File: 754c691a-2f46-4426-99e1-3(...).png (554 KB, 712x400)

554 KB PNG

>>47557554
Every region has at least a single Shinigami overseeing the spiritual balance of things. Even though they should be my allies in this difficult line of heroic work, if I'm ever seen by one of those guys, they'll try to kill me. I suppose too many people have been using their Substitute Shinigami powers for evil... or something like that.

But either way, what all of this basically means...

...Is that I can't do anything.

A few days have passed after my encounter with the Ex-Substitute Shinigami, and nothing has changed about my life. I returned home and then went to school.

The rules she instated for me are also making things even more boring. I can't tell anyone about this? I can't transform when I want to? There aren't even any Bad Spirits around?

Gaaah, this is unbearable!

The only thing I even have to look forward to nowadays is the upcoming spirit-cleansing performance by Don Kanonji, the world's greatest exorcist.

Just as those frustrations swirled in my head, on one fateful schoolday, my lone trusted ally, Jun, has notified me of something suspicious during lunch.

(2/3)

File: 185985.jpg (30 KB, 225x350)

30 KB JPG

>>47557585
"Sasaki-san, my ears caught wind of something suspicious. They say that Minato-san has been complaining about a feeling of being watched." Is what he said. I couldn't help but sense the amount of concern he has even for that slightly rude, unsocial girl with glasses. "What should we do?"

Jun has spent six years training deep in the mountains, so I have no reason to doubt his instincts, even if he's retelling a rumor that somebody else probably retold him. His drive for justice is just like mine, which must be why we get along so well. And also, I... kind of... well...

Oh! Now isn't the time! A classmate could be in danger!

...

>"Understood. I shall go ask her about it immediately!"
>"I see. Perhaps one of the Organizations is scouting her out for forced recruitment. After school today, the two of us will follow after her and make sure that no one else is stalking her!"
>"This must be the work of a Bad Spirit. I must oversee this matter personally!"
>"Petty stalkers are none of our concern. We must stay on the lookout for real threats! Instead... Jun... Do you want to see it?"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47557615
>"I see. Perhaps one of the Organizations is scouting her out for forced recruitment. After school today, the two of us will follow after her and make sure that no one else is stalking her!"
A serious threat.

>>47557615
>"This must be the work of a Bad Spirit. I must oversee this matter personally!"
More chuus? How horrifying.

>>47557615
Let's go with team stalking

>>47557615
Voting over, writing!

>>47557833
Two days in a row eh? Mushrooms have a lot of time during the summer I see!

>>47557683
>>47557734
"I see. Perhaps one of the Organizations is scouting her out for forced recruitment. After school today, the two of us will follow after her and make sure that no one else is stalking her!" I announce the plan.

"Don't you have kendo today, Hisako?" Jun raises a valid point, but earthly concerns can wait.

"Hah! As if Sasaki Kojiro needs that kind of pitiful practice! I go there merely to keep myself from becoming rusty, but it is needless if I'm about to put my skills to a real test!" I skillfully twirl my chopsticks between my fingers. A simple trick that serves as a clear testament to my high dexterity stat.

But suddenly, the chopsticks fall to the ground. A strong wind must have blown them off my fingers. I can't come up with any other suitable explanation.

Jun offers me his own chopsticks, but I obviously can't accept them, because... well, you know! It'd mean he wouldn't get to eat anything himself!

"D-don't you have karate today yourself, Jun?" I change the topic.

"Well... I guess it's not a big deal if I don't go once in a while. This is much more important!"

The practice must be meaningless for him as well, as, I've mentioned before, he spent six years with the League of Shadows, studying the art of assassination. Naturally, he understood the errors of their ways somewhere along his path and escaped before they broke his will.

And he's right. This is much more important!

(1/2)

File: school_shoe_lockers_by_ma(...).jpg (42 KB, 640x480)

42 KB JPG

>>47558142
At the end of the day, I catch an overwhelmingly minty scent inside my shoe locker. I soon discover its source.

Someone filled my shoes with toothpaste.

Naturally, I can't wear them now. It's moist and gooey inside.

A couple of girls is peeking at me from around the corner, cackling as they watch me examine my shoes. Suzume and Yoshiko, girls that call themselves my seniors. They're fiends undeserving of the 'senpai' title. They and their friends are after me and Jun because our alignments are incompatible. We are those of justice, while they are of chaos and evil. A natural conflict stemming from our different origins and roles in this world.

...I wonder if my shoes are going to be wearable after this. How do I even get the toothpaste out?

...

>Ignore them for now. There are more important things to do.
>Confront them. They need to know that what they're doing is wrong.
>Transform and teach them a lesson!
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47558161
>Confront them. They need to know that what they're doing is wrong.
Else what kind of hero would we be?

>>47558161
>Ignore them for now. There are more important things to do.

>>47558161
>Confront them. They need to know that what they're doing is wrong.

>>47558161
Ah yes, the joys of Japanese bullying. God, that's messed up.

>>47558289
Hey, at least they didn't put in something stinky. Once we get that rinsed out those shoes are gonna smell fresh as hell!

>>47558161
Voting over, writing!

Wonder how badly this confrontation is gonna go.

>>47558502
Honestly considering that our heroine seems at least mediocre at kido, I doubt these girls will try to get physical. They probably learned better than that eventually.

>>47558559
Probably true, doesn't mean it'll go well though.

>>47558559
>kido
I mean kendo.

If she was somehow already proficient at kido, things would be even weirder.

File: suzume.jpg (116 KB, 1280x720)

116 KB JPG

>>47558178
>>47558284
"Oh, she's coming this way." They whisper and chuckle as I approach.

"What did you do?" I yell, which only prompts further giggling.

"What did we do?" The fiend named Suzume feigns ignorance, but anyone can tell the truth just from her acidic tone. "Oh, what's that in your hands? There's something dripping out of those shoes!"

"Doesn't it smell nice, Suzume?" The other demon named Yoshiko plays along. "Hey, shouldn't you be grateful, Stinky Feet-chan? Someone took care of your problem for you."

"My feet ARE NOT STINKY!" I protest their lies. I display my destroyed shoes. "What are you going to do about this?!"

"Nothing? You think we did this?" Suzume continues on with the act. It's true, I don't have any proof, but who needs proof when she's acting like this?! "Sorry, Stinky Feet-chan. It wasn't us."

Once again they break out into laughter.

"Why you...!" I find myself unable to resist my anger anymore. But on the verge of doing something rash, my trusted ally's voice cools my head.

"Hisako? Are we going? Is something wrong?" As Jun approaches, I'm not sure how I should retaliate against these cackling witches.

"Oh, Assassin-kun's coming. We better get outta here. See ya." The brown haired Suzume waves a sarcastic goodbye, and the pair leaves, still laughing.

Perhaps finding themselves no longer holding the advantage of numbers, they decided to flee. Well, if you get attacked by Bad Spirits, don't go crying to us for help!

(1/2)

>>47559048
>smugIori
Well damn, now I just want to bully her back.

>>47559048
"Those guys again..? They're so annoying." Jun angrily mutters as he examines the damage sustained by my footwear. As people of justice, we can't just use our powers for petty things like fighting bullies, not unless they turn to crime. I just need to wait until they inevitably get targeted by a Bad Spirit, and then I can rescue them and they'll respect me.

"Forget them, Jun. We have to go help Minato-chan!" I exclaim. Before proceeding, I take a brief look around to make sure that the glasses-wearing girl wasn't around to hear that.

It's safe.

"You're an expert of stealth. I'll let you lead the way, Jun!"

My ally smiles proudly, leading the way with confidence and skill.

...

We really managed to shadow our classmate all the way to her home, but nothing happened on the way there.

An hour passes and it's really boring.

...

>"Let's keep observing the building. If Bad Spirits are afoot, I'm sure we'll see them coming."
>"The best way to keep watch on Minato-chan would be up close! Let's enter under the pretense that we came to visit her."
>"I will transform into Sasaki Kojiro and watch over her!"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47559094
>"The best way to keep watch on Minato-chan would be up close! Let's enter under the pretense that we came to visit her."

>>47559094
The close approach!

>>47559094
>"I will transform into Sasaki Kojiro and watch over her!"

>>47559094
Voting over, writing!

File: menacing.jpg (92 KB, 1280x720)

92 KB JPG

>>47559127
>>47559130
We decide to enter Minato-chan's house.

"I'll let you take the lead in negotiations, Jun." I tell him in front of the door.

"...Wait, why me?"

"Your charisma score is pretty high, so... uh..." I probably should have picked my words more carefully. I hope I didn't make that sound too much like a compliment.

"...No way, Sasaki. I'm not a social assassin-type! Charisma is my dump stat, too!"

"There's no way it can be your dump stat! A-Anyway, I need your guile to take care of this obstacle. A samurai can't lie to people! My honor doesn't allow it."

"Then are you calling me dishonorable, Sasaki Kojiro?" Jun asks me, taking up a cool, menacing pose, pressuring me with his trained killer intent.

"No... S-Sorry." I can't risk our bond, so I apologize immediately.

"...Very well. I'll take care of it this time." Even though I've unintentionally insulted his honor, my ally is too reliable to hold a grudge.

Jun takes the lead again and speaks with Minato-chan's mom, making up a very believable excuse for our visit. As expected of the world's greatest assassin. The mother calls Minato-chan to come downstairs, but she doesn't reply. She calls for her again, and when she still doesn't come, she gives up, telling us to go to her room.

When we arrive there, we discover that the room is empty.

(1/2)

>>47560026
"Jun! I think this is an emergency! Check the bathrooms! I'll inspect the room!" My nerves are cool as ice. As a warrior of the sword, I retain total composure despite this unpleasant surprise! Jun follows my lead, dashing down the hall.

He soon runs back inside. "Why am I the one who has to check the bathrooms?! If you suspect that there's a girl in there, check them yourself!"

"The window!" I yell, pointing at the aforementioned object. It's wide open, which is why I've grown suspicious about it. But wait, if a Bad Spirit is responsible, then couldn't it have gone through the wall?

But wait! Minato isn't a ghost! So the Bad Spirit would need to open the window to get her out!

This is kind of bad! Was Minato actually kidnapped right under our noses? What should I do?

...

>"We have to search for her! Let's split up to cover more ground!"
>"Let's go search for her together! It's too dangerous to split up!"
>"Hey, I think we should call the police..."
>Call the Ex-Substitute Shinigami and ask her for guidance.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47560047
>"We have to search for her! Let's split up to cover more ground!"

>>47560047
>Call the Ex-Substitute Shinigami and ask her for guidance.
Let's see if she's really a professional!

>>47560047
>Call the Ex-Substitute Shinigami and ask her for guidance.
But maybe split up first, she could be giving us classified information of which we're sworn to secrecy!

>>47560047
Voting over, writing!

>>47560129
>>47560180
This is pretty serious, so I decide to call the local expert on Bad Spirits. I quickly explain to her what our investigation uncovered.

"A Hollow kidnapped her? Are you sure? Did you see him do it?"

"Well, I didn't, but..."

"Then you don't really know if she was kidnapped or not, do you?"

"But how else are you gonna explain her disappearance?!"

"There's a ton of explanations for that. Look, don't worry about it. If there is a Hollow hanging around, a Shinigami will come to take care of it. They can track those things down better than anyone. It's their job."

"But I can't just leave things like this! There's no proof that she was kidnapped, but there's no proof that she's safe, either!"

"Where are you right now?" Clarissa asks an unexpected question. I tell her Minato-chan's address. "I don't sense anything." She says after a brief pause.

"...Huh?"

(1/2)

>>47560911
"I'm not that far from there and I don't sense any Hollows. So that means there aren't any. And if there are, even despite me not sensing anything..."

"Do you think I'll just believe anything you say?!" I yell. Just why does she have to be so stubborn about it? I'm about to berate her some more, but then, with the corner of my eye, I see something that makes me immediately forget what I was about to tell her.

"...Then it's something way out of your league."

A large, masked creature sits on the roof of a neighboring house, its skin a pale blue, its eyes black and yellow. A large, hollow hole runs through its chest. Its form is vaguely humanoid, but there is nothing human in its crazed, animal-like gaze. In the maw of its wide mask it holds a girl wearing a school uniform. Although she isn't wearing her glasses, I still recognize her as Minato-chan.

"Hold still. Don't do anything, girl." The monster's voice sounds like an adult man's; but there's something twisted to its tone, something that sends a shiver down my spine. "You're talking with the blonde woman, aren't you? Organize a meeting with her by the stadium. I'll kill this girl if you don't it. Simple, isn't it? So hurry up. Make sure to speak up so I can hear you."

It's keeping Minato-chan hostage...? This is really bad!

...

>Play along for now. "I need you to meet me by the stadium, Clarissa."
>Bluff. "Sorry. I wasn't on the phone with her."
>"There it is! It took Minato-chan hostage! What do I do?!"
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47560940
>Play along for now. "I need you to meet me by the stadium, Clarissa."
Fug

>>47560940
>"There it is! It took Minato-chan hostage! What do I do?!"
Pffft it'll just kill Minato anyway if we wait!

>>47560940
>Play along for now. "I need you to meet me by the stadium, Clarissa."
This isn't Super at all, Mushroom! In fact this is ridiculously contrived!

On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Clarissa is smart enough to know that there's only reason we'd suddenly change the subject an organize a meetup at a random location, so she shouldn't be caught flatfooted.

>>47561074
Like if she asks why, tell her it's obvious.

>>47561074
Wonder how it's hiding from her senses.

>>47560940
>Play along for now. "I need you to meet me by the stadium, Clarissa."

>>47560940
Voting over, writing!

>>47561098
It's probably either an experiment and/or an Adjuchas!

The problem is that we're meant to believe that it's been watching us for a while now to smell we're a shinigami, and somehow chose this specific classmate to kidnap because it figured that we knew Clarissa, which it somehow has a grudge against and thinks it can beat, which is absurd.

>>47561177
This is the second thread Mushroom! You have a problem!

>>47561215
Like I'm already annoyed, and that's under the assumption that Clarissa is smart enough to figure out what the score is, and strong enough to crush an opponent of this caliber.

>>47561265
I think you've overthinking it anon, at least see all of what's going on before complaining.

>>47561123
>>47561074
>>47560987
"Clarissa. I need you to meet me by the stadium."

"Huh? What's this all of a sudden? What for?"

"Alright. I'll be waiting for you there!"

I hang up. I spoke clearly enough for the Hollow to hear.

"Now let her go!"

"Ihihihi. Good girl. But don't be so hasty. Follow me, then you can have her back. Come on. Get out here. You have ten seconds."

What a bastard! He's really leaving me no choice! Just what is he planning?

"What's going on, Hisako?" Jun voices his concerns. I know I need to explain the situation to him and why the monster is menacingly staring at us both, but I just don't have the time right now.

"Just stay here and don't worry! I'll be back soon!"

"Huh? But where are you-..."

I dash out of the room before he finishes and sprint downstairs. I put on my shoes and-

Gaaah, these are the wrong shoes! Now I have toothpaste all over my feet! I kick them off, spraying toothpaste all over the hallway and on myself, and put on my school shoes. I still smell of mint and my feet feel disgusting, but this is a little better. Before running outside, I get an idea.

What if I have Chappy follow that thing while I shadow them both as Sasaki Kojiro? Sure, it's kind of risky, but what the heck isn't right now?!

...

>Let Chappy take my place while I shadow them transformed.
>Play it safe and don't take any chances. Follow the Bad Spirit in my human body.

>>47561571
>Play it safe and don't take any chances. Follow the Bad Spirit in my human body.
As if this thing wouldn't see through that ruse.

>>47561571
Let Chappy take our place I guess, since Clarissa let her problem solving skills deteriorate and otherwise we're asking to be hollow food since they find shinigami delicious.

>>47561571
>Play it safe and don't take any chances. Follow the Bad Spirit in my human body.
Any advantage!

>>47561610
The problem is until about Vasto Lorde or rare Adjuchas, hollows are Always Chaotic Evil so there's really just getting that girl killed for being naive or getting her killed due to trying to do something.

We're all dead regardless, the only difference is how much we blame ourselves.

>>47561665
Wait, why'd you say any advantage but vote to play along?

>>47561712
Hmmm? Take any potential advantage we can get of course. Might catch it off-guard!

>>47561750
Oh, you're assuming that this thing didn't already smell that we're a shinigami?

Well a compromise could be to have Chappy be in our mouth already.

>>47561778
>>47561629
>>47561571
In fact,
>Put the Soul Candy in our mouth but don't swallow, follow the hollow and maybe act like we're too scared to speak?

>>47561805
Sure, that sounds like a fine approach.

>>47561805
I don't know, it'd probably just get our human body destroyed or something but this script is dumb and I hate it.

>>47561571
Voting over, writing!

>>47561932
Did >>47561834
count as a vote? Or not?

>>47562032
We're going with the not swallowing tactic, I think that's the general consensus.

>>47562043
I guess Hisako prefers spitting.
Sorry! If it helps I'm very ashamed of myself.

>>47562043
Well I guess that's my fault for not figuring it out sooner.

But... do you really think this is okay, Mushroom?

Like despite having the power of the Hougyoko or being a copy fighter, the biggest problems that haunted your two quests is that we felt helpless and didn't know what to do.

I guess I don't get why you'd make a third quest where we ARE helpless and there's NOTHING we can do.

>>47561805
>>47561834
I'll just put Chappy in my mouth and not swallow! That way I can transform whenever I want to without doing anything suspicious!

As I bolt outside, the Hollow turns away from me, leaping across rooftops. I chase after it.

We are quite clearly headed for the stadium. Don Kanonji himself is scheduled to perform there soon. Again, just what is this thing plotting?

The stadium isn't far from here, but running all the way there is still ridiculous! Good thing I keep in shape, otherwise this would have seriously killed me.

When he finally stops by the entrance, I have to clutch my knees as I catch my breath. When I do, I yell at him my exact thoughts.

"Just what are you plotting, you monster?!" I think I manage to sound relatively normal even with something in my mouth.

"Shut up. Just wait."

So we wait.

We wait for a while. Like ten or twenty minutes. The sun is going to set soon.

Suddenly, the Hollow snaps.

"WELL WHERE THE HELL IS HE?" He screams out a question that I really can't even begin to answer. "I GO THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS HE WANTED ME TO AND THEN HE JUST DOESN'T SHOW UP?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"SHUT UP! No one is talking to you!" He grunts and fumes some more. "I can't fucking wait any longer! That other chick is going to arrive and I'm not going to deal with two people at once! Fuck!"

"You're... actually kind of stupid, aren't you?" I let that question slip.

(1/2)

>>47562717
The Hollow's furious convulsions suddenly cease. Its eyes widen slightly, as if it's utterly stupefied. In the next moment, Minato's body is flung at me. I react immediately by swallowing.

I soften the girl's landing as Sasaki Kojiro. Miraculously, I manage to remain on my own two feet. As the massive monster leaps at me, but I roll with my classmate to avoid the strike of its massive arm.

"I'll fucking kill you! You're fucking dead, kid!"

I lay Minato-chan down on the ground and draw the Monohoshizao. Even though my sword has great reach, his arms are still much longer.

Well, he really isn't smart at all, discarding a hostage like that. I dart away, launching a few preemptive strikes and avoiding a counter, all to get away from the other girl. Chappy, understanding the situation, dashes to pick her up and take her away.

The area in front of the stadium is pretty open. There's not much going on here...

>Battle Knowledge: Low

...

>Go on the offensive. It should be easy enough to hit it.
>Go on the defensive and study the monster.
>Head deeper into the stadium. There should be more stuff to work with there.
>Other. (Write-in).

>>47562739
Well that went better than expected, so far.
>Go on the defensive and study the monster.

>>47562739
>Go on the defensive and study the monster.
I'm not sure, does terrain in the world of the living really matter at all? Like we're all ghosts.

But then again, Chad was able to hit a hollow with a telephone pole, despite hollows being able to move through walls so... I have no idea how it works.

>>47562739
>Head deeper into the stadium. There should be more stuff to work with there.

>>47562811
Might just be inconsistent Kubo!

>>47562851
>>47562811
This is tricky. On the one hand, this hollow is PROBABLY too mad at us to peel off and go after Chappy, on the other, if it can hide its spiritual pressure it might have raw power to back it up, so we might not be able to take more than one hit.

>>47562811
>>47562739
Changing my vote to
>Head deeper into the stadium. There should be more stuff to work with there.

Like it's best we find out one way or the other now against a really dumb opponent.

>>47562955
We can trust Chappy!

>>47562739
Voting over, writing!

>>47562973
I meant in terms of whether or not terrain really is a thing in the World of the Living.

But obviously we should check to make sure it's still following us.

File: dead mushroom.png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>47562991
Actually, it's getting kind of late and I don't think I can finish the encounter quickly enough! Let's finish the battle next time.

Sorry for the abrupt cliffhanger, everyone!

>>47563080
Thanks for running, sorry I got annoyed. I guess I'm really afraid of Clarissa dying to teach us a lesson of some kind.

Also wait a sec... taking us to the Stadium, wanting to bring Clarissa... are we being set up by Don fucking Kanoji?

>>47563080
Ah, alright! Thanks for running Mushroom!

>>47563105
Well, this hollow does seem kinda weak, but even so would Don Kanonji really be able to tell it what to do?

Guess we just gotta wait and hope this 'he' shows up so we can figure out who it is.

>>47563157
My greatest fear for the Mushroom Bleach Quests in general, is that in Aizen's absence, Ulquiorra Cifer learned how to initiative.

Does Mushroom normally archive his own threads, or does one of you two do it? I think I might have once or twice but I don't remember.

>>47563551
Archived it, sorry for the mediocre description!

>>47563921
No worries.