Ichigo felt a chill across his body as he woke up groggily—only to see Tatsuki, face burning red and practically steaming.
The moment their eyes met, realization hit him like a thunderbolt.
Clutching the blanket tightly to his chest, Ichigo gave her a look of mock horror and shouted,
"Tatsuki, you pervert! Who just yanks someone's blanket off like that?!"
Tatsuki looked like she was about to burst from embarrassment. "H-how was I supposed to know you were… not wearing anything?!"
Ichigo sighed helplessly. "This is my house! Of course I'll sleep however I want!"
"Hentai!" she shot back with no hesitation, eyes blazing.
"???" Ichigo was stunned. How did I become the bad guy here?!
Luckily for both of them, a voice echoed up the stairs and saved them from further awkwardness.
"Tatsuki-nee! I cut up some fruit! Want to come down and eat?"
It was Yuzu.
"Ah! Coming right down!" Tatsuki quickly replied, then turned to Ichigo and growled,
"Get dressed, now!"
Still flustered but inwardly relieved that Ichigo seemed fine, she bolted out of the room.
Ichigo, still half-asleep but aware enough to notice, didn't say anything more. After Tatsuki left, he got ready at record speed.
"Yaaaawn..." Ichigo trudged downstairs, rubbing his eyes. He hadn't gotten much sleep thanks to all the excitement from last night.
Downstairs, he saw his hopelessly ridiculous dad already chatting away with Tatsuki.
Compared to Orihime—who didn't have any living relatives—Tatsuki always thought Ichigo's dad was at least a positive figure… even if he was a total weirdo.
The problem was, Isshin was looking at Tatsuki like she was already his daughter-in-law.
Tatsuki.exe has stopped responding.
They weren't even together yet, and this idiot was already making her flustered.
Ichigo grabbed some breakfast, then came over to pull Tatsuki away. She looked visibly grateful as he led her back up to his room.
Once inside, Tatsuki sat casually on his bed—clearly already familiar with the space.
Ichigo chuckled. "Don't take it personally. You know how my old man is. He's been like that forever."
Tatsuki shook her head, saying she wasn't bothered, but her nervous fidgeting said otherwise.
"Calm down, Tatsuki! This is just a normal visit!" she told herself.
But it wasn't the same.
Ever since Ichigo started calling her Tatsuki again, something had changed.
Their relationship was no longer just childhood friends.
Ichigo tilted his head. "You're acting weird today. Are you feeling okay?"
He leaned down to look her in the eyes, concern in his voice.
If it had been before, Tatsuki would've laughed it off like a bro.
But now… with feelings involved… his closeness made her face instantly turn red.
Especially with the two of them alone in a closed room.
Ichigo panicked when he saw her blush. He reached out, gently pressing a hand to her forehead.
Tatsuki shivered and shut her eyes instinctively.
Ichigo, confused, muttered, "No fever. Tatsuki, you sure you're okay?"
"I-I'm fine." Tatsuki quickly swatted his hand away, flustered.
Ichigo didn't take it to heart and sat down nearby. "So why are you here so early?"
Tatsuki let out a breath of relief with the distance restored.
"I heard from your dad that you passed out yesterday. I thought the explosion got to you."
She still remembered how Ichigo had shielded her during the blast—then sent her and Orihime away without checking if he himself was hurt.
Ichigo scratched the back of his head, realizing he had to cover up the Hollow attack.
"Probably just shock from the explosion. But my old man checked me over—I'm fine."
Hearing that, Tatsuki visibly relaxed.
"Good. That's all that matters."
Ichigo grinned and leaned in with a teasing smirk. "Tatsuki, were you worried about me?"
Tatsuki almost admitted it—
But the memory of seeing Ichigo in all his natural glory made her immediately revert to full-blown tsundere mode.
"Hmph! Like I'd ever worry about a hentai like you!"
Ichigo twitched. Why is this still my fault?!
Still, he noticed the redness on her ears.
So Tatsuki did get embarrassed too, huh?
Smirking, Ichigo couldn't help himself.
"You're the one who ripped off the blanket, not me."
Tatsuki had hoped they'd moved past it—only for Ichigo to throw it right back in her face.
Steam erupted from her face as if she were a kettle.
"W-who said you could bring that up again?!"
Ichigo leaned closer.
"Didn't know you could get this flustered, Tatsuki~"
"Shut up!"
Normally, anyone else talking like that would've caught a punch to the gut.
But because it was Ichigo saying it, Tatsuki was totally thrown off her rhythm.
Still, seeing that smug look on his face, she couldn't take it anymore.
With a swift kick, she aimed to give him a little payback.
But she miscalculated.
"Ah crap!"
Ichigo lost his balance and toppled forward—
Right. Onto. Her.
Worse still—when he instinctively tried to brace himself, his hand landed on something…
Soft.
"BUZZZZZT."
Ichigo's brain instantly short-circuited.
Tatsuki was frozen too. Their faces inches apart, eyes locked in shock.
No screaming. No slap. Just… stunned silence.
Then—barely audible—Tatsuki whispered:
"…Ichigo, hentai."
(End of Chapter)
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