Chapter 169: Beginning
Outside the White Road Gate, heads crowded together.
The New Year atmosphere hadn't completely dissipated yet.
Before the White Road Gate, the massive doors remained tightly shut as a group waited their turn for clearance.
Exhaled white breath rose curling through the crowd along with scattered casual conversation, lending this waiting area several degrees of marketplace liveliness.
What surprised Suoh, however, was a familiar face before the gate.
The young woman wore a light blue scarf tied on her head, secured as a bun behind, her shihakusho covered by a slightly oversized shawl as she stood in the early morning cold, occasionally moving to warm herself.
When she spotted Suoh and his group approaching, Hinamori Momo's eyes brightened as she jogged over from the queue's side.
She bowed in greeting, tone lighthearted.
"Third Seat Suoh, hello!"
"Ah, Hinamori. Hello."
Suoh nodded slightly, smiling lightly in response.
His impression of Hinamori Momo remained average, understanding her mostly from the original work.
He'd never thought about becoming her friend, though he wouldn't refuse communication with her either.
Not that he held any opinion against her as a person—just instinctive resistance toward love-obsessed thinking.
Basic kindness and politeness simply represented Suoh's personal cultivation.
Shiba Kaien and Shiba Miyako also nodded acknowledgment toward her.
After returning courtesy, Hinamori's gaze turned toward Suoh. After hesitating, she still spoke up.
"Um... Third Seat Suoh, actually I... still have something to ask."
"Please speak."
"It's about Toshiro."
"At New Year's, I went to his house to visit him, only to discover both he and his grandmother weren't at their original residence."
"I asked other neighbors—they only said they'd moved but didn't know where..."
"Toshiro and his family don't have other relatives or friends in Rukongai either. I'm somewhat worried. Third Seat Suoh, you have a good relationship with him—do you know where they moved?"
The question came quite naturally, carrying that pure concern between childhood friends.
Her worry was written on her face, completely genuine.
Suoh's heart stirred slightly.
Toshiro's family moving to Terada-ya wasn't anything requiring strict confidentiality.
As childhood friends, Hinamori's concern about this matter proved reasonable.
His expression remained unchanged, tone peaceful as he explained.
"Toshiro did indeed move. He and his grandmother relocated to West District Three, residing in a shop called Terada-ya."
"He mainly felt that with grandmother's advanced age, living alone wasn't reassuring. Terada-ya happens to have many people creating a lively atmosphere, allowing mutual care with my family."
"Moving day proved hurried with many chaotic matters. He's also rather negligent about these social courtesies, so he didn't leave word for your household."
"So that's how it was..."
Hinamori breathed a sigh of relief, smile reappearing on her face.
"Terada-ya... I've noted it. Thank you, Third Seat Suoh. Knowing they're well, I can relax."
She seemed to want to say more, but the queue behind her began slowly moving forward.
"Then... I won't disturb you all further. Goodbye."
Hinamori bowed farewell, etiquette thorough.
"Goodbye."
"Nice girl."
"That Toshiro—good in every aspect, yet even with such a major matter as moving, he doesn't know to inform his friend. No wonder she worried."
Seeing their conversation conclude, Shiba Kaien stroked his chin, clicking his tongue.
Shiba Miyako gently nodded beside him, tone soft.
"Toshiro's still young, mind focused on training—inevitably neglecting these social matters."
"Miss Hinamori's heartfelt concern—Tsukasa, when you return, remember to remind Toshiro he should speak properly with her."
"This youthful affection proves especially precious."
"I understand."
Suoh nodded in acceptance.
Though in his heart, the two growing distant might not prove a bad liberation and relief for future Toshiro.
Just—life paths varied. He couldn't and needn't make choices for Toshiro.
With these thoughts, Suoh's expression remained calm as he followed the Shiba couple into Seireitei.
Evening, Thirteenth Division barracks.
Sky neither fully dark nor light, final traces of sunset still reluctantly clinging to the horizon.
Before departure, the fireworks set Suoh had requested from Shiba Kukaku now sat quietly outside.
Thus taking advantage of the New Year's lingering atmosphere, an evening banquet rose onto the schedule—also drawing a period to this holiday.
Living room.
Suoh and Toshiro sat facing each other around a kotatsu.
Lower bodies swallowed by the kotatsu's magical lazy black hole, feeling that warmth spreading from foot soles throughout their entire bodies, immersed in indolent pleasure.
Even during holidays, Seireitei's tasks wouldn't decrease, accumulated documents wouldn't naturally disappear either.
The highly efficient pair finished processing several days' accumulated paperwork before arranging to first gather at Suoh's small courtyard.
Others could only attend the evening feast after finishing work.
"Didn't expect you'd have this thing in your house."
Toshiro drank a mouthful of tea, voice carrying a thread of relaxation—just like a Persian cat getting stroked.
"Not bad, right? Living World invention."
"If not for Seireitei's regulations and Rukongai's conditions limiting things, I'd prepare several sets for Terada-ya too."
"In winter, this represents ultimate enjoyment."
"Mm."
Suoh divided a peeled orange in half, passing one portion over.
Toshiro accepted the orange, breaking off a segment to put in his mouth—sweet and sour, quite delicious.
The two fell silent for a time.
"This morning I encountered Hinamori. She asked me about you—asked if I knew where you and grandmother had moved."
"She seemed quite worried."
Suoh suddenly spoke, voice very light.
Hearing this name, Toshiro's expression changed, lifting his gaze toward him with some surprise.
"...I was negligent, completely forgetting I should tell her."
Subsequently he recovered awareness, speaking in low tones.
His tone carried some chagrin plus some difficult-to-express emotions.
Suoh looked at Toshiro before him, sighing inwardly.
He and Hinamori Momo were childhood friends who'd grown together in Rukongai—that bond proved real and pure, mixing in nothing else.
Toshiro's feelings for Hinamori held deep childhood friend affection, perhaps also carrying hazy favorable impressions.
To him, Hinamori Momo resembled this winter day's thin sunlight—though not scorching, she'd once genuinely warmed his lonely childhood years.
But life path divergences often began with minor choices.
After entering school, Hinamori encountered Aizen, subsequently becoming that gentle, refined captain's most loyal follower.
And Toshiro, also under his influence, had walked another path.
A completely new, unknown road.
Even in the original work, Suoh hadn't been optimistic about their romantic prospects.
Not because Toshiro wasn't good enough, but because what stretched between them was Aizen—this nearly insurmountable mountain.
Couldn't see even a hint of victory.
Some matters—before even beginning, the ending could be seen at a glance.
But these words, Suoh wouldn't voice aloud.
Whether Hinamori's future path and fate would change, Suoh didn't know. But at least she wouldn't become an insurmountable obstacle in Toshiro's life.
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