"Looks like you have spiritual power aptitude too…" the Jellyfish Hollow's voice shrilled sharply. "Though I deserve some credit for that."
Orihime Inoue's gaze froze on a purple lump embedded in Tatsuki Arisawa's back. "That's…"
"That's my seed. I hate fighting, you see~" The Jellyfish Hollow swayed its tentacles. "So I plant the seeds from my head into other people. Once they take root and sprout, you'll start fighting each other."
Purple roots spread from the seed, crawling up Tatsuki Arisawa's shoulder. Veins bulged violently along her entire arm.
Sweat beaded on Tatsuki Arisawa's forehead as her arm began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Grab her," the Jellyfish Hollow ordered as it drew closer.
Tatsuki Arisawa's right hand moved entirely against her will, clamping down on Orihime Inoue's shoulder.
"Tatsuki?"
"Orihime…" Tatsuki Arisawa slammed her fist into her own arm. The instant her fingers loosened, she shoved Orihime Inoue away. "Run!"
The Jellyfish Hollow sneered. "You think you can outrun my seeds?"
Bang!
A seed pierced straight through Orihime Inoue's body and buried itself in the ground.
"Another illusion… seriously, how annoying…" The Jellyfish Hollow's tentacles writhed.
"Where are you… I can't find you at all~ Just kidding!"
A seed shot toward empty space, and Orihime Inoue and Tatsuki Arisawa reappeared, their forms revealed as Ririn's illusion dissipated.
"You really think I can't sense the location of my own seeds?" The Jellyfish Hollow closed in on them. "You'd be better off letting me eat you~"
"Fine." Tatsuki Arisawa stepped in front of Orihime Inoue. "I'll be your opponent. If you want to eat me, then come and try!"
"You've made three mistakes…" the Jellyfish Hollow said unhurriedly. "First, I'm not testing anything. I've already started. Second, the one I want to eat isn't you, but the girl behind you. Her spiritual aptitude is better than yours, and I hate her hair. Third, you're not my opponent. You're my helper."
Its eyes flew wide behind the mask. The veins on Tatsuki Arisawa's arm throbbed violently. "Grab her. Bring her to my mouth."
Gritting her teeth, Tatsuki Arisawa clutched her own arm, forcing it to resist the command.
"Looks like your ability isn't all that great…"
The Jellyfish Hollow lashed out with its tentacles toward Tatsuki Arisawa. "Brat… compared to her flashy hair, I hate tomboys like you even more!"
Orihime Inoue suddenly hurled something from her bag, smashing it into the Jellyfish Hollow.
The small yellow ball expanded midair, bursting with fine arcs of electricity that bound the Jellyfish Hollow tightly.
Electromagnetic Capture Ball Z!
The item she had bought from Urahara's shop finally proved its worth.
Orihime Inoue quickly sprayed Anti-Spirit Spray: Repulsion X onto Tatsuki Arisawa's arm. Once the bulging veins receded, she sprayed Anti-Spirit Barrier Liquid: No-Soreness Alpha onto the seed lodged in Tatsuki Arisawa's back.
The seed shrank slightly. Seizing the moment, Orihime Inoue yanked it free with all her strength.
Orihime Inoue grabbed Tatsuki Arisawa and ran, while Ririn released illusions to confuse the Jellyfish Hollow.
However…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Jellyfish Hollow sprayed purple lumps indiscriminately, blanketing a wide area in a dense barrage.
"Not bad," the Jellyfish Hollow said as it broke free from the Electromagnetic Capture Ball Z and advanced on them. "But far too weak."
Orihime Inoue clutched Tatsuki Arisawa tightly. Just moments ago, Tatsuki Arisawa had protected her again.
And this time, the seed had struck her head.
Terrifying veins pulsed as blood seeped from Tatsuki Arisawa's forehead.
What do I do… what do I do what do I do what do I do what do I do what do I do?!
Orihime Inoue held Tatsuki Arisawa helplessly, watching as the Jellyfish Hollow drew closer, step by step.
"Grab her," the Jellyfish Hollow ordered again.
Tatsuki Arisawa's arm trembled as she lifted it, then suddenly shoved Orihime Inoue away.
"Like hell I will!" Tatsuki Arisawa charged the Jellyfish Hollow without a second thought, determined to spend her last strength buying Orihime Inoue time to escape.
Crack.
Her sprint cut off mid-step, and Tatsuki Arisawa slammed hard into the ground.
"Three times. You've disobeyed my orders three times!" the Jellyfish Hollow shrieked. "I hate it! This means my power isn't showing at all! I hate this so much!"
It looked down at Tatsuki Arisawa with poisonous malice. "I really hate torturing people like this."
The seed's roots grew in a chaotic tangle, snapping Tatsuki Arisawa's leg bone with brutal force.
"AAAHH!" Tatsuki Arisawa's scream tore out of her as her body spasmed uncontrollably.
"Ori… Orihime… run… run…"
"Oh, right. You too!" A tentacle hooked into Orihime Inoue's hair and yanked her up. "Just looking at your hair makes me sick. And you dare keep it this long?"
That line…
It was painfully familiar.
When she'd just started middle school, an older girl had cut her hair for that exact reason.
Orihime Inoue's eyes trembled.
Back then, when she was being picked on by upperclassmen, it was Tatsuki who grabbed her hand, scolded her loudly, and made her find the courage to stand up. Tatsuki was the one who always stepped in when Orihime needed her.
The only reason Orihime Inoue had been able to keep her hair this long was because of Tatsuki.
She had sworn she would never cut it short again.
Because… she trusted Tatsuki, and keeping her hair long was her proof.
Tatsuki had protected her for so long, and now…
"It's my turn to protect Tatsuki." Orihime Inoue opened her eyes.
An invisible wind howled to life, swirling around her and pushing outward in waves.
"W-what is this?" the Jellyfish Hollow muttered. It saw blood splatter, its gaze flicking aside, and only then noticed the smooth, cleanly severed end of its tentacle. "What the hell…?"
"You've made three mistakes," Orihime Inoue's voice came through the rising dust. "First, you shouldn't have hurt Tatsuki. Second, you shouldn't have hurt Tatsuki. Third, you shouldn't have hurt Tatsuki!"
A winged, shuttle-like object spun through the air, shredding the dust and making Orihime Inoue's silhouette stand out sharper and clearer.
"The one who hurt Tatsuki…" The helpless fear in Orihime Inoue's eyes was gone. She stepped in front of Tatsuki Arisawa, shielding her. "I will never forgive it!"
Seeds shot off Orihime Inoue's head one after another. "What are you getting cocky for?!"
"Santen Kesshun…" Orihime Inoue raised her hand, the words spilling out as if guided by instinct, the mantra echoing in her mind. "I reject!"
Three shuttles spread their wings, forming a golden triangular barrier in front of Orihime Inoue.
Seed after seed slammed into the barrier, shattering one after another in the golden light!