The thought crossed Hitsugaya's mind again, like nothing ever happened. Sougo didn't look any different, just as Rhode hadn't when she'd returned from her brief visit home. He wasn't acting any different, and he remembered everything, despite a small attempt to tease Hitsugaya. The relief was still there, almost, almost bringing a smile to his face that all his doubts and stress about what to do with himself had no stock anymore.

The thought that he might have missed Sougo didn't come into his mind. Their partnership wasn't like many of the others he'd seen: partners who were best friends, lovers, practically family members to each other. Neither of them needed that extra presence along with their fighting partner. That was one of the very reasons he'd been so reluctant to think about partnering with anyone else. Where else could he find someone who didn't expect him to coddle them emotionally, put more stock into the relationship than actually was there. He didn't need that; Sougo and he trusted each other, knew each other better than most, and had each others' backs, however they might try to deny it.

He couldn't help studying his meister when he got closer, looking for any apparent change he could have missed. None. Moving to cross his arms over his chest, he looked up at Sougo, raising an eyebrow at the comment, "Took you long enough to get back here."