"Ichigo, because of all your efforts, life and death will retain their current forms. Those who draw breath will continue to live in fear of death, even as countless lives come to an end each day."
Yhwach paused.
"For all eternity."
His gaze settled on Ichigo.
"As punishment for this sin, you, too, shall depart from this world."
"You think you can kill me in your state?"
"Who said anything about killing you? Have you forgotten, Ichigo? I can see every possible future. And in one of those futures… you are no longer in this world."
The moment Yhwach spoke those words, his reiryoku enveloped Ichigo before he could react.
"What are you trying to do?!"
"As I said, I am delivering your punishment. Goodbye, Ichigo."
With those final words, Yhwach drew his last breath, and his power faded.
The hell? Nothing happened. Was he just trying to scare me? He didn't seem like the type.
Ichigo let out a sigh.
"Well, at least nothing happened. Ishida, how are you holding up? Still in one piece?"
"Yes. What about you? You look worse than I do."
"I feel awful, but I'm still alive. Come on. We should meet up with everyone else. Orihime's with Rukia." He turned toward Renji. "You too, Renji. It's time to go."
"Yeah. Let's go."
"Ichigo! Everyone! I'm so glad you're all okay!"
Relief filled Orihime's gentle voice when she saw her friends.
"I wouldn't exactly say we're okay," Ichigo replied. "Barely alive is more like it."
Still, I'm glad everyone's here. We lost some friends, but at least these idiots are still alive.
His gaze moved from one familiar face to the next.
Orihime, Chad, Ishida, Renji, Rukia… As long as you guys are alive, I'll never give in to despair again.
After the war, once everything was finally in order, the survivors had a chance to rest, eat, and sleep. Before long, it was time to say goodbye to the Soul Society.
The humans who had helped fight the war now stood before the gate leading to the World of the Living—each of them a hero.
"Looks like this is goodbye, Renji. Rukia."
"Idiot. It's 'see you soon,' remember?" Rukia said.
A small smirk tugged at Ichigo's lips.
"You're right. See you soon, Rukia."
"Bye, everyone! Take care, okay? Come visit us in the World of the Living!"
With her usual cheerfulness, Orihime waved one last time before stepping through the gate.
"Take care."
Chad, a man of few words as always, followed her.
"Until next time, Abarai. Kuchiki."
Even now, Ishida remained formal with everyone except Ichigo.
"Yeah. Take care, guys. See you soon," Renji said.
"See you soon. Give everyone else my regards," Rukia added.
Ichigo turned to follow his friends.
"Time to go home."
With that, he stepped through the gate.
Inside the seemingly endless corridor, the four humans raced toward the exit, trying to stay ahead of the Kōtotsu—the massive, train-like Cleaner bearing down on them.
"Shit! Why does this always happen when we come through here?"
"Kurosaki, aren't you strong enough to destroy that thing?!" Ishida shouted.
"I am, but who knows what'll happen if I do? Just keep running! We're faster than it, so there's nothing to worry about!"
With Chad carrying Orihime, they were making good time. Even so, Ichigo stayed at the back of the group in case anything went wrong.
Soon, only a few meters separated them from the exit.
"Kurosaki-kun! We're almost there! Just a little farther!"
The light at the end of the tunnel drew closer.
Pretty ironic, Ichigo thought. A light at the end of a tunnel leading back to the World of the Living.
Chad and Orihime reached the exit first, followed closely by Ishida.
"Finally, hom—"
Before Ichigo could finish, a sudden surge of power engulfed him.
"What is this? Yhwach's power? How? He's already dead! Why is his reiryoku surrounding me agai—"
Yhwach's final warning echoed in his mind.
"As punishment for this sin, you, too, shall depart from this world."
"AS IF I'D DIE NOW! Not after surviving that bullshit war! Not after I swore I'd never give in to despair again! Like hell I'll let you ruin my life!"
Ichigo unleashed his power, forcing it against the remnants of Yhwach's reiryoku.
Concentrate. These are just scraps of his power. I can destroy them!
He pushed harder until the last traces of Yhwach's power finally dissipated.
"Phew… That gave me a scare."
Then something slammed into his back.
"Dammit! I forgot about the damn train! AAH!"
But the moment the Kōtotsu struck him, something strange happened.
It… doesn't hurt? What's happening? My body feels weird.
His thoughts began to blur.
Shit. I'm getting sleepy. I have to stay awake. Fuck, fuck, fuck—
No matter how hard he fought, he couldn't keep himself conscious. Darkness swallowed his thoughts.
And just like that, Ichigo Kurosaki was no longer in this world.
"Hmm? Kurosaki-kun?" Orihime glanced around. "Guys, have you seen Kurosaki-kun?"
"No," Chad replied.
"He's not out yet?" Ishida turned toward the gate. "That's strange. He was right behind us."
Tokyo — Tokyo Jujutsu High
Tombs of the Star Corridor
"The situation is dire. Satoru Gojo is out of the fight, and Suguru Geto cannot defeat Toji Fushiguro. He's approaching fast."
Tengen let out a weary sigh.
"Forgive me, children. There is nothing I can do."
The immortal could only lament what was about to happen. Not only would the Star Plasma Vessel be lost, but children would die as well.
How pathetic—to have lived so long and still be so powerless.
"I suppose this, too, may be fate."
Suddenly, Tengen sensed something pressing against the barrier.
No. It wasn't trying to break through.
It was… connecting to it?
"What is going on? Who—or what—is trying to come through?"
Tengen had never felt anything like it.
"What in the world is this?"
At the center of the Tombs of the Star Corridor, a young man stood before a beautiful girl.
"No matter what you decide, we'll make sure you have a future."
"I—"
Her words were cut short as a door materialized out of thin air.
The young man immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.
"Where did that door come from?"
As if in answer, the door swung open.
The first thing he saw was a head of bright orange hair.