On the other side.
Toshiro's figure darted across the rooftops of various buildings, tracking Rurichiyo ahead.
"Hmm?" Toshiro suddenly noticed that Rurichiyo ahead had stopped running and instead paused on the roof of a building.
Whoosh!
Toshiro's figure flashed and appeared beside Rurichiyo.
"Why did you stop running?" Toshiro looked at Rurichiyo, who was sitting on the rooftop gazing up at the starry sky.
"Hmph, I can't outrun you anyway." Rurichiyo gave a weak, cute snort.
"Heh, you know you can't outrun , so why run?" Toshiro chuckled softly.
Rurichiyo, looking lonely at the star-filled sky, did not speak.
Seeing her lonely and desolate expression, Toshiro's heart trembled. He inexplicably rembered the original Toshiro when he was a child.
When the original Toshiro was little, besides his grandmother and Momo, everyone else either hated or feared him. No one was willing to play with him. He often had that sa lonely and desolate expression.
That might be why the original Toshiro was so obsessed with his only childhood friend, Momo.
Even the current Toshiro's acceptance of Momo might have been influenced by the lingering thoughts of his predecessor.
"Yare yare, showing such a lonely expression at such a young age will give you wrinkles, you know." Toshiro teased.
Rurichiyo ignored his tease and instead looked lancholy and said, "Hey, Toshiro, did I cause trouble for everyone?"
"Trouble?" Toshiro asked with so surprise.
In the Japanese mindset, causing trouble for others is a very serious accusation.
Rurichiyo nodded, "Mm, I heard that several 10th Division's mbers were injured in the earlier fight. If it weren't for , Kumoi wouldn't have sent people to infiltrate the 10th Division, and they wouldn't have been hurt, right? Also, Kenryu was injured protecting from the enemy breaking into the room. If it weren't for , if it weren't for ..."
"That's not right, Rurichiyo. How can you say that?"
Toshiro used his [Ultimate Technique - Head Pat], gently stroking Rurichiyo's golden hair, and sat down beside her.
"If it weren't for you, Rurichiyo, Kenryu, Enryu, and everyone would be sad."
Toshiro comforted her.
"Would Toshiro be sad too?" Rurichiyo looked at him intently.
Those erald green eyes, so similar to Toshiro's own, seed to hold a strange power, capable of captivating anyone.
"Well... if it weren't for Rurichiyo, I would be very sad too." After a mont's hesitation, Toshiro still nodded.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Rurichiyo's expression seed to ease a little.
Toshiro continued to comfort her, "Actually, you shouldn't bla yourself for today's events. Shinigami bear the responsibility of protecting the Seireitei and the Soul Society. We often fight enemies. Even death is commonplace, let alone injuries. So you don't need to worry about those few injured mbers."
"As for Kenryu, that guy would only be happy to be able to protect your safety. He wouldn't care at all about being injured. Besides, he was just lightly grazed by the enemy. It's not even a minor injury. He'll be fine after sleeping it off and waking up tomorrow."
"In short... don't bla yourself so much. Just be your usual self."
Although he wasn't skilled at giving motivational speeches, Toshiro did his best to comfort Rurichiyo. Not for any other reason, but simply because he saw his forr self in her.
"My usual self?"
Rurichiyo murmured.
"In Toshiro's eyes... what am I usually like?"
Rurichiyo asked.
"Well... very lively, jumping around. In short, you're full of... ahem, full of energy." Toshiro cleared his throat.
During her two days at the 10th Division, Rurichiyo had been bouncing off the walls all day, causing chaos wherever she went.
"Full of energy? Hehe..." Rurichiyo suddenly laughed.
"I've actually been very happy these two days at the 10th Division. No one scolds for things like sitting on the roof watching the stars."
"That's because you're a princess, everyone's worried you might get hurt." Toshiro said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah."
Hearing Toshiro's words, Rurichiyo suddenly beca downcast again.
"You know, Toshiro, at the Kasumioji Residence, I wasn't full of energy like this."
"Because at the Kasumioji Residence, if I got hurt, soone would definitely be punished. I couldn't even get a minor injury without consequences. So although there were many things I wanted to do, every ti it would bring misfortune to everyone. Like the ti I learned archery."
"When I was little, I was practicing archery in the woods when a wild boar suddenly ran out. While running away, I accidentally fell into a pit. I got a little hurt. Actually, it wasn't even really an injury… I was just a bit sore from the fall."
"But... the person teaching archery and the people taking care of were all punished. The wild boar was caught and made into roast suckling pig."
"There were many incidents like this. For example, because I casually went out, the gatekeeper was fired."
"When I was little, I didn't realize that because of , many people were punished. If I had realized it earlier, I would definitely have been a more obedient child. But... I didn't know. Saying this now is very irresponsible, right? So when I grew up, I rarely played at ho. I just occasionally found ways to have Kenryu and Enryu take out to play."
Hearing the fate of the wild boar, Toshiro couldn't help but want to laugh, but he found it impossible to do so.
"How kind you are, Rurichiyo. You're so sad because the ones being punished are others, right?" Toshiro said softly.
"I'm sorry, Toshiro." Rurichiyo suddenly said.
"Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Toshiro asked.
"These past two days, I've been protected by you and the 10th Division, yet I acted willfully here, argued with your two Lieutenants, Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku, and caused you so much trouble. You're not angry with , are you?" Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro nervously.
"No, how could I be angry with soone as kind and gentle as you, Rurichiyo?" Toshiro said with a smile.
After talking with Rurichiyo like this, her emotions gradually cald down.
"Rurichiyo, that old bastard Kumoi has endured for many years. He won't give up after this failure. But don't be afraid. I'll protect you during this ti. After I deal with Kumoi, you can return to the Kasumioji Residence." Toshiro suggested.
"Afraid? Hmph, I'm not afraid of Kumoi. Actually, I've known for a long ti that Kumoi has always wanted to kill to usurp the Kasumioji Clan." Rurichiyo said.
"You've known for a long ti?" Toshiro asked, sowhat surprised.
"Mm, I've long known that Kumoi has his eye on . Also, the things Kenryu, Enryu, Toshiro, and everyone have been keeping from to avoid worrying ." Rurichiyo nodded.
"How did you know?" Toshiro asked curiously.
"Hmph, even if I'm unlucky, I couldn't possibly encounter those so-called 'accidents' every day, right? I'm not stupid. With a little analysis, I guessed it was Kumoi's doing."
"Of course, I was only suspicious before and didn't voice these guesses. Later, Kenryu and Enryu encouraged to co to the 10th Division to find you. Although I wanted to co anyway, I wouldn't have co before dawn. And after arriving, Kenryu and Enryu never ntioned when we were going back."
"These unusual things made speculate that Kenryu and Enryu had long known Kumoi wanted to kill ."
"But... these were just my speculations until you explained the truth to just now, confirming those speculations were real."
"And speculations are just speculations. When I actually heard the truth, it was still hard for to accept such cruel truth. That's why I suddenly ran out."
Rurichiyo said, her expression downcast.
"It's okay, Rurichiyo. I'll protect you."
Toshiro suddenly held her hand, comforting her.
"Protect ? For a lifeti?"
Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro with hopeful eyes.
"Silly, just for this period..."
Toshiro turned his head, avoiding her gaze.
"Hmph, decision made! You're not allowed to go back tonight. You have to stay here and watch the stars with !"
Rurichiyo, sowhat angry, hugged Toshiro's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
Toshiro hesitated for a mont but didn't push her away.
"Well, I won't go back then." Toshiro said helplessly.
Then the two looked up at the bright stars in the night sky, neither speaking again.
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