"Alright, let's do it like this yeah .... Since you're so courageous," he said with a wide grin.
Why don't you go an extra ten laps?" he suggested, a hint of amusement in his voice. "And the rest of you will continue until you've completed the full twenty laps," he added, his decision final.As Lieutenant Hisagi departed, Ichigo harbored ill intentions, planning to attack the man from behind. However, before he could act on his impulse, Tekashi intervened, restraining Ichigo and diffusing the situation. With a moment of contemplation, Ichigo relented, and the group of children obediently began their rigorous training.The sun soared higher in the sky as the children persevered through the obstacle course. As most of them completed their laps, Tekashi couldn't help but notice Ichigo forging ahead. He decided to give chase, believing that maybe Ichigo was similar to him, endowed with extraordinary abilities. As Tekashi drew closer, Ichigo seemed to sense his approach and quickened his pace, leaving Tekashi bewildered. Had he underestimated Ichigo's capabilities?Desperate to catch up, Tekashi exerted himself, determined to prove his own prowess. Finally, he closed the gap and drew level with Ichigo.
As Tekashi surged ahead of Ichigo, his curiosity couldn't be contained any longer. He had so many questions, and he was determined to get answers.
"Hey, Ichigo," he called out, his voice carrying over the rushing wind.
However, Ichigo, wary of divulging his secrets, remained silent. He had his reasons for not wanting to open up to the others. Tekashi, not one to give up easily, decided to turn the race up a notch. He tapped into his incredible speed, propelling himself ahead at an astonishing rate. Ichigo, seeing Tekashi's incredible burst of velocity, knew he was dealing with someone extraordinary. He too kicked it up a notch, using his own astonishing speed to close the gap.As they raced side by side, Ichigo couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "Hey why are you very fast ? Do you have some special power?" he inquired.
Tekashi, now satisfied that Ichigo was willing to share, nodded affirmatively.
"Yes, I do," he admitted.
With this newfound understanding between them, Ichigo felt more comfortable and decided to address the questions he had shelved earlier.
"Why did I stand up to the lieutenant earlier?" Ichigo repeated the question he had been itching to ask.Tekashi, lost in thought, hesitated for a moment. He pondered the reason behind Ichigo's act of bravery. However, before he could respond, Tekashi made a grave mistake – he overlooked a large rock in his path. His foot caught on the obstacle, and he tumbled forward, dragging Ichigo down with him.Ichigo, furious at Tekashi's carelessness, grabbed him by the collar, shouting, "You should watch where you're running, you clumsy oaf!"From a distance, Lieutenant Hisagi had been observing the exchange, and he decided to intervene. "That's enough for today, you two. You both smell like feet," he declared with a smirk, teasing the boys.Ichigo, stung by the insult, made another attempt to attack the lieutenant, but Tekashi managed to hold him back. He knew it was futile to resist the authority of their new world.Reluctantly, the two were instructed to head to the bathhouse. They continued their bickering until they reached the clean, welcoming waters. Once their bodies had been cleansed, Ichigo turned to Tekashi, his expression one of contemplation and vulnerability."Tekashi," Ichigo began, "you might wonder why I'm always so angry, why I look this way." He sighed and decided to share a piece of his life story.
(From Ichigo's point of view)
"Ever since I was a child, I was constantly labeled as useless, not just by my parents, but by everyone around me. I tried to please them, but nothing ever worked. Even when the military arrived, heck it was even them who willingly handed me over, saying that they had no use for extra trash like me. Now, I can see that I was the one thing they regretted the most.
"After opening up about his painful past, Ichigo turned to Tekashi and implored, "Please, don't tell anyone about this. It's not something I like to talk about.
Tekashi understood the importance of Ichigo's trust and promised, "I won't share your secret with anyone."However, Tekashi couldn't leave it at that. He offered Ichigo some advice.
"Look, Ichigo, I know it's tough, but maybe it's time to forgive them and move on. We're here now, and this is our new family."
Ichigo, his face faintly blushing at Tekashi's words, turned away and quickened his pace toward the tent. As they entered their shared space, they exchanged a promise.
"Let's be each other's rivals, even if we are no more ," they pledged to each other, cementing a bond that was forged amidst adversity and shared secrets.