The First Signs of Everything

"I've listed everything needed for the arrangements."

"Please follow the outlined plans… If there are any missing supplies, make sure to inform me in advance so I can prepare accordingly."

The 10th Division member, looking serious, carefully accepted the documents handed over and responded respectfully.

"Thank you for your help, Lieutenant Hinamori!"

Faced with such a formal thanks, Momo Hinamori, the current Lieutenant of the 5th Division, simply smiled and waved her hand lightly.

"Haha… It's really nothing. The 5th Division's duty is to assist other divisions, so this kind of work is within our responsibilities."

That was indeed the truth.

Moreover…

"This is also our Captain Arima's philosophy. Without the necessary expertise, the 5th Division wouldn't have any reason to exist."

A captain is the soul of their division.

Their mind, their spirit, and their ideals gradually seep into the division, much like blood flowing through veins, until it takes on their unique 'color.'

At that moment, as she spoke about this, it was as if she was expressing something she was proud of.

Momo Hinamori straightened up, her voice a bit louder than before.

"So if there's ever anything you need help with, don't hesitate! Just leave it to us in the 5th Division!"

Her enthusiasm made the 10th Division members blush slightly—though they'd never admit it aloud.

She was surprisingly well-endowed… Not as exaggerated as Vice-Captain Matsumoto, but still.

And yet, she seemed completely unaware of it.

Damn… If we look, it feels inappropriate, but if we don't, it feels like a waste!

"Is that so? That's a huge help."

A voice cut in from the doorway, causing the two 10th Division members to sigh in relief.

They immediately turned and greeted the newcomer respectfully.

"Third Seat Hitsugaya!"

A figure stood at the entrance, calmly observing the room.

White-haired, slender, and unusually short.

Ironically, these very traits had made him quite popular among the female Shinigami.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya had been well-known since his time at the Shin'ō Academy, and his reputation had never waned.

In some ways, he was practically the 10th Division's mascot.

Perhaps it was the same instinct that made people love small animals?

Whatever the reason, that was the reality.

Still, the 10th Division members held him in high regard.

His greatest strength was his contrast—he might look like a child, but his competence was beyond question.

He had earned his position as Third Seat through ability alone.

With his usual serious expression, he scanned the room, then furrowed his brows slightly as he spoke in an unusually mature tone.

"You've all been working hard. I'll handle the rest of the handover—go get some rest. You must be exhausted."

"Th-Thank you, sir!"

The two hurriedly left the room.

Watching their retreating figures, Hitsugaya let out a barely noticeable sigh.

"Hey… Hinamori."

"Hm?"

"You should pay more attention to your personal appearance."

"…???"

Momo tilted her head in confusion.

Seeing her completely clueless expression, Hitsugaya felt a headache coming on.

They had been childhood friends for years, but some topics were still too awkward to discuss directly.

Maybe a different approach would work.

"I mean—your captain is way too irresponsible! When's the last time you changed your uniform?!"

Hinamori, being rather straightforward, completely missed the underlying meaning of his words.

Frowning slightly, she responded,

"I did order a new uniform when I transferred to the 5th Division, but that's not Captain Arima's fault. I just wanted to save on expenses."

Hitsugaya nearly clenched his fists in frustration.

"What?! You haven't replaced your uniform in decades?!"

Hinamori stood firm, hands on her hips, her tone unwavering.

"Yeah, and what's the problem?!"

"Saving money is fine, but not on something like this! Doesn't it feel tight?!"

"Captain Arima hasn't changed his uniform either! Since the division covers these costs, I don't want to waste resources. Besides, this is an internal matter of the 5th Division—it has nothing to do with you, Shiro!"

Hitsugaya's expression almost cracked.

"You idiot! Don't call me that ridiculous nickname in public, Bedwetter Momo!"

At first, it was just a casual exchange of words.

But the moment they resorted to childhood nicknames, the tension immediately escalated.

Hinamori's face turned red with rage.

"You little brat! Stop bringing up nonsense from the past!"

And so.

How had a simple conversation turned into this?

"You two really get along well~"

A teasing voice cooled the heated argument almost instantly.

Rangiku Matsumoto leaned casually against the doorway, watching them with an amused smirk.

"Oh, don't mind me. Please, continue your lover's quarrel."

"A childhood friendship like yours is rare, you know?"

"The air here is practically thick with youthful love~"

Hinamori immediately fell silent, her hands nervously fidgeting as her face turned a deeper shade of red.

Hitsugaya, on the other hand, swiftly turned away, as if redirecting his frustration toward something else.

"Matsumoto, you handle the handover with Bedwetter Momo! I'm leaving!"

"Oho, are you embarrassed, Tōshirō? How youthful~"

Even though his back trembled with anger, Hitsugaya simply quickened his pace, unable to fight back.

So pathetic!

Even so, Matsumoto showed no mercy.

Cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, she called after him,

"Oh, and by the way~ I'm your Vice-Captain! Don't forget to use my proper title next time, Third Seat Hitsugaya~"

Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

Utterly defeated!

Once his figure disappeared, Matsumoto turned back to Hinamori with a grin.

"Sorry about that, Hinamori. Ever since he got promoted, he's been like this."

"No, no, Shiro didn't mean any harm. I just reacted instinctively…"

"Oho~ So childhood friends really do have that special connection."

"Haha… Sorry for the scene."

Conversations between women didn't carry the same tension as their previous argument.

Besides, there were no conflicts of interest between them—one was a superior, the other a subordinate.

Matsumoto casually flipped through the documents, nodding approvingly.

"Everything's well-organized. These will be really useful."

Her smile grew more relaxed, and her voice carried a sense of relief.

"This is a huge help. Usually, the Captain handles this, and I've never dealt with it before…"

The 10th Division, responsible for patrolling and security, had a broad scope of duties.

They handled both Soul Society and the Human World when necessary.

Given that other divisions had specialized roles, the 10th often acted as an emergency response force.

"So, in a way, we don't have any 'specialization.'"

"But your patrol route suggestions are a lifesaver… I hate thinking too much."

"Also, this 'Personnel Strength Assessment' document—"

"That's something even our Captain wouldn't think of."

Matsumoto laughed.

"And I certainly wouldn't either."

Hinamori didn't let the praise get to her head.

She simply smiled and folded her hands neatly in front of her.

"You overestimate me. These are just ideas Captain Arima taught us during training. He's the real genius."

"Everything comes back to your captain, huh?"

"Well… He's just amazing. I've learned so much from him."

Matsumoto smirked knowingly.

"So. Do you like your captain?"

Hinamori didn't react dramatically.

She simply pressed her lips together and shook her head.

"No… It's admiration."

She wanted to stand beside him as an equal, not just rely on him.

A complex mix of gratitude, respect, and a hint of dependence.

Matsumoto chuckled.

"So… is that why you wear a smaller uniform? To get his attention?"

The room went silent.

"…???"

Hinamori froze.

A moment later, she clutched her chest in panic.

"AHHHHHHH!!!"

"Ahaha, your face is completely red now. So it wasn't intentional? I see, you simply never thought about it."

"But you know—"

"Even though spiritual bodies grow and age at different rates, you should still pay more attention to your own body. Otherwise, you might suffer some disadvantages in the future."

"For example, someone like you, Lieutenant Hinamori, who's so well-behaved and reserved—actually, you're surprisingly popular among certain groups."

Matsumoto rubbed her chin, her gaze shifting up and down as if evaluating something.

Her expression turned thoughtful.

"Speaking of surprises… You're small, but surprisingly well-endowed."

"Guess you really can't judge by appearances. Wow, I've learned something new today~"

"If this continues, you might run into some difficulties in the future."

Hinamori, still flustered, hesitantly lifted her gaze and cautiously asked,

"W-What kind of difficulties?"

Matsumoto leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a whisper near Hinamori's ear.

"In the future, you might have to give up sleeping on your stomach. Otherwise, you'll feel the pain when everything gets pulled to the sides~"

The topic was far too bold, and the content far too explicit.

"A-A-Ahhh! T-This—!"

If she had a pot lid on her head, the steam rising from her would have sent it flying.

Hinamori's mind was completely overwhelmed, her face so red it looked like she might explode.

By contrast, Matsumoto seemed completely unfazed.

Given her usual attire and behavior, she was practically a seasoned expert in such topics.

"P-Please, p-please—please don't talk about this anymore!"

"Alright, alright, I'll change the subject. My apologies."

The ability to shift between topics so effortlessly—that was the elegance of an 'adult'!

Matsumoto immediately returned to a serious expression, casually flipping through the document in her hands. Her brows furrowed slightly.

"If our Captain hadn't suddenly gone to the Human World, I wouldn't have to worry about all these things~"

Now that they were discussing serious matters, Hinamori also regained her composure.

Still, she subconsciously kept one hand over her chest as if shielding herself. Her tone grew a little more serious.

"Captain Shiba isn't in Seireitei?"

"Yeah, he left yesterday. Said something happened in the Human World that caught his attention."

"But… Isn't the Human World under the jurisdiction of the 13th Division?"

"The 10th Division has some responsibilities there as well, so this kind of thing happens from time to time. As for the reason… Let me think…"

Matsumoto folded her arms across her chest, lifting a considerable amount of volume, which didn't go unnoticed by Hinamori.

—Can they really grow that much?

Matsumoto tapped her lower lip with a finger, deep in thought, before suddenly snapping her fingers.

"Oh! I remember now! There was an attack on one of our stationed members in the Human World. It seems they ran into someone really strong!"

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Powerstones?

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