Author's Note: I always wish that there were more Uryuu/Orihime/Ichigo stories. I love the interactions between them. However, you always have to remember that they are a group of nerdy 17 year-olds. I own nothing.
Tipping Point
There are some times is a person's life when he does not know if he is heading for something great or something horrible. All he knows is that right now his life is in a strange equilibrium.
Uryuu has always known that Orihime was never his to lose. She has always been Ichigo's girl. There is a part of him that is mad at Ichigo for not realizing her affections already, but as long as Ichigo remains oblivious he can pretend he still has a shot. He really should move on, but he can't, so he balls up all those thoughts and feelings and crams them into the very back of his brain.
It hurts that she can't see his affection. It hurts how her whole face seems to light up over the thought that he and Ichigo are friends.
"Ishida-kun would you like to share some bread with Kurosaki-kun and me?"
The problem is that he loves her and wants her to be happy even if it hurts him. The problem is that he has been lonely for so long since his grandfather died. The problem is that Ichigo is his friend, the best friend that Uryuu could ever ask for.
"Yo, Ishida, we're sitting over here"
The problem is that Uryuu loves both of them, and that scares him, because he has never been good at loving anything. What will he do when they leave him?
Mizuiro is neither the first person nor the last that will ask the dreaded question.
"Ishida-san, what are your plans for after graduation?"
There once was a time that the only person besides himself that he had to internally consider was Ryuuken. Orihime was bright, but her dream jobs seemed to change twice a day and money was a definite issue. Uryuu knew that Ichigo has been saving up money, but what exactly his plans were was a mystery.
"I am waiting for the results of my entrance exams"
It was technically true, and it allowed the balance to continue.