A blue crescent-shaped wave of sword energy, far smaller than the massive red Cero, shot out toward it.
Surprisingly, as soon as the small crescent touched the Cero, it sliced through it as easily as a hot knife through butter!
Before everyone's stunned eyes, the blue crescent rapidly expanded, completely splitting the massive red Cero right down the middle!
Not only that —
the blue wave flew straight at the Gillians' head and cleanly sliced through it, cutting off half of its enormous skull!
It all happened so smoothly — so effortlessly — that it defied belief.
The Gillians didn't even have time to let out a final howl.
Its head severed, the massive body slowly turned to ash and dissipated, no different from how ordinary Hollows perished.
Ichigo landed, panting heavily.
Though it looked like he had pulled off a grand, effortless victory...
In reality, that Getsuga Tenshō had consumed nearly 80% of his spiritual energy!
If that attack hadn't finished the Gillians,
Ichigo was seriously ready to grab Rukia and the others and run for it.
Kneeling on the ground, Rukia stared blankly at Ichigo descending from the sky.
She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding,
but then, her expression suddenly turned grave.
Urahara Kisuke, noticing the change in Rukia's face, said nothing.
He silently released the binding Kidō on her and, together with Tessai and the others, quietly left the scene — leaving Rukia alone, sitting there.
Tatsuki, Orihime, and Chad didn't approach Ichigo either.
Watching everything unfold, the three of them understood very clearly:
even though they had awakened their powers...
Compared to Ichigo right now, they weren't even close to being real helpers.
They'd be lucky just not to slow him down.
Thus, the three silently made up their minds —
they had to train harder.
Next time they saw Ichigo, they would astonish him with their strength!
As for Uryū Ishida —
he simply stood frozen, unable to believe what he had witnessed.
He, who claimed to be the last Quincy,
couldn't comprehend how this Shinigami boy, roughly his age,
could be so overwhelmingly powerful!
With just one swing —
Ichigo had wiped out the "final boss" Uryū had indirectly unleashed.
Ichigo, however, had no intention of talking much to Uryū.
Instead, he noticed Rukia still kneeling by the park,
and thought she might have been hurt.
In a flash, he Shunpoed to her side.
"Rukia! Are you hurt?"
Ichigo asked anxiously.
Hearing Ichigo's voice, Rukia snapped out of her daze.
Quickly suppressing her inner turmoil, she stood up and angrily punched Ichigo in the chest.
"You idiot!
I told you to run!
Why did you charge at such a dangerous opponent head-on?!"
Rukia was furious.
Even though Ichigo had defeated the Gillians,
she had been on edge the entire time, terrified for him.
"Eh? I already said —
monsters like that are no match for me!"
Ichigo said confidently.
Rukia opened her mouth to argue further —
but after being bound by Kidō for so long, her body hadn't fully recovered.
She stumbled and fell forward.
Ichigo quickly caught her in his arms.
"You okay, Rukia?"
he asked, concerned.
Embarrassed, Rukia mumbled,
"My legs... they're just a little numb."
Without another word, Ichigo simply lifted her up in a princess carry.
After all, Rukia was very light —
and quite petite compared to Tatsuki.
(Tatsuki was about 155cm, Rukia 144cm, Orihime 157cm.)
(And yes, Ichigo — you're technically committing a crime right now!)
"Put me down, Ichigo! I'm fine!"
Rukia said shyly, struggling a little.
Ichigo looked down at her helplessly.
"You couldn't even stand properly just now.
If I put you down, how long would it take us to get home?"
"Home...?"
Rukia echoed softly, her voice tinged with something strange.
Ichigo frowned slightly but didn't comment.
"Yeah. Let's go home."
Hearing that, Rukia clutched his clothes tightly,
burying her face into his chest without another word.
Ichigo also fell silent,
carrying Rukia as he Shunpoed back toward his house.
After returning home, Ichigo gently placed Rukia back inside his closet.
Then he went downstairs to reassure his family that everything was fine.
Karin hadn't forgotten to ask about Chad's safety too.
Since Ichigo hadn't seen Chad yet,
he simply told her he would check on him later.
Of course, Ichigo also made sure to call Tatsuki and let her know he was okay.
Surprisingly, Tatsuki didn't say much —
just told him to get some rest early.
In the next three days,
Rukia behaved completely normally.
But after spending months around her,
Ichigo could clearly feel it:
Rukia was hiding something.
At school, none of them —
Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad, even Uryū —
brought up anything about the Hollows.
It was as if nothing had ever happened.
If not for Uryū's hands still wrapped in bandages,
Ichigo might have thought he had fallen into a dream.
Finally, on the third day after school ended,
Rukia started acting strangely.
"Ichigo, let's walk home together today!"
Rukia said with a cheerful smile.
"Huh?
Why so sudden?"
Ichigo asked, surprised.
"You've been walking home with Inoue-san these past few days.
Can't you walk with me just this once?"
Rukia said pitifully.
Ichigo really wanted to tell her to cut it out with the "poor little girl" act —
but sadly, he wasn't from the northeast.
Though it felt weird, he still agreed,
"Sure. Let's go together."
"Hehe!"
Rukia smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around Ichigo's.
It was the first time Rukia had taken the initiative for such an intimate gesture.
Perhaps she knew, deep down —
soon, everyone would forget about her.
She didn't want to leave behind any regrets.
Arm in arm, they walked home together.
Arriving at his house,
Ichigo turned to Rukia.
"You're acting really weird today, you know?"
Rukia just shook her head.
"Nothing weird about it!
Come on, let's go inside!"
Once inside,
Rukia's expression immediately darkened.
"Forgive me, Ichigo...
This might be... the last time we come home together."
Then, treating it as if it were her final time,
she carefully packed up all her belongings in Ichigo's room.
Standing by the window, she glanced around the room one last time, reluctant to leave.
Closing her eyes and steeling herself,
Rukia leapt out the window.
Meanwhile, back inside, Ichigo stood by the window, watching her flee into the night.
"Rukia...
What exactly are you so afraid of?"
Ichigo murmured to himself.
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/zaelum]
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[Thank You For Your Support!]