Seeing Rurichiyo's expression as if she had suffered a major blow, a smile tugged at the corner of Momo's mouth.
"Shiro-chan, let me help you get dressed and wash up." Momo then walked over to Toshiro and Rurichiyo, pulling Toshiro away from Rurichiyo's side.
"Hinamori, I can dress and wash myself." Toshiro said helplessly.
"No, I... we... are lovers. It's only natural that I do these things." Although very shy, Momo insisted.
This wasn't Momo deliberately showing off her relationship in front of Rurichiyo.
In fact, to a certain extent, Momo was a somewhat traditional woman. Ever since she and Toshiro confirmed their relationship, whenever she had time, she would often come to help Toshiro dress and wash.
The reason Momo came to Toshiro's place early this morning wasn't because she had prior knowledge of Rurichiyo's visit, but because she wanted to help him dress and wash.
And it wasn't a sudden whim today. Whenever she had time, she would try to come before Toshiro woke up.
Firstly, to wake Toshiro up, and secondly, to help him dress and wash.
For Toshiro, having someone help him dress and wash was also a rather enjoyable thing, so he hadn't really resisted this decadent, feudal-aristocratic lifestyle before.
It was just that with Rurichiyo and the others present today, he felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Alright, Shiro-chan, hurry up and get dressed and washed. You usually get up around this time, then eat something and start working."
Momo said, walking over to the clothes rack, picking up Toshiro's Shihakusho and Captain's Haori, then returning to his side to help him put them on.
Helpless, Toshiro had no choice but to go along with her.
Then Toshiro used the hot water Momo had brought in to wash his face.
"Hmph, shameless! You're just Toshiro's Lieutenant, yet you proactively help him dress and wash. Anyone would think you're a maidservant." Rurichiyo beside them watched the two and said mockingly.
Toshiro glanced at her but said nothing, merely taking the towel Momo handed him to wipe his face.
To be fair, Momo helping Toshiro dress and wash wasn't a big deal. Even if Momo weren't Toshiro's lover, it would still be nothing.
The Captains of the Gotei 13 were all at the pinnacle of the Shinigami pyramid and actually had many privileges. Even if they pursued material luxury, no one would interfere.
They were qualified to demand these things. It's just that among the Gotei 13's Captains, those of noble birth, like Byakuya and Kyoraku, were already accustomed to noble life and didn't care about such things.
The common-born Captains, for the most part, weren't ones to pursue pleasure.
So most Gotei 13's Captains lived very simple lives. No one specifically demanded delicacies or luxurious palaces.
It wasn't that they weren't qualified, they just didn't want to.
With Momo's help, Toshiro was dressed and washed in no time.
"Shiro-chan, let me bring you breakfast." Momo said again.
Momo knew Toshiro's living habits very well. After dressing and washing, Toshiro would eat something and then go to the Captain's office to handle division affairs.
Aside from Yamamoto, Momo had never seen a Captain as diligent and dedicated as Toshiro.
"No need. I'll eat breakfast myself. You accompany Rurichiyo for a walk around our 10th Division first."
Toshiro said to Momo.
Toshiro planned to send Rurichiyo away first and then talk to Kenryu about Kumoi.
However, before Momo could respond to Toshiro's words, Rurichiyo started shouting, "No! I don't want her to accompany me! I came to the 10th Division to find you, Toshiro, to play with me. I don't want her to."
No matter how Toshiro tried to persuade her, Rurichiyo insisted on clinging to him. Helpless, Toshiro had to agree to accompany her for a walk around the division.
Actually, the 10th Division didn't have much work to handle right now. The tasks that had accumulated during the few days Toshiro was recuperating had mostly been dealt with yesterday.
As a diligent and responsible Captain, the 10th Division's usual workload was quickly handled by Toshiro, so he usually had quite a bit of free time.
But perhaps because he was used to being diligent, even when there was nothing to do, Toshiro would find something to keep himself busy.
"Come on, Rurichiyo. You just had some pastries, so first have a meal with me, and then I'll give you a proper tour of our 10th Division." Toshiro led the group out.
As for the matter of Kumoi, he could discuss it later. Toshiro didn't believe they would dare send someone to assassinate Rurichiyo in his own 10th Division.
…
At night, 10th Division's Captain's office.
Toshiro sat on his Captain's chair, looking at a document.
He had spent the day playing with Rurichiyo, and now, in the evening, he specifically came to the Captain's office to work by lamplight, handling some documents that had arrived at the 10th Division today.
"Come in."
Toshiro suddenly put down the document and glanced towards the door.
As soon as Toshiro's voice faded, a figure walked in from outside.
"Hitsugaya-dono, I'm really sorry to disturb you so late at night!" Kenryu bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
"It's nothing. I was waiting for you anyway." Toshiro said nonchalantly.
The reason Toshiro was still working in the captain's office at night was mainly to wait for Kenryu to come and discuss the Kasumioji Clan and Kumoi.
"How is Rurichiyo?" Toshiro asked.
"Yes, Rurichiyo-sama has already fallen asleep, so I had the opportunity to come find you, Hitsugaya-dono." Kenryu replied.
After playing with Toshiro today, Rurichiyo didn't return to the Kasumioji Residence but specifically stayed overnight at the 10th Division.
"Mm, sit down, Kenryu. There must be a reason you came to the 10th Division to find me this time and specifically want to stay here, right?" Toshiro stretched lazily, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.
Thud!
Hearing Toshiro's words, Kenryu suddenly fell to his knees with a thud. He stretched his hands out and then knocked his head heavily against them, performing a standard dogeza.
But this time, Kenryu wasn't apologizing… he was begging for help.
"Hitsugaya-dono! I beg of you! Please save Rurichiyo-sama! Only you can save her now!!" Kenryu pleaded hoarsely.
Toshiro glanced at Kenryu kneeling on the ground but didn't tell him to get up. Since he was asking for help, Toshiro was worthy of such a grand bow.
Similarly, by accepting his grand bow, Toshiro would also do his best to fulfill his request.
"Tell me, Kenryu, state your request." Toshiro toyed with the teacup on the table.
"Hitsugaya-dono, the Kasumioji Clan's retainer, Gyokaku Kumoi... he intends to kill Rurichiyo-sama!" Kenryu said solemnly, then began to recount the situation of the Kasumioji Clan and Kumoi from the beginning.
"Soon after Rurichiyo-sama was born, her parents passed away one after another. Because Rurichiyo-sama was too young to inherit the family estate, the power of the Kasumioji Clan fell into the hands of the retainer Kumoi..."
"...Kumoi has always regarded Rurichiyo-sama as a thorn in his side and has tried every means to kill her."
"At first, Kumoi was still worried about others discovering his scheme, so he didn't dare to openly assassinate Rurichiyo-sama. At most, he would artificially create some accidents to make it seem like she died by mishap."
"If it was only that, Enryu and I could barely protect Rurichiyo-sama."
"But recently, Kumoi's actions have become more and more blatant. Just yesterday... through some channels, Enryu and I learned that Kumoi has lost patience. Even at the risk of being discovered, he intends to dispatch powerful assassins to kill Rurichiyo-sama..."
"Relying on just the two of us, Enryu and me, we can no longer protect Rurichiyo-sama. Staying in the Kasumioji Residence would undoubtedly be very dangerous."
"So early this morning, taking advantage of Kumoi's unpreparedness, we immediately secretly left the Kasumioji residence with Rurichiyo-sama, then led her to come to the 10th Division. And so..."
"I beg you, Hitsugaya-dono! Among the people we know, only you have the strength to stand against Kumoi!"
"So, please! Please save Rurichiyo-sama!"
"As long as you can save Rurichiyo-sama, I am willing to do anything, even die." Kenryu pleaded loudly.
Smack!
Toshiro forcefully placed the teacup back on the table.
"Get up, Kenryu. I accept your request!"
Someone like Kumoi... it's time to deal with him.
A mere Kumoi was nothing but a buffoon in Toshiro's eyes. Toshiro didn't plan to waste much time on him.
So since Kenryu had made the request, he would deal with him. It was that simple.