[Memories of Nobody Arc] Part 134: Weaving Memory

After introducing herself, Senna turned on her heel, attempting to walk away with the same casual air she had maintained throughout the encounter. However, Ichigo stepped in front of her, blocking her path.

"Hey, wait a second!" he snapped, his frustration evident in his voice. "You can't just leave without explaining yourself! What was that all about? Why did you do that to those spirits?"

Senna arched an eyebrow at him, her expression half-amused, half-exasperated. "Isn't it obvious?" she replied with a slight smirk, as if the answer was too simple for words.

Ichigo's scowl deepened. "Obvious? To who? What are you talking about?"

Rukia, who had been watching the exchange carefully, took a step closer, her voice more measured but equally as curious. "So, you know what those things were?" she asked, hoping to get a clear answer.

But Senna, in her typical flippant fashion, didn't even glance at Rukia. Instead, her attention drifted toward something off to the side, her face suddenly lighting up in exaggerated surprise. Without warning, she dashed off, her focus now completely on something else.

"What now?" Ichigo muttered, his frustration growing as he watched her run toward the glass window of a nearby store. He followed her quickly, still demanding answers.

When he caught up to her, Senna was standing in front of the window, her amber eyes fixed intently on her reflection. She was frowning, critically examining the yellow ribbon in her hair.

"Ugh, I knew it," Senna muttered under her breath, tugging at the ribbon in annoyance. "Yellow totally doesn't suit me…"

Ichigo blinked, utterly bewildered by her shift in priorities. "Hey!" he called out, quickly moving to grab her shoulder to regain her attention. But Senna was faster. With a graceful flick of her wrist, she swatted his hand away as if it were an annoying fly.

She sighed, and then her expression softened into that mischievous grin she had worn earlier. "Ichigo, right?"

Ichigo was thrown off for a second by her sudden change in demeanor. "Yeah…?" he replied, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Senna shoved her hands into her pockets, her amber eyes gleaming with a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Look over there," she said, gesturing with a quick tilt of her head.

Ichigo followed her gaze, and his face instantly paled. There, lying in the middle of the street, was his own body. The pill containing Kon's artificial soul had somehow been ejected from his mouth, likely due to Senna's earlier whirlwind attack. His body now lay sprawled on the ground, motionless, causing a small crowd of concerned passersby to gather around it.

"Oh, great. Not this again…" Ichigo groaned, realizing where this was headed. Already, a few paramedics were rushing to his body, assuming the worst.

Ichigo took off running toward the scene, his zanpakutō bouncing on his back as he dashed toward the crowd, who had begun murmuring in confusion.

Behind him, Senna watched with amusement as Ichigo rushed off, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "And here I thought today was going to be boring." She turned to leave, attempting to slip away as nonchalantly as possible. Maybe now that Ichigo was distracted, she could finally make her exit.

However, just as she was about to sneak off into the nearby alley, a casual voice stopped her in her tracks.

"I can still see you, you know."

Yato's calm voice echoed from behind her, causing Senna to freeze mid-step. She let out a soft groan of irritation before slowly turning around, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as she faced Yato. He was leaning against a nearby streetlamp, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, watching her with an almost lazy gaze.

"Can you not just pretend you didn't?" Senna asked with a half-hearted sigh, her attempt at a friendly smile not quite reaching her eyes. "I mean, I was being really quiet and everything."

Yato raised an eyebrow, his expression remaining indifferent. "Yeah, that's not gonna fly." He pushed off from the lamppost, stepping toward her slowly. "But tell you what," he said in a laid-back tone, "If you behave yourself and stick around, maybe I'll get you a ribbon in a color that actually suits you. How about that?"

Senna blinked, caught off guard by the casual offer. Her hand instinctively reached up to fiddle with the yellow ribbon in her hair, a flicker of genuine interest passing through her eyes for a brief moment. "You're serious?"

Yato shrugged casually. "Sure. How about... Red...?" He chuckled softly.

Senna's grin widened. "Deal," she said, her mood lifting as she folded her arms. "But remember, I'm only sticking around for the ribbon."

Senna sauntered over to Ichigo, who was just getting back to his feet, brushing off dirt and confusion from his earlier predicament. The bustling streets of Karakura Town buzzed around them, oblivious to the extraordinary events unfolding in their midst.

Ichigo, still trying to regain his composure, looked up just in time to see Senna approaching, a mischievous glint in her amber eyes. "You sure know how to make an entrance," she teased, a playful smirk gracing her lips as she helped him fabricate a cover story for the concerned paramedics who were still lingering nearby.

Meanwhile, Yato stood a few paces away, his posture relaxed but his eyes watchful. He let out a small sigh, one of those quiet, almost imperceptible ones, but it carried enough weight that Rukia, who was standing near him, noticed. She turned her head slightly, catching his gaze as he briefly glanced in her direction.

Rukia's violet eyes met Yato's with an unspoken understanding. For a moment, there was silence between them, a pause that hung heavy in the air, but it was clear that something was bothering her. Yato's demeanor was too calm, too casual for the gravity of the situation. It was as though he was deliberately keeping things light, as if the presence of Senna didn't concern him in the way it should.

"You've seen this happen before, haven't you?" Rukia asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she were afraid to disturb the fragile moment. Her gaze remained locked on Yato, searching for answers in his calm demeanor.

Yato kept his silence for a moment longer, his expression inscrutable. He then nodded slowly, confirming her suspicions. It was clear he had knowledge of this phenomenon, yet he held back, unwilling to share the details openly. Rukia understood; there were some things better discussed away from prying ears.

As Senna animatedly engaged Ichigo in conversation, attempting to help him concoct a plausible excuse for the sudden commotion, Yato subtly gestured with his chin for Rukia to look up.

Following his cue, Rukia tilted her head toward the sky. What she saw sent a shiver down her spine. The atmosphere above Karakura Town was undergoing an extraordinary transformation. The clouds shimmered and rippled as if a vast, ethereal curtain were drawn back to reveal the Seireitei itself... its majestic architecture and serene landscapes reflected as a mirage in the sky. It was a surreal sight, one that only those with spiritual awareness could perceive.

"What... is happening?" Rukia murmured, her voice tinged with awe and concern.

Meanwhile, Ichigo was trying to manage the situation with the doctors, who were bewildered by his sudden revival. Senna leaned in closer, her mischievous grin returning. "Just tell them you fainted from stress. Works every time!"

Ichigo shot her an incredulous look. "Yeah, because that's super believable," he muttered, struggling to keep his irritation in check.

"Fine, fine! We'll work on the details later," Senna replied, waving her hands dismissively as if shooing away a fly. She leaned against a lamppost, clearly enjoying the chaos she had helped create.

After a few moments, Yato, Ichigo, and Rukia walked side by side along a quiet path that led to a park. The gentle rustle of leaves in the cool breeze contrasted with the lively energy of Senna, who darted ahead of them, her every movement brimming with childlike enthusiasm. She bounced along the pavement, her eyes lighting up at every small discovery, from colorful street signs to distant sounds of children playing. The air was filled with the soft chatter of life winding down for the evening, but the trio couldn't ignore the strange behavior of their new companion.

Ichigo walked with his hands stuffed into his pockets, occasionally shooting frustrated glances at Senna as she bounded ahead. 

"She's... peculiar." Rukia said, her gaze following Senna, who at that very moment had paused in front of a towering Ferris wheel.

Without missing a beat, Senna's eyes widened with delight as she spotted the Ferris wheel. "Ah! A Ferris wheel!" she squealed, dashing forward with surprising speed. She flung herself against the park's iron fence, leaning over it with her hands clasped together as if she had just discovered the most fascinating thing in the world. "I want to ride it!" she declared, squinting to get a better look inside the park.

Yato, back in his physical form, sighed softly as he watched her antics. Rukia, now also in her Gigai, walked beside him with a furrowed brow, the gears in her mind visibly turning as she tried to piece together the mystery that was Senna. Meanwhile, Kon, nestled comfortably on Rukia's shoulder in his plush form, crossed his arms and huffed in disbelief.

"This girl has a screw loose, I'm telling you," Kon grumbled.

Ichigo shot him a glare. "You're the last one who should be talking."

The group finally caught up to Senna, who was still fixated on the Ferris wheel. Rukia, meanwhile, tried to keep her tone composed as she approached Senna, her curiosity tinged with the frustration of being constantly ignored. "Senna, what squad do you belong to?"

For a moment, Senna didn't respond. She seemed entirely absorbed in her admiration of the Ferris wheel, until finally, she tilt her head. "Hmm…" She turned to face the group, reclining lazily against the fence, her finger tapping her chin as though the answer were buried deep within her memory. "Squad, huh?" she mused, eyes wandering skyward as she appeared to search for the answer. She hummed, placing her finger against her temple as if she was genuinely trying to remember. But it was obvious from the start that she had no intention of taking the question seriously. "I don't know, I never really pay attention to those tiny details," she said, her voice dripping with playful nonchalance.

She poked her finger at the side of her head, as if trying to jog her memory. "Which number was it again…?" she asked herself, her expression one of exaggerated confusion. The way she brushed it off so easily, as though her affiliation with a squad was a trivial matter, felt surreal to Rukia.

Rukia stiffened, her frustration bubbling beneath her calm exterior. Even Ichigo raised an eyebrow at how casually Senna treated something so important. "There's no way you could just forget what squad you belong to," Rukia insisted, her tone firmer this time. "After seeing you wield and release your Zanpakutō, it's clear you're a Shinigami. And being a Shinigami means you must be part of a squad. This isn't something you can just ignore."

Senna, however, was clearly unfazed. She raised her hand suddenly, cutting off Rukia mid-sentence as if she were playing a game. "Oh! I have a question!" she declared, her voice full of mock excitement. "What are you doing here, Onee-san?"

Rukia blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt shift in conversation. Before she could respond, Senna giggled and spun around, running off a short distance before twirling in place like a carefree child, her hair flying out in wild arcs. "If I forgot, I forgot! Who cares, anyway?" she sang, flashing a grin over her shoulder at them.

Ichigo's eye twitched in frustration. "This girl is seriously testing my patience," he muttered.

Yato, who had been unusually quiet, stood a little further back, his hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes following Senna's movements but his mind clearly elsewhere. Though his gaze was fixed on her, it was as if he were seeing something far beyond the strange girl skipping around. His usual laid-back demeanor was still present, but there was a subtle tension in his posture.

Rukia noticed Yato's distant look, her frustration easing slightly. "Yato," she said quietly, stepping closer to him. "Do you think she's dangerous?"

He blinked, snapping out of his thoughts just long enough to glance at Rukia. A slight smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, though his tone remained casual. "Hmm..." His gaze returned to Senna, who was now laughing at something only she seemed to understand. "She's just… different."

Rukia's gaze lingered on Yato for a moment, his distant, almost lazy expression betraying little of what might be going on inside his mind. The way he casually smirked, brushing off her question with a nonchalant "She's just… different," didn't do much to ease her growing unease.

Crossing her arms tightly across her chest, Rukia frowned. She studied Yato carefully, trying to read deeper into his relaxed posture. His outward demeanor was calm, almost carefree, yet there was a subtle tension in his body language. He wasn't alarmed by Senna's behavior, which was odd given the things surrounding them, the mirage of Soul Society in the sky, the strange spirits, Senna's erratic actions. Yato's lack of concern about Senna herself, though, told Rukia that the real danger might lie in something larger, something surrounding Senna rather than the girl herself.

Rukia sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. She shifted her gaze toward Senna, who, in her usual distracted manner, had wandered over to a nearby woman walking her dog. The girl knelt beside the animal, her face lighting up with pure joy as she petted the dog, her carefree laughter floating in the air like she hadn't a care in the world. It was strange, someone with that much power, behaving so unpredictably, yet with such innocence.

"Yato, Ichigo," Rukia spoke, breaking the heavy silence that had settled between them. Her voice was firm, laced with determination. "I'm heading back to Soul Society. Something's wrong, and I can't get in contact with anyone. I'm also concerned about what we saw earlier."

Ichigo, standing nearby with his arms crossed, looked at her, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Rukia, you sure that's the best idea? What if—"

"I have to," Rukia cut him off, her tone leaving no room for argument. She glanced back at Yato, her gaze narrowing slightly. "You're going to keep an eye on her, right?"

Yato shrugged casually, his eyes following Senna as she now twirled around in delight after playing with the dog. "Yep," he said, his voice light, as if the entire situation were no more than a mild inconvenience.

Rukia narrowed her eyes for a moment, clearly not satisfied with his indifferent attitude, but there wasn't much time for debate. "Then don't lose sight of her, either of you," she said, her tone sharpening as she tossed Kon toward Ichigo, who barely managed to catch the stuffed lion.

"Nee-san!" Kon squawked indignantly from Ichigo's grip, flailing his tiny arms. "What's the big idea, tossing me like some—"

"Shut up, Kon," Ichigo muttered, silencing the mod soul before turning back to Rukia.

With that, Rukia turned on her heel, ready to depart. However, after taking just a few steps, Yato called out to her.

"Rukia…" his voice came out softer this time, though still carrying that familiar air of nonchalance. She paused mid-step, glancing over her shoulder as Yato ran a hand through his hair, his expression slightly more serious now. "Just so you know…" He paused, exhaling as if choosing his words carefully. "I might… do something stupid."

Rukia stopped, her back still turned to him as his words sank in. At first, the playful tone in his voice made her frown but there was something deeper in what he said, a veiled warning perhaps, hidden beneath his usual humor.

She didn't turn back to face him, though her eyes softened slightly. "Try not to," she replied simply, choosing not to press further. There were too many layers to what Yato wasn't saying, and she knew better than to force an explanation out of him now.

As Rukia disappeared into the distance, Yato stood still for a moment, watching her go, his hands once again finding their way into his pockets. His gaze shifted back to Senna, who was now skipping across the park, her energy as boundless as ever. Whatever storm was coming, Yato knew it wouldn't be as simple as keeping an eye on her, but he couldn't reveal everything just yet.

Ichigo, now holding a grumbling Kon under one arm, approached Yato with a sigh. "What's with you today?" 

Yato glanced at Ichigo, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Relax, Ichigo. Just enjoy the calm while it lasts." His tone was casual, but there was an undercurrent of something more, something Ichigo couldn't quite put his finger on.

Ichigo blinked, still irritated, but before he could respond, he noticed something—Senna was gone. She had taken full advantage of their momentary distraction, and now she was already several meters ahead, darting through the busy sidewalk with surprising speed. Yato sighed, straightening up from his slouched position and giving Ichigo a knowing look.

"She's on the move." Yato said casually, as if this were all part of a routine. With another small sigh, he broke into a run, chasing after the lively girl.

Ichigo hesitated for just a second, his frustration simmering before he finally muttered, "This girl is going to drive me nuts…" And with that, he sprinted after Yato, Kon's complaints muffled as he was jostled under Ichigo's arm.

Senna, meanwhile, was already ahead, her energy boundless as she stopped briefly in front of a large shopping center. She peered into one of the windows, gazing at the brightly colored displays as if she had all the time in the world. But when she caught sight of Yato and Ichigo closing the distance, a mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Wow, you guys don't give up easily!" she teased, her voice lilting with playful excitement. Without warning, she turned on her heel and darted inside the shopping mall, her laughter echoing in the air behind her.

Yato sighed again, but this time there was a smile tugging at his lips as he watched her bolt. "Guess we're doing this, huh?" he muttered to himself before sprinting after her. Ichigo, now beyond irritated, chased after both of them, determined not to let the strange girl out of his sight again.

The next several minutes turned into a strange game of cat and mouse. Senna weaved in and out of the crowds in the mall, dodging between shoppers with the agility of a child at play. Every time Yato or Ichigo lost track of her, she would stop in front of a shop window, pretending to admire the displays until one of them spotted her again. Then, with a delighted laugh, she would take off running once more, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

The mall was alive with the sounds of bustling shoppers, the murmur of conversations blending with the soft hum of background music. Storefronts glowed with neon signs, showcasing the latest fashion trends or gadgetry, but to Ichigo, it all became a blur. All he could focus on was Senna's figure darting from one place to the next, her laughter taunting him every time he got close.

Yato, on the other hand, seemed to be in no rush. He kept pace with Senna, but there was a relaxed energy about him, as if he were enjoying the chase far more than Ichigo was. His eyes tracked her every movement, but there was a small, almost nostalgic smile playing on his lips.

"Come on!" Ichigo shouted, his patience wearing thin as he dodged past confused shoppers. "This isn't a game!"

But Senna, always one step ahead, simply laughed, her voice light and carefree. "You said if I answered your questions, you'd listen to what I had to say!" she called over her shoulder, a playful edge to her tone.

"No, I didn't." Ichigo grumbled, his voice barely audible over the noise of the mall.

Senna's voice rang out again, this time filled with childlike glee. "Let's play tag!" she shouted, her pace quickening as she turned a corner and disappeared from sight once more.

Ichigo was starting to lose his temper. His footsteps pounded against the polished mall floor, Kon flailing helplessly in his arms, complaining loudly with every jolt. 

Yato, running beside him now, glanced at Ichigo out of the corner of his eye, clearly amused by the situation. Unlike Ichigo, he wasn't panting with frustration. In fact, Yato almost seemed to be enjoying the chase. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he quickened his pace slightly, keeping Senna in sight but never quite closing the distance. Every now and then, Yato shot Ichigo a sideways glance, a flicker of amusement playing across his features.

"You're actually enjoying this, aren't you?" Ichigo muttered, still trying to catch his breath.

Yato's smile widened slightly, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "Maybe," he admitted with a shrug. As the crowd in the mall swirled around them, Yato's thoughts drifted to memories buried beneath layers of time. The carefree laughter, the thrill of chasing someone just out of reach, it reminded him of something simpler. 'When was the last time I played tag?' he wondered, that distant warmth flickering in his chest. It was a fleeting feeling, one that seemed to lift the weight of responsibility off his shoulders, if only for a moment.

Determined to keep pace, Yato darted through the crowd, effortlessly weaving between the mall-goers, leaving Ichigo struggling behind. But soon, Senna's light footsteps became faint, and in the midst of the bustling shoppers, Ichigo lost sight of them both. He skidded to a halt, scanning the area with a scowl on his face. He found himself outside the mall, in a nearby plaza lined with trees and open-air cafes. The late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting soft shadows on the ground, but Ichigo's mood was far from calm.

"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath, frustrated by the chase. He looked around frantically, his eyes narrowing as he cupped his hands around his mouth. "Come on! Where the hell did you guys go?!" Ichigo shouted, his voice echoing off the surrounding buildings.

Shoppers gave him strange looks as they passed by, but Ichigo paid them no mind. "Hey! Stop messing around and show yourselves already!" he tried again, his irritation reaching new heights.

Before he could continue, a familiar voice cut through the noise behind him. "What are you doing out here, Kurosaki?" It was calm but sharp, carrying an air of authority that instantly made Ichigo tense.

Turning around, he found himself face to face with none other than Captain Hitsugaya, his short silver hair catching the sunlight, while Lieutenant Matsumoto stood beside him, her usual carefree smile plastered across her face.

"Rangiku-san, Tōshirō?"

"Hey there." Rangiku greeted casually, waving slightly.

"It's not Tōshirō, is Captain Hitsugaya." Tōshirō corrected with a glare as Ichigo was about to speak. His small frame and serious demeanor made the title seem all the more pronounced.

"What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked, still catching his breath.

Hitsugaya's icy blue eyes narrowed slightly as he crossed his arms. "I was about to ask you the same thing, but more importantly, where is Yasakani?"

Ichigo blinked, completely thrown off. "Beats me... I've got my hands full right now..."

Hitsugaya's tone didn't falter, his stare growing more intense. "We don't have time, Kurosaki. Whatever you're dealing with, it can wait. Come with us."

Without waiting for Ichigo's reply, Hitsugaya turned on his heel, walking away with Rangiku casually following behind. Her expression was much softer, but there was a subtle urgency in her steps that Ichigo couldn't ignore.

Ichigo stood there for a moment, torn between keeping up with Hitsugaya or finding Yato and Senna. His teeth ground together in frustration. "Great... just what I needed..." he muttered. Raising his voice, he shouted one last time, "Yato! Don't let her out of your sight!" hoping somehow that Yato could hear him from wherever he was.

As Ichigo finally gave in and followed Hitsugaya and Rangiku, the bustling plaza began to quiet down. Unbeknownst to him, Senna had slipped out from behind a column near the plaza, her face glowing with a mischievous smile. She watched Ichigo disappear into the crowd, satisfied that her diversion had worked perfectly.

Just as she was about to slip away and continue her little game, a calm, steady hand rested on her shoulder. She froze, and when she looked back, Yato was standing there with a relaxed but playful smile.

"Gotcha," he said softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Tag. You're it."

Senna blinked in surprise, then her face split into a wide grin. Yato stepped back with a light chuckle, putting some distance between them as he stretched lazily. 

For a moment, Senna's expression softened, as if she appreciated Yato's willingness to indulge her in the game. But then, with a burst of energy, she sprang into action, chasing after him with renewed enthusiasm. Her laughter filled the air as she darted forward, weaving around the columns and benches, her movements graceful and carefree.

Yato, for his part, kept a relaxed pace, just fast enough to stay ahead of her but not so far that she couldn't keep up. He glanced back over his shoulder, watching her smile widen as she closed the distance between them. Something about this moment, this carefree playfulness, felt strangely right, as if it had been a long time since either of them had experienced this kind of lighthearted freedom.

As Yato and Senna sprinted through the narrow alleyways, the air seemed to pulse with tension. Yato's senses had sharpened the moment he detected the Hollow's presence nearby. He released a weary sigh, his earlier carefree mood evaporating. Hollows had been appearing with alarming frequency lately, and while their strength was relatively weak, it wasn't their power that bothered him. It was the unusual abilities these Hollows possessed, traits they shouldn't have for their level.

The thought of Mad Eater, the Hollow he had absorbed using his Fullbring, crossed his mind. Though weak, Mad Eater could have caused significant destruction if left unchecked.

Beside him, Senna seemed to pick up on the Hollow's presence as well. Her playful demeanor dimmed slightly, though she kept pace with Yato, her footsteps matching his stride. "Tch, just when I was starting to have fun…" she muttered, her voice laced with annoyance.

Yato glanced over at her, his expression indifferent yet calm. "This happens more often than you'd think." he replied casually, his eyes scanning the surroundings as they moved farther from the crowded mall and into the more deserted part of town where the Hollow's spiritual pressure seemed strongest.

They finally reached a dimly lit alley, shadows stretching across the cracked pavement. What awaited them was a bizarre scene. A woman, huddled against a brick wall, was cornered by a grotesque humanoid Hollow. Its sickly pale skin stretched tight over misshapen limbs, its mask twisted into a haunting grin. The woman's eyes were wide with terror, yet something about her seemed off. Despite lacking any noticeable spiritual pressure, she could see the Hollow.

The Hollow loomed over her, its voice dripping with malice as it reveled in her fear. "Ahhh, it's so delicious~~~," it hissed, voice echoing with sinister glee. "Finally, after all this time, I can make myself visible to my prey~~~. Your despair makes the feast all the more delicious—"

Before it could finish, a thin red thread of energy sliced through the air, effortlessly cutting the Hollow in two. The creature's words turned to a gurgle of surprise as its form crumbled into nothingness.

Yato lowered his hand, the crimson energy fading from his fingertips. His expression remained calm, though there was a hint of irritation in his eyes. The Hollow hadn't been much of a challenge, but something about this encounter didn't sit right with him.

The woman, having witnessed the entire ordeal, fainted from shock. Her body slumped against the wall, and Senna quickly darted forward, kneeling beside her with concern etched across her face.

Yato approached more slowly, his eyes scanning the woman for any injuries. 'If I'd known this would happen, I would've asked Rukia for one of those memory-substitution tools,' he thought with mild frustration. Soul Society had ways of erasing human memories after Hollow encounters, but he didn't have access to any of them right now.

Kneeling next to the woman, Senna carefully cradled her head in her lap. Her expression had shifted from playful to focused, a soft glow of concentration in her eyes. She gently placed her fingers on the woman's forehead, her movements tender and precise.

Yato watched with a raised brow, unsure of what Senna was doing. It wasn't like her to act so serious. But then, something unexpected happened. A soft, shimmering light emanated from Senna's fingers, enveloping the woman's head in a gentle aura. The glow was brief, almost imperceptible, but it left Yato blinking in surprise.

"What are you doing?" Yato asked, his voice low and curious, though his eyes betrayed the deeper intrigue he felt.

After a few more moments, the woman stirred, slowly regaining consciousness. She blinked, her eyes scanning the alley as if she was waking from a dream. "What… what happened?" she asked, her voice weak but confused.

Senna smiled warmly, her earlier mischief replaced with a gentle kindness. "You fainted here. We saw you and came to make sure you were okay," she explained softly, her tone soothing.

The woman laughed awkwardly, clearly disoriented. "I must've had too much to drink with my friends…" she muttered, rubbing her temples as if trying to piece together the fragmented memories. She gave a small wave, still in a daze, and stumbled off, her steps unsteady as she disappeared around the corner.

Yato stood in silence, arms crossed, watching the woman leave. His gaze then shifted to Senna, suspicion brewing beneath his calm exterior. "What exactly did you just do?" he asked, his tone more direct this time.

Senna rose to her feet with a soft hum, her eyes twinkling mischievously again as if the serious moment had passed. "I made her forget the Hollow. Isn't that what a Shinigami's job is?" she replied, her voice light and casual, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"That's...not how Shinigami usually erase memories." His tone held a note of skepticism, the puzzle pieces not quite fitting together in his mind.

Senna's expression remained carefree, but there was something behind her smile, something elusive. She tapped her forehead with a single finger, her eyes glinting playfully. "I dunno. I just knew I could do it. Call it a hunch." she said with a grin, her carefree nature once again taking center stage.