Ikebukuro Christmas Concerto Episode 4 Part 1

Title card pops up right away, and this chapter is called Wintry Sky’s Dead Heat. Location subtitle puts things at the 3rd checkpoint, Minato, Roppongi.

Camera then tunes in at the arena with Andvari commentating on the second half of the race starting with no issues. He recaps that everyone’s starting times differed based on their initial rankings, then goes to do an overview starting with Team Krampus.

Andvari calls them unpredictable and surprising, and currently they stand in second place. The camera shifts over to their side, and Garm is yelling about how he’ll do his best to get first place. Bathym asks if he’s been going at that pace the whole time, and Ikutoshi asks if he’s really okay even though they had a break.

Garm insists he’s okay. Krampus is quiet for a sec, then starts talking with Bathym and Ikutoshi about a plan he’s thinking of using when they see the next checkpoint. Bathym thinks it’s kinda interesting and has no objections. He turns to Ikutoshi, who asks him to stop calling him by a nickname, then agrees to the plan.

Bathym also asks if Ikutoshi is alright since their pace apparently has increased with Bathym also running. Krampus is excited about going even faster and starts slipping into character, which surprises Bathym and Ikutoshi. Ikutoshi is fine with rolling with it if it motivates Krampus.

Andvari calls them unsettling and asks that they get into an exciting accident. Black Ded has suddenly taken over and shoots his gun as he approves of Krampus going into Black Santa mode. Andvari complains about him doing that and freaking him out.

Andvari then moves on with the overview to Team Claude, still in first place and comments on Claude getting a team of people confident in their speed.

Camera shifts over to them and Yule asks if Nomad is okay because it looks like he’s already tired out. Nomad is indeed breathing hard, but he says he’s fine and that this isn’t as bad as his day to day work. Buuut going on a marathon right after concert crowd control still is pretty rough.

Nomad asks for a day off tomorrow so he can do a full course at Health Land or whatever with a massage, sauna, and beer. Snow says it’s fine and offers to introduce him to a nice massage parlor after the race. Nomad asks for something reasonable.

Claude is still enjoying himself and checks if everyone is still in it to win it. Snow swears to bring in victory, and Nomad says he’ll do his job. I think he also says he’ll be taking his pay later. Yule is a bit flustered and says he’ll do his best. He also asks Claude to sit down.

Andvari commentates on whether or not Team Claude will hold onto their spot. Ded says that all the runners on the team are good. He also says when running you should keep your head low or else your neck will hurt.

Andvari then moves onto your team, in third place. You started off falling flat on your face, but now you’re up to this point. Andvari wonders if you guys can turn it around and says you’re the ones to watch out for the most.

Camera shifts to you guys, and Tanngrisnir says he never thought you guys would reach third place. Pollux says with him you guys should take first place no problems. Tanngrisnir brings up his leg for a second before changing he subject and says he needs to do his best too. You can either say that’s how he should be thinking, say it’s all thanks to him, or ask for stew as a reward.

Going with B, he says being praised like that by a student makes him want to start skipping. Pollux says you guys should rally yourselves and show up Claude. Melusine says having Pollux on the team now means no one can compare to your collective horsepower.

Pollux says he’ll get shy if she compliments him like that, even if it would be true. He asks if she’s also thinking of winning, and Melusine says she is and doing everything she can for it. Tanngrisnir is surprised and thinks to himself that he feels she’s still holding something back. He decides not to bring it up as he can tell Melusine doesn’t want to discuss it.

You ask Tanngrisnir if something is wrong. He snaps out of it and says he was thinking about the course ahead. He asks that Pollux take the lead while you and Melusine help from the sides. Pollux asks if him being the last to be picked up was meant to save up his strength as the strongest team member. Tanngrisnir confirms that, and saying having two reindeer to the sides of the lead will decrease the burden on the lead. Pollux resolves to meet the expectations put on him in that case.

Back at the arena Andvari comments you guys still look like you’re in it and expects some sort of upset. Ded thinks to himself that Tanngrisnir looks like he’s doing well, so it was worth it putting him in the race. Andvari says the third checkpoint is in front of the Hills Tower at Roppongi Academy.

Andvari is about to say something about the goal about having presents in the present sacks everyone had to take with them, but he gets interrupted by Garm yelling about charging. This yell makes everyone stop moving.

In that instant, Team Krampus unleashes a burst of speed to run for the third checkpoint. Krampus laughs about suddenly jumping ahead, and Bathym is enjoying things as he says having three people stabilizes the speed. He also likes how showy the plan is, and Krampus likes how it shows off both their speed and takes the lead.

Ikutoshi says he thought it would turn out this way. He doesn’t like thinking about hard things, so he’s fine with it. Garm crows about how fast he is, and Krampus says they’re now starting to go faster than he was expecting.

They’re going so fast that they’re actually leaving burning friction trails and narration compares them to a shooting star on the ground. Andvari asks what Team Claude will do now that they’ve fallen to second place.

Claude says this isn’t anything to worry about and tells them to go as fast as can. The team acknowledges it, and Yule asks Claude to squat down. The team then bursts on ahead, and narration compares them to a winter gust that blows away the fire Team Krampus left and leaves behind a bunch of drifting ice crystals.

Andvari was so shocked by the display that he realizes he forgot to continue commentating for a bit. This action by Team Claude is quickly erasing the lead Team Krampus took, amazing the others and prompting Andvari to tell them to get a grip. Ded says they should keep running or else the night will be over.

Back to your side you ask if this is kind of a big problem. Tanngrisnir says he was surprised by both Garm and Yule, and that in a normal race things would be over already. Melusine says that there are obstacle runners to consider too besides speed, and Pollux says you guys should keep going before the gap widens.

Scene then shifts to inside the Roppongi school, in the Sky Lounge in the Hills Tower. Celebrities are having a Christmas party up in there hosted by Hakumen, who is having a fit in public. Xolotl tries to get her to calm down since the guests are watching.

Hakumen quickly tries to smooth things over and compose herself, telling everyone to enjoy themselves and excuses herself to go fix her makeup. Once she and Xolotl go to a room and shut the door, she throws herself onto a sofa and cries loudly over you since she’s watching the race.

Hakumen is also frustrated and irritated she can’t do anything for you. Then she expresses jealousy that Melusine is with you and not her. She admits Melusine is doing good but *still*. She then asks what the other Tycoons are doing since Melusine was already asked to do it before the race started.

Xolotl says that Ophion and the others originally refused to join the race like Hakumen did, but once they heard you were in they immediately turned around and talked to the management. Xolotl also says they forced their way into being obstacle runners, at which point Hakumen snaps her whip at his nose.

So Hakumen is also upset the Tycoons ditched her party and mentions Tsatthogua bringing around some designer that resembles his old roommate if I understand correctly. Anyways Hakumen complains about everyone manipulating her.

Hakumen decides it’s time to head out and orders Xolotl to bring out some challenge clothes she says she sealed away. Xolotl tries to refuse because he says her putting them on would cause some sort of huge issue, but Hakumen will not hear a word of it.

Gyumao walks in and says Hakumen needs to control her anger, then encourages her to take some deep breaths. She complies, then says she’s unlucky. She describes herself as just missing meeting her love and only able to sacrifice herself for everyone else.

She wonders if she should try to appeal to you, saying if you won’t see her she might burn the ward with her fires of love. Gyumao thinks the scale she thinks on is great, then tells her to take deep breaths again. He also offers her some sort of opportunity and whispers something to her off the record.

Whatever the idea is is for after the race is finished, and Hakumen thinks it’s a good idea. She tells all the rabble getting near you to watch for her because she’s claiming your heart. Xolotl is glad she’s in a better mood.

Back to the arena, Andvari says the presents for the sacks are at the third checkpoint. Ded says the contents are a secret but they’re important and there are children waiting for them. He asks that everyone be careful with them. Andvari starts talking about who’s at the checkpoint, and the game switches scenes to that side.

Claude comments on Ophion being at the checkpoint, and Ophion tells him to shut his insolent mouth. He’s there waiting for you to show up, so he’ll overlook his rudeness. Lucifuge asks him to wait and talks about how even having a bit part is better than nothing.

Claude and Snow start talking about how living high up must mean oxygen doesn’t circulate as well to your head, and suggest Ophion is going senile. Ophion doesn’t take the bait and says most things going up against him don’t really seem different from each other, boasting that he’s a storm of the heavens. Claude taunts him back and quotes a Latin expression meaning “disaster is an occasion for virtue.”

Ophion says that if they were listening to him to begin with, this wouldn’t be happening. Yule is confused and asks what’s going on, though Nomad tells him to stay out of it for his own sake. Yule then remembers something and asks where Krampus and the others are.

Lucifuge answers and points them out for him. They’re being held up by his homonculi. Krampus has his hands stuck in them, though they’re sticking close to him overall. Garm hates how sticky they are, and Ikutoshi isn’t able to move any of his limbs. Bathym says he’s bad with sticky things.

Ikutoshi asks why Bathym isn’t just blowing them all away with his tail. Bathym doesn’t want to touch them and mess up his fur lining, saying he’s sure Lucifuge is aware of that. He also complains that Lucifuge’s personality and tactics have been the same since Gehenna.

Lucifuge says he’s being considerate and not using more force than he needs to. Bathym suggests he’s jealous that he was a close aide to Shaytan. Lucifuge doesn’t answer, so Bathym presses the point and says that despite being the prime minister he’s never seen him much because he’s weak to fire. He tries to rub his own better tolerance to fire in his face, but Lucifuge starts setting double to triple the number of homunculi attacking Team Krampus.

You guys come in sometime after and Melusine points out there being some sort of fight. Also Team Krampus is stuck. You either say you finally caught up and start recognizing what’s happening or say you figured who’s the blockers here.

Ophion starts yelling for you and proclaiming his love. Then he starts talking about how things are and how the team lotteries were already done with. He’s kinda unhappy being only able to be an obstacle after that. Then he tries to invite you to dinner and suggests ditching the race, getting hot and heavy about what you guys could do instead.

Aizen interrupts and says he shouldn’t be speaking so shamelessly, which surprises Ophion. Aizen tries to frame it as inappropriate for their roles in the race, and that since this is more of a school level thing he shouldn’t be trying to do something so personal.

Aizen then cuts himself off and tries to say it’s a weird thing to do for what’s supposed to be a festival celebrating Jesus’s rebirth and questions why Japan made it a romantic holiday. Ophion tells him to shut it, but Claude interrupts to tell him “YOUR WIFE CAME TO SAVE *ME!*”

Ophion doesn’t process it at first, so Claude repeats himself and asks whether you ever saved him. Ophion goes into shocked stillness at the question, and Aizen tries to snap him out of it. Lucifuge walks up having not noticed a thing and reports that he’s disabled Team Krampus. He says he doesn’t need thanks and says it’s for friendship before cluing in and knocking on Ophion.

Lucifuge leaves Ophion to his own thing and turns around to greet you respectfully. He says your Santa suit looks good on you. You can comment on everyone being gathered up, ask if Ophion is okay, or say Lucifuge’s new clothes look great. Going with C, Lucifuge thanks you and says it was done by the designer Tsathoggua knows. Then he says he’s much better suited to stand next to you than Bathym.

Aizen starts cracking a whip, upset how the order at Roppongi always turns upside down whenever you get involved and calls you a love singularity again. He calls to purge you, saying he’ll punish you as fitting for Christmas. You can either issue a challenge to Ophion, Lucifuge, or try to bribe Aizen with cake.

Going with C, Aizen is shocked and tries to keep focused. He seems to waver for a second, but he holds on and says he doesn’t like you, devolving into calling you stupid like a kid.

Tanngrisnir comments that your social network is a mess, then says you can talk to him if you have any worries. You can awkwardly thank him, say you’ll do so later, or ask if he can do counseling. Going with C, Tanngrisnir says with a smile that Thor thoroughly waved him around and made his stomach hurt. I may have that bit wrong.

In any case Ophion seems to have come to and says it’s time for a marital fight/activities that will shock the masses. Lucifuge says he’ll be your dance partner for this fight and says he’ll recreate the banquets from Gehenna. Aizen says he’ll disperse you with his flames and calls you the root of all crimes. Then the episode battle launches.