Summary: After the Winter War, things have been different for Ichigo and his group. They just don't seem as close anymore. But a series of events and encounters with a mysterious child start bringing them together. Chaos is certain. Will things be right in time for the Summer Festival?

Ichigo/Rukia, Ishida/Orihime, Renji/Tatsuki, and Chad+OC

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In midst of the quiet classroom, Kurosaki Ichigo finally found some peace. The teacher's voice was muffled against his thoughts. He rhythmically tapped his pencil against the spiral notebook in front of him. Things here seemed so calm, so simple. Where he was a few months ago he almost thought he would never get out. Almost: something he would never admit to the others. His amber eyes squinted, a chunk of orange hair falling in front of his face.

Back in Hueco Mundo the fight to save Inoue Orihime was fierce and deadly. His fight with Ulquiorra left him severely damaged and it took him months to recover, even with Orihime's healing powers. Karakura had been saved by the 13 Squads' quick thinking and amazing tactics, but things were still not the same. Too many casualties. Too many close calls. And he almost lost all of them.

Them. His friends, his comrades. Ichigo looked over his shoulder to the row next to him. Kuchiki Rukia sat there ignoring the lesson and doodling bunnies all over the paper in front of her. Her lavender eyes remained focused on the task of drawing horrible rabbit cartoons. She shook her head, a raven bang shifting out from her view. He remembered feeling her reiatsu fading in the depths of Hueco Mundo and wanted to go to her. He was stopped in order to fetch Orihime, but he still kicked himself for not even trying to visit her while she was recovering in Soul Society. The day she showed up on his doorstep stayed fresh in his mind.

"You look like hell."

"Thanks, midget."

"Shut up, strawberry head." Rukia pushed past him, bumping an injured shoulder as a greeting on the way in. Ichigo just scratched his head as his family greeted her with hugs and questions about her "vacation."

Rukia felt a pair of eyes on her and looked up from her bunny masterpieces. Ichigo seemed to be staring at her intensely. It was a jarring feeling. But then he broke contact casually and turned his attention elsewhere. He must have just been zoning out, he'd been doing that a lot lately. There hadn't been many hollow attacks since Aizen's failed attempt at complete immortality and as a result, they were barely speaking or even fighting. Something just seemed different since the Winter War.

Ichigo had seemed glad to see her when she came back to Karakura, but Rukia couldn't tell for sure. Maybe she shouldn't have begged her brother to let her stay on assignment in the real world. Maybe coming back was a mistake. She shouldn't even be here. It was wrong to have ties to the real world.

Ishida Uryuu sat silently sketching new clothing designs during class when he felt Ichigo look in his direction. He turned to acknowledge the orange-haired boy with a nod and involuntarily pushed his glasses up the ridge of his sharp nose. Ichigo just looked away and stared out the window. Ishida raised an eyebrow from the gesture, his dark eyes slightly confused. Something just didn't seem right these days, but it wasn't in his nature to ask, especially for a Substitute Shinigami. Ishida's gaze drifted back to Orihime's chair, who sat there with a concerned look for Ichigo. Internally, Ishida sneered at the thought. Concerned for him? Why? He doesn't even notice her. He could almost feel his black hair glowing red with misguided anger.

Orihime rested her head on a delicate hand, stealing glances at Ichigo. Her hazel eyes softened at the thought of him and she pushed back a stand of bright orange hair that fell across her face. After all this time, she still couldn't bring herself to tell him how she felt. Part of her felt like a coward, but the other part knew her confession would be pointless. Even though he risked his own life several times to save her from damnation in Hueco Mundo, she never felt that spark in return. But still, she couldn't help but notice him. She glanced around the room and caught eyes with Ishida. He seemed surprised to see her catch his stare and quickly turned around. As he turned, she noticed a hint of pink reach his cheeks. Did he just…blush?

Chad—Sado Yasutora—leaned his large frame back in the desk that was too small for him, silently observing his four closest friends. They had been through a lot over the past year, first with Rukia and then with Orihime. The new school year had started out on a rocky path with Ichigo recovering from his injuries and Rukia coming back to Karakura. Still, the tanned teenager was the optimist of the group, knowing that change in pace would come. He placed his arms behind his head, supporting his neck. The sun was bright outside and summer break would be here soon.

The group's thoughts were interrupted by the shrill a bell, indicated the end of the day. "Remember class, tomorrow is the last day before the summer break, so study up for your remaining exams!" the teacher raised her voice over the chatter of the students.

"Yo, you ready to go home?" Ichigo stood towering over Rukia, who was still packing her bag.

"Sure," she simply replied and followed him out the classroom door. She wouldn't admit it, but she missed their petty fighting. Being civil just didn't suit them. They bid farewell to their friends and started walking to the Kurosaki clinic. "Can I borrow your notes for the biology test tomorrow?" Rukia broke the silence.

"Why? Didn't you take your own?" Ichigo watched her reaction as he spoke. "Or did you spend that whole time on your horrible drawings?"

"My drawings are not horrible, jackass. You just can't appreciate talent."

"I appreciate talent. You just don't have it." Ichigo held a smug grin across his face. Rukia's fist connected perfectly with it. The two wrestled, Rukia ending up the victor, straddling Ichigo's back with her tiny hand pressing his face into the concrete. "Apologize," she demanded, an angry vein beginning to show on her forehead.

"Hell no!" Ichigo got out in a muffled breath, his lips scraping against the rough ground. How is it that he could achieve Bankai, surpassing Rukia's strength as a Shinigami but she could still kick his ass in a gigai? It didn't make any sense. Ichigo convinced himself that he let her win.

"Apologize!" she demanded again, pushing his face harder against the sidewalk. Ichigo grinned, his cheeks rubbing against the grain of the concrete. "You know it's going to take more than that," he said slyly.

Rukia stabbed an index finger into Ichigo's shoulder and chanted, "Way of Destruction #4 Whi—"

"Oi, no kido!" Ichigo found his strength and stood up quickly, Rukia tumbling off his back with grace. She stood in front of him looking victorious, her hands proudly resting on her hips. "You are such a bit—" Ichigo would have finished his name-calling, but was interrupted by Rukia's cell phone going off. She grabbed it out of her bag and flipped open the clamshell, the Chappy the Bunny charm sounding tiny bells as she read the message.

Ichigo wiped the dirt off his face with the back of his wrist. "Hollow?" he asked, a hint of excitement escaping in the tone of his voice.

Rukia looked up from the screen with a crooked smile. "Lots."

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Author's Notes

Sorry for the slow start, but I promise things will pick up soon.

Characters are important to establish, even though you all know who they are.
I'm using the Japanese form for name order: Last name, First name. I'm just used to that.
I did a lot of research before starting this. Just to clarify, the Japanese school term starts in April.
The first break is summer, from mid-July through the end of August.

Action and drama coming up next! ^_^

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(new Chapters every Wednesday!)