Although the grandmother had an ability, Haruki respectfully chose not to pursue it. He had no intention of marrying or having children anytime soon, and even if he did, he wouldn't rely on an ability to force his children to be filial. If they weren't, it would be his failure as a parent.
Following the grandmother inside, Haruki sat down, and she kindly poured him a cup of tea.
"You must be here to see Tōshirō," she said gently. "He went out to buy some sweet natto and should be back soon."
Sweet natto? Haruki froze for a moment. Could it really be such a coincidence? Was he about to stumble upon a pivotal moment in the storyline?
"As you guessed, I'm indeed here to see Tōshirō," Haruki admitted honestly. "He… should become a Shinigami."
He continued, "To be frank, Tōshirō's talent is exceptionally rare, perhaps unparalleled in the history of Seireitei."
Hitsugaya truly was a prodigy. Even though he wasn't present, his spiritual pressure lingered in the room, creating a faint chill in the air.
And then there was the remarkable fact that his Zanpakutō spirit sought him out even before he wielded an Asauchi. It was almost as if the universe itself was bending the rules in his favor. No wonder he'd become a captain within the next forty years—his talent was truly extraordinary.
The grandmother's expression grew wistful but also proud. "Tōshirō, he…"
"Grandma!" a young voice interrupted from outside, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps.
The grandmother softly said, "He's back. Please don't pressure him too much about this."
"I understand," Haruki nodded. "I won't force him to become a Shinigami."
The door opened, revealing a young Tōshirō Hitsugaya. He froze at the sight of Haruki. "A Sh-Shinigami?"
Haruki observed him closely. Hitsugaya was indeed very short, likely only about 130 cm tall. His silver-white hair and bright green eyes stood out even in the Soul Society, and he clutched a bag of sweet natto in his hands as he hesitated at the doorway.
"Hello," Haruki said warmly. "My name is Haruki. I'm a friend of Hinamori from Seireitei."
At the mention of Hinamori's name, Hitsugaya visibly relaxed. "Oh, you're Momo's friend. I thought you were with the other Shinigami I met earlier."
"Another Shinigami?" Haruki feigned confusion, though he knew it must have been Rangiku Matsumoto.
Hitsugaya seemed to want to say more but glanced at his grandmother and decided to stay silent.
Haruki stood up. "Hitsugaya-kun, I came specifically to see you. Could we speak privately?"
Hitsugaya looked at his grandmother, who nodded encouragingly. "Fine," he said. "If you have something to say, let's talk outside."
...
Hitsugaya led Haruki outside. At 180 cm tall, Haruki towered over the boy, who barely reached his chest, making Haruki feel as though he was looking after a child.
As they walked, Haruki used his ability to examine Hitsugaya's spiritual core.
"Prodigy: You will possess unparalleled talent in any endeavor."
A true genius! This talent wasn't limited to combat or training—it applied to all aspects, including research. In a world where scientists like Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi played pivotal roles, such a gift was invaluable.
Haruki's heart raced. If he could acquire this ability, reaching captain level within forty years, like Hitsugaya, would be entirely feasible. The potential for innovation and growth was staggering.
Determined, Haruki decided he must befriend Hitsugaya.
"Tōshirō Hitsugaya," Haruki said softly, "you should become a Shinigami."
Hitsugaya stopped, narrowing his eyes. "If that's why you're here, you can leave. I'm not becoming a Shinigami."
"Don't be so quick to refuse," Haruki replied calmly. "Your hasty rejection could further harm your grandmother's health."
"What did you say?!" Hitsugaya's eyes widened, and his voice rose in alarm.
"You've noticed it, haven't you?" Haruki said. "As your spiritual pressure grows, her health deteriorates. She's becoming weaker because of the uncontrolled cold emanating from your spiritual energy."
"My spiritual pressure…?" Hitsugaya looked down at his hands in disbelief.
"I suspected this after hearing your story from Hinamori, which is why I came here today," Haruki explained. "I don't want one of Hinamori's friends to unintentionally harm their loved ones. That's why I'm telling you this."
He placed a hand on Hitsugaya's head. Still under the effect of his Stern Master-Apprentice Bond, Haruki could clearly observe the flow of Hitsugaya's spiritual energy.
Using his own spiritual power, Haruki adjusted Hitsugaya's energy flow. The cold, oppressive spiritual pressure that had been leaking out began to subside.
"Do you feel any different?" Haruki asked.
"It's… hot," Hitsugaya said uncomfortably.
"It's not heat," Haruki corrected. "That's the absence of your freezing spiritual pressure. Your grandmother has been enduring this cold every night. What you feel now is what she feels when she sleeps."
"Now, do you still think you shouldn't become a Shinigami?"
Hitsugaya's eyes widened in shock.
Haruki knelt and placed a hand on Hitsugaya's chest. "You can hear it, can't you? The voice. Even among Shinigami, only a few can hear such a voice. It means you're destined to become one."
"If you don't, you'll never learn to control your power. Without control, you'll continue to harm those around you."
"I'll say this only once more, Hitsugaya-kun. Come with me to the Shin'ō Academy. Learn to control your strength. Once you become a Shinigami, you'll understand that everything I've said is true."
Standing up, Haruki added, "The choice is yours. If you decide, meet me at the White Way Gate tomorrow morning. I'll be waiting."
With that, he waved and walked away.
He was confident Hitsugaya would make the right decision.