"Bye, Orihime!", Tatsuki yelled as she turned into the street where she did dojo training. Orihime grinned back, and then was left to her own thoughts. Something had definitely been up with Rukia today. Rukia always got a little red-faced or acted strangely whenever Orihime told an Ichigo story. The only reason Orihime could think of was that either Rukia really hated Ichigo, and therefore got annoyed whenever his name was spoken, or...

She loved him as well.

Well, that wouldn't be so bad, would it? If both Rukia and Orihime loved Ichigo, there would be twice as many stories to tell at lunch time, and their social group would never get bored...

But even as Orihime desperately thought of all the positives of Rukia loving Ichigo, an unsettling feeling began to take root in her stomach...

And it wasn't from the bean paste cake from earlier...

Rukia had always been by Ichigo's side, always helped him. She had risked her life for him many times, and also was definitely better at fighting than Orihime.

And also... when she had been taken to the Soul Society to be executed, Ichigo had risked his own Soul to save her.

Orihime pulled her hand up to her chest as she realised that Rukia could be more precious to Ichigo than she was. And usually, she wouldn't mind. But for some reason, she felt terrible, and desperately wanted to be the only one Ichigo ever thought of.

When she had been taken to Hueco Mundo...

Ichigo had risked his Soul again.

So maybe there was a chance for her?

Anything for her and Ichigo.

And Orihime took the unspoken challenge.