May, Naruki City.
Based on the Substitute Badge—the final remnant of his pride from his days as a Soul Reaper—Ichigo Kurosaki had successfully called forth the power of Fullbring. Having surpassed the first stage of his training, he continued to hunt Hollows under Jackie's supervision, aiming to perfect his new ability.
"Here I go...!"
—Getsuga Tensho!—
A jet-black slash erupted from the badge, obliterating the enemy. It was a sight that had been repeated many times throughout his training, but this time, something was different.
"What...?"
"Ho...!"
The pitch-black spiritual pressure surrounding him suddenly flickered and began to cling to Ichigo's body. It coalesced into the shape of clothing, resembling the black robes of a Soul Reaper.
Whether by chance or necessity, part of the spiritual pressure enveloping his body solidified in his right hand like a blade, transforming into a weapon reminiscent of the one he held during his "Final Getsuga Tensho."
It was a clear evolution, vastly different from his previous ability that consisted only of a cross-shaped guard and chains of light.
"Heh, you look like a different person. That's the growth of your Fullbring."
"This is..."
"Your body has finally acclimated to the power. Unlike Soul Reapers, we humans are made of flesh and blood; once your physical stamina allows for more strain, the restrictions on your ability loosen up," Jackie speculated.
Ichigo nodded at her reasoning. However, he felt that wasn't all there was to it.
"...So, everything's okay now?"
The young man turned around.
A petite, floating figure was there. The source of his Fullbring—the girl in the white robes—was squinting her eyes in a bright smile from behind the eye sockets of her terrifying mask.
"Hehe. To have your own personification personally adjust the output for you... what a kind ability. You're quite loved, aren't you, Ichigo?"
"...Don't start with that."
Caught off guard by the way the masked girl was fidgeting as if embarrassed, Ichigo felt a wave of self-consciousness. As a teenage boy, it was difficult to adjust to her soft, friendly aura.
He scratched his head and shifted his focus back to Jackie.
"Now then, I'd love to celebrate, but... unfortunately, we're out of time."
Her expression hardened as she began to reveal a shocking development.
"We've identified the enemy who attacked your friends—Uryu Ishida, Keigo Asano, and Mizuiro Kojima."
"What?!"
Ichigo instinctively grabbed Jackie's shoulders. "Who is it?!"
The primary reason Ichigo had wanted to regain his power was the recent string of mysterious attacks occurring around him. In Keigo's case especially, Ichigo had seen the enemy with his own eyes but had been unable to do anything, a failure that had shoved his own helplessness in his face.
"...Is it that tall, black-haired man?"
"! You've run into him before?"
They had only exchanged a few words at the scene of the attack, but Ichigo remembered the man's face vividly.
Jackie looked thoughtful for a moment, then turned to Ichigo with a grave expression.
"Let's talk more at the hideout. This is going to be a long story."
"...Alright."
There were clearly deep circumstances involved. Desperate for any information, Ichigo nodded solemnly and followed her back to the hideout.
Neither of them noticed the middle school girl watching them from the shadows.
†††
"Tsukishima was once our leader."
The story told by Kugo Ginjo, the current leader of the organization, began with that shocking revelation.
He claimed that Tsukishima had led the organization under the shared goal of regaining their peace as humans, and that he was the one who discovered a way to make everyone's dreams come true.
That method was the "Substitute Soul Reaper." Specifically, it involved the transfer of Fullbring powers by utilizing the racial traits of a hybrid born of both humans and Soul Reapers.
"The method itself wasn't wrong. The Substitute Soul Reaper who helped us accepted the powers of many of our fellow Fullbringers, allowing them to become 'normal humans.'"
However, Ginjo's face darkened as he continued.
"But Tsukishima suddenly had a change of heart. He killed the Substitute Soul Reaper and all the comrades who had become human, then defected from our organization."
"Why would he do something like that...?"
At Ichigo's question, Ginjo shook his head. Tsukishima had vanished from the organization's sight since then, and his motives remained shrouded in mystery.
"That's why our top priority right now is only one thing."
—To make sure you, the Substitute Soul Reaper... aren't killed by Tsukishima.
Ichigo swallowed hard at Ginjo's resolve, finally understanding what Jackie meant when she said they were out of time.
"Uryu Ishida is no weakling, even if your other two friends are. For Tsukishima to be able to take him down means he's dangerous. To protect you from him, you need to become strong enough to fight alongside us."
Ichigo had no objections. He nodded with a sense of urgency, and Ginjo gripped the pendant around his neck, barking an order to the young boy standing nearby.
"Alright... Yukio, you're up. Create a training room."
"Ugh, what a pain..."
"The situation has changed. We need a sturdy space that can block spiritual pressure so Tsukishima can't sense Ichigo's growth."
The blonde boy nodded reluctantly at Ginjo's persuasion. Ichigo bowed his head, feeling a bit guilty about being helped by a child who wasn't much older than his sisters.
"Sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ichigo Kurosaki."
"...Yukio Hans Vorarlberna. I'm the pathetic treasurer who gets leeched off for food and property taxes by these people."
"...Hey, Ginjo."
"It's noblesse oblige," Ginjo defended himself, claiming it was fine since the money was inherited from Yukio's "garbage parents." Regardless, the fact remained that an adult was mooching off a child. Having glimpsed the darkness of the organization, Ichigo quietly handed Yukio the money for his own drinks at the bar. Yukio's comment of "You're a good guy, Big Brother," almost moved Ichigo to tears.
"Here I go..."
Yukio touched his handheld game console. A pixelated darkness of Fullbring erupted from it, swallowing Ichigo and Ginjo.
"Come on, Ichigo. You must have had the dream at least once when you were a kid, right? The dream of 'entering the world of a game'?"
"Well, sure..."
"For the record, I never did."
"Then why did you make me say it?!"
As Ichigo snapped back at Ginjo, he looked around at the dark space filled with floating pixelated fonts and digital icons. It was a completely different dimension from Riruka's Doll House. In a place like this, they wouldn't have to worry about this Tsukishima guy noticing them.
"We don't have time to dawdle, so let's get started."
With a flash of light, Ginjo's pendant transformed into a Western-style greatsword. Not wanting to be outdone, Ichigo donned his own Fullbring.
"Ho, the robes along with the guard and chains of Tensa Zangetsu. You're not bringing out the masked girl?"
"When I fight at full power, she takes the form of these chains."
As he spoke to the girl in his mind, the surrounding chains gathered and solidified into her usual form. She offered a polite bow to Ginjo.
"Uh, she says, 'I look forward to our training,'" Ichigo translated.
"Incredible. You can actually communicate with the will of the ability itself? It really is just like a Zanpakuto. I love it."
Perhaps convinced that Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers were returning, the man's spiritual pressure rose even higher. It was a level of power that made Ichigo catch his breath.
Ichigo gripped his blade of spiritual pressure and braced himself.
"Ah, wait..."
Ginjo's voice reached him, sounding somewhat awkward.
Immediately after, his entire aura shifted.
"...I'll apologize in advance, Ichigo."
—I'm really not good at this kind of thing.
In the next instant.
A streak of heat flashed across Ichigo's eyes, and his vision was plunged into total darkness.
†††
"...You both have memories of being slashed by someone?"
Orihime Inoue had bumped into Yasutora Sado on her way back from visiting their classmate, Uryu Ishida, at the Karakura General Hospital. She was sharing the unsettling story she had heard from Uryu when Chad's strong reaction made her go still.
"No way, did it happen to you too, Chad?"
"It was last month, on my way to the opening ceremony. I thought it was a daydream or something, but..."
"...I think it was about the same time for me, too."
With three members of their group having the same experience, it was impossible to dismiss it as a coincidence or a trick of the mind. It was a clear pattern of attack.
And most likely, the goal of the invisible attacker was...
"I want to borrow your strength regarding Ichigo."
"! Regarding Ichigo?!"
Orihime immediately jumped at Chad's sudden request. If it concerned the major changes in Ichigo's life—like his recent habit of being late for school—the girl saw no reason to hesitate.
And so, Orihime was brought to the neighboring Naruki City.
The story Chad told her along the way was one shock after another. The existence of Fullbring. A secret society of its users. The existence of an enemy who was likely their attacker.
And above all—that Ichigo was in the process of regaining his former spiritual power.
"S-So it's true? Ichigo is really..."
"Yeah. Apparently, he's already at a level where he can take on a swarm of Hollows by himself."
"Thank goodness..."
The day had finally come. Orihime's heart raced as she thought of her beloved. Judging by the happy look on Chad's face, the training at this secret society was going well.
Furthermore, she felt no fear regarding this "Tsukishima" enemy who was targeting Ichigo. Her secret training in Los Valles was finally bearing fruit. Orihime was confident in her own strength, knowing that this time, she could truly fight by his side.
(Besides, there are people from this 'XCUTION' organization here, too...) she thought.
Ichigo had trusted them enough to ask for their help with his training. They couldn't be bad people.
Orihime placed her absolute trust in these strangers. But at the organization's hideout where Chad introduced her, she witnessed a horrifying scene.
†††
"...Tch. A healing item, I see."
Orihime had been guided into the mysterious world of Invaders Must Die by a cute red-headed girl and a quiet blonde boy. Upon being transferred into the space that appeared to be a Fullbring ability, she saw the figure of Ichigo Kurosaki—his eyes slashed and his body covered in wounds.
"Ichigo?!"
"...That voice... is that you, Inoue...?"
Beside the gasping Ichigo stood a man in a leather jacket with a massive sword, looking down at them with a grim expression.
"Hey, Yukio. Who said you could let her in?"
"But Ginjo, it really looked like you were going to kill him."
Orihime was speechless at the dangerous conversation. In an instant, she sprinted forward to protect her friend.
"Get away from Ichigo!"
—Shield of Solitary Heavenly Resistance!—
"!"
A bolt of light shot from her hairpins with god-like speed. While keeping a wary eye on the man who had leaped back to create distance, Orihime stood as a shield before Ichigo.
"...My name is Orihime Inoue. If you're going to do something horrible to Ichigo, you'll have to go through me!"
"Ugh, what a pain."
She glared at the man while using her Twin Heavenly Return Shield to heal Ichigo. The man made a gesture as if he had just thought of something, his grimace replaced by a wicked smile.
"Pathetic, Ichigo. While you were being coddled by your Fullbring—that masked girl—your friend has started putting her life on the line for you."
"S-Stop it! Don't touch Inoue...!"
"Then stand up! I told you—I don't consider anyone a comrade if they don't have the resolve to fight!"
The man swung his greatsword down without hesitation. A chain—what appeared to be Ichigo's new ability—shot out to stop it.
But for someone as battered as Ichigo, it was like a drop of water on a hot stone. The sword easily bypassed the chain and lunged toward Orihime's eyes.
"INOOOUUEEEEE!!"
Ichigo's scream echoed. Despite having lost his power and being covered in wounds, he was still trying to protect his friend.
Even though he kept his distance for the sake of his training, the kindness that made me fall for him hasn't changed at all.
Orihime tucked his feelings away into the depths of her heart.
But...
"Hinagiku... Baigon... Lily... Tsubaki... Let's go, everyone!"
"Hah! The Triple Heavenly Shield?! You think that's going to stop my attack?!"
But Ichigo is making one mistake.
Seventeen months had passed. He believed she was still the same weakling she was when Sosuke Aizen took her away—someone who could only be protected.
"...No. It's not the Triple Heavenly Shield."
"! What—"
—Shield of Four Heavenly Resistance!—
The moment the greatsword swung down onto Orihime's triangular shield of spiritual pressure...
A massive explosion erupted, consuming everything in front of her.
"GUAAAAAAHHHHH!!"
"Wha..."
The man who had taken the direct hit was sent flying with a scream. From behind her, Ichigo's voice cried out in shock at the roar and the sudden blast of wind.
While everyone was confused by what had just happened, Orihime spoke quietly.
"...The moment it receives an attack, it explodes and disperses, automatically launching a counterattack."
"Guh... you..."
"The maximum output is no weaker than a Cero from the Espadas of that time."
She declared this with a hint of intimidation, though she was exaggerating slightly. However, she was confident that she could manifest power equivalent to that if it meant protecting Ichigo.
The new Espada had undergone a massive leap in power under the hand of the Sovereign of Los Valles after being transformed into Arrancars via the Hogyoku. Orihime's attack was a technique that would be laughed at by the likes of Ulquiorra, who sat at the top of that hierarchy.
But while it might be child's play to those at the pinnacle of the spirit world, for a Fullbringer who was a mere human, it was a level of destructive power they had never experienced.
"...Inoue?"
Orihime turned and smiled gently at the confused Ichigo behind her. She prayed that her feelings would finally reach him.
"...It's been seventeen months since you lost your power. Chad, Ishida, and I... we all believed. We knew the day would come when you'd get your strength back."
"!"
"That's why I made up my mind. When that day came..."
—This time, I would fight by your side.
That was the resolve of his friends. The determination to bid farewell to the weak selves they were when they could only be a burden.
Ichigo's healed eyes widened.
Standing before him was a female warrior with a gaze and spiritual pressure far more powerful than he had ever seen.
"...Not bad, kid."
A low male voice made their ears ring.
"Explosive reactive armor... how ruthless. ...Ah, that's right. I forgot for a second that you two were monsters... monsters that even Sosuke Aizen acknowledged."
"No way...!"
Orihime and Ichigo were stunned. They couldn't believe a human could still have the will to fight after taking that hit.
But they had forgotten. They had forgotten who the man before them was. Kugo Ginjo, the leader of the organization, was also a powerful man far beyond the ordinary...
"Now then, let's continue the training."
—Be ready, Ichigo.
†††
"...What's wrong, Karin?"
It was dinner time at the Kurosaki residence.
Karin Kurosaki, who had been staring blankly at her plate, looked up at the voice of her twin sister, Yuzu.
"...Oh, nothing. It's nothing."
"Are you sure? Was the miso soup not good?"
"It's fine. Thanks for the food."
It was a lonely dinner with just the two of them. Not wanting to make Yuzu worry, Karin quickly shoveled her food into her mouth.
"Still, I wonder where Ichigo and Dad went. Ichigo had finally started looking better lately..."
"...It's okay. He'll pop back in sooner or later, just like before."
Karin tried to keep her face bright to reassure Yuzu. But inside, the girl was plagued by an anxiety even greater than her overprotective sister's.
Ichigo is hanging out with some shady psychics.
Ichigo Kurosaki, the eldest son of the family, had been coming home late recently. Karin, who happened to see him while she was playing with her friends in the neighboring town, felt a sense of dread at his unusual demeanor.
The warm, familiar feeling she had sensed from him that day... the presence that Jinta and her other Hollow-hunting companions called "Spiritual Pressure" was definitely Ichigo's.
Which meant her brother had regained his fighting power—his spiritual power—from the old days...
Damn it.
She wondered if that black-haired woman she'd seen with him had seduced him into it. Karin bit her lip in fear and frustration.
Is Ichigo going to get dragged into something again? Into the Soul Reapers' business? Into some brutal battle with an unknown enemy? Is he going to throw away the safety and peace he finally found?
She had been fighting Hollows to protect the town in his place so that wouldn't happen...
"...Karin!"
The sound of a clattering dish made the girl snap out of her thoughts.
"Honestly! Even you're keeping secrets from me! You've got such a gloomy look on your face!"
"...Eh? Oh, no..."
"It's so obvious that something's been bothering you since you got home! Ichigo won't tell me anything either...!"
Yuzu puffed out her cheeks, her eyes shimmering with tears as she complained about always being left out.
Crap, I stepped on a landmine. Karin tried to talk her way out of it, but it only backfired. After a brief argument, Yuzu's frustration finally boiled over.
"You're an idiot, Karin! I don't care anymore!"
"Wait, Yuzu...!"
Angry, crying, and completely worked up, Yuzu stomped up to her room on the second floor. From the sound of it, she had been bottle up quite a bit of frustration.
Yuzu had always lamented the fact that she was the only one who couldn't see spirits. Ichigo had been the same after he lost his powers, but perhaps she still felt a sense of isolation. Karin felt a wave of guilt wash over her.
She decided she'd apologize properly once Yuzu calmed down, and she continued her cold meal with a bitter feeling.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell suddenly rang.
"Ah, I'll get—no, Karin, you go!" Yuzu shouted from her room.
"Alright, alright... honestly, who's coming at this hour?"
Reluctantly following her sister's order, Karin walked toward the entrance, wondering who the visitor could be.
"Eh—"
The moment she opened the door and saw the person standing there, a memory buried deep within her brain... a memory of the past... suddenly resurfaced.
"...It's been a long time, Karin."
***
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