Second Division, Captain's Office.
Today marked the third day after the wedding. To cultivate the administrative skills of Rukia and Momo Hinamori, Soifon had rarely instructed Marechiyo Ōmaeda to delegate some of the division's paperwork to the Captain's office for them to review.
Upon hearing this, the massive man was so moved that tears nearly streamed down his face.
Inside the room, Soifon lightly tapped the dazed Momo Hinamori. Watching the girl scramble to her feet and apologize in a panic, Soifon couldn't help but let out a helpless laugh.
"What's wrong? You seem distracted."
"Soifon-sensei, I..."
"It's not like Rukia isn't coming back. The Kuchiki Clan will have her return to the squad soon enough."
"I know..."
"Suit yourself. I'm heading to the Department of Research and Development. Do you want me to bring back some of those newly cultivated peaches for you?"
"No thank you, Sensei..."
Momo Hinamori patted her cheeks, picked up a division document, and began her review. She forced a "sunny" grin at Soifon.
Tsk, that smile is so fake. A young girl's heart really is hard to read.
Soifon didn't call her out on the forced smile. She simply gave Momo's soft cheek a playful pinch before heading out.
Bang—
The moment the office door closed, the smile on Momo Hinamori's face gradually faded, replaced by a listless expression.
—"Rukia, are you willing to join the Kuchiki family and become my sister?"
—"This was your sister Hisana's wish. From the moment she met me, she never stopped looking for you."
Momo recalled the words Byakuya Kuchiki had spoken to Rukia after the wedding yesterday, and her heart felt inevitably heavy.
She didn't know how long Rukia would be gone. The house rules of the Four Great Noble Houses were notoriously strict. She had heard that children there were tutored from the moment they were born.
Surely Rukia, this half-baked noble, wouldn't just slack off for half a year or a year and leave all the division paperwork to her, right?
But most importantly...
Now that Rukia was a member of the Kuchiki Clan, her ability to help Soifon-sensei in the future would surely be far greater than Momo's own. This gap made Momo feel a sense of melancholy.
She was happy for her best friend, yet frustrated by her own perceived incompetence.
Sigh...
She shook those intrusive thoughts out of her head.
Transforming into a 'desktop cleaning master,' Momo Hinamori processed the official documents on the desk with lightning speed before returning to her own room.
"Right now, I can't do anything..."
"Please, Tobiume."
Inputting that 'classic password,' Momo drew Tobiume from her waist and sat cross-legged on her bed to begin meditating.
*
At the Department of Research and Development, Soifon was currently negotiating with Mayuri Kurotsuchi for the equipment she needed.
"Hello. I need a device capable of real-time positioning, high concealment, painless implantation, and a protection mechanism that triggers if the target receives a lethal blow."
Bang—
Before Soifon could even finish her sentence, Mayuri slammed the door and stormed out, leaving her and Nemu Kurotsuchi staring at each other.
Soifon asked, "Did I say something wrong?"
Nemu replied flatly, "Too little money, too much work."
So that's it? He just wants more funding? Our Second Division is the last place to lack money, thanks to the Ōmaeda family.
"Should have said so. I can increase the payment."
"Or perhaps you need some experimental subjects? The Second Division has plenty of prisoners waiting for execution..."
Soifon knew Mayuri hadn't gone far.
Creeak—
"Ahem, but then again..." Mayuri pushed the door open, grinning as if nothing had happened. "Captain Soifon's request just now is actually something I'm quite interested in."
Mayuri didn't ask what Soifon intended to use the device for. After all, combining so many questionable functions meant it certainly wasn't for anything 'above board.'
"I wonder when Captain Soifon needs this by?"
As it happened, Mayuri Kurotsuchi wasn't exactly a 'good person' either.
"Hmm..." Soifon calculated Ryūken Ishida's current age. "Can you do it in ten years, Director Mayuri?"
Such a generous deadline! Such a lavish client!
"Hee hee hee~~" Mayuri was overjoyed. "Of course. Once it's finished, I'll have Nemu deliver it to you personally, Captain Soifon."
"By the way, is there a way for souls without spiritual power to survive within the Seireitei?"
Soifon thought of Hisana Kuchiki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya's grandmother. Those two seemed to suffer because they couldn't withstand the heavy pressure of souls...
"That's even simpler. Just make a portable device that isolates ordinary Spiritual Pressure. As long as they aren't deliberately targeted by a powerful Reiatsu, there won't be any problems."
Mayuri waved his hand dismissively, indicating he would bundle this in as a freebie.
*
Carrying a bag of the new peach variety, Soifon returned to the Second Division barracks.
"Momo, I've got peaches! Come eat some peaches."
Pushing open the office door, Soifon blinked at the empty room. She walked to the desk and leafed through the papers; the division documents had already been fully processed.
She then carried the bag to Momo Hinamori's dormitory. The curtains weren't fully closed, and she could see the girl sitting cross-legged on the bed performing Jinzen...
Actually, wait!
Momo's head was nodding rhythmically, teetering on the edge of falling over. She had clearly fallen asleep in the middle of her meditation.
Gently pushing the door open, Soifon set the peaches on the table. She supported the meditating Momo and helped her lie flat on the bed.
To actually fall asleep during Jinzen... Momo, I'm willing to call you the strongest when it comes to sleeping.
Tucking the girl in tightly, Soifon sat by the bed, picked up a peach, wiped it on her sleeve, and began to munch on it.
The Department of Research and Development's side business wasn't bad. This new variety was large, juicy, and packed with spiritual energy.
For the record, Soifon preferred soft peaches.
Sniff— sniff—
The aroma of peaches filled the small dorm. The sleeping Momo's nose twitched involuntarily as the cravings in her stomach gradually woke her up.
"Smells so good..."
Momo Hinamori opened her eyes, her first words a murmur of physical instinct.
However, when she saw the familiar figure sitting by her bed, her eyes widened, and two patches of crimson instantly flushed her cheeks.
"S-Soifon-sensei!?"
With a start, Momo scrambled into a sitting position.
"You're awake?" Soifon handed over a peach. "Hungry? Eat."
"I..."
Taking the peach with both hands, Momo's eyes suddenly began to sting for some reason.
"Momo... you?"
Soifon didn't have any tissues on hand, so she could only pull the girl into a hug, using her own Captain's Haori to wipe Momo's tears.
"I'm sorry, Sensei," Momo said, flustered. "I don't know why I..."
Buried in the embrace of the person she admired, Momo had initially just felt useless and downcast. But seeing Soifon-sensei being so kind to her, she truly felt like crying.
"Rukia has become a part of the Kuchiki family... she'll definitely be able to help Sensei more in the future..."
"But I... I can't do anything right..."
"Just now... I wanted to do Jinzen, I wanted to communicate with Tobiume and get stronger... but I ended up falling asleep..."
"And Sensei even went out of her way... to bring me peaches..."
She buried her face deeper into Soifon's haori, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Soifon listened quietly without interrupting, simply patting the girl's back.
Seriously, what is this all about?
After a long while, Momo's sobbing subsided, and she timidly lifted her head.
"What?" Seeing her like this, Soifon gave a dry laugh. "Finished crying?"
Momo Hinamori, with her eyes still red, decided to push her luck. "Can I stay like this for a little longer? Soifon-sensei..."
"Suit yourself."
A crying child always gets the candy. Soifon adjusted her posture and held Momo Hinamori in her arms, leaning back against the bed.
"By the way, remember to eat that peach in your hand."
"Eh? I'm supposed to eat it in Captain Soifon's arms?"
"You can, but if you get juice on my clothes, you're the one washing them."
"Yes! I'll definitely get them dirty!"
"Huh—?"
"No, I mean, I definitely won't get them dirty..."
____
New Story: ZZZ: Mr. Ethereal Does Not Want to See a Tragedy
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