"Of course, what kind of nonsense are you talking?" Ichigo looked strangely at Kisuke.
"But what's the use of you knowing now? Kuchiki Byakuya shattered your Saketsu and Hakusui, and you are no longer a Shinigami!"
Kisuke continued: "Besides, you bled dry for Rukia. Any debt of gratitude has been repaid, right? Why continue fighting?"
"The Seireitei is such a massive organization. Are you truly prepared to charge in recklessly, even if it means making an enemy of the whole world?"
"..." Ichigo looked speechlessly at Kisuke, who knew he wouldn't back down but still said these things.
"Then I'll leave?" As he said this, Ichigo made as if to go.
"Hey hey hey, no no no!" Kisuke broke character, hurriedly grabbing Ichigo.
If Ichigo really left, how could his play continue?
Kisuke said miserably: "I was just trying to build up the tragic atmosphere of a youth charging forward into the enemy's lair!"
"Can't you play along a little?"
Watching this scene, the live stream audience burst out laughing.
"Pfft hahaha, I came over as soon as I heard Ichigo woke up, never expected to see this side of the Shopkeeper."
"Shopkeeper: You're not following the script, are you?"
"Ichigo: Get lost! I don't want to act in your play about Isshin and Rukia!"
After the rare laughter, Kisuke led Ichigo back down to the underground space of the Urahara Shop.
Standing still, looking at Ichigo, Kisuke said seriously:
"Rukia has been charged with a first-degree felony by the Central 46 and sentenced to death. The notice came down not long ago. The execution is in twenty-five days, and now, there are only twenty-three days left."
"So, time is tight, and the task is heavy!"
"Fortunately, your injuries have healed. We need to start your Reiryoku recovery training immediately now!"
"A reminder, this will be very painful!" Kisuke said.
"Hmph, can it be more painful than being sliced a thousand times by Senbonzakura Kageyoshi?"
Ichigo snorted disdainfully and looked at Kisuke: "Bring it on!"
Looking at Ichigo like this, Kisuke once again snapped his fan open, hiding his face behind it.
Actually, the earlier joke wasn't entirely a joke.
If Ichigo were a hot-blooded idiot, Kisuke wouldn't doubt his determination to overcome all obstacles to save Rukia.
The problem was, Ichigo wasn't such a hot-blooded idiot.
He was very smart, very rational. But even so, he still wanted to save Rukia regardless of everything. So Kisuke was a bit confused about Ichigo's underlying logic.
'Could it be for love?'
Kisuke thought uncertainly… perhaps only this reason could convince him.
But Ichigo's feelings for Rukia clearly weren't as deep as Rukia's for him.
So, he couldn't figure it out...
Probably Kisuke would never imagine the existence of entities like 'local forces' and 'players' in this world.
However, since he couldn't figure it out, he stopped trying.
Kisuke raised his cane and struck Ichigo heavily with it.
Thump-
Ichigo's soul, with the Chain of Fate attached to his chest, was knocked out of his body!
"Gasp, Hah-"
Just like the original Ichigo, after being knocked out, Ichigo immediately felt the weakness of his soul!
"Ururu!" Kisuke looked to the side.
There, the cute loli Ururu, holding protective gear in her skirt, walked out.
However, staring at Ichigo, Ururu seemed to hold a grudge for him stealing her water cup earlier.
Smiling and nodding at the cute loli, Ichigo asked, already knowing the answer: "What is she here for? Tell me, how are we going to recover my Reiryoku?"
Hearing this, Kisuke grinned mischievously again: "Well~ Lesson one of Reiryoku Recovery: Please survive Ururu's attacks!"
He really wanted to see the usually proud Ichigo being chased around by Ururu in a humiliating manner.
Clatter-
Ururu threw a pile of protective gear at Ichigo's feet, stepped back a few steps, and assumed a combat stance: "Big brother, be careful!"
However, contrary to Kisuke and Ururu's expectations, Ichigo just glanced at the protective gear at his feet and disdainfully tossed it aside.
Souls instinctively increase their Reiryoku when in danger.
But that's for ordinary souls.
A soul like Kurosaki Ichigo's could never lack Reiryoku!
But the current Ichigo wasn't the fool who didn't know how to control his Reiryoku like the original Ichigo.
After becoming a spirit again, he quickly tapped into the Reiryoku deep within his body.
So, the earlier chest tightness and shortness of breath dissipated.
Complaining to Kisuke, Ichigo said: "Urahara Kisuke, stop with these tricks. Can't you be more direct?"