Chapter 117: XCUTION (a Prank for a Lifetime)
The Xcution headquarters buzzed with tension. Ginjo and his band of Fullbringers had their sights set on Ichigo, aiming to bring him into their fold. What they didn't account for was the wildcard that was Harry—a being who seemed to thrive on sowing chaos, whether intentionally or just for fun.
Ichigo, for his part, had decided to play along with Harry's antics, if only because it was better than letting the Fullbringers have their way.
The group had assembled in a dimly lit room, Ginjo lounging on a couch as if he owned the world. Beside him, Tsukishima sat quietly, sipping tea, while Jackie, Riruka, and Yukio eyed Ichigo and Harry suspiciously.
"You sure you're up for this, kid?" Ginjo asked, a smug grin on his face.
Ichigo shrugged, hiding his growing amusement. "I mean, if you think you've got something to teach me, I'll hear you out."
Harry leaned against the wall, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Yeah, we're all ears. Teach away, oh wise and benevolent Fullbringers."
Ginjo narrowed his eyes at Harry's tone but decided not to engage. Instead, he turned to Chad and Orihime, who had also been lured into the group's orbit.
"Glad you two could join us," Ginjo said.
Orihime beamed, oblivious to the tension. "Oh, thank you for inviting us! I brought snacks!"
Chad, stoic as ever, simply nodded.
Harry and Ichigo exchanged a glance, both trying not to burst out laughing. Orihime's innocence and Chad's stoicism made the entire setup feel like a poorly executed prank.
Ginjo explained the basics of Fullbring, showcasing his ability to manipulate objects with his spiritual energy. The group watched as Ginjo's necklace transformed into a massive sword.
"See? That's the power of Fullbring," Ginjo said, clearly expecting awe.
Harry clapped slowly, his expression one of exaggerated admiration. "Incredible. Truly groundbreaking. Next, you'll show us how to microwave popcorn with spiritual energy, right?"
Riruka bristled. "Are you mocking us?"
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Mocking? No, no, I'm appreciating. There's a difference."
Ichigo coughed to hide his laughter.
As the day wore on, the Fullbringers attempted to teach Ichigo and the others how to awaken and control their Fullbring abilities. Harry, however, spent most of the session subtly sabotaging their efforts.
Riruka's dollhouse inexplicably collapsed. Jackie's boots suddenly shrank two sizes. Yukio's video game console froze mid-activation, displaying a mocking caricature of his face on the screen.
Ginjo glared at Harry. "Are you messing with us?"
Harry spread his hands innocently. "Who, me? I'm just an observer."
That night, after the group dispersed, Harry found Chad and Orihime sitting on a bench outside.
Orihime looked troubled. "I'm not sure about this, Ichigo. These people… something feels off."
Harry approached, his usual smirk replaced by a rare look of genuine kindness. "You're both good people, so I'll make this easy for you."
Before they could react, Harry placed a hand on each of their shoulders. A soft glow enveloped them, and their expressions grew calm.
"There," Harry said, stepping back. "No more confusion, no more memories of those clowns. You're free to live your lives without their nonsense."
Ichigo frowned. "Is that really necessary?"
Harry shrugged. "They'll thank me later."
With Chad and Orihime taken care of, Harry turned his attention to the real thorn in their side: Shūkurō Tsukishima.
Under cover of darkness, Harry slipped into the Xcution building. Finding Tsukishima's room was easy—his spiritual signature practically glowed with arrogance.
Harry entered silently, his presence masked to perfection. Tsukishima lay sprawled on the bed, his face serene in sleep. Beside him on a nightstand was the Book of the End, its pages glowing faintly with spiritual energy.
Harry smirked. "Too easy."
With a wave of his hand, the book floated into his grasp. His fingers glowed as he untangled its ties from Tsukishima's soul, severing the bond with surgical precision.
The process left Tsukishima stirring in his sleep, but Harry placed a hand on his forehead, lulling him back into unconsciousness.
"There we go," Harry murmured, pocketing the now inert book. "Congratulations, Tsukishima. You're just another spiritually aware nobody now."
The next day, the Xcution group gathered, only to find Tsukishima unusually subdued.
"I don't feel… right," he muttered, staring at his hands.
Ginjo frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I… I don't know."
Harry and Ichigo walked in, both wearing matching grins.
"Morning, everyone!" Harry said cheerfully. "Sleep well?"
Ginjo glared. "What did you do?"
Harry feigned innocence. "Me? Nothing. Maybe you're just not as invincible as you think."
Ichigo couldn't hold back his laughter any longer, doubling over as the rest of the group looked on in confusion and anger.
As chaos erupted, Harry leaned over to Ichigo. "You know, this might be the most fun I've had in centuries."
Ichigo grinned. "Yeah, I hate to admit it, but same."
The two strolled out of the building, leaving the Xcution group in disarray and wondering what on earth they had gotten themselves into.