'Kasumioji Rurichiyo?'
Hearing the little girl in front of him state her name, Toshiro couldn't help but pause for a moment, and then suddenly remembered her identity.
Kasumioji Rurichiyo, the sole heir of the Kasumioji Clan, which was second only to the four great noble clans, was a character who appeared in the anime original arc [The New Captain Amagai Shusuke Arc].
In the anime original plot, the Kasumioji Clan had, for generations, mastered the Soul Society's weapon forging and the crafting of ceremonial utensils for the royal family.
Even among all the upper-class nobles in the Soul Society, they ranked first, and their status was only slightly lower than that of the Four Great Noble Families.
"The little princess of the Kasumioji Clan, huh?"
Toshiro said with some surprise.
"Hmph, that's right."
Rurichiyo lifted her head like a proud peacock.
'It's her? Well, I've even seen Amagai Shusuke, so Rurichiyo's existence isn't anything rare.'
Toshiro thought to himself.
As far as Toshiro currently knew, the Bleach World he was in should be a world combining anime and manga, so the existence of characters from some anime originals wasn't strange.
"Hey, you rude person, I've already proactively told you my name, yet you don't say yours and just stand there ignoring me."
Rurichiyo complained dissatisfiedly with a cute snort.
"My name? Well, since you've stated yours, I'll tell you mine too."
"Remember it well. My name is Hitsugaya, Hitsugaya Toshiro."
Toshiro said.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro? What a strange name."
Rurichiyo muttered.
Toshiro couldn't help but frown and said, "Strange? What's strange about it?"
Toshiro's name was given to him by his grandmother. Although Toshiro himself didn't care if someone called it strange, once it involved his grandmother, Toshiro felt very unhappy inside.
"'Shiro' isn't that just 'white'?"
Kasumioji Rurichiyo asked.
Toshiro explained helplessly, "That's just a homophone. 'Shi' is the 'shi' from 'lion', 'shiro' just sounds the same as 'white', it doesn't mean white."
'Good grief, every time someone heard my name, they would first think of 'white'.' Toshiro found it very frustrating.
"Oh, I see. So then 'Toshiro' means 'little lion of winter'? That's... that's actually a cute name!"
Rurichiyo said excitedly.
"I..."
Toshiro opened his mouth somewhat aggrievedly, not knowing how to refute.
Rurichiyo's words gave Toshiro a feeling of "What you said makes so much sense, I can't even refute."
Indeed, if understood literally, wasn't it just as Rurichiyo said? Well, Toshiro was born in winter. Maybe his grandmother hoped he would be as strong as a lion, which is why she gave him the name 'Toshiro'.
"Alright, enough about that. Speaking of which, haven't you heard of my name?"
Toshiro somewhat awkwardly changed the subject.
"No."
Rurichiyo shook her head decisively.
"Are you very famous?"
Rurichiyo asked.
"Of course, just by looking at my clothes you could tell... I am the one who can shake the entire Soul Society..."
Speaking here, Toshiro couldn't help but lower his head and glance at the clothes he was wearing.
Then he realized that he had been recuperating in the 4th Division for the past few days and was wearing his favorite blue-green yukata, not his usual Captain's Haori.
If it weren't for the Zanpakuto on his back, anyone who didn't know him would never think that such a young Toshiro was a Shinigami, let alone a Captain.
"Well, forget it."
Since Rurichiyo hadn't heard of his name, Toshiro didn't feel like specifically showing off his status either.
"Alright, kid, go play with your ball by yourself. I have things to do, so I'm leaving now."
Although he had met Rurichiyo, Toshiro had no intention of having an in-depth interaction with her.
He knew something about her situation. At most, he could conveniently help her eliminate Kumoi Gyokaku, no need for excessive contact.
"You're leaving, Toshiro?"
To Toshiro's surprise, upon hearing that he was leaving, Rurichiyo actually looked a bit disappointed.
'What's this? We had only met for a few minutes, yet this girl showed a disappointed expression?'
Seeing this, Toshiro couldn't help but feel a bit strange.
'Could my charm be this great? Making someone unwilling to part after just one meeting?'
Toshiro rubbed his chin, thinking.
"Hey! Don't go. Play with me, okay?"
"Kenryu and Enryu always won't let me play with others. I've never played with anyone my age. But Kenryu and Enryu don't dare to play rough with me. I've always played alone..."
Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro with somewhat lonely eyes.
Kumoi, who held power in the Kasumioji Clan, always wanted to harm Rurichiyo. For her safety, her guardians, Kenryu and Enryu, never allowed her to easily contact others.
And because of the status difference, Kenryu and Enryu didn't dare to overstep and play freely with her. So Rurichiyo desperately wished for a playmate her own age.
Seeing the loneliness revealed in those eyes, so similar to his own, Toshiro's heart couldn't help but suddenly tremble.
"Kasumioji Rurichiyo..."
Toshiro murmured her name.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Hmm... because I feel you are very special. You won't be subservient to me like others. And your eyes are the same as mine. Not just the color, but occasionally, they also show that feeling of loneliness. I think we should be the same kind of people."
"Heh, loneliness? It's just that I'm feeling a bit gloomy today. 'Loneliness' is too much of an exaggeration."
Toshiro found it somewhat amusing.
"So, are you willing to play with me?"
Rurichiyo looked at Toshiro hopefully.
Toshiro shook his head: "Sorry, I haven't been back to my division for several days, so..."
"I see..."
Rurichiyo said, her expression falling.
Finally meeting a playmate she liked, she still had to play alone.
"Yare yare, you're really something. Remember this, I'm a Shinigami from the 10th Division. I really don't have time to play with you today. So next time you want to play with me, come directly to the 10th Division."
Seeing Rurichiyo's disappointed look, Toshiro couldn't help but say.
"Really?"
Rurichiyo suddenly became happy again.
"Of course it's true. Remember, I'm... ah, forget it. I really need to go back now. Goodbye, Rurichiyo."
Having said that, Toshiro headed towards the 10th Division.
Toshiro hadn't been back to the 10th Division for several days. If he didn't return soon, it might affect the normal operation of the division.
"Goodbye, Toshiro. I'll come find you at the 10th Division next time..."
Rurichiyo waved at Toshiro's retreating figure.
However, just as Toshiro hadn't gone very far, an unexpected turn of events suddenly occurred!
"Roar!"
The sound of a beast's roar came, and a gorilla suddenly jumped out from a corner, pouncing on Rurichiyo!