Chapter 3: The Essence of Summer

Here, Rukia.

Huh? What's that? A flyer?

Oh, a summer festival! You guys have one in Karakura Town too?

Yuzu and Karin just left the house to go to it.

Do you want to check it out too?

Oh, oh, oh! Me too! Take me too!

I want to see with my very own eyes the lovely ladies shimmering in the heat of the festival! Please, Ichigo! I'll stay in your bag!

No. I know you'll end up sneaking out of there and causing trouble for us.

You're staying home.

That's heartless! That's cruel! You demon! You fiend!

You virgi-

Shut up and go to sleep!

Are you even listening to me?!

What's going on? There's a festival about to start and people are fighting already?

I think I recognize that voice.

What were you planning to do with this?!

Yup, it's Uryu.

It's nice to see you're all here in the world of the living again.

We're just having a little fundraiser.

That's right. We've decided to sell some hand-crafted items at the stalls.

I'm not sure what to think about Soul Reapers visiting the world of the living and working on stalls to fundraise.

Stop thinking too deep on it! You're not gonna get a girlfriend if you nitpick over details like that.

That's none of your business!

So, what were you guys arguing about?

Ichigo, Rukia! You've got to talk him out of it!

Oh, boy. There he goes again. Yap, yap, yap.

Captain Kurotsuchi also wanted to sell his product on the stalls, but the thing about it is...

...it retrieves data on human lifestyles and locations of where Hollows appear, and automatically sends it to his research lab.

What?! That's just a tapping device!

I'm just looking for numerical statistics for reference. It's not like it affects the body in any way.

So you're saying that these devices can't be controlled from your lab in any way to attract Hollows?

............

I know you're not saying anything because I'm right, aren't I?!

Quiet down. Do you even understand what it means to interfere with my experiments?

I'd say our privacy is more important than your experiments!

Sorry, but I'm gonna have to stop you too.

Tch. Fine then.

I'll refrain from it this time.

If possible, can you not use them at all in the world of the living?

Sorry for causing you three the trouble. Are you all planning to go check out the other stalls together?

No, I actually have plans after this.

Oh, is that right? Then, take these snacks with you.

This is what our squad is selling today. It'd be great if you can go advertise for us out there.

Uh, sure.

She knows how to do business.

Phew! I think I was able to visit most of the stalls today!

I didn't expect goldfish scooping and stencil carving to be so much fun.

Not to mention the fried noodles, okonomiyaki, cotton candy, hot dogs, shaved ice, candied apples...

You're buying way too much food.

I got octopus balls and cake bites too.

Who's gonna eat all that?

The Karakura Town summer festival is only happening right now, so I have to enjoy it to its full extent!

Wh-What's that?!

Oh, right. Yuzu mentioned how excited she was for the fireworks they're having tonight.

Fireworks, huh?

The world of the living is so full of beautiful things and fun entertainment.

Why the sudden emotional thought?

As I experience these things, there are moments when I feel proud of my job.

I'm glad I get to see living humans enjoying their lives.

I say you were having quite some fun yourself.

Of course I was! I told you I planned to savor every bit of summer in the world of the living!

And thanks to you all, I'm pretty satisfied. I appreciate it.

Well, I had fun too.

Next time, I'll try to plan something to entertain you in return.

Why don't we have a film festival with horror flicks that aren't scary?

What's the point in it being "horror" then?

Er.

Your shaved ice is melting.

Oh, no! I can't let this happen! Ichigo, hold these other things!

Huh? Geez, that's hot! I can't hold all this!