Chapter Twenty-One: The Protagonist

Chapter 21: The Protagonist

[Time: Noon]
[Location: School Rooftop]
[Characters: Ichigo Kurosaki, Lolita Kuchiki]

"Hey! Lolita, wait up!" Ichigo’s voice called from behind.

"Hmm? Oh, Ichigo! What’s up?" Lolita turned around and asked.

"What on earth are you thinking?" Ichigo shouted at her.

"How scary! What are you talking about? It’s like I did something to you!" Lolita replied playfully.

"You! You better figure out a way to change that annoying way you talk!" Ichigo pointed at her, looking down at Lolita, who was a bit shorter than him.

"Hey, don’t shout at classmates in the same class like that, you might scare people..." Lolita gave a timid expression, pretending to be frightened and bullied.

At that moment, a wave of guilt washed over Ichigo...

"I’m telling you, don’t play dumb! Didn’t you go back to the Soul Society?" Ichigo was losing his temper.

"Idiot! Only Shinigami can go back there. I don’t have that ability right now," Lolita calmly explained, instantly cooling Ichigo’s outburst.

"What did you say?" Ichigo was utterly confused.

"Because the day before yesterday was Saturday, and our high school still has classes on Saturdays. Almost all my power was taken away by you..." Lolita said helplessly, lowering her head.

"Wha... I didn’t know about that..."

"Thanks to you, I have to rely on my Gigai now."

"Gigai? What’s that?"

Lolita pointed at her chest. "It’s an emergency body issued to us Shinigami. When a Shinigami is extremely weakened, they have to use it to wait for their powers to recover..."

Ichigo instinctively swallowed as he followed her finger to her chest, where two formidable weapons rested.

"That’s right. And the reason those in our class can see you is also thanks to the Gigai," she said.

"Is that so... But do you remember what I told you before?" Lolita looked up and asked.

"What... what did you say?" Ichigo felt a creeping sense of trouble.

"You have to bear the corresponding responsibilities along with your powers. Your life will never be peaceful again... You might even die because of this power someday. Have you forgotten? Or... are you trying to run away?" Lolita stared intently into his eyes.

"Who... who would run away? But... what exactly do I have to do?"

Lolita smiled faintly at his confused expression. "Just like the day before yesterday, destroy Hollows and help escort wandering souls in the living world to rest. I’ll be with you to handle everything, so don’t worry..."

"Oh! So that’s it! You mean... fight? I’m pretty good at that, just that the opponent is now a Hollow..." Lolita looked at the boy before her, who radiated a delinquent aura. She shook her torso and placed a hand on her forehead, feeling hopeless about the future.

"By the way!"

"Hmm?"

"Will your powers recover?"

Seeing the worried look on Lolita’s face, she smiled lightly. "Well, that’s just a matter of time. As long as there’s enough time..."

"So you’ll stay here until then?" Ichigo’s voice showed a hint of excitement, even a little anticipation.

"Well, class is starting, let’s go back!" She pulled out her PSP, glanced at the time, and said to Ichigo, who was about to sit down. Without looking back, she then walked away.

...

Ichigo felt this woman really enjoyed teasing him.

[After School]

"Hey, Ichigo, let’s walk together! We’re headed the same way!" Lolita ran up happily.

If Uryu Ishida saw Lolita like this, he would certainly avoid her at all costs. The scheming girl was surely up to mischief...

Of course, our Ichigo had no idea, so let’s pray for him.

"Alright! I actually have some questions for you," Ichigo said, somewhat puzzled by her behavior, but he figured it was better to have her along. Since she currently had no Shinigami powers, if danger arose, he could protect her. Note: Even with little energy, Lolita was terrifyingly dangerous—Heavenly Sparks, Blood Dance Crescent, Pandora’s Box, Lucifer, and some spatial mines that would make anyone scream...

"When fighting Hollows, is there anything I should watch out for?" Ichigo asked once they found a quiet spot.

"Nothing special. Just slash away. The easiest way is to cut off their head," Lolita said while walking and playing her PSP.

Ichigo couldn’t understand how she could be so focused on the game without tripping over stones or bumping into passersby, trees, or utility poles. He thought about raising a flag—cough, cough, getting distracted...

"Surely it’s not that simple?" he asked.

Lolita looked like she’d forgotten something and added, causing Ichigo, eager to try, to stumble: "Ah, that was true for me before! Sorry, I forgot to mention—Hollows come in many types. Ordinary Hollows: the most common, smallest, and only howl. They’re the kind you can kill with one slash at first. ...Powerful Hollows: larger, somewhat intelligent, can speak. You should be able to defeat these easily now. ...Gigantic Hollows: several stories tall, can speak. With your current strength, you’d better run! ...Gillian: low-level large Hollows, generally called 'Large Hollows' in the Soul Society. Formed by hundreds of ordinary Hollows fused together, very large and slow with low intelligence. They’re definitely not something you can handle. If you meet one, prepare your last words... ...Adjuchas: smaller than Gillian, fewer in number, highly intelligent. Several times stronger than Gillian. ...Vasto Lorde: top-tier Large Hollows, smallest in form among Hollows, about human size, rare and very few in number."

After hearing this, a chill ran down Ichigo’s spine. How could she forget such things? He glared at her sharply, hoping to guilt-trip her.

Lolita, once again with a look of innocent forgetfulness, pressed her finger to her lips and said, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you—Large Hollows usually stay in the Hollow realm and rarely appear in the living world. So you don’t have to worry about being attacked by one."

Her words erased Ichigo’s fleeting thought of quitting Shinigami duties, but after some thought, he shouted angrily, "Have you been messing with me this whole time?"

Lolita gave a look that said, "You’re just hopelessly dense." She said, "Ah, you caught me?" Ichigo’s expression had indeed been amusing: first surprise at her playing PSP, then slight disappointment she didn’t bump into anyone, then eagerness to fight, followed by fear, a fierce glare, then regret...

"Pfft, it’s funny just thinking about it!"

"I want to beat you up!" Ichigo’s eyes blazed.

"Oh no, a delinquent boy is bullying a helpless girl!" Lolita made a pitiful face, hugging her chest that was too large for one hand to grasp.

"I... you... I..." Ichigo looked at her dressed in a school uniform, long, snow-white legs exposed, wearing white lace-trimmed stockings and red flat shoes, eyes brimming with tears. He felt overwhelmed and reluctantly hid in a corner, drawing circles on the ground...

...

"We’re here!" After walking several blocks, Lolita told Ichigo.

"Oh! Really... then I’ll see you tomorrow..." Ichigo was still thinking about how to fulfill his role as a magical girl... cough, no, monkey sake... cough, wrong again, as a substitute Shinigami. Hearing Lolita say they’d arrived, he looked up just as he was about to say goodbye and froze, shouting, "Hey!? This is my house, isn’t it!?"

"Yeah! So what?" Lolita nodded unconcernedly.

"But... didn’t you say you wanted to..."

"Live here. What’s the problem?"

"That’s a huge problem! What am I supposed to do if my family suddenly sees me bringing a girl home? How am I supposed to explain that!?"

"Ding dong!" "Is anyone there? Sorry to bother you." At that moment, Lolita pressed the doorbell.

"Wait! At least let me come up with an excuse first!" Ichigo almost teared up, grabbing her wrist to stop her.

Just then...

"Creak!" "Oh? Brother, you’re home?" Yuzu, wearing an apron, came out. Seeing her brother holding a girl’s wrist, she paused and looked at Lolita. "Who are you?"

"Hello, I’m Ichigo Kurosaki’s desk mate. My name is Lolita Kuchiki. Due to certain reasons, I’ll be staying here temporarily. I look forward to getting along with everyone during this time..."

"Nice to meet you..." ×3

Lolita politely greeted Ichigo’s family, who stared blankly at the girl he had brought home. Before they could react, they instinctively replied.

Ichigo sat awkwardly beside Lolita, fidgeting nervously.

Zarli, stunned by the beauty before her, suddenly asked, "Wait, you said you’re his desk mate? So you’re in the same class?"

"Yes, that’s right..."

"And you’re going to live here?"

"Yes..."

"But... uh, sorry... isn’t it a bit strange? A girl living in a boy’s house... You said it was because of certain reasons, what are they?"

Lolita was silent for a moment, then glanced at Ichigo with a faint look. That glance made his heart inexplicably skip a beat. She said mysteriously, "That’s a secret between me and Ichigo, so I can’t tell you..."

And just like that, his lifelong reputation was ruined...

P.S. Why no tips yet?