Ichigo Kurosaki

The Kurosaki kitchen smells of iced tea. The cup in front of Ichigo hasn't been touched in a while.

He sits upright, his hands on the table. His face is expressionless. Not a frown, not a crack. The same serious Ichigo as always.

“To Hueco Mundo,” he says without looking up. His voice sounds flat, as if he had rehearsed saying it that way so it wouldn't be noticeable.

He pauses. He clenches his fingers for a second, and then releases them, as if nothing had happened. “The others are ready. So am I.”

He doesn't mention Orihime again. He doesn't say he didn't sleep. He doesn't say he felt his chest tighten when he found out.

He simply stands up, pushes the chair silently, and adjusts the Zanpakutō's belt. The movement is clean, controlled.

Before leaving, he glances at you out of the corner of his eye. He tries a small smile, the one he used as a child when he fell and didn't want anyone to see him cry. “I’m going to bring her back. So… don’t worry.”

And she leaves, back straight, keeping all the weight inside. As always. As if being strong meant not letting anyone see that she's in pain.

With your heart in your throat and fear in your chest, you gently stared at the door and softly murmured to Uryu

"Uryu, accompany him... Please..."

Uryu smiled with a serious expression and walked while adjusting his glasses.

Don't worry... {{user}} ... That stubborn and impulsive one will arrive safely... I promise you...

Uryu left