Without any surprise at all, Kurosaki Ichigo decisively refused Aizen.
Whether going by manga tropes or by his own true thoughts, this was definitely not the time to agree.
Because...
"Sorry, Mister Aizen, I'm going to be late for class. If there's anything, let's talk about it after school."
Kurosaki Ichigo said this with a goofy grin, then hurried off toward the school.
Whether this world really had some hidden truth or not, according to manga logic, that man from just now would definitely come looking for him again after school.
If it was real, then the other party was probably his guide. The kind of important supporting character who was absurdly strong early on, but later on would need to be saved by the protagonist.
Who would've thought, he actually got handed the main character script.
"An interesting boy."
Aizen watched Kurosaki Ichigo's retreating figure, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.
This wasn't the first time he had observed Kurosaki Ichigo. In fact, over the past few years, he had guided him countless times from the shadows.
When people encounter things, they always judge them based on their own experience.
But what if that experience itself had been carefully crafted by him, personally implanted into the other person's mind?
Starting two years ago, he had been subtly influencing Kurosaki Ichigo. This included the people he came into contact with, the information he was exposed to, and the books and manga he read.
These tiny changes, bit by bit, wouldn't attract anyone's attention at all.
But when it came to this meeting, they would erupt with unexpectedly powerful results.
Just like now. Kurosaki Ichigo didn't reject this suddenly appearing stranger at all, and even maintained a sense of excitement.
'Lord Rosse, it seems I still have so much to learn.'
.
.
.
[Four in the Afternoon]
Karakura Town First High School dismissed classes on time.
Kurosaki Ichigo turned down today's club activities, said goodbye to his close friends, and wandered out of the school.
After walking out the school gate, he looked around, and when his gaze settled in a certain direction, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He knew it. The other party would definitely be waiting for him.
"Mister Aizen!"
Kurosaki Ichigo slung his bag over his shoulder, walked up, and greeted him with a grin.
He wasn't some shy person. Even though the other guy had an unknown background and wasn't even alive, he didn't feel the slightest bit afraid.
"Youth really is wonderful. That sense of ease is truly enviable," Aizen replied with a smile.
"Hahaha! Didn't you say this morning that you weren't that old, Mister Aizen? Why are you calling yourself old again now?"
Kurosaki Ichigo didn't quite understand what Aizen meant, but he figured he was talking about his casual attitude from morning to afternoon. He couldn't help scratching his head and chuckling.
From Aizen, he didn't feel any malice at all.
And from Aizen, he always felt a sense of familiarity.
Before this, he had known a bookstore owner whose looks and temperament were similar to Aizen's. He was a very gentle middle-aged man who would also say strange, inexplicable things like Aizen did.
Unfortunately, that man had sold the shop and left because his daughter was getting married abroad. That had only happened a month ago.
What he hadn't expected was to run into someone so similar to that familiar person again so soon.
If Aizen didn't look different from that bookstore owner, he might have thought that owner had died.
So meeting Aizen this time actually made him feel closer.
"You probably have a lot of things you want to ask, right?"
Aizen led Kurosaki Ichigo along the railway tracks, slowly walking forward.
This area was all familiar territory to Kurosaki Ichigo. From the start, he hadn't been worried about anything. Seeing how open and straightforward Aizen was now, he relaxed even more.
To gain someone's trust, the first step is to keep them in a safe environment at all times, and then constantly reinforce that impression through actions.
When it came to these small details, Aizen understood them better than anyone.
To wield the blade Kyoka Suigetsu, having spiritual pressure alone was far from enough.
To deceive the five senses, you first had to make people feel reality.
A thousand people have a thousand faces. To make everyone feel it was real, he first had to learn to play every role.
It was just that before Rosse appeared, he rarely used such methods, and was even somewhat disdainful of them.
But Rosse's existence made him understand that he was merely a latecomer on this path.
Because of that, he learned humility, and picked up those skills he had once cast aside.
"Yeah, there's a lot I want to ask. Like why Mister Aizen came looking for me. Or what kind of world this really is. But I think you'll answer all those questions for me, right?", Kurosaki Ichigo grinned.
Since Aizen had waited for him at the school gate, he was bound to talk about these things with him.
As for whether the content was true or false, he actually didn't care.
If he didn't like it, then he just wouldn't do it.
He could ignore Aizen and walk away this morning, and after listening today, he could still turn around and leave just the same.
No matter how he looked at it, the Mister Aizen in front of him didn't seem like the type to force things.
"The reason I came looking for you is very simple. You are the most unique existence in this world. You could even say you are a naturally one-of-a-kind existence," Aizen said with a smile.
"Hahaha! Mister Aizen, don't fool me. Your next line isn't going to be that I'm some born savior, is it?"
Kurosaki Ichigo joked with a laugh. He had just guessed Aizen might say something like this. Who would've thought he actually did. Did he really think Ichigo had never read manga?
"No. Ichigo, you are the one who is truly special. Do you want to know the truth behind what happened to your mother?"
Aizen suddenly stopped walking and said something that made Kurosaki Ichigo's breathing instantly grow ragged.
"Mister Aizen, that topic isn't funny at all," Kurosaki Ichigo clenched his fists, his gaze locked tightly onto Aizen.
This was also a scene he had seen in some manga. Could it be that he was one of those protagonists with an unusual origin, fated to go through hardship and misfortune?
If that was the case, he would rather not be the protagonist at all. He only wanted a happy, complete family.
"I'm not joking. I do have something I want from you, but I don't want to deceive you. So I will tell you everything I know," Aizen radiated sincerity from the inside out. Kurosaki Ichigo had never seen someone so earnest.
So much so that he secretly told himself that if Aizen really told him the truth, no matter how difficult Aizen's request was, he would help him fulfill it.
Next, Aizen began telling his story.
The story he told was how Kurosaki Isshin and Kurosaki Masaki met, and how Kurosaki Ichigo was born.
In the content of the story, he didn't embellish anything at all.
He simply concealed the fact that the Hollow had been released by him. He didn't even mention it, skipping over it entirely.
Only when he told the later parts of the story did he mention Kurosaki Masaki being taken away by Hueco Mundo, and that Hueco Mundo was the territory that ruled over Hollows.
On the surface, it seemed like he hadn't said anything.
But in reality, everything had already been said.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.