Chapter 25: Titles Are Just Too Much Trouble After All

Chapter 25: Titles Are Still Too Troublesome

"This match, your opponent is me..." With a few swift swings that sliced through the air, Lolita gripped her bamboo sword and directed several sword strikes toward the members of the Kendo Club. "I'm in a hurry, and in case you all feel dissatisfied, it's fine if you come at me together..."

"Hey! Wait, Lolita..." Ichigo, though well aware that Lolita was no ordinary person, had never before seen her take action. Seeing so many from the Kendo Club, even he wasn’t confident of victory. Moreover, his subconscious was deceived by Lolita’s delicate appearance, and a wave of worry washed over him.

Compared to Ichigo's concern, Daisuke Motomiya, the Kendo Club captain, furrowed his brow deeply. Lolita’s seemingly casual two strikes had revealed to him that her mastery of kendo far surpassed his own. Though initially hesitant, Lolita’s subsequent words ignited a spark of anger in Motomiya. Even if some of his own managers in the future behaved so disrespectfully, he wouldn’t tolerate it. With a resolute heart, Motomiya bellowed, "Are you provoking me? The sacred Bushido duel is no child's play! It must be one-on-one!"

"Whatever, hurry up..." Lolita ignored Motomiya’s roar, lazily yawning from time to time.

"Hmph! Seems like our club manager has no manners..." Motomiya's anger twisted into a bitter smile as he planted his foot and struck first. To him, despite Lolita’s kendo skill, she was still a woman. The physical advantage of a man over a woman was undeniable. As soon as he charged with brute strength, crushing her was only a matter of time. The smile on Motomiya’s lips grew wider with this thought.

"..." Seeing Motomiya charge, Lolita narrowed her beautiful eyes, swiftly tracing a path through the empty air with her bamboo sword.

...

Twenty minutes later...

At the Kendo Club entrance, Daisuke Motomiya, along with all club members, looked toward the afternoon sun. The smile still lingered on Motomiya’s lips, but his face—and those of everyone behind him—was puffed and bruised.

Watching their retreating backs, Ichigo twitched the corner of his mouth and muttered, "Weren’t they supposed to follow the Bushido spirit and fight one-on-one? In the end, they all rushed at once... But aside from that..." Recalling those twenty minutes, which felt like hell on earth, Ichigo shivered involuntarily. Was this a match? It felt more like disdain! Pure slaughter… an utterly one-sided massacre! Thinking of Lolita’s slender, pale arms—looking so frail she seemed unable to even lift a chicken—yet unleashing such overwhelming power, it was terrifying. No, more than terrifying... she was a demon.

"A demon, huh? My true form is a demon. My powerful body is the very foundation of my survival," Lolita inwardly mocked herself, meeting Ichigo’s demon-like gaze. Then her eyes sharpened. "Ichigo..."

"Hey!?" Hearing the voice behind him, Ichigo shuddered and turned around. "What’s up?"

"Nothing much, just a warm-up..." Lolita leaned against the doorframe, holding two bamboo swords. She licked a finger, then tossed one sword to Ichigo. "Seems like I accidentally stirred up some fighting spirit inside me... Ha! It’s still early, come play with me for a while."

"gulp!" Watching this alluring scene, Ichigo swallowed nervously. Don’t misunderstand—it was mostly fear. After those twenty minutes, he felt utterly inadequate against Lolita’s cutting power. 'This woman... does she want to kill me?'

"Hurry up! What are you still doing? Come over here..." Seeing no reaction from Ichigo, Lolita narrowed her eyes and walked toward him.

"Um... I’m not really into kendo or anything..." Ichigo instinctively stepped back.

"What nonsense are you talking? I went through so much trouble to get here just to hone your sword skills. What are you running from?"

"Uh, I... I think my skills are enough... I don’t need more..."

"Enough? Don’t be ridiculous! If you think you’re good enough, then what are you afraid of? Come with me!"

"N-no! Yamete! Somebody save me! Oh gosh!"

Boy, you’d better just go in and train... Though you won’t get the luxury of a coyote to restore your magic at night...

...

“Ow, that hurts!”

"Are you even a man? Crying over such a small injury... Some might think I did something to you."

"Small injury?!" In Ichigo’s room, shirtless and sitting on the bed, Ichigo glared angrily at Lolita sitting beside him. His body, more muscular than a typical high schooler’s, was covered in red swollen bruises. "At my level, this medically counts as a third-degree disability! It’s just training! Did you have to be so ruthless? It’s been days! At this rate, soon I won’t even be able to get out of bed! Can’t you show me a little mercy?"

"..." Lolita was speechless, simply looking at him earnestly.

"Uh, um..." Looking at the beautiful girl before him, Ichigo swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth... well, it was fear.

"Hey, Ichigo, in front of an enemy, there’s no such thing as mercy!" Lolita’s mind involuntarily recalled the years spent in hell. She smiled wryly. Judging by her own standards, maybe she’d been a bit too harsh on this kid...

"Got it, that kind of thing..." Noticing Lolita’s distraction, Ichigo understood she was looking out for him. After all, fighting those things called Hollows was dangerous. One careless moment could mean death. These past days battling Hollows had deeply impressed upon Ichigo how close the line between life and death truly was. If not for Lolita’s timely warnings and self-sacrificial rescues, he might already be dead. Thinking this, Ichigo ceased further argument and quietly mumbled as he carefully applied his own medicine.

"Does it really hurt that much?" Seeing Ichigo’s struggle, Lolita rose and approached, taking the medicine from his hand. "Let me help you..."

"Uh, no, I can do it myself..."

Noticing Ichigo’s slightly flushed face, Lolita sat on the bed and gently squeezed ointment onto her fingertip. "Shy, huh? Actually, to me, you’re just my grandson. You should know my real age..."

"More than ten times older than me, right? You’ve said that before..." Ichigo muttered softly, feeling warmth inexplicably flow through him. Whose hand is this so smooth?

"Sigh, think whatever you want. Here, seeing how hard you’re trying, I’ll give you a gift!" Without waiting for Ichigo to react, she struck him with a single palm, knocking him unconscious.

"Urahara, that sleazy old man, hid the Hougyoku inside my artificial body. Looks like Aizen will soon send people to capture me. Since that’s the case, I’ll forcibly boost your strength!" Blue light shimmered in Lolita’s hand as she transferred her battle experience, Kido techniques, sword strikes, and Yoruichi’s flash step improvements to Ichigo through her unique ability.

"I hope it helps you later. This is all I can do..." Sighing, Lolita treated Ichigo’s wounds with her palm healing technique as he slept.

A night passed.

"Huh? What’s going on? Why is there so much stuff in my head? I feel dizzy..." In the morning, Ichigo opened his eyes, feeling unusually foggy. He didn’t have symptoms of low blood sugar, but the woman beside him did... Thinking this, Ichigo glanced at another bed.

Seeing the peaceful beauty sleeping there, Ichigo smiled gently. So cute when quiet, but when awake, she turns into a demon... Right, what did she do yesterday? Huh? What’s all this stuff in my head? I can’t understand any of it.

"Ugh, good morning!" A small animal-like voice came from beside him, pulling Ichigo’s attention to the source.

Lolita, still sleepy, drifted like a ghost toward the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

"So cute!" Ichigo’s heart was healed by the sight.

An hour later...

"We’re off to school!" Shari and Yuko slung their backpacks on.

"Take care!" Ichigo called after them.

"Be careful on the way!" came Lolita’s energetic voice.

Setting down his bowl, Ichigo bit his lip, subconsciously clenched his fist, and said, "Hey, Lolita..."

"Hmm? What is it?" Lolita drank her post-meal yogurt to aid digestion.

"You... are you... I feel like lately you’ve been... in a hurry..."

Hearing Ichigo’s words made Lolita’s body tremble slightly. That subtle pause made Ichigo frown. "What’s making you so anxious? These past few days, it feels like you’ve been deliberately speeding up my power growth... Am I imagining things? Or..."

"Hey, Ichigo..." Lolita looked at him as he glanced sideways. "If one day... I mean, if I’m not here anymore, don’t ever push yourself too hard. Just passion isn’t enough. Don’t only focus on protecting others. More importantly, learn to care for yourself..."

"Not here anymore? Why would you leave?" Ichigo turned to face her, stunned by her sudden words. "Could it be... your power has recovered? Are you going back? To the Soul Society..."

"Soul Society? Maybe... that won’t be my final resting place..."

"..."

"Look, I know you might not understand, but Ichigo, do you hate me?" Lolita smiled faintly.

"Uh, why suddenly..." Facing Lolita’s warm smile, Ichigo was momentarily stunned. Then, instinctively avoiding her gaze, he said, "Hate? Not really... Though your pranks, coldness, and stubbornness often make me mad, I don’t hate you..."

"Is that so...?" Though Ichigo’s last words were soft, Lolita heard them clearly. A faint smile played on her lips. "Looks like it’s not too bad. That’s good... If one day I really leave, you won’t come looking for me, right..."

"You’re... going to leave?"

Seeing the complexity in Ichigo’s eyes, Lolita gently pressed the corners of her eyes, first shaking her head, then nodding.

"System, help me make this artificial body my true body..."

"Ding dong, integrate the Hougyoku within the body?"

"Yes!"

P.S.: Computer broke! No internet! Will be away for a few days! Scheduled uploads!