Welcome Back (Ichigo Kurosaki X Orihime Inoue)Au

✿Break...✿

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Ichigo hadn't been able to stop by Orihime's bakery since that night. He drowned himself with work and setting up the Clinic. He cleaned and noted a few of the equipment that needed to be checked later. It was already the weekend. He remembered that his little sisters would be visiting today. When they arrived, Yuzu hugged him tightly while her dark haired twin scoffed at how expressive she was. Ichigo hugged her regardless. They were both very precious to him and he would protect them with his all. Something he'd promised to himself since he'd lost his mother.

They caught up on alot of things. Occasionally telling Ichigo about what they'd been doing at school. Ichigo almost fainted when Yuzu revealed that Karin was getting really close to a guy named Toshiro who was in her department. Before Ichigo could ask anymore questions concerning the newly found topic, Karin asked if he'd gone to see Orihime since he came back. The twins noticed how he closed his eyes and gave a bright smile while saying that they had met up earlier within the week. They both noticed that something was wrong.

Ichigo had a habit of hiding his feelings with a smile whenever he was gravely upset. He still couldn't rely on others and it was always very difficult to get the truth out of him when he was upset. Karin and Yuzu decided that they'd investigate if they could. They knew Orihime was very important to him but didn't want to get too involved because they didn't want to accidentally mess up whatever was going on between them. They knew he had a crush on her for years but were incredibly surprised at how he hadn't told her yet. Well, this was their brother so they weren't that surprised.

After letting Yuzu cook and having dinner together, the twins left for the train station so they could go back to their busy school life. Ichigo kept on telling himself that he'd be fine. He really wanted to see Orihime but the memory of that night was like a bruise that didn't want to heal.

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It had been a month. A month since Yuzu and Karin's visit and a month since he'd fully reopened the Kurosaki Clinic. He'd gotten alot of patients. Most of which were children and a few teenagers or so. He had also given health advice to an old lady who was complaining about a back ache as well as diagnosing a few people who were sick. He'd given his sisters a few calls, ignored most of his father's intruding texts and reached out to his friends whenever he remembered. There was just one person that he hadn't said a word to for a while now. Orihime.

She'd sent him a few "how are you"s and "are you okay"s but he usually only replied them with "fine " or "I'm alright" he didn't want her to worry too much but he just couldn't help it. He didn't mean to redraw so much but he couldn't understand how to deal with all these pent up feelings. He wasn't perfect with words and he was far from able to express himself most times. He preferred using actions but he couldn't perform those actions without fucking everything up.

He'd asked about how she was doing through Tatsuki and had been silently hoping that she was okay.

Meanwhile, Orihime had been scolded by Tatsuki while they were at the mall, shopping for a few hats for the hot summer afternoons. In the process, a woman who was a little older than them but still young enough had heard them. She was a worker at the mall and her name was Rangiku. Working at the mall was rather boring whenever she was met with the stoic personas of people's secretaries who shopped for their bosses. She preferred when the youth came together to buy stuff as a simple outing. Or even better, a date. Something like how her boyfriend used to surprise her. She was usually bored and searching for drama. Her volunteer work as a lifeguard was more fun. So when she heard Tatsuki's loud voice telling Orihime to stop thinking that she wouldn't be enough for Ichigo, she immediately took it as a chance to give advice. Which was comical.

"Oho.... Boy troubles?...." She pushed the rack of clothes and stepped into the aisle the duo were discussing on. Tatsuki was about to yell at her but refrained. She was a worker here, even though her uniform was a tad bit too short and her shirt was opened at the top buttons, revealing her very prominent chest. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back in shiny waves and they couldn't help but notice the small pink scarf around her neck.

Tatsuki would've said it was nothing but making Orihime listen was difficult. So she opted to making a third party convince Orihime that her insecurities weren't what she must be worried about. After a few minutes of explaining the situation to the blonde, the woman seemed to wipe little tears that collected at the corners of her eyes.

"Young love...." She mused. "Hey! Don't pretend like you're way older than us here, lady!" Tatsuki groaned at her dramatic tone.

"Well.... This one is sorta tricky.... But if you love him... And you're sure you love him.... You must tell him.... From what you've said, he's the kind to consider everyone's feelings more than others to the extent that it could burden him.... So instead of flat out confessing.... You canstart by being there for him.... Then you can ease him into it... Tell him slowly... If you're really childhood friends, he'll understand immediately..... If you keep bottling it up... You will only hurt yourself." Her tone became more serious as she thought carefully.

After that, Orihime thanked her for her advice while Tatsuki was afraid that it went into one ear and came out of the other. Orihime hoped Ichigo was okay. Chad had gone to America for a tournament and she didn't have any other means to ask about his wellbeing through others.

She had planned to surprise him by stopping by in a week or so but her plans had been foiled on a particular night in June that it rained heavily.

June 17.

The day of Ichigo's mother, Masaki Kurosaki's death.

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