The session with the trio proved immensely productive. Over three to four hours of instru, not only did Renji, Kira, and Hinamain valuable insights, but Haruki himself felt that he had signifitly improved.

  As the saying goes, teag others is one of the best ways to reinforce your own knowledge. For Haruki, it wasn't just reinfort—it was as though he had advanced education using special means, being himself in the process.

  After their training session, Haruki ihe trio for a meal. Following their shared experieheir camaraderie deepened siderably.

  When Haruki mentioned his patrol assigo West Rukongai the day, Hinamori remarked, "If you're heading to Junrin'an in Distrie, you might run into Little Shiro!"

  "Little Shiro?" Haruki paused, puzzled. She must mean Tōshirō Hitsugaya.

  Wait a sed—at this point in time, hadn't Hitsugaya enrolled in the Shin'ō Academy yet?

  Thinking it over, Haruki realized that was ihe case. Hitsugaya joihe academy five years after Hinamori, following an enter with Rangiku Matsumoto that led him to Seireitei.

  So...this year?

  If Hinamori was right, Hitsugaya hadn't yet ehe academy. This was a golden opportunity to befriend him!

  Hitsugaya, as a key character in the inal series, surely possessed a remarkable ability.

  Excited, Haruki suppressed his enthusiasm and inquired further about Hitsugaya. Hinamori eagerly shared details about him.

  Tōshirō Hitsugaya, with his silver hair and green eyes, had a distant personality and few friends in Rukongai. Although Hinamori and Hitsugaya both lived in Junrin'an, they weren't siblings, as Haruki had initially assumed.

  "So, they're just neighbors in the same district," Haruki thought. "Iing."

  "I'll keep a for him tomorrow," Haruki assured Hinamori with a smile. "If he has potential, maybe he could bee a Shinigami someday."

  "Little Shiro..." Hinamori replied with a touch of worry. "He could definitely be an outstanding Shinigami, but he seems to have some resistao the idea."

  "That's uandable," Haruki said. "People from Rukongai often have mixed feelings about Shinigami. But Junrin'an isn't like the outer districts—it's not as extreme."

  Distrust toward Shinigami was ong Rukongai residents, likely stemming from a natural reluce to i with authority figures. Moreover, Rukongai's wlessness, particurly ier districts, didn't help.

  For instance, in the rougher districts where murder and robbery were rampant, people rarely viewed the police—or, in this case, Shinigami—favorably.

  However, Distrie, Junrin'an, was the most well-maintained and closest to Seireitei, so Haruki wasn't too worried about its safety.

  As the versation shifted to life in Rukongai, Renji reminisced about his and Rukia's ins in District 78, Inuzuri, one of the roughest districts. That area was notorious for its scum, and survival often came at the cost of others' lives. Of the group of friends they once had, only he and Rukia survived after ten years.

  Even Kira, though of noble dest like Haruki, had spent much of his time in Rukongai, so the three of them shared on ground in their experiences.

  After finishing their meal and chatting for another half-hour, the trio finally left, heading back to the Shin'ō Academy dormitories.

  ...

  Ohe three had departed, Haruki returo his home, still eted. He checked his skill slots and saw that he had successfully acquired Kira's Avian Syer and Hinamori's Ultimate Defense.

  Their friendships had grown expoially that evening. Renji's favorability now stood at 75, while Hinamori and Kira both surpassed 60.

  Favorability, Haruki eo rise quickly at first but slowed signifitly over time. Reag 80 or even 100 would likely take much more effort. He wondered if even deeply loving couples could sistently reach 100 favorability. Perhaps only exceptionally devoted retionships could achieve such a level.

  Still, Haruki felt that having friends at 80 favorability was enough to fully trust them.

  "e to think of it, the inal self had a few good friends too," Haruki mused. "I had a det retionship with Hisagi Shūhei."

  Shūhei likely possessed a unique ability as well. Though Haruki wasn't certain if their favorability had reached 60, it robably close, given that they were peers.

  "When I have time, I should visit Squad Nine," Haruki thought as he y in bed, still dressed, with the lights on. Dreaming of future possibilities, he drifted off to sleep.

  ...

  The m, Haruki rose early to prepare for his patrol i Rukongai. The journey from the Fifth Division to the White Way Gate was long, even for a Shinigami. He started at 5 a.m. but didn't reach Junrin'an until nearly 10 a.m.

  As the district closest to Seireitei, Junrin'an boasted det public order and a retively prosperous ey, plete with shops and trade. This was in stark trast to the more impoverished outer districts, where even basiecessities like straw sandals were a luxury.

  Following Hinamori's dires, Haruki began searg for Hitsugaya's home. The yout of Junrin'an wasn't overly plicated, so it didn't take long for him to locate the house.

  Hitsugaya's home bore a resembo Haruki's, though its value was vastly different—like paring a rural courtyard to a prestigious urbae.

  Haruki knocked on the door, and an elderly woman's voice called from inside. "ing."

  This must be Hitsugaya's grandmother. When she opehe door and saw Haruki, she seemed momentarily startled before speaking in a frail voice.

  "Shinigami-sama, what brings you here?"

  Notig her weakeate, Haruki realized it was likely caused by her sensitivity to external spiritual pressure.

  "So it's true," he murmured to himself. "Hinamori wasn't exaggerating."

  "Hinamori?" The grandmother's expression softened into a smile. "Are you a friend of Momo's from Seireitei? Please, e in."

  "Thank you for your hospitality," Haruki replied, stepping inside.

  As Haruki ehe modest home, he noticed something intriguing: the grandmother had her own unique ability.

  "Kind Elder: If acquired, your children and grandchildren will bee exceptionally filial."