One week later.
Toshiro and Momo sat under the eaves of Toshiro's house, eating watermelon.
"Toshiro, have you packed all your things? School is about to start." Momo wore her red-and-white school uniform, her medium-length hair tied into two small ponytails, looking quite adorable.
"What's there to pack? Didn't the Principal say they'd take care of all my living needs?" Toshiro took a big bite of watermelon, then spat out seeds vigorously toward the ground.
When Toshiro watched the anime in his previous life, he always thought Toshiro was incredibly skilled at eating watermelon, especially when spitting seeds… it was like firing an AK-47. So today, he practiced a bit.
"Yeah, I'm really jealous of you. I started packing yesterday. I worried for so long about what to bring, wanting to take everything I like, but my bag couldn't fit it all. I had to leave behind a few favorite clothes." Momo said with a regretful look.
"Girls are so troublesome. We'll just wear the school uniform at school, right? Why bring clothes? Just bring some personal items." Toshiro said.
"No way! Toshiro, you just don't understand. Girls naturally want to dress prettily." Momo said discontentedly.
"Hey, Hinamori." Toshiro put down his watermelon, his expression turning somewhat serious.
"What is it, Toshiro?" Momo asked, puzzled by his sudden solemnity.
"Are we... dating?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes." Momo nodded, her face flushing shyly.
"Ahem... can I call you Momo? You call me by my name, so I feel calling you by your last name is a bit distant." Toshiro coughed.
Although they had confirmed their relationship, Toshiro felt their interactions remained the same as before, with little change.
Toshiro thought this wasn't good. Although they couldn't do anything inappropriate for minors now, at least their terms of address should become closer.
"Mm, but only when we're alone together. If others are around, you still have to call me Hinamori, like before." Momo said, lowering her head shyly.
"Alright, Momo." After saying this, Toshiro moved closer to Momo until their shoulders touched.
Neither spoke next, letting time pass slowly.
"Oh no! Toshiro, we need to hurry. We're almost late!" Momo suddenly exclaimed.
"Mm, let's go then." Toshiro stood up.
"Momo, wait a moment. I need to say goodbye to Grandma." Toshiro said and walked into the house.
Inside, Toshiro's grandmother was sewing clothes.
Grandma, I'm leaving. Please take care of your health. Don't overwork yourself." Toshiro knelt to his grandmother.
To be honest, Toshiro knew kneeling to the elder who raised him was never something considered shameful.
Leaving his elderly grandmother home alone filled Toshiro with deep guilt.
"Toshiro, go to the Academy peacefully. Don't worry about me. I know you're concerned about me being alone, but I'm still quite healthy. It'll be fine. Besides, you can visit during holidays." Grandmother said with a kind smile.
Thinking of Toshiro's experiences over the years, Grandmother couldn't help but feel heartache. "Toshiro, you must have been very lonely all these years. Everyone around you feared you. Aside from Momo, no one wanted to be friends with you."
After his soul fusion, influenced by the original Toshiro's emotions, Toshiro's body involuntarily trembled upon hearing his grandmother's words. An indescribable sense of loneliness washed over him.
"Ah... go. Go to where the Shinigami are. You will surely meet comrades who belong there." Grandmother sighed.
Hearing this, Toshiro's eyes reddened. He bowed to his grandmother once more, then turned and walked out.
"Momo, let's go." Toshiro said to Momo, who waited outside.
…
In an unnamed forest, a boy with yellow hair, wearing Shin'o Academy's red-and-white uniform, carrying luggage, stood before a tombstone paying respects. It was Kira Izuru, the future Lieutenant of the 3rd Division.
"Well, I'm leaving, Father, Mother." After paying respects, Kira said to the tombstone.
…
On an empty street, a boy and a girl in Shin'o Academy's uniforms were running.
"It's over. At this rate, we won't make it!" A boy with red hair tied in a ponytail shouted.
"And whose fault is that? I wondered where you'd gone. Turns out you were sleeping lazily in a tree!" A girl with an onion-like haircut scolded.
"Shut up! Where I sleep is my freedom." The boy said carelessly.
"Honestly, I should have just left you and gone ahead by myself." The girl complained discontentedly.
Abarai Renji, the future Lieutenant of the 6th Division, and Kuchiki Rukia, the Heroine of Bleach, disappeared down the street amidst their bickering.
…
Amidst swirling cherry blossoms, Toshiro and Momo stepped into Shin'o Academy.
"Welcome, new students. Our Shin'o Academy boasts a two-thousand-year history as a traditional institution nurturing elites for the Kido Corps, the Onmitsukido, and the Gotei 13. We hope you will uphold this tradition."
Listening to Shin'o Academy's campus broadcast, Toshiro couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity, reminiscent of his university days in his previous life.
"Is that him? The legendary genius."
"It must be him. They said he was a child with silver hair."
Suddenly, murmurs arose. Toshiro turned to see students around them whispering and pointing at him.
Although some hadn't seen Toshiro before, a student this young was probably unique in the entire school.
Toshiro ignored them and walked straight with Momo toward Class 1-1.