"Damn it… I got chased out by that kid! I don't want to admit it, but it looks like he's the only one around here who can actually see me!"
The ghostly middle-aged man muttered to himself as he drifted out of Kurosaki Clinic, wandering aimlessly through the air. Suddenly, he ran straight into a black-haired girl wearing a shihakushō, blocking his path.
"Who are you?!"
The ghost glanced her over, then kindly added, "If you're also looking for that kid, I'd suggest coming back another day."
"That kid?"
The black-haired girl hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
"My name is Saitō Tsukiyomi. I'm a Shinigami... just passing through!"
"A Shinigami? Like the ones who harvest souls?!"
The ghost stared at her curiously. "Then where's your scythe?"
"Mister, you've watched too many Western movies! I'm not some skeleton monster that just mindlessly swings a sword—"
Saitō Tsukiyomi sighed.
"Besides… my job isn't harvesting. It's konso—Soul Burial."
As soon as she finished speaking, she raised her Zanpakutō and gently tapped the end of its hilt against the ghost's forehead. Instantly, a pear-blossom-shaped seal appeared, emitting a soft white glow that slowly enveloped him.
"No! I don't want to go to Hell!" the ghost cried in terror.
"Don't be afraid. You're not going to Hell—you're going to Soul Society. It's different from Hell. It's a relaxed place for the afterlife," Tsukiyomi said softly.
A black Hell Butterfly fluttered out, circled Tsukiyomi three times, and then vanished into the air together with the ghost.
"Hm… when he said 'that kid,' he must have meant someone with extremely strong spiritual pressure.
Now I can confirm it—he really is here."
With that, Saitō Tsukiyomi leapt onto a large tree and gazed toward Kurosaki Clinic, murmuring to herself.
"Roaaar—"
At that moment, a strange howl echoed from the direction of Karakura Town Station. Tsukiyomi's expression darkened as she turned her gaze southwest.
A Hollow? Well then, I'll deal with you first!
…
"Chirp… chirp…"
Surrounded by the crisp calls of birds, Kurosaki Ichigo slowly opened his eyes and looked out the window. The sky was a deep blue, dotted with a few pristine white clouds.
"Last night… I had that dream again."
A deep sense of confusion lingered in Ichigo's brown eyes before it gradually faded.
"Big brother? Big brother?"
Yuzu's voice called from outside the door, pulling Ichigo fully back to his senses. He sat up at once.
"What is it, Yuzu?"
"Breakfast is ready! Hurry up and come eat!"
"Alright, I'm coming!"
Ichigo grabbed his school uniform from the chair beside his bed, threw it on, and stretched as he walked out of the room. At the table, Karin and Yuzu were already eating sandwiches while watching TV.
"Live report! Live report! At approximately 9:30 last night, a mysterious explosion occurred at the Mutsuki Building on the main avenue in front of Karakura Station—
Nearby residents reported hearing a massive boom inside the station, followed by the collapse of walls in surrounding buildings!
According to well-known domestic expert Inukai Nobutatsu, the explosion was likely caused by improper use of household gas by nearby residents—"
Click.
Ichigo impatiently turned off the television, grabbed a piece of bread from the table, and stuffed it into his mouth.
"Stop watching that kind of news. It'll make you stupid."
"O-okay…"
Karin and Yuzu replied obediently, lowering their heads and quietly chewing their bread.
"Where's Dad?"
"He went out to the countryside for a house call. He won't be back tonight," Karin replied while sipping hot tea.
"Got it."
Ichigo slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and headed out. On the roadside, he picked a few lilac flowers, planning to give them to the little ghost girl he'd met a few months earlier—Saitō Hana.
It was said that she had been the second daughter of the Saitō family of Itadai Real Estate in Naruki City. She'd lived a wealthy, privileged life—until one day, on her way to school, she was suddenly killed in a traffic accident.
For some reason, Hana hadn't passed on immediately. Unable to let go, she continued wandering the living world and eventually drifted to Karakura Town, where she'd remained for three years.
"Hana, Hana~"
Ichigo Kurosaki arrived at the Mugen Street area where Saitō Hana usually lingered and called out to her in all directions, but for some reason, she was nowhere to be seen today, despite normally wandering around this area.
"Kekeke—"
Just as Ichigo was looking around, several shrill, eerie cries suddenly echoed from the direction of the television tower dozens of meters away.
"What… is that?"
Startled, Ichigo hurried toward the sound, only to see Saitō Hana, dressed in a red-and-white striped T-shirt, stumbling out from beneath the TV tower in a panic.
The moment she saw Ichigo, she cried out desperately,
"Big brother! There's a monster—there's a monster!"
"What?!"
"A monster! A monster aaah—!"
Hana screamed in terror as she ran. "It's over there, big brother! Run!"
"ROAR—!"
With a dreadful howl, a massive ant-shaped Hollow, more than ten meters long, burst out of the ground and lunged toward Ichigo.
"W-what is that thing?!"
Ichigo stared at the ant-shaped Hollow in shock. Seeing it chase after them, he quickly grabbed Hana and bolted in the opposite direction.
"Big brother, what is that?!" Hana cried as they ran.
"H-how should I know?! Just—run!"
Although Ichigo could see ghosts, that didn't mean he could exorcise evil spirits. Without hesitation, he dragged Hana along as they fled.
Thud!
While running, Hana tripped and fell, pulling Ichigo down with her. The two of them rolled several times across the slick asphalt before finally stopping.
"ROAR—!"
The ant-shaped Hollow had already caught up. Seeing the two humans—radiating strong spiritual pressure—lying on the ground, its blood-red eyes gleamed with cruelty as it raised its razor-sharp claws and slammed them down—
"Enough of this, Hollow!"
A black shadow flashed through the sky. In the next instant, Saitō Tsukiyomi appeared before the Hollow, Zanpakutō in hand, and brought it crashing down onto the creature's mask!
Slash!
The sharp blade split the Hollow cleanly in two. With a final wail, it slowly dissipated into the air.
"H-hey—"
Ichigo stared in shock at the woman dressed in strange, pitch-black clothing, trying to speak to her.
But she didn't even look at him. She calmly sheathed her Zanpakutō and leapt into the air—
After all, Shinigami stationed in the Human World were forbidden from revealing themselves or interacting with humans, except for purifying Hollows or performing konso on Pluses. Any violation would be deemed a crime by Soul Society.
"S-sister—!"
At that moment, Hana suddenly cried out joyfully toward Tsukiyomi's retreating back.
"W-what?!"
Tsukiyomi stumbled midair, quickly stabilizing herself before looking down. To her shock, the little girl standing beside the orange-haired boy was none other than her younger sister—Saitō Hana!
"Sister! It's really you! Sister Tsukiyomi!"
Hana shouted happily.
"How can this be… Hana, you—"
Tsukiyomi landed in front of her, gripping her shoulders tightly as she asked in alarm,
"Why are you dead too? What happened?!"
"Sister… many years ago, I got into a traffic accident on my way to school…"
"How could that be…"
"Sister, why are you dressed like this?" Hana asked curiously.
"Because… I'm a Shinigami."
"A Shinigami?!"
Ichigo exclaimed in disbelief. "What do you mean, Shinigami?!"
"A Shinigami is a Shinigami—huh? Wait… you can see me?"
Tsukiyomi looked at Ichigo in surprise.
"What are you talking about?! You're standing right here in front of me!"
"Hmm… so you must be the one giving off that strong spiritual pressure. In that case—konso!"
As she spoke, Tsukiyomi raised her Zanpakutō and pressed the pommel straight against Ichigo's forehead!!
"Are you an idiot?!"
Ichigo slapped the sword away and shouted,
"What the hell just happened?! And what was that monster?!"
"Hmm… my name is Saitō—"
"It doesn't matter who you are! Tell me what that thing was!"
"A Hollow."
"A Hollow?!"
"Hollows are the collective term for evil souls. They're characterized by the holes in their chests and their masks. If you see one again... remember to run for your life!"
As she spoke, Tsukiyomi pulled out a spray bottle that looked like perfume and lightly misted Ichigo, murmuring,
"Alright then—memory modification complete."
"Sister…"
Hana called timidly.
"I'm sorry, Hana. I wanted to spend more time with you… but it's too dangerous for you to stay here."
With that, Tsukiyomi raised her Zanpakutō and pressed it to Hana's forehead. A brilliant white light enveloped the girl.
"Hana… we'll meet again in Soul Society!"