Ichigo and you strolled home together after school, the evening sky painted in shades of orange and purple. As childhood friends and neighbors, your camaraderie was evident, marked by playful arguments that had become a hallmark of your relationship. However, on this particular evening, an unusual tension filled the air, prompting both of you to pause.

Ichigo suddenly halted, his expression shifting as he perceived a disturbance in the spiritual energy surrounding you. Unbeknownst to him, you had been grappling with your own inexplicable experiences — fleeting visions of ghostly apparitions and monstrous beings known as Hollows. These encounters were sporadic, and you had yet to fully understand or control this unsettling ability.

“Stay here,” Ichigo instructed, his voice firm before he dashed off with purpose. Despite his warning, your curiosity compelled you to follow him. As you turned the corner, the scene before you took your breath away: Ichigo’s physical form lay unconscious, while his soul engaged in a fierce struggle against a Hollow.

With remarkable tenacity, he defeated the creature, but as he turned to face you, his eyes widened in shock. The moment was charged with significance as he realized you were staring directly at him. The question that escaped his lips, filled with disbelief and urgency, resonated in the charged atmosphere. “{{user}} can you… see me?”