"Ano... Captain, are you awake?"
Just as Toshiro was talking with Rurichiyo, a 10th Division's member outside the room cautiously glanced at the door, which Rurichiyo had left open, and asked hesitantly.
"Come in. I'm already up."
Toshiro called out.
As Toshiro's voice faded, a 10th Division's member walked in somewhat nervously.
"Oh, it's Ono. Isn't it your and Sato's turn to guard the main gate today? Why aren't you at your post? Is there something you need?"
Toshiro asked the 10th Division's member.
"Yes, Captain!"
After entering, Ono glanced at Rurichiyo. Although he was very curious why there was an unfamiliar girl in Toshiro's room, it didn't seem like his place to inquire.
'Hmm... Should I tell Lieutenant Hinamori about this?'
Ono thought to himself.
'No, no, no! I am absolutely loyal to Captain! How could I do such a thing!'
Ono thought with righteous indignation.
Then Ono looked at Toshiro with an admiring expression and said, "Captain, there are two somewhat suspicious-looking Shinigami outside who want to enter our 10th Division to find someone. But since it's still early and not yet time to open the gate, I didn't let them in. However, they claim to know you, Captain."
"Is that so? It's probably Kenryu and Enryu."
Toshiro mused.
"Are those two Shinigami named Kenryu and Enryu?"
Toshiro asked Ono.
"Not Kenryu and Enryu, but rather Enkogawa Rusaburo and Kenzaki Ryusei, I think?"
Ono said uncertainly.
"Enkogawa Rusaburo, Kenzaki Ryusei..."
Toshiro paused for a moment before realizing those were Kenryu and Enryu's real names.
"Bring them to me here."
Toshiro instructed.
"Yes, Captain!"
Ono responded loudly and then went out.
In no time, Ono brought Kenryu and Enryu to Toshiro's room, then took his leave.
"Rurichiyo-sama, you really are here!"
Kenryu exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Rurichiyo.
"Oh, Kenryu, Enryu, you finally made it?"
Rurichiyo greeted them casually.
After confirming Rurichiyo was safe, Kenryu breathed a sigh of relief but then demanded loudly, "Rurichiyo-sama! Didn't I tell you to stay by my side at all times? Why did you suddenly run off alone?"
"Hmph, just a mere Kenryu, what are you getting so angry about! How dare you speak to me like that! I ran off alone because I was starving, and you couldn't even find any food!"
Rurichiyo said, both aggrieved and a little angry.
Kenryu, feeling guilty yet somewhat frustrated, said, "Rurichiyo-sama, I..."
"Alright, alright, stop arguing. Rurichiyo, Kenryu was just too worried about you."
Toshiro intervened.
"But you were indeed in the wrong this time, Rurichiyo. Running off alone… what if you encountered danger? Don't do that again."
Toshiro advised Rurichiyo.
"Hmph, what danger could there be inside the Seireitei?"
Rurichiyo muttered quietly, then looked at Kenryu with a tsundere expression: "Well, fine. Since you were so worried about me, I... I'm sorry..."
Although Rurichiyo was a bit spoiled, she knew Kenryu was only this angry because he cared about her.
Seeing Rurichiyo apologize, Toshiro nodded approvingly: "Mm, that's more like it."
"By the way, Kenryu, is there a reason you came to see me this time? It couldn't really be just to play with me, could it?"
Toshiro asked Kenryu.
"Well..."
Kenryu originally wanted to tell Toshiro something, but after glancing at Rurichiyo, he hesitated and said, "N-nothing major. Rurichiyo just wanted to visit you, that's all."
"Is that so?"
Toshiro said noncommittally.
Judging by Kenryu's expression, Toshiro knew there really was something, but he couldn't say it directly with Rurichiyo present.
"Toshiro, the pastries in your 10th Division are really good. I want some more."
Rurichiyo suddenly said.
"Good grief, didn't you just eat your fill?"
Despite saying this, Toshiro still slid a plate of pastries towards Rurichiyo.
But Rurichiyo didn't take them… she simply opened her mouth: "Ah..."
Toshiro was instantly covered in black lines: "Are you a child? How old are you, still needing to be fed? Well, I guess you are technically a child."
Rurichiyo looked to be about ten or eleven years old.
Then Toshiro helplessly picked up a piece of pastry and brought it to Rurichiyo's lips.
"Ah-mmm..."
Rurichiyo bit down, taking Toshiro's finger along with the pastry.
For an instant, Toshiro felt his finger touch something soft. His heart trembled, and he quickly withdrew his hand.
"Hey, Rurichiyo..."
"I want more."
Rurichiyo opened her mouth again.
"Cough, really, I can't do anything with you..."
Toshiro cleared his throat lightly, picked up another piece of pastry, and brought it to Rurichiyo's lips.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door again.
"Shiro-chan, you're awake."
Momo walked in carrying a basin of hot water and holding a towel.
"Mm, Shiro-chan, who is this?"
Seeing Toshiro and Rurichiyo's actions, Momo's expression darkened as she asked Toshiro.
"Oh, this is Princess Kasumioji Rurichiyo of the Kasumioji Clan, and her guardians, Kenryu and Enryu."
Toshiro instinctively withdrew his hand and introduced them to Momo.
Momo looked at Rurichiyo, who was sitting intimately beside Toshiro, and said calmly, "Eh? Is that so? The princess of the Kasumioji Clan, huh."
But for some reason, Toshiro thought he detected hostility in Momo's tone...
'Momo and Rurichiyo shouldn't know each other, and Momo is such a kind person. Why would she be hostile towards her? I must be imagining things...'
Toshiro thought puzzledly, completely unaware that his action of feeding Rurichiyo had been overly intimate.
After all, although Toshiro looked the same age as Rurichiyo, he had the mentality of an adult.
In Toshiro's eyes, Rurichiyo was just a child who hadn't grown up.
However, just as Toshiro thought this, Momo spoke with a somewhat sharp tone: "Why is the princess of the Kasumioji Clan in Shiro-chan's room so early in the morning, and you're feeding her? And Shiro-chan, you're not even dressed yet!"
"Hey, hey, don't say that, Momo. What do you mean 'not dressed'? I haven't put on my Shihakusho and Haori yet because I just woke up, but I'm still wearing my undergarments. It's not like I'm naked."
Toshiro quickly defended himself.
Earlier, when Rurichiyo suddenly barged in, Toshiro was only wearing a white undergarment, basically like ancient sleepwear.
Hearing Toshiro's defense, Momo didn't say anything more, but Rurichiyo started to chime in again.
"Hey, who are you? Calling him 'Shiro-chan'? I don't even call Toshiro that! How dare you!"
Rurichiyo demanded.
"Princess of the Kasumioji Clan, right? You listen carefully. I am Shiro-chan's lo... Lieutenant!"
Momo said, her face blushing.
"Lieutenant?"
Rurichiyo asked puzzledly.
"Well, whatever. In short, you're the Lieutenant of the 10th Division, right?"
Rurichiyo asked.
"Ye-yes, so what?"
What Momo was too embarrassed to say was that she had wanted to say she was Toshiro's lover.
"Hmph, just a mere Lieutenant, and you dare to be so rude to me."
Rurichiyo said arrogantly.
"Alright, Rurichiyo, let me introduce you. Momo is one of the Lieutenants of our 10th Division and also my lover."
Toshiro introduced.
"Lo... lover!!"
As if struck by lightning, Rurichiyo seemed to suffer a major blow, instantly petrified.