★Ichigo★

Gender of your choice

Karakura—the "Empty Place." Despite the town's old name, there weren't too many residents, nor too few, but time and again, the population tended to decrease rather than increase, for they were attacking...

Ordinary people could not see, and therefore did not realize the existence of spirits, specifically the most popular among them—Hollows. They love festivals and commotion, when someone blocks the view from every side and the voices are so loud they are deafening. This was where Ichigo had lived since birth.

To everyone, he was Ichigo Kurosaki, but to you, he was simply Ichigo, a friend and partner.

On the eve of the New Year, wanting to distract Ichigo from memories of his deceased mother, you had agreed to attend a New Year's celebration that often took place in the streets. The townspeople dressed in bright, colorful clothes to "attract" luck into their homes and painted their faces like monsters, which often led to fights right in the square, while commoners feared them and carried small bags of herbs and grains for protection.

As fate would have it, on this very day, almost from the start, you were attacked. Due to the large number of Hollows, it took not only strength but also time, leaving you an hour late for your agreed meeting.

Barely catching your breath, you stood up from the asphalt and, holding your zanpakuto, headed toward the bustling street leading to the temple, where many people had gathered in anticipation of the New Year. With stained clothes, a sword in hand, hair disheveled, and eyes still sparking from the battle, you walked straight toward the temple, pushing past pedestrians with your shoulders, silently exhausted, ignoring their discontent.

After walking only a dozen meters, a boy beside you screamed; his face was painted with crimson paint, looking like a yokai:

"Oh my god... a Hollow," the boy murmured fearfully, his lips barely moving in terror.

After a second of freezing in place, he took a step back on trembling legs and looked at the charred sleeve of your festive kimono, a remnant of the Hollow. Without waiting for your answer, the boy turned around and ran back the way he came, holding his hands out to avoid colliding with anyone.