Too Many (3)

10 advanced chapters on my Patreon: Fiction Haven

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After having breakfast together, Retsu excused herself first. Although her job as a teacher was merely a disguise, she still needed to keep up an appearance. She couldn't be seen walking together with Ichigo, her student, even if she couldn't care about what anyone might think. It would, after all, affect Ichigo's reputation.

At school, everyone was excited about the return of the attractive Unohana-sensei from her week-long teacher training in the US. The alibi was a new one since everyone had forgotten about Unohana the moment she had gone back to Soul Society.

Ichigo and friends reacted casually on her return. Uryū and the rest were quite apprehensive of her presence but still acted normally around her. Ichigo had told them that Soul Society would send someone to watch over him, so they knew what was going on. They still wondered why the overseer had to be a captain, though.

School time was over without any intervention from Hollows. Ichigo and the others immediately busied themselves with their after-school agendas, meanwhile, Retsu was held up at school. She needed to do her job as a teacher. Ichigo went to the Urahara Shop instead of going home. He needed to improve his battle prowess, after all.

'Hm… I think it is time to confront him.'

Suddenly stopping in his tracks, Ichigo looked up. He saw nothing at first, but a figure soon came into existence. Standing in the air upside down, a blond man grinned at him widely. Being someone from another universe, he already knew who and what the man was.

"Didn't know my charm worked both ways," Ichigo remarked sardonically.

"Funny, aren't you, Ichigo?"

"Did Kisuke send you?"

The blond man put his finger before his mouth. "No can tell, can't I?"

"Whatever, Shinji."

With a shrug, Ichigo turned around, ignoring the disbelieving look Shinji shot him. Before he could move any further, Ichigo had to stop again. Shinji was standing in front of him, looking at him curiously. Recalling his otherworldly knowledge, Ichigo tried to sense the presence of Hollow. He wanted to kill the Arrancar Grandfisher by himself.

Unfortunately, he couldn't find any Hollow's presence nearby, aside from the one he felt inside Shinji. It was quite unfortunate, but he still noted that he had made yet another deviation.

"Did Urahara tell you about us?" Shinji asked.

Ichigo put his finger before his mouth and answered, "No can tell, can't I?"

Shinji chortled at the response. "I like you."

"Sorry, I don't swing that way."

"Let's meet again soon."

Just like that, Shinji was gone. Ichigo knew that Shinji would come to school someday, but he couldn't care less. Shinji's early appearance might indicate that the Espada would visit the human world sooner. Although he was confident that he could take on an Espada now, he worried that he might also face Aizen earlier.

Washed with a stronger sense of urgency, Ichigo left for the Urahara Shop with new vigor. That day, he baffled Yoruichi by telling her that he wanted her to hurt him. He was lectured by Yoruichi about how she would never hurt him and that she would help him if he had developed a strange kink. It was interesting for him how red Yoruichi was when he explained that he just wanted her to properly attack him, so his soul would grow faster.

…

On the next day, Ichigo found himself standing before the mirror in his room. Wearing a sky-blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of tight black pants, he looked like a host. To stroke his ego, he noted how he would even fall in love with himself if he were a female. Stroking his bang backward, leaving some strands to fall before his forehead, he nodded in approval for his style.

Getting out of his room, he went downstairs to meet the giddy Yuzu and the smiling Retsu. Today was Karin's soccer match. They were going to watch her match and support her. He complimented each of them for their clothing before leading them outside. They immediately took a taxi to where Karin's match was held.

Nothing interesting happened on the way. Retsu was quite snuggly but it was not worthy of note as she didn't mind hugging him in her sleep the night before. Once they reached the stadium, Yuzu held Ichigo's hand excitedly as soon as she hopped out of the car. With Retsu walking beside Ichigo, the three entered the stadium.

The trio garnered many looks. While Ichigo and Retsu were apathetic to the attention, Yuzu was quite bothered by the stares. She couldn't stand the way the women in their surroundings looked at her brother like that. Ichigo noticed her discomfort and figured out what the cause was. Turning his gaze to the ones staring at them, he quirked an eyebrow and smirked condescendingly.

The women reacted quickly.

'Huh? Why do I feel like it doesn't go the way I wanted?'

They misunderstood Ichigo's action, completely.

"Onii-chan, don't flirt!"

"I don't, Yuzu-chan."

"I agree, Ichigo-kun. Their husbands may be around."

Ichigo shot Retsu a betrayed look. Retsu smiled teasingly, but he could feel a slight killing intent behind her amiable façade. Of course, he didn't think anything about it. Retsu was an angelic Demon, after all. It was expected from her.

The match had started but they fortunately could get the front row seats. Karin brightened up when she noticed their appearance but immediately hid it. She was still shy about expressing herself. Ichigo cheered on her, causing her ears to turn red. It did wonders, though, as she immediately dominated the field.

Half an hour into the match, Ichigo turned to Yuzu and Retsu. "I am going to buy some snacks. Do you guys have any preferences?"

"Anything is fine with me," Yuzu answered offhandedly, focused on the game. "Wow. Karin-chan dominates the game. Those poor boys."

"I will eat anything you give me, Ichigo-kun," Retsu responded sincerely.

"Will you?" Ichigo asked with a knowing smirk.

"Yes."

Retsu's immediate and firm answer would have taken him aback if he couldn't spot the faint shade of pink on her cheeks. With a chuckle, he stood up and left for the food vendors outside. Interestingly, some women also chose that moment to stand up. Retsu could tell what they were trying to do and sighed helplessly, earning a puzzled look from Yuzu.

Ichigo returned ten minutes later with a variety of food in his hands. Retsu had noticed that he entered the stadium with some women who immediately left him alone when he was close to their seats but didn't comment on that.

"I bought everything," he declared proudly.

"Wow. Onii-chan, you don't have to do that," Yuzu rebuked. "Who is going to eat all of this? Three people can eat so much!"

"Karin might be hungry at the end of the match. Besides, we can share, no?"

More concerned about her brother's careless use of money, Yuzu accepted his reasoning when she realized that the food was not going to go to waste. They ended up sharing most of the food with those who sat nearby. The food allowed Ichigo and Retsu to interact with the parents who brought their children to watch their sibling's match.

Most of the mothers who came alone became much livelier when he revealed that Yuzu and Karin were his sisters and Retsu was his coworker. They had initially thought that the couple was the parents of the two girls. Ichigo didn't bother paying attention to their shift in demeanor, but Retsu was observant. She duly noted that he would get himself in trouble because of his casual disregard for the way women reacted around him.

The match ended with Karin's team winning it. It was not a surprise, but Ichigo was still excited about it.

"Woohoo! That's my girl! Come, give this brother a hug!"

So much so that he resembled his goofy father.

"Ugh. Why are you acting like Goat Chin?"

Karin didn't look too pleased by the way he acted but still hugged him tightly.

"I love you too, Karin-chan."

Despite his goofy act, Karin could feel his sincerity. The way he hugged her and caressed her head conveyed his love for her. She was quite embarrassed by his display but accepted it wholly. Every time her brother did that, she could always feel a hint of sadness. It was what made her always reciprocate his affection just as strongly.

"Now, let's celebrate this victory. What do you want to eat?" Ichigo asked as he let go of Karin.

"I want to eat meat. Let's eat Yakiniku," she answered simply.

"All right, let's go!"

Ichigo grabbed the hands of his two sisters and walked out of the stadium. Retsu followed closely behind them, letting the siblings have their moment. She watched how Ichigo smiled whenever he talked with his sisters. She already knew it, but it reaffirmed her belief. Ichigo would burn the world down if it meant keeping her sisters out of harm.

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Honorary Mention:

Venerable Immortal Adan Smith

Venerable Immortal Bigbowser

Venerable Immortal Dex

Venerable Immortal Haider Alkefaji

Venerable Immortal B0mbaCl0ckBob

Venerable Immortal Jack Wright

Venerable Immortal SilverWolf

Venerable Immortal Star Dragon Bahamut