Kanonji

Over the next few days, Wu Biao carried on as usual: eating, sleeping, and fighting monsters!

That was Brother Biao's daily routine, after all.

But things were different for the Kurosaki father and son. One couldn't be bothered to run the clinic, and the other couldn't be bothered to go to school. Every day, the two of them met up at the Urahara Shop.

Ichigo was the more reasonable of the two. He just got up early, spent some time at the Urahara Shop, went to school, then went back there after school...

His dad, Kurosaki Isshin, was much stranger. He didn't bother with the clinic at all, and ran to the Urahara Shop every day as if he were reporting for work. You could see him there almost every day, his spirit form dragging that special Gigai all over the place.

It had been said many times, but it still had to be said: the durability of that special Gigai was off the charts.

In the end, Shyarly and Yuzu flew into a rage and gave him a furious dressing-down. That finally cut Isshin's work... or rather, visiting hours, from all day to the morning, so he could return to the clinic in the afternoon.

But behind the scenes, the guy had no idea how many times he'd suggested to Urahara Kisuke that the whole family move into the Urahara Shop. Naturally, he'd been kicked out every time.

Putting everything else aside, that run-down little general store couldn't even match the income of the Kurosaki Clinic, let alone support Wu Biao alone...

Today, however, was different from the usual. The entire Kurosaki family had turned out together for the first time in ages.

That was because today, the super spirit medium Kanonji was putting on a [Live Broadcast, Emergency Special: The Mystery of the Wailing Spirits at the Abandoned Hospital], and the broadcast was taking place outside an abandoned hospital in Karakura Town.

So Isshin and Yuzu, both Kanonji fans, dragged Shyarly and Ichigo along by force.

"Ugh!" Watching the crowd gather as Kanonji appeared onstage, Ichigo couldn't help sighing. Maybe it was because he'd been around ghosts since he was a kid, but he'd always stayed well away from shows like this.

"Ichigo, what's wrong?"

Rukia's voice came from behind him. Ichigo turned, and the corner of his mouth twitched. Rukia had crossed her arms over her chest, wearing a swaggering expression. "Wahahaha!"

It was Kanonji's signature pose.

Was it really appropriate for a Soul Reaper to do that?

Ichigo grumbled inwardly, then shook his head. "If you've got time to waste on a pointless show like this, you might as well go keep Mom company at the Urahara Shop!"

"Come on, why so serious?"

"I'm always like this!" Ichigo replied irritably.

Rukia pointed into the distance. "Your family seems to be having a good time."

Ichigo's mouth twitched. Even without Rukia pointing it out, he knew they were having a blast. Never mind his dad and Yuzu. The fact that even that battle maniac—who Ichigo had never thought would be interested in a show like this—was enjoying himself said it all.

Brother Biao's laughter was the loudest in the whole crowd. He was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, laughing "Wahahaha" with such delight that it was almost absurd. Isshin was laughing along with him, while Yuzu and Shyarly stood off to the side with disgusted looks on their faces.

Their message was clear: "We don't know those two idiots!"

It was another reminder to Ichigo that Brother Biao wasn't just a battle maniac; he was also a serious case of chuunibyou. It was obvious that the old-school chuunibyou, Kanonji, was much more on Brother Biao's wavelength.

"Besides, you're juggling your Soul Reaper duties and school. You must be exhausted lately. Take this chance to relax," Rukia said gently.

"Rukia..." Ichigo couldn't help feeling a little moved.

"By the way..." Rukia looked completely bewildered. "What kind of show is this, anyway?"

"You came along without knowing anything about it?"

"Ichigo! Onion Head! There you are!" Wu Biao walked over just then and looked at the two of them.

"Brother Biao, couldn't you change your clothes?" Ichigo sighed as he looked at Wu Biao's white coat. Wearing that thing, he'd attract plenty of attention even without laughing at the top of his lungs.

"My name is Rukia. Kuchiki Rukia, not Onion Head!" Rukia roared. She'd lost count of how many times she'd corrected him about that.

"Wahahahahaha..." As soon as Wu Biao reached them, he suddenly crossed his arms over his chest and burst out laughing. When he was done, he looked smugly at Ichigo and Rukia. "This pose is super cool, right?"

"..." Ichigo.

Rukia couldn't help lamenting, "The me from a few minutes ago can go die."

It had been an ordinary pose, but after Brother Biao had chuunibyou-fied it, somehow it had become unbearably embarrassing.

Just then, the lights in the arena suddenly dimmed.

"Is it starting?"

"Roar..." A piercing cry came from the hospital entrance, and Kurosaki Ichigo's expression changed. "There really is a Hollow here?"

"It's not a Hollow. It's an Earth-bound Spirit, also known as a Half-Hollow." Rukia explained Earth-bound Spirits and Half-Hollows to Ichigo. When she finished, Ichigo furrowed his brow. "Shouldn't we perform Konsō now?"

"Don't worry. As long as no one agitates the Hollow Hole in its chest, it'll probably take another six months for it to turn into a Hollow..."

"Teacher Kanonji, give it all you've got! Stab the hole in its chest—that's right, right there! Wahahaha, no wonder I picked you as my teacher. I knew you could do it. Make that wailing even more agonizing!!!" Wu Biao's excited shout rang out at just the right moment.

"..." Rukia.

"..." Ichigo.

Onstage, Kanonji had already thrust the end of his staff into the Earth-bound Spirit's Half-Hollow hole, and was still stirring it around.

The Hollow's wails grew more and more agonizing.

"Brother Biao, this isn't a joke!"

Ichigo roared and charged forward. But after he vaulted the railing and ran a few steps, a crowd of security guards piled on top of him.

They dragged him straight toward the edge of the venue. Luckily, the Urahara family were standing outside, and Urahara Kisuke used his cane to knock Ichigo's soul out of his body. Ichigo didn't have time to wonder why Urahara Kisuke was here.

After transforming into a Soul Reaper, Kurosaki Ichigo charged straight into the arena. "Stop!"

But it was already too late. With a high-pitched cry that sounded almost ecstatic, the Hollow's entire body cracked. Then it shattered and vanished without a trace!

"Who are you, boy?" Kanonji asked, staring at Ichigo in confusion.

Ichigo ignored him, grabbed Kanonji, and dragged him away from the spot where the Earth-bound Spirit had disappeared. "Am I too late?" he muttered gravely.

Kanonji struck a victory pose. "Mission accomplished!"

"Roar—"

A long, drawn-out roar rang out just then. The two of them looked toward it and saw a bizarre monster forming on the hospital rooftop. Its milky-white mask left no doubt: it was a Hollow.

"This is bad!"

Kurosaki Ichigo gritted his teeth and glanced at the crowd around them, feeling a growing sense of dread. If they fought here, the ordinary spectators would definitely get caught in the crossfire!

"Run!" Seeing the Hollow hurtling toward him, Ichigo grabbed Kanonji and darted into the hospital. The sight of Kanonji floating through the air sent a wave of commotion through the crowd.

The Hollow, meanwhile, missed its target and plunged headfirst through the hospital's outer wall, entering the building as well.

"Wahahaha! I'm coming too!!!"

With an excited shout, Wu Biao charged forward in his white coat. The security guards tried to stop him, but they badly underestimated Brother Biao's charge. In an instant, they were sent tumbling in all directions.

All they could do was watch helplessly as Wu Biao charged straight into the hospital!

Rukia couldn't help covering her face. This was happening in full view of the public. Was this idiot really not going to get arrested by the police afterward?