Chapter 363: BSUS - 366: The Black Hole That Shattered Plans

Yukio had been "volunteered" to notify Ginjō and the others. He never really liked going out to begin with, and now he loathed it even more. Meanwhile, Hiroe gave Urahara and Yoruichi a call. They hadn’t been in touch for a month, and now that they finally were, it was just a string of bad news. He wondered how the two of them felt about it.

They didn’t have much of a reaction. At least, looking at Urahara’s expression, there wasn’t much difference from his usual self. They were people who had weathered many storms; they still had this much composure when facing a crisis.

"Let’s eat first!" Yoruichi turned her head, speaking in all seriousness. "You can only fight on a full stomach!"

Urahara nodded in agreement, adding, "Let’s call Kaien and the others up to eat too. Even though we can’t have them prepare in advance, having a meal together is still fine."

However, this composure seemed a bit abnormal in Kaien’s eyes. Were these two people, who were gently urging him to eat more, really okay?

"You’re full of openings from head to toe! Are you asking to die, you damn baldy!"

Also in Karakura Town, the atmosphere between Hiyori and Ichigo, who were currently sparring underground, seemed much more appropriate.

Controlling Hollowfication was a process of adaptation. Logically speaking, since he managed to actively trigger Hollowfication at an extremely fast pace, Ichigo’s talent in this area should be excellent. The subsequent adaptation—extending the duration of his controllable Hollowfication—should also progress rapidly.

But sometimes, theory was just theory, and reality was a different story.

It had already been a month. Aside from eating and necessary rest, Hirako, Kensei, Aikawa Love, and the others took turns helping Ichigo train. However, Ichigo’s progress truly made everyone who sparred with him lose their tempers, especially the hot-headed Hiyori.

It was worth mentioning that ever since Ushōda Hachigen repaired the Shun Shun Rikka, Inoue had also been training here under his guidance.

"You are already dead..."

But as soon as they stepped off the field to spectate, these people would switch to an extremely leisurely state. Take Aikawa Love right now, for instance, who was pondering a line from a manga: "Don’t you think this line is really profound, Rōjūrō? Telling those who haven’t realized they’re already dead in the middle of a battle that they’ve died!"

Love glanced at the manga in his hand, pointing at the empty air in front of him and feigning a deep tone. "Haven’t you realized it yet? Although you’re still breathing, you are actually already dead..."

"Kind of cool, right, Rōjūrō!"

Behind him, ōtoribashi Rōjūrō sighed softly. "Could you please not read my manga and then recite the contents back to me, Love?"

Love didn’t respond. Seeing how completely engrossed he was in the *Fist of the North Star* volume in his hands, it was obvious he had fully immersed himself in the role.

And when it came to immersion, absolutely no one present was more immersed than Hiyori. She sent a flying kick that drove Ichigo deep into the ground. Before he could even get angry, she started cursing at him first. "You still have the leisure to lie there and not get up? Including just now, you’ve already died several times!"

"You probably think that being a Shinigami means you have some miraculous ability to just keep dying over and over, right? Let me tell you, it’s nothing like that, baldy!"

*So loud!* Ichigo was annoyed but didn’t retort. He knew she was just anxious and wanted to give him a greater sense of urgency.

But honestly, Ichigo hadn’t slacked off at all just because this was a training session where he wouldn’t actually die. Perhaps it was exactly as she said; subjectively, he treated the training as a life-or-death battlefield, but subconsciously, he still had the underlying assurance that he could just try again. And that was something he couldn’t control.

"Again!"

Ichigo pushed himself up with both hands, but not far away, Kensei untimely shouted at the top of his lungs, "Time to eat, everyone! The last one there has to wash the dishes!"

"Let’s go eat." Hiyori waved her hand, signaling a break. However, the anger Ichigo had provoked in her hadn’t completely subsided, so she threatened him before leaving, "You better be the last one there and get ready to wash the dishes, baldy!"

Therefore, what was ostensibly a competition was actually rigged from the start. After lunch, Ichigo skillfully tied on an apron. Over the past month, washing dishes had become part of his daily routine.

And the post-lunch gathering—supposedly to discuss training progress, but in reality more of a mockery convention—began as usual.

"Hiyori, how is Ichigo’s Hollowfication maintenance coming along?" Hirako asked listlessly.

Talking about this got Hiyori fired up. "It’s been a month, and he can only hold it for a maximum of ten seconds right now. What a piece of trash! I really don’t know how to teach that baldy anymore!"

*Here we go again.* Ichigo scrubbed the plate in his hands fiercely to express his dissatisfaction.

"Could it be a lack of talent?" Yadomaru Lisa teased. "I think you should just give up, Ichigo!"

"Don’t say that, Lisa-san. Kurosaki-kun is working really hard too," Inoue stepped in to smooth things over.

Ichigo, however, wasn’t as good-tempered. "You didn’t even participate in the training, what right do you have to criticize me?"

Lisa shot up from her seat, speaking with righteous indignation. "Idiot, of course I participated! Didn’t I secretly lend you a book to read before? Don’t tell me you forgot!"

"Huh? Ichigo, he... this..." Inoue recalled the kinds of books Lisa was always reading. Her face instantly turned beet red, and she could barely speak properly.

"Don’t listen to her nonsense, Inoue!" Ichigo hurriedly explained, then turned to Lisa with a nervous expression. "I never borrowed anything! Please don’t make jokes that sound so real!"

"What’s there to be shy about? I go borrow one every two days," Love chimed in to encourage Ichigo. "We’re all men here, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about!"

"Are all men like this?!"

"No, I’ve never even read one!" Ichigo waved his hands, frantically explaining to Inoue. The plate in his grip shattered to pieces, as if he were crushing Love’s big mouth. "Don’t just speak on behalf of all men, you bastard!"

"What are you so shy about? I read them twice a day!" Lisa looked proud of herself, even running over to Inoue and patting her on the shoulder. "People always have to grow up, and you’re no exception, Inoue." She then leaned into Inoue’s ear and whispered, "Do you need me to lend you a few? They’re all premium quality~"

"I-I’ll pass!" How could the innocent Inoue handle Lisa’s teasing? She covered her face and quickly ran away.

Lisa watched her retreating back, resting a hand on her chin as she sighed with emotion. "This is youth. Such an ignorant and silly look."

"Don’t lump us in with you, you female pervert," Ichigo mercilessly called Lisa out. Lisa, however, didn’t quite agree with the title of ’female pervert’.

"I’m not a female pervert, I’m just very interested!"

"From a societal standpoint, that counts as being a pervert..." Kensei couldn’t help but mutter. But looking at the three of them who were about to start fighting, probably no one would notice him anyway.

If it were any other day, Hirako would have gladly chimed in with a few words to tease Ichigo. But right now, his mind was entirely focused on Ichigo’s training progress.

It had been a month and he could only last ten seconds. At this rate, if they wanted Ichigo to be able to fight a full battle in his Hollowfied state, they would have to spend a lot more time.

Logically speaking, maintaining sanity during Hollowfication was the initial hurdle. After that, it should be a process of continuous adaptation until reaching a certain limit where progress stagnates. A situation like Ichigo’s, where improving by even a single second was exceptionally difficult, was somewhat baffling.

*Was he lacking talent, like Lisa had said?*

*Or was it because of that special Hollow inside Ichigo’s body?*

Hirako wasn’t quite sure. There were still two months left; he would just have to observe for a while longer.

However, the giant black maw slowly opening in the sky above Karakura Town at this very moment was unknowingly devouring the time of far too many people.

As if mocking them, whether it was those vainly attempting to catch up to the footsteps of time, or those wanting to utilize it, all were destined to labor in vain.

Caught in the turbulent currents of time, the only thing anyone could do was face it.