New Life After Seventeen Months

- Officer, huh? - The next mention of this person passively participating in this business finally finished off a member of one of the great families. "And why didn't I understand right away?" - Already feeling how he was losing touch with reality, Poong simply remained silent for a few seconds, collecting his thoughts. "It looks like we all are standing in front of you to apologize, Ichigo." - He said seriously. "Now I seem to understand what the root of this whole shitty situation is."

Unexpectedly, and without really understanding anything in this situation, having understood only one thing - he missed something important that could push these three to such thoughts, but without denying a more or less satisfying outcome, Ichigo was somewhat pleased that it all ended without moving to interrogation, otherwise it would have been necessary to solve this situation more radically, which he did not want to do. The only outlet for him was the fact that he was able to keep his little secret safe, although he was close to failure. But who could have imagined that these medicines would raise such a storm, such a flurry of negative thoughts that Ichigo would not have stopped for a long time if it had not been for the incident that he had failed to miss?

"It's good that you figured it out." - agrees Kurosaki, calmly watching how Blusom picks up one of the jars that he placed in several rows on the table and heads for Sai. It seems that the escort managed to find what is needed, Ichigo realized at that moment, heading towards the soft chair and falling into it without strength. Recently, he only slept in a hard bed, so this was the best reward for him at the moment.

Finally resigned to the idea that he would have to solve the secret of Ichigo alone, Marek did not want to give up, honestly hoping to solve this riddle. Not that it became his meaning of life or obsession, perhaps he could call it envy. It is extremely unpleasant to see a strong man in front of you, to watch how he always leaves somewhere, and to get lost in vague guesses, not understanding the strength of that, but wanting to have at least a small part of it. The ogre felt about this, each time looking at the red-haired angler.

"Your jealousy will not result in anything good." - The guide said quietly, returning from Saiya and sitting down to the right of Marek, thereby hiding from Ichigo's gaze, although he clearly did not show any interest in anyone else. - Believe me, this is a dark path. - He smiled at Bloom, knowing exactly what the red head of the ogre, covered with small drops of sweat, was thinking right now. Let him behave more furiously than anyone, but he was not deprived with a sense of self-preservation, having felt the bloodthirsty aura of Ichigo.

***

Taking on the burden of heavy thoughts, Hichigo walked to the meeting place with Bernard and his girls. Turning his head from side to side, sighing heavily and cursing the appointed time - noon, when the sun was frying the most, he honestly tried not to pay attention to the heat surrounding him, emanating from the lava. Heading to the third test zone, which the White Mask team commander called, as Van called him, the minus felt more and more an unusual sense of anxiety inside his c.h.e.s.t, feeling that someone was watching him. Something grandiose was approaching.

"Have you come?" - Bernard came out from behind a huge column of swirling steam.

Hichigo snorted, immediately showing his attitude to such a theatrical appearance. This circus was enough for him even when he was with Ichigo. Are all people in the soul blown up by arrogance of peac.o.c.ks? Negotiations from failure saved the place chosen by Bernard. Lava rivers, which for some reason flowed from bottom to top, into the mouth of a huge volcano, filling the entire multi-kilometer zone and burning a top layer of the earth and melting a stone with a hot stream.

"But you're still blind, right?" - Looking around and not finding the companions of the person opposite, the minus smiled faintly. It seems that they did not understand their strength and decided that if they attack from cover, then what? Think it will save them if they attack?

"You don't have to worry about them." - Bernard immediately realized what guarded the person he invited. - By the way what is your name?

"I don't have a name, but you can call me Hichigo." - Introduced incredulously Empty.

"Then I'll start with the main one, Hichigo." Tomorrow begins the "Rookie Race" and we would like you to join our team, and in return we promise all the information we have and all kinds of support.

- Good. I agree. - Quickly agreed "minus", noting the amusing reaction of his interlocutor, whose invisible mask on his face was immediately replaced by a grimace of various kinds of surprises.

Even before moving away from what had happened to him last night, the captain of the White Mask team could only take away the incomprehensible look and doubt that he heard so much that he could consider himself a fool. There must have been some reason in such a quick answer, perhaps even a catch or a hoax that Hichigo tried to hide behind a quick answer, or maybe he only thinks of revenge and agrees to join his team, and then kill? And what is the truth and what is not - Bernard could not make unambiguous elections neither in favor of one, nor in favor of the other. Soon, he began to realize that he was too delayed in answering and asked on his forehead:

"Is this some kind of trick?" - He met many people in the Tower who lied to their faces without disdain to say everything, even the most disgusting, but at the same time remain incredibly convincing that they wanted to believe. "I'm sorry, but I can't understand you."

"You don't need to understand me." - Predatory empty grinning, having felt how his "Clock" received a message from Van, who took out for his new master this fashionable, but available for everyone attribute. True, he did this with such a physiognomy of a misunderstanding of the situation, as if the gates to another universe had opened before him. Making Hichigo think about it later, but what, in fact, was wrong in that situation? "I'm just in a hurry." You see, recently I became a business man and busy. Well, there were all kinds of problems. For example ... Although it's better not to talk about examples. - He hastily cut short his thought, sensing another message. - I agree to participate in the Rookie Race, and most importantly, I will not kill you. Although you were the first to attack.

Bernard frowned, completely not understanding the train of thought of his interlocutor.

"Then, I suppose ... is that all?" - Lost pronounced a man in a black hoodie. - The race will begin tomorrow, as I said, at ten in the morning. - He informed the start of the event.

Hichigo nodded, saying that he heard and took note of this, and, hiding his hands in the pockets of his torn pants, on the belt of which there was a bright katana, the only beautiful one in his present image, disappeared into sonido, leaving a small depression underneath, rapidly starting to fill with lava .

After standing in one place for several more minutes and looking down at the molten stones, as if trying to see something there, Bernard soon came to his senses, somewhat suppressed by the negotiations, although they were crowned with success. Perhaps, he thought, it was a mistake to call this person to their team, as Esther said, or maybe not, after all, the absence of a fishing rod was a big problem that needed to be solved on the spot, otherwise it could result in problems in the future. Still, taking such an act, he exposed himself and the rest to great danger. But success promised them a ticket to the next Floor, so there was a chance.