Then, after experiencing everything, just like Ichigo, she ended up marrying a childhood friend.
Looking at it this way, the affections Ichigo encountered and those Rukia encountered were astonishingly similar.
Thus, the two are equally the Male and Female Leads, just Male and Female Leads who didn't end up together.
Thinking this, Ichigo's expression grew increasingly odd.
However, not long after, a pale, delicate hand began waving in front of Ichigo's face.
"Hey, Ichigo, hey, Ichigo, what are you thinking about?" Rukia looked at him, puzzled.
"Nothing, just some interesting thoughts!" Ichigo said with a light laugh.
"What interesting thoughts?"
"Hahaha, if I said they're interesting thoughts, telling you would make them less interesting!" Ichigo patted Rukia's mushroom-cut head.
Then, affectionately, he picked a grain of rice from the corner of Rukia's mouth and popped it into his own.
"Mhm, sweet!" Ichigo commented.
Seeing this, Rukia instantly blushed deeply, very unused to such advances.
Ichigo, amused, wiped Rukia's mouth.
"We're practically an old married couple, why are you still like this? Seems I haven't 'developed' you enough!"
"I'm curious, what would a 'wifey' Rukia be like?" Ichigo said with a smile.
"What 'wifey'!" Rukia hmphed twice. "You haven't even passed my brother's test yet!"
"No need to pass Byakuya's test. I just need to pass yours!" Ichigo picked Rukia up.
In the air, Rukia panicked a little. "Don't! We just ate, I might throw up! And this Gigai... it's new!"
"New!" Originally not intending to do anything to Rukia, hearing the word 'new', Ichigo suddenly grew interested.
"A new Gigai? Then I need to give it a thorough inspection! See if Urahara Kisuke cut corners, like missing some modules or something!"
Saying this, Ichigo began verifying the Gigai's functions.
However, he didn't go against Rukia's will.
After accelerating Rukia's blood flow and raising her body temperature, Ichigo put her down.
Under her resentful gaze, Ichigo placed the PS2 controller back in Rukia's hand. "What were you thinking? I was just boosting your metabolism to aid digestion!"
"You didn't actually think I wanted to make you throw up, did you?"
"Surely not, surely not. My Rukia hasn't become that kinky in just a few days, has she?" Ichigo teased.
"Bastard!" Rukia gave Ichigo a slap, though not forcefully.
It was more of a caress than a slap.
Collecting herself, holding the PS2 controller, Rukia started playing with Ichigo.
Ichigo thus got to relive some childhood memories.
It must be said, although games today are more dazzling and realistic, the joy classic games bring never fades.
Of course, after experiencing some childhood games, Ichigo didn't forget to experience adult games either.
A period of leisurely time passed.
However, Ichigo didn't know that while he was peacefully teaching and resting, the situation in the Soul Society had reached its most critical point!
Soul Society, Seireitei, 12th Division!
Bang!
Mayuri slammed his fist heavily on the research lab table.
"Damnit! The prestigious Technological Development Bureau, gathering the Soul Society's elite researchers, and now you're telling me you cannot predict those passages from Hueco Mundo to the Soul Society and the Living World?!"
"Apologies, Captain! The passages from Hueco Mundo are far too chaotic. We simply cannot discern any pattern!" Akon wiped sweat from his brow anxiously.
Recently, for unknown reasons, mysterious passages suddenly began forming between the three worlds.
Through these passages, one could freely travel to Hueco Mundo or the Living World.
Similarly, even Gillian-level Menos Grande could arrive through them.
However, these passages are unstable… specifically, the landing points are unstable.
Across the vast Soul Society, the passages have only landed a few times in the Rukongai.
But even just those few times, the Gillian emerging from the passages destroyed several districts!
A massive number of souls vanished!
Although it hasn't yet reached the threshold affecting soul balance, if this continues, impact is inevitable!
Therefore, Yamamoto gave the 12th Division a strict order. No wonder Mayuri was furious.
"Please, give us a little more time, Captain!"
Seeing the furious Mayuri, Akon said:
"Research cannot be rushed. Once we gather a bit more data and apply the big data analysis method that person mentioned earlier, we will surely find a flaw!"
"Then hurry up!" Mayuri roared.
"Yes!" Akon withdrew.
Simultaneously, silently observing everyone in the lab for a moment, Mayuri also quietly returned.
But Akon's experiments were Akon's. That didn't mean Mayuri wouldn't conduct his own!
"That data feels strangely familiar... that peculiar Reiatsu signature is so similar to the Bount from before..." Mayuri murmured to himself.
Operating the computer before him, he began analysis.
As the man who carried the whole Gotei 13 in the Thousand-Year Blood War, Mayuri identified a flaw in Las Noches' new technique.
Unfortunately, he is not a Player.
Because in the Players' interface, a game announcement appeared for the second time!
[Ding! Attention all Players! New Event: Soul Society Defense Battle is about to begin!]
[The grand boss Aizen in Las Noches' plan to lure Kurosaki Ichigo failed. To ensure ultimate success, he must divert the Soul Society's combat strength!]
[Therefore, he dispatched his military group, the Espada, mobilized all usable Hollow resources in Hueco Mundo, and decided to launch a full-scale assault on the Soul Society!]
[Event Start Countdown: 3 days!]
[Note: This event is a kill-to-level-up activity. No leaderboards, no rewards. The only gain is the Reiatsu increase obtained from slaying each Hollow!]
[Thus, all Players, seize this opportunity!]
Seeing the game announcement, Ichigo, who was about to sleep, was also very shocked.
When the game reached this stage, the monthly ranking rewards were still attractive to others, but to Ichigo, they were already dispensable.
So he hadn't been paying much attention to the game lately.