"According to the plan... then the heart... Hah, is this really going to work..."
"...Hey, Bazz-B. Why are you muttering so much?"
When Ichigo questioned Bazzard, who was leading him along, Bazzard turned his head irritably to look at him.
"Shut it! I'm busy enough as it is trying to memorize this!"
"...Memorize?"
"Yeah. Memorizing."
Bazzard clamped his mouth shut and quickened his pace. Though puzzled, Ichigo followed after him.
As they walked, he felt a cold sensation against his back.
'...Thinking about it again, I still can't believe it.'
Zangetsu. A strange, massive, cleaver-like Zanpakuto.
To think he was actually a fake, replicated from his future self.
And that Yhwach, the man he had trusted and relied on, had created him by sacrificing others...
"Whew..."
The thought that it might have been better not to know crossed his mind first, but...
The weight on his back was an irreversible reality.
Feeling the chilly air of Silbern, they arrived at the training grounds where the Sternritter usually practiced.
"Bazz-B. Why are we here..."
The moment Ichigo scanned his surroundings and asked Bazzard, a chill ran down his spine.
Something familiar, a sensation he had felt many times before, was flying toward him.
'A Heilig Pfeil!'
—Clang!
Reflexively, Ichigo drew Zangetsu and deflected the arrow.
The owner of the attack, Bazzard, looked at Ichigo with a thin, mocking smile.
"Ho. You abandoned the Quincy to switch over to the Soul Reapers, but your instincts for techniques are still as sharp as ever, aren't they?"
"What are you talking about..."
As Ichigo stepped back in confusion, a familiar voice drifted from behind him.
"Allow me to put it clearly, Master Ichigo."
"...! Mr. Quilge...!"
Ichigo turned around to see Quilge staring at him coldly, pushing up his glasses.
"We are going to kill you, the one who became a Soul Reaper."
"What... did you say...?"
Ichigo's heart sank.
Bazzard claiming he had abandoned the Quincy.
Quilge saying they would kill him for becoming a Soul Reaper.
"I—I did my best as a Quincy! My becoming a Soul Reaper was just an accident—!"
"Was it truly an accident, Vice-Grandmaster?"
The moment Ichigo shouted in his confusion.
A shadow with a deep, dignified voice cut him off and walked onto the training grounds.
"Mr. Robert...!"
The most senior among the Sternritter, a Quincy who had helped Ichigo with his training almost as much as Hubert had.
Robert Accutrone approached Ichigo with steady steps, loading his Spirit Weapon—a pistol.
"You became a Soul Reaper the moment you lost your Quincy powers. On a battlefield where life and death hang in the balance, isn't that a bit too exquisite of a coincidence? It's as if you... already knew you possessed the blood of a Soul Reaper."
"...!! That's...!"
Ichigo was at a loss for words and stepped back in panic.
The terror of how his former comrades were treating him hit harder than the threat of their weapons.
Recalling how casually Bazzard had spoken to him right after Haschwalth rescued him, Ichigo shouted desperately.
"Bazz-B! You know! You heard from His Majesty before the war that I was a hybrid with Soul Reaper blood—"
"Are you an idiot? You think I'd ever hear something like that? I just said that to put you at ease. So I could take revenge for our fallen comrades like this later."
Bazzard sneered at Ichigo, his lips curling like a villain who had just revealed his true colors.
It was a checkmate.
'...There's no one to clear up this misunderstanding.'
The only ones who knew Ichigo was a hybrid of multiple races were Yhwach and himself.
Zangetsu was there too, but there was no way Zangetsu could appear as a witness.
'...Am I really going to be killed by my own comrades?'
Bazzard's Heilig Pfeil was aimed right at him.
Robert had been aiming his loaded gun at him for a while now.
And Quilge had his hand on his Quincy Cross, ready to arm himself at any moment.
Just as Ichigo, breaking into a cold sweat, was about to reach for Zangetsu.
"Stop."
"...Jugo!"
A calm voice sounded like a savior.
As Ichigo turned toward the voice with a look of relief, a weary-looking Haschwalth slowly and silently approached.
"Ju—Jugram, please convince Bazz-B, Mr. Quilge, and Mr. Accutrone. They've misunderstood that I became a Soul Reaper on purpose—"
"As of this moment, Ichigo the Soul Reaper. You are considered an enemy of the Quincy."
"...What?"
—Shring.
The moment Haschwalth's sword was drawn from its sheath, Ichigo's mental fortitude began to crumble.
.
.
.
'....Do we really have to do this, Bazzard Black?'
'I agree, Mr. Robert. Isn't this treatment a bit too harsh for Master Ichigo...'
'Did you see his face? That's what a broken spirit looks like.'
Among the four Quincies surrounding Ichigo, the three who were out of his line of sight exchanged glances.
A few hours before Ichigo woke up, Haschwalth and Bazzard had been discussing what to do once he regained consciousness.
The point of contention was how to restore Ichigo's Quincy powers.
"You said we just have to follow what's on this note, right? While his mental and physical strength are at their absolute limits... what was it... hit a point 19mm to the right of the heart's sinoatrial node... with a Heilig Pfeil? By the way, what's a sinoatrial node?"
As Bazzard waved the note labeled [Letzt Stil], Haschwalth sighed and shook his head.
"...Quilge would know that. The problem is how to push Ichigo's physical and mental state to the absolute limit."
If Ichigo had simply lost his Quincy powers and become a normal human, they could have just attacked him until he was exhausted.
But currently, Ichigo had gained the powers of a Soul Reaper.
Moreover, his power was at a level where he could trade blows with a Captain. No matter how much he or Bazzard attacked, Ichigo might just dodge everything effortlessly without getting tired.
The note didn't seem to account for the situation where Ichigo awakened Soul Reaper powers; it simply described exhausting the subject through combat and then striking them with a Heilig Pfeil.
"...We have to overwhelm Ichigo both mentally and physically. Is there any good way?"
Haschwalth pondered, holding his forehead.
If they told Ichigo about the note and said, 'We're going to heal you now, so try your best to dodge,' he could only imagine Ichigo smiling and casually dodging the arrows.
Then, Bazzard, who had been staring intently at the note, spoke up.
"Why don't we just gank him together?"
"....What?"
When Haschwalth asked for clarification, Bazzard grinned, handed the note back to Haschwalth, and stood up.
"You just stay quiet and watch. I'll handle it."
Bazzard then went to find Accutrone and Quilge to request their cooperation.
"Ho. That sounds quite entertaining. I'm in."
"I'm worried about the Vice-Grandmaster, but... I'll join you."
And so, the four-man 'Ichigo Subjugation Team' (?) was formed.
However, one problem remained.
"How will we push Master Ichigo mentally? Simply attacking him will exhaust him eventually... but it might take too long."
At Quilge's words, Bazzard flashed another wicked grin.
"We are going to 'kill' Ichigo the Soul Reaper."
""...!!""
There was no one who didn't understand those words.
Because currently, a 'Soul Reaper' was the mortal enemy of the Quincy.
It meant they would corner Ichigo while accusing him of the 'sin of becoming a Soul Reaper.'
The operation proceeded smoothly.
Bazzard casually brought Ichigo over, and the team members appeared one by one, spitting out words meant to psychologically shock him.
With Haschwalth's final entrance, it seemed Ichigo's mental strength was sufficiently depleted.
'Alright, now on the count of three, we'll attack—'
Just as Bazzard gave the final signal with his eyes, Ichigo shouted.
"Wh—What about Mr. Hubert! He would understand me. So let me talk to him...!"
The air in the training grounds turned ice cold.
Bazzard, who had been signaling, flinched and looked at Ichigo. Accutrone silently shook his head, and Quilge calmly adjusted his glasses.
After a moment of stiff expression, Haschwalth spoke in a low voice.
"Mr. Hubert has died in battle. Not just him, but the entire Schutzstaffel."
"......"
Toward Ichigo, who wore a look of utter despair.
Attacks began to pour in from all directions.
.
.
.
"Huff...! Huff...!"
It hurt.
More than the red welts forming all over his body, his heart ached.
On the training grounds where they had practiced together.
By the comrades he had hunted Hollows with.
Being hunted as an enemy felt like wandering through a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.
It felt like being trapped in deep water, his feet tangled in seaweed as he struggled.
"Bazz-B! Please, just listen to me...!"
"Shut up, Soul Reaper!"
—Clang!
He blocked Bazzard's arrow barrage with Zangetsu while simultaneously deflecting arrows flying from behind.
After parrying Haschwalth's sword as it lunged inward, his leg was pierced by Accutrone's bullet.
"Guh...!"
He couldn't stop them all.
At this rate, he really would...
'No. This isn't right. Not like this...'
Ichigo grit his teeth.
At the same time, his grip on Zangetsu tightened.
He couldn't die like this.
If he didn't do something, anything, he would truly be murdered by his comrades.
'I have to resist at least a little, buy some time somehow, and clear the misunderstanding...!'
Ichigo's instincts surged.
The Reiatsu inside his body began to leak out.
And a massive amount of spiritual energy began to gather in Zangetsu, which was currently blocking Haschwalth's sword.
"...! Is that a Shikai! Already..!"
"Lord Haschwalth! Get back!!"
Accutrone recoiled in shock as Quilge shouted.
A Quincy fights by drawing in Reishi from the outside.
Then what about a Soul Reaper?
They fight using the spiritual power within themselves.
And Ichigo possessed an overwhelmingly powerful Reiatsu even among the Sternritter.
Robert and Quilge immediately sensed that Reiatsu gathering in Zangetsu and shouted to Haschwalth.
Haschwalth was also startled and tried to pull back, but there wasn't enough time to retreat his body, which had been leaning forward while pressuring Ichigo.
"You idiot! What are you doing!! Turn on your Blut!!"
Bazzard shouted urgently, reaching out toward Haschwalth.
And they weren't the only ones panicking.
'Stop! Stop it!'
He couldn't control the power he felt in Zangetsu.
If this power hit Haschwalth, it would surely inflict a critical wound.
He kept trying to suppress the spiritual energy within, but it wouldn't work.
It was his second battle since becoming a Soul Reaper, and the first manifestation of his Shikai.
There was no way he could have control in such a situation.
Panic spread from the uncontrollable power.
Just as the Getsuga Tensho was about to fly toward Haschwalth.
—Shatter!
"Ah..."
He succeeded.
Just as he used to forcibly manipulate Reishi as a Quincy, he forcibly cut off the flow of spiritual energy, causing the power gathering in Zangetsu to dissipate.
'...Thank goodness......'
—Thump!
And at that moment, he felt something hot in his chest.
".....Hah."
The sensation of warm Reishi piercing his chest.
Looking down, he saw Quilge's characteristic saber-shaped Spirit Weapon impaling his chest.
".....I'm sorry, Jugram. I almost hurt you."
"......"
Silence descended.
No one could say a word.
Ichigo's voice held relief, sadness, and apology instead of resentment.
"I didn't think... I'd die like this."
As Ichigo muttered bitterly, his grip loosened, and Zangetsu fell to the training ground floor.
'...He activated his Shikai and then cut it off. Does that mean he's already a master Soul Reaper...'
Robert muttered to himself.
He had heard that just releasing a Shikai made one a talented Soul Reaper.
To have perfect control over it as well.
"...Is being a Soul Reaper just in your nature?"
When Accutrone muttered this, Ichigo, hearing him, forced a smile and spoke.
"I'm sorry. For not being able to remain a Quincy until the end...."
"....."
Soon, Ichigo began to say what he wanted to say before dying.
"Mr. Robert. I'm sorry for always dozing off during His Majesty's speeches. But they were just so sleepy."
"......"
"Mr. Quilge. I'm sorry for bad-mouthing you with Bazz-B, saying you were obnoxious..."
"...Bazzard Black?"
"Hey, wait! When did I—"
"Jugo. I'm sorry. Seeing how I almost hurt you after becoming a Soul Reaper... I guess I really am your enemy."
"......."
"And Bazz-B. I'm sorry. Even though we bickered and didn't get along sometimes.... Having you around made life in the Lichtreich not so uncomfortable."
".........."
Ichigo slowly closed his eyes.
'I'm sorry, Zangetsu. For dying so pointlessly like this.'
Zangetsu, who had tried to achieve something, a grand cause, through him.
Feeling a deep apology toward him as well, he died.
.....Or he should have.
"....Huh. Why am I not dying?"
".......Are you really an idiot?"
When Ichigo opened his eyes in confusion, the saber that had been stuck in his chest had vanished, and his heart was thumping like crazy.
As if something were returning....
—Flash!
"....!!"
He could feel it.
The Reishi in the atmosphere, in the soil, in the wind, and all the Reishi mixed in his comrades' breaths.
His lost Quincy senses.
They were returning in an instant.
"Bazz-B... you..."
Ichigo stared blankly at his hands.
The Reishi he couldn't feel just a moment ago was already gathered in his palms.
".....No matter what anyone says. Even if you have an incredible talent for being a Soul Reaper."
Bazzard, who had approached Ichigo before he knew it, grinned and patted him on the shoulder.
"You're a Quincy, Ichigo. Always."
"......."
His eyes grew red.
He didn't know exactly how they had restored his Quincy powers, but he thought he understood.
The arrows that seemed meant to kill him were actually a desperate effort to save him.
"So earlier, when you were so desperate to kill me, it was all for this..."
"Mm, right. Not even a tiny bit of my personal feelings went into it. Really."
"Bullshit..."
Bazzard nodded as he spoke, and Ichigo burst into laughter at those words.
"Pfft... Pwahahaha!!"
Soon Bazzard began to laugh as well, Robert wore a benevolent smile, and Haschwalth, who had almost been critically injured by the Getsuga Tensho, was dusting himself off with a slight upward curve to his lips.
And then, a cold hand gripped Ichigo's shoulder firmly from behind.
"That's all well and good, Master Ichigo. But what was it you said earlier? Exactly what part of me did you find so obnoxious..."
"....Pardon? Oh, th—that is... Ba—Bazz-B was the one who started it! I was just playing along...!"
"Hey, hey! What kind of nonsense are you...!!"
"Both of you, write a reflection essay about me of at least 3,000 characters by tomorrow."
""What?!""
As the sounds of Ichigo and Bazzard bickering echoed across the training grounds, another day in Ichigo's life as a Quincy passed by.
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