While Ailin and Toshiro sang each other's praises, they had already arrived at the entrance to the Kuchiki residence.
"Haruko, what are you doing here?"
The moment he saw Haruko, Ailin hurried over. "Didn't I tell you last night that you didn't need to wait for us?"
"Last night?"
Toshiro tilted his head, unable to understand what that meant.
Hadn't Teacher Ailin been with him the whole time?
When had he spoken to anyone last night?
"Go on, get out of the way. I'm not here to see you."
Though her eyes crinkled with a smile, Haruko Kuchiki still pushed Ailin aside with one hand. Then she bent down and smiled at Toshiro. "You must be the Shiro-chan Ailin told me about, right?"
"Hello, Shiro-chan. My name is Haruko Kuchiki, and I'm your master's wife."
"Huh?"
Toshiro scratched his head in confusion. "Master's wife, I am Teacher Ailin's disciple, but my name isn't Shiro-chan. My name is Toshiro Hitsugaya."
"Huh?"
Upon hearing Toshiro's words, Haruko turned to Ailin in confusion. "Ailin, didn't you say your new disciple was called Shiro-chan?"
Toshiro Hitsugaya wore the same confused expression.
He was also wondering how his teacher could have gotten his name wrong.
"Well..."
"Haha..."
Under their gazes, Ailin gave an awkward laugh.
When he was with Toshiro, Ailin naturally called him by his real name.
But when chatting with Haruko, Ailin had unconsciously slipped into the rhythm of talking with online friends from his previous life.
And in Bleach, everyone gave the characters they liked nicknames that suited their particular temperaments.
In Bleach, Byakuya Kuchiki was called "Big Shiro," while Toshiro Hitsugaya was called "Little Shiro."
"Haruko, don't you think Toshiro's hair is beautiful?"
"Yeah. Those snowy white strands are just like snow."
"So I thought that, rather than introducing him to