Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Ikebukuro Christmas Concerto Epilogue

Things pick up with Andvari doing a mic test for some reason, then declaring the end of the race. Then directs people to return the sleighs to the designated areas. He also tells everyone to hand over their present sacks before Black Ded starts shooting at people.

Andvari then says the sponsored Christmas party sendoff party will happen after, and that the Santa Sendoff Ceremony will begin at 11pm. Then he plugs racing gear for sleighs and stuff.

Title card for the epilogue pops up, then returns to the arena as narration says the skies are calm now. The sleighs are all away, and all that remains are the presents in the bags. The other participants are returning, and things are quiet at the moment.

Melusine comes up back in her maid uniform, thanking people for their efforts and announcing her return. Xolotl thanks her for her part and says he’s proud as a fellow Roppongi student. Melusine thanks them for cheering for her and apologizes for leaving her work to them.

Xolotl tells her it’s okay and says she looked cool out there. He couldn’t see past all the light sparkles towards the end though. But anyways he then tells her the other maids are waiting for her, which Melusine is surprised about. He relays that it’s supposed to be a change of dress for her coming in second and as Licht’s representative.

Melusine tries to turn it down, so Xolotl blurts out that Licht put it out as an order. She then asks in shock where he is and when this happened, but the maids drag her off somewhere as you, Pollux, and Tanngrisnir watch this from some distance away.

Pollux asks if you heard that bit about the change of clothes, and Tanngrisnir says it’s just like the Roppongi people to dress up for parties. Pollux then excuses himself since the Berserkers were told to get together before the party starts, saying he’ll see you at the party.

You can either say later to Pollux, wonder what sort of clothes Melusine will be dressed up in, or ask if Tanngrisnir will go change his outfit. Going with A, Pollux asks you to let him know if you see anything good to eat and tells Tanngrisnir he ran great out there and tells him later too.

Tanngrisnir takes a long breath after Pollux leaves, then comments about losing at the last second. You can ask if he’s upset by it, say it was so close, or say you don’t regret it at all. Yule comes by to talk to you two. You either ask why he looks unhappy or say he was great.

Yule’s expression is described as that of confusion. Tanngrisnir says he did good out there, then asks why Yule doesn’t seem happy despite winning. He also brings up that Yule once told him he wanted to be both Santa and a reindeer, then says raising his reputation as a reindeer shouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

Yule agrees after being quiet for a moment. Tanngrisnir says he understands and asks if that isn’t all there is to it. Specifically, he asks if Yule feels bad about winning against Tanngrisnir, and for using his talents as a reindeer to do so.

This seems to hit close to home as Yule tries to protest, but Tanngrisnir says he had looked at Krampus the same way, when he wanted a talent he didn’t have. Tanngrisnir looks up at the sky as he thinks that Tanngnjostr must have looked at him the same way.

Tanngrisnir says he understands now that how his brother looked at him is the same way Yule looks at Krampus, and that Yule is afraid he’s done something to others that has been done to him. Claude comes over to say Yule has been worried about Tanngrisnir the whole time, surprising Yule with his presence.

You talk to him and ask when he came over. Claude goes on to say that when Yule saw Tanngrisnir make his last push, his own legs went out. Tanngrisnir’s untagged thoughts elaborate saying that Yule’s overwhelming talent as a reindeer would crush someone, which would leave Yule behind as a Santa if I’m understanding this right.

Tanngrisnir then thinks that he has to say something to him as a teacher. He says Yule’s kind but also rather proud. What led Yule to win wasn’t a difference in talent, but a difference in training.

Yule doesn’t seem to believe him, so Tanngrisnir says normally he as someone not in active running duty winning against a reindeer who *is* in active running duty shouldn’t be happening. The most important thing to a reindeer is supposed to be their daily training.

Tanngrisnir says that next time he’ll prove that it isn’t true that he can’t win because he has a permanent injury and got rusty. Yule seems to feel better, and Tanngrisnir thinks to himself about how he’s made some meaning to his life after feeling he lost it when his leg was hurt. He’s glad he came to Tokyo and that he became a teacher.

Tanngrisnir thinks he’ll be a forward facing reindeer and a teacher who will look back and guide the next generation. He then congratulates Yule for becoming a little better as a Santa and a reindeer. After that he says he’ll win next time and tells Yule to keep up his training so that he doesn’t leave him behind.

Yule cheers up and agrees. Claude says it’s time to go to the triumphant return, saying both sides fought well. He won’t say one is better than the other, instead  forming something of a rivalry. He smiles as narration describes him as being raised to be a winner ever since he was born saying words that are only ever said to a winner.

Claude then brings up a question he had asked Tanngrisnir he had asked earlier in the event, the one about whether he could become Santa. Tanngrisnir remembers, and Claude says he doesn’t need to answer. Tanngrisnir asks if he’s sure, though he isn’t surprised at all.

Claude confirms, and as he talks about the reason Tanngrisnir finishes for him saying it’s something he decides himself rather than ask another about. Claude just laughs like he’s satisfied. You ask Claude if he’s gotten past something. He declines to answer it now and says the party is up next, pointing to some people waiting for it to start.

Voices start calling out to you and people wave you over. This turns out to be Ryouta amongst other people. Krampus calls Tanngrisnir and Yule over too, saying things can’t start without the winner and runner up. Garm calls you over because he’s getting hungry.

Tanngrisnir suggests going over as he holds his hand out for you. You take his hand, and the party starts. Some time later Ded thanks everyone for being in the race saying he was excited by it. He’s about to say more before he remembers he was told to keep it quick, then calls for a toast.

After a bit, Ryouta looks around trying to figure what he wants, then starts by asking for some chicken and terrine. He also piles some roast beef onto Krampus’s plate, and Krampus asks if Ryouta can eat all the stuff he’s gotten for himself. Ryouta says everyone’s here and the food is great, so he can’t stop himself.

Kamui walks over to greet you guys and give you some food he says he made himself. Ryouta takes that as a signal to tell Krampus to eat more, so Krampus does so and stacks his plate even higher than Ryouta. Ryouta is shocked by this and says he feels like he lost for some reason.

You can then either say Ryouta is the same is ever, observe that Krampus can eat a lot, or take some food from Kamui. If you go with Kamui he says you’re probably tired from running, so you should eat plenty. He also offers to make you anything you want.

Touji asks if you guys are having an eating competition and says you should calm down when eating. Ryouta comes over and tells him he should be quick to grab what he wants before it’s gone, then dumps a bunch of food onto his plate. Touji protests as some of the food starts falling off.

Yule is amazed by how much Krampus can eat. Krampus tells him he needs to eat too since the Sendoff Ceremony will be happening later. Yule says he’s gotten nervous and lost his appetite, so Krampus signals to Ryouta. Ryouta responds by dumping light and nutritious fare for Yule, and Yule protests at how much he’s giving him despite how good it looks.

Arslan comes over to talk, laughing about how you should eat when you have the time for it, because when you’re a war prisoner or in battle there are times when you can’t. Maria asks him not to get captured by other guilds around New Years. Every year he’s always getting into some sort of trouble.

Arslan says it’s thanks to Maria and the others handling the management, laughing some more and calling it a measure of how much he can work on various stuff outside the guild. Maria sighs at how free spirited he and Gabriel are. And on that subject, Maria looks at the pumpkin kids without the pumpkins are going around saying Happy Halloween Happy Christmas. You can be shocked about them saying Halloween or ask Maria about them.

Going with B, Maria says they’re the children being looked after tonight by Daikanyama’s monastery. She thinks it’s fine to have them at the party but is exasperated they’re running amok and imitating Arslan and dressing up for Halloween. Arslan is surprised to be treated like a bad influence.

Managarm tells the kids to sit still and eat and to stop bothering Maria. The children however start running, saying it’s the attack of big sis Maria and Managarm. Managarm is legit upset by being referred to only by name and says he might actually catch them and scare them into crying.

Over in the kitchen Chouji is working, sending out cuts of roast chicken and surprised at how much dessert has been gone through. Xolotl tells him a bunch of the sweet loving Santas have cleaned out all of the yule logs. Chouji is taken aback by that and says he underestimated them despite making a lot already.

Shinya comes over saying he’s making more and asks about the decorations, and Sanji Zabaniya comes over to ask if he’s cooked the roast chicken right. Chouji thanks them, then asks if they’re okay with helping given there’s a party going on. Zabaniya says it’s fine saying he can take care of fire related stuff. Shinya does too, saying it’s more comfortable for him there in the back.

Taromaiti says that if Shinya were to show up with everyone else people would rush him and the party would turn to total chaos. As such she offers to help too and asks about sticking a flag into a cake. Shinya also thanks Kalki for helping to help decorate.

Kalki has some reservations for helping with a party where people are having fun, but he’s not going to begrudge innocent children so he swears to help. Chouji says they’re running out of ingredients, then has the idea to get stuff from the mountains.

The magic words bring Zaou over to find more ways to abuse the concept of language by shoehorning connections to mountains with the subject of the day. Then he gets on with things by saying he brought over mountain farmed ingredients. Chouji thanks him and takes the stuff, and Kamui barges in to say he’s back and how people need more food. Chouji says he has enough help and that he has to work hard too if people are enjoying his food.

Back outside Tanngrisnir says people are enjoying themselves and that this is what Christmas should be like. Ashigara walks over after noticing him and asks for more stew, calling it Western chanko. Tanngrisnir figures out what he means after a second and says it should be in the corner still. Wakan Tanka shows up to say how amazing his Ashigara’s appetite is to eat through the whole pot. Tanngrisnir is astonished, then happily starts pulling out more for him.

Elsewhere at the party, Kengo complains about how small the portions are and Kyuuma agrees with him. They’ve already eaten through a lot and are chowing down plate after plate of hors d'oeuvres. Bathym laughs and says they might not be savoring the taste like this.

Nomad chimes in and says that they’re kids and that they don’t know that as adults they don’t get that many chances to eat like this. Kyuuma says life must be hard as an adult and says he’ll slow down and appreciate the flavors. Kengo is confused and wonders if that’s true, then says Nomad seems like an old man. Nomad tells him to shut up and says everyone seems to call him old. Bathym suggests all his suffering aged him. Nomad gets pissed and resolves to stuff himself.

Elsewhere again, Pollux walks up and complains about being made to wear a suit. You can either point out his new clothes or say he looks good in them. Going with B, he says they aren’t bad if you think so, but they’re still hard to move in. Snow says he looks good in them and that as a runner up he shouldn’t go embarrassing himself.

Pollux agrees but can’t resist asking Snow how long he’ll be wearing his reindeer costume. Snow very seriously says that as long as Claude is in his Santa suit, he’ll be in the reindeer suit and make it look good. Pollux asks how he really feels, and Snow declines to comment.

Melusine comes by later (or you walk up to her?) in her pretty evening dress, then asks Licht whether it’s appropriate for a maid like her to wear that. You tell her it looks great, and she’s surprised you’re there. She says she decided she wouldn’t be wearing those kinds of dresses anymore some time ago and asks you not to look at her too much.

Melusine then talks to herself about keeping firm. Durga shows up to coo over her dress and says she fell for her a little. Gunzou asks if she wants to wear something like that as he eats. Durga says it’s hard to forget she’s part of Yoyogi and that she wants to look fabulous sometimes. Gunzou can only relate to this as getting a new uniform. Durga grabs something to eat too and says Gunzou doesn’t understand a thing. Gunzou freaks out a bit and wonders if that’s why he’s not popular.

Somewhere around the party Shirou is looking for the Evils, who have given him the slip when he took his eyes off them. He also wonders where everyone else is and hopes they aren’t being embarrassments to the school.

He also wonders where you are since he lost track after you when chasing after the Evils. Maria walks over and calls for the pumpkids saying she’s not angry anymore. They went off with Managarm somewhere, and Gabriel isn’t there either. The two of them talk and sympathize with each other for doing the same things.

Aizen is wandering around looking for Ophion, then notices Gabriel looking sad. She’s depressed about it finally being Christmas yet she’s made Maria upset. Aizen offers to listen to her, then gets shocked when she calls him the Roppongi student with the cute lotus.

After an offscreen conversation, Aizen says that’s a large scale worldly desire. Before he’d normally have screamed *SHAMELESS!* at her, but he remembers something Ophion said and tries to comfort her by saying her widespread affection might be a path to enlightenment. (I think. Haven’t found English sources for whatever he’s talking about.)

He tries to talk more about letting go of desires but Gabriel bowls over him, saying she should take action and thanks him. Gabriel’s big takeaway is to not hold herself back (ie. the general opposite of Buddhist belief as I understand), and as she flies off Aizen thinks he’s done something terribly wrong as a hall monitor. He then blows that aside to yell for Ophion again.

Elsewhere Hakumen shows up calling for you in her warden outfit saying she was overcome with emotion from watching you. Ophion barges in in front of her and says your race made him shiver. He then suggests that the two of you go on a joy ride flight.

Hakumen shoves back forward and says she’s not letting him steal the lead from her, then suggests going on some nightly rendezvous. Aizen happens to find you guys around this time and yells for the flirting to stop. He says you should be moderate and sincere like him...then screams that he’ll follow Ophion anywhere.

You either try to ask for them to not talk to you all at once, say it’s noisy, or tell them to form a line. In any case Melusine comes by later bringing Licht along who wants to congratulate you. Licht says he was watching and compliments you. You can either thank him or ask where he was. Going with B if it matters, he doesn’t say more than the results were perfect. The morning waves of people slammed him and it took him some time to recover from that. Licht also thinks to himself that Kuniyoshi was happy and wonders if that’s enough.

Elsewhere Andvari is complaining how boring things are when there isn’t something to commentate on, and he can’t leave as someone responsible for things. He wonders where Ded went and says he’s hungry. Chernobog walks up to him and gives him some food since he heard he was alone. Andvari freaks for a second before trying to act calmly, telling him to sit down.

Around that time Maria finally finds the children and asks what they’re doing. They’re with the Evils and complain about being found. Shirou asks the Evils what the pile of presents is about, and Lucifuge comes over to ask them to go easy on them.

Upon being asked for an explanation, Lucifuge says he was playing at being Santa and gave some sweets to the children. He realized that if the app isn’t on, his poison won’t affect other people. As obvious as it is, he never thought of it before coming to Tokyo. He figured he might as well imitate Santa for a bit too, then wishes Maria and Shirou a merry Christmas.

Maria thanks him and says it’s a good look. Shirou thanks him too and prompts the Evils to thank him. Lucifuge comments that it’s a nice experience.

Meanwhile Macan is complaining that he can’t find Black Ded anywhere. Garm is enjoying himself saying there’s so much meat. Ikutoshi says he’s like a kid, then starts yawning. Macan wonders if there’s anyone else to fight with, and Xolotl comes over to talk to Garm.

Xolotl talks about how much he respects him and gives him some roast beef. Garm doesn’t really hear anything aside from the meat thing, and Moritaka walks up to Macan and suggests becoming better friends.

Macan complains some more about not having heard Ded sneaking off, then wonders if Moritaka could sniff him out. He then offers to hang with Moritaka if he’ll help him with the search.

Gabriel starts up a surprise concert, and Hakumen tries to open up her own performance. She’s surprised to see Gabriel there and complains about her plan with Gyumao being a waste. Ashigara then for whatever reason tries to start singing rap.

Elsewhere Solomon notices everyone having fun while he’s all alone. He complains about Ded and Snow being busy as they’re the only other people who have been able to interact with him in some way before. He cries and claims he isn’t lonely and wonders where Mononobe/Father is.

You go over to talk to him saying you have food and cake for him. He cries about being happy and asks to sit on your lap. Or knee. Whichever. Anyways he comments on having you all to himself and how at this time he’s number one. You can either prompt him to open up his mouth to feed him, say you’ll be counting on him next year too, or just pet him.

Later Black Ded shows up and asks if people are ready, and Andvari says it’s almost time for the ceremony. Tanngrisnir is off to the side so you call him over. He asks if you need him for something, so you can either say you’re taking a break, that you were exposed to the wind a bit, or comment on the ceremony starting soon.

Going with C, he laughs and says that in this view you do look like a regular student, not like the racer you were just earlier, but just a normal human.

Tanngrisnir talks about how he never knew why he lost his power for the longest time, that it was by borrowing his brother’s power that he could run without anguish. In his ignorance he chased after a foolish ideal to the point someone better could have lead instead.

He then says he’ll continue being a teacher for a bit longer. He can use his artifact, but it’s not like it healed his leg. But it’s thanks to who he is that he could be taught something by students. You can either say you think he can do it, say you want to be taught by him, and say it’s because you were told you didn’t have the ability to be Santa.

Tanngrisnir denies that, saying you have the talent. It’s just not everything. There’s views that can be seen past that, and that you have the ability to discover things other people have not. Thanks to you, he found himself when he never could see himself before. He then compares you to a guiding star, or a reindeer’s nose.

Pollux walks over and asks how you’re doing. Melusine says that if you’re with Tanngrisnir you should be fine. Pollux then asks Tanngrisnir to hang out with him since he wants to hear more about his brother. He agrees and says Pollux must have good stories about his brother too.

Melusine says it’s a fun Christmas and that she received some very important words. She thanks you for tonight and swears to repay you. Narration starts talking about the Santas and reindeers coming together, and Tanngrisnir says it’s almost time.

He points out the bags of presents from the race. When they’re opened, a great power and faith will flow, and it’ll be the moment the people in the Santa School will be blessed by the people who believe in a Christmas miracle.

Ded runs over and tells Tanngrisnir to move his ass. Tanngrisnir doesn’t understand since last month they decided he shouldn’t be involved because of his leg. Ded accuses him of slacking off, then says he’s going to be his buddy for the year.

Tanngrisnir is shocked by this, and Ded says he’ll train him with live experience. Tanngrisnir doesn’t seem to know what to do, so you tell him to go. Pollux urges him on too saying he believes in him. Melusine tells him not to push himself. Tanngrisnir then goes with a look of satisfaction on his face.

Yule and Krampus say they’ll be going to visit their respective children, and Tanngrisnir says it’s time to go to see people’s smiles. The night sky shines with the stars falling off the sleighs, and everyone waits for the visits.

Motosumi tries to calm the oni babies down, saying Yule will be there soon. They stop crying, and he hopes he’ll be there soon.

Kagutsuchi welcomes Ikutoshi back and asks how the race went. Ikutoshi sighs about him being the one to greet him, then says he lost at third place. Kagutsuchi says he still looks happy and asks if it was a good match. Ikutoshi dodges the question and says if he’s ready, because Santa will be there soon. He is, so Ikutoshi tells him to follow along.

Alice asks Jambavan if the tea party is ready. He tells her it is and hopes it’ll go well. She agrees, then suggests going to sleep so that they can greet that crybaby Santa. He wishes her sweet dreams.

Barguest runs into Kenta and asks if he can’t sleep. He then offers to go to bed with him, and Kenta asks if Inugami can come too to wait for Santa.

Tsathoggua decides to stop playing some game for the night and says it’s almost time for bed. Hanuman turns to Agyou to see if he’s ready, but Agyou is already sleep talking about seeing Santa for sure. Tsathoggua says they should go sleep, and Hanuman suggests challenging Santa to a game if he comes. Agyou makes one more comment in his sleep about having a stocking.

Narration says the Santas and reindeer go all around, and the words of thanks and cries of joy fill Tokyo. And if you listen, you can hear it too. The game wishes you a merry Christmas, and the event story ends.

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