Throughout the first few hours of class, Uryu Ishida found it incredibly difficult to focus on his textbooks.
Every few minutes, his gaze would drift toward the orange-haired boy sitting next to him.
It was a strange feeling. Uryu usually prided himself on being logical and calm, but looking at Ichigo made his chest feel tight.
It was a deep sense of deja vu, like a song he had heard a long time ago but couldn't quite remember the lyrics to.
'Where have I seen those eyes?'
Uryu wondered.
'He looks like a common thug with that hair, but his spirit feels... warm.'
Normally, Uryu hated the rich kids at Baxter Academy.
They were loud, arrogant, and constantly tried to show off their parents' money.
He expected Ichigo to be the same, especially since he was a "Bach." But Ichigo didn't brag. He didn't even talk.
He just sat there with a peaceful, slightly depressed smile, looking at Uryu as if he were looking at a long-lost brother.
When the bell rang for a short break, Ichigo turned to him.
"Hey. I'm Ichigo. Do you want to show me where the cafeteria is?"
Uryu wanted to say no. He wanted to push the boy away and stay in his shell.
But the words wouldn't come out. Instead of a sharp rejection, he felt a strange sense of comfort.
"I suppose I can,"
Uryu adjusted his glasses, his voice losing some of its bite.
"But don't expect me to entertain you. I have a very busy schedule."
Ichigo just laughed. It was a bright, honest sound.
"Deal."
As they walked through the hallway, Uryu's phone vibrated in his pocket.
He stepped into a quiet corner and answered.
"Yes, Father?"
"Uryu,"
Ryuken Ishida's voice was cold and professional. In this world, Ryuken wasn't just a doctor in a small town; he was the Director of the Memorial Hospital, the largest medical conglomerate in the United States.
"I assume you have met the newcomer. The grandson of the Chairman."
Uryu glanced back at Ichigo, who was leaning against a wall, patiently waiting.
"He is sitting at the desk next to mine."
"Good,"
Ryuken said.
"Listen to me carefully. The Bach family is the main branch of our lineage. We are the 'Branch' family—the Ishidas. Our relationship with Juha Bach is... complicated. He is a man who values power above all else. If his grandson is as talented as the reports say, he will be the most important person in your generation. Watch him. Do not let him out of your sight, but do not get too close. The main branch always brings trouble."
"I understand,"
Uryu said, though his heart wasn't in it.
He hung up the phone and looked at Ichigo.
Trouble? Maybe. But for some reason, Uryu didn't feel like he was looking at a "main branch" master.
He felt like he was looking at a friend.
In the cafeteria, the atmosphere was thick with whispers.
Every student in the room was staring at the two of them.
The kids at Baxter Academy were all children of the elite.
Their parents had spent the entire morning calling them, giving them the same instructions: Befriend the Kurosaki-Bach boy.
'He is the heir to the Wandenreich. His grandfather owns the city.'
But no one dared to approach.
There was a weird energy around Ichigo—a confidence that made them feel small.
Ichigo and Uryu sat at a table in the center of the room.
Ichigo was happily eating a sandwich his mother had packed, while Uryu delicately ate a salad he had prepared himself.
"Your parents told you to talk to me, didn't they?"
Ichigo asked suddenly, glancing at the surrounding tables.
Uryu didn't look up from his greens.
"My father told me to watch you. He thinks you're dangerous."
"And what do you think?"
Ichigo asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Uryu paused, his fork halfway to his mouth.
He looked at Ichigo—really looked at him.
He saw the scars on his hands (though the healing factor had made them faint) and the depth in his eyes.
"I think you're an idiot,"
Uryu said bluntly.
"But you're not like the others. You don't look at me like I'm a servant or a rival. You look at me like... well, like you know me."
Ichigo smiled, a bit wider this time.
"Maybe I do. In another life, we were a great team, Uryu."
Uryu pushed his glasses up.
"Don't be ridiculous. I've never lived in Japan, and you've never been to New York until now. Stick to the facts, Kurosaki."
"It's Kurosaki-Bach now, apparently,"
Ichigo joked.
"But you can just call me Ichigo."
When the final bell rang, the two boys walked together to the front gate of the school.
The sight waiting for them was enough to make the other students stop and stare in awe.
On one side of the gate stood a massive, snow-white limousine.
Standing beside it was Jugram Haschwalth, looking like a god in a white suit.
He was surrounded by four other men, all members of the Sternritter.
They stood with their arms crossed, their eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.
This was the "Main Branch" security—the elite of the Wandenreich.
On the other side of the gate stood a sleek, silver Mercedes.
Standing next to it were a group of men in grey suits. They were also Quincy, members of the Ishida "Branch" security.
They looked just as tough, but they didn't have the same aura of absolute power as the men in white.
As Ichigo and Uryu approached, the two groups of guards began to glare at each other.
The air between them felt like it was about to catch fire.
In the Quincy world, the "Main" and "Branch" families were always at odds.
The Main family saw the Branch as servants, while the Branch saw the Main as arrogant tyrants.
Haschwalth stepped forward, his eyes landing on the Ishida guards with pure contempt.
"Young Master Ichigo, the car is ready. We should leave before the air becomes... tainted by lesser blood."
One of the Ishida guards stepped forward, his hand twitching near his jacket.
"Watch your tongue, Haschwalth. We are here for Master Uryu. This is our territory."
The Sternritter laughed, a cold, mocking sound.
"Territory? Everything the sun touches belongs to His Majesty. You are merely guests in his city."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. He looked at Uryu, who looked equally exhausted by the drama.
"Do they always do this?"
Ichigo asked.
"Every time our families are in the same zip code,"
Uryu sighed, adjusting his bag.
"It's a tradition of hatred. They think the blood in their veins is better than mine, and my guards think they are 'true' Quincy because they actually work for a living."
Ichigo stepped right between the two groups of glaring guards.
He didn't care about their "main vs branch" war. He had fought gods; he wasn't afraid of men in suits.
"Hey!"
Ichigo shouted, his voice cutting through the tension.
"Stop it. Both of you."
Haschwalth blinked, surprised by the authority in the young boy's voice.
"Young Master Ichigo, they are—"
"They're Uryu's friends,"
Ichigo lied easily, throwing an arm around Uryu's shoulder.
"And Uryu is my friend. So that means we're all on the same side. If you guys want to fight, go find some Hollows or something. Otherwise, shut up and open the door."
Uryu turned red, trying to wiggle out of Ichigo's grip. This was the first time someone tried to get close to him like this. (No homo… He is just a tsundere.)
"I am not your friend! We just met today!"
"Too late,"
Ichigo grinned.
"I've already decided."
The guards on both sides were stunned into silence.
No one had ever spoken to the Sternritter like that—especially not a child. Even though he was the heir.
Haschwalth looked at Ichigo, seeing the fire in his eyes, and slowly bowed his head.
"As you wish, Young Master."
Ichigo turned back to Uryu as he climbed into the white limo.
"See you tomorrow, Uryu! Don't forget to finish that sewing project. I want to see it!"
Uryu stood by the silver car, watching the white limo pull away.
He felt his face warming up. He hated how much he liked the orange-haired idiot already. (No homo, promise!)
"Master Uryu,"
One of his guards whispered.
"Was that... the Bach heir? He's very... different from the Chairman."
"He's a nightmare,"
Uryu muttered, but as he got into his own car, he found himself looking forward to the next morning.