The Jellyfish Hollow was completely unable to comprehend what was happening before her eyes. "Th-that… what is that?"
In truth, Orihime Inoue didn't understand it herself either. Acting purely on instinct, she raised her hand toward Tatsuki Arisawa and called out the names of her flying shuttles.
"Shuno, Ayame, Sōten Kisshun! I reject!"
The red and blue shuttles spread their wings, golden oval barriers unfolding as they enveloped Tatsuki Arisawa.
The seed embedded in Tatsuki Arisawa's head dissolved, and even the wound it had left behind vanished at a visible speed.
"Tatsuki…" Seeing that Tatsuki Arisawa was finally safe, the tears Orihime Inoue had been holding back spilled over.
"What did you do?!" the Jellyfish Hollow roared in rage. "You damn little brat…"
"Tsubaki." Orihime Inoue looked straight at the Jellyfish Hollow. Tatsuki Arisawa's injuries had healed, but the fact that the Hollow had harmed her remained unchanged. "Koten Zanshun—"
What Orihime Inoue intended was simple.
"I reject!"
The black shuttle spread its wings streaked with crimson, erupting with golden light as it pierced straight through the Jellyfish Hollow's body.
"Ugh…" The Hollow let out a distorted cry as cracks rapidly spread across its mask. Its entire body collapsed into reishi particles. "Ugh… ah…"
"Huff… huff… huff!" Orihime Inoue panted. "I… I just…"
"Orihime-san!"
Six flying shuttles hovered around Orihime Inoue, revealing six palm-sized figures within them.
"Nice to meet you, Orihime-san." The red-clad little figure with blue wings grinned broadly. "We are [Shun Shun Rikka]. Protecting you is our mission. We are your power!"
"Wah!" Orihime Inoue jumped in surprise. "Tiny people flying around in the air… and they can even talk!"
"Hm?" The red-clad little figure put its hands on its hips. "I get why you'd react like that, but we're not tiny people. We're your awakened soul abilities. We are you!"
Orihime Inoue blinked, then cautiously reached out and poked them.
"Hey!" the red-clad figure shouted. "What are you doing?!"
"I just wanted to see if you were real…" Orihime Inoue withdrew her hand. "I really can touch you."
"Then don't poke me!"
"I was worried you'd fly away…"
The red-clad little figure waved its tiny arms in protest. "Still no poking!"
"Focus," the blue little figure floated closer. "We thought we'd have to teach you how to use our power, but you figured it out on your own."
"So that just leaves introductions." The blue figure spun lightly in the air. "My name is Lily."
The purple figure spoke next. "I'm Hinagiku."
"Baigon." The white figure's voice was muffled behind its mask. "We can form Santen Kesshun, which rejects all attacks from outside the shield."
The dark red figure spoke timidly. "I'm… Ayame."
"I'm the captain, Shuno," said the red-clad figure. "Ayame and my Sōten Kisshun can reject negative effects inside the shield and restore things to their original state."
"Tsubaki." The black figure's eyes were fierce. "My power rejects both the inside and outside of shields. I cut the enemy apart from within, preventing the five fingers from joining. In simple terms, I split the enemy in two!"
"Everyone's incredible…" Only now did Orihime Inoue fully realize what she had just done.
"The amazing one is you," Shuno said with a soft laugh. "Since everything's settled, let's head back."
The six little figures turned into six streaks of light, merging together and transforming into a pair of pale blue hairpins.
They were the six-petaled hairpins her brother had given Orihime Inoue, the ones she had always worn in her hair.
"Nii-san…" Orihime Inoue murmured. "You're still protecting me."
"Orihime!"
"Muten!" Orihime Inoue had just put the hairpins back in place when she heard the familiar voice. "I was just—"
Before she could finish, Muten Natsu pulled her into a tight embrace.
Muten Natsu had originally intended to use Hell's Eye to locate Grand Fisher, but when his gaze shifted, he noticed what was happening here instead.
He abandoned the pursuit of the fleeing Grand Fisher and rushed over immediately.
But he was still too late.
Shaken by fear, Muten Natsu held Orihime Inoue tightly.
Just a little more.
Just a little more.
If Orihime Inoue hadn't awakened her power, then…
"Muten…" Feeling Muten Natsu's racing heartbeat and the intense fear and unease pouring from him, Orihime Inoue wrapped her arms around him instead. "I'm fine~"
Rukia Kuchiki watched the scene quietly.
Back when they fought Hollows in Soul Society, she had once been dragged into Hueco Mundo by a Hollow.
To protect her, Muten Natsu had chased after her without hesitation.
After cutting the Hollow down in a single strike, he had held her just like this.
As if he wanted to pull her into himself.
Time had passed. Seeing Muten Natsu now, so much like he had been back then, Rukia Kuchiki couldn't help but smile, a sense of calm settling in her chest.
He was still the same.
He hadn't changed.
The smile on her lips paused slightly.
The one who had changed wasn't him.
It was the person in his arms.
Rukia Kuchiki pressed her lips together.
Muten Natsu was still Muten Natsu.
He still had someone he cherished.
Wasn't that a good thing?
"It's not your fault~" Orihime Inoue gently stroked Muten Natsu's back. "The ones who hurt me and Tatsuki were Hollows, not you. And besides, if you had been there, I probably wouldn't have awakened such an amazing power in the first place."
Muten Natsu took several deep breaths, slowly calming down, and finally loosened his grip on her. "I saw everything. It was really incredible."
Orihime Inoue noticed the wound on his chest. "You're hurt!? And you were holding me that tightly just now… I'll heal you right away—"
Her voice cut off abruptly as her body went limp and fell against Muten Natsu.
"Orihime?" Muten Natsu's heart lurched. "You—"
Rukia Kuchiki stepped forward quickly and checked on Orihime Inoue. "She's fine. It's just her first time awakening her power. She overused it and fainted from exhaustion."
Before an ability awakens, there is always a period of power accumulation.
Only when that power reaches a certain level can a true breakthrough occur.
But it is also this accumulation that often causes an awakening to be accompanied by a loss of control.
Orihime Inoue's unfamiliarity with her ability, combined with the sudden release of her power, ultimately led to her collapsing from exhaustion.
After a careful examination, Rukia Kuchiki felt even more confident in her assessment. "She just needs to rest for a while."
Muten Natsu finally let out a long breath.
"Let's go home."