Captain Material? Not According to the Gotei 13!

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the winding streets of Rukongai, its light softening the edges of wooden houses and dirt paths. Hitsugaya Toshiro trudged through the familiar alleys, his small hands tucked into the sleeves of his worn haori. The light breeze promised a beautiful day, but even that couldn't help his sour mood.

How could she just decide to leave like that! I mean I know it's for the best, but still…

Yep - recently he learned that Momo Hinamori, his closest companion and surrogate big sister, had announced her plans to leave for the Shinigami Academy. 

His mind kept on playing the morning encounter over and over again.

---

"This is our chance to make something of ourselves. To prove to everyone that us Rukongai people can make it too!" She had said, her smile bright. "You should come with me, Shiro-kun! We can become Shinigami together!"

To say that it was a complete surprise would be lying - Momo had been dropping hints about her desire to move beyond her Rukongai background. Even then, when faced with the actual proposal, Hitsugaya was still shocked. It would be like saying that he wanted to be taller than Momo and then suddenly waking up one day to find it so.

And truthfully, saying that the idea didn't appeal to him would also be lying. Besides the obvious allure, Momo's energy was infectious. But before he could agree, a caring yet tired bent-over back flashed in his mind.

…But what about grandmother?

---

Hitsugaya eventually refused but didn't want to hold back his sister from pursuing her dreams. He forced a tight smile to hide the bitterness welling inside him. He understood, logically. And despite that, he was stuck now with this nagging voice in his head that kept whispering that she was leaving them behind.

The breeze stirred his silver hair as he kicked a stray pebble down the path.

"You're just being selfish. This is what's best for her." Repeating the mantra will definitely, 100% make him believe it. Eventually. In the meantime, the sour feelings clung to him like damp clothes. His wandering brought him to the outskirts of the district, where the busy streets gave way to sparse trees and open fields. The quiet was welcome, offering a space to stew in his thoughts.

That's when it hit him.

A suffocating pressure descended upon the area, dense and cold as the depths of winter. His short frame staggered, bearing a million pounds. His breath shortened, struggling to continue. His legs trembled, threatening to buckle. The very air seemed alive, squeezing him with unseen power.

Fear slithered into his chest, gripping him tightly. His heart raced. Then, just as panic threatened to overwhelm him, a roar echoed in his mind.

The sound was deep and primal, resonating through his very soul. It wasn't external; it came from within—a fierce cry that shattered the fear gripping him. His small frame steadied, and the pressure around him seemed to lessen. Strangely, the chill increased, but in a comfortable way.

"What was that?" he whispered, his voice shaking.

Hitsugaya straightened, his curiosity sparking to life. Whatever caused this, it wasn't ordinary. And though logic told him to run home, to stay safe, something inside urged him to press on. Maybe it was foolish bravery. Or maybe it was hope. Hope that whatever he found could change things—could make her stay.

With a determined scowl, he pushed forward, tracing the source of the pressure.

The trees thinned, revealing a small clearing bathed in soft golden light. Hitsugaya's eyes scanned the area, wary of any lurking danger. At first, it seemed empty, save for the cherry blossoms swirling gently in the air. But then, his gaze fell on the figure lying on the ground.

The man was tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular frame that only the butcher in the district could afford. His short black hair was tousled, and his square jaw gave him an air of quiet dignity. Or it would have, if he wasn't sprawled awkwardly on the ground like a discarded doll.

Wow, that is an embarrassing position to be found in… 

The weirdness of the situation took him off guard, but Hitsugaya quickly resumed his earlier caution. If there was something life in Rukongai taught you, it was that things can change for the worse in the blink of an eye. He approached cautiously, his bare feet silent against the grass. The heavy pressure that had overwhelmed him earlier was gone, but a faint trace of it lingered around the man, like the scent of smoke after a fire.

The man's chest rose and fell steadily—he was alive, at least. Hitsugaya's small hand hovered hesitantly over the man's shoulder. Was this man dangerous? Should he get help?

"Who are you?" His whisper was answered only by the breeze in the trees. "...Right. He's unconscious."

Grumbling under his breath about grown-ups who caused trouble, Hitsugaya hooked his hands under the man's arms. With a grunt of effort, he hoisted the unconscious man onto his back.

"Seriously, you couldn't be lighter?" he muttered, adjusting the weight before starting the unfortunately long trek back home.

---

Hours passed as Hitsugaya kept watch, his sharp eyes darting between the stranger and the window. The man didn't stir, his breath steady but his expression tight, as though caught in a vivid dream.

I regret this. Why did I get involved? 

As soon as he returned and unloaded his baggage, he regretted it. The entire situation stank, and his mind couldn't stop running the worst case scenarios. 

What if he's a criminal? What if he's violent? What if he's a child-eater?

He could be on the run from Shinigami! I could be marked as an accomplice. I could be jeopardizing Momo's future! She might not get into the academy!

Wait… she might not get into the academy… 

Hitsugaya shook his head as soon as the thought came to his head. Anyways, it was out of control now. He mentioned abandoning the man to his grandmother, and his self preservation instincts were rewarded with a quick smack across the head.

"How did I raise you? I didn't reach you to turn someone away in need!"

"…" Clearly, his self preservation instincts needed some work.

He returned his focus to the prone man. A part of him couldn't help but feel that this man's arrival wasn't random. It was a feeling he couldn't shake, a strange certainty that this meeting was the start of something far bigger than either of them. It was almost like he was at the beginning of something called a plot…

As the first rays of dawn crept through the window, Hitsugaya's curiosity grew stronger. He didn't know who this man was, but one thing was clear: life in Rukongai was about to change.