Author's Note: For the prompt 'Hisana and autumn.' I decided that Hisana didn't have nearly enough bonding moments with Renji and so…
On the morning of the autumn moon festival, Renji finds Hisana alone in the Fourth Division kitchen, kneading a giant ball of dough. There's flour everywhere- it covers her arms up to her elbows, and there are streaks of it on her clothes, her face, in her hair. She doesn't seem to mind though, flashing him a warm smile that momentarily erases the tiredness in her eyes.
"Hey, Hisana-nee-san," he greets, eyeing the rows upon rows of dango spread out on the table before her. "I see you've been busy."
"Ah, just a little," she laughs sheepishly. "Rukia and I are handing them out to the kids in the nearby districts later."
"Gotcha. Mind if I lend a hand, then?" He offers. She gives him another fond smile, moving to the side to make room for him.
"That would be much appreciated, thank you."
"How long have you been up, anyway?" Renji wonders out loud as he helps her shape the dough into balls.
"Since six," she answers absently. "I figured since I have the day off, well…"
"You'd spend the time making enough dango to feed an army?" Renji asks dryly. Hisana ducks her head in answer, a faint smile curving her lips up.
"I suppose I'm feeling a little wistful, since I won't be able to participate in Inuzuri's annual dango eating contest this year. So this is me trying to make the best of things," Hisana says, laughing a little. "It just doesn't feel right celebrating the festival without tsukimi dango."
"Yeah, it sucks that we're going to miss it," Renji agrees quietly. "It's always been my favorite holiday."
"Really?" Hisana asks, looking at him in slight surprise. "I didn't know that."
"Well, since I got sent to Inuzuri, anyway," Renji amends. "Maybe things were different once, but I wouldn't know. I mean, I don't even remember my parents, so…" His voice trails off for a moment. "I know I was poor, though. Before, back when I was still alive. Always hungry, never havin' enough ta eat…that kind of stuff sticks with you, yeah? It made transitioning to the Rukongai pretty easy though, so I guess in a weird way I was lucky."
"Renji," Hisana begins softly before stopping, looking at a loss for words.
"You know why the autumn moon festival's my favorite holiday?" Renji interrupts. "Two months after coming to Inuzuri, I woke up to one of the other kids shaking me awake, telling me to hurry up or I'd miss the annual dango eating contest. When I told him there was no way I'd be able to pay the entrance fee, he just laughed and told me that it didn't matter, because 'Sensei always covers the cost for any kid that can't afford it.' Man, I ate so much that day I thought I'd puke afterwards. I didn't care though, because that? That was the first time I ever remember feeling full."
He turns to where Hisana has one hand covering her mouth, violet eyes shining with tears.
"I've never forgotten that day, Hisana-nee-san. I just wanted you to know that."
"I—" Hisana swallows heavily before a thought seems to strike her and she lets out a choked laugh. "I just realized, you're the kid who beat Kazuki's record for 'most dango eaten by the five minute mark.' He sulked for weeks about the 'red-hair punk that probably cheated his way to victory.'"
Renji blinks in surprise before smiling proudly. "Well, yeah. As if Kazuki could beat me when it comes to food," he brags. "Please, he doesn't even come close. Mitsuo, on the other hand…"
"Tell me about it. I have no idea how he does it, given that he doesn't have high spiritual energy," Hisana muses, before hesitating a little. "I…I'm glad I was able to make things easier for you, even if it was just for one day a year. I'm sorry I couldn't do more—"
"You know, for all that everyone back home callsyou the Angel of Inuzuri, you aren't actually a messenger sent from heaven," Renji remarks casually. "So stop trying to act like one. When you gain the power to end all hunger and poverty with a snap of your fingers, then you can blame yourself for not doing more."
"You're beginning to sound like Mitsuo now," Hisana teases, tossing a ball of dough at him.
"That's fine. As long as I don't begin to sound like Kazuki, I'm cool with it," Renji snorts. He catches the dough absently with one hand before pausing, looking down at it thoughtfully.
"Hey, Hisana-nee-san?"
"Yeah?"
"Would it be okay if I went with you and Rukia this afternoon? When…when you go hand these out to the kids, I mean," Renji says in a small voice, not quite able to meet her eyes. He can feel her watching him, and when she speaks up again, there's a note of gentle understanding in her voice.
"Of course, Renji-kun. I'd love for you to come with us."
Author's Note: Personal headcanon that Renji died from starvation and that the only thing he remembers from his time as a human is being hungry.
(Other headcanons include Hitsugaya freezing to death, Ikkaku dying to protect Yumichika, and Yumichika committing suicide to join Ikkaku in the afterlife. I'm also of the belief that Yumichika remembers how Ikkaku died (although Ikkaku himself doesn't) which is why he's so against revealing his true shikai to him—not because he thinks Ikkaku will hate him due to having kido-based powers, but because he's terrified that Ikkaku will think he's weak and feel the need to protect him again).