Chapter 22: Young Lion
The next morning, the weather was clear and bright—exactly late March, early spring.
After saying goodbye to family and friends in the morning, Suoh Tsukasa set out alone on the journey to register.
Sunlight carrying some warmth dispelled the last trace of winter's chill lingering in the air.
Some grass and trees along the roadside sprouted new green, decorating the earth-toned edges of West Rukongai District 1 and adding several degrees of lively vitality.
Continuing forward, the towering, majestic White Path Gate soon came completely into view.
This giant gate never opened ordinarily, so a small door had been opened at the gate's lower end.
Members of the Onmitsukido dressed entirely in black with faces covered by black cloth guarded beside the small door—this door was the only path for personnel passage in normal times.
"Mm!?"
Suoh suddenly stopped his steps, following his spiritual sense's perception to look toward a few scattered wooden houses not far off the road.
"Grandmother, I'm leaving!"
"Safe travels!"
Before the wooden house was exactly the scene of a kindly-faced old grandmother seeing off her grandson.
The boy wasn't tall, wearing simple cloth clothing, with snow-white silver short hair and translucent emerald green eyes like jade.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro!?"
These uniquely distinctive appearance features let him instantly recognize the other's identity.
His current clothing indicated his identity at this moment was not yet a Shinigami.
After saying goodbye to his grandmother, Hitsugaya Toshiro hadn't walked more than a few steps when his keen spiritual sense also made him aware of the well-intentioned gaze mixed with familiarity, assessment, and curiosity that Suoh was directing toward him.
His exceptional talent meant that even without undergoing systematized Shinigami training, his spiritual pressure strength was already among the top one or two of all people Suoh had encountered.
A well-intentioned gaze!?
Though he couldn't see clearly or understand the complex emotions, he could still distinguish between goodwill and rejection.
Since childhood, Hitsugaya Toshiro had been feared and ostracized by souls living around his residence due to his unique appearance and the spiritual pressure unconsciously leaking out, living an extremely lonely life.
Even when he went to shops on Rukongai's streets, shopkeepers who'd contacted numerous Shinigami acted like they'd never seen anything, facing him with the same fear as a tiger.
It could be said Suoh was the only person besides his dearest grandmother, childhood friend Hinamori Momo, and the rough female Shinigami Matsumoto Rangiku who'd previously suggested he become a Shinigami, who didn't look at him with strange eyes.
The two's gazes met for the first time at this Seireitei entrance.
"So tall."
Examining Suoh's appearance—his handsome features, upright bearing, good quality black kimono—it was clear this person had never appeared in his memories.
After their gazes met in the air, Suoh didn't rashly approach to make conversation. He simply stood in place with a smile and nodded in greeting.
"Little Lion, be polite to people, and then people will like you."
Inexplicably recalling his grandmother's past teachings, Hitsugaya Toshiro subconsciously wanted to nod in greeting and return the courtesy.
But before his head lowered, his small face immediately reddened slightly as he realized his action was somewhat wrong. Why would he exchange greetings with someone he'd never met?
He abruptly turned his head to stop looking toward Suoh's direction, but the corner of his eye still uncontrollably drifted his way.
"Little Lion, what's wrong? Did you forget to bring something?"
Seeing her grandson walk a few steps then stand still, the elderly woman called out somewhat puzzled.
Suoh was some distance from their house. She hadn't noticed his presence.
"No, I'm leaving. Goodbye, Grandmother."
"No, I don't have time to think about this. I need to quickly become a Shinigami."
Remembering the main issue, Hitsugaya Toshiro shook his head to dispel distracting thoughts while replying.
Saying goodbye to his grandmother, his two small legs moved, striding swiftly without looking back as he rushed into the small door beneath the White Path Gate. His figure quickly disappeared from Suoh's sight.
"How cute."
Having enjoyed a free performance of the famous lion dance scene 'young lion shaking its head,' Suoh followed in his footsteps.
He hadn't expected to become classmates with Hitsugaya Toshiro. The corners of his mouth couldn't help lifting in a smile. This embarrassing history could sustain him for a lifetime.
"Morning."
Passing through the White Path Gate, he was greeted by a figure like a small mountain—precisely the White Path Gate's guardian, Jidanbo Ikkanzaka.
In good spirits, Suoh showed not the slightest disturbance at the other's abnormal appearance and simply offered a greeting.
"Morning. The Shinoreijutsuin is one hundred meters south, turn right and you're there."
Suoh was among the rare registering students who would greet him. Seeing his natural, casual attitude, Jidanbo felt considerable goodwill.
Thinking he wanted to ask directions, Jidanbo extended one thick finger to point out the direction, speaking warmly.
"Got it, thank you."
Suoh didn't explain the small misunderstanding. After thanking him, he proceeded as directed.
Early spring was also the most beautiful season for cherry blossoms to bloom.
Walking around the corner, pink cherry blossom petals scattered and danced on the wind.
Passing the surrounding wall, an extremely imposing architectural complex came into view. The towering courtyard walls were built from white stone, appearing solemn and dignified. Above the gate hung a heavy plaque inscribed with "Shinoreijutsuin."
Beyond the gate walls, on both sides of the wide road leading to the academy's main building, two rows of tall cherry trees were planted in neat order.
It was exactly flowering season now. The abundant cherry blossoms were like clouds and rosy dawn, weaving a pale pink vaulted corridor.
When the breeze passed, petals rustled and fell like a gentle snow, adding several degrees of rare softness and poetry to this solemn Shinigami academy.
Walking through the cherry blossom snow, Suoh passed through the main gate and came to the registration point located at the side, greeting the staff member inside the window.
"Hello, I'm a new student here to register for enrollment."
"This is the enrollment information. If you want to participate in the school examination, fill in 'yes' in the last column."
The staff member didn't even look up, casually pushing an enrollment information sheet out through the window to him, and pointed to the application forms in a box beside the window.
He'd gone through this process countless times. His voice carried the exhaustion and mechanical quality of repeating the same speech for years, but he still dutifully completed the procedure.
Suoh picked up the information sheet. It contained the class application rules and precautions—identical to the information he'd learned.
The blank application form beside it had very simple content, just four items: name, gender, origin, and most importantly, whether to apply to participate in school examination.
"Here."
He handed the completed form back through the window.
"The examination begins this afternoon after... registration closes."
"Be prepared."
After receiving the form and organizing it, the staff member's tone paused. He looked up, somewhat surprised as he examined Suoh before him.
He hadn't expected to receive two application forms choosing to participate in school examination on the last registration day—quite different from usual.
However, the black-haired youth before him looked obviously far more reliable than the silver-haired kid from before—not just by a little. He casually offered a simple word of encouragement.
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