Ichigo didn't even have time to think — the Zanpakutō in his hand immediately shifted into its Zangetsu form.
(Technically, this should only happen after Bankai, but for Ichigo, whose sword never had an Asauchi to begin with, this was perfectly normal.)
On the other side, Tatsuki, having finished her karate club activities, was preparing to head home with Orihime.
However, in Tatsuki's perception, the air suddenly became heavy, as if something ominous was about to happen.
Feeling uneasy, Tatsuki quickly grabbed Orihime's hand and ran toward home.
But they were still a step too late...
"Hee hee hee! I didn't expect to find two little ones here with such rich spiritual power!"
A chilling, eerie female voice rang out.
Both Tatsuki and Orihime heard it and looked up, only to see a grotesque Hollow in the sky, purple and spider-like, its twisted body floating in midair!
"Damn it! We didn't manage to get away after all!" Tatsuki placed herself in front of Orihime protectively.
Just like she had always done.
Though Orihime was a bit frightened, being able to see the Hollow meant her lost memories were slowly returning. She swallowed hard and said to Tatsuki,
"Tatsuki, don't worry about me! If you're only thinking about protecting me, neither of us will be able to escape!"
"Don't say such foolish things!" Tatsuki growled. "It's just a Hollow! We'll definitely get out of this safely!"
Of course, Tatsuki herself wasn't entirely sure.
She thought to herself,
"At least... I have to hold on until Ichigo gets here!"
With that in mind, Tatsuki shouted at the Hollow,
"Hey! You want to eat me, right? Then come after me!"
However, before she could move, the Hollow let out a chilling laugh,
"Kekekeke... Why should I chase you? If I just eat the other one, wouldn't that be easier?"
Tatsuki's expression changed.
She had underestimated it — not all Hollows were brainless monsters!
"If only Ichigo were here!" Tatsuki thought desperately, but she immediately shook her head.
"No... I can't always rely on Ichigo! Always depending on him will only burden him more. I need to fight alongside him!"
Resolving herself, Tatsuki pulled out a pair of karate gloves from her pocket — gloves that Ichigo had given her when school started.
Though she never used them during practice, she always carried them with her.
Today was the day she would finally put them to use.
Silently, Tatsuki put on the gloves and looked firmly at the Hollow.
"If you want to eat us, come and get us yourself!"
With that, she assumed a martial arts stance!
"That's right! If you want to eat us, come at us!" Orihime also mustered her courage and stood beside Tatsuki.
Where no one could see, the gloves on Tatsuki's hands and the hairpins in Orihime's hair began to glow softly!
"Hmph! Just a couple of bugs!" the Hollow sneered.
"You dare to provoke me?"
"Fine! I'll grant your wish!"
Lowering its head, the purple, hair-like appendages atop its head suddenly extended, whipping straight toward Tatsuki and Orihime!
Tatsuki and Orihime's hearts tightened. They quickly dodged to either side, evading the Hollow's attack.
Don't underestimate Orihime — Tatsuki had taught her karate precisely to protect herself from bullying.
Though Orihime wasn't as strong as Tatsuki, she could definitely handle herself against an ordinary person.
Thus, despite the danger, Orihime managed to dodge as well.
As for Tatsuki — she was on a whole other level.
Dodging the attack with a flip, she launched herself into a forward somersault, her fists clenched tightly, and delivered a solid punch right into the Hollow's face!
The punch didn't deal much damage, but its insult was monumental.
The Hollow couldn't believe it — it had actually been hit by such a weak little bug!
"You damned brat! I'll kill you!"
The Hollow completely abandoned Orihime and turned all its attacks onto Tatsuki.
Not just the hair-like tentacles, but even the sticky fluid it spewed from its mouth!
A storm of attacks came pouring down toward Tatsuki.
But something had awakened inside her with that first punch —
She could feel the hidden spiritual energy surging within her body!
Facing the onslaught, Tatsuki just smiled slightly.
"Not satisfied? You think you're upset? I'm even more pissed! I couldn't even take you down with one punch — that's what really pisses me off!"
With a roar from deep within her soul, Tatsuki fully unleashed her spiritual power!
"Boom!"
A violent red reiatsu exploded from around her body.
The simple karate gloves transformed into black gloves, with a white Roman numeral "I" stitched onto the back of each hand.
Not only that, a red flame ignited between Tatsuki's brows, as she entered a raging battle state!
Her entire reiatsu transformed — it became pure fire!
The Hollow's tentacles and sticky fluid were instantly incinerated the moment they touched Tatsuki's blazing spirit energy.
"GYAAAH!!"
"This can't be! How can a brat like you have such powerful spiritual energy?!"
The Hollow recoiled, terror flashing across its face, as Tatsuki stepped forward through the flames like a queen of fire.
The blazing flames cleared a path before her, and Tatsuki walked down it with graceful, overwhelming force, approaching the Hollow that was desperately trying to escape its fate.
Terrified, the Hollow turned to open a Garganta to flee.
But Tatsuki would never give it the chance!
With a flick of her wrists, two ropes of flame lashed out, tightly binding the Hollow in place.
Using the propulsion of the flames at her feet like a rocket, Tatsuki shot forward, clenching her fist, and roared as she punched straight into the Hollow's mask!
"BOOM!"
With a thunderous explosion, the Hollow was utterly destroyed — burned to ashes by Tatsuki's raging spirit energy!
Seeing the Hollow reduced to nothingness, the flame atop Tatsuki's forehead finally extinguished. Exhausted, she dropped to one knee, panting.
Orihime quickly rushed over to her side.
At some point, the hairpins on Orihime's head had transformed — six little fairy-like beings now floated around her.
Clearly, Orihime had awakened her own unique ability!
Shun Shun Rikka — the Six Flowers of the Shield!
"Tatsuki!"
Orihime cried out, concerned at how drained Tatsuki looked. She immediately called out,
"Sōten Kisshun — I reject!"
A translucent, half-spherical shield enveloped Tatsuki, and within it, she felt her strength and spiritual energy rapidly returning.
"This... this is Orihime's power?" Tatsuki looked at her in amazement, then smiled.
"Looks like Orihime doesn't need me to protect her anymore."
But at the same time, Tatsuki clenched her fists tightly.
"Wait for me, Ichigo... I'm coming to help you too!"
(End of Chapter)
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