Even though some time had passed, Orihime Inoue could still vividly recall that day as if it had just happened.
It wasn't because of the suffering or torment she had endured.
No, it was because on that day, Orihime had clearly sensed—through instinct, through something deeper—that a life on the brink of death was silently screaming for help.
"That day, I..."
Though the person in question refused to admit it, the truth remained unchanged.
"...I saw the pain and loneliness written all over your face."
The compassion on Orihime's face seemed almost tangible.
"You must've had a dear friend, right?"
For a moment, everything seemed to freeze.
Loly Aivirrne's eyes widened slightly. Her lips twitched into something that resembled a sneer.
What a joke.
She, an Arrancar, someone of her kind, how could she ever harbor such sentiments?
Ah... now she remembered.
That woman must be talking about Minoli Maria.
Her breath caught. A strange, churning feeling surged in her chest, and her voice warped in response.
"That... That one's already dead! Like hell I'd care about some dead weakling, ha! You think we're all soft like you humans?!"
Orihime gently pursed her lips, as though she couldn't bear to look directly at her. She closed her eyes and turned her head slightly.
"No, that's not true. I think... you really miss her."
Shut up.
"It must be hard being alone. I don't know what life is like here, but... you must feel sadness too."
Stop talking.
"The loss of a friend must hurt, right? But please... don't give up. Don't let this world, which only knows strength, win."
I don't want to think about this anymore.
"And if you'd let me, I'd like to be your frien—"
"SHUT UP!!!"
Like a cat that had its tail stepped on, Loly shrieked.
She lunged forward, her pretty features contorting into a snarl of hysteria.
"What the hell do you know?! Just because you've got Seiya's protection, you think I won't touch you?! You disgusting woman, don't act like you know anything about my life!"
Words weren't enough to vent the anger boiling inside her.
She raised her hand, trembling with rage.
Orihime flinched and turned her head, already bracing for the blow.
If she hit her, that was fine too.
But—
"Why... are you crying?"
"..."
Loly's raised fist froze midair.
Her lips were still pursed in fury, but the two faint tear tracks down her cheeks told another story.
Arrancar were broken souls. They often masked their own weaknesses with violence and cruelty.
But that didn't mean they were incapable of feeling.
She didn't understand what was happening inside herself, but right now, Loly's emotions were overwhelming.
It shouldn't be like this.
The strong were supposed to dominate from above. People like this human woman were meant to be crushed underfoot!
'Loly... live on, okay…'
In that moment—
Maria's voice echoed in her mind like a rusty old machine groaning to life.
It struck her with brutal precision.
Her fist would not fall.
Loly collapsed to her knees, covering her face and weeping.
"..."
Looking down from above, Orihime's face held not a shred of scorn.
They're all the same.
Everyone is the same...
She didn't know what kind of person Loly's friend had been.
But right now, Orihime knew what she had to do.
She knelt beside her, stretched out her arms, and gently pulled Loly into an embrace.
The sound of sorrowful sobbing echoed across the void of Hueco Mundo—this strange, emotional sight witnessed by Ulquiorra.
"Well, Ulquiorra."
Seiya, who had also been watching, turned and asked with a soft smile.
"What do you think?"
"...I don't understand."
He tried to be reserved, but the confusion had built up enough that even Ulquiorra furrowed his brow slightly.
"That human is clearly weaker, in both strength and physique."
"But in the end, she was the one who overpowered the Arrancar."
"Why?"
Seiya chuckled, placing a hand on Ulquiorra's shoulder.
"If you can figure that out, Ulquiorra... you'll be one step closer to real power."
With that—
Seiya turned and disappeared into his barrier again.
He had other matters to attend to. There was no time to spare.
Ulquiorra remained.
Staring at the scene in the distance, his face held a mixture of contemplation... and blank confusion.
"What a strange woman..."
…
Time passed in Hueco Mundo.
Meanwhile, back in the World of the Living—
Hitsugaya Tōshirō and his squad arrived, just as the original story foretold, appearing at the high school Ichigo attended.
"Due to the appearance of the Arrancar, Soul Society is concerned about stability here."
Captain of the Tenth Division, Tōshirō, spoke with calm reliability—despite still looking like a kid.
"We're not saying you've failed, Kurosaki Ichigo. But relying solely on your strength... may result in the same situation as before."
"In short, Soul Society believes we must take on more responsibility."
They had prepared long speeches, but Ichigo's response was unexpectedly cold.
He replied simply and didn't ask further.
Because the one thing he cared about had already been addressed.
'Regarding Inoue Orihime... We're sorry. Soul Society has deemed her safety a lower priority.'
'Our current mission is to consolidate our forces and prepare for the final battle.'
'On behalf of Soul Society and the Gotei 13, I apologize. That day... was our failure.'
It was rational, it was irrefutable.
But maybe Ichigo had already given up on arguing by then.
Yeah. Got it.
His gloomy expression surprised everyone.
Was this really the reckless substitute who once tore through Soul Society?
Compared to him—
Matsumoto Rangiku seemed to understand.
"Captain, let him be for now. After all, what happened recently..."
Being emotionally dense didn't mean lacking emotion altogether.
Once they understood Ichigo's feelings, the group returned to their duties.
The support team spread across the World of the Living.
Thanks to Seiya's presence, the unruly Espada had been kept in check. Hueco Mundo had fallen into an eerie silence.
But everyone knew—
This was the calm before the storm.
The final battle was coming.
The question was whether they'd be ready when it arrived.
"If we're counting by the usual timeline, it'll be a while before Aizen's Hōgyoku fully awakens..."
Urahara Kisuke spoke in his usual light tone, hidden beneath his hat.
But there was a heaviness behind the words.
"Which is why I'd recommend waiting. Once Soul Society is fully mobilized, we'll strike. That's the safest play."
"I understand, Urahara-san."
Ichigo's tone was firm.
He was fully equipped now, his brow furrowed in determination.
"I've already thought about it a lot. I've made up my mind."
He knew it might disappoint others...
But this was something he had to do.
To go to Hueco Mundo and rescue his friend.
Just thinking of Orihime's words that day made Urahara's expression turn complicated.
"Can I ask why?"
Ichigo's eyes fell. He spoke softly, lips pressed tight.
"That day... Orihime called out my name."
Not anyone else's.
"If I don't go... no one else will."
His resolve hardened. He took a deep breath and said with conviction:
"And if it had been Yoruichi taken instead... would you stand by and do nothing, Urahara-san?"
"..."
The usually sharp-tongued Urahara was rendered speechless.
Perhaps not surprised—but moved.
"You do say the most interesting things sometimes, Kurosaki-kun."
Very well.
He tapped the ground with his staff. Spirit energy surged in soft pulses, condensing at his feet.
Crack crack crack crack...
The wind howled through the Urahara Shop basement.
Moments later, a massive arched gateway opened before them.
Air couldn't pass through. A translucent film shimmered in place, like something was about to tear open.
A warped, black void emerged.
Ichigo's body tensed instinctively.
This was it.
The very same path that had taken Orihime.
"This is a replica Garganta I created, based on the energy wave the Arrancar used that day," Urahara explained behind his fan.
"Of course, since it's a replica, it has limitations. The most important of which—"
He paused and said clearly:
"It's a one-way passage."
Once Ichigo crossed over, there would be no turning back.
"You'll have to find Orihime and figure out your own way out."
"I know it sounds unreasonable, but... that's what it takes to save someone."
"What's your choice?"
Ichigo didn't hesitate for a second.
"I'm going."
That resolve—
Urahara turned and called out.
"Alright, you two. That fills our quota of three."
Ishida Uryū and Sado Yasutora had been waiting quietly.
After brief greetings and some banter, the trio stepped forward with shared resolve.
They had stormed Soul Society together. Their bond was unspoken, but unbreakable.
Ichigo stepped to the gate, inhaled deeply—
"Kurosaki-kun!"
He glanced back.
Urahara stood with his usual grin, raising a hand.
"Yoruichi-san isn't weak, you know. Most of the time... she's the one saving me."
"So I don't quite get your reasoning, but…"
"That's why we protect the weak all the more."
Safe travels, Kurosaki Ichigo.
Ichigo smiled softly.
"Yeah. I will."
The trio stepped into the darkness.
Inside the Garganta, they exchanged intel and laid out their plan.
And among them—
Ishida placed a hand on his chest, his face tense.
This place—
He carried something his father had entrusted to him.
Something meant to be delivered, by his hand, to Seiya.
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates