As Ichigo continued to fight, although his actual Reiryoku didn't increase, just like players of Dark Souls or Sekiro, Ichigo could clearly feel that he was slowly getting stronger!
Watching Ichigo's 'heroic figure' battling amidst the swarm of Hollows, Kisuke looked to the side.
"So, Isshin, I didn't lie to you, did I?"
"Ah, indeed!" Isshin emerged from the shadows.
"This kid, he's stronger than me!"
Watching Ichigo swinging his large sword among the Hollows, Isshin's eyes held a gratified look.
His face was calm and composed now, completely devoid of the goofy demeanor he had at home.
"In that case, let's place our bets and teach him more!"
"Perhaps one day, he might truly reach the heights we hope for!"
"Yoruichi, Kisuke, I leave my son in your hands!"
After glancing at Kisuke beside him and the black cat on his shoulder, Isshin left.
Thus, the meeting within Kisuke's small group concluded!
However, a single speck of dust from the times can feel like a mountain on an individual's shoulders, and so can the actions of the strong.
Watching Ichigo's rapidly rising points on the leaderboard, all the other players were baffled.
Not sleeping at night, trying to outdo us, is that it?
But the problem is, where are all these Hollows coming from for him to kill?
Everyone was puzzled, unable to figure it out.
They probably couldn't have imagined that some people aren't just hard workers, they also have connections!
The next day after the first training session, at noon.
Ichigo came to Karakura High School's restroom.
"Ichigo-sama, you're back!"
Inside the restroom, the Soul Candy controlling Ichigo's current body greeted him respectfully.
"Mhm, any problems?" Ichigo asked.
"None! Rukia-san was completely fooled!"
The Soul Candy answered respectfully, then began recounting the events of the morning.
"Good, you've worked hard."
After confirming what happened in the morning, Ichigo nodded and returned to his body.
Taking the Soul Candy out from his mouth, Ichigo carefully stored it away.
Using a Soul Candy as a substitute meant his body got proper rest, but the soul's mental fatigue couldn't be replenished by the body alone.
So Ichigo, having trained all night, also needed to sleep at the Urahara Shop all morning, waiting until noon to find an opportunity to return to his body.
This would become the daily routine from now on, but avoiding Rukia was an unavoidable part of it.
Following the trajectory mentioned by the Soul Candy, Ichigo went to the rooftop.
There, Kojima Mizuiro, Arisawa Tatsuki, Inoue Orihime, and other friends of Ichigo were gathered, eating lunch.
Then Ichigo remembered what the Soul Candy had reported.
On Orihime's fair, soft calf skin, there was a bruise that looked very much like a claw mark!
'So, her brother is back, huh? It seems I need to visit Inoue Orihime's house tonight!' Ichigo pondered.
But Ichigo, who had been staring intently at Orihime's calf, completely failed to notice...
Under his gaze, Orihime was growing increasingly nervous, tugging at her skirt, fidgeting, her face turning red until she resembled a steaming kettle, her eyes about to swirl into spirals like a mosquito coil.
But Tatsuki noticed.
After giving Ichigo another look, anger rose in Tatsuki's heart. "Damn it, you idiot Ichigo, what are you looking at?"
Without hesitation, Tatsuki threw a punch at Ichigo!
However, the next moment,
Sensing the whistling wind by his ear, Ichigo didn't think twice. He took a step to the right, dodging Tatsuki's fist, and immediately followed up with a fierce spinning whip kick!
Ichigo's pants leg and clothes screeched sharply from the intense friction with the air!
One could imagine the damaging effect such a whip kick would have if it connected with a person.
For a moment, Tatsuki was so startled she froze!
Watching the calf rapidly enlarging in her vision, Tatsuki's mind went blank.
Fortunately, realizing his mistake in time, Ichigo forcibly stopped the whip kick just before it hit Tatsuki's head!
Whoosh-
The powerful wind carried by the kick momentarily pulled Tatsuki's short hair straight back!
"Sorry about that, Tatsuki, I was thinking about something just now!" Retracting his leg, Ichigo said apologetically.
Last night's bloody battle had helped him immensely.
His combat awareness, the swiftness of his movements, and even his body control had all improved greatly.
But it had also left him with a bit of combat PTSD, though Ichigo felt it wasn't a big issue.
Being able to strike and also hold back is a skill, and learning to control oneself is also a form of training!
However, such a sudden incident naturally attracted the attention of the others.