"Why?! Ashido!" Toshiro looked at Ashido incredulously, as if a trusted brother had suddenly stabbed him in the back.
In Toshiro's view, Ashido was a standard Shinigami with Shinigami ideals, fulfilling Shinigami duties. He wouldn't refuse to help handle some official work.
Seeing Toshiro's disbelief, Ashido couldn't help but feel somewhat embarrassed.
"Ahem, Toshiro, I just returned to the Soul Society and joined the 10th Division. I'm not very familiar with the 10th Division's affairs, so I don't want to cause trouble," Ashido said, his eyes somewhat evasive.
Toshiro said, puzzled, "Is that so? In that case, you can handle some simple tasks then."
Seeing Toshiro's persistence, Ashido had no choice but to say helplessly, "Toshiro, didn't I tell you before that I was once a Shinigami of the 11th Division? So I'm really not good at handling division's affairs."
Generally, each division of the Gotei 13 had its own affairs to handle. But in this regard, the 11th Division was a bit special.
Compared to other divisions, the 11th Division basically had no official duties to handle.
Because the 11th Division was a combat division, filled with violent individuals and battle maniacs. Making them handle official work was like asking a general specializing in warfare to govern. They'd rather fight Hollows.
Toshiro really couldn't imagine Zaraki and Yachiru sitting quietly, seriously handling official work.
Although Ashido was also once from the 11th Division, based on his previous excellent performance, Toshiro subconsciously considered him an all-around talent. So Ashido not being good at handling official work was somewhat surprising to Toshiro.
"Yare yare, no helping it. I originally hoped you could help with some division work. Seems I can't count on you," Toshiro said somewhat disappointedly.
Seeing Toshiro's disappointment, Ashido felt somewhat ashamed and said, "Toshiro, maybe I can try my best and see if I can handle it."
Toshiro waved his hand. "No need, Ashido. You should go familiarize yourself with the 10th Division now."
Hearing Toshiro, Rangiku beside him immediately raised her hand. "Me, me! I know the 10th Division best. Let me show Ashido around our division."
"Go ahead, go ahead," Toshiro said, feeling mentally exhausted.
Seeing Rangiku so eager, clearly not wanting to handle the mountain of work with Toshiro and trying to escape, Toshiro had no choice.
"Yay!" Rangiku immediately cheered excitedly.
"Toshiro, it's so great you're here. When I come back later, I'll bring you your favorite sweet beans and fried egg with daikon," Rangiku said, trying to please.
Sweet beans and fried egg with daikon were Toshiro's usual favorite foods. There was no special reason… when he was in the Rukongai, his grandmother loved these, so Toshiro got used to them too.
Then, as if afraid Toshiro would change his mind, Rangiku immediately took Ashido out. Only Toshiro and the mountain of work remained in the room.
"Well, in the end, I brought this on myself," Toshiro said self-deprecatingly, looking at the roomful of documents.
Rangiku and Isshin being so lazy also had reasons Toshiro created.
Before Toshiro entered the 10th Division, although Isshin and Rangiku were lazy, no one helped them with division work, so they had to handle it.
But after Toshiro came, to get familiar with captain's work early and prepare for taking over the 10th Division later, he accepted all work without refusal. So Isshin and Rangiku were completely liberated, pushing everything to Toshiro.
Afterwards, Toshiro drank some tea and started handling the documents.
"Aah—"
A few hours later, Toshiro stretched, stood up, and moved his stiff body.
Gurgle...
Suddenly, Toshiro's stomach growled.
"Good grief… Rangiku isn't back yet?" Toshiro frowned and muttered.
Rangiku said she'd be back soon and bring food. But Toshiro's stomach was growling, and she still wasn't back.
"Yare yare, the prettier the woman, the better she lies," Toshiro couldn't help but tease, then prepared to go find something to eat.
Knock, knock, knock...
Just then, knocking sounds came.
"Come in," Toshiro said immediately.
Although the person hadn't entered yet, Toshiro was sure it wasn't Rangiku, who promised to bring food. Rangiku never knocked when entering, she'd just kick the door open.
With a 'swoosh', the person pushed the door open and entered.
"Captain, these documents are... Huh?! Third Seat Hitsugaya!" The person exclaimed in surprise.
Hearing the surprised voice, Toshiro looked at the person.
"You're… Kusaka Sojiro!" Toshiro exclaimed in shock.
The person was none other than Kusaka Sojiro, whom Toshiro had met before.
Hearing Toshiro recognize him immediately, Sojiro said happily, "Third Seat Hitsugaya, you remember me? That's great!"
But Toshiro said, puzzled, "I remember you just entered the Shin'o Academy two years ago. Why are you in the 10th Division?"
Moreover, Sojiro was wearing a black Shihakusho, clearly dressed as a Shinigami.
Sojiro immediately explained, "It's like this. Actually, I graduated early after studying at the Shin'o Academy for one year, then chose to enter the 10th Division."
"Early graduation?" Toshiro was somewhat surprised.
But then Toshiro realized. Although his talent wasn't as good as Toshiro's, Sojiro was still a decent genius.
Toshiro remembered that in the Bleach Movie, Sojiro and the original Toshiro were students in the same class, same year.
Toshiro was first in the year, and Sojiro was second, right after Toshiro. Moreover, they awakened their Zanpakuto at the same time.
Although Sojiro was older than Toshiro, awakening a Zanpakuto in less than a year after enrollment was actually quite rare.
Most people couldn't awaken their Zanpakuto even upon graduation.
In the original work, Toshiro graduated from the Shin'o Academy in one year. If that incident hadn't happened, with Sojiro's grades second only to Toshiro, graduating in one year wouldn't have been difficult.
"Has your Zanpakuto awakened?" Toshiro asked, looking at Sojiro somewhat nervously.
Hearing Toshiro, Sojiro smiled and replied, "Yes. My Zanpakuto awakened less than a year after entering the Shin'o Academy."
"What is your Zanpakuto like?" Toshiro unconsciously clenched his hand and asked.