Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot: Chapter 1

Going around wishing everyone a Happy New Year sounds a bit too much, don't you think?

It's the same people we always see. It can wait until school starts.

You idiot!

It's because you always see them that you should observe the proper formalities for the occasion.

Visiting people to wish them a Happy New Year is an important ritual in order to begin the new year with a fresh start.

Hmm, I suppose you're kind of right this time.

What? I'm always absolutely correct.

I wonder about that.

Happy New Year, Ichigo and Rukia.

Yeah, Happy New Year.

New Year's greetings to you. I wish for the best in the coming year.

Are you also going around greeting people?

Rukia was adamant about it. Is that why you're out too?

Yeah. My friend works at a mochi store, and he gave me a whole bunch earlier.

There's no way I can finish them all, so I decided I'd go give them out as gifts.

Mochi! Great job, Chad!

Ichigo, let's go home and cook it up! I want some with sweet red bean paste.

What about the rest of the greetings?

Hey, why aren't you guys wearing hakama?

Why should we?

I expected to see more people dressed up for New Year's in the world of the living.

I don't own a set.

My dad bought me one a long time ago. I don't know where it went though.

But I might have worn it once, and that was it. It's too much work trying to put it on.

Do you have a furisode kimono, Rukia?

My brother gave me a beautiful set, but I haven't been able to wear it much either.

Let me guess. The obi band gets too tight, right?

How rude! I am not that fat!

That wasn't what I meant.