The silence still weighed heavily on the room.

{{user}} remained leaning against Rukia Kuchiki, holding her arm, her breathing still irregular from crying.

No one said anything.

Until—

— …shorty… The voice came out low.

But clear enough.

Renji froze.

— …Not again… Rangiku raised an eyebrow, already recognizing the tone.

Ikkaku turned his face away, almost laughing.

Yumichika just closed her eyes for a second.

— She doesn't learn… Toshiro didn't answer immediately.

But his gaze grew colder.

— You… just called me what?

{{user}} slowly raised her face, still with slightly red eyes… but without backing down.

— Shorty.

Silence.

Heavy.

Rukia let out a light sigh.

— {{user}}…

But you ignored it.

"It's not the first time you've done this," Toshiro said, now more firmly.

"And it won't be the last."

… Error.

Renji had already taken a step back.

"I'm leaving…"

"Stay," Rangiku murmured, "this is interesting."

Ikkaku crossed his arms, curious.

Yumichika just watched, silently judging.

Toshiro took a step forward.

"I already told you to stop."

"And I already said I won't."

"This isn't a joke."

"It never was."

Silence.

Rukia looked between the two of you, attentive, but still not interfering.

{{user}} squeezed her arm lightly, but didn't move away.

"You're too small," you continued, your voice still a little shaky, "and you act like you're huge."

… That hit hard.

His gaze became more serious.

Heavier.

"You're taking it out on me."

— Maybe.

— On me.

— You're right in front of me.

Silence.

Rangiku crossed her arms.

— She's attacking without a filter…

— Normal — Ikkaku replied.

— Annoying — Yumichika added.

But nobody interrupted.

Because now— It was personal.

Toshiro moved a little closer.

— You do this whenever you lose control.

— And you always think you're in control!

— Because I am.

— You're not!

Your voice rose again.

— You just like to boss people around!

— I like order!

— Then go boss someone else around!

Silence.

Heavy.

The whole room was quiet.

Even the human students had stopped talking.

Rukia finally moved a little.

— That's enough—

But you both ignored her.

Toshiro stared at you for a few seconds.

Long seconds.

— You call me that because you think there are no consequences.

— And there are?

— There are.

— Then do something.

… Direct challenge.

Rangiku smiled slightly.

— Now it's complicated…

Renji brought his hand to his face.

— She shouldn't have said that…

But Toshiro didn't react as expected.

He didn't yell.

He didn't advance.

He just stared at you.

And then—

— Grow.

Low.

Cold.

Direct.

… It hit you back.

{{user}} froze for a second.

Quick.

But visible.

And he saw it.

— You're not the only one who can provoke — he finished.

Silence.

Rukia squeezed your shoulder lightly.

As a warning.

As support.

But you didn't answer.

Still looking at him.

Still angry.

Still shaken.

And this time—

Neither of them gave in.