Chapter 121: Curiosity
The other location, Tenth Division office.
"Mmm... finally finished!"
Matsumoto Rangiku completed the last document, languidly stretching her body. Curves outlined heart-stopping arcs beneath gentle illumination.
Magnificent scenery.
Yet no one watched.
Diagonally opposite, Hitsugaya focused intently on organizing documents, completely ignoring her.
The other side's captain position—Shiba Isshin finished his own work and disappeared somewhere.
"So bored..."
She laid on the desk, boredly looking around everywhere.
Since returning from that forest that day, she'd deeply reflected on past conduct.
This past month she'd invested most attention into lieutenant work, diligently fulfilling her responsibilities.
However this also approached a limit.
After last night's relaxed banquet, once taut strings relaxed, she'd reverted to old habits, beginning to return to past appearance.
"Hitsugaya—"
She drew out the tone, voice carrying obvious boredom.
"I still have two documents unfinished. Whatever it is, discuss later."
Hitsugaya raised head from documents, eyes calmly looking toward her.
Before finishing speaking, he dropped gaze back to documents in hand.
Between words and actions, lacking several parts respect toward his superior.
"Oh."
Long accustomed to his attitude, Matsumoto Rangiku only pursed lips, changing posture, single hand supporting chin, quietly waiting.
As Third Seat, Hitsugaya proved extremely excellent in both strength and work capability.
His only flaw—personality too serious, usually lacking several parts interest.
Plus his age and appearance too young, unable to drink, usually couldn't play together with her.
Within her mind, an image suddenly flashed of the Third Seat replaced by Suoh Tsukasa.
Enthusiastically witty, very conversational, strength also powerful. Plus cooking excellent dishes, alcohol tolerance also good.
If someone like that belonged to Tenth Division, how nice that would be.
Surely very interesting.
Matsumoto Rangiku's gaze drifted slightly distant, fingertips unconsciously curling a golden hair strand.
Since that joint battle, Suoh occasionally appeared in her mind.
Not just from friendship bonds, but more from... curiosity.
She clearly remembered that night's Dankū blocking before her, plus that dazzling radiance and confident calm expression.
Since Hitsugaya joined the division, she who remained almost inseparable from him most clearly sensed changes in him.
Initially she'd thought merely ordinary extra training with Suoh, but after several subjugation missions with him, she discovered unusual aspects.
Strength grew too rapidly, combat style formed too quickly.
That absolutely couldn't be achieved through ordinary training.
Previously during chat, Shiba Isshin mentioned Hitsugaya's strength showed trends surpassing hers.
At the time, her heart held some dissatisfaction. Now she clearly understood his words weren't jokes.
THUD—
While she daydreamed, neatly stacked documents were placed before her.
Hitsugaya's indifferent voice transmitted from beside her ear.
"Documents finished. What did you need?"
Matsumoto Rangiku recovered, meeting those jade-green eyes, smiling warmly, tone sincere.
"Hitsugaya, your strength's recent improvement truly proves so rapid."
"Even the captain frequently praises you. Really so impressive."
Facing this sudden praise, Hitsugaya fell silent briefly, momentarily uncertain how to respond.
"Just normal training."
He merely nodded slightly, simply replying.
Subsequently expression calmly looking back at Matsumoto Rangiku before him, awaiting her continued performance.
This non-response response made the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
Conversation completely interrupted.
Matsumoto Rangiku blinked, observing Hitsugaya's expressionless face before her, unable to resist sighing inwardly.
Really too unable to chat!
However she'd long grown accustomed.
Her eyes rolled. Considering wording, body leaning forward slightly, hand blocking beside mouth, lowering voice asking.
"Hitsugaya, tell me... if today I wanted to visit that place... to tour, would it be okay?"
"That's Tsukasa's place. I can't make decisions."
Hearing this, Hitsugaya's brow furrowed slightly.
After a moment, he replied indifferently.
Detecting his expression change, Matsumoto Rangiku's heart rejoiced.
This point she remained clear about. Recently while Suoh faced restraints, Hitsugaya's outgoing frequency immediately decreased considerably—too obvious.
Her purpose wasn't having him directly bring her there, but rather another objective.
"Then can you help me? Help transmit a message asking Tsukasa—maybe he'll agree?"
"I'm truly very curious. Please, just looking around, and I promise absolute secrecy!"
Zanpakuto to certain degrees reflected master's nature. As Haineko's master, she possessed cat-like intense curiosity.
Hitsugaya fell silent again briefly, ultimately nodding.
He held some understanding of Matsumoto Rangiku's personality. Once becoming curious about something, she'd want investigating reasons.
Precisely this personality had once saved past him, creating present him.
He could sense—if he didn't agree helping with this favor, her secretly following possibility proved extremely high.
Currently their shunpo level gap wasn't too large. Wanting to forcibly shake her off would necessarily attract others' attention.
Thinking thus, he lightly sighed.
"I can help you ask, but decision rights rest with Tsukasa."
"Of course!"
"Thank you, Hitsugaya!"
Seeing objective achieved, Matsumoto Rangiku's eyes brightened, speaking joyfully.
Regarding whether the request would be granted, she held considerable confidence.
Because she could sense Suoh had long viewed her as friend.
From initial contact to last shared meal, given Suoh's personality, agreement possibility proved extremely high.
Moreover she felt her small request didn't seem excessive.
Speaking of difficulty, merely having this cold, emotionless Hitsugaya help use communication device sending message asking.
Hitsugaya retrieved communication device from clothes, fingers pausing on keys briefly, inputting briefly.
"Matsumoto wants to come, okay?"
Send.
"That simple?"
Matsumoto Rangiku leaned closer, vaguely seeing screen information clearly, raising this question.
Just sending these few characters could express meaning clearly, or was this machine's own limitation? She didn't quite understand.
Words barely finished, screen display changed, showing even briefer characters.
"Okay."
"Tsukasa agreed."
Hitsugaya raised head, closing the device and returning it to clothes.
Matsumoto Rangiku froze. She'd originally thought at least saying several more sentences, or asking reasons. Unexpectedly Suoh responded so directly.
After storing the device, Hitsugaya looked at her, tone serious.
"Before that, some words need clarifying."
"Speak."
Matsumoto Rangiku also restrained her smile, seriously nodding.
"That place is Tsukasa's secret base, containing many secrets. Very important to him."
"Without permission, absolutely cannot mention externally."
"I swear."
Matsumoto Rangiku raised fingers, speaking solemnly.
"Okay. Then later follow me. When moving en route, pay attention."
"Alright!"
She'd already begun anticipating.