"Haah... haah..."
Snoring sounds rose and fell intermittently. The Shinigami of the 10th Division were sprawled everywhere, crooked and twisted, drunk on the ground.
Even Momo was slightly tipsy, breathing evenly as she leaned on Toshiro's shoulder and fell asleep.
Earlier, Momo and Hyorinmaru had argued, and somehow, during their quarrel, they started a drinking contest.
Then Momo was the first to give in, collapsing drunk onto Toshiro's shoulder.
"Whew..."
Toshiro couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "It's finally over. Speaking of which, has it gotten this late?"
When Toshiro had first returned, the sky had just gotten dark, and everyone was already starting the banquet. Now it was almost midnight, showing just how long they had been partying.
And it seemed that if most of them hadn't passed out, the banquet would have continued.
Toshiro's personality was somewhat aloof. He actually didn't really like this kind of noisy atmosphere, let alone being caught in the middle of the argument between Momo and Hyorinmaru, which made it even more uncomfortable for him.
Although he had also attended the banquet at the Kuchiki estate during the day, that was a flower-viewing banquet, leaning towards elegance.
Being in the estate of the foremost of the Four Great Noble Houses, the other Shinigami also subconsciously dared not be too loud.
Unlike the banquet held at the 10th Division this time, which was as noisy as a marketplace.
"Tch, can't handle it anymore? Just a little girl after all."
Hyorinmaru raised her cup again and drained it, then glanced disdainfully at Momo, who was drunk and leaning on Toshiro's shoulder.
"Little girl? Momo's age should be older than yours, no, older than both of us, right?"
Toshiro said helplessly.
A Zanpakuto is born together with its Shinigami, so the Shinigami's age is the Zanpakuto's age. Although Toshiro was a Transmigrator, Hyorinmaru was also re-fused and formed when he transmigrated over.
So Hyorinmaru's age was naturally the same as Toshiro's. And Momo's age was undoubtedly older than Toshiro's. Their relationship was one of older woman-younger man.
Since Momo was older than Toshiro, she was naturally older than Hyorinmaru. Yet Hyorinmaru called Momo a 'little girl'. Well, although Hyorinmaru did indeed look more mature than Momo.
"Come to think of it, Hyorinmaru, you seem a bit too active today."
Toshiro couldn't help but say to Hyorinmaru.
"Is that so? Perhaps. After all, being alone in the Inner World is pretty boring. Now that I can materialize and appear whenever I want, why not come out and see more?"
Hyorinmaru countered.
"Oh, Hyorinmaru, the banquet is over. Won't you go back into the sword?"
Toshiro asked.
"No, I want to stay in the outside world for a while. I don't want to go back yet."
Hyorinmaru said.
"…Suit yourself."
Toshiro didn't insist. Instead, he picked up the drunk Momo, preparing to take her back to her room.
"How nice... a princess carry. I want one too."
Hyorinmaru muttered.
Saying this, as if thinking of something, Hyorinmaru's eyes twinkled, and she suddenly leaned towards Toshiro.
"Oh dear, the alcohol is hitting me. I can't stand steady. Toshiro, carry me back quickly."
Hyorinmaru pressed against Toshiro's back, hugging his waist and not letting go.
"Let go. Stop messing around, Hyorinmaru. Carry you back? Carry you back where? You don't live in the 10th Division's barracks. If you want to go back, just return to the Inner World, right?"
Toshiro said helplessly.
With that, Toshiro broke free from Hyorinmaru and prepared to take Momo back to her room to rest.
"Sigh..."
Rukia sighed from nearby.
"What's wrong, Rukia?"
Toshiro couldn't help but ask.
"The Sword Beast didn't show up."
Rukia said regretfully.
"Yeah, it's really strange."
Sode no Shirayuki also said.
"Strange your head!"
Rukia suddenly exploded.
"Could it be that the atmosphere wasn't lively enough?"
Sode no Shirayuki continued, still oblivious.
"No, the atmosphere was lively enough. Speaking of which, you didn't actually think holding a banquet would lure out the Sword Beast, did you, Sode no Shirayuki?"
Toshiro said helplessly.
Even Rangiku, who had proposed this plan, probably didn't believe as much as Sode no Shirayuki that it would lure out the Sword Beast.
"Rukia, let's call it a day. It's getting late. You should go back and rest too."
With that, Toshiro carried Momo towards her lodgings, while Hyorinmaru followed closely beside him.
After sending Momo back to her room, Toshiro didn't immediately return to his own room to rest. Instead, he walked to a bench in the barracks courtyard and sat down, looking up at the stars in the sky.
Hyorinmaru also sat down beside Toshiro, then suddenly pressed on his head, making him lie on her lap.
"Looking at the stars is more comfortable lying down, right?"
Hyorinmaru reached out and gently massaged Toshiro's head.
"A lap pillow? It feels pretty nice."
Toshiro couldn't help but squint, enjoying Hyorinmaru's massage and lap pillow.
"Hey, Hyorinmaru, what's wrong? You seem surprisingly gentle today?"
Toshiro asked.
"Surprisingly gentle? I suppose so. I'm usually very cold, not as gentle as Momo."
Hyorinmaru suddenly said with some melancholy.
Hearing Hyorinmaru's words, Toshiro wisely kept his mouth shut.
Talking about one woman in front of another is really not a wise choice.
"Hey, Toshiro, how do you see me?"
Hyorinmaru suddenly asked.
"How do I see you? What do you mean? You are my Zanpakuto. You are my partner, one heart and one soul, living and dying together."
Toshiro said matter-of-factly.
"No, that's not what I mean. I mean, as a man, how do you see me as a woman? Just like how you see Momo as your lover?"
Hyorinmaru looked intently at Toshiro.
"This... I'm not sure what you mean..."
Toshiro closed his eyes guiltily.
Toshiro naturally understood what Hyorinmaru meant, understood her feelings. But could there really be a result between a Shinigami and their Zanpakuto?
Hearing Toshiro's perfunctory answer, Hyorinmaru said seriously and solemnly, "Toshiro, don't run away. Answer me properly..."
Boom!!
A loud noise suddenly came from a distance, interrupting Hyorinmaru.
"This Reiatsu... could it be the Sword Beasts?"
Toshiro suddenly stood up.
"Come, Hyorinmaru, let's go together!"
With that, Toshiro quickly ran towards the source of the sound.
Hyorinmaru could only helplessly sigh and then follow.
Outside the main gate of the 10th Division.
A green-skinned, double-horned person was attacking the 10th Division members guarding the gate. If Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki were here, they would recognize at a glance that this was exactly the other Sword Beast that had escaped from the Kuchiki estate.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Toshiro and Hyorinmaru's figures suddenly appeared on the scene.
"So it's you! You dared to interrupt Toshiro and me. If it weren't for you..."
Hyorinmaru looked at the Sword Beast before her, her anger flaring like a volcano about to erupt.
"Die!"
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Hyorinmaru.
Seeing Hyorinmaru's fury, and fearing she might strike too hard and actually kill the Sword Beast, Toshiro couldn't help but intervene first.
"Bakudo #63: Sajo Sabaku!"
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Several thick, snake-like chains wrapped around the Sword Beast, binding it tightly.
"Captain! You're here!"
The several Shinigami who had been attacked quickly ran over to greet him.
"Mm."
Toshiro nodded calmly.
"Captain, what should we do with this guy?"
A member of the 10th Division pointed at the bound Sword Beast and asked.
"Hmm... The description matches what Rukia said. It seems this is the one that escaped from the Kuchiki estate. I didn't expect it to actually show up at the 10th Division. Could Sword Beasts really like banquets?"
Toshiro murmured softly to himself.
"Hmm? Captain, what did you say?"
This 10th Division's member couldn't help but ask.
"No, nothing. You guys take this guy to the Technology Development Institute and hand him over to Mayuri."
Toshiro ordered.
"Yes, Captain!"