[Spiritual Cases Arc] Part 122: Welcome...

# Karakura Town, Kasazaki – Hirohyaku Supermarket #

As Ichigo walked through the bustling aisles of the Hirohyaku Supermarket with his younger sisters, Yuzu and Karin, he couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy wash over him. It was a welcome change from the constant battles and chaos that seemed to follow him everywhere.

Yuzu skipped ahead, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pointed out various ingredients they needed for dinner. Karin followed close behind, her expression more subdued but no less eager to help.

Ichigo couldn't help but smile as he watched his sisters, feeling grateful for these moments of peace amidst the storm.

Suddenly, a blur of motion caught Ichigo's attention, and he instinctively stepped to the side as Chad rushed past him.

"Chad?" Ichigo called out in surprise.

Chad came to a stop, turning back to face Ichigo with a sheepish smile. "Ichigo?"

Ichigo's eyebrows rose in surprise as he glanced at Chad. "What are you doing here?"

Chad walked back toward Ichigo, his expression calm and collected. "Just doing some jogging." he replied casually.

"Jogging, huh? I didn't know you were into that."

Chad shrugged, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's good for clearing the mind."

Ichigo nodded in agreement. "Fair enough. But I never imagined you'd need to train."

Chad smile at Ichigo's comment. "It's not for strength," he explained, "it's more for... focus."

Ichigo arched an eyebrow, intrigued by Chad's cryptic response. "Focus, huh? What do you mean?"

"Hm... It's actually at the request of my coach."

Now Ichigo was genuinely curious. "Coach? What coach?"

"Hm... I've been training at the Gonzales Gym."

Ichigo's eyes widened in surprise. "Gonzales Gym? You mean the boxing gym?"

Chad nodded, confirming Ichigo's suspicion. "Yes, that's the one. Tatsuki recommended it to me."

Ichigo's surprise only grew. "Tatsuki? I didn't know she was into boxing."

"She's not. But she knows a lot about martial arts."

Ichigo tilted his head, intrigued. "And what did she say?"

Chad's expression became thoughtful as he glanced away, reminiscing. "She told me that I should focus on learning a fighting style instead of just relying on my strength."

Yuzu and Karin approached them, both curious about the sudden exchange. Yuzu greeted Chad with a warm smile, while Karin's eyes narrowed slightly in recognition.

"Hello!" Yuzu chirped.

Chad returned Yuzu's smile with a nod.

Karin studied Chad for a moment, her memory flashing back to the time he had saved her from a Hollow. She wanted to say something, to thank him for what he had done, but she knew that it would only worry Ichigo.

Instead, she stayed quiet, offering Chad a small nod of acknowledgment.

Chad noticed Karin's subtle acknowledgment and gave her a reassuring nod in return before turning his attention back to Ichigo.

"So, why boxing?" Ichigo asked, genuinely curious about Chad's choice.

Chad's eyes softened with a hint of nostalgia as he began to explain. "Well, it's something my abuelo used to do. He was a professional boxer back in Mexico."

Ichigo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your grandfather was a boxer? I never knew that."

Chad nodded, a fond smile crossing his lips as he remembered his grandfather. "Yeah, he was. He used to tell me stories about his matches."

Ichigo listened intently, intrigued by Chad's family history. "That's pretty cool. So, you're following in his footsteps?"

Chad shook his head, his expression serious. "Not exactly. I mean, I don't plan on becoming a professional boxer or anything. But I do want to learn the discipline and focus he talked about."

Ichigo nodded, understanding Chad's perspective. "I get it."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of someone approaching, and they turned to see Orihime Inoue walking toward them, a cheerful smile on her face. She was carrying several bags filled with groceries.

"Hey, Kurosaki-kun! Sado-kun!" Orihime greeted them, her cheerful demeanor brightening the aisle.

"Hey, Inoue," Ichigo replied. "What's with all the bags?"

Orihime grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh, I'm just getting some ingredients for dinner tonight! It's going to be a feast!"

Ichigo and Chad exchanged a glance, both amused by Orihime's enthusiasm. "Sounds interesting," Ichigo remarked, trying to hide his skepticism.

"Hm..." Chad added.

Orihime beamed at their responses, oblivious to their skepticism. "I can't wait to try out some new recipes I found. I got everything I need, from pasta to spices to chocolate syrup!"

Ichigo's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Chocolate syrup? In pasta?"

Chad tilted his head, intrigued by Orihime's culinary experiments

Orihime nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It's for a special dessert pasta recipe I found online. It sounded so unique and delicious, I just had to try it!

Ichigo and Chad exchanged a bemused glance, unsure of what to make of Orihime's adventurous culinary pursuits.

Before they could comment further, Orihime's expression shifted, her smile faltering slightly as she glanced between Ichigo and Chad.

"Oh, by the way," she began, her tone hesitant, "have either of you heard from Ishida-kun recently?"

Ichigo's brows furrowed in concern at the mention of their absent friend. "No..."

Chad shook his head in agreement with Ichigo. "No, I haven't heard from him either."

Orihime's lips turned downward in a slight frown, her worry evident. "I hope he's okay..."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Yuzu and Karin approaching, their arms laden with bags of groceries.

"Ichigo, we're ready to go!" Yuzu called out cheerfully.

Ichigo turned to his sisters, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Alright, let's head home."

As Ichigo and his sisters made their way home, Inoue and Chad found themselves alone in the aisle. Inoue glanced at Chad, her expression thoughtful.

"Hey, Sado-kun," she began, her voice soft, "have you noticed anything strange about Tatsuki-chan lately?"

Chad furrowed his brow in thought, recalling his recent interactions with their mutual friend. "Now that you mention it, she seemed more... aggressive than usual."

Inoue's brow furrowed in concern as she considered Chad's words. "Do you think something might be bothering her?"

Chad shrugged, his expression troubled. "It's possible."

"Tatsuki-chan didn't say anything to me..." Inoue said, her voice tinged with concern. "I just hope it's nothing serious..."

Chad placed a reassuring hand on Inoue's shoulder, offering her a small, comforting smile. "I'm sure she'll tell us when she's ready. Until then, all we can do is be there for her."

Inoue nodded, grateful for Chad's words. "You're right, Sado-kun. Thanks."

Chad nodded in response, his gaze steady and reassuring. "Hm."

As Chad prepared to continue his jog, he gave Inoue a nod of farewell. "I'll see you later, Inoue."

Inoue returned his nod with a warm smile. "Take care, Sado-kun."

With that, Chad resumed his jogging, his footsteps echoing faintly as he moved away. As he disappeared around a corner, Inoue reached into her bag to retrieve her phone, which was buzzing with an incoming call.

Curious, she glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Urahara. With a sense of anticipation and a hint of apprehension, she answered the call.

"Hello, Urahara-san?"

[Ah, Inoue-san, it's good to hear your voice,] came Urahara's smooth reply. [I have some news regarding Ishida-san.]

Inoue's heart skipped a beat at the mention of their missing friend. "What is it? Is he okay?"

Urahara chuckled softly over the line. [Yes, he's fine. In fact, he's at the Karakura General Hospital right now."

Inoue's eyes widened in relief. "He's at the hospital? Is he injured?"

Urahara's voice was reassuring. [No, no, nothing like that. Ishida-san actually called me himself to let me know that he's alright. He just needed some time to take care of something.]

Inoue let out a sigh of relief, feeling the tension drain from her shoulders. "Thank goodness... I was so worried."

Urahara's tone was understanding. [I understand, Inoue-chan. But it seems Ishida-san is doing well. However, I think it would be a good idea for all of us to visit him at the hospital.]

Inoue nodded eagerly, grateful for Urahara's suggestion. "Yes, of course! I'll let the others know right away."

Urahara's voice held a note of approval. [Excellent. Let's meet at the hospital as soon as possible.]

Inoue nodded. "Of course, Urahara-san. We'll be there as soon as we can."

Urahara's voice was filled with gratitude. [Thank you, Inoue-san. I'll see you all soon.]

With that, the call ended, leaving Inoue with a sense of purpose as she hurriedly made her way to gather their friends.

# Minamikawase, X-Coffee #

Yato was about to finish his shift at work when suddenly more customers started pouring into the coffee shop. The bell above the door chimed with each new arrival, signaling the increasing chaos of the afternoon rush.

Yato shared a resigned glance with Riruka, his coworker for the day. Despite her undeniable cuteness, Riruka's prickly personality often clashed with the customers, making for an entertaining, albeit chaotic, atmosphere.

As Yato scrambled to take orders and serve drinks, Riruka, his coworker, added an extra layer of hilarity to the scene. With her sharp tongue and no-nonsense attitude, she managed to both charm and annoy the customers in equal measure.

The customers couldn't help but find Riruka adorable, despite her prickly demeanor. They chuckled nervously as she shot them disdainful glares or demanded they leave if they weren't ordering anything else. Many opted to be served by Yato instead, who, though initially clumsy, treated everyone with polite courtesy.

With the shop owner, Giriko Kutsuzawa, nowhere in sight, Yato and Riruka were left to manage the bustling establishment on their own. This meant Yato had to work double time, with only occasional assistance from Riruka when he managed to strike a deal with her involving donuts.

After what felt like an eternity, the coffee shop finally cleared out as the last customer bid farewell and left. With a collective sigh of relief, Yato and Riruka collapsed onto the floor in a heap, their exhaustion evident in the way they sprawled out in a comical manner.

Yato's limbs splayed in every direction as he let out a groan of exhaustion. His apron was askew, and his black hair was a disheveled mess, but a satisfied grin spread across his face as he basked in the blissful quiet of the now-empty shop.

He let out a dramatic groan, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. "I think... I think I might need a vacation," he muttered between gasps.

Riruka, equally spent, flopped down beside him with a dramatic sigh, lying on her stomach with her head turned to the side, her hair falling in disarray around her face. She tossed her apron aside with a flourish, letting out a contented hum as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax for the first time that day. "You're telling me," she replied, her voice slightly muffled by the floor. "I swear, if I have to deal with one more customer asking for a 'skinny soy caramel macchiato with extra foam,' I might just lose it."

Yato chuckled weakly, his eyes fluttering closed as he basked in the blissful relief of the quiet aftermath. "Yeah, well, at least we survived another day."

The two of them lay there for a moment, catching their breath and reveling in the peaceful silence of the empty coffee shop. The only sound was the soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant tick-tock of the clock on the wall.

Finally, Riruka mustered up enough energy to prop herself up on her elbows, peering over at Yato with a annoyed gaze. "You know, for a clumsy goofball, you're not half bad at this job."

Yato cracked open one eye to peer up at her, a lopsided grin tugging at his lips. "Hey, I'll take that as a compliment."

Yato calmly rose to his feet and made his way over to the counter to grab some things to change into before leaving. But just as he was about to reach for his bag, he heard Riruka's voice.

"Hey! Where are you! This is so annoying!! I take my eyes off him for one second and he disappears! What an irritating guy!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with exasperation.

'What the...' Yato glanced over at her, puzzled, as he was standing right behind her, only a few feet away, if not less.

"I can't believe they told me to keep an eye on this guy," Riruka grumbled.

Yato raised an eyebrow, looking at her until he remembered something.

'Ah, right... Riruka, if I remember correctly, had a vision problem... I think it was myopia...' He thought as he watched her frantically scanning the area. "I'm right here behind you..." he said in a teasing tone, knowing Riruka had little patience for anything, which meant that with the right actions, she would start revealing her true intentions.

Riruka froze, her eyes widening in realization as she spun around. "Oh! You were there the whole time?!" she exclaimed, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I-I mean, of course, you were! I knew that!"

Yato couldn't help but chuckle at Riruka's flustered response, finding her antics oddly endearing. "Sure, sure," he replied with a playful grin. "But hey, don't worry about it. We all have those moments, right?"

Riruka huffed indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Speak for yourself," she muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

With a groan, Riruka pushed herself up off the floor, her muscles protesting every movement.

She shuffled toward the door, flipping the sign to 'Closed' before locking up and flicking off the lights.

Yato grabbed his backpack and as he was about to leave, he thought of something that might coax Riruka into revealing her true intentions.

'Cheshire~~' Yato mentally called out to his Fullbring in a playful tone.

'Yes~~?' The voice of the red cat echoed in Yato's mind.

Yato made an effort not to laugh. Cheshire already knew exactly what Yato wanted, and as Riruka drew closer to Yato, her expression shifted from annoyance to confusion as she noticed something unusual. Perched comfortably on Yato's shoulder was a cat with vibrant red fur and piercing crimson eyes. The feline nuzzled against Yato's cheek affectionately, its tail swaying lazily back and forth.

Riruka's jaw dropped in disbelief as she stared at the mesmerizing creature. "Wh-what the...?"

Yato maintained his innocent expression, pretending to be oblivious to Riruka's astonishment. "Oh, this little guy?" he said casually, scratching behind the cat's ear as it purred contentedly. "Can you see him?"

Riruka's eyes widened even further, her disbelief evident as she continued to stare at the red cat perched on Yato's shoulder. "Of course, I can see him," she replied incredulously. "How could I miss such a cute cat, you idiot!?"

She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flicking between Yato and the cat. "But seriously, how can someone as simple and clumsy as you have such a cute Fullbring?"

Yato feigned innocence, furrowing his brow in confusion. "Fullbring?"

Riruka waved off Yato's question with an impatient flick of her hand. "Yeah, yeah, Fullbring. Whatever. Can I pet him?"

Before Yato could respond, Cheshire spoke up in a tone that was unmistakably smug and teasing. "Of course, you can, darling."

Riruka blinked in surprise, her eyes narrowing as she processed the cat's words. "Did... did that cat just talk?"

Yato, trying to suppress his laughter, nodded. "Yep."

Riruka's disbelief turned into intrigue as she reached out a tentative hand toward Cheshire. The cat leaned into her touch, purring loudly. Her eyes softened as she gently scratched behind his ears, her earlier irritation momentarily forgotten.

"You're such a cute little thing," she murmured, her voice uncharacteristically tender. "Why do you hang out with this idiot?"

Cheshire's eyes glinted with mischief. "Well, he does have his moments. Plus, someone has to keep an eye on him."

Riruka smirked, her mood visibly lightening. "I suppose that's true. Still, it's hard to believe a klutz like Yato has something as cute as you."

Yato, pretending to be hurt, placed a hand over his heart. "Geez, your words wound me."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Oh, please. Don't be so dramatic."

With the shop now closed and the evening stretching ahead of them, Yato picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. "Well, I'm heading out. You need a lift home?"

Riruka shook her head. "Nah, I'm good. Besides, I don't want to be seen with you more than I have to."

Yato took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day's work lifting off his shoulders. He adjusted his backpack, ready to head home . Just as he started walking, he heard Riruka's familiar, high-pitched voice cutting through the evening air.

"Hey, idiot!"

Yato turned around, eyebrows raised in mild surprise, just in time to see something flying towards his face. He instinctively flinched, but the object hit him squarely on the nose before dropping to the ground. Cheshire, perched comfortably on his shoulder, let out a gleeful chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Smooth as always," Cheshire teased, his voice a purr in Yato's ear.

Yato rubbed his nose, grimacing slightly as he looked down to see what had been thrown at him. A small, sleek card lay on the pavement, catching the fading light. He bent down to pick it up, his curiosity piqued.

"Explain everything is so annoying! If you have questions, just call this number." Riruka's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She had turned on her heel and was already jogging away, her hair bouncing with each step, her figure soon blending into the twilight shadows.

Yato examined the card more closely. It was black and stylish, with the words 'Welcome to our Xcution' etched in elegant white script.

"Things move quickly, don't they?" Cheshire remarked with a playful tone, his tail flicking back and forth lazily.

"What do you think, Cheshire?" he mused aloud. "Should we call them?" He asked with a smile as he slipped the card into his pocket.

Cheshire's eyes glinted mischievously. "Well, what's the fun in playing it safe? Besides, aren't you curious...?"