"Actually, that earlier thing was an accident..." Muten Natsu trailed off halfway through his explanation. Seeing Rukia Kuchiki's expression turn serious, he quickly changed course.
"Alright, alright. Do you still have the Rabbit Chappy version?"
"That's a shame. I won't be restocking for a while, and Rabbit Chappy is always a popular item," Kisuke Urahara said after a moment's thought. "We should still have some Psyduck in stock, though. Ururu, could you grab one for me?"
She opened a box tucked away in the corner and pulled out an item wrapped in cloth.
It was a palm-sized, tube-shaped object, with a duck's head on one end and duck feet on the other. It was surprisingly cute.
Rukia Kuchiki stared at the item in her hand, still unwilling to give up. "There really isn't a Rabbit Chappy version?"
"How about this," Kisuke Urahara suggested. "I'll reserve one for you. When the new shipment comes in, we can swap it out."
Rukia Kuchiki put away her Gikon Pill. "Alright, then."
"Since we're here anyway," Muten Natsu said after a brief consideration, "to be safe, I'll take a Gokon Tekkō as well."
"No problem. We've got plenty of those in stock," Kisuke Urahara replied with a broad smile. "Thank you for your patronage~"
After finishing their shopping, the three of them left the store and headed back to school.
"So…" Orihime Inoue asked curiously, "what exactly is a Gikon Pill?"
"Simply put," Rukia Kuchiki said as she pressed the duck's head. With a quack, the cartoon duck spat out a round pill. Rukia opened her mouth and swallowed it, and her soul, clad in a Shihakushō, slipped free from the Gigai. "It helps the soul separate from the Gigai."
Now in soul form, Rukia Kuchiki pointed at her Gigai. "After that, a Gikon takes over the Gigai so no one notices anything unusual."
"Good day" Gigai Rukia lifted the hem of her pleated skirt and greeted them gracefully. "I am Rukia Kuchiki. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I hope we get along well"
"The Gikon has an ideal personality selected from among one hundred and eight Shinigami scholars," Rukia Kuchiki said, clearly pleased with the result. "Well? Pretty cool, right?"
"That's amazing!" Orihime Inoue said, copying Gigai Rukia's greeting. "Hello, I'm Orihime Inoue."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Rukia Kuchiki's phone started ringing. "Orders just came in. I'm leaving this to you!" She grabbed Muten Natsu and took off running.
"Wait a second," Muten Natsu said. "Let me leave my Gigai in the classroom first."
He didn't need a Gikon Pill. As long as his Gigai stayed in the classroom, everyone would assume he was just asleep.
"Na—" Ichigo Kurosaki started to speak, but Muten Natsu had already separated from his Gigai and run off with Rukia Kuchiki.
Were they the same?
Ichigo Kurosaki noticed how similar Rukia Kuchiki's outfit was to Muten Natsu's.
So what was really going on here?
After everything that had happened before, Ichigo Kurosaki had wanted to learn more about Muten Natsu.
Watching the two of them sprint across the schoolyard outside the window, a hint of longing flashed through Ichigo Kurosaki's eyes.
If he could, he wanted power like Muten Natsu's too, power he could use to fight.
Not like before, when all he could do was run away, completely helpless.
…
"Huh?" Inside Urahara Shop, Kisuke Urahara let out a puzzled sound as he picked up a Gikon Pill from one of the warehouse boxes. "Why is this still here?"
He was certain he had already sold it to Muten Natsu and the others.
"Oh!" As if suddenly remembering something, he went over to a box in the corner and opened it. "Just as I thought..."
The box was completely empty.
And clearly labeled on the outside—
"Hey!" Jinta Hanakari snapped angrily. "Open your eyes and take a good look! What does this say? Read it!"
Ururu stared blankly at the writing on the box. "Crazy... green onion product?"
"Why do you make it sound so weird every time you read it?!" Jinta Hanakari slammed his hand down on the box in frustration. "It's [Sealed Item]! Sealed Item! You sold something problematic to a customer!"
"But..."
"But what? Don't 'but' me! This is ridiculous!" Jinta Hanakari grabbed Ururu by the hair. "And what's with that bang that looks like cockroach antennae?!"
"It hurts!" Ururu cried out miserably.
"Alright, that's enough. Stop arguing," Kisuke Urahara said, waving his hand. "If anyone's at fault, it's me for not dealing with those items sooner."
He adjusted the brim of his hat with a sigh. "Honestly, even after being away from Soul Society for so long, there are still things I can't quite bring myself to throw away."
"Hm. In that case, who's going to take responsibility for this one?" Tessai Tsukabishi said, folding his arms across his chest. "This could turn into real trouble. Shopkeeper, what should we do?"
"Well..." Kisuke Urahara looked up at the sky beyond the shop entrance. "We'll need to deal with this quickly. That's no ordinary Gikon Pill. It's a Modified Soul with special abilities. It's her first time possessing a body she can move freely. There's no telling what she might do."
...
Orihime Inoue tilted her head and glanced in Rukia Kuchiki's direction. Rukia was diligently taking notes, and the sight made Orihime feel that the Gikon Pill was truly incredible.
But thinking about it more carefully, there were many differences between Soul Society and the world of the living. Even the focus of technological development was different. What seemed amazing to her was probably nothing more than everyday life to Muten Natsu and Rukia Kuchiki.
She really needed to get used to these differences sooner rather than later.
Orihime Inoue rubbed her cheeks, trying her best to accept this reality that no longer matched her old understanding.
Even if Rukia Kuchiki suddenly vanished into thin air the next second, she shouldn't be all that surprised.
With that thought, Orihime Inoue confidently looked toward Rukia Kuchiki again, then abruptly jumped to her feet.
"She... she disappeared!"
Rukia Kuchiki, who had been sitting at her desk taking notes just moments ago, was turning transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye. Then, before everyone's eyes, she vanished completely.
Hearing the shocked gasps and incredulous murmurs filling the classroom, Orihime Inoue realized this wasn't her imagination.
Where had Rukia Kuchiki gone?
Where had Gikon Rukia gone?
Meanwhile, strolling leisurely down the street, Gikon Rukia moved with light, carefree steps.
"At this distance, the illusion should've worn off already. They must've been scared stiff back there~"
She paused for a moment, then started walking again.
"Ah, whatever. Who cares."
She stretched deeply, savoring the exhilarating feeling of being able to move freely.
The long stretch of fear, the endless anxiety, all of it finally came to an end at this very moment.
No more trembling inside a pill. No more living in constant dread.
From today onward, she was truly free.
No one would ever catch her... no, no one would ever find her!
"Ah, found you," a voice suddenly spoke from behind her. "So you really were here."