Shin'o Academy.
School was already out. Momo was sitting under a tree in the academy with Renji, Kira, and Rukia, resting.
"Hinamori, what on earth has Toshiro been doing? It's been half a year since he's properly hung out with everyone. Every time he shows up, he leaves in a hurry again." Renji said discontentedly.
"Toshiro said he's been training. I don't know when he'll be finished." Momo said with a hint of longing. She had also seen very little of Toshiro in recent months.
"Hey, Renji, is that any way to call me? I'm a sixth-year now. You should call me Hitsugaya-senpai." Toshiro said, walking over from the distance.
"Wha-? Me call you senpai? Wait until you're as tall as I am, you little bean sprout." A large tick mark appeared on Renji's forehead.
"Abarai is done for. Hitsugaya hates it the most when people mention his height." Kira whispered nearby.
"Renji, I just finished my training. Let's have a little spar. I want to see how much you've improved in the last six months." Toshiro said expressionlessly.
"Alright, I also want to see the results of your training." Renji said eagerly.
Crackle, thump, bam!
Ten minutes later, Toshiro let out a refreshed sigh, having vented his frustration.
Meanwhile, Renji lay on the ground, bruised and swollen, groaning.
"Alright, stop lying there pretending to be dead. I didn't even go all out." Toshiro said, sitting down next to Momo.
"Hmph, you call that not going all out? I'm in agony here." Renji sat up with a grunt.
"Sorry, Momo, for not being able to spend time with you properly these past six months." Toshiro said apologetically to Momo.
"It's okay, Toshiro. You're training so hard to protect me so what happened last time won't occur again. I understand that." Momo said understandingly.
"It's my fault for holding you back every time." At this point, Momo looked somewhat dejected.
"Don't think like that, Momo. I said I would always protect you." Toshiro comforted her.
"By the way, everyone, my training has reached a stage where it's on hold for now. I'll be relatively free recently. How about we all go out somewhere tonight to get together?" Toshiro looked at everyone.
"Sorry, tonight's out. You'll have to pick another time." Renji said, rubbing the black eye Toshiro had given him.
"Why? Do you have something on?" Toshiro asked.
"Not just me. Hinamori and Kira too. The students of Class 1, led by sixth-years, are going to the Living World for a training exercise to eliminate practice Hollows." Renji explained. (T/N: In the manga, it was for Konso)
Toshiro's heart tightened. Although Toshiro had thought about this event before, he hadn't expected it to be now. He had almost missed it.
This was no simple training exercise… it was something where people could genuinely die.
Aizen's scheme was involved. Merely to win over the talents he had his eye on, he arranged for actual Hollows to attack the students, resulting in heavy casualties.
He then appeared suddenly to save them just as Momo, Renji, and Kira, among others, were falling into despair.
In the original work, it was after this incident that Momo completely fell for Aizen.
"What did you say, Renji? That's so sneaky! Why do only Class 1 students get to go? And why are you the only one in Class 1 anyway?" Rukia complained.
"It's not sneaky… it's skill." Renji said with a dismissive expression.
"Anyway, I can't chat anymore. I have to go pack. See you." Renji stood up.
"Oh, and Rukia, I'm going to widen the gap in our strength even more before I come back. Look forward to it." Renji turned and said to Rukia.
"Go to hell! I'm the one who's going to widen the gap in our... strength..." Rukia's expression turned dejected by the end.
'Abarai, honestly. He deserves to be single forever.' Kira thought to himself.
"What's wrong, Toshiro? What are you thinking about?" Momo asked, seeing that Toshiro had been lost in thought.
"No, it's nothing. Momo, you probably need to go pack too, right? In that case, should everyone head back?" Toshiro said.
Some things were better kept from Momo and the others.
"Mmm, I'm really sorry, Toshiro. You just finished your training, and I can't even spend time with you." Momo said apologetically.
"It's fine. We can talk more after everyone gets back." Toshiro said nonchalantly.
With that, everyone dispersed.
However, Toshiro did not return to his residence. Instead, he went to see his current homeroom teacher, Koyama Rikiya.
Toshiro wanted to go on this training exercise as well. He was determined not to let Aizen's scheme succeed (and determined not to be cuckolded).
The sixth-years leading this trip were also from Class 1. Each grade had a Class 1, and Toshiro was now in the sixth-year Class 1.
Therefore, the sixth-years leading the trip were arranged by Koyama Rikiya.
"Knock knock." Toshiro knocked on his homeroom teacher Koyama's office door.
"Come in." A steady voice sounded.
"It's you, Toshiro. Asking for leave again? How many days this time?" Rikiya said casually upon seeing Toshiro enter.
For a genius like Toshiro, the school wouldn't force him to attend classes. After all, what was taught in class held little meaning for Toshiro now.
"No, my training plan has reached a pause point for now. I'll be staying at the school for a while." Toshiro said.
"Hmm, it's good to spend more time at the school. You only have half a year left of school life anyway. So, what brings you here this time?"
"I heard the first-years are going to the Living World for the training exercise to eliminate practice Hollows. The leaders will be students from our class. Could I go along this time as well?" Toshiro asked.