Since that night, life had returned to a semblance of normalcy.
Rukia continued living in the closet at Ichigo’s house, wearing the Gikai (artificial body) she’d gotten from Urahara Shop every day, and accompanying Ichigo to school.
Although she had many questions for Yoriichi.
Like his dark gray Zanpakutō.
Like why Yoriichi could see through her Gikai and the Kido seals binding her soul.
And that overwhelming Reiatsu.
But every time Rukia looked at Yoriichi, he sat quietly in his seat, head down, flipping through his textbook, showing no intention of explaining.
Rukia had tried to probe indirectly.
But Yoriichi only answered with two words.
“Born that way.” And then nothing more.
Rukia was very dissatisfied with this.
But thinking of the image of Yoriichi slaying a Hollow with a single strike that day, she swallowed back the rest of her questions.
This man probably had more secrets than Ichigo.
As the last class of the morning ended and the teacher left the classroom, Keigo Asano lunged at Ichigo Kurosaki, wrapping his arms around his neck.
“Ichigo, what’s for lunch today?” “Let go.” “Don’t be so cold.
We’re best friends.” Ichigo’s forehead veins throbbed.
He raised his hand, pressed Keigo Asano’s face, and shoved him away.
“Who’s your best friend?” “That’s so mean!” Keigo Asano clutched his chest, staggering back two steps as if he’d suffered a fatal blow.
Mizuiro Kojima, sitting beside him, added with a smile, “Keigo, you said the same thing to the girl in the next class yesterday.” “That’s different!” “How is it different?” “The genders are different.” Ichigo Kurosaki was silent for a moment, then punched Keigo Asano on the head.
The world finally fell silent.
Yoriichi closed his textbook, glanced at Keigo Asano sprawled on the floor, then took out a bento box from his desk.
Just then, a figure stopped in front of Ichigo.
It was Uryu Ishida.
He adjusted his glasses, his gaze passing over Keigo Asano and landing on Ichigo Kurosaki.
“Kurosaki, I have something to say to you.” The classroom was silent for a few seconds.
Keigo Asano suddenly looked up.
“Ichigo, so you two have already developed into this kind of relationship?” “Shut up!” Ichigo kicked him aside, glaring at Uryu Ishida.
“What is it?” “It’s not convenient here.” Uryu Ishida glanced around.
Although the classmates were all doing their own things, many had already perked up their ears.
Ichigo frowned.
“Then let’s go to the rooftop.” Uryu Ishida didn’t refuse, turning and walking out of the classroom.
Ichigo scratched his head and followed.
Rukia watched their retreating figures, her expression turning serious.
She could sense that Uryu Ishida’s Reiatsu didn’t belong to a Shinigami.
Moreover, from their first meeting, he seemed to be intentionally concealing his aura.
“Yoriichi.” Rukia approached his desk and said in a low voice, “That guy with glasses is suspicious.” “Yeah.” Yoriichi nodded.
“You know who he is?” “Yes.” “Then tell me.” “A Quincy.” Hearing those three words, Rukia’s pupils contracted slightly.
She instinctively looked towards the classroom door, but Uryu Ishida had already vanished.
“There are still Quincy in the world?” Rukia’s voice held a hint of disbelief.
According to Soul Society records, the Quincy were nearly eradicated by the Shinigami long ago.
Even if some survivors occasionally remained, they shouldn’t possess such obvious spiritual power.
Yoriichi reopened his bento box and calmly said, “He’s always been in this class.” Rukia glanced at Yoriichi, then at Uryu Ishida’s empty seat, suddenly at a loss for words.
Such an obvious Quincy, and he’d been right under her nose for so long.
How come she hadn’t noticed before?
Thinking this, Rukia’s expression stiffened.
It must be Ichigo’s fault.
Ever since she met that guy, her problem-solving abilities had declined.
It had nothing to do with her.
Not long after, Ichigo returned to the classroom.
His expression wasn’t good.
As he walked to his seat, he turned back and glared at Uryu Ishida.
Uryu Ishida remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
“Ichigo, what did he say to you?” Rukia leaned closer and asked.
“He said he’s a Quincy.” Ichigo pulled out a chair and plopped down.
“He also said that Shinigami aren’t worthy of purifying Hollows and wanted to have a contest with me.” “You agreed?” “How could I?” Ichigo crossed his arms, his face full of impatience.
“I don’t even know what a Quincy is, how can I compare to him?” Rukia breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, although he’s impulsive, at least he’s not stupid enough to agree to everything someone tells him to.
“But I made a promise with him to meet on the rooftop after school.” Rukia’s expression froze.
“You still agreed!” “Just to hear what he wants to say about the contest.” “Does it make a difference?” “Of course it does.” Ichigo said matter-of-factly.
Rukia raised a hand to her forehead, no longer wanting to argue with him.
Yoriichi sat quietly eating his bento, not intervening in the argument between the two.
Uryu Ishida’s challenge to Ichigo shouldn’t be considered a big deal.
Although there was a grudge between Quincy and Shinigami, Uryu Ishida wasn’t truly cold-blooded.
He simply wanted to prove that Quincy were superior to Shinigami.
As for the content of the match… Yoriichi paused.
He seemed to have forgotten something.
That memory was hazy; he could only recall that Uryu Ishida had indeed approached Ichigo at that time, but he couldn’t remember what happened afterward.
Yoriichi frowned slightly.
Since arriving in this world, his memories of the past had been incomplete.
Many important things only suddenly came to mind when he witnessed them firsthand.
This feeling wasn’t pleasant.
However, Uryu Ishida was at school; he shouldn’t cause too much of a commotion.
Thinking this, Yoriichi continued eating.
The afternoon classes ended quickly.
The school bell had just rung when Uryu Ishida packed his bag and left the classroom alone.
Ichigo glanced at Rukia.
“Don’t follow me.” “Why?” “This is between him and me.” “You don’t even know what a Quincy is.” “That’s why I’m going to find out.” Rukia wanted to say something, but Ichigo had already grabbed his bag and quickly chased after him.
“That idiot.” She gritted her teeth, preparing to follow.
However, the homeroom teacher suddenly appeared at the door, placing a stack of papers on the podium.
“Kuchiki-san, isn’t it your turn to do chores today?” Rukia froze.
She glanced out the window, then at the dusty blackboard, her expression gradually darkening.
As a Shinigami, she was being stopped by chores.
“Yoriichi.” Rukia immediately looked at Yoriichi, her expression serious.
“Ichigo’s in your hands.” “Okay.” Yoriichi got up and left the classroom.
Rukia was stunned.
She thought she would need to say more, but Yoriichi had agreed so readily.
On the other side.
On the school building rooftop.
When Ichigo pushed open the iron gate, Uryu Ishida was already standing by the railing waiting for him.
The setting sun shone on his glasses, obscuring his eyes.
“Didn’t you dislike me?” Ichigo tossed his backpack to the ground and stretched his shoulders.
“Bring it on.” “In that case, let’s settle this once and for all, Kurosaki.” Uryu Ishida turned around, calmly observing him.
“Let’s determine who’s truly superior, the Shinigami or the Quincy.” “Fine.” Ichigo replied nonchalantly.
“You decide the method of the contest, so you don’t accuse me of bullying you after you lose.” Uryu Ishida adjusted his glasses.
“I’ll return that line verbatim.” Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
The atmosphere between the two instantly became tense.
After a moment of silence, Uryu Ishida took a pill the size of a coin from his pocket and held it between two fingers.
“We’ll use this to decide the winner.” Ichigo stared at the pill.
“What is this?” “Hollow bait.” Uryu Ishida’s tone remained calm, as if he were merely introducing an ordinary item.
“Just crush it, and the Reiatsu within the pill will spread.
Nearby Hollows, sensing it, will be drawn to Karakura Town.” Ichigo’s casual expression vanished instantly.
“What did you say?” “The rules are simple.” Uryu Ishida ignored his question and continued, “The one who eliminates the most Hollows within twenty-four hours is the winner.” “Are you kidding me!” Ichigo stepped forward, reaching for the pill.
Uryu Ishida quickly retreated, causing Ichigo’s hand to miss.
“This is just a contest between the two of us.
Why drag the ordinary people of the town into this?” Ichigo stared intently at him, his voice now filled with anger.
He could accept Uryu Ishida’s dissatisfaction with him, and he could accept the other challenging a Shinigami.
But he could not accept someone using innocent lives as a gamble.
Uryu Ishida gripped the pill, his expression unchanged.
“I will personally deal with all the Hollows attracted, leaving no trace.” “How can you guarantee that?” “With the power of the Quincy.” “Stop talking nonsense!” Ichigo charged at him.
Uryu Ishida retreated again, his thumb and forefinger tightening their grip.
“If you truly have the confidence to protect others, then accept this challenge.” “Stop!” Crack.
A soft sound came from between his fingers.
The pill cracked, turning into fine powder, which was scattered in all directions by the wind on the rooftop.
A wave of Reiatsu imperceptible to ordinary people rapidly spread.
Uryu Ishida released his grip.
“The game begins now.” The next moment, a low growl echoed from afar.
Then, a second, a third… Ichigo’s expression changed drastically.
He had sensed the spiritual pressure of Hollows, and more than one.
“Damn it!” Ichigo, no longer bothering to argue with Uryu Ishida, turned and rushed towards the rooftop exit.
Uryu Ishida summoned his Reishi bow and leaped down from the other side of the school building.
Their spiritual pressures quickly dispersed in different directions.
Inside the stairwell.
Yoriichi was walking up the stairs.
When the first Hollow growl reached his ears, he abruptly stopped.
Hollow bait.
The forgotten memories finally became clear.
To compete with Ichigo, Uryu Ishida had publicly crushed Hollow bait, attracting a large number of Hollows from the vicinity of Karakura Town.
But what this contest ultimately brought about was far more than just ordinary Hollows.
Yoriichi looked up, his expression changing noticeably for the first time.
So that’s what it was.
Why had he forgotten?
Yoriichi took a step forward, his figure instantly leaping over the remaining stairs.
Bang!
The rooftop iron door was pushed open.
A howling wind blew in his face, leaving only a discarded schoolbag on the ground.
Ichigo and Uryu Ishida were gone.
Yoriichi walked to the railing, looking down at the entire Karakura Town.
Through the Transparent World, chilling and chaotic spiritual pressures were appearing throughout the city.
A dozen.
Dozens.
The number was still increasing.
In the distant sky, a dark, tear-like rift slowly opened, and a massive, suffocating malice seeped into the Human World from behind it.
The roars of Hollows echoed all around the city.
Yoriichi felt the violent spiritual pressure surrounding him.
“This is troublesome.”