Chapter 211: Pretending.

Chapter 211: Pretending.

If you want to read ahead go to /cornbringer Ñøv€lRapture marked the initial hosting of this chapter on Ñôv€lß¡n.

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/3dAF3qMP

———————————————————————————-

[Adam C. POV.]

The weight of the morning classes on my shoulders, I breathed a sigh of relief. Lunch break had finally arrived.

I pitied those studying here.

I felt like I was in college, but if college had guns, and knives.

Forget the one week, I reject this shit. I fight, I kill, and that's my thing, not... this.

Exiting the classroom, I spotted Rukia at the end of the hallway, engaged in a whispered conversation with a tall, orange-haired teen. Ah, Ichigo Kurosaki, the very person whose life I was inadvertently intertwined with. I decided to steer clear for now, not wanting to overcomplicate things on my very first day.

Before I could even blink, a large hand landed on my shoulder, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. Turning around, I met the stoic gaze of a towering teen with tanned skin and an expression that screamed, 'I've seen things.'

Holy fuck he's big.

"You're the new guy," he remarked, his voice deep and somewhat raspy. It wasn't a question.

Chad's the first one to greet me, huh? I would've bet on Orihime.

"Yes, Hiroshi Urahara," I responded, looking up at him. I tried not to dwell on the fact that he was easily a head taller than me.

"Sado Yasutora. But everyone calls me Chad."

Just then, a bubbly voice piped up from behind Chad. "Oh, hi! You're in my class, right? I'm Inoue Orihime!" The cheerful redhead beamed at me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Beside her stood a bespectacled boy with a stern face, taking my measure with a sharp, assessing gaze.

"Hello," I greeted, mentally taking note of these unexpected introductions. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Are you related to Mr. Hat-and-Clogs?" Orihime asked, tilting her head in genuine curiosity.

Wait, she knew him already? I don't recall seeing her at the store, then again, I don't work every day there.

Ichigo eyed me for a moment longer before nodding slowly. "Well, watch where you're going next time."

"Will do," I responded, watching as he strode off.

-------------

[Third Person. POV.]

The dim lighting inside Aizen's office in the 5th division set a contemplative mood. Aizen sat behind his desk, fingers steepled in thought, his glasses reflecting the subtle light in the room.

His focus was on a particular name that had recently appeared in the Living World, "Adam."

Tousen stood off to one side, his unwavering stance a testament to his loyalty and determination to the cause he believed Aizen would see through.

Despite his blindness, he sensed the shift in Aizen's thoughts, a small deviation from the usual.

"Adam," Aizen mused, the name rolling off his tongue as if tasting it for the first time. "His presence in the Living World has become an unforeseen variable. His connection with Urahara Kisuke is, however, quite interesting."

Tousen shifted slightly, "Is he a threat to our plans?"

Aizen smiled at that. "Every piece on the board can be both a pawn and a threat. It depends on how you move them. The question is not whether he's a threat, Tousen, but how we can utilize him."

Tousen contemplated this. "He possesses power beyond most lieutenants. But according to Gin, there's reason to believe his power is Captain Level."

Aizen nodded, "Yes, I'm aware."

"But if Urahara Kisuke is involving him in matters of the Living World, especially with Kurosaki Ichigo..." Tousen trailed off.

Aizen looked up, removing his glasses and polishing them with a cloth. "Then Urahara has plans of his own. It's a dance, Tousen, a dance of strategy and foresight."

"We must be cautious," Tousen responded, a hint of concern in his usually calm voice. "We don't know what he's capable of, our mission could be compromised."

Aizen placed his glasses back on, his eyes piercing with intensity. "Then we adjust. We observe. And if necessary, we act. Remember, Tousen, in every game of strategy, the player who can best adapt to change will be the victor."

Tousen nodded, taking solace in Aizen's confidence. "Understood."

"Good," Aizen murmured, leaning back in his chair, his gaze distant. "Adam, whoever he truly is, will be an interesting piece in our grand game. Let's see which way he moves."