Chapter 109: Impact
Excellence in zanjutsu, hakuda, shunpo, and kido, possessing extremely high proficiency.
This had always been Hitsugaya's understanding of Suoh.
However, the scene presenting before his eyes and spiritual pressure fluctuations arriving through the air refreshed his understanding in the most direct manner.
Within merely this half-year period, tremendous changes beyond his reach had occurred to Suoh.
This advancement speed—how could he possibly catch up?
While Hitsugaya grew slightly distracted, pupils contracting, a crisp splash beside him reclaimed his attention.
Suoh concluded his first training round.
Towel draped atop his head, bare-chested, his robust frame sank into the hot spring pool.
Steam rising from the pool blurred the sharpness between his brows, leaving only completely relaxed ease.
He raised his eyes toward the somewhat dazed Hitsugaya at poolside, his tone carrying teasing flavor.
"What's wrong? That expression really doesn't suit you."
Suoh leaned toward the stone edge behind, stretching his body, letting warm spring water flow past his shoulders, naturally adding another line.
"How is it? This hot spring's pretty good, right?"
"...It's very good."
Hitsugaya paused, his voice somewhat low.
"Only I feel I'm wasting your time."
At this moment, he felt somewhat deflated.
Previously, he'd prepared with full effort to face Suoh's attacks.
Yet after truly engaging, he could only barely follow those unpredictably changing attack trajectories.
Under airtight suppression, wounds increased one after another.
This was still under circumstances where the other had explained key points beforehand.
Without those reminders, his collapse time would likely have come even earlier.
Hitsugaya lowered his gaze, disappointedly staring at his reflection wavering across the water surface.
"...I'm too weak."
He genuinely felt his strength too inadequate.
Though extremely reluctant, he didn't wish to become Suoh's burden.
Suoh knew—time to give this young companion beside him a proper psychology lesson.
His gaze fell calmly upon Hitsugaya, tone relaxed as always.
"If our positions were reversed right now."
"You were the one ahead, while I was the one needing to catch up."
"Would you help me like I'm helping you today? Would you consider helping me a waste of time?"
"Of course! Absolutely not!"
Hitsugaya's expression froze. First nodding then shaking his head, without half a moment's hesitation.
Suoh spread both hands, smiling easily.
"Then that settles it."
"True friendship involves no calculations, only hoping the other becomes better."
He turned his head sideways, raising an eyebrow toward Hitsugaya encouragingly.
"When we first enrolled, your spiritual power class exceeded mine. You achieved Shikai before me too."
"Perhaps someday you'll become captain before me. I'm still counting on your future support."
"Will that happen?"
Between Suoh's persuasion and prolonged hot spring soaking, Hitsugaya's thoughts drifted somewhat.
Imagining future scenes—his grown self wearing a captain's haori...
His mind briefly short-circuited.
"It will."
Suoh spoke with certainty.
The effort he invested in Hitsugaya wasn't entirely useless.
To succeed in training, wealth, companions, techniques, and location—none could be lacking.
Training alone behind closed doors ultimately couldn't match sparring benefits.
Hitsugaya's talent lay plainly evident. Investing time polishing his potential would yield an excellent practice partner.
Moreover, with another person, his underground space training would no longer prove so boring.
Honestly speaking, at least today, knowing a gaze observed from beside him, Suoh's heart vaguely stirred with slight pleasure at displaying prowess.
The several Black Coffins he'd just released accidentally showed further improvement.
"I'll work hard."
Hitsugaya responded in low voice.
Under Suoh's encouragement, previous self-doubting emotions were completely cast aside. His gaze held only clear determination.
"That's right!"
"I have a high-level kido book in my room. After soaking, I'll give it to you to look over."
"You can practice techniques up to number eighty recently. Beyond that, don't attempt yet."
"Is this acceptable?"
Hitsugaya hesitated. Having joined the division over a month.
He clearly understood Seireitei's rules and boundaries. This obviously represented rule violation.
"Of course it's acceptable. I asked Captain Ukitake who gave me the book. He fully supports my decision."
Suoh answered openly, matter-of-factly.
Though Ukitake Jushiro and Hitsugaya shared only brief acquaintance, his impression proved extremely deep.
Additionally being Suoh's close friend, this small request naturally held no reason for refusal.
Suoh shifted topics, continuing.
"Besides, if you directly asked Captain Isshin, he'd definitely give you a copy too. I have absolutely no doubt."
"You know his personality—definitely not stingy, definitely not meticulous."
"If you don't proactively find him to mention it, waiting for him to remember and proactively provide one—that'll take who knows how long."
"...You're right!"
These words successfully resonated with Hitsugaya.
Recalling Shiba Isshin's daily words and actions, that casually indifferent manner, he nodded in deep agreement.
Striking while the iron was hot.
Suoh's eyebrows rose lightly, raising a thumb proudly.
"Moreover, mine contains Captain Ukitake's careful annotations. The content's definitely different! You'll know once you read it!"
"Plus, our strength improvements also benefit Seireitei. No need to fuss over so many rules."
"Makes sense! Then I'll gladly accept."
At this moment, Hitsugaya completely accepted Suoh's reasoning, nodding to accept this kindness.
Several minutes later.
The two wore white simple garments, returning to the cottage.
The interior held simple furnishings. Compared to before, only a bamboo standing screen divided the space in two.
Suoh pointed toward the bedding on the left.
The futon was thick, topped with a soft pillow.
"Tonight you'll sleep here. In a few days I'll help you build another room beside this."
"I don't know if I snore while sleeping. Bear with it these few days."
Though he habitually lived alone, time pressed urgently. Currently this simple arrangement would suffice.
"No problem."
"Regarding building the room, is there anything I can help with?"
Hitsugaya shook his head, then inquired.
"No need. Practice makes perfect. I can handle it alone."
"Sōkyoku Hill's vicinity provides abundant raw materials. Not troublesome."
Suoh's tone remained relaxed.
Speaking thus, he raised his hand to extract a book from the shelf beside the window, handing it to Hitsugaya.
"This is it. Take your time reading. If you don't understand anything, ask me anytime."
"I'll continue training now."
"Alright."
Hitsugaya sat on the cushion before the low table, opening the pages by light streaming through the window.
Paper rustled, sounding especially peaceful in this quiet underground space.
Outside, intense, heavy spiritual pressure fluctuations soon transmitted again, wave after wave arriving through the air.