"Hey..."
"Just a little further. We're almost there."
"What do you mean 'almost there'? We've been walking for twenty minutes already!"
Kuchiki Rukia ignored Kurosaki Ichigo's grumbling. Since Ichigo had refused her request for assistance, she had brought him here to see how he would react when faced with a Plus being hunted by a Hollow.
Based on her judgment of character, this fierce-looking guy next to her was definitely not as selfish or cold as he claimed to be.
"Are there any spirits near this park?"
"Well... yeah, there are." Although he was annoyed by Kuchiki Rukia's attitude, she was still technically his family's savior, so Kurosaki Ichigo answered with a bit more patience.
"What kind of spirit is it?"
"It's the soul of a five-year-old boy named Yukio. He usually comes to this park to play around noon."
Hearing the answer she wanted—but not from Kurosaki Ichigo—Rukia's eyes widened. She looked over to see Asakura Yoh, whom she had just met in the classroom earlier.
"You... you can see them?"
Seeing Asakura Yoh speak while staring directly at Kurosaki Ichigo in his Soul Reaper form, it was only natural for Kuchiki Rukia to ask.
"Eh? See what? Yoh?" Kurosaki Ichigo pointed at his own nose and craned his neck, looking completely dazed.
"Yeah, I can see them. Souls. Did I never mention it to you?" Asakura Yoh asked back, feigning a thoughtful expression.
"You definitely didn't! You bastard!"
"Is that so? Then it must be because you never asked."
"..." His childhood friend's logic made Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes and eyebrows twitch. Who in their right mind would ever ask someone if they could see ghosts?
"Save that for later! It's coming, Ichigo!"
Kuchiki Rukia looked at her vibrating Soul Pager, her voice exceptionally grave.
"Huh? What's coming?" Kurosaki Ichigo began to ask, but his eyes caught the answer before his ears did.
"It's a Hollow!"
A massive, crab-like monster was chasing a five-year-old child toward the park. This was naturally the boy Yoh had mentioned earlier, Yukio.
"Waaaaah!!!"
Seeing this, Ichigo drew the absurdly oversized blade from his back and was about to charge forward, but was interrupted by Kuchiki Rukia's voice.
"Wait!"
While Ichigo and Rukia were 'getting into it,' Asakura Yoh had already slipped away without either of them noticing.
His main goal today was to let Ichigo and Rukia know that he also possessed spiritual vision. Now that this objective was met, he had no reason to stay.
That crab Hollow was quite weak. Even for the newly awakened Ichigo, it was just a low-level mob to be easily dealt with. Yoh wasn't worried.
He also knew that no matter what, Ichigo would ultimately choose to help Rukia. After all, that was just the kind of guy he was.
...
"Skipping class is one thing, but he actually dared not to pick up my calls! Next time I see him, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"
On the way home from school, Arisawa Tatsuki walked side-by-side with Inoue Orihime. Unlike their usual laughter and chatter, Tatsuki was currently punching her palm with a look of extreme annoyance.
"There, there, there, there..." Inoue Orihime soothed the fuming Arisawa Tatsuki.
As for who Tatsuki was angry at, Orihime could guess without even asking.
"Tatsu-chan, you and Asakura-kun really are close. I'm almost a little jealous, since I've barely spoken to him."
"That's because that guy never shows up at school. It's a miracle he hasn't been expelled yet. But Orihime, you're too innocent; you should avoid hanging out with him so you don't get corrupted."
"Really? I think Asakura-kun is quite interesting. And he's so mysterious..."
"Ah! Could it be that Asakura-kun actually has a secret identity? Like a hero who saves the world! Maybe every time he skips class, he's out protecting the Earth."
As she spoke, Inoue Orihime struck a battle pose like a character from an anime. Arisawa Tatsuki could only sigh and pat her friend's head to calm her down.
"Sure, sure... but next time I see that 'Great Hero who saves the world,' I'm definitely going to give him a thrashing."
The two chatted as they habitually stepped into the crosswalk once the light turned green. But just as their feet left the curb, a strong arm gripped both of their shoulders simultaneously.
Faced with this sudden 'attack,' the experienced martial artist Arisawa Tatsuki instinctively tried to use a counter-grapple, but a powerful gust of wind roared past her first.
It was a car speeding through a red light.
"Hey! Watch where you're driving!!"
Although the driver obviously couldn't hear her, Arisawa Tatsuki shouted to vent her frustration. At the same time, she felt a wave of lingering fear and quickly checked on Inoue Orihime.
"Orihime! Are you okay!?"
"I'm fine."
"Idiot, try worrying about yourself for once."
Her head was suddenly flicked. Arisawa Tatsuki rubbed the sore spot with a pout, but that was how she realized exactly who had saved her and Orihime.
"Yoh..."
Arisawa Tatsuki looked at her seemingly angry childhood friend with a mix of grievance and stubbornness. Usually, their positions would be reversed, but since she really was at fault just now and had almost put Orihime in danger, she didn't have the confidence to talk back.
"I know... it was my fault just now..." Arisawa Tatsuki apologized with a sulky expression.
"Good, good. A child who admits their mistakes is a good child." Asakura Yoh chuckled and ruffled Tatsuki's hair. Her face flushed slightly before she realized what was happening and slapped his hand away.
"Do you think I'm a kid!?"
"Asakura-kun, thank you very much." Inoue Orihime bowed politely to Asakura Yoh. Her formality actually made Yoh feel a bit awkward.
"Cough, it's nothing. Just be more careful when crossing the street next time."
"Yes! Asakura-kun, you're so kind..." Inoue Orihime said with a silly smile, tapping her own head in a cute gesture.
"..."
Asakura Yoh took several steps back. Having grown up with awkward personalities like Kurosaki Ichigo and Arisawa Tatsuki, he really didn't know how to handle someone as direct and sincere as Inoue Orihime.
"Uh, not really... Anyway, stay safe. I'm heading off now."
"Okay, you too, Asakura-kun!" Inoue Orihime tilted her head, her smile as warm as a little sun.
Asakura Yoh beat a hasty retreat.
Once he was completely out of their sight, a mature yet mischievous voice whispered in his ear.
"Little Yoh really is bad at dealing with that type of girl... But she's Little Tatsuki's best friend... Don't tell me this is going to turn into a messy love triangle! How youthful, mm-hmm..."
"Don't joke around like that, Masaki-nee..."