Today would be the first day that they would meet for the first time. He still wasn't sure what to make of her from last night. He wondered briefly how she would react seeing him turn into a pale white beast with a mask and two long horns that faced downward protruding from his head.
*
Orihime was walking up the stairs to the third floor to her first tutoring session. It was buzzing more than usual in the Language Arts building. She heard whispers about the new tutor. Supposedly, he was scary. Her friend Mahana said he looked like a delinquent. Her classmate Riruka said he was hot.
The department head greeted her as she came into the room. Orihime bowed, "Kon'nichiwa, Tanaka sensei."
"Kon'nichiwa, Inoue-san. Let me introduce you to your tutor this quarter, Ichigo Aizen," he stated. Ichigo stood beside him, hands still in his pockets. Ichigo sounded familiar. She had known only one boy with that name, which was a long time ago. And she could no longer remember what he looked like. Besides, she thought, his young man had black hair.
Orihime bowed to him, "Kon'nichiwa, Aizen sensei."
Ichigo looked at her with an impassive look, studying her. "Just call me Ichigo. I'm not a fan on formalities," he said. She nodded.
Mr. Tanaka left them to continue. She followed him to the back room where there were tables and desks. Like him, she was trying to figure him out. She thought about Riruka's comment, a blush creeping on her cheeks. He wasn't how she pictured him at all.
They sat down and proceeded to review the English lesson without unnecessary conversation. Ichigo found her to be forthcoming. The hour had passed by quickly and as they got up to go, she smiled at him, "Thank you, Aizen-san."
So she confessed to be the local shinigami, how she followed in her brother's footsteps, how she was still trying and learning to harness her powers. Rejection and not healing. This Aizen would be excited to know.
He asked whether he could walk her out. She was flustered and he could tell. He didn't wait for her answer as he followed her out of the room and building. This was going to be easier than he thought.