The Neighbor He Doesn't Know
The real estate agent led Harry through the quiet neighborhood, pointing out the small shops and local conveniences as they approached his new home.
“This is a great area,” she said cheerfully. “Safe, peaceful, and the neighbors are very friendly.”
Harry only half-listened, his eyes fixed on the house she had chosen for him. It was a modest, traditional-style home with dark wooden paneling and a tiled roof, standing at the end of a quiet street. The garden was slightly overgrown, but nothing a bit of work wouldn’t fix. More importantly, it felt right.
“What do you think?” the agent asked.
Harry nodded. “I’ll take it.”
The paperwork had been handled quickly—almost too quickly. Paying in full had a way of making people move things along without too many questions. Within the hour, he had the keys in his hand.
As he stepped onto the porch, he took a deep breath. The air was different here, cleaner than London’s, carrying the faint scent of the sea in the distance. For the first time in a long while, he felt… untethered. No expectations, no battles, no war.
He didn’t notice the house next door until he turned to bring his suitcase inside. It was slightly larger than his, with a familiar warmth to it. He could hear voices from within—lively, full of energy—but he paid them little mind. It wasn’t his business.
Harry had no idea that he had just moved in next to Ichigo Kurosaki.
And neither of them knew how much their worlds were about to collide.