Living World.
The rescuers, Aizen and Gin, had already set up a new Senkaimon. Toshiro was organizing the students to prepare for their return to the Soul Society.
"Everyone, line up properly. We're going back soon. The student who sprained his ankle, the people in his group, help him walk," Toshiro instructed, walking back and forth among the crowd.
"Yes, Hitsugaya-senpai!" All the students responded loudly.
Gratitude and admiration were evident on every student's face at this moment.
Standing nearby, Aizen watched this scene expressionlessly, though inwardly he felt a bit sour.
Originally, he should have been the one enjoying everyone's admiration and cheers like a hero.
Aizen had planned this meticulously for a long time. From finding individuals with outstanding talent to the Living World training, he had waited half a year for such a perfect opportunity.
Never did he expect Toshiro to ruin it all. Not only had his efforts been in vain, essentially handing the glory to Toshiro, but he had also lost a Captain-level Menos Grande. It was truly a case of trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice.
Among the crowd, Momo and the other two kept watching Toshiro as he directed the students to enter the Senkaimon in an orderly fashion.
"He's just too strong."
Kira suddenly uttered this seemingly out of nowhere.
"Huh? Oh!"
Momo, who had been staring at Toshiro with a somewhat dazed look, was puzzled for a moment before quickly realizing Kira was talking about Toshiro's strength.
"Toshiro will definitely become a Captain in the future," Renji also said.
"Yeah. After all, he already possesses Captain-level strength now. Mastering Bankai shouldn't be difficult for him, right?" Kira said, his gaze towards Toshiro filled with admiration, just like the others.
"Can the three of us ever become as strong as Toshiro?" Momo asked.
"Hmph, how is that possible? That guy Toshiro is a monster," Renji said, having witnessed the earlier battle. He had no confidence in catching up to Toshiro.
"Renji, really," Momo said, slightly dissatisfied.
"I want to be like him. Even if I can never catch up to him, I won't stop moving forward," Kira said resolutely, despite his usually somewhat timid personality.
"So that I won't be left wailing in despair when danger comes again, so that Toshiro won't say my crying looks pathetic again... I will work hard for this," Kira affirmed.
"Yeah, me too. So I won't hold Toshiro back anymore, so I can be of help to Toshiro... I'll work hard for that too," Momo said with determination.
"Is that so..."
Renji showed a complicated expression, lost in thought.
What the three didn't know was that their entire conversation was observed by Aizen, who stood nearby.
A glint of light flashed on the lenses of Aizen's black-framed glasses, as if he were contemplating something.
'Is that so? Wanting to help Hitsugaya Toshiro, wanting to gain his recognition? Very good. As long as people harbor desires, weaknesses appear. Perhaps this point can be exploited,' Aizen thought to himself, adjusting his glasses with a hand.
"Hey, Momo, Renji, Izuru! What are you dawdling for? It's time to go. Hurry up and catch up!" Toshiro called out.
"Got it, coming!" The three replied.
'I won't stop, Toshiro. I want to help you, not be helped by you all the time,' Momo thought to herself, glancing at Toshiro as she entered the Senkaimon.
After all the students had entered the Senkaimon, Toshiro, Aizen, and Gin also stepped through.
The scene shifted, and everyone returned to the Shin'o Academy.
"Alright, everyone, this training mission ends here. Although there were quite a few twists and turns, fortunately, there were no casualties," Toshiro addressed the crowd from the front.
"It's all thanks to Hitsugaya-senpai!"
"Thank you, Hitsugaya-senpai!"
After Toshiro spoke, everyone responded one after another.
"And also, after you return this time, everyone can rest for two days before returning to classes," Toshiro announced.
"Ohhhhhhh..."
Hearing about a break and a holiday, all the students immediately began cheering and leaping with joy.
"Alright, dismissed!" Toshiro said finally.
"Okay!"
All the students responded and began to disperse.
"Well then, Hitsugaya-kun, our task here is also finished. We'll take our leave now," Aizen said, still showing an expression full of apology for not being able to help.
"Yeah," Toshiro nodded, not saying much more.
After Aizen left, Toshiro looked at Momo, Renji, and Kira, who had remained behind.
"Are you guys all okay?" Toshiro asked.
"No need to worry. We're all fine," Momo replied.
"It's already quite late today. Everyone, go back. Let's meet up tomorrow at noon, gather at the school gate again," Toshiro suggested.
"Sounds good," They all nodded.
"But, Renji, don't you dare order so many expensive things like last time. If you do, you'll be paying for them yourself," Toshiro reminded Renji.
"Tch! I know, I know. So stingy," Renji grumbled unhappily.
"That's great. Toshiro hasn't changed," Kira suddenly said.
"Hasn't changed? What hasn't changed?" Toshiro looked at Kira, puzzled.
"Nothing, really. It's just... after seeing you display such immense power earlier, I suddenly felt you were a bit distant, as if the gap between you and everyone else had grown," Kira said, somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head.
"But when I saw you joking and bickering with Renji just now, I suddenly felt at ease again. It really was just my imagination. Toshiro is still Toshiro," Kira said with a smile.
"Uh, actually, I felt that way too earlier," Renji admitted.
"Huh? Really? I didn't feel that at all," Momo said, confused.
"Idiots. I am me. I never change, no matter when, no matter what my strength is," Toshiro said with a serious expression.
"Ah, that's right! We are us! We'll never change, no matter what!" Renji suddenly shouted.
They all looked at each other and smiled. The inexplicable sense of distance that had arisen earlier vanished without a trace.
"Alright then, everyone, go back and rest," Toshiro said.