"Hey, you're Kurosaki, right? Please take care of me."
Kurosaki Ichigo, who had just sat down, looked up sharply. A transfer student stood beside him—short black hair tied into curled tails, a single forelock bent down the center of her forehead, petite build, sharp purple eyes. She wore the standard Karakura school uniform with precise neatness.
Before Ichigo could speak, Kojima Mizuiro leaned over with an easy smile.
"This is Kuchiki-san. She transferred here today—something about a family circumstance."
Kuchiki Rukia smiled politely, then held out a hand toward Ichigo's desk.
"Kurosaki-san, I haven't received my textbook yet. Could you lend me yours for the moment?"
Ichigo was about to reply when he saw the small note written on her palm:
If you say anything, I will kill you.
Ichigo froze completely.
From the branches of a distant tree across the street, Kurotsuki Renya-kun watched the scene and exhaled quietly.
Rukia… still as violent as ever.
Renya had been shadowing Rukia for days—his sole task, as agreed with Yoruichi, was to watch for any sign of Aizen's interference during Rukia's early days in the Human World.
He originally expected her to struggle adapting to a modern human lifestyle.
But seeing her speaking naturally with Inoue Orihime, Sado Yasutora, Mizuiro, and Asano Keigo…
She's fitting in better than expected. Good.
⸻
Several days later…
Yoruichi, in her black cat form, landed beside Renya on the rooftop.
"Return to base, Renya-kun. I'll watch over her for now. You need rest."
Renya shook his head.
"I can still manage."
Yoruichi smacked Renya's head lightly with a paw.
"I said go back. What—are you doubting my ability to protect Rukia?"
Renya hesitated, then nodded respectfully.
"…All right."
He returned to the warehouse where the Visored were living. The moment he stepped inside, several figures appeared around him.
"Yo, Renya-kun," Shinji Hirako said, eyes narrowed.
"Where've you been? You barely show up anymore—and you're always running around with Yoruichi."
Renya opened his mouth but hesitated.
Sarugaki Hiyori stomped forward.
"Don't even try it! We KNOW it's about Aizen, right?!"
Renya stayed silent for a moment, then nodded.
"…It's related. But it's only just beginning."
"Then why didn't you tell us?!" Hiyori grabbed Renya's collar, shaking him violently.
"We've lived with you for decades! You KNOW what he did to us! But after he shows up—you hide things from us?!"
Renya met her anger without flinching.
"Hiyori-san… Aizen hasn't moved yet. Please calm down."
"CALM DOWN?!" she screamed.
Before she could strike, Love Aikawa stepped in and held her back.
"Hiyori. That's enough."
Rose, Shinji, Lisa, and the others stared at Renya with concern mixed with frustration.
Lisa pushed up her glasses slightly.
"Renya-kun… what exactly are you and Urahara plotting?"
Renya took a slow breath.
"We intend to lure Aizen out—and kill him. If that fails… we enter the Seireitei and expose him there."
Shinji stepped closer.
"Then we're helping. All of us. It's Aizen—we can't sit out."
Lisa nodded firmly.
"We'll fight with you. We've been waiting for this chance."
The room grew heavy. These people—once Captains and Lieutenants of the Gotei 13—had been destroyed by Aizen's betrayal. None of them could ignore a chance for justice.
But Renya shook his head quietly.
"You can't. All of you are under Aizen's hypnosis. If you act recklessly, he could turn you against me. If he tricks your senses into seeing me as him… you might kill me before realizing it."
Shinji's expression tightened.
"…He's right."
They all understood. This wasn't hypothetical. This was exactly how Aizen fought.
"If you attacked Renya-kun thinking he was Aizen… he'd be forced not to fight back," Rose said. "He'd die instantly."
"And even if we weren't hypnotized," Lisa added softly, "none of us could beat Aizen head-on."
In the original timeline, even grouped together, the Visored had been overwhelmed. Aizen simply dismantled them one by one.
Love exhaled, frustration visible.
"So we're useless?"
"No!" Hiyori roared. "I'm killing that bastard with my OWN hands!"
Renya smiled gently and took a step forward.
"Senpai… you already have."
Hiyori stopped, confused.
"What?"
Renya spoke clearly.
"Lisa-san takes care of my daily life. Kensei-san trains with me. Rose-san guides my fighting rhythm. Hachi-san teaches me Kido. Jūshirō-senpai sparred with me endlessly. All of you shaped my strength."
Renya lowered his head respectfully.
"I am not just myself. When I fight Aizen… every strike I throw will be with your strength behind me."
The room fell silent.
For thirty years he had lived with them. Trained with them. Bled with them. Laughed with them. He wasn't an outsider—he was a Visored.
Lisa was the first to speak.
"…You're right. You're one of us. So… I'll trust you, Renya-kun."
Kensei nodded.
"Yeah. You've earned that."
Hachigen smiled.
"You'll win. I'm sure of it."
Shinji grinned widely.
"Well then… we'll leave Aizen to you, Renya-kun. Don't screw it up."
Hiyori crossed her arms and snarled.
"Tch. Your win is our win. But listen—DON'T YOU DARE LOSE."
Renya's smile sharpened.
"I won't lose. Losing to Aizen means dying. I don't get a second chance."
Right now, his speed was enough to pressure Aizen—and even injure him briefly.
But only for one minute.
Aizen, with Reiatsu near the highest tier of any Soul Reaper, could maintain peak strength for far longer. If Renya didn't win in that minute… it was over.
He lacked the decades required to reach Aizen's spiritual pressure level.
So instead of extending the fight…
He would have to strike harder.
Faster.
More overwhelmingly.
Only explosive power could bridge the gap.
There were two months left.
And whether his Zanpakutō manifested or not…
He would master Shunshin-Tai — the God-Step Body.