10th Division.
"Hey, Vice-Captain."
Hitsugaya Toushirou found Matsumoto Rangiku napping lazily on the grassy field behind the squad barracks.
"You're really taking it easy, huh? You're starting to act more and more like Captain Shiba."
Rangiku blinked her eyes open groggily, stretching like a cat and thrusting her ample chest up into the air. "What're you doing here?"
"Captain's looking for you. And since you're here slacking off like this, I got dumped with all the paperwork he meant to give you," Hitsugaya said flatly. "If you're not planning to do your job as Vice-Captain, then just step down and let me have it."
"In your dreams." Rangiku pouted, then lay back down again and closed her eyes in satisfaction.
"You're really not going?"
"Didn't you just say the Captain gave you everything already? That brat just got the position and he's already pushing all his work off on others. Gotta break him of that habit before it sticks."
Hitsugaya paused, then looked at her with suspicion. "You sure all your badmouthing isn't just a convenient excuse to be lazy?"
Rangiku's expression faltered. "What nonsense are you talking? No way!"
Hitsugaya sighed. "Well, message delivered. Whether you go or not is your problem. But that new Captain of ours? He's no fool. Good luck."
As his footsteps receded, Rangiku finally sat up and fixed her hair. She rubbed her forehead with a groan. "Such a pain…"
—
10th Division Captain's Office.
Rangiku knocked, then pushed the door open. "You called?"
"Eh?" Shin looked up and smiled. "Took you long enough. Our dear Vice-Captain must be terribly busy these days. No time for her Captain, I guess?"
Rangiku turned her head to the side. "I've been busy, yeah."
Back when Shin first took the post, she had dumped all her leftover paperwork on him. Her plan had been to enjoy a peaceful life under a new, enthusiastic Captain. But it turned out Shin saw right through her.
"If our Vice-Captain's been this swamped, maybe I should give you some time off," Shin said with a drawl.
Rangiku narrowed her eyes at his mocking tone. "Cut the sarcasm. What do you want?"
"I'm your Captain, you know. Can't I talk to you like this?"
Rangiku scowled. "And I'm your senpai, remember? Who got you into the Academy again? Have you ever shown me a lick of respect?"
"I called you 'big sis' all the time. Isn't that respectful?"
Rangiku shivered. "Ugh, disgusting."
Shin spread his hands innocently. "See? I respect you, and you don't appreciate it."
"You—!" she growled, turning away again. "What do you want, really?"
"Someone from the 1st Division came by. There's a report we were supposed to submit. Vice-Captain Sasakibe reminded you about it at the last meeting, remember?"
Rangiku froze for a second, then turned and bolted.
Shin chuckled as he watched her go.
—
Being a Captain of the 10th Division was more boring than Shin had imagined. Back in the 4th Division, he at least got to go on the occasional field assignment. But in the 10th, the daily routine mostly revolved around patrols—mostly within the Seireitei itself. Of the eighty districts of Rukongai, his squad only covered a sliver.
He didn't mind change, and hated monotony. A few years was manageable—but the coming upheavals in Soul Society were still decades away.
What was he supposed to do until then—dutifully play the role of Captain for the next fifty years?
Even if he resolved everything that was to come, what came after that? With Captain-class reiatsu, it was easy to live several hundred years. And Shin's power was still growing—eventually he might reach Second- or even First-Class Spiritual Power. That meant thousands of years.
And when you die, you go to a place called Hell.
It was… too much time to even grasp. So long it was terrifying.
He wasn't like others in this world who clung to unshakeable ideals. But without something to drive him… who would he become?
He spotted Rangiku dashing out of her office and calling for Hitsugaya. After she gave him some rushed instructions, she exhaled in relief—only to meet Shin's gaze through the window.
Shin offered her a harmless smile.
She pretended not to notice.
A lazy Vice-Captain paired with a not-so-diligent Captain meant one thing:
Third Seat Hitsugaya got wrecked.
—
Hitsugaya was not happy.
As Third Seat, he found himself doing far more than his job required. Under Shiba Kaien, he used to help Rangiku cover for their lazy Captain. Now with Tachikawa Shin in charge, Shin wasn't as bad—but Rangiku had gone full slacker.
After dropping off the document at the 1st Division, Hitsugaya got chewed out by Sasakibe. He knew it wasn't his fault—but he still took the blame.
Seriously, how did he always end up stuck with the worst of it?
"Hitsugaya?"
A voice called out near the gate to the 1st Division.
He turned to see Kanisawa standing there, now stationed with the 8th Division.
"Kanisawa-sempai," Hitsugaya greeted him. He was a Third Seat now, technically outranking Kanisawa, but he'd always respected the older Shino Academy alum's diligence.
If only he were the Vice-Captain…
"You here on business?" Kanisawa asked.
"Had to deliver a report for Vice-Captain Matsumoto… got scolded for it." Hitsugaya sighed.
Kanisawa immediately thought of Rangiku. So she was Shin's Vice-Captain now…
Back in the day, when she'd graduated from the Academy, Shin had asked her why she didn't join the 10th Division. She said she didn't like it.
"What happened?" Kanisawa asked curiously.
Hitsugaya gave him a quick summary of Rangiku's laziness and the possible friction between her and Shin, ending with how it was driving him crazy.
Kanisawa's expression turned odd. "I've got a solution. Want to hear it?"
"What is it?" Hitsugaya perked up.
"Do nothing. Stop covering for them."
Hitsugaya blinked. "That's not right. If I slack off too, who'll do the work?"
"Relax. Your new Captain isn't irresponsible. If he thinks he can't rely on you, he'll start handling things himself—and more importantly, he'll crack down on her. Believe me, that guy's got tricks."
Hitsugaya fell silent, thinking.
He didn't believe Shin was careless—he remembered what he was like at the Academy, running the Student Council like a machine. Hitsugaya had learned a lot from him.
"…Alright. I'll give it a shot."
"Good. I'm heading back in."
"Got it."
As Kanisawa walked away, Hitsugaya watched him go.
Six years as Shin's classmate… he must know him far better.
Maybe it was time Hitsugaya stopped carrying their load.
—
He returned to the 10th, but didn't report to Shin or Rangiku. Instead, he found a random squad member and had them put in a leave request—said his grandmother was sick and needed care.
He felt a bit guilty at first. But as soon as he stepped outside Seireitei, the burden lifted.
He really did go home—he had nowhere else to go. After becoming a Shinigami, he'd learned to control his spiritual pressure, so he no longer had to worry about harming regular humans.
Still, whenever he saw his grandmother, he was reminded of how she'd gotten sick because of him. Fortunately, they'd caught it early—thanks to Shin.
That thought sparked a flicker of guilt.
"Toushirou, you're back," his grandmother said, smiling warmly.
Then he saw someone unexpected.
"Hinamori?"
"Shirou-chan?" she blinked, surprised. "You… took the day off?"
"I'm on leave for a few days. What about you?"
"It's Saturday. No classes. I came to check in. Granny's all alone, after all." She scolded him with a teasing smile. "You should visit more often—it's been forever."
They were neighbors, and Hinamori always came to help when she could.
"I'm here now, aren't I?" Hitsugaya replied. His grandma was doing better, living independently was no issue now—but his duties had kept him too busy.
His grandma just beamed at them both.
"How many days off you got?" Hinamori asked.
Hitsugaya scratched his chin. "…A lot."
"How many is 'a lot'?"
"Three… maybe a week."
"That long?" Hinamori blinked. "Shinigami get that kind of vacation?"
"Special case."
"Then you're free tomorrow, right? Come with me to the Captain's place," Hinamori said brightly.
Captain…? Oh, Shin.
Hinamori explained the whole celebration gathering.
"I already congratulated him. I'll pass."
"Oh come on! Hisagi-sempai, Kanisawa-sempai, Aoga—they're all going. We haven't all gotten together in ages!"
"I've got plans tomorrow."
"What plans?"
"Uh… can't say. It's important."
Hitsugaya didn't care for the party. But Hinamori's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ah, I see!"
"See what?"
"Nothing~" She grinned and ruffled his hair. "Our little Shirou's all grown up."
Hitsugaya batted her hand away. "It's not like that!"
"I get it, I get it," she said with a knowing smirk. "You don't have to explain."
Hitsugaya groaned. "Think what you want."
But she didn't stop. "So who is it? Do I know her? Is she in the 10th? What does she look like? What's she like?"
He just stared at her, dead-eyed.
Then Hinamori turned to his grandma and said, "Granny, you're getting a granddaughter-in-law!"
"Hinamori!" Hitsugaya shouted, flustered.
His grandma, ever serene, just smiled. "Somehow, I doubt it. Toushirou's not the type to fall for someone so easily."
Hinamori paused, glancing at him.
Hitsugaya, for some reason, looked away.
"Oh, right." Hinamori shifted gears. "I almost forgot—I'm graduating next year. I'm planning to join the 10th."
"Our Division?" Hitsugaya blinked. "Weren't you going to the 4th?"
"Changed my mind," she said casually.
"…Why?"
She patted his shoulder with a big grin. "So I can be with our little Shirou every day, of course. You're Third Seat now—you'll take good care of me, won't you?"
"…"
Hitsugaya said nothing—just turned his head aside, cheeks tinged faintly red.