This world was like a thatched hut, half-collapsed in a raging snowstorm.
For Izuru Kira, alone as he was, burying himself beneath the fallen ruins felt warmer.
But for Muten Natsu, staying in the part that hadn't collapsed and holding Rukia Kuchiki was the better choice.
No matter how fierce the wind and snow outside, as long as you're in my arms, there is still warmth.
To Rukia Kuchiki, it was Muten Natsu's embrace that gave her warmth in the storm.
To Muten Natsu, it was because Rukia Kuchiki was in his arms that his embrace became warm.
Their touching hands forgot to pull apart, their gazes locked, unwilling to turn away.
Both of them recalled the warmth they had found in that storm, and the distance between them slowly closed.
"Well said!"
A lively voice suddenly rang out. Abarai Renji jumped in through the window with a grin, slapping his hand down over Muten Natsu's so that all three of their hands stacked together.
"There's nothing we can't overcome if we all work together!"
Abarai Renji felt his timing couldn't have been better.
After Muten Natsu finished speaking, the room had gone quiet, which probably meant things had gotten awkward.
In his mind:
Rukia Kuchiki didn't know how to respond and felt awkward;
Muten Natsu didn't get a response and also felt awkward.
That's when a hero should step in, affirm the moment, and bring the mood back.
Abarai Renji pressed their hands down twice and shouted like an athlete before a match,
"Hey! Hey! Ha!!!"
Which only made things even more awkward.
Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki quietly pulled their hands back and turned to look at him.
Abarai Renji felt his scalp tingle under their stares. "Why are you looking at me?"
"So energetic," Rukia Kuchiki said in an odd tone. "Lieutenant."
"You've recovered pretty quickly too," Muten Natsu added. "Lieutenant."
"Grr..." Abarai Renji ground his teeth in frustration. "You two seem to have a problem with me being Lieutenant!"
"How could we?" Muten Natsu's tone lifted slightly. "Lieutenant."
"Exactly," Rukia Kuchiki echoed. "Lieutenant."
"Come on then!" Abarai Renji snapped, bristling. "Let's fight! I'll let you see my Bankai!"
"How impressive, Lieutenant." Muten Natsu snorted. "Just as impressive as your tattoos."
"Most people's hairlines couldn't even support such elaborate tattoos," Rukia Kuchiki added calmly. "As expected of a Lieutenant."
"I'm going to kill you both!" Abarai Renji lunged forward.
Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki bolted, each faster than the other.
Once they were out of sight, the anger on Abarai Renji's face faded.
A complicated smile appeared.
Finally... everyone's back.
Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki hadn't run far before they slowed down in sync.
"That hairline comment was a bit harsh."
"You're the one who brought it up first." Rukia Kuchiki lightly kicked his calf, then suddenly remembered something. "Ah, I almost forgot. I said I'd take Orihime around for a bit."
"Then let's go find her. We're done with work anyway."
"She's not in the 4th Division." Rukia Kuchiki thought for a moment. "She left earlier with Lieutenant Matsumoto."
"The 10th Division?"
...
In the administrative office of the 10th Division, Tōshirō Hitsugaya frowned as he reviewed documents.
Ever since returning from the 4th Division, he had remained like this.
It wasn't because there was anything wrong with Momo Hinamori, nor because there were issues with the documents.
The real reason was...
"Rangiku-san, lunch break is already over..."
"Hahaha, it's fine, it's fine! Orihime, you're way too serious!"
Rangiku Matsumoto's voice drifted out from the VIP room inside the administrative office, a space used to receive important guests.
As the Lieutenant of the Tenth Division, Rangiku Matsumoto deliberately raised her voice so Tōshirō Hitsugaya could hear her.
"Our Captain is incredibly capable, so it's totally fine for us to relax a little."
A vein throbbed on Tōshirō Hitsugaya's forehead.
That woman was obviously just saying that so she could slack off!
The Tenth Division's workload was especially heavy right now. With Fifth Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen's defection and Lieutenant Momo Hinamori severely injured, all the responsibilities had fallen onto Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
As for Rangiku Matsumoto...
Even back when Tōshirō Hitsugaya was still the Third Seat, she had already been dumping her work on him.
Now that he had become Captain, she was still doing the exact same thing.
He was used to it.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya quickly worked through the documents. He had already handled a portion earlier, and the rest he could finish on his own.
Considering Ichimaru Gin's departure, he felt that letting Rangiku Matsumoto slack off a little now wasn't such a big deal.
Not that he hadn't already been letting her get away with it before.
Inside the VIP room, Orihime Inoue was learning how to tie the sash of a Shihakushō from Rangiku Matsumoto.
While she had been at the 4th Division, Orihime Inoue had idly flipped through the Seireitei Communication and come across a serialized article titled "Clever Use of Accessories: A Rising Trend!"
A lot of the ideas in it were surprisingly interesting. As she was reading it intently, the author, Rangiku Matsumoto, had leaned in beside her.
The two hit it off immediately, and Orihime Inoue accepted her invitation to visit the Tenth Division.
"Is it... like this?"
"No, not quite." Rangiku Matsumoto reached out to adjust it. "You tuck this part in here... there, that's it! All done!"
Orihime Inoue looked at the finished sash on the mannequin and smiled brightly.
Unlike other Shinigami, Rangiku Matsumoto tied her Shihakushō sash into a beautiful bow.
That was exactly the style Orihime Inoue was learning.
Many female Shinigami imitated this unique way of tying it. Even though Orihime Inoue wasn't a Shinigami, her admiration for Rangiku Matsumoto's beauty and flair was no different from theirs.
"Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome." Rangiku Matsumoto handed her a cup of hot tea. "Honestly, I didn't expect you to come here."
"Hehe~" Orihime Inoue took a sip. "I didn't expect to meet the author of the article I was reading either."
"What I mean is..." Rangiku Matsumoto gestured toward the direction of the 4th Division. "I thought you'd stay there with Kuchiki-san and wait for... well... Natsu."
"It's enough that Rukia is waiting." Orihime Inoue smiled sweetly. "After everything they've been through, they must have a lot they want to say to each other."
"You... you two... um..." Rangiku Matsumoto hesitated, then gave up. "Alright, I'll teach you another technique."