"Ichigo, how could you do that? Tatsuki is our classmate!" Mizuiro chastised.
"It's nothing, it was also my fault for suddenly attacking!" Tatsuki, having regained her composure, quickly interjected.
However, her mind was reeling with shock, 'Since when did Ichigo become this strong?'
After the small commotion, the two went their separate ways.
"What's wrong with you?" Rukia approached and asked after the others had moved away.
Ichigo explained, "It's nothing. Maybe I'm just a bit tense from fighting Hollows lately, and I was thinking about the mark on Inoue's calf."
Seeing Ichigo like this, a flicker of concern passed through Rukia's eyes.
Unlike the original work, here, Ichigo was the one leading the way. So Rukia couldn't help but wonder if she was putting too much pressure on Ichigo.
Rukia wanted to say something, but at that moment, Chad arrived carrying a parrot!
"Ah, Chad, what happened to you? And this parrot?" Asano Keigo's exclamation drew everyone's attention.
"It's nothing. I just got hit by a steel bar, and this hand was hit by a motorcycle," Chad pointed to the bandage on his neck and the dressing on his hand, then added with a somewhat airheaded, "That motorcyclist ended up in the hospital, seriously injured, so I'm actually doing alright."
Chad's words finally made the live stream comments, silent for days, unable to hold back any longer.
"Damn, is this tall guy made of iron? Hit by a steel bar, hit by a car, and only minor injuries like that?"
"Honestly, that's a bit ridiculous! Are all these Japanese high school boys monsters?"
The comments were filled with exclamations of surprise.
But only Ichigo, observing from the side, knew more information.
Orihime's brother being transformed into a Hollow and returning, Chad finding and raising a parrot, being attacked by a Hollow… these events were supposed to happen one after the other.
But now, they were overlapping.
'So... the plot has accelerated?' Ichigo thought of the game coin bets placed on him a few days ago, 'It seemed the trial wasn't something that happened instantly but needed time to brew.'
'This was the prelude to it brewing to completion!'
"Hey, Ichigo, that parrot..." Rukia leaned over.
Ichigo nodded: "Yeah, I see it. Let's deal with it after school this afternoon! Along with Inoue's issue!"
…
Soon, it was afternoon dismissal at Karakura High School.
"Inoue, can you stay back after school?" Ichigo called out to Orihime.
"Huh? M-me, you want m-me-me-me to stay..." Not knowing what she was thinking, Orihime's face turned bright red, and steam seemed to rise from her head.
Seeing her like this, Ichigo couldn't help but feel a teasing urge. "Yes, I have something very important to tell you!"
"Ah, could it be that Kurosaki-kun is going to..."
The airheaded and imaginative Orihime instantly thought of 1,284 different scenarios.
Ichigo smiled playfully. "Going to what?"
"Mmph!" Orihime let out a small cry of distress, took half a step back, and clutched the collar of her clothes tightly with her small, pale hands.
At this point, Tatsuki, who couldn't stand it anymore, came to Orihime's rescue.
With a roar, Tatsuki gave Orihime a flick on the forehead:
"What nonsense are you imagining again, Orihime! Ichigo just wants to invite us to his house for dinner, that's all! I'm invited too!"
"Ah, is that so..." Orihime was taken aback, her expression unable to hide her disappointment.
Ichigo laughed and added, "Of course, I also invited Chad, Mizuiro, and the others..."
"Let's just consider it bringing some joy to the unlucky Kurosaki Clinic!"
After all, Hollows despise scenes of happiness the most.
The Hollow hole of every Hollow represents a lack of a certain emotion, and they will frantically seek out that emotion!
But at this moment, Ichigo still didn't know exactly what he would face tonight!
When evening came.
"Yosh! You're all Ichigo's classmates. Thank you for looking after our Ichigo usually. Bottoms up!"
At the dinner table, Isshin, sitting at the head, acted as if he didn't sense the strange Reiatsu outside, raising a huge beer mug and drinking heartily.
"Wow, Uncle, you can really hold your liquor!"
Mizuiro and Keigo, who enjoyed lively gatherings, chimed in, making Isshin even more pleased with himself.
"Then let's raise our glasses too!" Tatsuki raised her glass filled with juice. Having been familiar with the Kurosaki Family since childhood, she was as comfortable as a second host.
"Ooooooh!"
With Tatsuki taking the lead, the atmosphere instantly became lively.