hitsugaya wakes up to a golden thread tied to his index finger. he tries to find what it's attached to but the string is too long. it leads him past his quarters, outside the tenth division hq, across seiretei, inside the fifth division hq, and in front of the vice-captain's office.

"aahh good morning, toushirou." shinji spots him and makes a beeline. "too early for a visit, hmm?" hitsugaya realizes he cannot see the thread.

"don't call me that," he smugly replies. "i'm just gonna ask something to your vice-captain."

out comes momo after two short knocks, equally bewildered and flustered, with a golden thread tied as well around her index finger.

"shiro, can you see this?"

he holds up his index finger and the rolls he made while he followed the trail earlier. "this string was already here when i woke up."

"hey taichou, do you know something about this golden string? i tried to cut it but my scissors won't work."

it's at this point that shinji cracks up with hands clutched at his tummy. "oh my even the gods of fate have become impatient with you two."

hitsugaya readies his hand on his hilt. "speak, shinji."

"ah, you know how the red string is for soulmates? yeah well, the golden string is for lovers - eternal lovers."

A Name To Call Home

Hitsugaya came home yet again covered in bruises. “Stupid kids, they think I don’t know how to fight,” he mumbled to himself. Eventually, a smirk took over his whole face, remembering how he took on a group of four teenagers, obviously older and taller than him, who stole a watermelon from his favorite vendor. He halted in his steps when he saw his granny outside of their small home with a black-haired girl.

“Obaa-chan, is she bothering you?” He was admittedly overprotective over his grandmother, and so it has become a second nature for him to raise his voice and doubt the intentions of all strangers interacting with her.

The girl didn’t back away from his supposedly intimidating presence, instead she greeted him with a smile and wave, a bundle of amanitto in her hands.

“You’re just right in time, Hitsugaya. Momo brought us some food,” his grandmother took the food from her hands and softly ruffled her hair. The girl loved the quick affection and turned to Hitsugaya with her hand held out.

“Shiro,” she said.

“Huh, my reputation precedes me. You already know my name,” Hitsugaya huffed, quite pleased that he didn’t need to introduce himself…or shake her hand.

“No, it’s your hair. Shiro.” White like snow.

Her Monster

The next time Sasuke went back to Konoha, Sakura greeted him at the gate. She was armed with her usual cheery grin and a bouquet of daffodils for him. He welcomed her presence like the breath of fresh spring air after a harsh winter.

He didn’t stay long however. He just had to physically report to the council of elders, and by afternoon, he was back to the gates, wondering how he will say goodbye to her this time. But she was already there with her rucksack bag, a determined look on her eyes, and an expression that didn’t take no for an answer. Maybe he was in need of company after all, not that he disliked it. Her presence was warm and reminded him of home.

He never minded her conversations – it was a cherished addition to his monotonous days. Somehow, he started to saw countless lives of the villagers through her eyes, as if he interacted with them himself, as if he was there to see it all unfold. He was let in on the gossips, too and the pet peeves she had for their batchmates in the academy. It was another foreign life for him.

She had trouble sleeping on their first week together. He made sure to maintain his distance from her area, mindful of her personal space, but he noticed how she would toss and turn until she would slip a pill into her mouth and slump like a log.

And here he thought he was the one with nightmares.

THAT'S MY SHIP 😭😭😭😭😭

Grab It Before It Passes

Chapter 10 of  The Spring He Came Back | 10 of 12

What was she thinking? She was late to work because she slept in. And why did she sleep in? Because she and Hitsugaya talked until morning. Nice sabotaging your business, Hinamori. She arrived in front of her shop, breathless from her fast cycling, and she was greeted by a small line of her constant customers. When the morning storm died down, she started to prepare reserved bouquets despite feeling lightheaded. It was already lunch time when she finished all her orders and walk-ins.

The bell on the door rang again, and she stood up from the counter to meet her next customer. Maybe I’ll skip lunch today.

“Don’t skip lunch today.” Hitsugaya was yawning as he entered the shop. Hinamori was thankful he got rid of the glasses and kept his old hairstyle. He waved her closer and indicated the bento in his hands. “Sorry for keeping you up until morning.”

If there were other customers right now, I’m pretty sure his words will be taken out of context. Well, we were kind of intimate last night. Hinamori soothed the forming ache on her temples. He rushed to her side and cupped her face anxiously. “Are you okay Momo?”

“Oh, am I interrupting something?” a supplier came in at that inopportune moment, a crate of azaleas in their hands.

Before Hinamori could go to them, Hitsugaya bridged the distance in quick strides and took the crate. “No, is this all? Hinamori has a headache so please let me get this.”

“Ah, Dr. Hitsugaya.” The supplier recognized him and instantly became awed at meeting one of Soul Society’s prodigies. “Of course, of course. Uh, wait, Hinamori, you’re still set for farm visit?”

Trying to control her blush, Hinamori smiled at her supplier. “Yes. I’ll see you at 4. Thank you.” She followed them to the door and placed a lunch break sign. “Please don’t do that again when I’m at work.”

“I’m sorry. I acted on instinct.” Hitsugaya placed the bento boxes on a nearby table and the aroma escaping from the box ushered her closer.

It didn’t occur to her that she should dwell on his statement. She was hungry, and she needed caffeine. She devoured her food and answered Hitsugaya’s questions on flowers in between bites. “Aren’t you eating?” she asked while she took a large bite from a tempura.

“I also woke up late so I just went straight to my lunch meeting at the academy. Too bad I wasn’t able to buy you tea on the way here.” He stifled a yawn again.

Hinamori finished the last of her meal, and set aside the box. She checked the counter once more before she gestured him to stand and follow her. “Let’s drop by quickly at my favorite café.”

The Spring He Came Back

Chapter 9 of The Spring He Came Back | 9 of 12

Hitsugaya did not reply to her question about which flowers he needed. Hinamori took the hint that he wasn’t there to buy so what was he here for?

“Are you busy? Can you show me around?”

She wanted to shout in response, Why should I have to?

“I don’t think it’s rational that you can waltz right in here and then ask me to give up a day’s business to be your tour guide,” she replied, trying to be nonchalant. He could have asked Rangiku or any of the three Rs to accompany him so why her? Did he have a score to settle with her? Was this an added punishment? Or was this his way of reconciliation? Was she reading into his actions too much? She eventually sighed. “I guess the youngest Physics prodigy could be an exemption.”

“I was hoping you’d say that,” he quipped, adjusting his glasses on his nose, a new quirk Hinamori quickly caught on. She was crazy to think everything will remain the same. It will never be.

Judgment needed, not judgment deserved

Chapter 7 of The Spring He Came Back | 7 of 12

The academy tribunal was rarely used. When it was opened to the public, it only meant that the students and professors violated the stringent protocols of the academy. Public trial also implied public shaming, a more surefire way to ruin an academic reputation. The regular admission students filled the big room, hushed voices growing along with the shuffling of feet.

It took a while before Hitsugaya to reach the front benches where Soul members were supposed to sit. He almost froze when his eyes met the wavering gaze of Momo. They both said hurtful words, but hers were more painful. She was standing beside Aizen who was still smiling behind the podium. Hitsugaya eventually found Rangiku, Rukia, and Renji sitting behind Urahara and Byakuya.

Unohana stepped forward, her figure commanded the fall of heavy silence in the room. Academy supervisors readied their hands on laptops for real time transcription. “Aizen Sousuke, senior faculty and Soul member, and Hinamori Momo, top student of regular class A, you are facing charges for plagiarism, fraud, and embezzlement. I, Unohana Retsu, will oversee your public trial today. Please acknowledge your audience.”

Binged Horimiya in two days. Thought it would go like how most shoujo manga would go. Barely 10 chapters in and the two leads got together, and with 100+ more to go, I thought there's a plot twist somewhere.

Well, nothing. Horimiya was true to its tags description - rom-com and slice of life! 😂 Plot was nowhere near cohesive but we see indications of transition. It was a journey of high school life.

Glad to see it beautifully wrapped up. 💚😊

PS. I love long-haired Miyamura more though. The vision of Hori tugging on his hair AND his lip piercings? Fabulous.

In Retrospect

Chapter 6 of The Spring He Came Back | 6 of 12

Hitsugaya had a plan – become the youngest tenured faculty in the academy and have countless watermelon contests with Baba and Momo. Graduation and tenure meant freedom to come home, to live out the rest of his days with the only family he knew. What he did not take into consideration was the prospect of marriage.

“That’s your plan?” Rangiku asked incredulously. Hidden between those words, he knew, was mockery. “You really are going through puberty.”

“Shut up, Rangiku. What do you know?”

“As a lady soon to reach the prime age of 18, I know a lot more than you. Raging hormones, pulls of attraction, intense infatuation-“

Hitsugaya had to cut her off before she ventured into more delicate matters, Rangiku-style. “Yeah, I get it. I don’t intend to marry.”

“Unless you see yourself marrying Hinamori, then you’re set for life. Otherwise, it’s an overly simplistic plan dead set on failing.”

“I don’t think of her like that. She’s just…my friend or like a sister.”

Rangiku didn’t say anything back then, but she brought it up again during their trip to Karakura. “Hey Hitsugaya. If you see Momo as your sister, why do you go through the extra mile for her? Sneaking out to meet her? Studying how to preserve daffodils? Renting out the custodian room? With family, you assume they’ll always be there, but you act as if you always need to do something for her to stay.”

He pretended to doze off right at that moment to avoid answering her question, simply because he was also confused. Momo is home, that he knew for sure. When the academy opened its gates for general admission, he half-expected Momo to apply. She was curious of the world and has a way with nature and plants. She would be interested in a formal education, at the very least. When she got accepted, he was beyond happy despite the black and white rules of classism and made-up hierarchy. When she told him she would like to be considered as a Soul core member, he wondered if that was her personal dream. Regardless, he rooted for her success. He always believed in her capabilities, and he never saw her lagging behind. She has her own pace and her own road to pave while he has his. In his mind, they were two separate journeys hoping to merge at the end of their respective successful conclusions.

So when did the realization set in that their paths have indefinite forks, forever parallel in their progress? Was it when he heard the uncertainty in her voice when their friends told her about the repercussions of her eventual Soul membership? Was it the twinkle in her eyes when she first told him she volunteered to assist Aizen in his studies? Was it the delivery of the news from Unohana that Aizen did not advocate for her membership to Soul, stating that Momo herself denied the offer? Or was it the tacit recklessness of her fieldwork which left Baba alone in the process?

“Where the fuck did you go, Momo?”

The Spring He Came Back

Summary: Momo found herself face to face again with her childhood best friend after he left town ten years ago in the middle of winter. She waited every spring and fervently hoped for his arrival.

Set in an alternative universe where Soul Society is a normal town, and Momo and Hitsugaya are normal adults. 

Author’s note: Hello Tumblr! I’m back to posting fanfictions again. Thank you to @rays-of-fire-and-ice​​​ for hosting HitsuHina Day and being the most loyal blog out there! 

It’s spring again. Hinamori took in the sight of the budding dogwood trees against the backdrop of the setting sun as she rode her bike on the way home. Ten spring seasons, but why am I counting? She sighed, dejected at the trail of her thoughts.

A lot of things have happened within that span of time - the town that was once a cozy enclave of memories has become an escape for the younger, rowdier bunch. This encouraged the rise of businesses that eventually took over natural spaces, like the meadow of daffodils where they used to hide from household chores, the riverfront where they tried to catch fish but they ended up falling anyway, and the hill where they used to stargaze well after the lights were out.

They. Hitsugaya and her. Hitsugaya, the scrawny kid with an ever irritated disposition.

Despite this, she thought herself the same. She had the same hobbies, went to the same market, bought her fruits from that one vendor, ordered her usual in the cafe by the corner of her flowershop which she bought just two years ago. Yet she found herself still waiting.

“Best be careful. Yaku Morisuke is a man who can kill a spiker without even touching the ball.” - Bokuto

What an iconic panel. Kenma is consistently perceived by everyone as harmless yet calculating but in this chapter, he is preparing to bare his claws. Always loved Furudate’s heavy use of metaphors to push the plot.

Ladies and gentlemen, Daichi and Asahi’s reactions to receiving the infamous ceiling serve. This took me out in the middle of reading Chapter 241. HAHAHA

Chaotic good of Karasuno.

POST FMA:B DISCUSSION

I kind of missed something here because back when FMA:B was released, I never bothered to watch it. I was busy with high school and keeping up with One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach - or what they considered as the Big Three during that time. I agree that FMA:B does not have a universe as wide as One Piece, but it has the closest reality to what we have however fictional it may be. This piece of art touched on topics that the Big Three frowned upon - racism, religion persecution, fascism, and disability! It literally emphasized the need for an equivalent exchange - that no action will never have a consequence! I hated that I missed this manga and anime during its heyday!

But I loooooved the ending. I loved how it sewed up everything. I loved how it did not play too much in the romance angle and still dwelt on alchemy itself. I love this.

Roy proposing

Roy Mustang in all his skills and abilities have no idea how to flirt. It’s a good thing Riza Hawkeye knows how to decode his actions. SKSKSKSKSK