Through Heart and Soul: To Love-Ru (改訂版) Chapter 7: THE SPIRITS AIN'T WITH YOU, a Bleach + To Love-Ru Crossover fanfic

⦏ Bleach (stylized as BLEACH) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. ⦐
⦏ To LOVE-Ru is a Japanese manga series written by Saki Hisemi and illustrated by Kentaro Yabuki, creator of Black Cat.⦐
⦏ As shown above, I do not own the characters introduced or alluded to within either series but am simply a writer telling of a fanfiction that's aim is to meld their stories together. . . Possibly. ⦐
⦏ I only own what original characters will be introduced in this story, the first example being Masaki Inoue. ⦐
ー Disclaimer

⦏ Saturday: May 24th, 2008 ⦐
❲ 8:00 a.m. ❳

"We've done some digging, Saki-sama."

"Yes, I'm listening."

In one of the classrooms, Saki had seated in her desk with her arms crossed.

This Lala girl had been on her mind since the other day and the thoughts were not pleasant for her. After all, the idea of a threat to the role she had comfortably placed herself in was an insult to everything she had built for herself at the school!

She was the most beautiful in the school and she wanted to be damn sure that everyone knew it. It was what defined her presence!

...well, in reality, it was her rich girl status. But, Saki was resolute to ignore that.

"Here, you should take a look at this."

Saki was handed a photograph, one she took to examine carefully. On it was a photo of Rito, who was staring into space, distracted from class.

"Yukki Rito, a first year. From what we know of those he associates with, Asano Keigo and Saruyama Kenichi, he may very well be a degenerate." Rin explained.

"Sure." Saki set the photo on the desk beside her, raising a brow toward her subordinate, "But why is he being brought up to me now?"

"From Lala's claims, it appears that Yukki Rito is Lala's fiancé."

"F-fiancé!?" Saki's face shrunk in his shock, "This girl already has a betrothed before I, the beautiful one!? How irritating‼"

After a moment of grumbling to herself over it, she paused and looked down at the picture again. Normally, she would merely drown herself in compliments from poor folk to avoid the reality of this defeat.

"Wait a moment..." Saki had lifted the photograph in her hand with a soft smirk, "If I use by beauty to enslave him... I'm sure she'll panic‼"

This time, though? She was determined to turn this defeat into her victory.

Standing from her seat, she raised her hand and hover it over her lips as an "OHOHOHO~!" was let out.

"Yes, that plan is perfect!" Saki congratulated herself prematurely, "Just wait and see, Lala!"

Her pair of assistants gave a bow as Saki continued to laugh.

"Mou... Where are you, Rito?" Lala sighed longingly, leaning against the school gate, "If he doesn't hurry up, then he's going to be late!"

She was hoping to have walked to school with him today, but things did not go as planned. She recalled herself trying to bring him along, but the boy was too distracted by Kon.

The two were apparently arguing about whether or not Kon could sleep with them. Lala had no issues with it herself, seeing as he did not take up too much room for her to reach Rito in her sleep.

"Hmmm... From my last readings, he seems to have sequestered himself in the bathroom."

"Well, he better be done soon..." Lala hummed to herself, going to reach into her bag.

"Oh, Lala-san, good morning!"

Looking to the voice that called out, Lala paused in her search with a smile: "Oh, good morning, Haruna! It's nice to see you!"

"Are you waiting for Yukki-kun?" Haruna questioned, looking around.

"Mhm! But don't worry, I won't have to wait long."

Haruna tilted her head in confusion as she proclaimed this.

Lala drew out her phone and pulled it to her ear. Waiting for it to ring, she beamed when her betrothed answered.

"What's up, Lala!? I'm almost there, has class started yet?"

"Nope! But don't worry, I'll get you here soon!"

"W-wait, whaddoya mean by that?"

"Peke~ Can you activate the Warp-kun?"

"Affirmative, Lala-sama."

A loud gasp escaped from the phone, "Wait, you stuck that thing on my wrist!? When did y-"

"See you soon, Rito~❤"

Having hung up, she returned her phone to her bag as a blue light dropped down to the ground before her.

Haruna jumped back as this light sparked. How did that get there? Her eyes looked to Lala who looked at it expectantly. Did she have something to do with this?

From the cone had emerged Rito. The boy looking down at the metal bunny head wrapped over his wrist.

Quickly getting up, Rito had waved his wrist in Lala's face.

"Lala, you can't just stick these things on people!"

"I wanted to see you, so I got you here." Lala pouted cutely, bringing her hands behind her back.

Rito's lips pursed, finding himself feeling a bit guilty for being mad afterward. Only a bit, though.

"I would have been here soon, you didn't have to use this!" Rito groaned as he turned away, placing his hands on his hips, "After all, didn't you forget the side effect of this!? You can't telepor-"

His eyes snapped open when he heard Haruna gasp loudly. His eyes looked to Haruna who had been staring downward. His own previous line of thought had allowed him to already guess what it was she had been looking at.

"I- It- You-"

Haruna struggled to decide which thought in her head would come out first. The more that she tried to juggle forward, her face only became more red. Until finally her head became a tomato with purple hair as she wobbled back and forth.

"I-I'm so sorry, Sairen-"

"DAMMIT, RITO‼"

In blinding speeds, Rito was down on the ground courtesy of Tatsuki's fist.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, Haruna..." Rito groaned as he was on the ground.

Tatsuki huffed, crossing her arms. When she looked down at him, she quickly averted her gaze given his... Current condition.

"Y-you better be sorry. Hmph."

"I was planning to be late today, but ooh, I'm glad I wasn't~"

Tatsuki leapt backward as Risa had appeared next to her, Mio close behind.

"Hung as always, Darling~❤"

"W-wait, you've seen it before!?" Tatsuki shouted in protest, "What kind of perverted stuff have you two gotten up to!?"

"Oh, nothing. Just one hot, steamy, passionate night of wild-"

"S-stop saying things like that, Risa-san!"

Haruna spoke up, but found herself unable to stand again without her eyes moving themselves back to Rito's naked form. The only possible solution she found? Flee from the scene.

Tatsuki sighed as she saw her go. Placing a hand over her face to keep herself from meeting the same fate.

"Rito, come on, we're going to be late!"

As the group made their way into the school, Rito protesting that he had to go find wherever his stuff was left behind, the girls overruled him that running around town naked was far worse than going into the school.

Watching them from afar had been Yui, the girl keeping her arms crossed. Seeing them, a frown came onto her face. This had been irritating. Merely watching had become too much now. She was far too lenient, clearly.

It appeared turning a blind eye was no longer an option. Letting Rito and Lala be together stirred up trouble, that was clear.

She needed to be direct if she was going to save Ri-

The school's moral integrity.

Even so... A smile did show itself somewhat. She was glad to see that he was back to normal.

Even farther away, a black cat sat perched upon the school wall. Licking its paw a couple of times, it watched as up ahead, Risa had pulled out a spare change of his uniform to him.

"HOW DID YOU EVEN GET THIS!?"

"Wouldn't you like to know~?"

"THIS IS SERIOUS, MOMIOKA!"

The cat gave a meow. Slowly, a smile came onto its mouth.

『 Tʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ Hᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ Sᴏᴜʟ: To-Love Ru 』
【 Chapter 7 | The Meaning of Heroism ~𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐈𝐍'𝐓 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐘𝐎𝐔~ 】

"BOHAHAHA‼"

Rito cringed as Keigo looked to him expectantly. His arms were crossed over one another in front of his chest, hands crunched.

"Ack- Dude, c'mon! You barely gave any reaction!" Keigo huffed, "Don't ya know where this is from?"

"Y-yeah..." Rito took in a breath, shaking his head softly, "It's from Spirit Hunter, right?"

"Bingo!" Keigo gave him a thumbs up.

Raising his arms back up, he gave a small chuckle.

"Now, let's do it together!"

"BOHAHAHA‼" He laughed again alongside Mizuiro and Saruyama.

Rito's eye twitched when he saw all of them lined up together, continuing to cry out the strange laugh.

Spirit Hunter. A TV show with a viewer's rating of 25%. That meant that at least 1 out of every 4 Japanese citizen watched it. Of course, given its aesthetic, older people did not watch the show. Those that watched consisted of a younger demographic.

Rito was well aware of its popularity. Though, given that he literally could see spirits, its appeal did not reach him personally.

"So, Rit-"

"I already know what you're about to ask. The answer is no."

To Rito's abrupt refusal, the three all groaned in shock.

"What do you mean you're not going!?" Keigo pulled him over to the window on the other side of the room, furrowing his brows, "It's the most popular show in the country, and it's about to be filmed right in our town!"

Reaching over, he grabbed tightly onto his shoulder and shook him back and forth. Rito had a deadpan expression as he was wobbling in Keigo's hold.

"If you don't go watch this, you're as good as dead as a resident of Sainan!" Keigo declared, "I can just hear it. Tomorrow, you'll come to school known only as the 'Guy Who Didn't Go See It'‼"

"Wow, that's so much worse than what people already call me..." Rito huffed, gently pulling Keigo off, "I'd rather be a zombie anyway than go see that, so buzz off."

"T-that's cruel, man!" Keigo was taken aback from Rito's cold response, "Even after I went through the trouble of inviting Kuchiki-san, too!"

Gesturing his hand to the side, Rito's line of sight followed. Rito was then greeted to the sight of Rukia, who had a cute smile on her face as she pulled at either side of her skirt.

"How goes it, Yukki-kun?"

Rito's jaw dropped at this. He found himself unable to verbally greet the faker.

"Look, Kuchiki-san!" Keigo immediately put his arms up again, "BOHAHAHA~‼"

"Oh, no, it's far too embarrassing~" Rukia placed a hand on her cheek as she leaned away from Keigo, a light blush on her cheeks.

Rito was astonished. She had managed to improve her act that quickly...!

"Don't be such a stickler, man." Saruyama walked over to the window, leaning against it as he looked at Rito with a frown, "This is why you ain't got a girlfriend."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"The chicks love this kind of stuff!" Saruyama began to count off his fingers, "Fortune telling, feng shui, all the kinds of stuff that tell em bout the things they can't see!"

"Yeah? And I hate those things..." Rito deadpanned.

"That's exactly the problem!" Saruyama jabbed his thumb backward, "What if Haruna's into those kinds of things and you keep that stick up your ass?"

Rito looked to him with a frown. Thinking on it a little, he huffed.

"Yukki-kun?"

Rito snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Haruna call out for him. Stepping back from the window, he looked over to see Haruna standing behind Saruyama.

"Oh, perfect. There you are, Sairenji. How abou- URGH!" Before Keigo could speak up, Mizuiro grabbed him by the ear and pulled him away.

Saruyama and Rukia also took their exits from the scene with one last glance at the two.

"Um..." Rito gulped, "W-what's up, Sairenji?"

His mind began to wander to the morning. Immediately, he clapped his hands together and bowed.

"I-I really am sorry about this morning, you shouldn't have had to deal with that!"

"O-oh, um..." Haruna's face went red, the girl turning her head away as she raised a hand over her lips, "N-no, it's not about that..."

"Oh?"

"Well, um..." Haruna looked back to him, lowering her hand to her chest, "Y-yesterday, when you got back from the nurse's office, you weren't yourself. So... I was worried if something happened."

Rito's expression softened when she explained that. He remembered that Kon had certainly made an entrance for himself that day...

But then he instantly remembered what that entrance consisted of as though a fit of lightning struck through him.

"Um, uh, ahahaha! Must've been hit pretty bad, hehehe..." He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "A-anyway, I'm all better now, so it's all okay!"

"Well, if you say so, Yukki-kun..." Haruna smiled gently, bobbing her head to the side lightly, "Welcome back."

When he saw the smile on her face, Rito's face shrunk as he felt his heart threatening to leap out of his chest at her. Oh, this girl was way too cute for her own good!

"Thank you, Sairenji."

Behind them, the door swung open. Behind it was Masaki, who held up a lunchbox.

"Hey, Rito! It's time for lunch. We headin' up or not?"

"ACK-" Rito looked toward Masaki with a venom in his eyes.

"What's that look for?" Masaki gave a pout in response, before his head turned and his smile returned, "Oh, Haruna-san! Did you want to come with us!?"

"Oh, um, sure."

"If Haruna's going, how about we tag along, too?" Risa chimed in alongside Mio.

"Oh my goodness, our sausage fest has finally upgraded into the co-ed safe haven it was meant to be‼" Keigo cheered.

"Hell yeah!" Shouted Saruyama.

Kon, left alone at home, had been sitting on a recliner in the living room as if it were a throne.

As he should have, right? After all, he was now a part of the team. An ally. No. He lived in the house as well. So clearly, he was a member of the family!

For now, though? He had a show to catch. What was this show?

Well, it made itself known when the TV had clicked on.

Some characters flying onto the scene above a flame that would ignite across the screen. A flash of light washed over the flame, writing out the kanji for Magical Girl to the left side. When it fully formed, the flames then coalesced into another kanji that wrote out Kyoko.

What was this show? Well, it was a series about a girl who had the power to control flames who saved the world from a group of evil... While accidentally causing things to burn down.

It was a cute show for Kon. Immediately boosted up a few points because the protagonist, Kyoko, had massive breasts. Always a good point in his book!

He was hooked on it after Lala watched a DVD of the show's first few episodes the night before. It seemed to parody a lot of what other magical girl shows had to offer.

Instead of giving a fancy magical girl transformation, she literally changes into her magical girl outfit. Of course, Kon did not complain. It was free views for him.

He was certainly caught off guard when this most recent episode took her off set. Suddenly, the girl returned to the set in time for the rest of the episode. Maybe it was a planned gag...

Lala hummed to herself as she walked down the hallway, on her way to the rooftop where she knew Rito and friends gathered regularly.

She knew that her teleportation made it so Rito was without his own lunch, so she went ahead and bought him one to make up for it! She hoped he would like yakisoba pan! The pinkette herself liked it when Haruna bought it for her one time.

Earth had been fun so far. Even the Shinigami was starting to warm up. Maybe they'd end up being friends by the end of all this!

Perhaps Lala's optimism knew no bounds given she felt that way about someone who regarded her father as an enemy. She did not mind it though. After all, if they were friends with Rito, that meant she should do her own best to get along with them, right?

A childish giggle escaped from her lips. Her tail wagged back and forth in response to her excitement.

"Hey." That mood immediately changed when she opened her eyes to who stood before her, "Do you have a minute?"

Standing before her was Yui, who had a stern gaze trained on her.

Her face lowered as her movement stopped. Lowering the yakisoba in her hand, she frowned toward her.

"You're the girl who screams about shameless stuff all the time, right?"

Yui crossed her arms at the remark, "It's Kotegawa Yui. I'm a member of the Morals Committee as well as the Student Representative of Class 1-B."

Kotegawa Yui. Lala committed that name to memory.

It was the name of the girl who introduced Lala to a feeling she never knew before the day prior. Even now, when she was aware of the fact it was not really Rito. She felt something well up within when she saw his hands around her.

"Since you've transferred into this school, you've been doing whatever you want here." Yui narrowed her eyes, "My patience with your depravity have worn out."

"Doing whatever I want...?" Lala tilted her head to this.

"Bringing all of those strange items of yours to school!" Yui huffed, "From what I've heard, one of them had broken into the girl's changing room and torn their uniforms to shreds!"

Lala was about to question what she was talking about, but then giggled, "Oh, you mean Trace-Kun!"

"So it is on purpose!"

Yui frowned. This girl was clearly a threat to R- The school.

Pointing downward, she had pointed out the tail of Lala which had drooped down since her arrival.

"What's with that tail of yours?" She questioned, "You think it's okay to bring toys like that to school?"

"Huh?" Lala blinked, looking down to her tail as it waved back and forth, "But it's actually real. See?"

She waved it in either direction to emphasize her point. To her confusion, though, this did not seem to change Yui's mind at all. The girl deciding to walk around her.

"I see, so you have no intention of being honest with me." Yui sighed, "Fine. Then I'll have to remove it myself."

"Wait-"

When Yui's fingers made contact with Lala's tail, an electric jolt shot off directly into Lala's brain. In response, the girl had shuttered before her back arched in response.

The more her fingers traced over it, the stronger the sensation became. Lala's eyes widened further, a moan escaping from her lips as her legs began to wobble.

"S...stop...it...~!"

"H-huh!?" Yui had let go of the tail in surprise, "W-why are you using that weird voice...!?"

Her mind would then begin to fish for a logical answer to the matter. She dreaded the sense of it.

"Don't tell me... Is that tail actually a..."

"It's my tail!" Lala barked back with some bite behind it, turning toward Yui in defense of it.

Yui's face reddened some. It seemed that she had quite the problem on her hands. This school was certainly going to crumble before her very eyes if the most popular girl in the first year class was a hedonist!

» 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡? «

Yui and Lala were walking down the hallway in silence. Neither of them speaking a word to one another as the tension between them was physically visible to any they passed.

Yui glanced in the direction of the pinkette after a few seconds passed. Scanning over her figure once as she thought back on everything she had heard about this girl.

Lala Satalin Deviluke. Likely foreign.

A transfer student who had brought nearly every day some weird contraption. All of which resulted in some form of depravity ongoing throughout the school.

She had gotten various reports of them resulting in students being witnessed naked through the school. Most notably, Yukki Rito. He seemed to be at the center of them all each time.

However...

She reached upward, touching upon her hairpins.

Yui refused to believe that he was at fault for it. Perhaps it was a foolish hope that it was not the case. But even still, she wholeheartedly trusted in that gut feeling.

"Ne, Yui."

"Don't refer to me by my first name." Yui shifted her gaze, "We are not friends."

Lala placed her hands behind her back, "But, you're friends with Rito, aren't you?"

"We-" Yui covered her mouth, her face flushing some when she realized what she was about to say, "W-we're not..."

"Hmm... Okay..." Lala turned her attention forward with a light hum, "So then..."

Yui's hand lowered, moving her attention back toward Lala when she spoke up next.

"It's okay if I don't like you?"

Rito groaned. He went to school for the day without his bag. Leaving him with only a portion of Inoue's lunch... Which was a comically large piece of bread and honey.

"Damn it, Masaki, can't you eat a normal lunch for once!?"

"Whaddoya mean? It's perfectly normal." Masaki blinked, "See? Ya take the bread and you dip it in the honey."

"IT'S STILL WEIRD!" Rito argued back.

Risa giggled as she crawled over, holding up a sushi roll between her chopsticks.

"Well, if you're hungry, Darling, I can always feed you~"

"I-" Rito blushed at the offer, "H-hold on, I think I'll be fine with the bread, Momioka-"

Risa did not back down, "Don't be like that, dear~" Leaned closer, she brought it closer to his lips, "Say ahh~"

"No I'm fine, reall-"

Before Rito could finish, Risa pushed the sushi into his mouth. Forced to eat the sushi to avoid choking, he let out a low, muffled groan as Risa had a giddy grin on her face.

"Aww~ It makes me so happy to see you eating healthy~❤"

"You all sure get along." Tatsuki spoke up, her arms crossed.

"Do we?" Masaki tilted his head, "I don't think it's all that strange for friends to get along."

Keigo scratched his cheek lightly, "Well, it's kinda different with you and Risa."

"Yeah, it feels like you all have a story of some kind together." Mio spoke up, "Especially Masaki-chi and Rito-chi... I always sensed a hot passion between you two~"

"H-huh!? Sawada-san, what are you saying?" Haruna felt her cheeks flush some.

"Just think about it. Before last week, they'd never speak a word to one another. Whenever they had, it was only in short interactions." Mio waved her finger around, "And they would always end with a silent prayer that Rito would return to his calling. Standing by his side in the soccer league~ Truly a work of burning love‼"

"Don't turn my life into some sick fantasy!" Rito snapped, "My dad does that enough..."

"I swear, it's not anything like that." Masaki waved his hand gently, "Me and Rito have been best friends since he moved to Sainan. I didn't like that we started to not talk anymore after he quit soccer, so I guess I was really bitter about it..."

"Awww~" Mio clasped her hands together, "He's such a tsundere‼"

Rito looked to Masaki with some remorse, "Masaki..."

"Are you about to profess your love for him!?"

"Sawada-san...!" Haruna placed her hands over the pig-tailed girl's mouth.

"But there's still a big elephant in the room here." Mizuiro put down his bento box, "Risa's known Rito for a long time, too, hasn't she? She already knew him by the time we met him."

"Yeah, that was back in Junior High." Keigo added.

"Oh, that?" Rito looked to the group with a blink, glancing back towards Risa, who had been grinning, "Me and Risa basically have grown up together."

Grown up together? When that was said, Tatsuki and Haruna both froze. Staring at the two with unreadable expressions.

"Yeah, both me and Rito were born and raised in Kuoh Town." Risa began, "Back then, we had ourselves a cute little group!"

"I still text them every now and then. But Irina and Tsukune haven't texted back in a while..." Rito chimed in, checking his phone again.

"So, if you were both in Kuoh Town. How'd that end up with you guys here?" Keigo tilted his head lightly.

"I... Think I remember this part." Masaki rubbed his temple trying to recall.

"It was a super long time ago, but. When Mikan was really young, Dad's manga really picked up. So we ended up moving to Sainan Town since it was a lot closer to Maruki City, where he could send it straight over there for better sales." Rito raised a finger. "They didn't really take it well since another friend of ours had already left by then..."

A much smaller Yukki Rito was struggling to keep a straight face as he stared at his group of friends at the time.

A small raven haired boy, Aono Tsukune, who had been staring at him in shock.

A younger Risa, who had tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Finally, a young boy with spiked up hair, Hyoudou Issei, who growled and stepped toward him. His hands firmly gripped onto Rito's collar. Beginning to shake him back and forth.

"What the!? Whaddoya mean you're moving!? Ya can't do that!" Issei protested, "What about the boobies!? We have to get as many as we can, we promised we would do that together, right!?"

"N-no... You're the only one who meant that... The rest of us just agreed so he'd leave us alone." Rito deadpanned as he puffed a cheek, "Besides. I don't have any control over it. We're moving so Dad's manga can get out to more people!"

"Screw your Dad's manga!" Issei turned away, crossing his arms, "The boobies are more important!"

"Why is a child goin' on about boobs like that..." Tatsuki pushed aside the memory like it were a screenroll.

Rito had sweatdropped to the question, "His grandpa was a hedonist, and he was, uh, very adamant in teaching us about his ways."

"Teaching elementary school kids about breasts is weird, no matter how you look at it..."

"I disagree!" Keigo had stars in his eyes, "That guy must have been a true hero..."

"A real man among men...!" Saruyama added.

This earned them both swift punches from Tatsuki. The both of them lied out on the ground with smoking heads. After blowing the steam off her hand like the barrel of a gun, Tatsuki would return to her spot next to Haruna and take a seat.

"Only Issei was really listening to him, anyway." Risa giggled lightly, waving her hand gently, "Besides him, we were all pure and happy kids!"

"The way you are now makes me question that..." Tatsuki retorted.

Risa hummed lightly, "Hmmm. I guess you can say I changed at some point."

"Some point?"

"After Rito moved away, I was down for a while." Risa clasped her hands together as she leaned her head onto his shoulder, despite his grumbles, "I just couldn't live without my Baby. So, when it turned out my Dad was being transferred over to Sainan, I was pleasantly surprised to see Rito again~!"

Rito tried to push her off as Risa leapt onto him for a hug.

"Risa...! C'mon!"

"Oh, won't you just give me a little~❤?"

"So where did you end up becoming like this?" Tatsuki raised a brow.

Haruna nodded lightly, "I'd like to know as well. The depths of Yukki-kun and Risa-san's relationship."

"I guess we're just delving into our stories here, huh?" Risa leaned up off of Rito, flicking a hand through her hair, "Well, we happened to meet up again in fifth grade."

"Okay class, we have a new student joining us today!" The teacher called out, a small Risa standing beside her. "Go on, introduce yourself."

Looking to her with a nod, she stepped forward.

"I'm Risa, I'm hoping to make friends with you all..." Her tone was dejected, but she did mean it.

"Risa-san!?"

A voice Risa had not heard for a long time had spoken up, the girl moving her eyes in the direction of the voice. There she saw a shocked Rito having stood up in his chair.

Risa's shoulders lowered as tears began to well up in her eyes. Dropping her backpack to the ground, she ran across the room to jump into his arms to hug him.

"RITO‼ I missed you so much!"

"So you were on first name basis back then..." Haruna's grip on her skirt tightened. "When did that change...?"

Risa looked down with a sigh, "It was the year after when... That happened."

"Oh..." Tatsuki lowered her crossed arms, having been aware of what she was referring to.

"Huh? What's wrong with you guys?" Keigo blinked, looking between the two of them, "It's like a funeral all of a sudden!"

It was at that moment that Rito shot up from his seat. His hands both balled into fists.

"Rito?"

Risa looked up to him, not able to read his expression courtesy of his bangs over his face. She just felt at fault for it, given it was her that dug into that scar.

"I'm gonna head back early."

Before anyone could protest, Rito stormed off. Keigo blinking in confusion as he looked to Saruyama, the other shrugging.

"Great going." Masaki shot at Keigo, who shrunk in response.

Haruna would get up from her seat afterward, dusting herself off. "I'll go check on him."

"Yeah..." Tatsuki muttered with a nod.

Haruna rushed down the stairs to catch up with the leaving Rito.

"Haruna 1, Masaki 0..." Mio muttered quietly, causing Masaki to raise a brow.

"Yukki-kun, wait!"

Haruna ran up to Rito as he reached the bottom of the stairs, leaning over to catch her breath. The brown haired boy turned his attention back toward her.

After looking up, she saw that he was forcing a smile. It made her chest tighten looking at it. She raised her hand up. She wanted to reach for his. She wanted to tell him that it was okay.

But she could not bring herself to.

She cursed this inability. How would she ever get closer to him if she could not support him in times like these?

"I'm fine, Sairenji... Really."

Rito did not maintain eye contact. Haruna was able to easily tell that he was not. But it was just Rito's nature to avoid telling her what was really bringing him down. He had been like that since Middle School.

She did not personally interact with him at the time, but she saw interactions he had with Mizuiro and the rest. Even now, she wished that was not the case. Maybe then she would know what to do here.

But right now, she knew for certain that leaving him alone to his thoughts was not a good idea.

"Sairenji...?"

Haruna looked up again to notice that her fingers were clutched onto his sleeve. Realizing herself, she pulled her hand back and gave a bow of her head.

"I... I'm sorry!" Haruna's face grew red, "U-um... On another note... There's something I've wanted to say to you, Yukki-kun..."

"Eh?"

"I mean..." Haruna's hand rested upon her chest, "A couple weeks back..."

"A couple weeks...?" Rito blinked.

"Mhm. The time I passed out from anemia." Haruna lifted her gaze to look him directly in the eyes, "Tatsuki told me about it. How you were the one who found me, and brought me to the nurse's office..."

Rito looked taken aback by that. Her hand clutching a bit tighter.

"Ever since I've been trying to find a way to thank you..." A bright smile made itself present, "So, thank you, Yukki-kun..."

She saw a blush appear on his face. That only made her own cheeks burn brighter. Did she make him feel better...? If that were the case, she would feel incredible!

Though, now that she had the chance to speak on that, she felt it appropriate to bring up other topics to get off her chest.

"Also..."

"H-huh?"

Rito seemed to snap out of his thoughts, Haruna stepping a bit closer.

"Are you really... Marrying Lala-san?"

"Wha-!?"

"It's just that, I've noticed that you two make such a good pair..."

Rito's face double took. The boy let out weak gasps while he began to wobble where he stood.

Haruna, on the other hand, began to find her eyes pinned to the floor.

"Lala-san's a very beautiful girl. So cheerful, too. And straightforward about how she feels..." Haruna eyes glowered, "I can see why you fell in love with her..."

"Wait, hold on, I-"

"But..."

Spit it out, Haruna. This moment could be the one to change things. For the better. For her happy ending!

Speak up! SPEAK UP‼

"But still, I—!"

"Hey, Yukki, Sairenji, back to your classroom!"

"Oh, uh, yes sir!"

Haruna felt herself deflate when she found the courage that she well up blow out of her throat as a groan as she watched Rito walk off, completely oblivious as to what she was about to say.

Why did this have to happen every time...

» 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝!? «

"Lala, are you okay?"

Mikan raised a brow as she saw Lala sitting on the couch, hugging her knees as a pout was stuck on her face.

Before now, she was unaware the princess was even capable of feeling negative emotions. She supposed as her eventual sister-in-law, it was her job to do check ups.

Thus, she plopped down next to her on the couch as she bobbed her head to the side.

"What's the matter?"

"Muu..." Lala glanced over to her for a moment, before returning her attention to her knees, "Yesterday, Rito got close to another girl. And, normally, that doesn't bother me... But this time... It made my chest hurt."

Nodding her head lightly, Mikan reflected on the matter. She found it a little difficult to believe her brother had gotten close to another girl in that sense, but she got the gist.

"I think that feeling's normal in relationships." Mikan suggested with a smile, "Have you talked to Rito about it?"

"No..." Lala sighed in frustration, "I thought talking to the girl directly would make me feel better, but it only made me feel worse..."

"Hmmm..."

Mikan looked around the room. After a couple seconds, a light bulb popped up in her head as she noticed Kon still sitting on the recliner. Walking over, she would pick him up and bring him over to Lala.

Unaware of his true identity, Kon kept it hidden by going limp. Acting as though he were a normal doll.

"How about you practice what you're going to say to this little guy here?"

"Huh...?" Lala looked to the doll, her eyes slowly widening as she grabbed it from Mikan's hands.

"Mhm, mhm. I'll be right back, okay?" Mikan smiled as she got up from the couch.

When Lala gave her a light nod, the younger sibling made her way to the kitchen.

There, she was greeted to Rito sitting at the table, seeming to read through a fortune segment of the newspaper.

Crossing her arms, she leaned against the wall as she watched him for a moment in silence. While she did still have a hard time believing that Rito was guilty of what Lala was frustrated about, she did see him doing some weird stuff the day prior. Perhaps it was a part of that.

Sighing, she stepped forward and swiped the newspaper from his hands.

As she did, his attention slowly moved toward her with a frown.

"What is it, Mikan?"

"Lala's down, take her out for something fun."

"Huh!?" Rito turned in his chair, puffing his cheek, "Like what? There isn't anything going on right now!"

"Isn't that Spirit Hunter show recording live in town tonight? Take her out to that."

"What? You already know how I feel about that show..." Rito groaned.

Seeing how he was clearly against the idea, Mikan placed a hand on her hip.

"Yes, and I understand. I'm not into it either." She then pointed a finger toward him, "But Lala's definitely the type of girl who would be. So c'mon. Give the chance to see it. I think it would brighten up her night."

Rito let a breath out through his nose as he stared at his sister.

Before he spoke up again, the doorbell came to ring. Mikan spun her head around, blinking. She glanced toward Rito, who gave a shrug in response.

So they expected no visitors.

Well, it did not hurt to check.

"Coming...!"

Mikan walked back across the house to reach the front door. When she had, she would crack the door open to see who was behind it.

...and she was not expecting who was standing on their doorstep.

Behind the door was a slender, well endowed, dark-skinned woman of average height. She had golden eyes much like Rito and Mikan themselves. Her black hair was held in a pony tail that reached her waist, the front of which was arranged into bangs that parted across her forehead to frame the sides of her face, both having strands of her hair curved upwards, shaped similarly like a cat's whiskers.

She wore a black crop top and a pair of white sweatpants. Around her neck being a white scarf that floated in the breeze behind her.

"Hey, Mikan~ You've gotten a little taller since I saw you last!"

Mikan's face immediately brightened up.

"Ms. Yoruichi!"

. . .

"So Rito's lined up to marry an alien princess..." Yoruichi looked between the pair, blinking, "I didn't imagine I'd sit here watching the kid I babysat way back get married so soon."

"It's... A bit more complicated than that..." Rito fanned a hand, "It's moreso about keeping Lala safe."

Mikan noticed the glance that Lala had given Rito, a frown appearing on her face. Agh. Why was her brother so damn against his own feelings? It was so difficult to lead him in the right direction with him being like this.

"I see." Yoruichi leaned forward with a smirk, "So, that show tonight. You two lovebirds gonna catch it?"

"We haven't decided y-"

"YES!"

Lala gripped onto Rito's arm, pulling him closer to herself as she gave Yoruichi an expression filled with determination.

Mikan had smiled to that. At least Lala was headstrong enough to make a good outcome out of it. She just hoped that Yoruichi approved.

Yoruichi rested her chin in her palm for a moment, "Hmm... Well, alright." She gave a light shrug, "Well, don't worry about Mikan. I'll hang out with her while you're gone."

Mikan perked up at this, "What? M-Ms. Yoruichi! I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Sure you aren't~" Yoruichi got up and rubbed over the girl's head, "C'mon. Lemme see what you made tonight."

Mikan puffed her cheeks instead of protesting. She had to admit that she did miss having her over. She shot a glare toward Rito that he seemed to recognize. Acknowledging that he understood her message by getting up from the couch, she gave a light jog into the kitchen.

"Hold on, Ms. Yoruichi, I'll make you a plate!"

❲ 7:31 p.m. ❳

"BOHAHAHA‼"

Rito's face cringed as he saw the trio of Saruyama, Keigo, and Mizuiro, already raising up the signature pose of the Spirit Hunter show. When he checked the side, he would see Haruna, Tatsuki, and Rukia approaching as well.

Lala, giving a light giggle, had raised her own arms in a similar fashion.

"BOHAHAHA‼ ...is that right?"

"YEAH!"

Mizuiro gave Lala a high five, to which she cheered.

"HAHA! YOU CAME‼" Keigo and Saruyama pointed at the annoyed Rito in unison.

Rito grumbled to himself before his head grew comically massive, "SHUT UP‼ BE QUIET‼ I'LL KILL YOU‼"

To the snap, the two had retreated into themselves, shielded by the aura of their shock and dismay.

"Did he just say he'll kill us...?"

"The young people these days..."

"Yukki-kun."

Rito's annoyance toward the two quelled when he heard Haruna's voice call for him. The girl approached, a smile on her face.

"You seem to be in a better mood than before."

"Do I? Well, I couldn't stay down in the dumps all day, could I?" Rito chuckled, "I guess it's good to see you here."

"I'm glad to hear that, but..." Haruna placed a hand on her chest, "Tatsuki told me that you didn't like this kind of show. I wasn't aware..."

"Oh? That? Pfft. That doesn't matter."

Rito cringed as his head turned to Mizuiro and Keigo, the both of them cheering and mentoring Lala as to the pose for Spirit Hunter.

"Keigo and Mizuiro both know I despise it. And they still do that."

"But... You came." Haruna blinked, tilting her head softly, "Why?"

Rito jabbed his thumb over to Lala, "She didn't seem like she was doing all that well today. So I brought her."

"Lala-san...?"

"Yeah."

"So you came? Even though you despise it?"

Rito gave a light nod, "I thought about it on the way here, and... I realized I'd feel bad if I didn't come with her for her first show in town."

A smile erupted on Haruna's face as she heard that, giggling, "You're so kind."

"Huh? Kind?" Rito raised a brow, pocketing his hands, "I think that's normal."

Haruna glanced toward him for a moment. Seeming to stare into his eyes for a second's time before turning away.

"Yeah... Normal..." Her eyes closed softly, "It's normal..."

Over to the side, Masaki would arrive alongside a reluctant Yui.

"Yo, everybody!"

"Oh, Masaki! You showed up!" Mizuiro walked over and gave him a fist bump.

"Yeah, practice wasn't too long today so my schedule opened up." Masaki then jabbed his thumb toward Yui, "I even brought me a plus one!"

Yui, behind him, would cross her arms and turn away, "I-I'll be joining you all tonight."

"See, look, Rito, even the queen of morality can have fun here!" Keigo shouted at Rito.

The brown haired boy grumbled to that as he made eye contact with Yui. Seeing her quickly avert her gaze made him raise a brow. Though, his attention was dragged to his arm when he felt Lala tug on him.

"Come on, Rito, we should go find somewhere good to see the show~!"

"Huh, but we still have a few min-"

He found himself dragged away by the pinkette. The girl swiftly rushing off to find them a spot in the crowd to stand.

Haruna, having been left behind, could only watch as she vanished in the crowd. Rukia stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright. I'll go find them."

"Oh, okay."

Haruna watched as Rukia would soon walk forward to follow the dust cloud that Lala left behind.

Yui, standing next to Masaki, had seen something more when Lala dragged him away. Something that seemed almost unnatural on the girl's face.

A scowl. Directed straight at her.

"It's okay if I don't like you?"

Yui paused, raising a brow as she placed a hand on her hip.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think I was pretty clear." Lala was stern, "I don't like you."

"I... See." Yui looked pained for a moment, but shook her head lightly, "I don't like you either. Everything you come up with causes trouble wherever you go."

"I'm going to marry Rito." Lala shot back, "So I have as much a right to be here as anyone else he goes to school with."

"Marry?" Yui quipped a brow, "So you plan to drag Yukki Rito's entire life into your troubles?"

Lala clicked her teeth, "What does that matter? I love Rito, so I want to be a part of his life!"

"So you're in love..." Yui paused, taking in a breath through her nose, "Has Yukki-kun returned that sentiment?"

Lala's eyes snapped open, her stomping her foot forward, "What does it matter to you!?"

"Because it's the stark difference between you saying that you'll marry him for your own convenience or for the both of you." Yui chastised, "As a representative of morality within this school, I have an obligation to question such a topic while in school grounds."

Should that turn out to be the case, Yui would never allow that to be the case. She knew how Rito was. She had known for quite a long time. He was a person who was easily susceptible to girls of this type.

She watched a promise that never came true destroy her brother. She refused to watch Rito meet the same fate.

"You refer to him the same way Haruna does." Lala noted, "What's your relationship to Rito, anyway?"

Yui hesitated. She found her chest beating in a higher pace than before. It was as though the question itself caused her body to panic. Her relationship with him...? That was...

Complicated was not an answer she liked. She did not want to say that. But she did not have a sure answer.

Her eyes began to close as she turned her gaze away.

"So you don't even know...?" Lala pouted, "That's not fair..."

Before Yui could question what she meant, Lala had walked off.

Watching as her form disappeared up the stairs, Yui grumbled. She failed to understand why she felt defeated at that moment.

But now? Yui had a clue.

It was because she was a hypocrite back there.

"Yui-chan?" Masaki called out to her, "Are you okay?"

Snapping out of her trance, she gave him a light nod.

"Y-yeah." Her hands clutched onto her skirt despite the smile she gave, "Everything's fine."

"Ugh."

Lala bounced off the ground next to Rito as the crowd came to amass for the showing that was prepping up before them.

It annoyed him that the people gathered up. Drawn to the awaiting spectacle like moths to a flame.

He personally found it all to be such a drag.

If just one showing was enough to bring out this many people, then it was going to make the producers behind the show to feel like this town's residents don't know what entertainment is!

It left a bad taste in his mouth to be lumped in with that kind of thing.

Glancing over to the side, Lala still had a bright smile on her face as she looked in amazement to the sheer size of the crowd.

"You look pretty excited for your run of the mill TV show." Rito hummed lightly.

Lala looked back toward him with the childish glee evident on her face, "That might be true, but before, I could only watch from afar. I never got to be part of the crowd like this before..."

Her tail wagged back and forth. A detail that Rito would quickly pick up on.

He turned forward. Before, he would have found the first excuse to ditch Lala to get closer to Haruna. But now? He just could not look at that smile on her face without his conscience beating at him.

He frowned at this conflicting feeling within his chest. He was in love with Haruna, right...?

"Are you having fun, Rito?" Lala looked up to him with a tilted head, "You haven't smiled once since we got here."

Rito paused as he looked toward her. Starting to raise his hands out of his pockets, he struggled to come up with an answer. After all, he did not want to make it less fun for her.

"If you are, you certainly don't look it, Rito!"

Rito swung his head around. He already knew who it was, a frown appearing on his face as Rukia swung her arms up.

"BOHAHAHA‼"

Rito internally grit his teeth. What the hell was she even trying to do...!?

"What's with that face?"

"Do you ever shut up?" Rito turned away, pulling out the pamphlet for the show to distract himself.

"You went to the trouble of coming!" Rukia argued, "It would be a waste if you didn't have fun!"

"Yeah, yeah!" Lala agreed, "Keigo said it's rare for this kind of thing to come around, right? So we should enjoy it together!"

Rito looked toward Lala with a soft expression as she clung onto his arm.

As she walked forward some to stand beside the two, Rukia crossed her arms.

"You must be tired from having to balance your school life with Shinigami duties." She glanced toward him with a smile, "Use this opportunity to relax yourself."

That was the last thing he expected Rukia of all people to say. He expected her to talk about how he was lacking in his job. Instead, the girl showed genuine concern for his health.

Maybe... She genuinely has gotten kinder...

"By the way..." Rukia crossed her arms, mystified, "What is everyone gathered here for, exactly?"

"YOU CAME HERE WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING!?"

. . .

"I see... So it's a... Tee-Vee Show..." Rukia rubbed her chin, turning away as she came to process the information, "Then this festival is gathered to celebrate it!"

Rito sweatdropped. It was clear the girl did not understand what was going on whatsoever.

"Now that we're on the topic..." Rito jabbed a thumb back, "Is there really a spirit in there...?"

Beside the set standing before the crowd was a massive hospital building. Dark and broody in its abandoned state. The atmosphere coming from the massive block was eerie and hung thick on the air around it.

"What makes you ask that...?"

Rito scratched the side of his head lightly, "Well, it's a normal thing for a psychic show like this to claim that there is." Lowering his hand, he returned it to his pockets, "But if there really was a spirit in there, you Shinigami would have already taken care of it, no?"

"Not necessarily." Rukia's face steeled, "In this sort of place, it is usually an earthbound spirit."

Rito appropriately raised a brow to the new term. Rukia looked to him to explain.

"Earthbound spirits are naturally assimilated with the land, so the Soul Society's intel units rarely pick up on them."

Rukia crossed her arms as camera crew passed by. Heading toward the hospital.

"The only circumstance where Earthbound Spirits show themselves is..."

"Move to the right! Back, back!"

"Yessir!"

Setting up a light at the entrance, they would be unbeknownst to the rumbling that sparked within the hospital.

"...is when a human trespasses on its territory!"

» 𝐃𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰? «

"BOHAH-"

"Cut it out, Keigo, it's embarrassing!" Mizuiro protested, "Everyone's already went elsewhere."

"W-what the!? Hey, you're right!" Keigo glanced around, his eyes snapped open further as he realized they were the only two of their friends around, "W-WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO‼?"

"They went to different positions to see better." Mizuiro sighed, "Doing that pose just doesn't have any meaning anymore since there's no Rito to annoy."

Keigo clutched his fist, tears raining down his face, "Damn it! What's with this, in the end, we only met up for a short while..." He punched toward the sky, cursing this turn of events, "After all this trouble, I thought we could all cheer together!"

To Mizuiro's dismay, Keigo would leap over and grab at his arms. Pulling at them, he sought to gain control over his friend.

"So it's come to this... Mizuiro! We'll do this pose even if it's just with you!"

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO, LET GO OF ME‼"

The both of them picked up on two pair of eyes looking upon them from the crowd.

It was a pair of older woman who looked at them with a hunger in their eyes.

Pretty ladies. Directing their attention their way‼

Waving a hand over their faces, they posed as if they were in a Boys Love story.

"Don't say that, just try out the pose..." Keigo spoke in a sultry voice, which sparked something within the ladies, "It'll be perfectly fine..."

Mizuiro's end of the act, portraying the feminine end of the ordeal, would pull his hand back. A light blush on his cheeks as roses seemed to flow out of his presence.

"Eh... Oh, no..."

The ladies were physically shaking as they saw the expression on Mizuiro's face. It was like a small animal shaking in terror. It was too cute for them to hold back!

"That pose is embarrassing... I don't even know how to do it..."

This was the final straw, the ladies leaping past Keigo and dragging Mizuiro aside. Mizuiro crying out in shock as they held him in their arms between the two of them.

"W-wha-"

"Come this way, child! Do the pose with us‼"

"O-okay, but, I'm shy..."

"Don't be embarrassed! In any case, I want to see more of your shy face‼"

Keigo slammed his fist against the ground. He knew it was his loss. How did his impromptu plan end up this way!?

"I don't know how to do it..."

"I'll teach you! Take my hands- No. Take anything and I'll teach you~❤!"

Keigo beat the ground more. He wanted to be able to take anything‼

A ways away, Tatsuki's gaze lifted from the set. Her eyes narrowing.

"Tatsuki? What's wrong?"

"Hey, Haruna..."

Haruna raised a brow as she noticed Tatsuki looked distracted. Was something bothering her? If there was, Haruna could not have known. So she was about to start looking around, but Tatsuki swallowed and spoke up.

"Can't you... Hear something...? Like a... Strange voice?"

"Eh...?"

Haruna's eyes became saucers. Her head frantically shaking to either side as she began to shake in place.

"D-don't say things like that, Tatsuki. You're scaring me..." Haruna raised her hand, "I don't hear anything. It's probably just your imagination. B-but seriously, go easy on me."

Haruna took in a breath as she tried to hide her fear with a chuckle, "This sort of place isn't good for those kinds of jokes..."

"Yeah... That's gotta be it." Tatsuki nodded slowly, "Sorry, it's just my imagination..."

Over to another end of the crowd, Yui's eyes shot wide. A deep curdling feeling in her stomach as she leaned over some. Feeling the need to catch her breath of all of a sudden.

Why was that the case...? She did nothing but stand here. Sure, the crowd was large, but it was nothing overwhelming. She had been in numerous assemblies before.

...no.

She picked up on something. It came from the hospital. A voice that exploded from the hospital.

One that was ringing in her ears now.

"What... Is that... Voice...?"

She paused as she felt a gripping on her sleeve. Her line of sight picked up on Masaki, whose face wavered similarly.

"I thought so..." He tried his best to smile, "Yui-chan, too...?"

"What the..." Rito's eyes shot wide, "What's this voice!?"

"That's the cry of an earthbound spirit."

Lala's brows furrowed. Rito kept his gaze trained on the hospital, however.

"Earthbound? That doesn't sound all that different from a Hollow to me."

Rukia nodded, "That's correct. This spirit is a unique case. A Plus that is standing on the bridge of becoming a Hollow..."

As the spirit would emerge, it would try desperately to flee from the hospital.

Attempting to run past one of the light posts, chains would lash out from the hospital building to violently wrap around the spirit's body. With a forceful tug, they dragged him back toward the entrance. With another, he was pulled back to his feet.

"Just look."

As the pair of Rito and Lala looked onward, they would both be given view to the work of the center chain...

...how it was tearing a hole in his chest.

"His heart has been captured by this hospital."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH‼"

"So he's a... Demi-Hollow." Rito gulped, "I definitely sense a Hollow nearby, but... He doesn't have a mask over his face."

"But..." Lala pointed forward, "The hole in his chest isn't completely opened, either."

"Right." Rukia crossed her arms, lowering his head downward, "The open hole in a Hollow's chest is evidence that it lost its heart and turned into a creature ruled solely by instinct."

Rito looked toward Rukia as she began to explain further.

"Thus, the white mask that imitates a skull is to the protect those exposed instincts from the outside world." Rukia raised her hand gently, "Either one is something unnecessary for one who has a heart."

Lala looked to Rukia and then back to the spirit that was crying out in pain.

"When people die, the chain of fate that grew out of the heart disconnects from the body. Those without strong regrets in this world remain as they, awaiting guidance to the Soul Society..." Rukia lowered her hands, "However, those with regrets bind themselves to the focus of their regret by the chain of fate."

When she began to explain the examples, ideas popped into Rito's mind.

"If the focus is a person, they become obsessed spirits."

Like how Sora was for Masaki. He vividly remembered that Sora became transfixed on him when he transformed into a Hollow.

"If the focus is a place, they become earthbound spirits."

The guy up ahead served as enough example for Rito.

"So this guy..."

"Indeed." Rukia raised her hand to her chin, "Either the hospital itself is the regret, or some sort of incident occurred here."

"An incident, like what?" Lala raised a brow.

"It doesn't matter." Rukia quickly decided, "Either way, he's a spirit with regrets in this place."

"It might ma-"

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHH‼" The Demi-Hollow screamed out, raising his fists, "THIS HOSPITAL IS MINE‼ I WON'T HAND IT OVER TO ANYONE‼"

Rito had a deadpan expression as the Demi-Hollow turned over and started screaming at the camera crew.

"HEY, YOU GUYS CAN'T COME IN‼" He grunted as they ignored him, "IF YOU COME IN, YOU HAVE TO PAY CASH! I'LL KILL YA‼"

"...well, perhaps his shouting will give clarity on his issue." Rukia spoke up.

"Uh huh..."

"I should have inherited this hospital from my father..." The Demi-Hollow's fist shook, "And then, with his hospital, I would've raked in cash and become incredibly rich!"

Throwing it aside, the chains over its body rattled violently.

"I had planned to ride a pink Cadillac, drink pink Dom Perignon, and become like an aristocrat of West-Azabu, at NIGHT! Yet that... That..." He roared out in rage, "THAT DAMN OLD MAN PASSED IT ON TO MY YOUNGER BROTHER‼! UNFORGIVABLE‼!"

"I would've felt bad..." Rito slumped his shoulders, "But this guy is just unreasonably greedy..."

Rukia was silent, but the expression on her face agreed.

"Silence, everyone, if you'd please!"

A speaker suddenly rang out the announcer for the show's voice.

"And now... The broadcast will begin‼"

"Look Rukia!" Lala grabbed Rukia's hand and pulled her attention toward the stage.

"Oh!" An ignorant smile came onto Rukia's face, "Looks like something's about to start."

Rito groaned behind them. Rukia really did not understand what was going on at all...

"We begin in 5..."

"Mizuiro, get over here, it's starting!" Saruyama walked up.

"4..."

"Shut up, Ken!" Keigo slapped a hand over his mouth.

"3..."

Haruna gulped in anticipation. Maybe here she would be able to conquer her fear of ghosts...

If she did, then maybe...

"2..."

Masaki and Yui both steeled themselves. Having caught their breath and arisen from their lowered states.

The announcer raised a finger to signal the last count. Shutting his hand to signal the cameras to start rolling. Having lowered his hand, he spoke into the mic in hand.

"Good evening, everyone!" A smile came onto the round man's face, "Tonight's episode of 'Spirit Hunter' is entitled the 'Emergency Live Broadcast Special' and we have come to the abandoned hospital in Sainan Town..."

The camera moved over to the hospital, it not picking up on the Demi-Hollow screaming out in frustration at various people.

"They say that night after night, when a vengeful spirit's cries are heard, the local citizens do their best to avoid this hospital... Surely, that man will cook something up for us tonight‼"

Cheers erupted from the crowd in anticipation.

"Oh? Here he comes!" A helicopter could be seen approaching overhead when one looked upward, "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to welcome... The charismatic spirit medium of the New Century‼"

Another cheer erupted as the announcer pointed up toward the helicopter.

"The emissary of hell...!"

The door of the helicopter came to slide open.

"DOOOOOOOOOOON KAAAAAANONJIIIIIIII‼"

"TOH!"

A figure would leap out from the helicopter. With a flickering in the air, a man was shown to be dropping down toward the ground in high speeds.

Over his head was a black hat with pink fur over it which matched with his coat and black thins. Under the coat was a red button-up shirt that was a softer shade than the red of the innards of the cape on his bag that flapped in the wind behind him as she dropped down. The golden chain around his neck bounced in the air, tapping rapidly against the straps of his grey parachute.

"KYAAAAAAAAA‼"

Rito shrunk as he was crowed by a ton of women who shouted in delight at the sight of the show's star.

Raising his hands, Don would pull the strap of his jetpack. From the back would let loose a crimson parachute that read DA MAN in kanji across it.

"BOHAHAHA‼"

He laughed uproariously as he began to float down.

"BOHAHAHA‼"

The crowd laughed with him following, all making his signature pose. To Rito's dismay, this included even Lala and Rukia.

"Heey..." Rito muttered, huffing lightly.

"I see now! So this is the main star of this festival...!" Rukia's eyes were filled with stars, "I must say, what a swanky way to make an entrance‼"

"Uh huh! Uh huh! It was really cool!" Lala agreed.

"HEY‼" Rito called out again, getting the pair's attention.

"Hm? What's the matter?"

"Don't gimme that!" Rito pointed over toward the spirit who was shouting profanities at being ignored again, "You sure it's okay? Shouldn't we perform Konsō on that guy? Won't he become a Hollow?"

"I must say, Don Kanonji, sir! That was a suitably gorgeous entrance into the special!"

"Hehe, why yes! I do make sure my fans get my best effort!"

As the crowd cheered again, Rukia placed her hands on either hip.

"Don't worry, it's essentially takes months, perhaps even years, for a Demi-Hollow to fully turn." Rukia dismissed Rito's concerns, "It's not like he'll become a Hollow in the span of this special..."

Rukia gave a sigh, though.

"Even still, exposed in the open like this, it would mean trouble if there's a struggle and people get hurt." Rukia acknowledged, "We'll perform Konsō after the festival's conclusion."

Raising his hand, Don Kanonji sniffed his nose. "Oh my... This one is particularly bad... The smell of spirits is outrageously strong here..."

"You say that, but..." Rito was about to argue.

"This certainly..."

"SMELLS LIKE BAD SPIRITS‼"

The crowd's shout had drowned out what Rito was going to say easily. Rito turned his head with a very judgmental stare as they jumped around in ecstasy.

"Don't be such a worrywart." Rukia's lips pursed, "Just trust me. I told you it'll be fine."

Rukia turned back toward the show, "The eve of becoming a Hollow is the longest phase of the process, much more painful as well."

"Hmmm... This is bad..." Don Kanonji began walking closer to the hospital entrance, "This is quite the bad spirit..."

"That is when it gets so awful that the cries elevate."

Don Kanonji rubbed his chin as he leaned closer to the Demi-Hollow, who started shouting profanities at the man when he realized he could see him.

"Does it look to you like he's at that point of suffering?"

"Well... Not really...?"

"See? Unless someone deliberately aggravates the open hole in his chest, he still has more than half a year until he becomes a Holl-"

"Here..." Don Kanonji threw his arm backward, his grip tightened around his cane, "With my Super Spirit Stick, I'll finish him off in one blow‼"

The both of Rito and Rukia looked in horror at what was just shown on the screen.

Lala, in front of them, gasped with a hand over her mouth.

⦗ BGM Cue ー Enemy Unseen ⦅ Shiro Sagisu ⦆ ⦘

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH‼!"

The Demi-Hollow screamed out in pain as Don Kanonji was digging his cane into the hole in his chest. As he struggled, Don would continue to push it in further with what wiggle room he had been making.

"Hey, don't worry! It only hurts at first!"

The crowd cheered, oblivious to what was ongoing. Don gave a grin on screen as he kept up his efforts.

"Let's send you over to the other side, baby!"

Rito, however, was fully aware. It shook him to his core as he watched it.

"Wh... What the hell is that guy doing!?"

"That fool!" Rukia grit her teeth, "What's he doing is speeding up the creation of a Hollow!"

"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHH‼" The announcer suddenly shouted out. "HE SUDDENLY BROUGHT IT OUT! HIS SECRET SUPER SPIRITS STICK‼"

The crowd continued to blindly cheer Don on as the man continued to tear at the Demi-Hollow's chest.

"Watching Mr. Don Kanonji use it at this stage is CERTAINLY exceptional! Does it mean this mission is so perilous it requires it!?"

"Ridiculous...!" Rukia grit her teeth, "Even if he does that, it will only expand the Spirit's wound!"

Lala turned back toward her, "Is that bad...?"

"Yes..." Rukia looked back toward the hospital, "At this rate, he may turn into a Hollow right here before our eyes!"

"Now, relax, baby!" Don Kanonji called out, "This time, I will release you from the chains of nightmares that bind you‼"

Raising his hand up, he hovered it over his chain. Aligned with the chain on his neck, he began to recite a chant.

"YEAAAAAAAHHHHHH‼ KILUKILU AUNAN AUMAKU KILUNAN‼"

The crowd would roar again.

"H-he recited it! His notorious chant for exorcism‼ D-does he plan to defeat this spirit in one blow!?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhHHHHHHHH‼!"

Over to the side, Yui slapped her hands over her ears. That exhausted feeling from before returned.

This time, it came with a nauseating sensation that struck her stomach clean. Like an invisible force punched her all of a sudden without warning.

What was the voice that was screaming out like that? And what was the spirit medium doing to make it so agitated...!?

"That doesn't sound good..." Lala noted.

"At this rate..." Rukia grimaced.

The thin bars holding the crowd after from the scene creaked. A figure blurring past the security as it took to race towards the ongoing mayhem.

"COME ON, KNOCK IT OFF‼" Rito had dramatically demanded, kicking his body forward to make a run straight for Don Kanonji.

"What the, who the hell's that!?" One of the crew members shot their heads in Rito's direction.

"Security!" Another called out, "DO YOUR JOB‼"

As Rito was about to cross into the spirit's domain, his eyes widened as security had seemingly appeared overhead. Dropping over his body all at once to tackle him down to the ground.

"Over here!" Rukia stepped out herself, having put on her red glove, "We've got to get you out of your body‼"

To her surprise, even more security appeared to tackle her to the ground.

Struggling in their hold, Rito looked to the spirit with a growl.

"Let... Go... Of me...!"

"What's this!? A sudden commotion has erupted in the cordoned-off area!" The announcer straighted his glasses, "Somehow an excited young man jumped into the main area, it looks like he has been caught by security, though..."

"W-wha...?" Yui looked up, her eyes widening as she saw who was under the collected security, "Y-Yukki-kun!?"

"It's Rito..." Mizuiro blinked.

Keigo groaned, "What the hell's with that guy!?"

"And after he acted like he didn't wanna come!" Saruyama huffed, "And there he goes jumping straight onto the scene!"

"Huh...?" Haruna gasped, worried about the Rito who had been crushed under the weight of a ridiculous amount of security guards.

Tatsuki raised a brow, "What's he doin' over there...?"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH‼!"

All who could hear the voice of the Demi-Hollow amongst the crowd winced in pain at the sharp screams that bellowed from it.

"YOU HAVE TO LET GO OF ME, BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HA-"

SNAP!

Rito's eyes snapped open, realizing he had been too late when that sound came. Before his eyes, he saw the chains holding the spirit to the hospital one by one snap apart and drop to the ground. Dissolving as if they were boiling water.

"NO‼"

"GET OFF‼"

Rito continued to struggle. To the security group's surprise, he was actually starting to pull them along a small bit. He had to reach the Demi-Hollow! He had to stop that idiot TV star before it was too late!

⦗ BGM END ⦘

It was then that he heard a thud.

His eyes widened as he recognized the immediately sensation that followed.

His soul had separated from his body...? But how... Rukia was all the way over...

He had no time to reflect on that, however, as his body was sent hurtling forward a few feet courtesy of the momentum of his pulling.

"What the...?"

Rukia's eyes widened.

When Rito recovered, he winced as he looked up to see a friendly smile directed toward him.

"Well, hello there~❤"

"Mr. Kisuke!?" Rito's lips parted as he realized who it was.

Indeed, it was Urahara. He stood with Tessai behind him, the latter crossing his arms.

"Why're you-"

"Oh, nevermind that." The bucket hat waved his fan, "Aren't you in a hurry, Rito?"

His mind returning to the situation, he shot his head backward, "That's right‼"

As Rito's body was limp, security had been shaking him frantically. All of them in shock to his sudden unconsciousness.

"What happened to him?"

"Is he dead...?"

While security was distracted, Rukia narrowed her eyes in Kisuke's direction.

"And why the hell are you in this sort of place?"

"Why, you ask~?" Urahara chuckled, clearly not intending to answer.

"You're not scheming something, are you?"

"Me? Scheming?" Urahara let out a hardy laugh, "No way! I'm not scheming anything at all!"

He shut his fan, gesturing towards the direction of Jinta and Ururu, the latter hugging onto his leg.

"These kids love this show and they said they wanted to come no matter what." He placed a hand on the girl's head, "So I came here without a choice... And then I was sprung into action when I heard Kuchiki-san shrieking from far away~"

"Why you- I'll have you know I do not shriek!"

"When I ran over to see what was up, I was surprised to see-"

Urahara stopped in his story when he felt a tapping against his shoulder. Turning his head around, he blinked to the security officer standing behind him.

"Yes~?"

"Are you familiar with these two?"

Pointing out the limp body of Rito and the deadpan Rukia, the security guard looked to Urahara with a stern gaze.

"If I'm right, then we'll have to have a talk over there..."

"Um... No..." Urahara gave a nervous chuckle, "Well, y'see..."

The bucket then drew his hand out from his pocket suddenly. There he held a Memory Chikan. Snapping the top, it let out a burst of smoke.

Immediately after, the security team would all drop to the ground. Rito's body had been caught by Tessai and swung up off the ground.

With that action completed, the Urahara crew ran off toward the distance.

"You...!" Rukia growled as she picked herself up off the ground, "You moron! Using the Soul Society's tools that freely‼"

"I had no choice~‼ I didn't want to get mixed up in your troubles!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO STUCK YOUR NOSE IN MY BUSINESS‼"

"OHMMM‼!"

Don Kanonji was preparing to make a final dig into the hole.

That was, until he picked up on the sound of feet clasping against the floor.

"CUT IT OUT‼"

The Shinigami Rito would leap in front of the medium. When they locked eyes, Don's own would come to open further than his small glasses allowed.

On the screen, it had looked like Don Kanonji had randomly been thrown backward. Tumbling against the ground for a few seconds before settling within the puff of dust he drug against.

"OH NO‼ What happened here!?" The announcer screamed out, "Mr. Kanonji was suddenly driven back by a powerful force‼"

Picking himself up from the ground, balled his hands into fists. A tick mark appearing on the side of his thin head.

"What's wrong with you, Boy!? Why do you interfere!?"

Rito blinked, "Oh, so you can see me..."

"Of course I can! I'm the century's premiere spiritualist!" Don snapped.

Giving some thought to the situation, he gave a light chuckle.

"Oh, I see! So you're still a fan even in death, bo-"

"Not even close!"

Another snap sounded. The two of them turning their attention toward the Demi-Hollow.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH‼"

Rito grit his teeth as he noticed that the Demi-Hollow's face was beginning to crack and bleed the longer it screamed.

"Don't tell me I'm too late...!" Rito began to ran over toward the Demi-Hollow, hoping to stop it from going any further.

The frame of the Demi-Hollow shook, dropping down to his knees as its screaming came to an end. Staring blankly at the sky, its arms went limp. His mouth hung agape.

Before Rito could make contact with him, his entire body exploded into white light. The Shinigami raised an arm to guard against the burst. He let out a grunt as it blinded him for a moment's time.

When the light cleared, his eyes came to see... Nothing?

"He... Disappeared...?" Rito looked around frantically, "Did he not become a Hollow...?"

» 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠? «

Risa let out a sigh as she laid back on her couch. As usual, her house was empty. The only company she had was the TV across the room that was tuned into the live broadcast of Spirit Hunter.

She decided against seeing it when she heard that Rito had been so adamant about not being there. As much as she loved hanging with Mio and Haruna, the entire friend group was not quite as fun without him there.

...which was why she was sitting at the edge of her seat when it was shown that he had jumped out from the crowd in attempts to stop it.

She let out a long sigh as he leaned her chin into her palm. Now she regretted not going.

Never a dull moment with him...

Oh well, she would eat him up later. ❤

That thought came to a halt when a loud noise came out of the TV. One that went far beyond what the volume she had it at could have allowed.

She raised a hand toward her agitated ear with a wince.

What was that about...?

"What in the world just happened!?" The announcer cried out, "When we thought Mr. Kanonji was suddenly driven back, a fierce explosion sounded right before our very eyes‼"

On the screen, the cloud of dust washed over. The Shinigami standing before it invisible to the cameras looming over the events.

"Is Mr. Kanonji alright!?"

Slowly, a hand would raised out from the cloud.

"Ye..."

Stepping out from obscurity was Don Kanonji, who raised his arms up into the air. His clothes were not even ruffled by the explosion from earlier, his body clean from any and all blemishes.

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH‼" He roared, "MISSION COMPLETE~‼!"

"OOOOOHHHHHH~‼" Roars erupted from the crowd behind the announcer, who raised a fist, "He's completely unharmed! Not even a scratch on Mr. Kanonji!"

Rito stared in disbelief at the sheer enthusiasm this guy seemed to infect the crowd with.

"And his shout just now, does it mean that he has completed the exorcism!?"

"Seriously...?" Rito felt like this was a bit anticlimactic, "He really took care of it with that?"

⦗ BGM Cue ー Creeping Shadows ⦅ Shiro Sagisu ⦆ ⦘

In the crowd, though, Rukia knew the truth. That truth caused her to begin panicking. Quickly, she reached into her shirt to draw out the Denreishiki.

She did not get the chance to explain the actual process of turning for Demi-Hollows before. She thought she would not have to. But now everything was off.

Beating her fingers against the keyboard of the Denreishiki, she hoped for an answer to the one question on her mind...

Where was it going to show up?

She grit her teeth as she waited for it to complete its scan. If it were too late, she was unsure if Rito himself would notice in time...!

Lala looked over to her with a brow raised. Walking over, she looked at the screen of the Denreishiki.

"Rukia? What're you looking for?"

"This isn't over." Rukia responded, "In fact, it's only just getting started..."

"KAAANOOONJI‼ KAAANOOONJI‼"

"Thank you! Thank you‼" Don smiled to the crowd, "I'm certainly receiving your nice vibes, Babies! I'm grateful‼"

Rito pocketed his hands as he looked over to the spiritualist, "Hey. Did you really send him to heaven with that...?"

"Of course‼" Swinging his body around to the Shinigami, he gave a thumbs up, "Who do you think I am!? I'm the charismatic spirit medium of the new century, Don Kanonji! My exorcisms never miss, Boy!"

Rito's lips pursed. He had the feeling something was amiss here. Even so, at the current moment, he had no reason to disagree with what he saw so far.

That was, at least, until he heard the shaking of the bars behind him.

"ABOVE YOU, RITO‼" Rukia's voice stole his attention, "LOOK UP‼"

Spiritualist and Shinigami looked up. Their eyes landed on the rooftop of the hospital. Horror glossing over them.

Streaks of green swiped through the air. Collecting into one another, they churned as they began molding a construct. This construct shaping like clay into the form of arms.

Soon after, a purple torso which had a massive hole in its chest. When the body fully formed, it shot out the head of the Demi-Hollow.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH‼!"

Stifling its screams were a white mesh of vile that shot out from his mouth and eye sockets.

The vile collected over his face, forming into a stark white mask which resembled the face of a frog. On the sides of his mask hung two tendril-like extensions that were green.

A yellow gleam emerged in the eye holes of the mask. The creature's lips curling into a devilish grin.

Throwing its head toward either side, he lifted his head toward the sky and roared.

"He... Became a Hollow!?" Rito gulped.

"What is that monstrosity!?" Don Kanonji reeled back in surprise.

When Don showed confusion to the existence of the creature, Rito swung his head around, "Whaddoya mean what!? It's a Hollow!" Rito pointed back toward the rooftop, "You've never seen one before!?"

"Of course‼" Don Kanonji took a pose, "I'm the charismatic spirit medium of the New Century, Don Kanonji‼ Monster hunting is not in my job description!"

"That ain't just a monster! Hollows are a type of spi-"

"WHOOOOAAAAAAA‼!?"

Don placed his hands against the back of his head. Humming to himself, he took a sniff.

"I'm sensing... Yes, I'm sensing it!" Don Kanonji snapped his head upward, a grave frown, "The smell reeks of a super dangerous spirit‼"

Gasps from the crowd emerged.

Rito only sweatdropped though as Don suddenly pumped his fist.

"Now I finally understand!" Don glanced up toward the creature again, "You must be that other spirit's evil lord and you've come for vengeance!"

"Yeah, nice try..." Rito let his shoulders drop in exasperation.

"It... Hurts... HURTS...!" The Hollow leaned its head downward, "De...vo...ur..."

Rito snapped out of his funk as he looked up toward the Hollow again.

"I'LL DEVOUR YOUR SOUL‼!"

"Tch, coming for straight for us!"

Rito raised an arm, gripping onto the handle of his sword.

"You need to get away, n-"

⦗ BGM END ⦘

Before Rito could finish, he found himself falling backward. Don having been in front of him, he threw the Shinigami back from the face of danger.

"RUN AWAY, BOY‼" Don screamed out to give a warning, "JUST LEAVE THIS TO ME‼"

"Huh!?"

Don's cane spun in the air. Bringing it down, he slapped both hands onto it as he braced himself for battle. Earning some oohs and awws from the crowd.

"COME ON, YOU BAD SPIRIT‼" Don taunted, calling out violently, "THE CHARISMATIC SPIRIT MEDIUM OF THE NEW CENTURY, DON KANONJI, IS YOUR OPPONENT‼"

Rito caught his foot against the ground, sliding backward before he fell onto his rear.

"Wh-what're you doing?!" Rito was quick to draw his blade, "YOU MORON‼"

The Hollow snapped its mouth wide open as he prepared to bite down on Don's body. The spiritualist letting out a banshee cry as he prepared to jab his cane forward.

Before either would make their move, Rito leapt forward. His massive sword caught in between the Hollow's teeth. He grit his teeth as he swung his sword upward.

The force of the swing propelling the Hollow inside of the hospital.

"Why didn't you run away, Boy!?"

"If I didn't, you would've been food! So you'd oughta be thanking me!" Rito scoffed, "No, better yet, you can thank me by getting the hell out of here! Run away already!"

At the demand, Don reared his head back. His face clearly showed offense plastered over it. His hand slapped itself over his chest as he let out a groan.

"ME!? RUN AWAY!? What are you saying?! I won't run away! I can't run away‼"

"What do you mean you can't!?" Rito raised a brow.

His answer would not have come. Instead, the Hollow snapped its hand over a pillar at the entrance.

Pulling itself up off of the ground, he would again leap toward the two. His voice erupting in the form of a howl.

Without hesitation, Rito leapt into battle. Swinging his sword forward to parry each strike the Hollow threw forth, he took the defensive effectively.

From the crowd, Yui's eyes widened as she could see what the crowd could not. She saw how Don Kanonji was engaged with what truly did look like an evil spirit.

And how he did not fight alone.

"Yukki...-kun...?"

Masaki remained silent as he glanced toward Yui.

Tatsuki narrowed her eyes, making out a shape in front of the hospital... But she could not fully make it out. She just knew that there was something there...

"Just as I thought..." Kisuke muttered from his position in the crowd, "A beautiful display... Yet also a terrible one."

Rito's swings were certainly good. They packed the punch you would expect from someone who had a talent for any sport you asked him to engage with.

However... It was clear he was not trained properly in the way of the sword. Ah well, that would come with experience. He waved his fan lightly.

But at the moment... It may pose issue.

"Well, then... What should be done...?"

"UUUUOOOOOOOOO‼"

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA‼"

"GOGYAAAAAAAAAAA‼"

The three participants in the battle each let out a cry. Each of them reached towards another. So nearly they had all reached for their mark.

Only for one made success.

Rito swiped Don Kanonji by the face and dragged him over to the side. The Hollow, its target now out of the way, was launched into the hospital wall.

As the other two combatants turned back toward it, they could see that the monster's head was stuck in the wall. The wall cracking lightly at each movement he made in attempts to escape.

"A GOLDEN OPPORTUNI-"

Before Don could get up to try attacking again, Rito grabbed his collar. When the Hollow pulled his head out from the wall, the Shinigami ran off with the spiritualist. The both of them chased down by the Hollow, who was dead set on consuming them.

"WE'RE RETREATIIIIIIIIIIING‼?"

A window shattered, surprising the crowd.

"W-what's this?!" The announcer straightened his glasses with a shaky hand, "Mr. Kanonji, who was just locked in combat with an unseen creature, suddenly flew into the air as if he were being dragged!"

Shards of glass from the window hit the ground, breaking into even smaller pieces as they had dropped down.

"In the next instant, he jumped into the deserted hospital! Straight through the glass entrance‼" His voice began to shake, "Does that mean... An unseen enemy is chasing Mr. Kanonji...!?"

Rukia kept her gaze trained on the hospital as the crowd began to speak amongst themselves on the subject of the broken glass.

Over to the side, Keigo had his arms spread out. Shielding Mizuiro from glass that... Never showed up.

"Mizuiro... Are you alright...?" Keigo once again spoke in a sultry tone, sparkles floating around the pair.

Mizuiro cutely stared up at him, a concerned look on his face, "I'm more worried about you... Are you alright, you could have been hit by the glass...?"

Once again, the two ladies would dive out from the crowd to scoop up Mizuiro.

"My sacrifice... Was in vain..." Keigo dropped to the ground, defeated once again.

As Rito had vanished into the hospital building, Yui clutched a hand to her chest. She was worried for his safety. At least, she was sure it was him. Despite him having been carried away earlier.

Was he going to come out okay from that...? What was really going on here?

Kisuke smirked as he raised a hand to his hat.

"I see... So that's how you've chosen to fight."

» 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐨𝐫｡｡｡ «

Rito's sandals clattered against the ground as he ran across the dark halls of the hospital building.

In his grasp was Don Kanonji, who had been fighting to break free from his hold. Kicking his feet against the ground, he tried to grind Rito to a halt to no avail. The kid was far too stubborn.

"W-why are you running away, Boy!?" He shouted, "Let go of me‼"

"I don't wanna hear that from the guy who told me to run away earlier‼" Rito shot back.

"That's not- Well, it is, but-" Don shook his head before looking back toward the Shinigami, "I told you to run away, alone! I can't run away! I just can't!"

Rito glanced back toward Don. He kicked his foot forward to halt his next step and skid to a halt.

"Oh!?" Don was caught off guard by this...

...but not nearly as much when Rito swung his arm back. Throwing it forth, he rolled Don like a bowling ball across the hall until he struck at the wall at the end of the hallway.

"URGH!"

Rito raised the hand he threw Don with to point a finger at him.

"Quit screwing with me! Since earlier, all you've said is I can't run away! I just don't GET you!" Soon, the Shinigami clutched his fist, "So, c'mon! Explain why you're being so stupid‼"

Don sat up, holding his head for a second as he registered what Rito questioned of him. Slowly, he raised his finger toward him.

"That is the exact same thing I was going to ask you..." The spiritualist gasped.

"I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS HERE‼" Rito roared while crossing his arms.

Don pulled his hand back. Clutching his fist tightly, he struggled to hold himself back. But after a few seconds, he lowered his hand with a sigh: "Okay..."

"You've gotta have some reason, right?" Rito spoke more calmly once he got some cooperation out of him, "Why you can't run?"

"That is..." Don hesitated, "That's because I..."

Rito found all of his good will vanish when Don turned dramatically toward the window, getting a photo perfect lighting of the moon outside to make him more dramatic.

"I am a hero...!"

Slowly, he began to raise a hand, "That's right... Normally, I am a pacifist who does not desire battle." Then it snapped into a fist, "However, as a hero, I cannot turn my back on the enemy...!"

Rito found himself grumbling as he saw the man cheering himself on for that one. He really wanted to punch him right now...!

"Boy..."

Rito stopped, raising a brow.

"Do you know how much viewer's ratings are for my show?"

"W..." Rito felt himself shrink in the moment, "What does that matter right now!?"

"CORRECT‼" He shouted despite Rito not having given a real answer, "25%‼! That's 1 out of every 4 people in the nation watching‼"

Rito did not know whether to feel dumbfounded or outright enraged. Was he really bragging about viewer ratings at a time like this...?

"And..." Don took his other hand and lifted it toward his chin, "The majority of those viewers... Are small children."

Rito paused, his face beginning to soften as he continued onward.

"Every week, when it is time, they stick to the TV. Watch my every action in the comfort of their families after dinner..." The image of a family enjoying Spirit Hunter together with a smile on all of their faces came to his mind, "To them, I am a hero..."

Don's hand lowered to rest over his heart, "Children watch my actions and their hearts leap." He began to clutch his coat, "They see me stand up to evil spirits and learn from me what courage is...!"

Turning back in the direction of Rito, he crossed his arms. The moonlight washing over his figure.

"Do you understand, Boy?" He questioned, "With them watching, I can't run away from the enemy!"

Rito had been taken aback. He was not expecting such a sincere reasoning to come from the man given how he had been before...

"Right‼" Don's body swung around, kicking forward as he began to run back in the direction they came, "Now that you know, I'll get back to the meeting place and fight that monster‼"

"Wha-" Just when Rito thought he was not so bad, "YOU IDIOT, YOU CAN'T DO THAT‼"

Feeling himself being pulled by Rito's grip on his cape, he swung his head back toward him.

"Why not!? I don't want to fight in a place with no TV cameras! Let's return~‼" Don dramatically called out.

"All this talk about cameras...!" Rito growled, glaring toward the man, "What'll you do when you fight out there and your audience gets mixed up in it‼?"

Don turned his head backward.

"You're the hero here, aren't you!?" Rito challenged, "Protecting your fans is also a hero's duty!"

Letting go of Don, he lowered his hands. Staring his partner in this down, he let out a sigh.

"That thing from before is called a Hollow. Long story short, he goes after souls with high Spiritual Density to eat." Rito pointed toward Don, "And among that list, that would include you and me."

Don stared at the young man in silence as he continued to explain himself.

"If we enter the hospital this way, he'll come after us instead of anybody in the audience." Rito then pointed toward the ground, "We fight in here? Nobody gets caught up in this mess."

"Boy..." Don's eyes widened behind his glasses, "That's incredible... You are fighting while even thinking abou-"

They had no time to discuss the matter further as the ground behind them would suddenly swell up before bursting apart. The Hollow letting out a roar as it leapt up from the floor below.

Rito had leapt back to avoid the snapping jaws of the Hollow. It roaring out violently as it made to descend toward them.

"Now or never!"

Rito grasped onto the hilt of his sword. Swinging forth his blade, it would crash through the ceiling with a rumbling.

"Come o-"

Rito stopped in the taunt he was about to say as he realized... His sword had gotten stuck in the ceiling before he made the swing downward.

Shit! He had forgotten how large his blade was and the length wedged itself too far up.

He pulled at it vehemently, but it refused to budge.

Why now of all times!? How was he going to beat the Hollow without his Zanpakuto!?

To only make matters worse, the Hollow spit forward. To Rito's dismay, the saliva of the Hollow would cloud over his hands. In his screams of disgust, he watched as it solidified around his hands. Tying them to the handle of the sword.

Now he was stuck...‼

"GOAAAAAAAAAA‼!"

Poker face, Rito. He may have been out of a sword... But he was not out of options.

"All right! COME AND GET IT‼" Rito taunted, "I'LL TAKE YOU DOWN WITH MY LEGS‼!"

He was not expecting the Hollow to actually take him up on that challenge. Oh well, it was time to strike back.

He began to raise a foot to kick forward. He just hoped he hit the right spot and not gave him a head start on chomping down on him.

With a loud crash, he saw that he did not even have to worry about it.

Don stood before him, holding his cane up. It had been lodged between the teeth of the Hollow, his hands shaking as he used all of his strength to hold the beast back.

"...are you hurt, Boy?"

Rito grit his teeth, "Kanonji, no!" He shouted, "You have to get out of here! You can't win against that thi-"

"I know."

Rito's voice caught up in his throat. He double took at Don admitting his weakness.

"I have abilities, yes, and I can understand full well the difference between myself and the enemy before me." His cane began to crack under the pressure of the Hollow fighting back, "However... Boy... Your ideals have made an impression on me!"

Rito's eyes widened.

"The way of fighting where one thinks of people's safety first, indiscriminately..." Don grunted some as he pushed forward some more, "Your way of fighting is... Befitting of a hero‼"

Rito then cringed at the next thing Don had to say, the man turning toward him with a smile.

"Allow me to call you my Battle Buddy..."

"Err..." Rito gulped, "No thanks..."

"So, Battle Buddy..." Don was resolute in calling him that anyway, "ALLOW ME TO DIE PROTECTING YOU‼!"

With Don's declaration, he pulled back his arm. His hand began to spark with energy.

"OOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU‼"

Don narrowed his eyes as he focused.

The Hollow was caught off guard by this, its head rearing back somewhat.

"W-what're you doing, Kanonji!?"

"Kanonji Style: Final Ultimate Secret Technique‼"

As he began to call its name, his hand rattled violently. His power being too ecstatic for his hand to contain as the sparks began to make a sphere around his hand as it rotated.

...only for a tiny ball to be produced as a result.

"KANON BALL‼"

"...huh!?" Rito was almost slumped from the disappointment that washed over him. "What is that? Are you gonna do somethin' to the Hollow with it!?"

To his surprise again, Don instead aimed the ball toward him.

"...what even are you planning...?"

"STRIKE‼!" Don suddenly called out, the ball being pushed forward with a great force on his part.

...only for the ball to slowly flutter along towards Rito before swinging upward. Ever so slowly, it made its way to the ceiling and struck where the Zanpakuto had been lodged in the ceiling.

Despite its small size, it managed to blow up like a grenade. Breaking the edge of his blade out from where it had been trapped.

"Oh!" Rito had brought his sword down as it smoked from its edge, "It's out...!"

Rito understood what Don's plan was now. It was so he could give him a chance to fight! Well, he was not going to pass up on it.

⦗ BGM Cue ー Storm Center ⦅ Shiro Sagisu ⦆ ⦘

"Well done, Kanonji‼" Rito praised the spiritualist as he passed by, "Let me take it from here‼"

"GOAAAAAAAAAAAA‼!"

The Hollow leapt past Don to engage Rito. This threw the Spiritualist off balance.

As he fell to his knees, he let out heavy breaths. His ultimate technique had drawn out the last of his strength. Now, he had barely the stamina to even stand.

He had no choice.

It all came down to the efforts of his Battle Buddy.

Though Don had faith. His Battle Buddy would come out victorious.

Because he was a true hero...!

With a roar, Rito stabbed forth. The blade lodged deep into the Hollow's shoulder.

Damn it! He missed his mark.

Just as he thought. It was difficult to properly direct his sword when his hands were stuck together like this.

"That's great, Boy- No. My friend!" Don cheered, "That monster is in for it now!"

Rito's eyebrow twitched as Don continued to cheer him on.

"Now, defeat him, just like that!" Don pointed to Rito, "If it's you, my Battle Buddy, then it can be done!"

For now, Rito just tried to pull his sword out to try and hit again.

"I BELIEVE‼"

Just focus on the fight, Rito...

"I! Be! Lieve!"

Focus...!

"IN YOOOOOOOUUUUUUU‼!"

Rito was going to kill this guy after this...!

The Hollow then gave a low snarl. Swinging his body upward, his arm finally dripped with blood. He let out a roar as he swung itself around.

"Huh-" Rito found his body began dragged along as his hands were glued to his sword, still wedged into his arm, "Wait a sec-"

Rito screamed out as the Hollow would leap out of the wall. The building coming to shatter from the force of his massive body.

In the wake of the wall busting open, the crowd cried out in shock.

Yui was able to see what was going on much more clearly than anyone else. The monster was climbing up the building, and it dragged Rito along with it.

Her hand covered over her mouth. She wanted to scream. But she was unsure if he could even hear her. So, would it matter...?

Lala was already swimming through security upon sight of Rito in trouble. Rukia had a sweatdrop as she watched what had occurred. She did not want to jump in and get herself tackled by a group of security herself.

"Let... Me... Go...!"

After some struggling, Lala had managed to draw out her D-Dial.

"W-wait, Lala, don't-"

"Now, now, there's no need for that~" Urahara stepped forward from the crowd, patting Rukia's shoulder gently.

"Kisuke..." Rukia frowned.

Lala would eventually push off the security guards crowded on her, pouting towards Urahara.

"And why not!?"

"A Hollow of this level is no trouble for Rito." Urahara waved the fan in his hand, "Besides, he's got Don Kanonji with him. From my observations, he's got some power to him, too. I'd say he has enough backup for this."

Lala looked down with a frown as she stepped forward and went back behind the caution line.

"Fine..." Lala huffed, clenching her fist, "But he better be okay."

From above, a massive helicopter had been outside the building.

The opening of the wall giving way to Don Kanonji, the door to the aircraft opened as a second announcer poked his head out.

"It's... Mr. Kanonji‼ He appeared from the smoke of the explosion!" From the opening, they would see that Don Kanonji was crawling out from the hole in the wall, "It seems that he's shouting something..."

After realizing that he was on camera, Don Kanonji was shaky, but...

"OH!? MR. KANONJI HAS STOOD UP‼"

Don took in a breath. Clutching his fist, he triumphantly bellowed loud enough for the cameras to pick up.

"DAMN THAT BAD SPIRIT‼" Don's fist shook violently, "YOU ESCAPED TO THE ROOF‼! DON'T YOU DARE THINK THAT YOU CAN ESCAPE FROM ME‼"

With a light skip, Don had left from frame.

"The roof! CIRCLE THE ROOF‼"

Rito grunted in pain as his head dragged against the floor. The Hollow finally threw him loose once he made it to the roof.

Pulling himself to his feet, he aimed his sword toward the Hollow.

The beast shook his head. Crouching down as a slow growl let out. Narrowing his eyes, he snarled. He leaped forward.

A bite toward the ground. Dodged by Rito.

Rito looked down with a click of his teeth in annoyance.

"Don't underestimate me‼" Rito shouted as he took to land behind the beast.

His sword was raised over to his side. A smirk crawled onto his face as he stood up.

"Earlier, I wasn't able to give a good swing of my sword cuz the hallway was too narrow." He slowly stood from the ground, "...and I had to keep Kanonji safe at the same time!"

He then began to charge toward the Hollow with a cry.

"But now since it's just you and me, there's no more handica-"

Before he could even finish, the door to the stairs snapped open. This caught both the Hollow and Shinigami off guard as Don Kanonji presented himself to be the one behind it.

"SORRY TO KEEP YOU WAITING, BOY‼"

Rito was unsure if he was even surprised that he showed up anymore...

Don stared with a puzzled expression as the other two combatants both stared at him in silence for a second's time.

"GWAA!"

"RUN, KANONJI‼"

"Hmph. Perhaps you're right, but..." Kanonji began to wobble in place, "I'm afraid I'm already using all my energy to keep standing...‼"

Rito was unsure what the point of him even coming was...

Snapped back to action by the Hollow leapt forth toward Don, Rito grit his teeth as he rushed forward.

"HAH‼"

Leaping in front of Don, he swung his sword toward the face of the hollow. The strike hitting against the white shell and threw him outward across the rooftop.

When Rito's sandal touched the ground, his body blurred forward. In a second's time, he was in front of the growling Hollow with his arm swung backward.

"Sorry, but..." Rito spoke up to the Hollow before the blow came down, "It's over."

And thus, the blade swung.

With one decisive blow, the mask would come apart from the slash.

When he had, Don shouted in triumph: "HE DID IT‼"

Despite his claims that he was out of energy, he continued to bounce back and forth in excitement.

"Great! Wonderful, Boy! I believed in you‼" Once he finished jumping around, he raised a thumbs up, "As expected of my-"

"Kanonji." Rito interrupted, "Don't dance around so cheerfully..."

After the Hollow dropped down in defeat, Rito noticed the goo on his hands dissolving. When it was fully removed from his hands, he would slowly sheathe his sword.

Silently, he stared down at the defeated monster.

"Huh? Why, Boy!? What are you saying!?" Don retorted, "You defeated the monster! You should be happy about it!"

It was only when the Hollow's body began breaking down that Don realized why Rito said what he had.

"The monster's body... It's peeling away!?"

It was just as Don noted. The creature's body came to chip away. The pieces floated off into the wind. It revealed beneath the true identity of the monster.

Laying on the ground was the soul of the man from before. He groaned out as he looked up toward Don.

The spiritualist's eyes snapped wide as they made eye contact. Then, and only then, did the weight of reality dawn on him.

"That... Can't be..." He slowly shook his head, trying to deny the reality, "I-I'm sure I sent him to Heaven..."

Rito slowly turned in his direction. The television star struggled to move his gaze in the Shinigami's way.

"B...Boy... What's the meaning of this?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Rito frowned, "It's not a monster. It's a Hollow."

He gave some thought on the concept, constructing a simple explanation in his mind he could give to the man.

"Normal spirits have a chain attached to their chest." Rito stared off toward the sky where the particles of the spirit floated off, "When a hole opens in their chest... The spirit turns into a monster that loses its mind. A Hollow."

Hole in their chest.

Don felt the weight of the matter crippling him.

This was his fault.

No. Several times were his fault. Every time was his fault.

Here he was presenting himself as a hero, when in reality...

...there was no greater villain.

"I... I thought... All this time..." Don turned his head away, "Opening a hole and cutting their chains... I thought it was what helped them go to Heaven... But in truth, I..."

He dropped to his knees. He had never felt so lost in his life.

"What have I been doing... Up till now..."

Rito looked to him with a puffed cheek. He could not help but feel bad for the guy. Shaking his head softly, he grumbled at himself.

Why did he have to be the way he was...?

"I dunno the reason you came to the methods you did, but until now, you haven't seen any spirits explode and go full Hollow, right?" Rito began, "This time was different. You didn't know stuff like what one does to become a Hollow."

A sigh escaped from the Shinigami's lips as he saw the man did not move from his spot, beginning to cry, "I can't say that you shouldn't let it get to you. But wallowing in regret isn't gonna do too much either."

"Even so, I..." The spiritualist lifted his glasses, trying desperately to wipe the tears that fell from his eyes, "I was so stupid..."

Rito paused before he said anything more. Something else caught his attention.

"...hey." Rito began to walk over toward the railing, "Put those tears away, Hero."

As Don turned his attention toward where Rito had been looking, he saw the young man crossed his arms with a smile. The Shinigami looking down toward the crowd.

"Everyone's waving."

Don hesitated as he saw cheers erupting from the crowd. All of them chanted his name in celebration of his success. They called out for their hero.

Something that Rito easily recognized.

"What's the matter? Aren't you gonna answer them?" Rito looked over to Don beside him, "Isn't that a hero's duty?"

When Rito asked that question, Don looked to him for a moment. Rito gave him a nod as he began to pocket his hands.

Yes. A hero's duty.

His duty. Don Kanonji was the hero of Japan. The hero who fought against the spirits that aimed to terrorize them.

That was why it was imperative that he kept being the person that the people knew him as.

For their sakes...

"Bo..."

Slowly, his arms would lift.

"BOHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~‼"

He took his signature pose, his cape flying in the wind behind him.

"BOHAHAHA‼" Cheered the crowd below.

Witnessing the bright smiles on their faces gave Don pause. Perhaps he had an epiphany of his own today.

"Boy... Thank you." Don lowered his arms as he looked over the railing, "It was a superb battle."

Rito scoffed. He guessed it was. While he did do all the heavy lifting, it could have ended much worse had Don not used his ultimate technique or whatever.

"I give you my respect..." Don slowly turned his head backward, "For your courage, quick-wittedness, and strength." He offered a handshake, "From this moment forth... Please lend me a hand..."

Rito stared at the hand with a blank expression.

He supposed Don did call him his Battle Buddy earlier.

"Sure- Well, maybe every once in a while." Rito raised his hand with a smile, taking the handshake.

"Thank you..." Don began, "From now on, you are..."

Rito's eyes opened further when he heard what Don had to say next.

"...my Number One Pupil."

HOW THE HELL DID HE END UP DEMOTED‼?

After the handshake, Don reached into his coat. From within, he summoned a thin card which she signed with a quick wave of a pen over it.

Offering it to Rito, the Shinigami's brows furrowed as he found himself looking at a membership card for Don Kanonji's Fan Club.

"N-no. I think it's fine, really. I should be goi-"

"No, I insist!" Don Kanonji closed Rito's hand over it, adamant that he take it, "My Number One Pupil needs to be a member!"

A groan just escaped the boy's lips as he looked down toward the card. Maybe he could say it was a souvenir for Lala. Worth a shot.

He pocketed the item, to Don's delight. Raising his attention toward the side, Rito's eyes locked onto something through the open doorway to the side.

"What the-"

Before Rito could comment on it, what he saw had vanished.

"Come on, My Pupil. Let's go home."

"I'm not your pupil..."

A girl leaned over with a few heavy breaths.

That was close! She was almost spotted...

Wiping her forehead, she turned back toward the hospital building behind her. It was a good thing she found a way to get away from the crowd on the other side.

Whatever that monster was, it looked like it was giving Don Kanonji trouble. So she was going to head up to give a Magical Girl assist.

When she got up there, she came to see that someone else had beaten her to the punch.

"Sorry but... It's over."

Who... Was that?

No one else in the crowd notably saw him, except one girl. But she figured seeking her out would only make herself vulnerable to paparazzi.

Was he a spirit? No. At least. Not a normal one...

She had some time to get ahold of what she could see. She knew now the difference between who was dead...

And who was alive.

His gaze moved backward with a sense of wonder attached to it.

"Number one pupil, huh...?"

» 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮? «

Lala laid back in Rito's bed. Looking over to his sleeping form, her face softened.

She found herself running her hand along his cheek. As she watched his head move in response to her touch, her eyes glowered.

She reflected on plenty after the following night.

Rito made the effort to be there for her. She was aware of that. She acknowledges that. But she also knew that there was something missing between them.

Something that would never be there if their relationship continued the way it had.

"Lala-sama."

Lala looked up. There she was Peke perched upon the head of the bed.

She did not like the look they fixed her with.

"Perhaps this Earthling and Lala-sama are not a good match for one another."

"Peke..." Lala looked down to Rito again, "Don't say that."

"Lala-sama. I am only saying it because it is something you should carefully consider."

Before Peke could explain further, they grabbed at their head from a slap from Kon. The lion pointed toward them with a frown.

"Shut allat analytic stuff up! It's too late for that!"

Lala looked up toward Kon with her lips parted. Kon looked toward her for a moment before turning away, jumping off the bed and faceplanting on the ground.

As Lala watched him make his way toward the other side of the room, she blinked.

This would all work out, right?

Lala genuinely could not imagine herself marrying anyone else.

No... She would not marry anyone else.

Her gaze moved over in the direction of the closet. As she stared at its door for a moment, her tail flicked lightly.

She let out a sigh. Laid her head down against Rito's shoulder. Hugged her arms around him somewhat tightly. Then, when she felt as comfortable as she possibly could make herself, she closed her eyes to fall asleep.

As she had, Rito opened one eye to glance over at her. A huff let out from his nose before he returned to sleep.

⦓ THS #07 ⦔
❱ END ❰

⦏ And there's lucky issue 7. Glad you read to the end! I sincerely hope you enjoyed. ⦐
⦏ The Spirits are with you as you read through this one. I wanted to give a sample of the history Rito has in this story, and it just happened to align pretty well with the free space I usually give in the Chapters. Kon being regularly around the house was the sign I wanted to give that Kon and Rito have a much better relationship than the former did with Ichigo, who just found him annoying. ⦐
⦏ With the hospital scene, I took inspiration from both the anime and manga on this end. Now I know that this one in the original story comes after a certain mini-arc, but it felt wrong to jump STRAIGHT into that from Kon like the original series did. I wanted to give it some setup first. ⦐
⦏ So, next episode will be a chill chapter, taking more inspiration from To Love-Ru. ⦐
⦏ Last thing. Another reminder that there's a poll up to decide Rito's theme song from the next arc onward. So go ahead and start voting now! ⦐
— Red