"Cough—hey, the tea's about to spill!"
Tsuna could sit back and enjoy the show, but Ichigo couldn't ignore it—those were his sisters, after all. Hitsugaya's constant sideways glances were starting to get on his nerves.
Realizing he'd been caught, Hitsugaya awkwardly straightened up, then politely addressed everyone, "Please, have some tea."
Masaki simply smiled without saying anything. She had already noticed the subtle tension between Hitsugaya and Ichigo. Having once been both human and connected to the Shinigami world herself, she wasn't particularly opposed to such developments. It wasn't even anything concrete yet—no need to shut it down prematurely.
At that moment, Rangiku finally returned after thoroughly beating Isshin. After downing two cups of water in one go, she let out a long breath. The frustration she had built up over the years—and especially the past couple of days—was finally released. It felt amazing.
After briefly greeting Isshin's family, Rangiku turned to him with a resentful expression.
"Alright, care to explain? Why did you come back? I didn't expect my former captain to even remember the squad still exists…"
"I'm sorry! I really am!" Drawing on his experience at the Shiba household, Isshin dropped straight into a perfect prostration apology.
"Y-You…" His sincerity completely threw Rangiku off. She didn't even know how to continue scolding him. Instead, she turned to her captain for help. "Captain, look at him!"
"It's Captain Hitsugaya," Hitsugaya snapped irritably. "And you're not much better. I've been handling all the squad duties myself."
After lightly reprimanding Rangiku, Hitsugaya turned to Isshin. He felt it would be inappropriate to embarrass him in front of his family.
"You can get up now, Captain Isshin. Do you have any plans this time, now that you've returned?"
"Heh, nothing much. Just bringing my family to visit Kūka, and stopping by the squad while I'm at it…" Isshin immediately reverted to his usual carefree grin the moment the pressure eased.
Before he could finish, Rangiku cut him off and complained to Hitsugaya, "Captain! See? I told you—former Captain Isshin never took the squad seriously. 'Just stopping by'? If he weren't visiting Shiba Kūka, he probably wouldn't show up at all!"
Hitsugaya pressed his forehead helplessly. His lieutenant was no easy case either—only calling him "Captain" when it suited her.
Ignoring Rangiku, he continued, "Captain Isshin, are you planning to resume your position? I was just thinking of focusing on training for a while."
After clashing with Aizen twice, Hitsugaya had come to realize just how lacking his strength truly was. If he had been like Captain-Commander Yamamoto—able to locate Aizen's true body through sheer mastery of his Zanpakutō—would Momo still have been hurt?
He didn't know.
Even now, Hinamori Momo had yet to regain consciousness. Urahara Kisuke had personally set up a special room within Squad 10 to preserve her condition. After all, it had been Urahara who hid the Hōgyoku inside her—though even he hadn't anticipated Aizen would act so ruthlessly.
Every time Hitsugaya looked at his childhood friend lying unconscious, he could only blame his own weakness. If he had fully mastered Hyōrinmaru's power, Aizen would never have escaped.
Now that Isshin had returned, Hitsugaya had already made up his mind—he would hand all of Squad 10's duties back to him, focus on training, and personally take Aizen's head to awaken Momo.
But Isshin immediately waved his hands in refusal.
"No, no, no! I'm just here for a visit. I still have a whole family to take care of in the Human World. I'm only staying for two days."
"But Squad 10 was originally yours. As long as you explain things to the Captain-Commander, you can take back your position. Don't forget—captains are paid," Hitsugaya said seriously.
"Yeah, but Soul Society money has to be exchanged through that shady merchant Urahara. Not worth it," Isshin shot back. Then he added, "Besides, strength isn't something you rush. You're still young—why chase power so desperately?"
"I don't have time!" Hitsugaya's voice hardened. "I have to avenge Momo!"
After hearing Ichigo's explanation, Isshin and the others finally learned about Momo's condition. Isshin sighed softly. If something like that had happened to Masaki, he knew he would have made the same choice.
"Hitsugaya…" he said quietly. "After I finish visiting the Captain-Commander, I still have some time. Let's spar."
He couldn't ask Hitsugaya to let go of his hatred—that would be meaningless. And he had no intention of reclaiming the captain's position. The only thing he could do… was help him improve as a fighter.
Hitsugaya froze for a moment. Ever since achieving Bankai, he had never fought Isshin. He had no doubt about Isshin's strength—this was an invaluable opportunity.
"Thank you very much… Captain Isshin."
Isshin scratched his nose awkwardly. "Don't call me captain anymore. Even when I was around, you were the one running the squad. Now you're the captain—lead everyone forward."
"…Understood, Captain Isshin."
Isshin laughed helplessly when he saw the title hadn't changed. He didn't press the matter further. At that moment, the past and present captains of Squad 10 completed their unspoken succession. With Isshin's acknowledgment, Hitsugaya no longer needed to prove his position.
With the tension gone, and under Isshin's lively personality, the atmosphere quickly warmed.
Accompanied by Hitsugaya and Rangiku, Isshin took his family around the Squad 10 barracks, visiting old acquaintances. Rangiku occasionally chimed in with jokes, even exposing some of Isshin's embarrassing past in front of the Kurosaki family.
By dinner time, Tsuna—who wasn't used to drinking—quietly slipped out and rested in the corridor.
Bringing Uncle Isshin back really had been the right call. This warm atmosphere… felt good.
"Thank you, Tsuna," Rangiku said, sitting across from him with a cup of sake. "The captain can finally smile again."
Since the Sōkyoku Hill incident, Hitsugaya had remained cold and distant—like the very nature of his Zanpakutō. No matter how much Rangiku tried, all she ever got in return was: "Stop bothering me."
If Hitsugaya was the core of Squad 10—the one responsible for both administration and combat—then Rangiku was more like its caretaker. She had been in the squad longer than most and understood exactly what kind of morale was needed at any given time.
By acting carefree and teasing her overly mature captain, she kept the squad's spirits alive.
But Momo's condition had hit Hitsugaya too hard—even she couldn't pull him out of it.
Fortunately… Isshin had come back.
"You're not inside? Uncle Isshin's going to cause trouble," Tsuna said with a grin.
In the next room, Isshin was currently forcing drinks on minors—claiming that since Hitsugaya was over a hundred years old, he was definitely old enough to drink.
Without Rangiku there to keep things in check, the entire banquet had turned into Isshin's personal playground.
"Let him have his fun. It's rare for Captain Isshin to come back," Rangiku said, taking a sip.
Hitsugaya allowing himself to be drunk probably had something to do with drowning his sorrows. But he wasn't the only one feeling that way.
"Thinking about Ichimaru Gin?" Tsuna suddenly asked.
"Cough—!" Rangiku nearly choked. Wiping her lips, she denied it outright. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
The heavy atmosphere in Squad 10 wasn't just because of its captain. Even though she tried to hide it—and even comforted Hitsugaya—Rangiku herself carried the same quiet gloom.
"I admire Ichimaru Gin," Tsuna continued calmly, ignoring her denial. "I'll bring him back someday. Someone like him shouldn't die because of Aizen."
Knowing the true nature of Gin's Bankai, Tsuna had no intention of letting him fall so easily. With Kamishini no Yari, if used properly, Gin could be a decisive asset—even against the Wandenreich.
Rangiku stared at him, biting the rim of her cup. The flush on her face—whether from alcohol or from thinking of Gin—was hard to tell.
She didn't know how Tsuna knew about her connection to Gin. Now that Gin had defected, as Squad 10's lieutenant, she had no choice but to bury those feelings deep inside.
"Don't worry. He'll be fine," Tsuna said, stretching as he stood up.
He didn't know if his words would help—but he hoped that after today, both the captain and lieutenant of Squad 10 could finally shake off their gloom.
Watching his back, Rangiku clenched her teeth. She had made up her mind—to ask him everything. How much did he know? And what was the real reason behind Gin's betrayal?
From beginning to end, she never believed Gin was truly on Aizen's side.
"Hey! So you were hiding here, kid!"
Just as Rangiku resolved herself, Isshin stumbled out, reeking of alcohol. He slung an arm over Tsuna's shoulders, practically dumping his full weight on him.
"Come on! Shiro and Ichigo are already out cold! Drink with your uncle—just one more!"
Tsuna was speechless. This shameless old man had actually drunk both of them under the table.
Hitsugaya might technically be over a hundred—but Ichigo was still a minor! Where was Masaki when you needed her?
"Uncle, you're drunk. Go find a room and rest."
"Drunk? I'm not drunk! I'm happy! I can still drink!" Isshin slurred, hiccuping. After finally getting Masaki and the girls to leave, there was no way he'd stop now—once he returned to the Human World, he wouldn't get another chance like this.
"…Huh? Aunt Masaki?"
Tsuna's casual remark made Isshin freeze in terror.
"Masaki, I didn't—!" he spun around in panic.
There was no one there.
Even in his drunken state, Isshin realized he'd been tricked. Staggering, he immediately chased after Tsuna.
Watching the two of them bicker and stumble down the corridor, Rangiku couldn't help but smile.
It had been a long time… since things felt this light.
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