"Tatsuki-chan, did you know?" Orihime Inoue looked at Tatsuki Arisawa, who was right in front of her. "I can block really powerful attacks now, and even if someone is badly hurt, I can heal them very quickly."
"Mm..." Tatsuki Arisawa patted Orihime Inoue's head. "That's amazing!"
Orihime Inoue nuzzled against her palm. "Rukia said Shun Shun Rikka is a lot like a Zanpakutō. It's a manifestation of my own personality. So I started wondering, if Tatsuki-chan hadn't been there, what would my Shun Shun Rikka have looked like?"
"Like that future version of you that you drew?" Tatsuki Arisawa brought up the robot Orihime Inoue had once drawn.
It had a top speed of 380 kilometers per hour, could handle any terrain with its tank treads, breathed 20,000-degree flames from its mouth, fired destructive beams from its eyes, and the Gatling gun on its right side...
"No..." Orihime Inoue pouted. "It wouldn't exist."
"What wouldn't exist?"
"Without you, Tatsuki-chan, I probably never would have awakened Shun Shun Rikka." Orihime Inoue's gaze grew distant as she thought back. "When those senpai bullied me, I didn't really feel anything. Compared to the sadness of Nii-san dying, none of that mattered. Or maybe I should say I had already sunk into my own world and ignored everything else. Those senpai who bullied me were the same. They were lost in violence and blind to other people's pain."
Tatsuki Arisawa frowned. "That's completely different, isn't it? How is that the same?"
"I mean that state of being trapped in one action or emotion because you can't get any better response from the world. Back then, I didn't think about helping anyone, and I didn't expect anyone to help me either. The me from back then... could never have awakened Shun Shun Rikka." Orihime Inoue's eyes shone. "Then Tatsuki-chan appeared! You took my hand and showed me that the world outside wasn't only malice and violence. There was warm sunlight too, sunlight that made my own inner world bright."
"Orihime..."
"You're really amazing, Tatsuki-chan. Even though you were so strong, you didn't bully anyone. You protected me instead." A smile as warm as sunlight spread across Orihime Inoue's face. "From then on, I realized that the same power can be used in different ways. It can hurt people, or it can heal people... just like you healed me."
"Why are you suddenly saying all this?" Tatsuki Arisawa turned her head aside. "I just..."
I just wanted to make learning karate feel a little more meaningful.
Orihime Inoue leaned forward slightly, waiting for Tatsuki Arisawa to continue.
Tatsuki Arisawa could not get the words out. "I... I'm going home..."
"I have Shun Shun Rikka because you healed me, Tatsuki-chan." Orihime Inoue reached up and gently touched the hairpins in her hair. "Nii-san gave me these hairpins, Tatsuki-chan taught me how happy it feels to be helped and healed, and Muten awakened my power... No matter where I am, this power stays by my side with everyone, protects me, and lets me save others the way you saved me, Tatsuki-chan."
Tatsuki Arisawa's nose stung, and she turned away in a panic. "I get it!"
Stop talking.
Or I'm really going to cry.
"Tatsuki-chan, I'm going to take the power you gave me and go save the world."
The me you saved is going to save the world.
Just like you once saved my world.
Without hesitation.
"I..." Tatsuki Arisawa opened her mouth. "I'll wait for you to come back."
What was the meaning of practicing karate?
Maybe it had not been for that one moment when she stepped forward.
Maybe it was for the friendship that had never changed, from that moment all the way to this one.
...
"I'm back." Muten Natsu opened the door, shopping bags still in hand. The moment he saw Retsu Unohana sitting on the sofa, he instinctively felt uneasy.
Retsu Unohana smiled gently, her eyes curved. "Muten Natsu."
Oh no. She used my full name.
Muten Natsu felt even more uneasy. "I'll go wash the vegetables..."
"Isane," Retsu Unohana called. "Could I trouble you to help?"
"Uh... y-yes!" Isane Kotetsu reached out to take the shopping bags from Muten Natsu.
Muten Natsu did not want to let go.
"Muten..." Isane Kotetsu looked like she was about to cry.
Don't drag me into this...
In the end, Muten Natsu let go. Isane Kotetsu carried the shopping bags into the kitchen as if she had just been pardoned.
Rubbing his ear, Muten Natsu looked at Rukia Kuchiki, who was standing behind Retsu Unohana with both hands on the back of the sofa.
Behind the sofa, where Retsu Unohana could not see, Rukia Kuchiki made a face at Muten Natsu.
Muten Natsu's gaze turned unfriendly. So you went and tattled?
Rukia Kuchiki stuck out her tongue without the slightest fear.
Retsu Unohana patted the sofa beside her. "Come sit."
"I'll stand."
"Come here."
"Okay." Muten Natsu obediently sat down beside Retsu Unohana.
"Why are you sitting so far away?" Retsu Unohana chuckled. "Are you afraid I'll eat you?"
Muten Natsu silently shifted a little closer.
"Rukia told me about her guess. She said that once you reach Hueco Mundo, you might use the power of Hell Flames without caring about the consequences." Retsu Unohana opened her eyes slightly. "Is that true?"
"Actually..."
"You still consider the consequences, don't you? For example... the consequences for other people?"
Muten Natsu: "..."
Retsu Unohana patted Muten Natsu's hand. "I'm very happy."
Rukia Kuchiki: "Eh?"
"Think about it," Retsu Unohana said, turning to explain further to Rukia Kuchiki. "In the past, whenever something happened, Muten always tried to solve it by himself. This time, he actually thought of cooperating with Soul Society. That is a big step forward."
"When you put it that way..." Rukia Kuchiki nodded. "That's true."
"When a problem involves many people, it is no longer one person's problem. Not wanting to burden others is a good thought, but forcing yourself to handle everything alone only hurts both yourself and those around you." Retsu Unohana raised her hand and gently pinched Muten Natsu's ear. "If you want others to believe you can solve problems, you also have to learn to believe in their ability to solve problems."
Muten Natsu reflected on it seriously. "...I'll remember that."
"It seems Isane doesn't know how to make curry," Retsu Unohana said, tilting her head. "Rukia, could you help her figure it out?"
"Mm-hmm." Rukia Kuchiki gave Muten Natsu a smug glance, then turned and went into the kitchen.
Retsu Unohana released Muten Natsu's ear. "Have you mastered Hollowfication yet?"