After being attacked by Acidwire, Ichigo Kurosaki wonders why Orihime Inoue’s brother would come after him. Rukia Kuchiki admits she does not know before theorizing that a powerful Hollow who wants to devour Ichigo’s soul is sending several Hollows after him from the shadows of Hueco Mundo.
Rukia notes that this would explain the sudden appearance and attack of Sora Inoue, and Ichigo grabs her by the collar in disbelief, demanding to know what he should do. He then asks if he cannot kill Sora, only for Rukia to push his hand away and point out that Sora will be left wandering around forever and will undoubtedly attack again if Ichigo does not kill him. Suddenly, Rukia realizes that they do not have time to worry about Sora, and when Ichigo questions why, she reveals that Orihime herself is in danger, leaving Ichigo shocked.
At Orihime’s apartment, Tatsuki Arisawa suggests they have dessert after finishing the meal she brought. Orihime offers to bring out some leeks and bean jam. The face of Orihime’s stuffed teddy bear Enraku face suddenly tears open as he falls off Orihime’s shelf. Noticing this, Orihime crawls over to the fallen bear and picks him up while wondering how he became torn up like this.
As Ichigo leaps from rooftop to rooftop while carrying Rukia on his back, he expresses shock at the concept of Hollows targeting their own kin. Rukia states that this happens frequently, and when Ichigo asks for more information, she explains how Hollows are fallen souls who were not guided to Soul Society by a Shinigami or protected from Hollows. This causes them to become Hollows themselves, and Acidwire will now go after the soul of the one he loved most in life since he failed to devour Ichigo.
After Ichigo jumps off the telephone wires, he lands back at Orihime’s apartment. Tatsuki and Orihime notice a drop of blood on the carpet and look down to see that it’s coming out of Enraku and pooling in her hand. A scared Orihime wonders what this is, when Acidwire’s hand suddenly bursts out of her back, causing her to fall with a lifeless look on her eyes.
Tatsuki lands on the ground, notices her shoulder is injured, and wonders why there’s blood before being flung along the length of the wall. As she gets to her knees, Tatsuki begins to faintly see Acidwire in front of her, causing her to wonder with fear what he is. Acidwire forces her to the ground and as Tatsuki gasps for air, he looms over her. Orihime, on the other side of the room, sees her own body lying on the ground near Tatsuki and Acidwire and recognizes herself.
As Orihime notes she cannot breathe, Acidwire presses his hand into Tatsuki’s throat, causing Orihime to snap out of her daze and run headlong into Acidwire’s arm, freeing Tatsuki. Orihime runs over to Tatsuki and puts her hand on Tatsuki’s arm while calling out to her, but Tatsuki only sees the imprint of a hand on her arm, causing her to recoil in terror and tell Orihime to stay away from her. While Orihime asks Tatsuki what is wrong, Acidwire tells her it is useless because Tatsuki cannot see or hear them as Tatsuki falls over. When Orihime asks how he knows her name, Acidwire replies that it doesn’t matter before disappearing.im.
However, Orihime fails to recognize him and tells him to stay away, prompting Acidwire to proclaim that he is saddened by this as he swipes at Orihime. Suddenly, Ichigo arrives and blocks Acidwire’s hand before declaring that he is Acidwire’s target as he pushes Acidwire away. With Acidwire reeling back in pain, Ichigo slashes at him, only for Acidwire to retreat into Hueco Mundo through a portal of darkness. While Ichigo notices Tatsuki laying nearby and laments her getting caught up in this, Orihime recognizes him and wonders why he is here, prompting Ichigo to ask her how she can see him, which Orihime does not have an answer for.
Noticing the chain of fate on Orihime’s chest, Ichigo recalls hiding behind a pole to avoid being seen by pedestrians. Rukia explains that Shinigami are spiritual beings that can only be seen by other spiritual beings, before stating that it is impossible for ordinary people to see him in his Shinigami form. As Ichigo realizes Orihime is currently a spiritual being, Acidwire confirms this and emerges from a cloud of pink mist behind Ichigo while revealing Orihime is currently a spirit before claiming that she is dead. Yelling in anger,
Acidwire grabs Orihime’s Chain of Fate and pulls her along with him as he flies up into the air. When Ichigo turns around and tries to slash at him, Acidwire blocks with his tail and then smashes Ichigo with it, sending him flying through the wall and out into the street. Rukia watches in shock as Acidwire tells Ichigo not to move and then slams his tail into him again, sending him crashing into the street below. Acidwire then retreats back into the building.
Orihime demands that Acidwire let her go when she sees Ichigo is hurt. She begins struggling, but stops when Acidwire asks if she has forgotten him. As she looks into Acidwire’s eyes, Orihime recognizes her brother.Meanwhile, in the street outside, Rukia tells Ichigo to wake up. He gets to his knees with blood on his face and tells her to shut up. Berating Ichigo for speaking this way, Rukia asks him where he was hit. Ichigo replies that it does not matter because he is okay. Rukia states this is good and reminds Ichigo
Back in Orihime’s apartment, Orihime asks Acidwire if he is really her brother. When Acidwire confirms this, Orihime claims he is lying because her brother would never do what he is doing, but Acidwire reveals he has grown lonely because Orihime has been forgetting about him bit by bit before stating that Orihime praying for him every day after his death is what gave him peace while he watched her. Noting that Orihime became friends with Tatsuki about a year after he died, Acidwire points out how she began praying to him less often after this before recalling how she stopped praying for him altogether after she entered high school.
As Orihime tries to tell him he is wrong, Acidwire grabs her by the shoulders and demands that she never betray him again if she has even a shred of feeling left for him. Ordering Orihime to just listen to what he tells her, Acidwire promises to devour Ichigo and end this quickly before preparing to go outside. However, when Orihime begs him to not harm Ichigo anymore because he has nothing to do with this, Acidwire confronts her and angrily blames her for his transformation into a Hollow before grabbing her with both hands and promising to kill her first if she does not listen to what he says as he begins to choke her with his fingers.
Suddenly, Ichigo leaps back into the apartment and tells Acidwire to stop before stabbing his Zanpakutō into Acidwire’s tail, causing Acidwire to flail in pain. As Ichigo continues to stab his tail, Acidwire drops Orihime and attempts to grab her once more, only for Ichigo to move between them and cut off Acidwire’s hand. With Acidwire rearing back, Ichigo kneels beside Orihime to check on her before standing as he asks Acidwire if he knows why big brothers are born first. Claiming that this happens so they can protect their younger siblings, Ichigo declares that Acidwire should not threaten to kill Orihime even if he is dead.
As Rukia enters the apartment, Acidwire proclaims that Orihime is his and reveals that he raised and protected her since their parents abandoned them when she was three. Extending his hand to Orihime, Acidwire promises to spare everyone else present if she comes with him, but Rukia warns Orihime that this is a trap since Acidwire no longer harbors the feelings of a big brother. Upon seeing Orihime’s hairpins, Acidwire recalls fond memories of raising and growing up with her as a Human and begins screaming in pain as he bashes his head into a wall. With a crying Orihime calling out to him in concern, Acidwire pulls back and proclaims that she belongs to him.
Acidwire charges at Ichigo, who manages to block the attack by using his Zanpakutō. Ichigo then tells Acidwire that Orihime does not belong to anyone and pushes him out into the street. As Acidwire is flying through the air, Ichigo jumps after him and prepares to strike but hesitates for a few seconds. Rukia sees this and tells him to finish Acidwire off. However, before he can do anything, Acidwire uses Vitriol Shot which covers Ichigo’s hands in green acid, burning his skin.
However, at the last second, Orihime intercepts Acidwire’s bite with her body, to the shock of both him and Ichigo. Falling to her knees, Orihime apologizes to her brother for begging him to not leave her alone the day that he died and states that this is why he could not rest in peace before noting that she has always sensed him beside her. Theorizing that Acidwire protected her from being hit by the car yesterday by pulling her leg to get her out of the way, Orihime points out that he will never be able to rest if she keeps depending on him before revealing that this is why she wanted to show him that she is happy and that he does not need to worry about her.
Orihime tearfully says that this instead made him sad and lonely as she collapses, prompting Acidwire to claim this is not true as his mask begins to disappear and reappear. When Acidwire begins to scream in pain, Ichigo wonders what is going on as Rukia explains that Sora is currently fighting the Hollow within him. Noting that Sora did not become a Hollow by choice, Rukia ruminates that he was likely taken over by a Hollow, which Ichigo expresses confusion at, and points out that Ichigo was his original target before explaining to him how a Plus who is devoured by a strong Hollow is subsequently controlled by that Hollow.
Rukia explains that a Hollow has taken control of a soul that Ichigo would be reluctant to fight and forced him to attack. She states that Sora is desperately fighting that Hollow for his sister’s sake. Suddenly, Acidwire’s mask shatters completely, causing Orihime to shed a tear as she sees Sora’s face before falling over. While Ichigo rushes to help Orihime, Rukia tells him to stay calm and reveals that the Chain of Fate still connecting Orihime’s soul to her body is preventing her from dying.
While Rukia places her glowing hands over Orihime, Sora sees the hairpins in Orihime’s hair, prompting Ichigo to note that Orihime told him Sora gave her those hairpins before stating that this is why she wears them every day. Hearing this, a solemn Sora pulls Ichigo’s Zanpakutō out of the ground nearby and holds it up to his face while noting that he will soon revert to a monster even if he stays here before stating that he wants to disappear while he still has a measure of sanity as he holds Ichigo’s Zanpakutō up to his own throat. A startled Ichigo tries to dissuade Sora from going through with this, but Rukia stops him.
Continuing to heal Orihime, Rukia says that Sora is making the right decision because Hollows can never return to what they were previously before telling Ichigo to let him pass on. Ichigo tries to protest, but Rukia assures him that purifying a Hollow is not killing it because their soul is cleansed so they can enter Soul Society, which is why Shinigami exist. As Ichigo looks up at him, Sora smiles and nods before preparing to purify himself, only to stop when Orihime calls out to him. Opening her eyes, Orihime states that Sora gave her the hairpins on the day that he died and that they had a fight because she thought they were childish.
Orihime recalls the last time she saw Sora alive, before he left for work one day. She notes that she never got the chance to say anything to him and regrets not doing so. As she watches him disappear into motes of light, she turns to Rukia and begins crying into her chest. The next day, at Karakura High School, Orihime insists that a sumo champion came to her apartment.
While Mahana is suggesting to Orihime that she should make her story more realistic, Chizuru speaks up and tells Orihime that she likes her silly imagination. This causes Orihime to ask Tatsuki to back her up, which Tatsuki does much to the surprise of the other girls in the room. Ichigo, who has been watching this exchange, asks Rukia if this is the result of what she did yesterday. Rukia confirms that it is. The night before, Rukia had used her Kikanshinki on Orihime which caused her to pass out. When a shocked Ichigo asked her what she was doing, Rukia explained that she had erased Orihime’s memories of that night.
Last night, Rukia used her Kikanshinki power on Orihime, causing her to pass out. When Ichigo asked her what she was doing, Rukia explained that she had erased Orihime’s memories of the night’s events. Today, as Mahana tells Orihime to make her story more realistic, Chizuru states that she likes Orihime’s silly imagination. Tatsuki backs her up, to the surprise of the other girls. Watching this, Ichigo asks Rukia if this is the result of what she did yesterday. Rukia confirms that it is.