Ch-4: Shinigami's Gaze

As I walked down the same old path to school, it hit me – the eternal struggle between studying and everything else. It's like no matter where you are, those textbooks are always lurking around, ready to remind you of their existence. I couldn't help but smile, a kinda sad smile, thinking about how some things never change, even if you're in a whole new world.

But today, today was different, and I mean different in a 'Holy moly, what's happening?' kind of way. Picture this: I'm minding my own business, strolling along, and bam, there it is, a Hollow. Yeah, you heard me right, a full-blown monster with a freaky white mask, just like the ones from my favorite manga. You can't make this stuff up, or maybe you can, because I'm pretty sure I did, in some twisted way.

The Hollow, you know, those nasty baddies from the manga, the ones that give the good ol' shinigami a run for their money. And guess what? I could see it. Me, the regular dude who's not supposed to see this stuff in the real world. It's like my manga daydreams decided to become real.

Now, in the Bleach world, regular folks like me aren't meant to lay eyes on these supernatural creatures. That's where the shinigami come in, these soul reapers who are like the protectors of the spirit world. They're the ones who deal with Hollows and make sure everything's in balance.

I gotta admit, my heart started doing the cha-cha with excitement. Who wouldn't be thrilled to see something out of a comic book come to life, right? But then reality slapped me in the face like a wet fish. This wasn't your average, run-of-the-mill day.

Hold on, this is real. I'm in a world where the lines between fiction and reality are as blurry as my memories. And I can see the Hollow because, guess what, I'm really a soul reaper now.

So, there I was, standing in awe of a Hollow, a creature that used to give me chills when I read about it, now casually wandering around Karakura Town. My mind was spinning faster than a hamster in a wheel.

Can I actually do something here? I mean, I've got these Kidō powers now. Maybe, just maybe, I can be like the hero of the story. But for now, let's not rush into anything. Caution is my new best friend.

I kept my distance from the Hollow, playing it cool. I watched it like a hawk, every step it took, every move it made. My heart was doing a whole symphony, from the high notes of excitement to the low, rumbling hum of nervousness. Meeting a Hollow in the real world, just like in the manga, felt like... I don't know, like jumping into a storybook.

I wondered what this crazy twist would mean for my life as Ridhiro Kageshima in this weird mashup of reality and fiction. The future was foggy, like trying to read through steamy bathroom glass, but hey, I was up for whatever adventures lay ahead.

Imagine this, folks – I'm just minding my own business, walking to school like I do every day. You know, the usual routine. The sun was doing its thing, birds were doing their chirpy chorus, and everything was so darn...normal. But here's the kicker: when you've got manga on your mind 24/7, even the most ordinary walks to school can turn into something, well, extraordinary.

So, there I am, strolling along like it's any other day. Reality on one side, manga on the other. Two worlds that should never meet, right? But hey, a part of me always wondered, what if they did?

And speaking of shinigami, just when I thought this day couldn't get any weirder, a figure – swift, graceful, and totally shinigami-ish – appears out of thin air. She moves with this elegance that tells me she's been doing this for a long, long time. And then, in a blink, she slices that Hollow's mask like it's made of butter. Poof, it's gone!

Ridhiro: (Gobsmacked) "Did she just...like, seriously? That Hollow was huge! This is unreal!"

But before I can even process what's happening, the shinigami – Rukia, I'd later find out – shoots me this look. Not a friendly look, mind you. More like a 'what's your deal, and why can you see me?' kinda look. And that's when I remembered again, normal folks aren't supposed to see shinigami.

Quick thinking, I decide to play it cool. You know, look the other way, whistle a little – the whole 'I have no idea what you're talking about' act.

Ridhiro: (Casual as can be) "Oh hey, look at that tree over there. Pretty nice tree, huh?"

Rukia doesn't stick around for a chat, which is just as well. Explaining how I can see her when I'm not supposed to would probably take longer than a Bleach saga.

As she disappears, I look ahead and see him coming my way – Ichigo Kurosaki. Bad boy vibes radiating like he's auditioning for a manga cover. Seriously, he's just like the real deal, and it's both awesome and kinda intimidating.

Ridhiro: (In awe) "Is that...Ichigo? Man, he's even got the bad boy swagger going on."

I try to act all nonchalant, like encountering a shinigami and a Hollow before breakfast is totally normal. But deep down, I can't help but feel like I've stepped right into the pages of my favorite manga.

So, there we were, me and Ichigo, strolling into school like the cool manga enthusiasts we are. But let's get one thing straight, folks – my mind was on one thing and one thing only: Rukia. Yep, that stunning shinigami who just saved the day, looking like she just stepped out of an action-packed manga panel.

But here's the kicker – the early stages of the anime? They didn't do her justice. Not even close. I mean, she's like a work of art, a masterpiece in motion. I couldn't help but imagine her in a manga, gracing the pages with her elegant presence. Although, in my mind, I also pictured her trying to draw manga herself, and let's just say I had a good chuckle at the thought. Sometimes, even the most extraordinary beings can have their quirks.

As we shuffled into class and the period started, it hit me like a ton of bricks – I forgot my darn graph paper at home. Seriously, whether it's the manga world or the real world, school problems just never seem to end, do they?

Ridhiro: (Facepalming internally) "Great job, Ridhiro. Forget the graph paper, why don't you? It's not like you need it for math class or anything."

Ichigo shot me a glance, probably wondering why I was facepalming in the middle of a lesson. Little did he know, it was just another day in the life of a manga-obsessed teenager stuck in two worlds.

Ichigo: (Whispering) "Hey, you good?"

Ridhiro: (Whispering back) "Yeah, just had a moment. Forgot my graph paper, man."

Ichigo: "Haha, no worries. I've got an extra sheet if you need it."

Now, that's what you call a lifesaver – Ichigo, the savior of math class mishaps. Who would've thought? With a nod of thanks, I accepted his offer and focused on the lesson. But every now and then, my mind would wander back to the manga world and the mysterious power I now possessed. The adventures in store were becoming more exciting by the day.