Three days later.
"Hinamori, let's go eat together." A twin-tailed girl from the same class invited Momo.
"No, thanks. Toshiro asked for a few days' leave to train. I don't know how he's doing, so I want to check on him." Momo refused somewhat apologetically.
"Is this 'a day apart feels like three years'? What an enviable relationship." The twin-tailed girl teased.
"Stop that, don't say such things." Momo said shyly.
"Well, I'll be going then." Momo bid farewell and hurriedly left the classroom.
"Ah!"
As Momo walked toward Toshiro's residence, a figure suddenly rushed out from around a corner, knocking her to the ground.
"Sorry, I'm really sorry for blocking your way." Although it was the other person's fault, the always kind-hearted Momo proactively apologized.
"Vermin! How dare you bump into me! Don't you know I'm nobility?" The young man who caused the collision said arrogantly.
Hearing the commotion, surrounding students who had just finished school gathered.
"Who's that? He bumps into someone and still acts so arrogant. Let's go help that girl." A nearby student said.
"Hey, are you trying to get killed?! That's Utsunomiya Yoshiaki, a sixth-year student from the Upper-Class Noble Utsunomiya Family. And his personal strength is very high, second only to sixth-year student Hisagi Shuhei among the students. No one dares provoke him." His companion pulled him back.
"Not only that, I heard his Shunpo is even faster than Hisagi Shuhei's. Although he can't defeat Hisagi Shuhei, he can't do much to him either." Another student added.
Though the surrounding students whispered among themselves, no one stepped forward.
Seeing this, Yoshiaki grew even more pleased with himself. He laughed arrogantly, "If you properly kneel and apologize, I might let you off."
"Hey, you're the one who bumped into her. Why should Hinamori apologize?" Momo turned to see Renji from her class.
"Senior, it's best if you just let this go. If it escalates to the teachers, you won't have an easy explanation either." Kira also stepped forward to mediate.
"Hmph, Kira, you're so pathetic, resorting to tattling to deal with him. A real man settles things with strength!" With that, Renji picked up a wooden sword and charged forward.
"Tch, frog in a well." Yoshiaki said, drawing the Asauchi at his waist.
"Swish!" A flash of blade light. Renji stared dumbfounded at the wooden sword hilt remaining in his hand.
They were first-year students who had just started school, and the academy hadn't issued them Asauchi yet.
"You jerk, fight fair if you have the guts-"
Before Renji could finish, Yoshiaki used Shunpo to appear behind him instantly.
Thud!
Yoshiaki kicked Renji to the ground.
"Hmph, someone like you isn't worthy of facing me." Yoshiaki said disdainfully.
"Abarai-kun, are you alright?" Momo stepped forward to help Renji up.
"Hmph!" Yoshiaki snorted and pushed Momo again.
Momo Hinamori staggered, nearly falling once more.
"Tell you what, I'm about to go drinking with a few friends. If you're willing to keep us company, I'll let you off." Yoshiaki looked Momo over carefully and found her quite attractive.
"Oh? Quite bold, aren't you? Daring to touch my woman. Do you have a death wish?" Toshiro's grim voice came from a distance as he approached.
Toshiro had finally mastered Shunkuho today and came to see Momo, only to encounter such a situation.
With that, Toshiro unleashed his Reiatsu fully, crushing down upon Yoshiaki.
Instantly, Yoshiaki felt immense pressure weighing down on him like a mountain.
"Such powerful Reiatsu! Is that guy the legendary genius Hitsugaya Toshiro?" The surrounding students exclaimed in shock.
Though not directly bearing Toshiro's Reiatsu impact, they could still feel the overwhelming oppressive pressure.
"How is this possible?! I, Utsunomiya Yoshiaki, am nobility! How can I be suppressed by a commoner's Reiatsu?!" Sweat dripped continuously from Yoshiaki's forehead, but the humiliation in his heart made him stubbornly hold on.
'He just has strong Reiatsu. His Shunpo and combat experience might not compare to mine.' Yoshiaki thought.
"Shunpo!"
Yoshiaki's figure instantly appeared behind Toshiro, then swung his sword at Toshiro.
Seeing Toshiro about to be struck, Yoshiaki felt a surge of joy.
"Great! I hit-"
"Oh, hit? Hit what?" Toshiro's voice sounded leisurely from behind Yoshiaki.
Simultaneously, the Toshiro in front of Yoshiaki dissipated into an afterimage.
Yoshiaki's pupils contracted. "Impossible! An afterimage?!"
Bang!
Utsunomiya Yoshiaki was kicked flying by Toshiro.
"Pfft! Cough, cough..."
Yoshiaki lay on the ground, coughing up blood continuously.
Toshiro's kick just now had already injured Yoshiaki's internal organs.
Although Toshiro hadn't used full strength with that kick, it was still beyond Yoshiaki's endurance.
While Yoshiaki's strength was top-tier among students, that only meant he could bully students. Compared to Gotei 13 Shinigami, he was nothing, let alone compared to a Lieutenant-level figure like Toshiro.
"Daring to hurt Hinamori… are you prepared to stake your life?"
Shing!
Toshiro reached back, drew Hyorinmaru, and walked toward Yoshiaki.
"You... you can't kill me. I'm nobility." Yoshiaki trembled all over.
Toshiro paid no heed, continuing to advance with his sword toward Yoshiaki.