The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting a warm golden glow over the Kurosaki household. The scent of freshly made breakfast filled the air, a rare occurrence considering Ichigo was the one cooking. Sara sat at the dining table, grateful that the first day of school had landed on a Friday—it meant she had the whole weekend to unwind before the real academic grind began on Monday.

She glanced around the table, taking in the familiar scene that had become second nature to her over the years.

Isshin sat at the head of the table, grinning as if he had just won the lottery, savoring the moment of his son cooking for the first time.

Yuzu, ever the gentle soul, happily munched on her meal while giving Ichigo encouraging words about his cooking.

Karin sat beside her, rolling her eyes at their father's antics but eating nonetheless.

Ichigo, seated beside Sara, had his usual scowl, though a hint of pride was hidden beneath it. His orange hair caught the sunlight as he stabbed his fork into his food, acting as if he wasn't waiting for validation.

Sitting next to him, Sara took a bite and hummed in approval. "Not bad, Ichigo. I was half-expecting to need emergency stomach medicine, but this is actually edible."

Ichigo shot her a dry look. "Tch. Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Karin snorted. "Yeah, yeah. It's not awful, but don't get cocky, big brother."

Isshin clapped his hands together dramatically. "Oh, my son! A true provider! You're growing up so fast—soon, you'll make breakfast for your wife every morning!"

Ichigo's eye twitched. "Will you shut up?!"

Sara choked on her juice.

Yuzu giggled, hiding her smile behind her cup. "Dad, don't tease Ichigo so much."

"But it's so fun!" Isshin whined, rubbing the fake tears from his eyes.

Sara shook her head in amusement. Despite Isshin's theatrics, moments like these felt like home.

As they continued eating, Yuzu suddenly brightened. "Oh! Since you two are free today, do you mind running some errands for me?"

Ichigo paused mid-bite. "Errands?"

Yuzu nodded, pulling out a neatly written list from her pocket. "I need a few groceries and some household supplies. I'd go myself, but I have a lot of cleaning to do today."

Before Ichigo could groan in protest, Isshin reached into his pocket and pulled out his credit card, handing it to Sara instead of his son.

"Here, Sara-chan! I trust you with this important mission!" Isshin announced grandly.

Ichigo shot his father a glare. "Oi, why are you giving it to her?"

Isshin wiggled his eyebrows. "Because she's responsible, unlike my reckless son!"

Ichigo groaned while Sara smirked, tucking the card into a safe pocket in her bag. "Don't worry, Isshin-san. I won't go overboard."

Yuzu beamed. "Thank you, Sara-nee-chan!"

Karin stretched, leaning back in her chair. "At least you'll get some fresh air. You look like you need it."

Sara nodded. "Yeah... I think so, too."

Even though she felt safer during the day, last night's events still clung to her mind like shadows. Getting out, even just for errands, would help clear her head.

Her psychic intuition naturally made her aware of the emotions surrounding her. Even though she kept her observations to herself, she could feel the underlying concern from the Kurosakis.

Yuzu, always empathetic, wanted to make sure Sara had a sense of normalcy after last night.

Karin, though blunt, was also looking out for her in her own way.

Despite his goofy antics, Isshin spoke with an uncharacteristic softness when he handed her the card, trusting her completely.

And Ichigo...

Sara glanced at him from the corner of her eye. He was quiet, playing with his food, his shoulders slightly tense.

He was still thinking about last night.

She exhaled softly. She didn't want to burden him, but at the same time, she knew he wouldn't stop worrying about her.

Maybe a simple errand run together would help.

She turned to Yuzu, smiling. "Alright. We'll handle it."

Ichigo groaned but didn't argue.

Sara had already decided. And if there was one thing, Ichigo knew—arguing with Sara was a lost cause.

As Sara and Ichigo disappeared down the street, heading toward downtown, Isshin crossed his arms over his chest, watching them leave with a knowing grin. Beside him, Yuzu clasped her hands together excitedly, her brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

Karin, leaning against the doorway with her usual unimpressed look, raised an eyebrow. "So, you two totally set that up, huh?"

Yuzu giggled. "Maybe~"

Isshin laughed boisterously, rubbing his chin. "My dear Karin, this is what we call parental wisdom! A father must always guide his wayward son toward true love!"

Karin snorted. "More like you just want to mess with Ichigo."

Yuzu pouted. "I just want them to spend time together without all the stress! I mean, with school and—" she lowered her voice, "—you know, last night... they need a break."

Isshin nodded solemnly. "Exactly! My future daughter-in-law deserves some peace and maybe a little romance!"

Karin rolled her eyes. "You two realize that Ichigo is probably gonna catch on, right?"

Isshin wagged his finger. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong, my dear daughter! Ichigo is as dense as I was at his age! It took me forever to realize my feelings for Masaki! And now history repeats itself!"

Yuzu sighed dreamily. "They're perfect together."

Karin crossed her arms. "You know that if Ichigo finds out about this little scheme, he will lose his mind, right?"

Yuzu hummed innocently. "He won't find out... until it's too late!"

Karin smirked. "Evil mastermind Yuzu. I like it."

Isshin wiped a fake tear from his eye. "Ahhh, my daughters are so brilliant!"

"Save it, old man," Karin deadpanned.

Yuzu, still giddy, glanced toward the street where Ichigo and Sara had disappeared.

"Let's just hope everything goes well..."

And so, the Kurosaki household waited—knowing that their little plan had already set things in motion.

Ichigo shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked beside Sara, glancing at her briefly.

"So, what exactly is on this list?" he asked.

Sara pulled out the neatly written note Yuzu had given her and skimmed through it. "Let's see... eggs, milk, some vegetables, rice, snacks, cleaning supplies..."

Ichigo grumbled. "Figures Yuzu would load us up with the boring stuff."

Sara chuckled. "She's just being responsible. Unlike someone I know."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah."

As they neared the market, Ichigo couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was up.

He knew Yuzu was the type to be thoughtful, and he knew his dad was too enthusiastic about anything that involved teasing him.

And why the hell did his dad give the card to Sara instead of him?

Something wasn't right.

Sara, however, seemed utterly relaxed—enjoying the fresh air after everything that happened the night before.

She had no idea that this errand run was actually a setup.

And Ichigo...

Well, Ichigo had a feeling he was walking straight into a trap.

Sara and Ichigo were about to enter the store when something caught their attention.

The small memorial on the riverbank—the one where they had spoken to the little girl's spirit last night—was no longer undisturbed.

Five teenagers with skateboards were goofing around, laughing loudly as they performed tricks. Their wheels scraped against the pavement, the sharp noise grating against Sara's already irritated nerves.

And then, it happened.

One of them—Yama-Bro, as he would later be called—sped too close to the memorial, his board clipping the edge of the makeshift shrine.

The framed picture of the little girl toppled over, landing face-down. A sharp crack echoed in the air as the fragile glass shattered against the ground.

Sara froze, her dark brown eyes narrowing as fire lit behind them.

Ichigo saw the exact moment her patience snapped.

He tensed, instinctively stepping forward, already knowing she was about to explode.

But she didn't yell.

She didn't cause a scene.

Instead, she walked forward calmly, her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

Ichigo sighed, muttering under his breath, "Here we go..."

Then—without hesitation—Sara picked up a rock and threw it at Yama-Bro's head.

SMACK.

"Ow! What the hell?!" Yama-Bro yelped, rubbing the back of his head.

Toshi-Bro, another skateboarder, immediately turned toward Sara, his expression twisting into anger. "Oi! What's your problem, psycho chick?!"

Sara's voice was calm, but her anger was barely restrained.

"Leave. Now."

The skaters exchanged glances, half-amused, half-annoyed.

"You serious?" one of them scoffed. "We're just skating, lady. It's a free country."

Sara's jaw tightened.

"You're disrespecting a memorial. Do you even know who this belongs to?" She pointed at the shattered glass, at the delicate candle flickering beside the fallen portrait.

The boys followed her gaze but remained silent.

Sara breathed in deeply, trying to steady herself. Then, without looking at them, she bent down and carefully picked up the little girl's photo from the ground, brushing the shards of glass off.

Ichigo, standing not far behind, crossed his arms.

The skaters might have ignored Sara, but they weren't about to ignore him.

Because he was Ichigo Kurosaki.

The one guy in Karakura Town with bright orange hair.

The one rumored to always be around that one girl (Sara).

The one who was notoriously short-tempered and had no problem throwing hands.

The one people said fought like a demon.

And right now, he was watching them.

His stance was relaxed, but there was something in his eyes—a silent promise of violence if they breathed wrong in Sara's direction.

One of the skaters gulped.

Toshi-Bro sneered but took a small step back.

Sara gently placed the framed photo back where it belonged, adjusting the candle beside it.

Then she stood up slowly, turning back toward the group of skaters, her expression unreadable.

"You think this is a game?"

They hesitated.

Sara stared them down, her voice colder now.

"This girl had a family. Someone loved her. This is the only thing they have left of her. And you treat it like garbage."

For the first time, none of them had anything to say.

Ichigo let out a slow, unimpressed exhale. "Tch."

The silence stretched.

Finally, one of the skaters muttered, "C'mon, man. Let's just go."

Another agreed. "Yeah, whatever, this place is lame anyway."

One by one, the skaters picked up their boards and left, muttering under their breath.

Toshi-Bro shot Sara and Ichigo a dirty look but ultimately followed the others.

When they were finally gone, Sara let out a slow breath.

Ichigo, watching her closely, raised an eyebrow.

"You good?"

Sara stared at the memorial for a long moment before finally nodding. "Yeah."

She turned toward him, giving a small, tired smile.

"Thanks for backing me up."

Ichigo shrugged, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"You didn't need backup. But... yeah. No problem."

Sara rolled her eyes but smiled wider.

"Come on," Ichigo sighed, jerking his head toward the store. "Let's get this stupid shopping over with before Yuzu yells at us."

Sara chuckled. "Right behind you."

As they walked away, the gentle flame of the candle flickered, the little girl's portrait now safely upright once more.

Somewhere unseen, a small, grateful presence lingered... watching them go.

The store's automatic doors slid open with a quiet hum as Sara and Ichigo stepped inside. The air-conditioned coolness greeted them, contrasting with the lingering warmth of the late morning sun.

Sara held the shopping list in her hands, scanning through the neatly written items Yuzu had prepared.

"Alright," she began, glancing up at Ichigo. "We need eggs, milk, rice, miso paste, some vegetables, and—"

Ichigo, already pushing an empty shopping cart, gave a small nod. "Yeah, yeah. Just tell me what to grab."

They moved through the aisles with practiced ease.

Sara read off the items. Ichigo grabbed them and tossed them into the cart.

It was simple. Routine.

Yet, comforting.

Sara appreciated this—the normalcy of it all.

After everything that had happened, just being here—running errands with Ichigo—felt grounding.

As they walked past one of the shelves, Sara suddenly stopped.

Ichigo, pushing the cart ahead, felt the absence of her footsteps and turned back.

There she was—staring at something on the shelf with an almost childlike expression.

Curious, Ichigo followed her gaze.

His eyes landed on a small display of sweets—specifically, a familiar-looking box of chocolates.

Sara bit her lip slightly, hesitant.

She loved those chocolates.

But she was here to shop for Yuzu's errands, not herself.

She wasn't sure if it was right just to add something for her own pleasure.

Ichigo, watching her closely, immediately picked up on her dilemma.

His eyes softened in understanding.

With an amused smirk, he reached forward without hesitation—

—and grabbed the box of chocolates before Sara could say anything.

Sara blinked, startled.

"Ichigo—"

Before she could protest, he casually tossed the chocolates into the cart as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Sara's cheeks flushed slightly, caught between embarrassment and appreciation.

"I-Ichigo, you didn't have to—"

"Tch," he scoffed, cutting her off with a dismissive wave. "Yuzu and the old man wouldn't care. Besides," he added, giving her a side glance, "you want it, right?"

Sara opened her mouth, then closed it.

Her heart gave a strange, warm little flutter at how effortlessly he had done that.

How easily he had noticed.

How casually he had acted—like it was no big deal.

"...Yeah," she finally admitted, a small smile forming.

Ichigo nodded. "Then don't overthink it."

Sara let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Ichigo shrugged. "So I've been told."

They continued through the store, finishing their shopping before heading toward the cashier.

At checkout, Sara took out Isshin's card and paid for everything.

As they exited the store, Sara instinctively reached for one of the bags to carry—

—but Ichigo beat her to it.

He grabbed all of them before she could even get her hands on one.

Sara narrowed her eyes at him. "I can carry some, you know."

Ichigo didn't even look at her as he adjusted the bags in his hands.

"Yeah. And?"

Sara sighed, exasperated but touched.

They walked side by side, leaving the store behind.

The bag of chocolates rested among the groceries.

It was a small, simple moment—but to Sara, it meant something more.

Ichigo had noticed.

And that alone made her smile the entire way home.

Just as Ichigo and Sara were making their way back home with the groceries, they heard their names being called.

"Sara-chan! Kurosaki-kun!"

Both of them turned toward the familiar voices.

Orihime Inoue and Tatsuki Arisawa were standing a few feet away, dressed in casual weekend clothes.

Sara's face lit up immediately, a warm smile gracing her lips.

"Orihime! Tatsuki!"

She stepped forward, greeting her two best friends with a gentle hug.

Ichigo, meanwhile, stood a few steps back, holding the grocery bags, giving her space to catch up with them.

Tatsuki, ever observant, narrowed her eyes slightly as she took in the subtle changes between Ichigo and Sara.

The way they stood closer than usual.

The way Ichigo watched Sara instinctively.

The way Sara's body naturally gravitated toward him.

Tatsuki said nothing, but she filed it away in her mind.

Orihime, always the bubbly one, clasped her hands together excitedly.

"Sara-chan! Kurosaki-kun! Do you guys want to hang out for a bit? We were thinking of stopping by a cute café and chatting for a while!"

She tilted her head with an eager smile. "Unless you're busy?"

At that, Ichigo glanced at Sara.

He was fine either way. If she wanted to go, he'd go. If she didn't, he'd take her home.

Sara, feeling his gaze, turned to look at him—

—and unleashed the most innocent, doe-eyed expression possible.

"Ichigo..." she said softly, her voice almost pleading. "Would it be okay? I want to spend some time with the girls before we drop the stuff off with Yuzu..."

Ichigo exhaled through his nose, feeling defenseless against that look.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, shifting the grocery bags in his hands. "We can go for a little bit."

Orihime beamed. "Yay!"

Watching Ichigo so effortlessly give in, Tatsuki crossed her arms and smirked.

Oh, there was definitely something there.

And she was going to find out what.

"Alright, lovebirds," Tatsuki teased, "let's go before Orihime starts floating from excitement."

Sara flushed, and Ichigo groaned, shooting Tatsuki an annoyed glare.

Orihime giggled.

With that, the four of them headed toward the café, the warm morning turning into an even sweeter day.

The four walked through the streets of Karakura Town, the morning air crisp and filled with the soft hum of passing conversations and chirping birds.

Orihime and Sara led the way, walking in front, while Tatsuki and Ichigo followed more relaxedly.

Orihime, ever the affectionate one, had looped her arms around Sara's, practically bouncing with excitement as she guided her toward the café.

"Sara-chan, I've wanted to bring you here for so long! They have the cutest pastries, and their drinks are so colorful! Oh, and they have cakes shaped like animals!" Orihime gushed.

Sara chuckled at her best friend's enthusiasm, letting Orihime tug her along.

Meanwhile, behind them, Tatsuki and Ichigo walked side by side.

Tatsuki, usually not one to overthink things, couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about Ichigo.

Sure, he still had his usual scowl, his hands shoved deep in his pockets like he couldn't care less about the world...

But the way he kept looking at Sara was different.

Not just his usual protective way—

No, it was more intense.

Like he was ready to take her in his arms and flee at any given moment.

Like he was on high alert.

Like something had happened.

She finally spoke up, her tone softer than usual.

"Ichigo... is everything alright?"

Ichigo didn't react right away, keeping his eyes forward.

Then, with a measured breath, he spoke smoothly.

"Yeah," he said. "Just some stuff happened last night."

Tatsuki didn't miss how his jaw tensed slightly or how his eyes flickered for a moment before masking over.

He was hiding something.

Not because he didn't trust her.

But because he wasn't ready to talk about it.

Knowing him long enough to recognize when to push and back off, Tatsuki nodded.

"Alright," she said. "Just don't let whatever 'stuff' it is eat you alive."

Ichigo smirked slightly, appreciating her concern in his own way.

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

They continued walking, falling into a comfortable silence.

A few feet ahead, Orihime giggled as she pulled Sara into the cute café, the little bell above the door jingling softly.

Tatsuki and Ichigo exchanged glances before following them inside.

Neither were big fans of these kinds of places—too pastel, too cutesy, too many hearts and sparkles—

But for Orihime and Sara...

They'd tolerate it.

The café was warm and cozy, filled with the soft hum of chatter, the gentle clinking of cups, and the aromatic scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries.

Sara sat across from Ichigo, beside Orihime, while Tatsuki sat beside Ichigo.

They had all ordered something they liked, each picking something that suited their tastes.

Sara had chosen a slice of red velvet cake, her favorite, paired with an iced coffee with caramel—topped with a cute foam design that Orihime eagerly pointed out.

Ichigo, much simpler, had just ordered a black coffee and a plain slice of cake, something easy and not too sweet.

Tatsuki had a matcha latte, claiming it was the only "decent" thing here, and Orihime had a strawberry shortcake with a colorful, rainbow-themed drink that looked more like a work of art than something edible.

The four teens ate, chatted, and discussed what high school life would be like.

"Do you think it'll be that different from middle school?" Tatsuki asked, taking a sip of her latte.

"Maybe?" Sara said thoughtfully, using her fork to take a small bite of her cake. "I mean... it's technically a fresh start."

Orihime smiled. "I think it'll be fun! New classes, new experiences! Maybe even—" She wiggled her eyebrows. "—new romances?"

Ichigo choked on his coffee.

Tatsuki snorted, while Sara flushed slightly but kept her face neutral.

"You're too much, Orihime," Tatsuki teased.

Orihime just grinned. "What? I'm just saying! High school is supposed to be the place where people start growing into their true selves!"

Sara hummed softly, staring at her drink.

True selves...

Her true self wasn't as simple as being a high schooler.

She wasn't normal.

She knew that now.

Sara's gaze drifted out the large café window, her dark brown eyes locking onto the bustling town outside.

People moved about their day, unaware of the things that lurked in the shadows.

She could feel it—

A lingering presence.

Somewhere out there...

There were Hollows.

Roaming.

Hunting.

Waiting.

Her hand tightened slightly around her fork, her chest growing heavy with a familiar feeling of dread.

Maybe—just maybe—she had hoped too much that she could have a normal high school experience.

Because deep down, she knew...

Her life would never be normal.

A warm pressure suddenly grounded her back to reality.

Sara blinked and turned, feeling a light warmth on her lap.

Ichigo had placed his hand there—

A simple, subtle gesture.

But she felt it instantly.

Not just the warmth of his skin—

But his emotions.

His presence.

Ichigo wasn't looking directly at her, still engaged in conversation with Tatsuki and Orihime—

But she knew what this was.

A silent reassurance.

A reminder.

That he was here.

That she wasn't alone.

No matter what happened—

She had people who cared for her.

People who would stand beside her.

Help her carry her burdens.

Sara let out a quiet breath and, beneath the table, she gently curled her fingers around his.

Ichigo's grip tightened slightly, just enough for her to know he understood.

She looked away from the window, back at her friends, and let herself be present in this moment.

For now, she would enjoy this peace.

Because when the time came to fight—

She knew she wouldn't have to face it alone.