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes. I suspect they were Kumoi's people, trying to..."
Kenryu told Rurichiyo everything he knew: Kumoi's purpose, his ambitions, and his murderous intent towards her.
After hearing this, Rurichiyo looked shocked and murmured in disbelief, "You mean the accidents I encountered before weren't really accidents, but Kumoi trying to kill me? Even this infiltration of the 10th Division was because Kumoi wanted to make a move against me, and the 10th Division was just implicated by me?"
"Yes!"
Kenryu bowed his head, not daring to look at Rurichiyo's expression.
Rurichiyo couldn't help but show a look of deep hurt.
"So our coming to the 10th Division to find Toshiro this time wasn't for fun, but to take refuge?"
Rurichiyo thought about how she had usually been willful and spoiled. She suddenly felt that she was ridiculous.
The noble princess of the illustrious Kasumioji Clan, usually so arrogant and overbearing, was actually nothing more than a pitiful person whose life was threatened and who couldn't even be sure of her next moment.
To save her life, she had taken refuge in the 10th Division, enjoying others' protection and bringing trouble to them. Yet on their turf, she had been smug, looking down on Momo, Rangiku, and others, and constantly arguing with them.
Thinking of this, Rurichiyo felt that her noble dignity and pride had been thrown to the ground and trampled upon completely.
'When I argued with Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku, they must have been laughing at me in their hearts, right?'
Rurichiyo couldn't help but think.
'What does Toshiro... what does Toshiro think of me?'
Rurichiyo suddenly felt she had no rights to stay here, no dignity to face Hinamori Momo and the others, no dignity to face Toshiro.
Step, step, step...
Rurichiyo suddenly broke away from the group and ran outside.
"Rurichiyo!"
"Rurichiyo-sama!"
Toshiro, Kenryu, and the others couldn't help but call out.
"Good grief, her psychological endurance is too weak..."
Although he muttered this, Toshiro unhesitatingly chased after her.
Kenryu and Enryu, a step slower, also anxiously wanted to chase after her.
"Oh my, you two need not worry. With Captain handling it, Rurichiyo-sama will definitely be fine. You two should wait here patiently."
Sojiro's figure flashed, instantly blocking their way.
"What are you doing, 3rd Seat Sojiro! Rurichiyo-sama suddenly ran off. How can we feel at ease waiting here!"
Kenryu shouted loudly.
Sojiro said seriously, "You two should also be aware that Rurichiyo-sama's emotional state is very unstable right now. It's not good for everyone to crowd around her. And your princess has a very good impression of our Captain. So letting Captain comfort her alone now will surely be more effective, right?"
Kenryu and Enryu looked at each other and did not continue chasing.
Although they felt a bit unhappy in their hearts, they had to admit that Rurichiyo indeed had a good impression of Toshiro. Letting him comfort her would indeed be more effective.
Seeing that Kenryu and Enryu accepted his reasoning and did not continue chasing, Sojiro turned around and glanced at Toshiro and Rurichiyo, whose figures were gradually receding into the distance.
'Captain, although I failed to capture the enemy leader who infiltrated the 10th Division this time, as compensation, I have created a great opportunity for you and Rurichiyo-sama. I'm sure you will be satisfied.'
'Finally, do your best, Captain. Don't disappoint your subordinate's kind intentions...'
Watching Toshiro's disappearing back, Sojiro squinted his eyes, revealing a gentle yet mischievous smile.