Chapter 3

Hm? Is that...

Hey, Ichigo!

Ikkaku and Rangiku...it's sort of odd seeing you two together.

I didn't have a choice. Matsumoto made me.

Are you two on the way home from school?

We are.

How about yourselves? Are you two on your way out?

Actually, we're on our way back from shopping.

We weren't able to buy what we were looking for, though.

Was there a problem?

Well, they were all sold out by the time we got there.

Now where have I heard that before.

Oh! Ichigo, that bag you're holding!

Is it from Hoteiya?!

Y-Yeah.

Their food is famous for being delicious, right?

Yes, I've tried their shiratama dumplings before and they were amazing.

These are moon-viewing dumplings, though.

Moon-viewing dumplings?! The ones that everyone has been talking about?

How do you know so much about the world of the living when you only just got here?

I can't say I've heard such talk myself, but they do seem to be quite popular.

That's actually what I was trying to buy today.

They were long gone though, since tonight is the night of the full moon.

But this is perfect!

It looks like you bought a lot of them, so why don't you share some with us?

Wh-What?

Oh come on, it's not like you can run out of them.

Of course I can!

Heeey, get back here!

You don't need to be so stingy.

If we share with you and Ikkaku, there won't be any left for us!

Hey Ichigo! What's wrong?

Hey, Orihime... Hey, Chad.

What are you two up to?

I see you're both carrying quite a lot of stuff.

I ran into Orihime and found her carrying all of this stuff by herself.

She seemed like she was about to fall over any minute, so I'm helping her carry some of the load.

Hehe, thanks, Chad.

Hm? That bag you're holding...

It's the same bag that Ichigo has, isn't it?

Oh, you're right!

You went to Hoteiya too, Orihime?

I thought it would be nice to go moon-viewing together with everyone.

So, I stocked up on moon-viewing dumplings from Hoteiya!

But I got too excited and ended up ordering too many.

So the reason they were sold out of moon-viewing dumplings...

...is because there weren't enough to sell because Orihime reserved so many of them.

Huh? What are you talking about?

Nothing, don't worry about it.

Anyway, you sure did buy a lot...

I don't think Orihime, Captain Hitsugaya and I could finish all this food.

Why don't Yumichika and I join you for the moon-viewing then?

If those dumplings are so famous, I'd like to taste them for myself.

Oh, then let's invite Renji too!

Ichigo, Rukia, you two should join us.

Why don't you bring Karin and the others too?

You don't mind?

Of course not!

The more the merrier, and the dumplings will be even better with good company.

I thought of a new topping to go with the dumplings, too.

Red chili paste and seaweed! What do you think?

I'd prefer something normal, please.

Well, we might as well join them.

Heh, seems like tonight will be a lively one.