Sometime later, someone came through the window—a girl in a black kimono, a sword at her side. It was Rukia.
I pretended to sleep. I couldn't see clearly from my position, but I could hear everything.
Ichigo: Who are you?
Rukia didn't answer. She reached for her sword, preparing to draw it. Ichigo cautiously stepped back, wary of her movements. She didn't even look at him—only muttered quietly,
Rukia: It's close.
Realizing she was ignoring him, Ichigo kicked her in the back. She stumbled and fell to the floor. Ichigo immediately turned on the light and glared at her, speaking angrily for barging into someone else's room without warning.
Kenji (thought): If this were a real-life situation, I would call the police.
Rukia, still on the floor, looked confused. She stood up and said, "You… can see me?"
Ichigo looked confused, trying to make sense of what the girl was saying.
Ichigo: Of course I can…
Rukia, aproaching him, reached out and touched his face, mumbling something under her breath. Annoyed, Ichigo tried to kick her again, but she effortlessly dodged and leapt onto his head. Ichigo fell to the floor, still angry, and demanded:
Ichigo: Who are you?
Rukia I am a Soul Reaper.
Ichigo blinked, but the title seemed irrelevant in the moment. Frustrated, he climbed onto the bed and shook me hard.
Kenji (thought): Should I wake up or not…? Oh well, I guess I'm waking up.
Kenji: What?
Ichigo: What? How can you still be asleep with all this happening?
Kenji: What do you mean? (lied)
Ichigo: Didn't you notice someone here?
Kenji (thought): Should I pretend to be ignorant… meh.
Kenji: You mean… a girl in a black kimono, black short hair, a katana, small chest, and short like a child? (truth)
Rukia froze in shock. He could see her too? And yet, his commentary seemed to irritate her, even if it was accurate.
Kenji could still perceive and touch spirits, even though his spiritual energy was so low it was nearly invisible to others or there is none at all—likely another aspect of his reincarnator's privilege.
Ichigo: So you did hear… why were you pretending not to?
Kenji: Why are you asking? Obviously, I thought she was a ghost… I mean, did you invite her? (lied)
Ichigo: She doesn't even look like a ghost… and why would I invite a ghost?
Kenji: I don't know… because you always have something to do with ghosts? I mean, this is the second floor—how else would she get in? She didn't even make a sound.
Ichigo paused, thinking it over. Kenji had a point—it was the second floor.
Kenji: Whatever. I'm going back to sleep.
Ichigo: Oh no, you don't.
Ichigo grabbed me and forced me down from the bed, approaching the girl.
Ichigo: So… is what he said true? Are you a ghost?
Soul Reaper Girl: Didn't you hear me? I said I am a Soul Reaper.
Ichigo: Whatever. Explain why you're here.
The girl looked slightly annoyed, but she took a breath and began explaining.
Ichigo: So you're something called a Soul Reaper. And you're telling me you were sent here on a mission by something called the Soul Society… to deal with demons like the one we saw on the street today? The one chasing that girl's soul?
Rukia nodded calmly.
Then her eyes shifted toward Kenji. She had expected shock. Fear. Questions.
Kenji simply nodded along, his expression unreadable—even after hearing about a monster attacking nearby.
Ichigo frowned slightly as he ran.
Ichigo (thought): Kenji is weird. He's always calm, no matter what's happening. Even if I—or anyone else—gets attacked by a monster, his expression probably wouldn't change. Even when it comes to Mom… he's still the same. Always calm. I don't know if that's genuine—if he's hiding what he feels—or if he's just bad at showing it. When we were younger, I used to hate that about him. I thought he didn't care about me… or about anyone. I thought he was cold—like he only cared about himself. But that wasn't true. He does care. He just shows it in his own way. He's just… different. That's all. Somewhere along the way, I stopped questioning it. I accepted it. I got used to it.
Now… putting that aside— What is this "Soul Reaper" thing she was talking about…?
Ichigo shook his head.
Ichigo: I don't believe any of this. If you want to play Soul Reaper, go do it somewhere else, brat.
Rukia's eyebrow twitched.
Rukia: …Brat?
Her irritation was clear.
Without another word, she raised her hand and began to chant.
Rukia: Bakudō No. 1 — Sai.
Suddenly, Ichigo's arms twisted behind his back, locking in place as an invisible force slammed him to the floor.
Ichigo: What did you do to me?! I can't move!
Rukia: I used a Kidō on you. It is a spiritual art only Soul Reapers can cast. Struggling is pointless—you're only wasting your energy. I may look young to you, but I have lived nearly ten of your lifetimes. Were it not against my orders, I would have killed you on the spot for your insults. So, little brat… be grateful.
Ichigo: You've got nerve. Kenji, do something!
Kenji: What can I do?
Ichigo: I don't know—anything!
Kenji sighed lightly.
Kenji: Okay then… Grandma, could you please let go of Ichigo?
Rukia's eye twitched.
Instead of releasing Ichigo, she appeared in front of Kenji in an instant and delivered a sharp body blow.
Kenji fell to the floor. The blow would have been enough to knock out a normal human—but he endured it. Even so, he closed his eyes and pretended to be unconscious.
Kenji: …Well, I tried.
Then he went limp, pretending to lose consciousness.
Ichigo: Kenji?!
Rukia: Don't worry i just knocked him up.
Rukia continued explaining everything to Ichigo—about Hollows, Souls, and the duty of a Soul Reaper.
At first, Kenji kept pretending to be unconscious. But as their conversation dragged on, his heavy eyelids betrayed him. The exhaustion from work, school, and everything else finally caught up.
This time, he wasn't acting.
He simply fell asleep.
—
Morning came.
Kenji slowly opened his eyes as early sunlight filtered into the room. He climbed down from the top bunk and noticed Ichigo was still asleep.
Without saying a word, Kenji headed downstairs.
The moment he entered the living area, he saw the damage clearly—the broken table, the cracked wall from last night's chaos.
He let out a quiet sigh.
Then he started cleaning.
He swept the debris, cleared the broken wood, and temporarily repaired the table so it could still be used. After that, he began working on the damaged wall, carefully measuring and adjusting the planks.
A while later, Isshin came in carrying tools. He stopped when he saw Kenji already halfway through rebuilding it.
Isshin: Kenji, just let me do it. I'm skilled at this.
Kenji gave him a distrustful look.
Isshin: What? A father should be the one doing this, not a kid. Why are you always working? Kids your age should be playing… oh wait, you have school, right? You should go.
Kenji: Don't worry. I'll finish this before I'm late.
Isshin sighed.
Isshin: Fine. I'll help.
The two of them continued rebuilding the wall together.
Soon, Yuzu and Karin came downstairs. Yuzu looked around the kitchen.
Yuzu: Eh? Breakfast isn't ready?
Kenji: Sorry. I can't prepare breakfast today. I'm busy fixing the wall with dad.
Yuzu: It's okay! I'll make it!
She happily began preparing breakfast.
After a while, Isshin spoke again.
Isshin: Kenji, go wake Ichigo up. I'll handle the rest.
Kenji didn't even look at him.
Kenji: You should wake him up yourself, Dad. You're putting the plank in the wrong position. And that cut isn't straight either.
Isshin froze.
Isshin: At least it covers it up!
Kenji: No, it doesn't.
Isshin grumbled.
Isshin: Fine! I'll wake Ichigo up with the Kick of Love!
He stomped upstairs dramatically.
Meanwhile, Yuzu hesitated, holding the plates.
Yuzu: Umm… where do I put the food? The table is broken—
Then she looked again.
The table was fixed.
Yuzu: Did father fix the table?
Kenji, still focused on the wall, simply said.
Kenji: no i am the one who fix it and the wall i am the one who lead it too.
Karin crossed her arms, impressed despite herself.
Karin: I thought Dad fixed the table and the wall and you were just helping—so it's the opposite, huh? Well… that actually makes more sense. I didn't really believe Dad could make it this good. I still didn't know you were this good at woodworking.
Kenji: I'm talented in many fields. I even built a statue of us before, remember?
Karin: That was sculpting.
Kenji: It's the same thing.
Karin rolled her eyes.
Then sometime later ichigo came down with isshin isshin then continue to help kenji with wall repair ichigo still with confused, the family explain it.
Isshin: It's a miracle! A truck plows right into our house and none of us even get so much as a single scratch!
Karin: What's more miraculous is the fact that none of the neighbor even woke up when it happened.
then isshin said the truck driver will come back to apologize yuzu said it won't he criminal. while meanwhile ichigo is still confused but now starting to understand even for a little.
Yuzu: Brother hurry up and eat breakfast or you're going to be late.
Ichigo: huh do you think i cared if it late if the house like this i will help i will go to the school later even kenji help too there is no way i won't.
Kenji: don't worry we will not late.
...
They arrived at school—
Kenji: We're late…
Flashback
Isshin had swung the hammer too hard.
Crack.
Part of the wall they had just repaired broke apart again, collapsing in one clean piece.
Kenji felt something inside his head almost snap.
Isshin only scratched his cheek casually.
Isshin: Accidents always happen. Don't worry—we'll fix it.
Kenji stared at the damage.
No guilt. No urgency.
He slowly facepalmed.
Present
He wanted to properly repair the brick wall fence too—but at least the house was covered for now. That would have to wait.
Kenji (thought): Sigh… arriving at the exact same time the plot moves forward. Is this coincidence?
Ichigo: Are you really that down about being late?
Kenji: This is the first time I've been late to school. Of course I'm a little down. (In this life.)
Ichigo: Your expression looks the same as always.
Kenji: That doesn't mean you know what's inside.
Before Ichigo could respond—
Thud.
He ran straight into an orange-haired girl, knocking her down.
Ichigo: Oh. It's you. Hey, Orihime.
Orihime: Oh no, I'm sorry!
Tatsuki, who had been walking beside her, frowned immediately.
Tatsuki: Ichigo! You knock her down and that's all you can say?
Ichigo: Sorry about that. You going to be all right?
Orihime nodded shyly. Ichigo offered his hand.
Ichigo: Here.
Orihime stared at his face up close, flustered. Instead of taking his hand, she scrambled to her feet on her own.
Orihime: Ah! Oh no! That's all right, really! I—I—I have v–v–v–volleyball! That's right! Volleyball!
And she ran off.
Tatsuki: Orihime!
Ichigo blinked.
Ichigo: What's the matter with her? What could it be?
Tatsuki: Maybe it was your ugly mug!
Ichigo: That's kinda rude.
Tatsuki crossed her arms.
Tatsuki: By the way, why are you two so late? It's almost lunch already. Ichigo being late make little sense—but Kenji too? You never late and usually leave him behind. Why are you walking together?
Kenji: The house got destroyed by someone. Don't know who. Busy fixing it.
Tatsuki: What?!
Ichigo: We'll explain later.
They continued toward the classroom.
After a few steps—
Ichigo: Oi, Kenji. You're too blunt.
Kenji: What? One of your friends—the one who looks like a girl. I don't know his name. He already saw what happened and asked about it. They'll find out sooner or later anyway.
Ichigo: You mean Mizuiro? He really doesn't like being called that.
Kenji: Well… appearance matters sometimes. Not just what's inside. Like it or not, people usually judge by appearance first—before they ever get to know someone's personality.
Ichigo's eye twitched slightly.
Ichigo: Hearing you say that kinda pisses me off.
Kenji: Why—… ohhhh.
Kenji's gaze drifted to Ichigo's bright orange hair for a moment.
Ichigo: And that doesn't just apply to me—it applies to Chad too.
Kenji: Still… if you don't believe me, read Angel Densetsu. I have it at home. It proves my point.
Ichigo: That's a manga, right?
Kenji: Yup.
Ichigo: I can't believe you're learning life lessons from manga… Whatever. I'll think about it later.
The two of them stepped into the classroom and quietly took their seats. A moment later, Ichigo's friends approached—the ones he had told Kenji to remember: Chad, Keigo, and Kojima.
They started talking about what had happened at Ichigo's house. Chad offered to help with the repairs, but Ichigo shook his head.
Ichigo: It's already taken care of. Only the brick fence is left. Kenji handled about seventy-five percent of the repairs.
All three of them turned to look at Kenji in surprise, clearly impressed.
Kenji simply gave a small nod in response.
Kojima: So that's why he was late. I mean, he's never late. Sometimes he even shows up way too early.
Keigo: That's amazing.
Chad simply gave Kenji a firm thumbs-up.
A moment later, Ichigo glanced at Keigo.
Ichigo: What's the next class?
Keigo: Social studies.
Just then, the girl sitting beside Ichigo spoke.
???: Are you Kurosaki?
Ichigo turned toward the voice—and froze. His eyes widened in shock.
It was Rukia.
Rukia: I'll be sitting next to you from now on. My name is Kuchiki.
Ichigo shot up from his seat, pointing at her.
Ichigo: Ah! It's—it's you!
His friends stared at him, confused.
Keigo: Hey, Ichigo! What's wrong with you?
Chad: You two know each other?
Rukia: Of course not! We've never met before. Isn't that right, Kurosaki?
Keigo: What about you, Kenji?
Kenji quietly observed Rukia's reaction and decided to answer.
Kenji: Nope. Never seen her before.
Kojima: Rukia's a brand-new transfer student. Makes sense you don't know her.
Rukia then offered her hand to Ichigo. As they shook hands, she secretly showed him something written on her palm—a warning. Ichigo noticed it immediately and forced himself to stay quiet.
Then she extended her hand toward Kenji.
She didn't show him anything.
So she really thinks she erased my memory, Kenji thought. Alright then.
After that, class began. Ichigo couldn't focus at all—he kept staring at Rukia, who deliberately ignored him. When he drifted off again, the teacher threw a piece of chalk that smacked him right on the head.
Ichigo snapped back to attention.
When break time started, Ichigo stood up abruptly.
Ichigo: Kuchiki. Follow me.
Kenji watched them leave.
He didn't follow.
Not out of curiosity—because he already knew what they were going to talk about.
Instead, Kenji headed to the rooftop. It was the best place to take a quiet break. The breeze was calm, the sky wide and open.
From there, he happened to notice something below.
Ichigo's unconscious body lay there—unnoticed at first.
Kenji let out a small sigh.They forgot to hide it.
But it didn't stay that way for long.
A few students began approaching, curiosity written all over their faces. One of them crouched down and gently shook Ichigo's shoulder.
Student: Hey… are you okay?
There was no response.
They started whispering among themselves, confusion spreading.
Student 2: Did he faint?
Student 3: Should we call a teacher?
Just as the situation was about to escalate, Ichigo's soul slipped back into his body at the perfect moment.
He stirred.
Groaned.
And slowly sat up.
The small crowd stepped back in surprise.
Crisis avoided.
After that, class resumed as if nothing had happened.
When school ended and they went home, Rukia was still staying at Urahara's place—for now.
The next day was the weekend. They prepared to go to the hospital to visit Masaki.
Yes—Masaki was still alive.
Kenji had changed that.
Instead of dying, Masaki had fallen into a coma.
The reason why… would be revealed in the next chapter.