Orihime and Tatsuki lay unconscious on the shattered gym floor, their bodies still from the chaos that had just unfolded. The air hung thick with silence, broken only by the faint sound of debris settling. Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka floated gently above her before fading away, their glow dimming as the threat had passed.
Then, a ripple of spiritual pressure swept through the area—refined, controlled, unmistakably strong.
In the next instant, Urahara and Tessai appeared at the scene. Tessai, his towering frame calm and collected, already carried Chad slumped over his shoulder—unconscious but breathing steadily.
Urahara adjusted his hat slightly, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious girls. He crouched beside them, a rare hint of seriousness in his eyes.
"Hmm... Inoue-san awakening her powers was quite obvious... but Arisawa-san as well?" His voice carried a mix of intrigue and concern. "Interesting... very interesting."
He stood and tapped his cane gently against the floor.
"Tessai, let's take them home. We'll have to keep a close eye on these two from now on."
Tessai gave a firm nod, stepping forward and gently lifting both Orihime and Tatsuki into his arms with practiced ease. Without another word, the trio vanished, leaving behind the quiet, broken remnants of the battlefield where everything had just changed.
---
Shinichi and Rukia were surrounded by the chaotic storm of Hollows swarming into Karakura Town. The sky above crackled with spiritual pressure, distortions forming in the air as portals opened one after another. Rukia was already in action, darting from one enemy to the next, her fists striking clean through their monstrous forms.
Shinichi, on the other hand, stood off to the side, leaning casually against a broken lamppost, eyes scanning the chaos with calm detachment.
'This is all because of the Hollow bait...' he thought, arms crossed. 'And I'm sure Aizen is watching all of this right now. If I stand out too much, I'll just become another blip on his radar. I need to play this smart... stay quiet until Soul Society.'
His eyes followed Rukia as she barely dodged the swipe of a Hollow's claw. Just as it was about to slash her, a blur of movement entered the scene—Kon, in Ichigo's body, launched a flying kick directly to the Hollow's face, sending it crashing into a nearby wall.
"Nee-san! Are you okay?" Kon shouted, turning toward Rukia.
Then he spotted Shinichi and pointed accusingly. "Hey, you! How could you just stand there and not help Nee-san!? She could've gotten hurt, you coward!"
Shinichi narrowed his eyes, annoyed. 'I didn't try to save her... because I knew YOU would, idiot.'
Rukia brushed the dust from her sleeve and exhaled. "It's better this way, Kon. I don't want him to protect me."
Suddenly, a new wave of Hollows burst through the air, their howls echoing as they surged toward the group.
"Shit! There's too many of them!" Rukia yelled.
She and Kon charged into battle again, trying to hold the line. Shinichi weaved between attacks, using his agility to dodge and evade rather than engage. He wasn't just avoiding battle—he was choosing his moments, staying out of the spotlight.
Rukia thrust out her hand and shouted, "Hado #33: Sokatsui!"
A surge of blue flames erupted from her palm, striking a Hollow at point-blank range in a violent explosion. The creature disintegrated on impact, but before Rukia could catch her breath, another Hollow appeared behind her, claws raised to strike.
Suddenly, a flash of blue light streaked through the air—a reishi arrow pierced the Hollow's head, and it dissolved into nothingness.
Rukia's eyes widened. "Ishida...?"
Uryuu Ishida stood a short distance away, his bow drawn, cold precision in his posture.
Another Hollow lunged at Kon. Just as it was about to make contact, a massive cleave split through its body. The Hollow let out a death rattle before vanishing into the wind.
Ichigo Kurosaki stood behind it, his blade gleaming. He stepped forward, eyes locked on Ishida. He grabbed him by the collar, fury in his voice. "What the hell have you done, Ishida?!"
Ishida didn't flinch. He loosed another arrow, striking a Hollow that had snuck up behind Ichigo.
"The Hollow bait I used... it shouldn't have attracted this many," he said coldly. "This is probably someone else's doing."
Ichigo's fists clenched. He looked around at the battlefield, filled with far too many enemies.
"Then who the hell could've done this?!"
---
Back at Urahara's Shop, the atmosphere was tense, as the three newly awakened friends—Chad, Orihime, and Tatsuki—slowly adjusted to the weight of the strange room Urahara had just dropped them in. They sat in silence for a few moments, still processing the enormity of what they had just experienced.
Urahara stood in front of them, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a subtle intensity. "Well, hello there!" he greeted them with a wide smile, though his eyes held a certain seriousness. "You three seem healthy!"
Tatsuki, feeling the throb in her head from the unexpected onslaught moments ago, held her temples. She winced and muttered, "Who are you? And where are we?"
Urahara chuckled lightly, though there was no humor in his voice. "We'll do the introductions later," he said, taking a step back. "I want to tell you something very important right now... something you might not believe, but I'll make you see it with your own eyes."
Orihime leaned forward slightly, her expression curious yet cautious. "Tell us what?"
Urahara's expression became more serious as he began recounting everything—everything that had happened up until now. From Rukia giving Ichigo her powers, to the existence of Shinigami, Quincy, Hollows, and all the dangers that had unfolded in their world. He explained the battle with the Hollows, Ichigo's role as a Shinigami, and the threats looming over them.
"And... that's about it," Urahara concluded, looking at the three with a mixture of concern and anticipation.
Tatsuki frowned, her skepticism evident in the tightness of her expression. "Ichigo? A Shinigami? You expect us to believe that crap?"
Orihime, however, placed a gentle hand on Tatsuki's shoulder. "It's not very unlikely, Tatsuki-chan… considering everything that's happened till now..." Her voice was soft, but there was a glimmer of understanding in her eyes.
Tatsuki's frown deepened as she looked down at her hands. "Yeah... that's true..." Her voice softened, and she finally gave in, the weight of the situation sinking in.
Chad, who had been silent through most of the conversation, spoke up in his deep, measured voice. "So... were those creatures what you call Hollows? And how were we able to fight them?"
Urahara stroked his chin thoughtfully. "See... that's the interesting part." He shifted slightly, looking at both Orihime and Chad. "Sado-san and Inoue-san... you both got your powers because of Kurosaki-san's leaking reiatsu. His reiatsu affected you both and awakened your own latent powers and abilities." He paused, as if weighing his next words. "However... Arisawa-san is a different case."
Tatsuki raised an eyebrow, a sense of unease creeping up her spine. "What do you mean?"
Urahara's gaze became sharper. "You probably awakened your powers because of someone else's reiatsu... Arisawa-san, are you by any chance... close to Kisaragi-san?"
Tatsuki hesitated, her fingers curling slightly. "Yeah... I guess?"
A small, knowing smile curled at the corner of Urahara's lips. "Then the most probable case for you awakening your powers is the proximity to Kisaragi-san. His reiatsu, likely very different from Kurosaki-san's, probably affected you in a similar way."
Orihime blinked in surprise. "Wait! But Kisaragi-san is a normal human, right? You didn't tell us anything about him in your story a few minutes ago..."
Urahara's smile faltered just a fraction, his expression darkening for a moment. "Shinichi is a mystery... even to me." His voice became more serious, almost grim. "But after a lot of digging, I do have a hunch about his reiatsu... and I really want my hunch to be wrong." He exhaled sharply, his eyes flicking to the ground momentarily. "Because if it's true... no one is safe."
Chad's eyes widened. "What do you mean by that?"
Urahara glanced up, his gaze piercing as he met their eyes. "Enough questions... if you want to help Kurosaki-san and Kuchiki-san, follow us. If you don't... then go home." His voice was firm, no room for negotiation. He turned slightly, motioning toward the door. "Also, when you follow us... you'll see something that might make you think it's absurd, so... make your decision quick."
A deep, silent tension hung in the air as Tatsuki, Orihime, and Chad exchanged glances. They had been thrust into a world of uncertainty, a world where they were now not only aware of the supernatural but also involved in the conflict in ways they hadn't anticipated.
Urahara turned back, calling out, "Let's go, Tessai." He motioned for his assistant, who nodded silently and followed.
The trio stood in silence, the weight of Urahara's words sinking in. This wasn't just about Ichigo anymore. This was bigger. And they were already too deep into it to turn back.
Orihime nodded quietly, her face resolute. "Let's go."
Tatsuki, though still skeptical, felt a sense of duty creeping into her chest. She couldn't ignore what she had seen with her own eyes. "Yeah... let's go."
Chad's voice was steady, unwavering as always. "We'll follow."
With that, they stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited them. The decision was made. There was no going back now.
---
"To hell with our competition! We need to work together and protect these people, Ishida!" Ichigo shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
The urgency in his tone froze Ishida mid-draw. Before he could respond, a trembling voice broke the moment.
"Uh... guys? What's that in the sky...?" Kon whimpered, his face turned upward, wide-eyed.
Everyone followed his gaze.
The sky above was no longer serene. Dozens—no, hundreds—of swirling black circles had ripped open the heavens like inkblots bleeding through the fabric of reality. From each of them, Hollows poured out in droves, their howls echoing like a death knell.
"What's happening...?" Ichigo muttered, watching in horror as the swarm of monstrous entities began converging toward a single, growing rupture in the sky.
The air itself seemed to tremble as the Hollows vanished into that crack—until something massive began to push its way out.
A grotesque hand gripped the edge of the rift, clawed fingers sinking into the sky as if it were solid. The sheer scale was monstrous. Then—
A terrifying creature emerged.
Towering at over sixty meters, it was a black titan clad in a flowing, ragged cloak that billowed like a funeral shroud. Its limbs were long and skeletal, and its face was obscured by a hauntingly white, tear-shaped mask with a jagged grin etched across it. The mask bore no eyes, only deep, endless holes. Each step it took seemed to crush the air with weight alone.
Ichigo and the others stood frozen.
"What the hell is that...?" Ishida whispered, the blood draining from his face.
Rukia took a shaky breath, her fingers trembling.
"I... I've read about them in books, but... I thought they were fictional beings... I never thought I'd actually see one..."
Ichigo scoffed, torn between disbelief and panic. "What is that thing, Rukia?"
"It's the Menos Grande," she whispered.
"Menos what?" Shinichi chimed in from behind, trying to blend in with the group, even after knowing everything, voice laced with innocent confusion.
A sudden blast of smoke exploded beside them.
From within the grey cloud stepped Kisuke Urahara, Tessai behind him, and Jinta and Ururu at his sides—all of them armed and battle-ready.
"Hello everyone!" Urahara greeted with his usual eerie cheer. "It's your favorite shopkeeper!"
Shinichi narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "You are quite early, don't you think, candy man?"
Urahara tilted his head and responded, "We don't have time, I suppose? Ishida-san and Kurosaki-san, take care of the big one. Meanwhile, the rest of us will take care of the smaller ones, alright?"
Ichigo nodded firmly. "Alright! Ishida! Let's go!"
"Right!" Ishida answered, following Ichigo as they both charged toward the Menos.
With that, the battlefield erupted.
Rukia, Kon, and the Urahara crew cut through the lesser Hollows with practiced precision. The clash of spiritual energy, roars, and the screeching of monsters blended into a chaotic orchestra of war.
And amidst it all... Shinichi was still just dodging.
Tch... this is so lame... I wanna fight too... he thought, zigzagging between lunges and blasts.
Suddenly, a Hollow lunged from behind—right at Ururu.
In an instant, a blur of motion slammed forward.
CRACK!
The Hollow's mask caved inward as Shinichi's knee collided with its face mid-air. The impact exploded with a sharp boom, rippling out in a shockwave that sent dust and debris flying. The Hollow crashed back like a broken doll, disintegrating mid-flight.
[Finally engaging a bit, Mr. Hold-back?]
Shinichi exhaled casually, stretching his neck. "C'mon! Even I can't see a kid get hurt. I'm a softie on the inside, you know?"
[You just wanted to show off, didn't you?]
He sighed dramatically. "Do I really not look like a guy who would care about kids...?"
[Hell no.]
A second notification popped up.
[Ururu thinks you are a good person and is thankful to you for saving her.]
[You Gained 5 RP!]
"Oh... that's nice," Shinichi said, a bit touched.
Then his expression shifted to a mischievous grin.
"Yo, system. I wanna do something crazy."
[What the hell happened to the 'hiding your powers' part?]
He smirked. "I will do something crazy... while being hidden. Don't worry."
He winked.
Unfortunately, he happened to be facing Ururu.
She blinked and shrank behind Tessai. "...Creepy."
"W-Wait, that wasn't meant for you! Sorry! I'm not Drake, I swear!" Shinichi panicked, flailing as he darted away in embarrassment.
[Was this the crazy thing you wanted to do...?]
NO. Shinichi screamed internally.
[...Ohhhh, I know what you meant...]
He smirked, slowing his breath.
"You got that pretty late... Now... Activate Peak-A-Boo!"
From the tips of his feet, his body began to shimmer.
It was as if liquid glass flowed upward through his veins, casting a transparent glow that fractured light into fleeting rainbow spectrums. His legs vanished first, then his torso, and finally his head—as if reality itself was rejecting his presence.
Within seconds, he was gone.
[You've got 2 minutes.]
"I know," Shinichi whispered, but it felt unusual.
Because Shinichi Kisaragi... was no longer there.
---
Ichigo launched himself toward the towering Menos Grande, yelling with full force as he raised his zanpakutō to strike. But before he could land even a scratch, a massive hand swatted him out of the air like a fly.
CRASH!
Ichigo slammed into the ground with a heavy thud, a crater forming where he landed. He groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"Are you an idiot?" Ishida called out, his tone as sharp as his arrows. "The hell were you thinking?!"
Ichigo winced and muttered, "Oh... I thought I'd just start chopping it up from the feet, you know? So its face eventually comes down and then I could finish it off!"
Ishida rubbed his temples in frustration. "You are such a dumbass..."
Without another word, Ishida pulled back his bow and unleashed a flurry of reishi arrows at the Menos. They lit up the air like a stream of stars—but when they struck the creature's colossal frame, they barely left a mark. Like pebbles thrown at a dragon.
"Damn it! Nothing's working!" he growled.
Then, the Menos paused. Its eyes slowly turned, sensing a new force coming its way.
An invisible presence leaped from tree to tree, completely unseen—but it was there. Shinichi, cloaked by his Peak-a-Boo ability, surged toward the Menos like a shadow with purpose. Every muscle in his body screamed with tension. His hand trembled, his biceps bulged, veins popping and arms turning crimson from the raw strength he was channeling. His cheeks puffed out—he wasn't even breathing, storing every ounce of oxygen in his lungs to fuel his strike.
The world slowed.
Then—
BOOM.
Shinichi launched himself directly toward the Menos' face. He twisted his body midair, channeling every bit of momentum into one devastating punch. His fist cut through the wind with a sonic boom, the shockwave shattering branches in the distance.
CRACK!
The punch connected square with the Menos' mask.
The earth shook.
The impact sent violent shockwaves across the battlefield, dust and debris exploding outward. The Menos howled as it was knocked backward, its enormous frame forced out of the gargantuan garganta crack in the sky, tumbling down toward the earth in a groaning heap.
Everyone stood still. No one had seen what just happened. An invisible force had just punched a Menos Grande out of the sky.
Rukia's jaw dropped, eyes wide with disbelief. She stared at the crater forming in the Menos' wake. That impact—there was something familiar about it.
Ishida's head snapped toward Ichigo. "It's not down yet! Kurosaki, we need to move now!"
Meanwhile, high above the battlefield, Shinichi had accomplished something ridiculous. He hovered midair for just a moment before realizing something very important.
He didn't know how to fly.
[Peak-a-Boo! Deactivated.]
"SHIT! SYSTEM! HELP ME, PLEASE, I'M GONNA DIE!!"
[Who was the one who wanted to do something crazy again?]
"THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR YOUR SARCASM, FUCKER! HELP ME!!"
[Nah, don't worry. You'll be fine.]
"HUH—?!"
The wind screamed past him as the ground rushed up to meet him. Just before impact—
A pair of arms caught him.
Bridal style.
Shinichi blinked, disoriented. He looked up, gasping for breath. "HOLY SHIT. SHINICHI KISARAGI LIVES TO SEE ANOTHER DAY!"
When he finally realized who had caught him, his eyes widened even more.
"Wait... Rukia?! How are you this strong? You're built like a shrimp, but you just caught me like it was nothing!"
A vein popped on Rukia's forehead. Without a word, she hurled him sideways.
THUD!
Shinichi groaned on the ground. "Ouch..."
Rukia loomed over him, her eyes sharp. "How did you go invisible?"
Shinichi's face broke into a nervous sweat. He scratched his head, trying to think of an excuse.
"Uh... Glitch in the Matrix...?"