A/N: Hello, everyone! I took a short break from writing due to school stuff, but I'm back with a longer chapter. Thank you all for your kind words! Keep reading, enjoying, and reviewing!

I tossed and turned all night long with one word repeating in my mind like a mantra: Inoue. Knowing that she had been crying and possibly could still be crying kept me up. More than that, what really kept me from sleeping was that I had to wrestle with a strong desire to go over to apartment. I had to physically stop myself from going to her.

It was a strange feeling. A part of me felt like Inoue was in danger, and even though I knew that she wasn't, I felt the need to protect her. Protect her from what? I had no idea, which added to why I couldn't sleep.

And even now, when I am at the kitchen table eating breakfast, waiting for her, I can't seem to shake this feeling of needing to see her and protect. I need to see that she's safe.

I'm restless.

"Why does your leg keep bouncing up and down? Are you anxious or something?" Karin asks as she stretches.

Am I? Is that why I couldn't sleep?

"Why would I be?"

She rolls her eyes and laughs. "Whatever."

Dad comes into the room. He looks tired, but he still manages to annoy Karin into kicking him. He collapses into a chair, rubbing his shin. "If you kick that soccer ball anything like you kick me, the other team doesn't have a chance! I almost feel sorry for your opponents." Karin scoffs while Yuzu laughs and brings Dad some food. He thanks her.

"Didn't get any sleep, old man?"

"Had lots of paper work to do. Which reminds me. I'm going to need you to run some errands today while we are at Karin's game."

"Wait," I begin. He looks up from his plate. "I can't. I'm going to the game, too."

"You are? Why? You haven't gone to a ga-" He stops short as we hear knocking.

"I'll get it!" Yuzu yells as she skips off to the front door. She brings in Inoue who gives us a huge smile as she greets us. I can only meet her eyes for a second before I look away. Why? Because her eyes are red, and it hurts to look into them. Something in me hurts.

"Thank you for inviting me to join you all today!"

"Oh?" I can hear my dad's voice change slightly. "You'll be joining us at the game?" She nods. He gives me a look and slaps me on the back. "I see! So that's why…" he trails off with a smirk. "The more, the merrier! Karin could always use some more cheerleaders!"

She blushes and clasps at her jacket. "I'm glad you said that because I…" She opens her jacket, revealing a t-shirt which had her handwriting. "I kind of went overboard and made some posters and shirts." She blushes and scratches her head.

"How cute!" Yuzu screeches as she inspects the shirt more closely. It gives me the chance to read the words printed across the fabric: Karin-chan's number 1 fan! Around the words are little designs of soccer balls and other things like…robots? "Wait, you said you made 'shirts!'" Yuzu jumps down in excitement. Inoue bobs her head up and down, probably just as excited as my sister. She pulls out a t-shirt from the bag she is carrying. She holds it out for Yuzu. "Look! It says, 'No! I'm Karin-chan's number 1 fan!'" She squeals as she puts the t-shirt on over the one she is already wearing. "I love it! What do you think, Karin?"

I glance over to my other little sister, suspecting that she would be frowning. She really didn't like to be in the spotlight, and she really didn't like things like these, but instead of a grimace, she has a hint of a blush, and she is holding back a smile.

"It's not too embarrassing, is it? I wouldn't want to be a bother to you," Inoue worriedly asks.

"It's fine." Karin says quietly. Inoue grins, and I can almost see the concentration Inoue uses to not hug Karin.

"Did you make one for me too?"

"Of course, Kurosaki-san!" She hands a shirt to him. She looks at me and walks over to me. "I also made one for you, too." I take the shirt from her hand. I silently chuckle at what I read. Wait! You're Karin-chan's number 1 fan? Then who am i?

I set the t-shirt down on the table for a second, and I see a flicker of something cross Inoue's face. I shake my head, telling myself I've imagined it. I take off the shirt I have on and put on the shirt Inoue gave me. It fits just right.

"Thanks, Inoue."

"Y-you're w-welcome." She stutters. Why does she look embarrassed all of a sudden?

"We should probably get going if we want to make it there on time! Let's go!" Yuzu pulls Inoue and Karin with her.

"Come on, Ichigo. You can do what I've asked of you later." I follow my dad out, grateful that he is being lenient today.

All three girls are ahead of us. Inoue is in the middle while Karin and Yuzu flank her sides. They all look to be having fun. Inoue shifts her head, and I can see her smile, and it's so bright that without my permission, my hand moves to block my eyes.

"It's shining brightly today, isn't it?"

I trip a little. "What are you talking about?"

"The sun…why? What did you think I was talking about?" His voice sounds like he is teasing me. I shake my head at him, refusing to answer. "Is she feeling okay?"

I'm surprised he noticed. Is it that obvious? "Tatsuki is moving out of town to go to college, and Inoue's going to miss her."

He nods his head in understanding. "They are best friends, aren't they?"

"Yeah."

"One could even argue that Tatsuki is the only family that girl has, couldn't you?" I flinch at his words because it made what Tatsuki said sort of true. Inoue would be alone when Tatsuki left.

I just nod.

"And what about her? Did you ask her what she plans to do after she graduates?"

"No." For some reason, my voice is a little hoarse.

"Afraid of what she might say?"

I stare at Inoue now. She's making gestures with one arm, and something she is saying is causing both Yuzu and Karin to laugh. She looks happy now, but what about later? Would she go home and cry?

That upset me. I didn't want to her be sad. I want her to have an endless amount of happy days, and I know of one sure way that would keep her smile in place. All she would have to do is go with Tatsuki. Inoue had the grades to go to any school she preferred. She could easily be accepted to any college, and then, she wouldn't need to cry because she would be with Tatsuki. She wouldn't be alone.

"Afraid?" I repeat the word. It sounded foreign to me. I've been afraid before. It would be stupid not to be when I faced villains whose powers sought to destroy everything I've cared about. I knew fear. I know it now. But am I afraid at this moment? Afraid of her answer? "Yeah, I guess I am." It takes me a second to realize that I admitted it out loud.

The admission is another huge factor that prevented me from sleeping. Inoue could leave this town and never come back. Tatsuki…she has family here. She has siblings, her parents, and other relatives. It would only be natural for her to visit every once and a while. But it's different with Inoue. She didn't have any family. Dad's right. Tatsuki is the closest person to her, and if she went with her, why would she ever come back to this town? She wouldn't. If she left this place, she wouldn't ever come back. This town held nothing for her.

If she left, I would never see her again…

I feel short of breath, and I rub my chest at the weird pain there.

My dad lays his hand on my shoulder and squeezes. It feels like it is meant to be comforting as if he can hear my inner conflict. As if he understands. Why can he understand something about how I feel when I can't even do that?

"What about you? Have you thought about your future?" He faces forward when he directs his question at me. I follow his line of sight, and my eyes land back on Inoue's back.

My future? I convinced myself, probably foolishly, that my future would look something like the present with a few minor changes. I thought that no matter what each of us chose to do, what path we decided to follow, we would all be together, but Tatsuki's choice has me realizing that it's only a pipe-dream.

My future? Would I have to picture a future without Inoue in it? The thought of it forces me to confess that I might've taken Inoue's presence for granted. Her hellos, her smiles, her laughter, all of it. I was used to her. I always thought that her being next to me would be guaranteed.

The thought of my future without her stops me in my tracks.

"Well, you better start thinking about it now. Graduation is almost here." He ruffles my hair just like he used to do when I was boy. I'm thrown back by his gesture and his expression, but he doesn't stay by my side long enough for me to comment on it. He starts running forward. He picks Yuzu up by her waist, and he carefully maneuvers over to Karin. He grabs her by the waist too, and he sprints off, yelling something about familial love. Despite Karin's struggle and Yuzu's protest, he doesn't stop running.

Inoue stands still, laughing, which gives the me the chance to catch up to her. Once I am by her side, we start walking again.

I finally feel like I can breathe again.

She turns her face up, so I can see her.

"Your eyes…" I reach out, pointing at her reddened, tired eyes.

"It's not what you think, Kurosaki-kun. I stayed up pretty late making the shirts, posters, and snacks. I really did get excited all by myself." I say nothing. "You don't know this, but I…I always wanted younger siblings. I dreamed of going to cheer them at their event or protecting them from bullies or teasing them about their crushes or offering them advice." She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "And I know it's not the same. They aren't my siblings, but for today…I can pretend, can't I?"

"You know that I'm not so perceptive, and I'm not very good with words, but for what's it worth, I think they love your company."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't they?"

She blushes. "I'm glad." And she looks it, but it's not enough. It doesn't change the fact that her eyes are red nor does it change that she will continue to be sad about Tatsuki's departure.

I clench my fists and brace myself for what I am going to say. "You could go with Tatsuki."

"Huh?" She appears confused. I changed the conversation too quickly.

"You could go to college with Tatsuki," I clarify. "That way you wouldn't miss her."

She's surprised. In a way, so am I. I managed to get the words out through my gritted teeth.

"I couldn't. This is something she should experience on her own. I wouldn't want to follow her just because I will be lonely."

I shouldn't feel this much relief. Not yet, anyways. I still had one more question for her that I'm afraid to ask and have it answered. "Will you be leaving Karakura Town?"

I can count the seconds very easily. My heartbeat punctuates them heavily in my ears. I think that if she were to respond, I wouldn't be able to hear her, but when she finally does speak up, her voice washes over me crystal clear.

"No. My heart is here." Her smile looks like she hiding a secret behind it. "If my heart remains here, then so shall I."

I don't know what she's talking about. Her heart? Is she being literal or figurative? What did she mean? It doesn't matter because she left out an important part. "And if your heart leaves? What then?"

She frowns. "If my heart leaves this town…" She gazes up at my face, and I stare into her eyes, trying to hear what she is saying and trying to find out what she is not saying. She smiles. "Will I ever leave Karakura Town? Not in this lifetime."

Is it reasonable to be so happy by her words?

"What about you, Kurosaki-kun? What are your plans?"

"I…"

"Come on, you slowpokes! It's about to start!"

Inoue takes off, her hair flowing behind her. She looks over her shoulder while she goads me into racing her. It's playful. Just like she is, and it's not like me to compete in childish antics, but if it meant keeping that smile on her face, I would do just about anything.

So I race her. I catch up to her side, and she starts pushing herself faster while she throws back her head and laughs. I have to look away from her. She's too bright, and I'm suddenly too warm.

I pass her. She passes me. And while I run after her and she runs after me, I think about her question.

My plans? I have none. But as she pouts at me, claiming that I let her win, my future seems so unexplainably full of light.