The next morning, the sun was bright.
After washing up and changing into his Karakura First High School uniform, Ren pushed open his front door and instinctively glanced to the side.
He froze.
Ichigo Kurosaki, also wearing the Karakura First High School uniform, was walking toward him with a furrowed brow, looking distracted.
But based on what Ren knew, the route from Ichigo’s house to Karakura First High School shouldn’t pass by his place at all.
Though confused, Ren took the initiative to greet him.
“Ichigo, good morning!” Suddenly hearing Ren’s voice, Ichigo thought he was hallucinating.
But when he looked over, it really was Ren.
And Ren was wearing his school’s uniform?
Surprise on his face, Ichigo quickened his pace and walked up to Ren.
He looked at him and asked, “You’re a student at Karakura First High School too?” Ren smiled and explained, “I’m an exchange student from the Ancient Eastern Nation.
Today’s my first day reporting in.” Then he slung an arm around Ichigo’s shoulder and said warmly, “I’m new here.
I’ll need you, my ‘senior,’ to take care of me!” Ichigo understood.
He hadn’t thought Ren might be an exchange student, mainly because Ren’s Japanese was so good, even better than his own.
“By the way, why are you here?
The route from your house to school shouldn’t pass this way, right?” Ren asked his question.
Ichigo blinked, then looked around.
“I’ve been thinking about last night the whole way.
I was so deep in thought I took a wrong turn.” Then he couldn’t help but look at Ren.
“Ren, are you a Shinigami too?” Ren looked “surprised.” “I’m not a Shinigami.
I’m human.
What’s a Shinigami anyway?
You mean that onion head from yesterday?” Hearing the words “onion head,” Ichigo’s mind automatically conjured up the image of Rukia Kuchiki, red-faced with fury.
If she were here, she’d definitely start arguing with Ren again.
That said, Ren’s description was way too vivid.
It carried a strangely irresistible sense of humor, and Ichigo knew he would never be able to look at that onion head hairstyle the same way again.
No, this wasn’t the time to think about that.
If Ren wasn’t a Shinigami, then what was the ability he’d used yesterday?
With that in mind, Ichigo voiced his question.
What he didn’t expect was for Ren to look surprised in return.
He asked back, “The ability I used yesterday is something I was born with.
What, you don’t have it?” Ichigo immediately shook his head.
“No.
My sisters and I were all born able to see ghosts, but none of us awakened any special abilities.” Ren said with apparent “wonder,” “Really?
I thought people like us naturally came with some kind of special ability.” Ichigo was speechless.
He really wanted to know where Ren had gotten that conclusion.
As if reading his mind, Ren continued, “Well, isn’t that how it always works in novels and anime?” Then, as if something occurred to him, he said with sudden realization, “Could it be that I get special treatment because I’m the protagonist?
And you’re just a supporting character, Ichigo, so you don’t?” Ichigo’s mouth twitched.
He wanted to argue, but felt Ren might have a point.
In novels and anime, usually only the protagonist got special treatment.
Feeling thoroughly deflated, Ichigo broke free from Ren’s arm around his shoulder and walked ahead quickly, not wanting to talk to Ren anymore.
A pleased smile spread across Ren’s face.
He found teasing Ichigo pretty fun.
Then he hurried forward, slung his arm around Ichigo’s shoulder again, and steered him toward a nearby convenience store.
As they walked, he said warmly, “Come on, to celebrate us becoming friends, breakfast is on me today.
Get whatever you want!” Ichigo wanted to say he’d already eaten breakfast, but somehow, the words that came out were, “Then I won’t hold back.” For some reason, hanging out with Ren felt really comfortable.
The slight awkwardness from last night’s events melted away in these few moments together.
Outside the convenience store, Ren and Ichigo spotted a life-sized promotional poster.
The poster advertised that during the promotion period, spending 3,000 Yen in the store would enter you into a lottery, with a top prize of 30,000 Yen.
Ichigo was used to convenience store promotions like this.
He’d participated before, but rarely won, and the prizes were usually things like tissues or small toys.
Ren, however, was full of enthusiasm.
He had just unlocked his Innate Talent: Golden Rule (E), after all.
Inside the convenience store, Ichigo only picked up a cheap yakisoba bread, priced at 150 Yen.
Then he found Ren.
Looking at the huge pile of breakfast food Ren had picked out, he said helplessly, “You’re not trying to enter the lottery, are you?
I’d advise you to forget it.
The odds of winning these things are way too low.
The cost and reward just aren’t worth it.
Besides, can you even finish all this breakfast?” Ren waved it off.
“It’s fine, I just want to try it out.
Besides, if I can’t finish it, you’re here.” Ichigo felt his already eighty-percent-full stomach couldn’t possibly hold that much food.
Just as he was about to keep arguing, Ren had already walked to the register and paid.
The Myriad Heavens Paradise had given him an initial fund of 10,000 Yen, more than enough for this purchase of over 3,000.
After qualifying for the lottery, Ren walked up to the prize box and drew one ticket.
Ichigo didn’t say anything.
He just watched quietly, mentally preparing the sarcastic comments he’d make.
There was basically no way Ren would win.
And even if he did, it would just be some cheap little trinket.
Under Ichigo’s watchful gaze, Ren scratched off the coating on the lottery ticket.
Then he froze on the spot, as though he had just been struck head-on.
Ichigo’s face took on an “I told you so” expression.
He opened his mouth to say, “See?
I told you…” Before he could finish, Ren’s delighted voice rang out.
“Ichigo, I won!
The grand prize!” Ichigo choked.
He couldn’t speak.
Shock and disbelief flooded his face.
He won?
The grand prize?
Watching Ren actually cash out the 30,000 Yen grand prize, Ichigo still found it impossible to accept.
He even began seriously questioning his existence.
This guy…
could he really be the protagonist!?