Matsumoto Rangiku was sitting on the sofa in the squad room, eating biscuits from the table, when she overheard someone mention her birthday.
With her plump chest resting on the back of the seat, she turned slightly and saw Hinamori Momo standing there. Momo held what looked like a carefully prepared gift in her hands, complete with a cute bow tied on top.
"Thanks," Matsumoto said quickly as she turned around, knelt on the sofa, and reached out her hands to receive the gift.
Unexpectedly, Hinamori pulled the gift behind her back. "Miss Rangiku… your birthday in September has already been celebrated. This is for Toshiro."
Matsumoto rested her chin on the back of the sofa, speaking with a playful tone. "Captain's birthday?"
"That's right… you didn't prepare anything, did you?" Momo replied, trying her best to keep the gift out of Rangiku's reach.
…
Hitsugaya Toshiro found a document in the executive office. After picking it up, he noticed it was written in Rangiku's handwriting.
It read: At nine o'clock tonight, please come to the west training grounds. The roof.
Looking at the document stack on Rangiku's desk, piled higher than most people's heads, veins appeared on his temple. "Where did that woman go if not to finish her work?"
He was used to it by now.
When he was only the third seat of Squad 10, Shiba Isshin had decided to pass the captain's position to him. Back then, Matsumoto even protested, saying, "Shouldn't the position go to me instead?"
Both Hitsugaya and Isshin had responded while squinting with clear irritation: "Give the captaincy to you, and the squad will collapse."
…
Nine p.m.
When Hitsugaya climbed onto the rooftop, he realized Matsumoto wasn't alone. "Even Hinamori and Aizen are here?"
It was midwinter, and in addition to their Shinigami uniforms and captain's haori, everyone had scarves around their necks in various patterns and colors.
Momo, wrapped in pink, turned to him and called out, "Hey! Shouldn't you say 'Captain Aizen,' Hitsugaya?"
Hitsugaya adjusted the scarf around his neck. "And you should call me Captain Hitsugaya," he snapped back.
"Why did you call me here?" he asked directly.
"Captain… today is your birthday… look," Matsumoto said, pointing to the sky.
Hitsugaya looked upward. With the sound of firecrackers cracking through the air, colorful fireworks bloomed over the Seireitei's night sky, casting brilliant colors above the rooftops.
"Fireworks in winter are beautiful. It would be perfect if it snowed just a little bit," Matsumoto commented.
Hitsugaya tucked his face deeper into his scarf so only his eyes were visible. "I just feel cold… idiot."
Sitting near them, Aizen Sosuke turned and said calmly, "Congratulations, Hitsugaya."
Hitsugaya replied softly, "For those of us born in Rukongai, birthdays are optional. We're not nobles from Seireitei… We don't even know the day we were born."
Watching the fireworks, Aizen nodded thoughtfully behind his glasses. "It doesn't matter whether the date is accurate. Just knowing your birthday is enough to be happy."
"If that day comes… thank you, Hinamori… thank you, Aizen… and Matsumoto… We don't want to disappear like fireworks-we want to keep shining."
In that moment, Hitsugaya suddenly understood.
They were just like the fireworks-brilliant at their peak but destined to vanish after lighting up the sky.
…
On that same day, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto destroyed the guards protecting the entrance of the Central 46 chambers.
By the time they arrived inside, it looked like the aftermath of slaughter.
Central 46-the highest judicial body in Soul Society-now resembled a graveyard. Corpses littered the chamber. Blood had soaked the floors and walls.
They stood frozen in disbelief.
How had the authority that judged the actions of the Shinigami-the institution whose rulings could overrule even captains-fallen to this?
In both the World of the Living and Soul Society, it was Central 46 that issued orders to the Onmitsukidō, Kidō Corps, and the Gotei 13 when force was necessary.
Once judgment was cast, no captain could object.
Yet now, inside the chamber before them, every one of them had been slaughtered.
It was as if they had arrived in the depths of hell.
Hitsugaya stepped closer and touched one of the bloodstained tables.
"The blood's dried... and turned black."
"They've been dead for some time already."
"But when exactly?"
Until he and Matsumoto broke in and took down the guards at the door, there hadn't been any sign of disturbance near Central 46.
Who was behind this?
Was it Ichimaru?
No… not alone. He couldn't have done it without being discovered.
Could he have had help?
"You're here afterall… Captain Hitsugaya."
Hitsugaya turned sharply toward the door and saw Kira Izuru standing there.
"Was this... was this your doing, Kira?"
Even though the idea seemed ridiculous based on Kira's strength alone, his sudden appearance after the massacre made him highly suspicious.
Kira said nothing and turned to leave.
"After him!" Hitsugaya ordered.
He and Matsumoto gave chase.
"Was it you who killed them?" Hitsugaya demanded while running.
Kira tilted his head slightly. "No. I just unlocked the doors so you could enter."
"For us to go in? Who told you to do that?"
"Isn't it obvious? Central 46," Kira answered without hesitation.
"Are you joking, Kira?" Hitsugaya's tone grew sharper.
"Is this really the right time to be chasing me?" Kira asked suddenly. "Shouldn't you be protecting Hinamori?"
Hitsugaya froze in place. "What are you saying?"
Kira's reply was calm. "She's already left. You placed the Mirror Gate-a high-level barrier that reflects outside attacks-around her room. You were confident it would protect her."
"But... that barrier is weak from the inside."
"Hinamori's proficient in Kidō. She erected another barrier to mask her spiritual pressure."
"Is that why you couldn't sense her? She's been following you this whole time..."
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