Three days had passed, and I'm still stuck with Ururu! I don't want to admit it, but that girl needs to go. Her punches felt like cannons to me, and when I tried to block her attacks, I felt I was blocking a mace.
Hoshito: 'Holy cow!! What an absurd strength in her! The chances of me catching both of her hands are low…' I sat down, resting for now.
Chad offered me a bottle of water. "Nice work…" he said in a soft expression.
Hoshito: "Thanks." I took the bottle and started drinking.
Chad stared at me for a moment, as if he was trying to find the right words to say something to me.
Chad: "Yuru-Kun…"
Hoshito: "Hmmm?"
Chad: "What would you do if those fake memories disappeared?" he asked in a whispered voice and with doubt in his eyes.
Hoshito: "What do you mean, Chad?" I asked, puzzled by the question.
Chad: "If there is a chance that Tsukishima dies… and your memories go back to normal… will you still consider him your… friend?"
Hohsito: "…. Yeah, I would still consider him a friend." I said in a confident voice.
Chad was surprised by my answer. "Why?"
Hoshito: "Why? hmmmm… I don't know why. It's just when I think about him, I see a person who is scared to be alone." Chad paused for a moment, then glanced away and turned back to me.
Chad: "Yuru-kun, you don't know what he did in the past… he—"
Hoshito: "He inserts himself into others' memories. And he used it against you, and you turned on your friends; more precisely, you turned on Ichigo."
Chad was shocked. "How did you know?" he asked.
Hoshito: "I figured it out. And it was your vibes that gave me the idea that something happened between you and Shu." I said calmly, looking at Chad with a smirk. "I don't know what actually happened, and I don't care. The only thing I have in my mind is stopping Shu from getting his revenge on you guys." My voice was serious in this sentence.
Chad stared at me and smiled with a soft expression on his face. "You are a great person, Yuru-Kun." he stepped away from me and turned to me. "Yuru-Kun, you have a strong will. This conversation answered a question I had. Thanks for that." He then left, leaving me alone with Yuruichi and Ururu.
Hoshito: 'Chad… he probably was afraid of being turned against his friends again. Can't blame the guy; he's always loyal to his friends and would fight alongside them and protect them.' I stood up and stared at my blade. '… I see now… my blade didn't want me to fight Shu with doubts… he wants me to fight with conviction.' I turned my head in Chad's direction. "He stole the words out of my mouth. Heh, thanks, Chad."
***
# Minamikawase / Kurosaki's Clinic / Ichigo's room #
In the room, Ichigo was sitting, crossing his legs, and across from him were Rukia and Renji. Renji: "So, is that guy Hoshito still unwilling to talk to you?" he asked.
Ichigo: "Yes. I don't know what his problem is with me." he rubbed his head in annoyance. "He shut me up and went training without listening to me." he glared at the floor.
Renji: "Heh, he reminded me of someone." He said in a teasing manner.
Rukia, on the other hand, was quiet. Too quiet. Renji noticed it and turned to her.
Renji: "What's wrong, Rukia?" he asked.
Rukia: "Hmm? Oh, sorry, I was deep in thought about something. It's nothing." She said with a small smile. Renji knew something was bothering her. "You are lying; when you lie, you always clench your hands behind your Shihakushō!" He shouted it.
Her eyes widened, and she unconsciously hid her hands.
Renji: "I knew it. Something is bothering you. Rukia, tell us what's on your mind?" he asked in a demanding tone. 'I can't believe she fell for that.'
Rukia sighed and raised her head. "It's about that boy Hoshito when he suppressed his reiatsu. The way he did… it was like the calm of water. And I know someone who suppressed his reiatsu like that." She said in a low voice with a small nostalgic expression on her face.
Renji: "Really? You can't be serious. Isn't it a coincidence they both suppressed their reiastu the same way?"
Rukia shook her head. "No, it's unmistakably familiar."
Ichigo: "What do you mean by that? Rukia, who is the other person who knows this trick?" he asked impatiently.
Suddenly, Karin entered the room and interrupted the conversation.
Karin: "Ichi-Ni, Dad needs you with something." She pointed outside the door.
Ichigo: "Huh? Can't that wait?"
Karin: "Nope, it can't wait. I don't know what it is, but he seems to be urgent."
Ichigo: "Seriously. What does he want? I hope it's not something stupid." He whispered in an irritated tone.
Karin stared at him leaving the room. She turned to the shinigamis. "So, will there be another fight?" she asked.
The shinigamis were surprised by her straightforward question.
Rukia: "We aren't certain about it. But there might be one." She said bluntly.
Karin: "I see…" She left the room after that.
Downstairs, she sees Ichigo fight their father. She noticed a photo album; it seems their father wants his son to help organize it, and he wants to put flowers with the photo of their mom, but Ichigo says there's no need for that.
Karin: 'Seriously? This is so stupid.' There was an annoyed expression on her face, but it shifted to a frown. '… another fight, huh… why do you always fight, Ichigo? … No, why can't I help you…' She gritted her teeth. 'I hate it… I hate always knowing you will get hurt, and I can't help… if only I had the same powers as yours.'
Then a hand reached to her shoulder. It was Yuzu; she was looking at her with a concerned expression on her face. "Karin, are you okay?"
Karin: "Yuzu… yeah, I'm okay. Let's go and stop them." She assured her and went to her brother and father. 'I shouldn't think like that… My brother is strong; he doesn't need to be worried about… and I have to protect Yuzu, that's my job.' She thought, but something in her said otherwise.