With that, Toshiro and Ashido turned and left.
Pesche: "They're gone."
Dondochakka: "Is this alright, Nel?"
Nel, who was already very reluctant to see Toshiro leave, mustered her courage upon hearing Pesche and Dondochakka's words and shouted towards Toshiro's departing figure, "Wait! Shiro-chan!"
"Hey! What's with 'Shiro-chan'? My name is Toshiro! Hitsugaya Toshiro! Don't get it wrong!" Toshiro turned around and shouted back in dissatisfaction.
"That's not important!" Nel said dismissively.
"Of course it's important, dummy! Anyway, you can call me whatever, but absolutely no -chan, got it?" Toshiro said firmly.
"Alright, it's Toshiro, okay?" Nel conceded.
"But let Nel help you!" Nel said, clenching her little fists.
"Help me?" Toshiro asked, puzzled.
Toshiro really couldn't think of anywhere he needed Nel's help.
"Aren't you going somewhere? Nel can take you there," Nel said, looking at Toshiro expectantly.
If she took them, she could spend a bit more time with Toshiro.
Nel knew Toshiro couldn't stay with her, so for her, even spending a little more time with him was good.
"Take us? But we can walk ourselves," Toshiro refused.
Toshiro and Ashido were going to the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force camp. Naturally, Nel wouldn't know where that was, so how could she take them?
"Walking is too slow. I can have Bawabawa carry you," Nel said, pointing to Bawabawa, who played the role of a pet.
"Bawabawa is very fast. So, Toshiro, let me take you!" Nel pleaded.
Even though she was offering help, Nel's tone was like she was begging Toshiro.
"Well, alright!" Toshiro thought for a moment and agreed.
Although Toshiro and Ashido could use Shunpo, which would definitely be faster than Bawabawa, it would also consume a significant amount of Reiatsu. While Toshiro's strength was formidable and he didn't care about that consumption, Ashido didn't have much Reiatsu to spare. So, reducing consumption was good.
Moreover, spending a bit more time with Nel was also a good thing for Toshiro. After all, Toshiro was quite fond of the gentle and kind Nel.
Of course, it was just fondness for the character, without any improper thoughts.
"Great!"
Hearing Toshiro agree to let her take him, Nel immediately jumped for joy.
So, Toshiro, Ashido, Nel, and the others sat on Bawabawa. With Toshiro giving directions, they headed towards the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force's camp, still located in the outer circle.
As for whether the camp's location would be exposed, Toshiro wasn't worried at all.
First, Toshiro believed Nel and the others wouldn't do such a thing.
Second, even if it was exposed, it didn't matter much. The Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force camp wasn't fixed, and it frequently moved along with their operations. Even if the location was exposed, by the time anyone arrived, the expeditionary force would have already relocated.
Bawabawa was a Hollow that looked like a giant loach, only its size was countless times larger than a real loach.
Toshiro, Ashido, Nel, and the others sitting on it weren't crowded at all; it was very spacious and stable, with almost no sense of bumpiness.
And Nel, once aboard, sat in Toshiro's lap and refused to move, which Toshiro didn't mind.
However, even though he held a girl in his lap, Toshiro's mind was pure, without any improper thoughts.
Because the current Nel was just a child, making it hard to harbor any improper notions unless one had specific preferences.
'I wish I could see the adult version of Nel,' Toshiro thought to himself, looking down at Nel in his lap.
Nel was a magical being who could be both a loli and a mature woman.
Due to severe injuries and Reiryoku loss, she became a cute loli. But her original form was a mature woman.
However, Toshiro probably wouldn't have the chance to see the mature version of Nel now.
In the original work, Nel reverted to her original form due to strong external stimuli. Without such stimuli now, Nel naturally wouldn't revert.
In the outer circle of Hueco Mundo, not far from the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force's camp, Toshiro, Nel, and the others sat on Bawabawa. Following Toshiro's directions, they arrived here.
"Bawabawa, stop here."
Toshiro didn't take Nel and the others directly into the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force's camp. Instead, he had Bawabawa stop here.
After all, Nel and the others were still Hollows. Although they were kinder than many Shinigami, other Shinigami might not care about kindness or evil, and any Hollow would be seen as an enemy.
Especially the members of the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force. Fighting in Hueco Mundo for years, watching comrades die at the hands of Hollows, many held extreme views towards Hollows. Any Hollow was an enemy, regardless of anything else.
Toshiro and Ashido jumped down from Bawabawa.
"Nel, this is far enough. This time, we really have to say goodbye," Toshiro said, somewhat reluctantly.
"Toshiro..." Tears welled up in Nel's eyes.
"Don't cry, Nel. One day, we will meet again," Toshiro said firmly.
"Really? Toshiro?" Nel looked at Toshiro expectantly.
"Yes, really. I promise," Toshiro nodded.
Hearing Toshiro's words, Nel suddenly leaped from Bawabawa and threw herself at Toshiro.
Toshiro quickly reached out and caught her.
"Then let's pinky swear. Promise to meet again someday. Liars have to swallow a thousand needles," Nel, who was always cheerful, suddenly said seriously.
"Yeah, we can do that," Toshiro also nodded solemnly.
Then, their little fingers hooked together.
Afterwards, Toshiro and Ashido turned and walked towards the nearby Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force camp without looking back.