𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚 (𝑲𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒊) 𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 »« 𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷/ᴋɴʏ

vi.

    "Third place, huh? As usual, you did great," Tatsuki states as she pets Orihime's head, spotting her name in fourth place. Orihime giggles brightly, leaning into Tatsuki's hand.

  "Amazing! Orihime is that smart?!"

  "She really doesn't look it, does she? But, since middle school, this kid could really study," Tatsuki says, looking at the rest of the ranks.

  "Oh! I thought Ryo would get second place..." The other girl comments. Tatsuki looks up at the top of the ranks and smiles.

1 :: Kurosaki Ichigo :: 900

2 :: Ishida Uryū :: 896

3 :: Kunieda Ryo :: 892

4 :: Inoue Orihime :: 887

  "Perfect score once again, Ichigo..." Tatsuki glances through her peripherals when she notices the familiar shock of sunset orange hair slowly walking over.

  "Perfect score?! Kurosaki-kun's so smart!" The other girl gushes with a heavy blush and stars in her eyes.

  "Ichigo likes to spite the teachers, since they can't look past their own assumptions. Though, I can't believe he's gotten another perfect score. This will be the 15th one." Tatsuki crosses her arms, staring at the top of the ranks.

  She frowns softly and sighs. "You work too hard, Ichigo. In everything you're involved in, idiot."

  "Ichigo~! You traitor! We're not inviting you to playtime anymore!" Tatsuki turns towards the shout and sweatdrops at Keigo's and Mizuiro's dramatics. "Idiot, idiot. Right, Chad? Let's hang out together Chad."

  Tatsuki tunes Keigo out like usual when she notices Ichigo's unusual demeanor. Her eyes narrow as she watches Ichigo aimlessly stare at the student rankings. He was worried about something... or someone.

•••

    "I... hate you." Ichigo huffs quietly, remembering the pure and utter disdain that teenager had in his glare.

  "It's not polite to say those things when he first meets a stranger. hmph," Ichigo hides his arms inside his haori, a small frown growing on his face the longer he thinks about the entire incident.

  "He acts like Iwasa-san, but prefers to stay in the back or on the side," Ichigo mutters in slight distaste. No wonder it irks him so much... he wonders if his holier than thou attitude is a defense and a mask like Iwasa Obito's.

  "...what was even his name?" Ichigo asks himself. "Ishida... Ishida Willy-san? No... that one's a failed entertainer. Wally-san? Definitely not. Mm. At this rate, I'll never come up with it..."

  "What about Ishida-kun?" Ichigo yelps loudly and jumps away from whoever had spooked him. He whirls around with a hand over his heart and wide eyes.

  "Inoue-san?! You scared–wait, you know Ishida-san?"

  "I know all about him... he's in our class after all. Ishida-kun, I mean," Orihime answers before turning towards the class rankings.

  "Eh? He's in our class?" Ichigo looks at where Orihime suddenly points at.

  "Ishida Uryū-kun, right? Here, look!" Orihime exclaims brightly, looking over at Ichigo with a smile.