When Ishida Uryū arrived, he found that Amamiya Miyako and the others had already rescued Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends. True to the promise he had made to his father, he didn't reveal himself to Miyako or the others.
But the enemies that appeared had left him shaken to the core.
Damn it… I didn't expect the enemies to be even stronger than I imagined. At least my Quincy abilities are fully restored now… but I can't slack off on training, Uryū thought grimly, adjusting his glasses.
Even though he had severed ties with the Shinigami, his father had never forbidden him from fighting Hollows. And in truth, seeing them reminded him of why the Quincy could never forgive their existence.
Should I go ask Ryūken for guidance? He inherited everything from grandfather, all the skills and knowledge. Grandfather barely taught me anything before he was taken from us… Uryū clenched his teeth in frustration.
But then he shook his head. No… if I back down now because of pride, I'll never become stronger. If those strange enemies return, I can't just stand and watch helplessly…
With that decision, he turned on his heel and headed back home, resolve burning in his chest.
...
Meanwhile, Amamiya Miyako looked over the fallen humans around them and let out a quiet sigh. He had uncovered Aizen's true goal much earlier than the others, giving Soul Society time to prepare. But even so, the timing had only shifted by a single day. In the end, they still couldn't prevent Yammy from using his soul-absorbing ability.
Miyako clenched his fist, his expression heavy. He could now understand why the Quincy despised Hollows so much. Hollows were born from humans, twisted into monstrous spirits. Yet to humans, there was no difference between them and wild beasts devouring the innocent.
But the tragedy was clear: every time a Quincy destroyed a Hollow, a soul was lost forever. The balance between the three realms—Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo—was shaken with every arrow fired.
That's why Yhwach resents this world so much, Miyako thought bitterly. The Quincy were cast aside… outcasts of existence itself.
His Zanpakutō's voice echoed faintly in his memory: The Quincies are abandoned children of this cycle.
He exhaled sharply, determination glinting in his eyes. Then I'll bear that grudge in their place. Yammy will pay with his life. And no—Byakuya-taichō, Kenpachi-taichō—you won't take him from me. He's mine.
Under Kuchiki Rukia's lead, Miyako and the group made their way toward Kurosaki Ichigo's house. Ichigo and Inoue Orihime, meanwhile, carried Sado Yasutora and Arisawa Tatsuki to Kisuke Urahara's shop for treatment. They agreed to meet up later at Ichigo's house to discuss the situation.
But before they arrived, something else weighed on Miyako's mind.
"Captain Hitsugaya, Rangiku-san," Miyako called out suddenly.
Tōshirō Hitsugaya turned to him, his teal eyes sharp. "What is it, Amamiya?"
Miyako hesitated only briefly. "If you encounter someone familiar later… I'd like to ask the two of you to pretend you don't recognize him. At least for now. I'll explain once we're inside."
Of course, Miyako was talking about Kurosaki Isshin. Even though Isshin had aged after sealing himself into a gigai, his features were still unmistakable to anyone who knew him in the past.
Hitsugaya frowned. "A familiar person? Do you mean Kisuke Urahara… or perhaps the captains who defected a hundred years ago?"
Rangiku tilted her head, pointing to herself. "Eh? My familiar person? I don't remember knowing anyone here…"
"Just remember what I said," Miyako cut in, falling silent after that. His enigmatic tone immediately got under Rukia's skin.
Her eyebrow twitched. "You… how much do you know already? And why do you always act so mysterious about it?!"
Before he could retreat, Rukia grabbed him by the waist and twisted sharply at the side of his torso.
"!!" Miyako yelped in shock, his face contorting in pain. "R-Rukia! When did you learn that move?!"
"Spill it already!" she demanded, twisting harder.
"Ow ow ow—alright, alright! I'll explain after we reach Ichigo's house, I promise!"
Finally satisfied, Rukia let him go. Miyako rubbed his side with a horrified expression, swearing to himself never to underestimate her again.
"Oh—right," Miyako suddenly remembered, straightening. "Ichigo's sisters also have spiritual awareness. We can't just barge into the house unprepared."
"Then why don't we all use our gigai and visit as Ichigo's friends?" Rukia suggested. "I've already met his family once, so it shouldn't seem suspicious."
Everyone agreed. They entered their gigai and made their way to Ichigo's house looking like ordinary humans.
...
Kurosaki Clinic
The group stopped in front of the small clinic sitting quietly by the roadside.
"So this is where Kurosaki Ichigo lives, huh?" Matsumoto Rangiku tilted her head, her golden hair catching the sunlight.
"I didn't expect his family to run a clinic," Yumichika commented with a soft chuckle, brushing his hair aside.
"A clinic? That's more like Fourth Division work, don't you think? Doesn't suit Ichigo at all." Matsumoto smirked.
Rukia pressed the doorbell. Almost immediately, the sound of quick footsteps approached.
"Coming!" A cheerful voice rang out before the door swung open. Kurosaki Yuzu appeared, her dark hair neatly tied, her expression bright and innocent—until her eyes widened at the familiar figure standing before her.
"Eh? Aren't you…?" Yuzu tilted her head.
Rukia crouched down slightly and smiled gently. "Yuzu, it's been a while. I'm Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo's friend. Do you still remember me?"
Yuzu squinted, pointing at her. "You're that… strange big sister from before!"
"Strange…?" Rukia's face fell flat, a vein twitching.
Amamiya Miyako folded his arms and said in his calm, almost teasing tone, "Rukia, you must have left a weird impression back then. Figures."
Yuzu blinked, then looked behind them. Her eyes widened at the unusual group crowding her front door. There was a tall bald man with an intimidating aura, a silver-haired boy about her own height with piercing eyes, and a voluptuous beauty whose presence almost overwhelmed the doorway.
"They look… scary," Yuzu whispered under her breath.
Only Miyako, Rukia, and Yumichika looked remotely "normal" in her eyes.
"My dear daughter!" A loud voice suddenly boomed. "Is something troubling you? Fear not! Rely on your dad—!"
Kurosaki Isshin struck a ridiculous pose in the doorway, his lab coat fluttering as if he were on a stage.
But the moment his eyes locked on Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Rangiku, his expression froze.
"…Ah."
Hitsugaya stared back, cool and sharp, while Rangiku's usually playful face stiffened into surprise.
A drop of sweat slid down Isshin's temple. "Um… hello?" he muttered awkwardly, before quickly turning to his daughter. "You're here for Ichigo, right? Go on, head to his room. Yuzu, guide them upstairs. They're Ichigo's friends—no problem at all, hahaha…"
And then—he bolted down the hallway at full speed.
"Oi, wait!" Rangiku's voice trembled with emotion, but Isshin was already gone.
Her fists clenched as she turned to Hitsugaya. "Captain…! That was him, wasn't it?! Our former Captain! He just disappeared from Soul Society back then… we thought he might've… but if he's here—doesn't that mean—?!"
"Rangiku." Hitsugaya's voice cut like ice. His brows furrowed, but his composure remained steady. "We still have a mission. Personal matters come after. Don't lose sight of what's important."
Rangiku bit her lip but lowered her gaze. "…Yes, Captain."
Miyako gently raised a hand to stop them from pressing further. His eyes softened. "Hitsugaya-taichō, Rangiku-san… I know this is shocking. That man you saw—he really is who you think he is. Later, I'll explain everything I can. But not here. Not yet."
Hitsugaya narrowed his eyes at Miyako. "So this is the 'familiar face' you mentioned earlier. Truly… unexpected. Make sure you don't leave anything out when the time comes."
Rukia, who had been watching the entire exchange in silence, finally spoke. "Miyako… what are they talking about? What's going on with Ichigo's father?"
Miyako shook his head, his tone quiet. "Not here, Rukia. Let's go upstairs. I'll tell you what I can before Ichigo comes back."
Yuzu, still blinking in confusion, led the group up the stairs to Ichigo's messy room. They settled on the bed and floor, the tension lingering in the air.
Miyako took a deep breath, folding his arms. His voice grew firm, steadying the room's unease.
"Listen. What I'm about to tell you… you can't breathe a word of it to Ichigo. Not yet. He doesn't know, and this truth is far too heavy to just drop on him."
Everyone's eyes sharpened, the air tightening.
Miyako glanced at Hitsugaya and Rangiku. "You already guessed, didn't you? Kurosaki Isshin isn't just some eccentric doctor. He was once a captain in the Gotei 13—Captain of Squad Ten, before Hitsugaya-taichō took command. His true name… is Shiba Isshin."
The words struck like lightning. Rukia gasped, covering her mouth. Rangiku's eyes trembled with suppressed emotion, while Hitsugaya's expression hardened even further.
"That was twenty years ago…" Miyako continued, his gaze distant. "Back then, something happened—something that changed everything. Aizen was involved. The truth of why Shiba Isshin is here, living as a human… lies in that incident."
The room fell into silence, the weight of the revelation pressing against them. Even Yuzu, too young to understand, tilted her head nervously at the heavy atmosphere.
Miyako exhaled slowly. "For now… that's all I can say. But remember—don't tell Ichigo. Not until the time is right."