August was already nearing its end, and the start of the academic year was drawing closer by the day. There was no more room to loiter around. Melissa finally had to stop "crashing" at Alex's studio and head to the academy of arts to officially enroll.
On her very first day, she hadn't even finished the registration process before someone recognized her.
"Hey! Aren't you Hinamori Momo? The one Sosuke Aizen cut down with his sword!"
The shout came without the slightest bit of restraint, right in the middle of the enrollment hall. Melissa froze for a second, her expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and confusion. She honestly didn't know whether she should feel happy or awkward about it.
Still, being recognized was never a bad thing.
Alex always said that in the entertainment industry, even bad publicity was still publicity. As long as people remembered your name, you hadn't been forgotten.
It was only after officially stepping onto campus that Melissa truly realized just how overwhelming Bleach's impact had been.
Wherever she looked, at least a third of the students were wearing shihakushō. The academy felt less like a school and more like an improvised extension of the Soul Society.
Just then, a small commotion erupted not too far away. Melissa had just politely turned down an overly enthusiastic upperclassman who insisted on escorting her to the women's dormitory when she followed the direction of the whispers and pointing fingers.
Ah… familiar faces.
Standing there was a young man slightly shorter than her, dressed in a full shihakushō, topped with a captain's haori bearing the number ten on the back. As if that weren't enough, a Zanpakutō was strapped across his back, making it look as though he had walked straight out of the television and onto campus.
Peter.
The actor who played Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
From his outfit to his posture, everything about him screamed that Hitsugaya had come to life.
"Melissa! You're enrolling today too?" Peter called out cheerfully, waving from a distance.
She sighed, clearly unimpressed, before replying,
"Have you lost your mind? Why are you dressed like that at school?"
Peter scratched the back of his head and flashed a sheepish grin.
"Hey… doesn't it look cool?"
Melissa rolled her eyes, but deep down she knew the question was pointless. Just like Mark, after playing such a stylish character, it was impossible not to show it off a little.
…
…
For Bleach fans, the day a new episode dropped was practically a holiday.
At the end of the previous episode, a severely injured Renji Abarai had encountered Sosuke Aizen alongside Rukia Kuchiki, who had yet to recover her fighting ability. Worse still, Aizen wasn't alone-two more captain-level figures stood at his side.
The internet exploded with speculation. Everyone wanted to know how Renji and Rukia could possibly escape now that Aizen had finally revealed his true fangs.
Across major streaming platforms and live sites, countless content creators appeared dressed in shihakushō, Zanpakutō in hand, sitting eagerly in front of their cameras as they watched the episode together with their viewers.
One famous streamer couldn't hide her excitement, licking her lips as she spoke with barely contained enthusiasm,
"I grew up watching Alex's dramas. He's played so many iconic roles, but honestly… Aizen is the hottest one of all."
If Alex could hear that, he would probably just sigh.
No matter how much over-the-top praise was thrown around, it wouldn't change anything. This story wasn't about streamers. His goal lay elsewhere. This was an entertainment novel, not a livestream chronicle, and the author had no intention of giving outsiders too much spotlight.
That night, countless fans frantically refreshed the streaming site, hammering the F5 key as if their lives depended on it.
At last, the newest two episodes were released.
"Honey! It's starting! Come on, bring the kid too!"
Sitting in front of the television, Mark called out excitedly to his wife, Samantha Burnes. The filming of The Four Detectives had recently wrapped up, and this was a rare, peaceful night at home.
Samantha shot him a sideways glance before sitting down beside him, their child in her arms. As she brushed her hair aside, she asked casually,
"Weren't you asking him about a role at that dinner last time? Did he agree?"
Mark squeezed the bit of fat around his waist and gave a bitter smile.
"He told me to work out more. Said the next project is all about muscular guys."
Samantha blinked in curiosity.
"Muscular?"
Was it going to be some kind of tough, hard-boiled hero style?
Before they could continue, the opening theme ended.
On screen, Renji faced three captain-level figures. Especially upon seeing Sosuke Aizen-someone who was supposed to be dead-his blood ran cold.
With a trembling voice, he asked,
"Captain Aizen… w-why? Why are you still alive? And… and what did you just say?"
Aizen replied with a calm, almost gentle smile.
"That's strange… you should have heard me quite clearly."
Then, with the same serene tone, he continued,
"I said to let go of Rukia Kuchiki and withdraw."
The atmosphere in the living room shifted instantly. Mark, who had been chatting casually with his wife just moments ago, fell completely silent.
Alex's presence as Aizen was overwhelmingly oppressive. The pressure seemed to seep straight through the screen.
At that moment, a voice echoed throughout the Soul Society via a communication kidō.
"This is Isane Kotetsu, vice-captain of the Fourth Division. Captains, vice-captains, and all members of the Thirteen Divisions, please listen carefully."
The tone was urgent.
"What I am about to report is a critical situation… and every word of it is true."
Isane quickly relayed everything she and Retsu Unohana had witnessed in the Central Chamber.
When the news of the complete annihilation of the Central Forty-Six was revealed-along with the fact that Hinamori Momo and Tōshirō Hitsugaya had been gravely injured, and that Sosuke Aizen, Kaname Tōsen, and Gin Ichimaru had betrayed the Soul Society-
Shock spread everywhere.
Both the shinigami and the group led by Ichigo Kurosaki, still recovering from their injuries, widened their eyes in disbelief.
All of it… had been done by someone everyone believed was already dead?
After hearing everything, Renji pulled Rukia behind him, shielding her with his body, and shouted through clenched teeth,
"I refuse, Captain Aizen!"
Aizen smiled faintly and began to walk toward them, his steps slow and unhurried.
"You're as stubborn as ever, Abarai."
"If you insist on not leaving Rukia Kuchiki, I can understand your feelings."
He paused briefly.
"You may continue protecting her like that… then…"
Suddenly, Aizen drew Kyōka Suigetsu from its sheath. His smile never faded as he concluded in the calmest voice imaginable,
"Leave an arm behind… and then withdraw."
In front of their screens, countless viewers sucked in a sharp breath.
Using the gentlest tone to deliver the cruelest words.
That was Sosuke Aizen.
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