The hallway was frozen in absolute silence. It was as if the entire school had been collectively struck dumb. No one dared to speak, their gazes flicking between the ranking board and the one person they never expected to see at the top.
Uryuu Ishida—undisputed academic king of Karakura High—had not secured the 1st rank.
Unbelievable.
It was a fact that simply did not compute.
Keigo, ever the embodiment of dramatic overreaction, launched himself at Shinichi like a rabid animal, gripping him by the shoulders and shaking him violently. "WHAT THE FUCK, SHINICHI?! I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WERE A BOOKWORM!" He looked almost betrayed, his voice cracking as he continued, "YOU LOOK LIKE A GUY WHO'D MAKE A DISGUSTED FACE EVEN AT THE THOUGHT OF PICKING UP A TEXTBOOK! I TRUSTED YOU, SHINICHI!!!"
Shinichi let out a long, exhausted sigh, his patience running thin. With a flick of his wrist, he smacked Keigo off him. Keigo flew backward like a ragdoll, crashing against the nearby lockers with a loud BANG before sliding to the floor in a daze.
Ichigo, Mizuiro, Chad, Orihime, and Tatsuki surrounded Shinichi, their expressions a mix of disbelief and deep suspicion.
Tatsuki folded her arms, narrowing her eyes. "I've literally never seen you study. Not once. Did you cheat?!"
Shinichi looked genuinely offended. "Hell no! You don't know what I do in my own house!"
Mizuiro leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "Okay, then how many hours do you study every day?"
Shinichi rubbed the back of his head. "Uh... just two?"
A beat of silence. Then—
"BULLSHIT!" Ichigo jabbed a finger at Shinichi, his face twisted in frustration. "I STUDY FOR AT LEAST FOUR HOURS A DAY AND I BARELY MADE IT ON THE DAMN LIST!"
Shinichi tilted his head, blinking innocently before smirking. "Damn, bro... seems like a skill issue."
Ichigo's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "Say that again, I dare you."
Before blood could be shed, Orihime clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling. "Kisaragi-kun! I didn't know you were so intelligent!" she said cheerfully. "Can you tutor us for the next exam? Please?"
Shinichi groaned, pressing a palm to his forehead. "Alright, alright..." he muttered.
But in the back of his mind, a different thought lingered, something far heavier.
The only reason I'm good at studying... is because, in my previous life, that was all I lived for. To study, to get into a good college, to land a stable job... all so I could earn enough money to save my mom...
He shook the thought away before it could linger. Straightening up, he waved a dismissive hand at the group. "Anyway, I'm heading to class. But if you guys want some advice…" His smirk widened, his next words dripping with mock sympathy. "You can't help being dumbfucks. It's a birth defect. Don't sweat it."
Mouths dropped open. Silence fell again.
Shinichi, an absolute asshole and the school topper? A creature rarer than a mythical beast.
He was already walking away, basking in the horrified silence, when a voice called out to him from behind.
"So you must be Kisaragi... The one who took my rank one."
Shinichi stopped, glancing over his shoulder. There, standing by the ranking board, was Uryuu Ishida. His sharp blue eyes remained locked on the list, his fingers adjusting his glasses with a slow, practiced motion.
Shinichi turned fully, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Well, it's not exactly your rank one, since, y'know… you're number two, kiddo." He smirked. "Don't worry. Try harder next time."
Ishida smiled—calm, composed, unshaken. He turned away without another word, disappearing down the hall.
Shinichi did the same, muttering under his breath as he walked. "Stupid Quincy..."
---
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of another school day, the streets of Karakura were bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. Ichigo, Rukia, and Shinichi walked side by side, their footsteps echoing softly against the pavement. The cool evening breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the faint scent of street food and city life.
Ichigo, stretching his arms behind his head, turned to Rukia with an incredulous look. "Oi, Rukia, did you know that this guy—" he jabbed a thumb toward Shinichi, "—is our school topper this midterm? Like, can you believe it? This Shinichi Kisaragi?"
Rukia barely reacted. "Oh, good job, Shinichi."
Ichigo's eye twitched violently. "That's your reaction?! I AM TALKING ABOUT THIS SHINICHI, RUKIA! SHINICHI KISARAGI!" He gestured wildly at Shinichi as if presenting evidence of an impossible crime.
Rukia simply laughed. "I know, I know, idiot. You only see him at school, but I'm with him almost 24/7. He always studied and worked hard, so it's not a surprise to me. Actually, it would've been a surprise if he didn't get 1st rank."
Ichigo's jaw dropped. "...You're telling me this guy, who can't go two seconds without insulting someone, was actually working hard behind the scenes?!"
Shinichi finally broke his silence, exhaling slowly. "You've been picking up on a lot of Hollow signals lately, Rukia. What's up with that?"
At the mention of Hollows, both Ichigo and Rukia turned serious.
Rukia's brows furrowed. "Someone kills them before we even get there... It's weird. Who would even be capable of doing such a thing?"
Shinichi shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Beats me... Keep trying, though. Maybe you'll find out soon."
Ichigo suddenly snapped his fingers, his face lighting up as if he'd just cracked the case. "Wait! What if they're like you, Shinichi? I mean, you can fight Hollows too, thanks to your god-gifted physical prowess. What if it's someone like that?"
Shinichi raised a brow, looking almost impressed. "Not a bad guess, genius—but totally wrong."
Ichigo frowned. "Hah? How so?"
Shinichi sighed and rolled his shoulders. "First off, my physical prowess isn't god-gifted, you dumbass. I work out every single day, even when I'm injured. I run like a maniac every night, and almost all the girls in the neighborhood think I'm some kind of creep chasing after them. So don't slap a 'God-Gifted' label on it."
Ichigo blinked. "...Wait, what?"
"Second," Shinichi continued, ignoring him, "I struggle against Hollows. It takes time for me to deal with them. This person? They're killing them before you and Rukia even arrive at the location. So no, your hypothesis is trash. Try again."
Ichigo sighed in defeat, rubbing the back of his head. "Damn it... I can't come up with anything better."
As the conversation faded, Shinichi's mind suddenly wandered to something he hadn't thought about in a long time.
The system.
Had it even been active lately? He hadn't heard from it in what felt like ages. Was it even alive? He decided to check.
Yo, system. You there, bud?
A screen suddenly flickered into existence in his vision, the familiar digital text greeting him.
[Yup, always been here, pal.]
Shinichi physically jolted. His eyes widened slightly before he muttered under his breath, "Where the fuck were you? Why weren't you being a nuisance in my life like usual?"
The system chimed back instantly.
[I dunno, man. This dumb author probably forgot about me or something.]
Shinichi smirked, amused. "Yeah, that makes sense..." He stuffed his hands back in his pockets. "Well, you're back now, at least. Not gonna lie, even I kinda forgot about you."
Another notification popped up.
[That's so fucking rude of you! You wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for me, ya know?!]
Shinichi chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Show me my stats."
The system screen updated instantly.
[Level: 49]
[Physical Training: 47%]
The moment he saw it, Shinichi froze mid-step. His expression shifted, brows furrowing slightly.
Ichigo and Rukia immediately noticed his change in demeanor and stopped walking as well.
"Oi," Rukia called out, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"
Shinichi rubbed the back of his head, sighing. "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up later."
"Wait—Shinichi!" Rukia yelled, but it was pointless.
By the time the words left her mouth, he was already gone—vanishing into the distance with a zoom.
---
The rhythmic sound of Shinichi's footsteps echoed through the empty streets as he sprinted at full speed, his breath steady despite the intensity. The cold evening air whipped against his face, but he didn't slow down. His muscles burned, his body screamed for a break, but he pushed through. He had to. He knew what was coming next—the Menos, the Soul Society arc... The peaceful days were over. Everything was about to get way harder.
I have to get stronger.
As he ran, he decided to check in on something he hadn't thought about in a long time.
Yo, system. How much more do I need to hit 50% physical training?
A familiar screen flickered into view, the text appearing in crisp white letters.
[Just run and do some squats or something. Your kicks are much weaker than your punches. Work on your legs.]
Shinichi smirked, wiping some sweat off his brow. Damn, even his own system was throwing shade at him.
"Woah, man, you can definitely be a fitness coach at this rate," he muttered sarcastically before pushing himself to run even faster.
He ran for what felt like hours, his body moving on autopilot as his mind replayed the future events he knew were coming. When he finally slowed down, he found himself in a quiet park, the streetlights casting a soft glow over the empty benches and pathways. Without wasting time, he picked up two large bricks from the ground and started doing weighted squats, his legs screaming in protest.
Then, a sudden ding echoed in his head.
[Level Up! Congratulations! You are now Level 54!]
[As a result of reaching Level 50, a new part of the system has been unlocked!]
Shinichi paused mid-squat, his brow furrowing. "A new part?" he muttered.
Another notification appeared.
[Congratulations! Item Shop unlocked!]
His eyes widened slightly. An item shop? He had played enough games to know exactly what that meant. Without hesitation, he commanded, "Open item shop."
A new interface appeared before him:
*Basic HP Potion – 10 RP
*Advanced HP Potion – 20 RP
*Full Heal – 50 RP
*Divine Potion – 500 RP
[Current RP: -5]
[You are broke as fuck.]
[Raise your item shop level by buying and utilizing items to unlock stronger ones.]
Shinichi let out a low whistle. "Damn... that's so cool..." His eyes scanned the screen again. "Wait—what the hell is RP? Some kinda system currency?"
[RP stands for Relationship Points. It's determined by your relationships with people and how they perceive you.]
[Warning: RP can also go negative.]
Shinichi scoffed. "Damn... I did call everyone at school illiterate today."
[Yes. Specifically for that reason, your RP is currently -5.]
He groaned, rubbing his face. "Tch. Honestly, I thought it'd be way worse."
[If not for your relationships with Ichigo and Rukia, yeah, it would've been so bad you'd never recover.]
Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. So that's it? That's my big reward for Level 50?"
[Have some patience, brat.]
Before he could respond, another screen popped up.
[Congratulations! You've received a Silver Ring!]
Shinichi stared at the words, unimpressed. "A silver ring...? That's kinda underwhelming."
Still, he sighed and muttered, "Summon Silver Ring."
A small silver band materialized in his palm. As soon as he slipped it onto his finger, the ring vanished, and a new screen appeared.
[New Ability Unlocked: Peak-a-boo!]
[Description: Shinichi momentarily phases out of perception, becoming invisible to the naked eye and most forms of spiritual detection for two minutes. While active, his reiatsu is entirely suppressed, making him undetectable by sensing techniques.]
[Cooldown: 10 hours.]
[Warning: This does not negate sound, scent, or physical contact. If you make noise, move objects, or get hit, you can still be noticed.]
Shinichi's eyes widened slightly. "Damn... that's actually really cool for a silver-tier ability."
Just as he was admiring his new power, another ding echoed.
[Congratulations! You have completed 50% Physical Training!]
[As a reward for your intense discipline and effort, you will receive a Platinum Ring.]
Shinichi blinked, stunned. "Holy shit, system! Since when did you stop being an asshole and actually become generous?!"
[Never mind. Fuck you. You are not receiving shit.]
Shinichi immediately panicked. "HEY, HEY! I'M SORRY! I WAS JUST KIDDING! PLEASEEEE!"
[Tch. Fine.]
[Congratulations! You've received a Platinum Ring!]
He exhaled in relief. "Damn, almost lost my actual best reward."
His curiosity piqued, he muttered, "Summon."
A new ring materialized in his palm, the platinum shimmering like liquid silver under the streetlights. The moment he slipped it on, another screen popped up.
[New Ability Unlocked: I Can Do This All Day.]
[Description: When activated, Shinichi's physical endurance and resilience are boosted to ten times his normal capacity for five minutes. During this time, he can withstand extreme damage, recover from exhaustion at an accelerated rate, and push beyond his normal limits without tiring.]
[Cooldown: One week.]
[Warning: After the ability wears off, the body will experience extreme physical and mental strain, depending on the damage taken while the ability was active. In most cases, the user will faint.]
Shinichi's jaw almost dropped. "...Holy shit. That's insanely overpowered."
Then his eyes flickered to the warning at the bottom.
"...But also completely terrifying."
His mind raced with possibilities. If he used it at the wrong time and collapsed mid-battle, he was done. He had to be smart about it. It wasn't an ability to throw around carelessly.
Shinichi clenched his fist, staring at his knuckles. "A last resort, huh...?"
---
Shinichi walked through the dimly lit streets of Karakura, hands in his pockets, a small grin playing on his lips. The weight of the now vanished rings on his fingers was barely noticeable, but the power they held was anything but. Peak-a-boo and I Can Do This All Day—those were some damn good abilities.
Man, I really hit the jackpot this time.
Just as he was reveling in his newfound strength, the system chimed in.
[Remember, you could give a dumb person all the power in the world, and he'd still find a way to get himself killed.]
Shinichi's grin immediately twitched into a frown. "Yeah… it was better when you were gone."
[I wasn't gone for nothing, idiot. I was trying to find out why your Shinigami powers haven't kicked in.]
That caught his attention. His eyes lit up as he picked up the pace. "Wait—you found out?"
[Yes… and no.]
Shinichi's face fell. "What the hell does that mean?"
['Yes' because I discovered that you need a way to enter your Zanpakutō's world and meet your Zanpakutō spirit for the powers to awaken.]
Shinichi tapped his chin thoughtfully. "And how do I do that?"
[That's the 'No' part. I have no idea. I told you, I'm not much of a Bleach fan.]
Shinichi groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Damn it… I hate figuring things out."
By the time he reached home, the fatigue of the day was starting to settle in. He pushed open the door to his room, only to find Rukia lying on her bed—his bed, technically—engrossed in a novel, her legs lazily swinging back and forth.
He tossed his school bag onto the table with a dull thud and made his way to the wardrobe, pulling it open to grab a fresh set of clothes.
"You're late," Rukia remarked, still flipping a page. "What were you doing?"
"Just working out," Shinichi replied nonchalantly.
Rukia snapped her book shut with a loud clap, exhaling sharply. "I told you to rest, but you never listen to me, do you?"
Shinichi chuckled, tossing his shirt over his shoulder. "Chill, mom, it was mild."
Without waiting for another remark, he made his way into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
The moment he turned the shower on, steam started to fill the small space, curling around the edges of the mirror. The water was hot—just the way he liked it. As he stepped under the stream, a deep sigh left his lips, the tension in his muscles slowly melting away.
Droplets ran down his face, tracing the sharp contours of his jaw before dripping onto his collarbone. He let his head tilt back slightly, eyes shutting as the warmth enveloped him. His body was covered in faint scars—reminders of past battles, of fights that pushed him past his limits. The water trailed over them, highlighting each mark like they were stories etched into his skin.
Running a hand through his damp hair, he exhaled. His mind wandered back to the abilities he recieved today, and the huge question still looming over him—how to awaken his Shinigami powers.
For now, though, he shoved those thoughts aside. He focused on the sensation of the water, the way it cascaded down his shoulders, the rhythmic sound of droplets hitting the floor. One moment of peace won't kill me.
After a few more minutes, he finally turned the water off, reaching for a towel. As he dried himself off, the cool air hit his skin, sending a small shiver down his spine. He threw on his clothes, ruffled his hair with the towel one last time, and stepped out of the bathroom.
---
Rukia was still on the bed, but she was no longer reading. Instead, she sat upright, her expression serious.
"We found something tonight," she said, watching him closely.
Shinichi quirked a brow. "What?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering. "The one who's been killing the Hollows before we even arrive… It's Uryuu Ishida."
Shinichi blinked. "What?" He let out a short laugh. "You're kidding, right? That nerd?"
Rukia narrowed her eyes. "Says the other nerd who got rank one."
Shinichi rolled his eyes. "Whatever. So? What's the deal with him?"
Rukia leaned back slightly. "We found out that he's a Quincy."
Shinichi tilted his head. "Quin-what? The hell is that?"
"I don't know," Rukia admitted, frowning. "I'll have to ask Urahara about it. But one thing's for sure—he hates Shinigami. And for some reason, he's challenged Ichigo to a duel. I've told him to not engage."
Shinichi snorted, crossing his arms. "And you actually think that idiot's gonna listen to you and not engage?"
Rukia sighed but smiled knowingly. "Obviously, he won't."
She hesitated before adding, "Also… Ishida said your rank one was a fluke. He has challenged you to beat him in the final exams."
Shinichi's expression twisted into something that wasn't quite anger, confusion, or amusement—a mixture of all three. His eye twitched slightly.
"What the fuck?"