Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
"Welcome class! This year, we are receiving a new student from Seireitei!" announced two teachers in Karakura High.
The two new students bid their good-byes across the hall before reaching for their respective classroom doors. The girl waved nervously while the male nodded briskly.
After a minute, names were written on the chalkboards. Putting down the piece of chalk, the students read their writing.
"Hitsugaya Toshiro."
"Hinamori Momo, pleased to meet you."
Hinamori looked around class 3-2 for the mission's person of interest.
"Welcome to the class, Hinamori. Please sit in the empty seat behind Nagayama Takashi."
A tall boy with long, deep indigo bangs raised his hand.
Found him.
Hinamori swiftly slipped into her chair and class quickly began.
In class 3-1, Hitsugaya grimaced as he tried to ignore the comments whispered across the room.
"Whoa! Check his hair!"
"But he's kind of cute."
"Yeah, but too short for me."
The teacher silenced the class by tapping her ruler to the chalk board. "Please sit next to Kurosaki." She told Hitsugaya, pointing at an empty seat.
Karin stared, wide-eyed in shock at the new student. Toshiro… you came back for me!
After long, dreading hours, the bell for lunch finally rang. As Hinamori was gathering her lunch, Nagayama turned around.
"Hey, I'm Nagayama Takashi, but please call me Takashi. How's your day at Karakura so far?"
Hinamori retuned a smile. "Great! Thanks!"
"Great! If you ever need anything, I'm here to help," he offered.
"Thanks," Hinamori said again, just as Hitsugaya walked in with Karin close behind him.
"Ready?" he asked.
Hinamori nodded, "Let's go. See you later, Naga- I mean Takashi-san."
Takashi waved after her as she headed for the cafeteria.
In the halls, Hitsugaya leaned closely to Hinamori and whispered, "Was that him?"
Hinamori nodded. One of the reasons for their coming to the real world was to retrieve an orb of reiatsu that was sealed in Takashi's heart, and the only way to take out the orb was for him to willingly open his heart.
"How are we suppose to make that happen?" Hinamori had asked.
Her captain had grinned at her innocence. "Just befriend him."
From behind the two shinigami, Karin watched the two gravitate closer together ever second. Just who was this random girl to swoop in and steal the attention of her Toshiro? Karin balled her fist before relaxing them and putting on a fake smile.
"Hey, Toshiro!" she placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed between him and Hinamori.
At the same time, he said asked Momo, "Are you fine with me going with Kurosaki?"
Karin felt her heart flutter. Going with her? Could he mean…
Hitsugaya brushed her hand off his shoulder. "What do you want?"
"Mou, don't be so rude," Hinamori scolded.
Karin smiled thanks to the new girl. Perhaps she wasn't so bad after all.
Hitsugaya gave a soft smile at Hinamori's fake pout face.
Never mind.
"I'm walking you home," Hitsugaya said bluntly to Karin after class.
The girl felt her face heat up. "Um ah…" she stammered for a smart response, but before she knew it, Hitsugaya was already walking out of the door with his school bag slung over his shoulder.
"Hurry up."
As they walked down the halls, Karin tried to start a conversation. "Are you going to try out for the soccer team?" She grabbed his arm and held it close to her.
Hitsugaya jerked at her touch. "Hn."
"You're so good that you will make it for sure!" Karin tried again. She stared hopefully at the male, hoping for a response. Seeing no sign of one, she continued rambling, "I'm hoping to nab the captain's seat in the girl's team this year. Although I am just a third year student, I've been on the team since my first year of high school!"
"Hn," Hitsugaya said again, "We're here."
Karin was surprised at how quickly they arrived at her house. "Thanks for walking me," she bowed, disappointed that their time together was so short. To her surprise, however, Hitsugaya followed her up the steps.
"Eh? Are you coming in?" Karin gasped at the idea of studying with the white haired boy.
"Of course," Hitsugaya replied monotonously. "I need a word with your brother. Why else do you think I came here?"
"Oh…" Karin felt her world shatter as the door opened and an orange-haired man in a doctor's coat slapped him on the back.
The two Kurosaki and Hitsugaya found themselves on Ichigo's room floor.
"So why exactly are you here?" asked Ichigo.
"Soul Society has requested of your sister's assistance," he replied.
"Me?" gasped Karin.
Hitsugaya nodded, "As you may know, Karakura town is a 'hot spot' for hollows. Ichigo is important to most of soul society's plans and may not always be here to fend them off. This is why soul society chose the next person with the highest spiritual power to help with the task."
"Why can't you just send another shinigami?" Ichigo complained.
Hitsugaya rolled his eyes. "Do you remember what became of the last two we sent?"
Ichigo thought of Rukia breaking the law and the useless afro man. "Yeah… point taken."
"Although she doesn't have enough reiatsu to become a full shinigami, by learning the basics, the casualties of this town will go down by about thirty-five percent, that is if she agrees to train with me and Momo," he continued.
Karin felt her head float up. Toshiro's going to train her?
"YES!" she screamed, a bit too loudly. "I mean- I accept the request." She ducked her head.
Hitsugaya turned to Ichigo.
The orange-head furrowed his brows. "She's only going to be against regular hollows, right?"
"For the most part."
Ichigo glanced at his sister's gleaming eyes.
"Fine," he sighed. "She may go."
"Perfect," Hitsugaya pushed on his knee to stand. "We'll start practice tomorrow after school."
"Won't you stay for dinner?" Karin called as Hitsugaya climbed onto the windowsill.
Hitsugaya shook his head without turning back. "I'm going to pick up some onigiris and peaches for Momo. She'll be tired from taking care of the Hollows your idiotic brother neglected to sense."
"Hey!" shouted Ichigo. "At least I'm not the one who exits houses through a window, right Karin?"
But the girl was already lost at "Momo," remembering the sentence she overheard him say at lunch. He wasn't talking about dating her at all…
Shout out to those who can guess the why the name "Nagayama Takashi" was used.