The Lonely, Arrogant Heart

Boom!

A wave of sand shot into the sky, instantly spreading to the farthest edge of sight where it met the dark night, as though it were about to split the entire sea of sand in two!

Amid the astonishing aftershock unleashed by Kyōka Suigetsu's slash, Kurosaki Ichigo instantly retreated to one side, his furious gaze fixed firmly on Aizen Sōsuke.

Aizen Sōsuke rolled his head slightly, his eyes still carrying a trace of surprise as he stared at Kurosaki Ichigo. "What is this power of yours...?"

Kurosaki Ichigo slowly raised Tensa Zangetsu and pointed it straight at Aizen Sōsuke. "This is the power I gained to take revenge on you, Aizen Sōsuke!"

"Heh, interesting."

Aizen Sōsuke seemed to have fully resumed his arrogant bearing as he said, "In the end, you brought the battlefield here only because of the fear in your heart, didn't you? You feared that Kyōka Suigetsu's power would cause your companions to die by your blade, and you knew full well that you simply did not possess the strength to defeat me."

At those words, Kurosaki Ichigo's expression darkened slightly.

Even with the three months of training in the Dangai, Kurosaki Ichigo had long made all kinds of assumptions and preparations. Yet he had never expected that, after he revealed his power without reservation and lured Aizen Sōsuke away from Las Noches—

Aizen Sōsuke, this man, would still remain so calm, seeing through the very fear in his heart at a glance.

The next instant, everything before Kurosaki Ichigo's eyes changed. The eternally dark sky and desolate white sea of sand were gone, as if he had returned to Karakura Town.

Aizen Sōsuke had become his familiar friend, Asano Keigo. Just like on countless ordinary days, he waved to Kurosaki Ichigo in greeting.

"Ichigo, what