>>280761329
Everything you said is true. Kubo immediately caved when japanese fans dropped the manga cause they didn't like the fullbring arc and wanted the shinigami back. Kubo also pussied out in killing byakuya even though he setup the perfect death for him in an obvious move to avoid backlash. >>280754570
Everyone who isn't an autist knows that it should've been ichigo and rukia. Even renji's VA admitted to renji and rukia coming out of nowhere.

You now remember even Renji's VA didn't expect Renruki as the manga was ending. Kubo literally failed to properly develop this relationship, either because he wanted to keep the endgames hidden until the very end (my own generous interpretation) or because he's a hack (which I sadly seem to lean more onto, ever since TYBW started airing).