#bleach commentary

As frightening as I'm sure this was at the time, I'm glad that it ended up being an adventure they can laugh about now!

I think this is a sweet memory! And I do hope that Orihime someday figures out how to get dragonflies to land on her finger like they did for Sora.

I wonder...even if she's not fully aware of what exactly is happening, maybe Tatsuki can feel some distance starting to grow between her and Orihime? Even if Hollows and ghosts and shonen sword wizards weren't a thing, they're old enough now that it won't be long before they start worrying over things like college, their futures, or the inevitability that things will change and they won't be able to spend as much time together anymore. This feels like a conversation that would fit just as easily in a regular slice of life story.

So that's Orihime's cover for her trip to Soul Society! And her offering out reassurance that even if she does have to go away for a while, she very much still wants to make plans with Tatsuki again the next time they see each other!

This also feels a bit like cope from Renji, both trying to keep his friend from giving up hope and still trying to cling to any faith in the system. Sure, Byakuya might be sitting back and washing his hands of this business, but surely SOMEBODY in power can still intervene and appeal for a lighter sentence, right?? There's still gotta be ANY chance for her right?? That's how I'm reading it, at least.

Sadly, Rukia seems to already know just how disappointed Renji is going to be.

--What.

Listen, I love watching Rukia talk trash and be a taunting little shitlord, but is this really a good time?? (Although it makes sense if she's doing this to try and drive Renji away from doing something stupid and reckless for her sake.)

And of course, Renji takes the bait. (Or, more likely, he's in Lieutenant mode and outraged at her suggestion of trying to escape AND frustrated that she's making light of her impending death, but my funny side wants to believe this guy absolutely falls for ragebait on a regular basis.)

Yeah, that's not the face of someone who's HAPPY about the way that ended.

(Oh, hey, Hisagi!) The wall has a name! I'm kind of tickled by them all being like, "welp, they're on the other side of the wall, so I guess there's nothing we can--" wait, hold on, holy shit.

Kira's been there the whole time?!?! I was fully ready to have to wait several more chapters for him to make an appearance! Oh, well, who cares--he's here! My favorite deep-thinking, multifaceted, sad wet cat!

You know, in hindsight, I'm kind of surprised that I overlooked Kira back then. He seems like exactly the kind of character my emo teen self would have fawned over. (Either him or Hisagi, tbh.) I mean, have you SEEN those bangs--OH. OH WAIT, HOLD ON, I CAN DROP THIS NOW! (I was gonna hold onto it until I started re-reading Thousand Year Blood War, but screw it)

I am so sorry.

Where was I? Oh, right. Less important characters are doing things.

I like how this kind of feels like a diorama someone would make in school!

I'm also glad to see that it's not just human souls living in Soul Society! Of course, this is far from the strangest person we'll see affiliated with the Seireitei, but shhh, we'll get there.

Those are some pretty impressive credentials! It's hard to imagine anyone being much stronger than that yet. I wonder what plan the gang is gonna come up with--

Ah. I see they share a brain cell with Ichigo.

YEEESSSS ORIHIME!! Wait, hold on, I detect a future explosion--

I dunno, but thank goodness this isn't Final Destination 5 or else Ichigo would have a whole other problem right now. Of course Chad pulled off a superhero landing--and Uryuu?? With his butt up in the air?? Get a load of that sploot from Yoruichi, though!!

I'm probably gonna be focusing a lot more on the funny before I get to the fight.

Of course he brought a spare cape.

Have you ever been in such disbelief that you devolved into abstract shapes and lines?

APPLY CAT DIRECTLY TO FACE--

Oh, shit. Yeah, that's actually a good point. Still, she did save them, so...