Chapter 5: A Guest Participant

Haaaahhhh!!!

Ichigo! We have to get the kemari!

Got you! I'm on it!

Oh, no you don't!

Santen Kesshun!

All right, he's blocked. Go for it!

Good move, Orihime!

Oh, no you don't! Dance, Sode No Shirayuki!

Come on, Kon!

Huh? What are you planning to do, Rukia?

You'll find out. Sorry, you'd better brace yourself. Tsuginomai, Hakuren!

Ahhhhhhhh!!!

Eeeeeeee!!!

Wha-?! Dammit, Rukia! Don't go using my body to get the kemari!

No one is allowed to go outside the playing field!

Wahhhh!

Hey, that's my body!

Unavoidable. You seem to forget we're trying to do this without telling the Soul Society.

What's all this about keeping a secret from the Soul Society?

Uh, Ikkaku!

So, is there something you wanna tell me, Ichigo?

Uhh... Well, uh... Let me think.

We've been facing some strong adversaries lately, so I'm in the process of retraining Ichigo.

Special training? That's what's going on?

Yeah, and you came along at just the right time. I'm afraid someone got injured a moment ago. I'm wondering if you'd be willing to give us a hand.

I don't know precisely what's going on, but it seems very interesting. It's been a while since I've taken you on! Are you ready for me, Ichigo?

Kh!

Don't hold back or you're gonna get hurt!

Well, fine! If that's the way you want it!

What's Ichigo doing up there? He's not even kicking the ball.

I don't know.

Hang in there! You're doing great, Ichigo!