Chapter 3

Hmm? What's this? I wonder if someone dropped it.

White...candy? It looks a little too big for that.

Ahh!

Oops. It cracked open...

Hmm. I hope that wasn't something important. I mean, it could have just been trash.

No use in worrying, I guess.

Anyway! Time to go home and do some training! The national competition is just around the corner!

What's going on?!

Damn... Why are there so many Hollows?!

I thought you defeated all the Hollows already. Why are they still gathering around?

Could it be that one of them was hiding and decided to call its friends?

No way! Uryu and I defeated all the Hollows!

Then why are the Hollows gathering around again?!

I don't know! How should I know?!

Ichigo! Rukia!

Uryu?!

Grh... So I guess I was right.

Wait, you know why the Hollows are showing up again?

It's the bait.

The bait? But why?

We already beat all the Hollows in that last fight!

Well, uh...

It seems I had another pellet in my pocket.

When I got home, I noticed I had less stock than I remembered, so I thought maybe I dropped it. That's why I came back to see.

It seems someone cracked that one that I dropped.

But! You said you had everything in your pocket when we picked up all your stuff!

I-I didn't notice, alright?! How was I supposed to notice?!

Oh, shut up! Stop wasting your energy!

Someone cracked it or stepped on it by mistake, who knows? It doesn't change the fact that the Hollow bait was activated!

Our only choice now is to take care of this mess before it does any damage to other humans or spirits.

I'll put up the barrier one more time, and guide anyone in the area to a safer place.

You two take care of all the Hollows that show up!

Y-Yeah! Got it!

Dammit! Gotta do it!

What the... That's...a Menos!

We've got to fight one of these things again?!

Hah! What a treat, huh?!

Ichigo! Don't just go in with random attacks! You don't know what kind of attacks it can do yet!

We have to calm down and plan our next move...

We don't have time for that! The other Hollows are gonna get out of control.

Then are you saying you have a chance of winning?

I beat one once, I can beat one again!

Come on, Uryu!

We didn't really defeat it last time, so we can't call that a win... Hey, wait! Are you listening?! Ichigo!

Gah! Fine!

Yeah! Victory!!!

Phew. Glad we somehow won that fight.

Ichigo! Uryu!

Are you alright?

Yes, for now.

Good. You did well against the Menos.

I mean, I fought one once. It was easy.

You can't be serious. There were moments that looked pretty dangerous to me.

What were you looking at? I had no problem at all.

Oh, I get it. You were in a tight spot so you just want to make it look like I was having trouble too, huh?

Don't be saying such stupid lies. Plus, I was never in a tight spot.

Oh, I don't know. You looked pretty panicked to me when that Menos came out.

It seems you really underestimate my powers.

You know, we still don't have a final score for those last battles. I don't mind settling it right here, right now.

Yeah? Sounds good. Take your weapon and we'll-

STOP IT!!! How many times do I have to tell you?

Go on, start another stupid fight!

I'll put Kon back in his Gikongan and stick him in your mouth while you're asleep so that he can roam freely around Karakura Town all night!

D-Don't do that! Please!

My reputation would fall lower than the pits!

Then swear to me that you won't fight again for such a stupid reason.

Y-Yeah.

I-I swear.

Good.

And if you dare break this promise... You better be prepared for what's coming.

Hey... Looking at this picture as a whole, you think maybe Rukia might be stronger than the both of us?

I was just starting to feel the same.

Did you say something?

Nope! Nothing at all!

Acchoo!!!

Man, it's tough to be a hottie like me. I bet all the pretty ladies are talking about me again.

But, hmm. I wonder what this piece of paper Rukia brought home is about. A "test" I think she called it?

Must be some kind of secret code or something. And this big red circle at the top...

Could it be...a love letter?! I get it! This red circle represents her passion for me!

Aww! Rukia's such a cutie! She treats me horribly all the time, but it must be because she's trying to hide her shyness! Hehehe.