Now, among these three, at least one of them is my teacher.
After teaching for three to four hours, not only did the three little ones benefit a lot, even Yoshio felt he had made great progress himself. As the saying goes, teaching others is the best way to consolidate your own understanding. For Yoshio, though, it wasn't just consolidation—it felt more like using a special method to deliver advanced instruction to his students, which in turn spurred his own growth.
After class, Yoshio took the three of them out for a meal. By the end, the four of them had become much more familiar with each other.
When Hinamori learned that Yoshio would be patrolling Rukongai tomorrow, she said, "Rukongai—if it's in District 1, you might run into Tōshirō."
"Hm?"
Her words made Yoshio pause.
Tōshirō? That should be Tōshirō Hitsugaya, right?
Wait—has Tōshirō not entered the Spiritual Arts Academy yet?
Yoshio fell into instant contemplation.
It seemed that was indeed the case.
Five years after enrolling, Tōshirō Hitsugaya met Rangiku, and afterward he came to the Seireitei.
Which means…
This year?
According to Hinamori, Tōshirō hasn't started school yet. Isn't this the perfect chance to make friends?
Tōshirō definitely has talent, and as a key character in the original story, his ability certainly won't be weak!
Excellent!
Suppressing his excitement, Yoshio asked Hinamori about Tōshirō.
Hinamori cared a lot about Tōshirō, so she told Yoshio what she knew about him. Tōshirō has silver hair and green eyes, and with his rather aloof personality, he doesn't have many friends in the Rukongai.
Hinamori only lives in the Junrinan district with Tōshirō Hitsugaya—they're not siblings—which surprised Yoshio a bit. He thought they lived together, but it turns out they only live in the same neighborhood.
"When I go tomorrow, I'll keep an eye out for him," Yoshio said to Hinamori with a smile. "If he's gifted, he might become a Shinigami."
"Tōshirō…" Hinamori said, a bit troubled. "He'll definitely become an excellent Shinigami, but he seems a little resistant to becoming an excellent Shinigami."
"That's normal," Yoshio said. "People in the Rukongai tend to have some resistance toward Shinigami. I get it—but for District 1, Junrinan shouldn't be that extreme."
People in the Rukongai have always held a strong aversion to the Seireitei's Shinigami—perhaps because nobody wants too much contact with the police. And the public security in the Rukongai isn't great, especially the farther out you go.
For example, if your area's public safety is abysmal, with murderers and robbers running rampant, would you have a favorable impression of the police?
Still, the First District's security is about the best in the Rukongai, so it's nothing to worry about.
Speaking of the Rukongai, Renji started lamenting too. He and Rukia were originally from South Rukongai, District 78, Inuzuri—one of the worst areas, crawling with scum; everyone had to be ready to stake their lives. Their little group had many people at first, but after more than ten years, only he and Rukia remained.
Similarly, Kira, though of noble birth, was in a situation somewhat like Yoshio's, except he lived in the Rukongai. So when the three talked about the Rukongai, they had a lot in common.
After eating and drinking their fill and spending another half hour together, the three finally left. They still had to return to the Spiritual Arts Academy dorms.
Seeing them off, Yoshio went home a bit excited and checked his skill panel.
Great—he had now successfully acquired Kira's "Bird Killer" and Hinamori's Ultimate Defense.
After this meetup, the four's friendship surged, straight into the stratosphere!
Renji's favorability reached 75, and both Hinamori and Kira's surpassed 60. Favorability is easier to raise early on, but it gets much harder later. Yoshio suspected that even married couples might not hit a hundred. Well, for lovers who truly adore each other, maybe it's possible. In truth, a friend who sticks with you till eighty is worthy of complete trust.
"Thinking about it, the original me had a few close friends too, and I got along quite well with Hisagi Shūhei," Yoshio thought. "Hisagi Shūhei definitely has strength. Even if his favorability toward me isn't sixty yet, it should be close."
After all, they were in the same cohort…
Which means, if I have time, I might be able to visit the Ninth Division.
With the light on, he lay on the bed fully clothed and drifted into a dream full of anticipation and hope for the future.
…
The next day, Yoshio woke up very early. He had to patrol Rukongai today, and it was a long way from Squad Five to the White Road Gate. Even at a Shinigami's walking speed, it would take a long time to get there.
After checking in with the team, Yoshio headed toward Rukongai. He had woken at five, but by the time he reached Rukongai, it was nearly ten.
Rukongai, District 1, Junrinan—being closest to the Seireitei, it had good public security and a relatively prosperous economy; at least there were more shops. Beyond the forties and fifties districts, forget normal commerce—you can't even afford a pair of straw sandals.
Once there, Yoshio followed Hinamori's directions to look for Tōshirō Hitsugaya. The layout of Junrinan wasn't complicated, and before long he found Tōshirō's home.
Tōshirō's house had a layout similar to his own—only the location differed.
Upon arrival, Yoshio knocked on the door.
"Coming."
An elderly woman's voice came from inside—that should be Tōshirō Hitsugaya's grandmother. She opened the door, was startled at the sight of Yoshio, then said weakly, "Honored Shinigami, what can I do for you?"
Seeing the old woman's condition, Yoshio realized her weakness was caused by exposure to ambient spiritual pressure. He murmured, "So it's true. Hinamori wasn't wrong."
"Hinamori?" The old woman smiled when she heard the name. "Are you a friend little Momo met in the Seireitei? Please, come in."
"Thank you for your kindness," Yoshio said.
Following the old woman inside, Yoshio sensed that this grandmother possessed her own ability.
["Kindly Grandmother: Upon acquiring this, your descendants will be especially filial to you."]