KISUKE URAHARA
12/31
YORUICHI SHIHOIN
1/1
For crying out loud. That Matsumoto...
Ditching her duties... Where'd she go?
Happy New Year's!
I swear, she is such a...
Happy New Year's!
What the-?!
That voice!
Listen up, everybody!
We'll now begin the Women's Soul Reaper Association New Year's party!
We'll start with our Chairwoman passing out monetary gifts for the New Year.
Thank you very much!
Such a cute envelope!
It is cute, but... A giraffe?
A cat.
Lady Yoruichi.
Here you go!
Your envelope has a bear, Captain Soi Fon!
Oh...
And I will also pass out my Squad's New Year's cards, as well!
Chairwoman, aren't New Year's cards ordinarily mailed?
HAPPY NEW YEAR
How silly!
Hey, Matsumoto.
Huh?
What's the matter, Captain?
Everything's the matter.
I realize it's New Year's, but you mustn't neglect your Soul Reaper duties.
Lieutenant!
Hey!
What's with these New Year's cards!
They're disgraceful!
Please collect all of these unbeautiful New Year's cards
and make ones that are more decent!
Huh?
More decent?
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM SQUAD 10
Like this?
No, I don't think so.
Look, Matsumoto...
Just a minute.
I believe New Year's card designs are the prerogative of the person who sends them.
Hey, I was talking...
She's right.
I mean Squad 7 is using Captain Komamura's photo.
WISHING YOU A HAPPY NEW YEAR
And it's not even the year of the dog.
He has nothing to do with the Chinese Zodiac!
Then what's this?
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Is it the year of the cat this year?
Definitely not!
This is...Lady Yoruichi's.
What's the matter?
There's a New Year's card for you as well, Yoruichi.
Ah!
Let's have a look.
Oh...
I forgot to send one to Soi Fon.
My preference would be...
That's no longer a New Year's card!
I'd preferred it if I were a bit shorter.
Nobody asked you about your height complex!
For crying out loud!
Why do women keep changing the subject, Captain Hitsugaya?!
Don't ask me.
There's way too much mixing of work and play!
Don't you agree, Captain Hitsugaya?
Will you quit asking me?!
I don't think I like what you just said.
Huh?
Comments that look down upon women
are absolutely unacceptable, Captain Hitsugaya!
I didn't even say anything!
First of all, isn't it petty for men to be making all sorts of comments
over a small thing like New Year's cards?!
Look who's talking!
Don't go there, Ikkaku.
You can't win an argument against women.
What?!
Are you saying we women are nothing but talk?!
Hey, I'm not a part of this.
That's right!
We won't lose to men, and not just at arguments!
Then I suppose we'll have to settle this once and for all!
Hisagi! Kira!
As a man, I have my share of pride to uphold.
What?
You're on.
I'm game.
Hey...
Now, now.
Calm down, everybody.
Since it's come to this, it'll be the women versus the men
in a fight to the finish!
The First Annual,
Men vs Women: New Year's Whacky Karuta Tournament!
Why karuta?
Okay, let's begin!
What? Aren't you going to explain the rules, Chairwoman?!
You know the rules. It's a regular karuta game.
Okay, the first card is!
It's early morning; The Third Seat Madarame. The year's first sunrise.
It's early morning;
The Third Seat Madarame.
The year's first sunrise.
Found it!
The New Year has come; The Third Seat Madarame. Large stacked rice cakes.
The New Year has come;
The Third Seat Madarame.
Large stacked rice cakes.
Found it!
He hit the jackpot; The Third Seat Madarame. Pachinko ball face.
He hit the jackpot;
The Third Seat Madarame.
Pachinko ball face.
Hey!
What's with these cards?!
I get the feeling you're picking on me!
That third card... What's with the pachinko balls?!
It's got nothing to do with New Year's!
You are ejected for arguing with a game judge!
What?!
What kind of rule is that?! I never heard of that one!
I never mentioned it.
THIRD SEAT MADARAME EJECTED FROM GAME
Year of the Rabbit Of course, even doggies, too, wear rabbit ears.
Year of the Rabbit
Of course, even doggies, too,
wear rabbit ears.
That one!
Hah!
Got it!
Sorry about that.
That's not fair!
She has a further reach than I do!
Not my problem.
Greeting the New Year saying prayers of long life for the Head Captain.
Greeting the New Year
saying prayers of long life
for the Head Captain.
It starts with "Greeting the New Year," so...
Gre...gre...gre...gre...
Where is it?
Gre...gre...gre...
Hey, gre...?
Whoa?!
LIEUTENANT HISAGI TEMPORARILY EXITS DUE TO INJURIES
Outrageous... So outrageous.
Damn it!
Using your "weapons" to make Hisagi bleed.
You would go that far?!
He started bleeding from the nose on his own!
Festive New Year's broth with freshly pounded rice cakes Gegetsuburi.
Festive New Year's broth
with freshly pounded rice cakes
Gegetsuburi.
Since it's come to this...
Raise your head, Wabisuke!
Got it!
Hey, no fair!
That's going way too far!
Judge! Wasn't that illegal?!
Well...
Zabimaru... Was that the year of the monkey, or the year of the snake?
Zabimaru...
Was that the year of the monkey,
or the year of the snake?
She wasn't even listening to us!
And that wasn't even in 5-7-5 form!
Za...za...za...
Found it.
Worthy of display Beautiful and radiant You and New Year's day
Worthy of display
Beautiful and radiant
You and New Year's day
Bakudo Number 4: Hainawa!
I'm taking it!
Hado Number 31:
Shakkaho!
Okay, back to the game.
Now you've done it.
We're even.
Why...is this happening?
LIEUTENANT HISAGI EXITS ONCE AGAIN DUE TO INJURIES
Putting up a kite
is so much easier with a good pair of shades.
is so much easier with
a good pair of shades.
No you don't!
Bakudo Number 30: Shitotsusansen!
Okay, now!
Huh? It's gone.
Got it!
What?!
So that one was a decoy!
Are you an idiot?
Now that it's come to this...
Hado Number 58: Tenran!
Bakudo Number 62: Hyapporankan!
Bloom! Fujikujaku!
I can't keep up with this anymore.
Poor Yoruichi
Not among the Zodiac
Consolation prize.
That card...is Lady Yoruichi's. That card...
Hey! Wait! Hold on a minute!
I won't let you have it!
Happy, happy!
Captain.
Come to think of it, was there something you wanted to see me about?
Yeah...
Happy New Year, Matsumoto.
Happy New Year, Brother.
I will try to do my best this year in good spirits.
The first-of-the-New-Year shrine visit.
I wonder how everyone's spending their New Year's?
Hey! Slow down!
It's not like the store is going anywhere, and nor is your New Year's monetary gift!
So slow down, will you?
Hurry up!
Why are you making me carry all this?!
Because you're a guy!
Can't you even carry one or two game consoles?
I have to save my energy to play them when I get home.
It's obvious you're planning to play these the moment you get home!
Yup!
You plan to monopolize them!
That's right.
No fair! You always get to play first.
Quit whining.
Stupid!
So that's how Ishida spends time with family.
Everyone spends New Year's with their families, after all.
That's so nice.
I'm sure it must be the same at Tatsuki's place too.
It wouldn't be right for me to bother them.
Why am I being so gloomy at the start of the New Year?!
Happy! Happy New Year!
I've got to be cheery!
Why the huge yawn so early in the New Year?
I can't help it.
Yesterday, Iba and the others made me party with them deep into the night.
Ichigo and the others would laugh if they could see your face.
Forget it already.
Let's hurry and finish our rounds of New Year's greetings.
I want to hurry home and go to sleep.
Inoue?
Huh? Kuchiki and...Abarai!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year.
Yeah, likewise.
What're you doing by yourself?
I was thinking about making the first-of-the-New-Year shrine visit.
A shrine visit?
Yes. But it looked crowded, so I figured it didn't have to be today.
Are the two of you on your way to a shrine too?
No, we came to the World of the Living as part of our
rounds of New Year's greetings.
I see.
I seem to be meeting with a lot of people today.
So you've already met with some people?
Yes. There was Kurosaki, Ishida, and my school friends.
I really shouldn't say "met," since I only saw them.
So Ichigo and the others are nearby? Perfect.
Let's get our New Year's greetings over with quickly.
Coming, Inoue?
No, I'll pass.
Everyone is spending today with their families.
I don't think it'd be right to interrupt their family time together.
Is that what New Year's is like in the World of the Living?
There are people like me too, so I think there are all kinds.
I see.
Okay, then let's go somewhere else.
You come with us too, Inoue.
Huh?
Just a minute.
URAHARA SHOP
Yoisho!
I should've known we'd come here.
Hi there, you three. Happy New Year.
What is all this commotion?
We're pounding rice cakes.
Wanted to do something festive for New Year's, you know.
Why don't you join us?
Oh my, thank you.
Here I go.
Why am I doing this?
Go, Ururu!
Yoisho!
Almost!
What do you mean "almost"?! Sounds like you want me to get hit!
Aren't you supposed to aim for the mortar?!
Uh...
Hey... Wait a minute.
Yoisho!
Yes!
Okay, here it comes!
Silly! Why're you hitting it back nice and easy?!
Pitiful.
You suck, Renji.
Shut up! I haven't had enough sleep!
Okay, next.
W-Wait... You're too close!
Inoue, aren't you wearing too much ink?
You're pretty inked up yourself, Kuchiki!
But...
We're nothing compared to Renji.
Shut up.
Nuts and Star?
What are you talking about?!
Your clothes are all stained, so why don't you change into these?
Those are...
Wow! Kimonos!
I feel I've totally experienced New Year's now.
Now all that's left is the first-of-the-New-Year shrine visit.
A shrine visit, eh?
Shall we go on the way home then?
No way, not me.
Stop!
What now?!
Now see here, Renji!
Sea bream holds a special place in the New Year's feast.
Long ago, they talked of "staring at the sea bream,"
where no one touched the sea bream for the first three days of the New Year.
There is literature that describes how,
even today, the custom of not eating sea bream on New Year's day still remains.
Okay, okay, I hear you.
Renji!
Damn you, that hurt!
What'd you hit me for?!
Damn it! Kid! Watch where you hit me!
Man, that really sucked.
If I knew this was going to happen,
I wouldn't have come to make my New Year's rounds.
Do you really feel that way?
Huh?
I haven't enjoyed New Year's this much in years.
I'm glad you had a good time.
But why do I always get stuck with the short end of the stick?
New Year's is meant to be a time when you mellow out.
That might be true,
but whether you're feeling mellow or not, it's not fun if you're all alone.
Inoue...
New Year's broth is ready!
The New Year's broth, he said. Let's have some, Kuchiki.
Yeah.
Come on! You too, Renji!
What?
We'll see you, Inoue, Kuchiki.
Get home safely.
You can return the kimono next time.
Thank you very much.
Good night.
Thank you, Kuchiki.
I'll be going home now!
Wait, Inoue.
Huh?
Weren't we making a New Year's shrine visit?
No, it's gotten pretty late.
The people are probably gone, so I don't think it'll be all that much fun.
No, you never know.
But the vendors are probably gone, and we can't pull our fortune predictions.
Never mind. Let's go anyway.
Huh? Okay.
Just as I thought, no one's here.
But we came all this way,
so let's say our prayers before we go back
even though we'll be by ourselves.
Then include us too.
You're all here!
Happy New Year, Inoue.
Kurosaki.
Don't be such a stranger, Inoue.
You could've at least called us.
Ishida...
Sado...
Happy New Year, Inoue.
Happy New Year.
Looks like you made it in time.
You're starting off the New Year like a taskmaster.
Thank you.
Come on, let's do it.
Let's get it over with. I want to go back and sleep.
You just won't admit it, will you?
Huh?!
I pray for another enjoyable year together with everyone.
Ichigo!
What, Rukia? You're small!
Oh, it's you again, Rukiruki. Then this must be a dream.
This is not a dream! And I'm not Rukiruki either!
Ow! Don't poke me.
Now let's go!
Go where?
The castle.
What are we doing this time?
Monster.
Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers.
This sure was an eventful year, wasn't it?
Yes, it was.
Well then, shall we put on the finishing touch?
Happy Birthday, Yoruichi!
Happy Birthday, Kisuke!
No one remembered again this year.
Kind of sad, isn't it?