Bleach: The Strongest Shinigami, Hitsugaya Toshiro

On the other side.

Toshiro's figure darted across the rooftops of various buildings, tracking Rurichiyo ahead.

"Hmm?" Toshiro suddenly noticed that Rurichiyo ahead had stopped running and instead paused on the roof of a building.

Whoosh!

Toshiro's figure flashed and appeared beside Rurichiyo.

"Why did you stop running?" Toshiro looked at Rurichiyo, who was sitting on the rooftop gazing up at the starry sky.

"Hmph, I can't outrun you anyway." Rurichiyo gave a weak, cute snort.

"Heh, you know you can't outrun me, so why run?" Toshiro chuckled softly.

Rurichiyo, looking lonely at the star-filled sky, did not speak.

Seeing her lonely and desolate expression, Toshiro's heart trembled. He inexplicably remembered the original Toshiro when he was a child.

When the original Toshiro was little, besides his grandmother and Momo, everyone else either hated or feared him. No one was willing to play with him. He often had that same lonely and desolate expression.

That might be why the original Toshiro was so obsessed with his only childhood friend, Momo.

Even the current Toshiro's acceptance of Momo might have been influenced by the lingering thoughts of his predecessor.

"Yare yare, showing such a lonely expression at such a young age will give you wrinkles, you know." Toshiro teased.

Rurichiyo ignored his tease and instead looked melancholy and said, "Hey, Toshiro, did I cause trouble for everyone?"

"Trouble?" Toshiro asked with some surprise.

In the Japanese mindset, causing trouble for others is a very serious accusation.

Rurichiyo nodded, "Mm, I heard that several 10th Division's members were injured in the earlier fight. If it weren't for me, Kumoi wouldn't have sent people to infiltrate the 10th Division, and they wouldn't have been hurt, right? Also, Kenryu was injured protecting me from the enemy breaking into the room. If it weren't for me, if it weren't for me..."

"That's not right, Rurichiyo. How can you say that?"

Toshiro used his [Ultimate Technique - Head Pat], gently stroking Rurichiyo's golden hair, and sat down beside her.

"If it weren't for you, Rurichiyo, Kenryu, Enryu, and everyone would be sad."

Toshiro comforted her.

"Would Toshiro be sad too?" Rurichiyo looked at him intently.

Those emerald green eyes, so similar to Toshiro's own, seemed to hold a strange power, capable of captivating anyone.

"Well... if it weren't for Rurichiyo, I would be very sad too." After a moment's hesitation, Toshiro still nodded.

Hearing Toshiro's words, Rurichiyo's expression seemed to ease a little.

Toshiro continued to comfort her, "Actually, you shouldn't blame yourself for today's events. Shinigami bear the responsibility of protecting the Seireitei and the Soul Society. We often fight enemies. Even death is commonplace, let alone injuries. So you don't need to worry about those few injured members."

"As for Kenryu, that guy would only be happy to be able to protect your safety. He wouldn't care at all about being injured. Besides, he was just lightly grazed by the enemy. It's not even a minor injury. He'll be fine after sleeping it off and waking up tomorrow."

"In short... don't blame yourself so much. Just be your usual self."

Although he wasn't skilled at giving motivational speeches, Toshiro did his best to comfort Rurichiyo. Not for any other reason, but simply because he saw his former self in her.

"My usual self?"

Rurichiyo murmured.

"In Toshiro's eyes... what am I usually like?"

Rurichiyo asked.

"Well... very lively, jumping around. In short, you're full of... ahem, full of energy." Toshiro cleared his throat.

During her two days at the 10th Division, Rurichiyo had been bouncing off the walls all day, causing chaos wherever she went.

"Full of energy? Hehe..." Rurichiyo suddenly laughed.

"I've actually been very happy these two days at the 10th Division. No one scolds me for things like sitting on the roof watching the stars."

"That's because you're a princess, everyone's worried you might get hurt." Toshiro said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah."

Hearing Toshiro's words, Rurichiyo suddenly became downcast again.

"You know, Toshiro, at the Kasumioji Residence, I wasn't full of energy like this."

"Because at the Kasumioji Residence, if I got hurt, someone would definitely be punished. I couldn't even get a minor injury without consequences. So although there were many things I wanted to do, every time it would bring misfortune to everyone. Like the time I learned archery."

"When I was little, I was practicing archery in the woods when a wild boar suddenly ran out. While running away, I accidentally fell into a pit. I got a little hurt. Actually, it wasn't even really an injury… I was just a bit sore from the fall."

"But... the person teaching me archery and the people taking care of me were all punished. The wild boar was caught and made into roast suckling pig."

"There were many incidents like this. For example, because I casually went out, the gatekeeper was fired."

"When I was little, I didn't realize that because of me, many people were punished. If I had realized it earlier, I would definitely have been a more obedient child. But... I didn't know. Saying this now is very irresponsible, right? So when I grew up, I rarely played at home. I just occasionally found ways to have Kenryu and Enryu take me out to play."

Hearing the fate of the wild boar, Toshiro couldn't help but want to laugh, but he found it impossible to do so.

"How kind you are, Rurichiyo. You're so sad because the ones being punished are others, right?" Toshiro said softly.

"I'm sorry, Toshiro." Rurichiyo suddenly said.

"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Toshiro asked.

"These past two days, I've been protected by you and the 10th Division, yet I acted willfully here, argued with your two Lieutenants, Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku, and caused you so much trouble. You're not angry with me, are you?" Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro nervously.

"No, how could I be angry with someone as kind and gentle as you, Rurichiyo?" Toshiro said with a smile.

After talking with Rurichiyo like this, her emotions gradually calmed down.

"Rurichiyo, that old bastard Kumoi has endured for many years. He won't give up after this failure. But don't be afraid. I'll protect you during this time. After I deal with Kumoi, you can return to the Kasumioji Residence." Toshiro suggested.

"Afraid? Hmph, I'm not afraid of Kumoi. Actually, I've known for a long time that Kumoi has always wanted to kill me to usurp the Kasumioji Clan." Rurichiyo said.

"You've known for a long time?" Toshiro asked, somewhat surprised.

"Mm, I've long known that Kumoi has his eye on me. Also, the things Kenryu, Enryu, Toshiro, and everyone have been keeping from me to avoid worrying me." Rurichiyo nodded.

"How did you know?" Toshiro asked curiously.

"Hmph, even if I'm unlucky, I couldn't possibly encounter those so-called 'accidents' every day, right? I'm not stupid. With a little analysis, I guessed it was Kumoi's doing."

"Of course, I was only suspicious before and didn't voice these guesses. Later, Kenryu and Enryu encouraged me to come to the 10th Division to find you. Although I wanted to come anyway, I wouldn't have come before dawn. And after arriving, Kenryu and Enryu never mentioned when we were going back."

"These unusual things made me speculate that Kenryu and Enryu had long known Kumoi wanted to kill me."

"But... these were just my speculations until you explained the truth to me just now, confirming those speculations were real."

"And speculations are just speculations. When I actually heard the truth, it was still hard for me to accept such cruel truth. That's why I suddenly ran out."

Rurichiyo said, her expression downcast.

"It's okay, Rurichiyo. I'll protect you."

Toshiro suddenly held her hand, comforting her.

"Protect me? For a lifetime?"

Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro with hopeful eyes.

"Silly, just for this period..."

Toshiro turned his head, avoiding her gaze.

"Hmph, decision made! You're not allowed to go back tonight. You have to stay here and watch the stars with me!"

Rurichiyo, somewhat angry, hugged Toshiro's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.

Toshiro hesitated for a moment but didn't push her away.

"Well, I won't go back then." Toshiro said helplessly.

Then the two looked up at the bright stars in the night sky, neither speaking again.