Chapter 1

I'm no stranger to festivals in the world of the living, but their liveliness never fails to surprise me.

Where'd you come from? I thought you were with Yuzu and the others? What happened to them?

See that little haunted house over there? They decided to go in, so I'm waiting for them outside.

Did Karin go in, too? I hope she'll be okay.

You don't need to worry about Hollows, but I think she might see a ghost or two.

Sounds like the staff in there might be scarier than any ghost, though.

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

Hey, Ichigo! That lady over there dropped something!

Oh, yeah, looks like it. Wait, where did YOU come from?!

It's my new trick, hiding in your hood!

Cut it out. Everyone's gonna think I'm some weirdo who carries around a stuffed animal.

What's wrong with that? Soft-hearted boys are all the rage these days!

No one's paying attention to us right now anyway, so pick that thing up and give it back to the lady!

Hey, don't just run off!

Hey, wait!

Where am I? I don't remember there being a place like this. Hey, Rukia...

Where'd she go?!

Look, Ichigo, it's that lady.

Wait, Kon, I can't find Rukia.

Heeey, pretty lady!

Do you mean me?

Yeah, you.

You dropped something...

Wait... Lisa?!

That's me, but... How did you know? I don't know you. This is creepy. Are you stalking me?

What?! No way!

It's me, Ichigo. Ichigo Kurosaki.

I see.

Hey, you're a human, aren't you?

Huh? Of course I am. What kind of question is that?

I'm Lisa Yadomaru, a snake-skeleton spirit. Nice to meet you.

What? A spirit?!

My darlings say they want to play, so won't you indulge them for a while?

Gaaaaaah! Snakes! Whoah, that's hot! Eek! So cold! Aaaaaagh!

Whoa, give me a warning before you throw out random attacks, will you?

That goes for you, too! Stop with the snake attacks!

Don't worry, they're just illusions. You're fine.

Wait, what?

I loved your reaction, by the way. Ichigo only gets three points out of ten for his terrible nonchalance, though.

What the heck? Is it your job to harass me now, or something?!

Yes, it is, actually.

I just told you, I'm a snake-skeleton spirit. It's a spirit's job to surprise and spook humans.

So, you're actually a spirit? Then, that means...

Yes, you are in the Spirit Society.

How the heck did we end up here again?!