"Ichigo, Inoue-san is hurt!" Rukia said directly.
"Ah, I thought you noticed already," Ichigo nodded in agreement.
"Of course I noticed! How could I miss such obvious injuries?" Rukia said confidently.
"It was a Hollow, right?" Ichigo said firmly.
"Yeah." Rukia nodded, then asked, "By the way, Ichigo, are you close with Inoue-san?"
Ichigo thought for a moment and said, "I've seen her around for a long time, but we only really got to know each other in the past six months."
(In the original storyline, they barely spoke to each other at this point—Ichigo said so himself.)
"So it was Inoue-san who reached out to you first?" Rukia asked, a bit curious.
"No, it was Tatsuki—Tatsuki introduced Orihime to me. They're good friends," Ichigo answered truthfully.
Rukia's expression turned strange. "Is that so? Tatsuki must really trust you."
"Of course! Tatsuki and I go way back!" Ichigo said with confidence.
Rukia's expression became even stranger as she thought to herself, "This girl must be really bold… introducing a beautiful girl who likes Kurosaki Ichigo directly to him."
But on the surface, she continued, "Right… So you said you knew her from before?"
At that, Ichigo sighed. "A few years ago, Inoue's brother died in the hospital my dad runs. It was a traffic accident—he didn't make it to the big hospital in time. Inoue cried really hard back then."
"I see," Rukia nodded.
After dropping by home to greet Isshin and his sisters, Ichigo then went with Rukia to Orihime's house for dinner.
Ding dong.
"Coming, coming! Orihime, watch the food, I'll get the door!"
Tatsuki, who had been cooking, put down the spatula and opened the door. Orihime had already told her that Ichigo and Rukia were coming, so she wasn't surprised to see them standing outside.
"Inoue-san, good evening. I brought a small gift." Rukia smiled as she handed over a small gift bag.
After all, she was a genuine noble. When they were checking out earlier, the amount on Rukia's card had completely stunned Ichigo.
The number was so big, Ichigo estimated that his old man would have to work nonstop for 500 years just to earn that much!
Isshin: Ichigo, you really are a wonderful son!
Tatsuki took the gift, smiling as she turned to Ichigo. "And Ichigo? Where's your gift?"
Ichigo pulled a bitter face. "Come on, Tatsuki, you know me. Where would I get extra money for something like that?"
Seeing Ichigo sulk, both Rukia and Tatsuki laughed.
"Alright, alright, I was just teasing. Come on in." Tatsuki welcomed them inside.
In the kitchen, Orihime turned off the stove and brought out a plate of freshly cooked food to the small table in the living room. "Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san, welcome!"
Tatsuki smiled and held up the gift bag. "They even brought you a present."
"Oh gosh, thank you so much! You really didn't have to!" Orihime said, slightly embarrassed.
"It's the first time visiting, so I had to bring something. It's nothing expensive—just something small we can enjoy together," Rukia said with a smile.
"The food's ready, let's eat!" Tatsuki said cheerfully.
The four of them sat down. Ichigo instinctively sat beside Tatsuki, with Rukia next to him and Orihime sitting on the other side.
They chatted and laughed as they ate, everyone in high spirits.
But then, the space behind Orihime and Tatsuki suddenly distorted. Before Rukia could react, Ichigo's face changed instantly. "Danger!"
He didn't hesitate—his body moved faster than his words, diving forward to knock both Tatsuki and Orihime to the ground.
An enormous invisible hand swept through the space where they had just been sitting, flipping the dining table into the air!
"What's going on, Ichigo?!" Tatsuki was shocked by the sudden chaos but quickly regained her composure.
The scene was eerily similar to the explosion half a year ago!
Another invisible attack, appearing out of nowhere!
Rukia had recovered now and shouted, "Ichigo, get them to safety! The house is too small for a proper fight!"
"I know!" Ichigo didn't waste time explaining—he grabbed the two girls, one in each arm, and leapt straight out the window!
As soon as they landed, a long, red tail came crashing toward Ichigo.
He snorted and unleashed a burst of spiritual pressure, freezing the tail mid-air!
Rukia's gigai body didn't have Ichigo's physical capabilities, so she had to take the stairs.
"Ichigo, I'll take them somewhere safe. You finish it off!"
Rukia shouted as she ran up, ignoring her own physical limitations.
"Got it! They're in your hands, Rukia!" Ichigo gently set Tatsuki and Orihime down, then reached out and grabbed the red tail suspended in the air.
With a powerful pull, he yanked the Hollow straight out of the Garganta!
At the same time, Ichigo's clothes changed into the black uniform of a Shinigami—his shihakushō.
"Are you two okay?" Rukia asked, helping Tatsuki and Orihime up.
Strangely, as soon as Rukia touched the two girls, their perception of the world completely changed.
Before their eyes, Ichigo—now in full black robes—was roaring as he hurled the red creature onto the street!
"Kuchiki-san, what is that monster fighting Ichigo?!" Tatsuki asked in shock.
Is this the world Ichigo didn't want me to be a part of?
That enormous monster…
The violent side of Ichigo she had never seen before…
This world that already felt completely beyond reality!
"Yeah, Kuchiki-san, what is this?!" Orihime looked terrified as well.
Rukia was stunned that the two girls could see both Ichigo and the Hollow, but now wasn't the time for explanations. She pulled them to a safer spot before finally speaking.
"Since you've seen it now, it means you're destined to step into this world. Ichigo is currently in his Shinigami form. The monster he's fighting is called a Hollow."
Rukia gave a simple explanation.
Hearing that, Tatsuki was shaken. She looked at Ichigo, who was effortlessly overpowering the Hollow, and made up her mind:
If that's how it is… then I want to fight alongside Ichigo too! Whatever this is, I'll face it with him!
(End of Chapter)
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