Chapter 80: Trigger
"Captain, everyone's assembled!"
Just then, a squad member's clear report came from outside the door.
"Good, right away."
Shiba Isshin turned to respond, then looked toward the three inside the room.
"Let's go."
Toshiro and Matsumoto Rangiku followed. Suoh remained in place.
"Tsukasa, let's go."
Shiba Isshin noticed something wrong and turned back to call out.
"Me too?"
Suoh asked puzzled.
Why would someone from the Thirteenth Division participate in the Tenth Division's induction ceremony?
However, before his words finished, Shiba Isshin was already laughing heartily, dragging his shoulder without allowing refusal.
"Haha, don't be so distant! Let's go!"
The hearty laughter carried undeniable warmth.
Thus, under the obviously curious gazes of the Tenth Division squad members, this induction ceremony held for new seated officer Hitsugaya Toshiro featured a special sight—a tall, unfamiliar seated officer standing beside Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku.
This unexpected episode naturally diverted some of the squad members' attention originally focused on Toshiro's overly youthful appearance.
Experienced masters could always restrain their spiritual pressure without a single leak.
But at certain moments, revealing one's edge at just the right time could actually save considerable trouble.
Toshiro, who'd grown up under others' peculiar gazes since childhood, had long learned to read the doubt and skepticism in these squad members' eyes.
He clearly remembered Suoh telling him that the Shinoreijutsuin valued strength, not appearance. Then the Gotei 13 would be no different.
When Shiba Isshin loudly announced his appointment, the silver-haired youth calmly stepped forward, his voice clear and calm.
"I'm Hitsugaya Toshiro. Please take care of me."
The instant his words fell, a crisp spiritual pressure quietly permeated the venue like first snow.
Not aggressive, yet allowing every squad member present to clearly feel that force not to be underestimated.
"Please take care of us!"
The assembled squad members responded loudly, much of those emotions in their gazes fading.
Though spiritual pressure's strength couldn't completely represent a person's actual combat ability.
But the class suppression from higher spiritual power was forever the most straightforward proof of strength.
The Tenth Division's induction ceremony held no major differences from the Thirteenth Division's, equally brief.
However, due to differences in captains, the Thirteenth Division's ceremonies had to coordinate with the captain's physical condition to determine timing.
After the ceremony concluded, squad members departed in orderly fashion.
Shiba Isshin waved his large hand, directly issuing a perfectly natural order.
"Rangiku, they're in your hands. I'm off!"
He turned and left, continuing to tackle his mountain of document review work.
Only leaving behind a gallant figure heroically battling the document mountain beast, directly tossing Suoh and Toshiro to Matsumoto Rangiku.
"Let's go then, since the captain gave orders."
Matsumoto Rangiku spread both hands, turning to face the two.
"Then let this reliable lieutenant give you a proper tour of the Tenth Division barracks."
"Suoh—3rd Seat shouldn't be busy, right? Since you'll be visiting again anyway, let's tour together."
Her tone paused subtly at the surname, eyebrows raising slightly as she spoke easily and naturally.
"Thank you for your kindness, Rangiku-san."
"If you don't mind, just call me Tsukasa."
Suoh met her smiling gaze, composedly picking up the conversation.
Matsumoto Rangiku was quite satisfied with his familiar personality, nodding happily as she asked casually.
"Great! By the way, do you drink?"
"Not much usually, but I'll have a few cups at gatherings."
"Oh~~"
The three figures moved beneath the Tenth Division barracks' corridor eaves.
Matsumoto Rangiku walked in front, enthusiastically introducing various facilities while occasionally chatting with Suoh beside her.
Toshiro, still unacquainted with alcohol, maintained silence throughout, following quietly behind them both as if excluded, like someone pushed aside by the two.
His face showed no particular emotion, only his slightly pursed lips faintly revealing a trace of helplessness.
The Tenth Division tour's final stop was also a small courtyard.
"Toshiro, this will be your quarters."
Matsumoto Rangiku stopped before the courtyard gate, waving to them both.
"My mission's complete too. Bye!"
Without waiting for their response, she turned and departed with light, cheerful steps.
Suoh and Toshiro exchanged glances.
First, Suoh slightly turned sideways, smiling in gesture.
"Shall we, Toshiro 3rd Seat?"
"Please, Suoh 3rd Seat."
Then Toshiro stepped across the threshold, turning back with a smile.
The two walked side by side through the clean but somewhat empty courtyard into the main building.
Matsumoto Rangiku's personality lacked Shiba Miyako's thoughtfulness. Though the room was similarly cleaned, aside from basic furniture there were no extra furnishings, revealing temporary placement's simplicity.
The two made tea and ate snacks Suoh had brought, as if returning to their former time sharing a courtyard.
Suoh asked about the teachers' recent situations. Toshiro was curious about his life in the Thirteenth Division.
Back and forth they spoke. Outside the window, the sun quietly rose bit by bit, then fell bit by bit.
Finally, after Suoh finished imparting some small insights about leading squad members, they dined together at the Tenth Division dining hall.
"I'm off."
"Mm."
Toshiro saw him to the barracks gate, watching Suoh's upright figure disappear into the gradually deepening night.
Underground training ground.
Suoh's body fell from the passage entrance's height.
The hundred-meter free fall was one of his recent pleasures.
As his figure drew closer to the ground, Suoh's foot lightly tapped. A neat flip offset the falling force.
Looking around.
The surrounding environment no longer featured only bare rock surrounding the hot spring. Beside the open-air kitchen, Suoh had also constructed a simple hot spring cottage from wood.
Not as carefully arranged as the barracks rooms, but containing what was needed.
Occasionally he'd spend the night directly here, soaking in the spring to shift his mood.
The division had few restrictions on Suoh. As long as he didn't disappear for days and showed up on time during the day, no one cared what he did during free time.
As usual, after cleansing and relaxing his body in the spring.
Suoh returned to the cottage wearing plain white underclothes, picking up his Asauchi from beside the room.
He sat cross-legged on a cushion inside, beginning daily training.
As his breathing gradually lengthened, spiritual pressure permeated the Asauchi on his knees.
The underground space held perfect silence, accompanied only by the hot spring's gurgling water sounds outside.
Hummmm—
As if time around Suoh froze at this moment.
Like an extremely faint tremor came from the Asauchi, responding to Suoh's long-standing call.
The trigger Shiba Isshin had mentioned during the day descended at this moment.
The hot spring's flowing water sounds suddenly receded, as if invisible hands severed the sound strings.
Finally, what Suoh perceived was the complete disappearance of all material existence around him.
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