Over the next few days, Ichigo Kurosaki’s mental state deteriorated.
He slept in class.
He slept after class.
Even when Keigo Asano yelled in his ear, he simply slapped the boy’s face onto the desk.
“Mizuiro, is Ichigo possessed by something?” Mizuiro looked at the dark circles under Ichigo’s eyes and smiled.
“It’s possible he was sneaking out on a date last night.” “A date?” Keigo jumped to his feet, his face filled with grief and indignation.
“Damn it, Ichigo, you betrayed us!” Ichigo opened one eye.
“Shut up.” Keigo sat down instantly.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni sat beside him, quietly flipping through his textbook.
He didn’t look at Ichigo, but he could clearly sense that the boy’s spiritual pressure was much more chaotic than it had been a few days ago.
He seems really tired lately.
A person who had just acquired a sword, who hadn’t even learned how to wield it properly, was already facing the predicament of fighting Hollows.
It was already quite an achievement that he had survived this long.
After the lunch break bell rang, everyone went to the rooftop as usual.
Orihime Inoue, holding her bento box, said excitedly, “I made something new today!” Tatsuki Arisawa’s expression froze.
“Orihime, let’s get this straight.
What is it today?” “Red bean, butter, and wasabi rice balls.” The rooftop fell silent for a moment.
Keigo looked at Ichigo and said seriously, “Ichigo, if I die, remember to tell my sister that I sacrificed myself for friendship.” Ichigo’s lips twitched.
“Just don’t eat it, okay?” “How can I?” Keigo clutched his chest, speaking painfully.
“This is a bento made by Inoue-san herself.
Even if it’s poison, I’ll eat it with tears in my eyes.” Tatsuki punched him on the head.
“Stop saying such disgusting things.” Orihime smiled sheepishly.
“Actually, I’ve tried it myself, and it tastes pretty good.” Yoriichi looked at the rice ball in her hand and paused for a moment.
Some things were better left unexperienced.
Chad sat to the side, silently opening his bento box.
Mizuiro changed the subject, saying gently, “Kurosaki-kun seems very tired lately.
Is something wrong?” Ichigo paused in his act of picking up food.
Rukia also looked up at him.
“Nothing.” Ichigo scratched his head and said, “I just can’t sleep well at night.” Keigo immediately leaned closer.
“So it’s love troubles, huh?” “Do you want to die?” “I’m sorry.” Yoriichi looked at Ichigo.
“Ichigo.” “Hmm?” “If you run into trouble, you can tell me.” After hearing this, Ichigo was at a loss for words.
He knew, of course, that Yoriichi wasn’t one to meddle.
But precisely because of that, he didn’t want to involve him.
Hollows were not something ordinary people should deal with.
“It’s really nothing.” Ichigo forced a smile and said, “I just have too much homework lately.” Rukia nearly broke her chopsticks upon hearing this.
This idiot couldn’t even come up with a better excuse.
Yoriichi didn’t press further.
He merely withdrew his gaze, his eyes suddenly falling on Orihime’s ankle.
There was a faint, dark scratch there.
Without close inspection, it might simply appear as an ordinary bruise.
But through the Transparent World, the mark was entirely different.
A restless, corrosive spiritual pressure emanated from it, devouring the surrounding Reishi and slowly eroding Orihime’s soul.
Yoriichi put down his chopsticks.
“Inoue.” “Hmm?” Orihime looked up, a grain of rice still clinging to the corner of her mouth.
Yoriichi pointed to her ankle.
“There.
Are you injured?” Everyone’s gaze turned to her ankle simultaneously.
Orihime glanced down, a look of sudden realization dawning on her face.
“Ah, there really is.” Tatsuki frowned.
“When did you get this?” “I don’t know.” Orihime thought for a moment and said, “Maybe I bumped into something on my way home yesterday.” She said it casually.
Just then, Ichigo and Rukia walked over.
They looked at Orihime’s ankle, and their expressions changed simultaneously.
Rukia put down her bento and quickly walked to Orihime’s side.
She crouched down and examined the dark scratch closely.
The next moment, her face darkened.
“What’s wrong?” Orihime blinked.
Rukia didn’t answer, but looked up at Ichigo.
Ichigo understood.
This was a mark left by a Hollow.
In other words, Orihime had recently been targeted.
Keigo, observing their reactions, asked blankly, “Why are you two so serious?
It’s just a scratch, right?” Mizuiro remained silent.
He glanced at Rukia, then at Ichigo, his smile fading slightly.
Rukia stood up, her tone returning to normal.
“It just looks a bit serious, Inoue-san.
You’d better go home early tonight.” “Okay.” Orihime nodded, smiling.
“Thank you, Kuchiki-san.” Ichigo looked at Yoriichi, hesitating to speak.
Yoriichi calmly said, “I just happened to see it.” Ichigo paused, startled.
But somehow, he felt there was something more to Yoriichi’s words.
After lunch break, everyone returned to the classroom.
Rukia sat behind Ichigo, drawing a fierce-looking rabbit on her textbook with a pencil.
The rabbit was holding a sign.
It read: GO TO INOUE’S TONIGHT.
Ichigo glanced back.
“Can’t you just say it directly?” Rukia closed her textbook expressionlessly.
“You have a problem with that?” “No.” Ichigo turned back.
Soon, night fell.
The streets of Karakura Town quieted down, and streetlights flickered on one by one.
Ichigo, carrying his schoolbag, stood with Rukia at the alley entrance near Orihime’s apartment building.
“Are you sure that Hollow will come?” “Hollows usually leave marks to hunt again.” Rukia looked at the building ahead and said softly, “If we don’t deal with it, Inoue-san will be in danger.” Ichigo clenched his fist.
“Then I’ll cut it down.” Rukia glanced at him.
“You make it sound so easy.” “Stop talking nonsense.” Meanwhile.
In Orihime’s room, Tatsuki sat on the floor, watching her organize her first-aid kit.
“So you didn’t even know when you got hurt?” “Yeah.” Orihime nodded and said, “But it doesn’t hurt anymore.
Tatsuki, don’t worry.” Tatsuki sighed.
“That’s what makes people worry.” Orihime laughed.
“Hehehe.” Just as she was about to say something, the wall behind her suddenly twisted.
The lights in the room flickered.
Tatsuki looked up sharply.
“Orihime!” The wall cracked open without warning, revealing a dark hole.
The next moment, a long, serpentine tail covered in acid shot out of the black hole like lightning, aiming straight for Orihime’s back.