Chapter 97

After the lesson ended, lunch time was upon them. Many of the students had brought their lunch from home and were sitting in the cafeteria, enjoying the meal together with their friends.

Ichigo's friends were no exception. The boys were talking about various topics as they ate, from school to their recent activities, from the latest news to the latest games and movies.

However, both he and Shirou didn't buy lunch from the canteen and instead ate the lunch box Shirou made.

Strange but it was tastier than anything that could be bought from the canteen. The taste was great and it was quite healthy too, with a balanced amount of nutrition.

It seemed that Ichigo and his friends weren't the only ones who thought that. Tatsuki, Chad, and Orihime were sitting near Ichigo. The tomboy girl and the big man ate their own lunch box while Orihime ate her bread she bought from a store near the school. They were also in a group.

"Like I told you, I just wanted to thank him for helping me with the karate club's affairs."

Following the previous conversation, Tatsuki had to explain herself to Orihime. The topic of her and Shirou being a couple had spread fast and even their close friend was affected by it. 

It wasn't that surprising. It was quite the event and gossip, even in Karakura high school's standard.

"I mean, I have to show some appreciation to his effort." The black-haired girl sighed as she leaned on her chair.

"But it's strange for you to do that." Keigo commented from the side, "I meant, walking to school together? Arisawa is?"

"Yeah."

Four people, excluding Shirou, nodded their heads in agreement. They knew Tatsuki better than other students, that's why they thought it was really strange.

Arisawa Tatsuki, a girl known for her karate skills and strict personality. It was rare to see her doing something like that, especially with a guy.

She was the type of person who arrived first at school for morning training and then left early for the club activity after school. She was a role model for the athletic students, always working hard to get stronger and be better at her chosen sport.

When someone like that deliberately skipped morning practice to wait for a guy, everyone would think that it's something special. It was something out of ordinary, that's why the whole school talked about it.

The rumor spread wide enough that even the new transfer student heard about it.

"So you are a couple?"

Hirako Shinji asked as he suddenly appeared beside their table. He tilted his head in curiosity, grinning widely.

"Whoa, dude. You surprised me." Ichigo said, looking at the blonde boy with a surprised expression.

Shinji grinned at Ichigo before turning his attention back to Shirou and Tatsuki.

"I have to know if you two are really dating." He said, "Because that's the most interesting piece of information that I have heard since coming here. I have to hear the truth from the source itself."

"We're not." Shirou calmly answered before Tatsuki could snap. He was calm because it was his umpteenth time answering the question, so he was used to it already.

Tatsuki just growled in response, annoyed. She was about to retort but held herself back, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She didn't want to make a scene.

After the girl calmed herself, she looked at Shinji, "We are not. But why do you care about that anyway?"

"Well, I'm new here, right?" Shinji explained, "So I need some information on how things work in this school, you see."

He shrugged, "So I thought I would ask some of the popular people in school about it, and it happens that the rumor of Shirou and Tatsuki dating was the most interesting topic for the gossipers. Oh, their words, not mine."

The way he talked about it sounded like he wasn't bothered by it at all. Like it was something normal to him.

'But that was a lie.' Shirou knew.

It was easy to read the man. His tone, expression, the way his lips curled, the way his eyes looked, it told a story that contradicted what he had said.

He was lying. About the fact he was interested in the rumor.

This man had other motives to talk with him.

'Is it about Ichigo?'

From the moment this Shinji entered the classroom, his gaze never left Ichigo even for a second. He looked pretty... obsessed over him, like he wanted something from the boy.

But what was he looking for?

"But if you said you're not a couple, then I will believe you! Hahaha, I just want to be friends with you all." The man chuckled, scratching the back of his head, "So let's have lunch together and be friends."

Shinji said with a grin before pulling the chair from a nearby table and sitting with them.

Tatsuki's eyes twitched and she looked like she wanted to beat up the boy.

Ichigo was surprised by his action and the others were confused. Who wouldn't? It wasn't common to see a stranger coming to them and trying to make a friend. It wasn't something that should happen in school.

Shinji didn't care though and he opened the plastic bag he had. He brought out some onigiris he had prepared before.

Shirou eyed him carefully and saw his expression, his eyes, and the subtle movement on his face. With his pretty sensitive sense, he could feel his reiatsu. He wasn't someone ordinary, and he wasn't a hollow nor an arrancar.

'Is he a soul reaper? But he doesn't feel like one at all.'

Shinji noticed Shirou's gaze and turned to look at him, grinning widely. "Oh? You want some? Here."

The blonde man offered his onigiri to the auburn haired boy. He did it so casually, as if it was normal for him to do so. Shirou blinked at him for a moment, before smiling and taking the offered onigiri.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After that, the lunch time was pretty peaceful and calm. The group ate and chatted with each other while Shinji occasionally chimed in, talking about his school and his friends, and sometimes he would ask a question about Karakura high school to them. 

It was like a friendly conversation.

School soon ended, the students went back to their houses and did whatever they wanted. Tatsuki went to do her club activities with high spirit, mainly because she wanted to beat the people inside her club that spread the baseless rumor about her.

Shirou went to Urahara Shouten to ask the shady shopkeeper about something. He had a growing suspicion about the blonde boy and his actions.

Especially when the boy had been following Ichigo for the entire day. He might be following him right now too. There was something fishy going on with him and it bothered the auburn-haired boy.

"So," Shirou asked after he entered the shop, "What is going on, Urahara-san? Is that person the 'friend' you talked about?"