Tetsuya starts having a flashback to a time when he was younger. On that day, the snow fell silently down on that holy night. Tetsuya doesn’t really remember how he lived his life back then, but he feels like he drifted from house to house with people he met in the shopping district. It was probably about that point in his life that he understood that those who were with him that found their own lives would leave him.
Black Ded greets Tetsuya and says he came to see him again this year. Tetsuya got into a lot of fights and gambling at this point, and Ded says that he came to give stuff to the guy everyone recognized as a bad boy. He laughs as he hands over a big piece of coal.
Tetsuya thought it was some sort of joke at first, but he heard that Black Santas give out coal, potatoes, animal guts and other such things as punishment for naughty children. But anyways Tetsuya thanks Ded for it, saying he can make a good profit pawning it off to the store of some guy he knows. Ded finds his cheek amusing and laughs about how determined Tetsuya is.
Tetsuya decides to ask if Ded gets tired of the same old routine every year. Ded comments on Tetsuya getting harsher tongues over time but says he doesn’t and would never. While Ded might always look the same to Tetsuya, Ded always sees Tetsuya changing every time. Tetsuya is quiet at first before suggesting that Ded gets him a real present sometimes.
Ded says he can’t do that because Santas don’t give presents to bad kids. Tetsuya clicks his tongue at this, but has a different question. He asks just what is a naughty kid? Is it what everyone else thinks? Ded laughs at how clever Tetsuya is and confirms it, saying that a bad kid is whatever the majority of the world says is one.
Tetsuya says he’s probably always going to be a bad kid then since he likes his way of life. He doesn’t care about fighting, gambling, or the law and decides to just live as he pleases. He decides how his life goes and sneers at the thought of changing to fit anyone else’s ideas. Ded responds that that means they’ll be meeting again, sucks to be him.
Tetsuya then starts narrating about how he didn’t care whether Ded was Santa or Black Santa. To him, Ded was that weird old man who always comes by every year at Christmas to give him some weird ass thing and talk for forever. Then he says it’s just a memory from when he was younger.
Things tune back to the present as Tetsuya, Ibaraki, and Tetsugyuu rave at how good Tomte’s food is. Tomte prompts them to dig in while everyone exhales happily between each bit they eat. Tetsugyuu compares this to suddenly being married and feels kind of bad about being taken care of like this. Tetsuya points out that he’s still eating through a lot and should actually hold back if he wants to leave something for customers.
Tomte assures them it’s fine since Tetsuya already told him to make a lot of food. Ibaraki mentions liking the meatballs and asks for more. Tomte says it’s called köttbullar with thick sauce covering it and is happy he thinks so. It’s also popular at the Santa School dorms.
Tetsuya asks about the sweet porridge. It’s not bad, but Tetsuya says he can’t get used to it. Tomte says it’s julgröt, or Christmas porridge, which is thick porridge with milk and cinnamon in it. Ibaraki comments on thinking rice as sweet is weird, but then he remembers that there is a sweet rice confection out there. Tetsugyuu likes the porridge though. Tomte is delighted and says it’s awesome how thick and sticky it is.
Tetsuya is a bit weirded out as he asks if Tomte likes thick and sticky things. He says that the Outlaws would associate that description more with bloodshed and social relationships instead of food. Tomte notes that words mean different things under different environments.
Some time later, Tetsugyuu is full and thanks Tomte for the food as he says Christmas food isn’t that bad. Tomte admits that what he knows is really winter solstice food, and that it’s for a similar holiday to Christmas known as Yule. Ibaraki is kind of interested as he says he doesn’t know much about other worlds. But neither of those holidays exist in his world, so it’s all good.
Tomte asks the Outlaws if they’d ever be sad if Christmas stopped being a thing. Tetsuya seems sad before answering that they wouldn’t since all it is is a tool for them to get customers. They only bother dressing up because it makes others happy. Tomte goes oh as he notes that Christmas wouldn’t matter much in that case.
Tetsuya is confused that Tomte would accept that since he’s supposed to be a Santa School student. Tomte says he’s now actually glad Tetsuya said what he said. At the moment he can’t bring himself to innocently accept Santa. Tetsuya asks Tomte about being a Santa School student that hates Santa, though Tomte gets frantic as he denies that.
Tomte insists that as someone raised by Ded he could never hate him. He insists that no one could hate Santa since he’s loved by everyone and gives happiness to everyone. Tetsuya looks on quietly, and Suzuka walks over to talk to him about how tired he must have been to go looking for customers last night.
Tetsuya is surprised Suzuka is talking to him, and she passes on a message from Marchosias the townie with the kid: thank you for last night. Suzuka also says Santa will probably visit them, though the rest of the punks in town are out of luck.
Tomte tries to ask what they’re talking about, so Ibaraki tells him that most of the people living in Kabukicho are bad kids who caused some sort of huge trouble outside. Suzuka says they won’t get presents from Santa because of that, but they still follow the holiday activities anyways. Tetsgyuu adds that they’ll dress up like Tetsuya did and hand out presents themselves.
Tomte is happy to hear that Tetsuya does that and starts asking if he likes Santa after all, but Tetsuya denies that. He also agrees that giving to presents to bad kids is not what Santa does, even if he’s dressed for the part. Since Tomte is a part of the Santa School Tetsuya points out that he should know this.
Tomte asks what Tetsuya is, but Tetsuya says he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about Santa. He just does what he pleases and everything else can suck it. When Tomte tries to talk to him some more, Tetsuya is put off by the puppy dog eyes look he’s making and asks what’s up. Tomte then says he wants to know about him some more and listen to what he has to say. He still feels uncertain, though he’s not sure why yet.
Tetsuya sighs over what a pain Tomte is, then says he has a principle that he lives his daily life by. If Tomte wants to follow him, then he can just do whatever he wants. Tomte asks where he is going, so Tetsuya mentions it’s a certain place by the Shinjuku police station that he goes to after work.
Scene shifts to a sauna room as Tomte comments that coal saunas are nice too, then expresses amazement that there’s a place like that in Shinjuku. Tetsuya says he’s known of the place since forever, and that he lets his pent up worries melt away there. Tomte laughs that Tetsuya would describe it that way too. Tetsuya laughs back and tells him to stop nitpicking.
Tomte then starts talking to Tetsuya about how he doesn’t know what it is he should do from now on. It would have been easier to stay as a good kid, but his darker feelings are stuck in him. He blames himself and can’t stand how much it hurts. Tetsuya seems surprised as Tomte shudders a little, and just as he starts to say something to him, you enter the room and find Tomte. You also express surprise Tetsuya is here too.
Moritaka is happy to find Tomte, who in turn is surprised to see you guys. Tetsuya takes a moment to recognize you, and you suggest to Tomte that you all go back since people are waiting for him. You can also ask if anything happened. Tomte starts insisting he can’t go back, and as you try to ask what’s wrong, Tetsuya sticks up for Tomte and says he’s one of them.
You say Tetsuya’s name, ask about him calling Tomte one of them, or just quietly react. Tetsuya takes issue with you being in Kabukicho again and refuses to believe you don’t know about their rules. Tetsugyuu shows up and says it’s okay because Gyoubu gave permission, but Tetsuya says he shouldn’t accept everything the higher ups say without question.
Tetsuya threatens to start a fight, but he admits to not wanting to cause a scene in a business he regularly goes to and deal with the others’ reactions. Tomte tries to apologize for all the problems he’s causing to him, but Tetsuya waves it off and tells him to sit behind him. Tetsuya challenges you to a sauna battle, and you accept because you have your own business to take care of. You also say you want to talk to Tomte.
Tomte says he wants to join in on the sauna battle, asking to fight alongside Tetsuya so he can blow out his pent up emotions. Then the episode battle starts, and more story happens afterwards.
The story picks up midway with Tetsuya panting as sweat pours off of him and puddles on the ground. Moritaka comments on how hot it is but rallies himself saying you guys have things you gotta do. You agree and say you can keep going, or you can try to sneak closer to Moritaka. In C, he notices and tries to tell you to stop because it’ll make things even hotter.
Tetsuya admits you guys are doing good and says there aren’t many people who can keep up with him in a sauna battle. You either say the same goes for you or you can compliment Tetsuya’s body.
In C, Tetsuya notices you checking him out and asks if you wanted to match off against him like that. He’s totally up for comparing if you want to, mentioning that there were times when he couldn’t get that into it.
But anyways as Tetsuya pants some more, Tomte calls out to you both. Tetsuya teases him for looking so sad and brings up that he said he didn’t want to go back. He can stay if he wants then because it’s not like it’s so difficult. You ask if they know each other and when they met.
Tetsuya says he only met Tomte last night at some garbage pickup area, and that’s all there is to their connection. Tomte agrees and uses it as a point to ask why Tetsuya would cover for him like this. He also brings up that Tetsuya said he doesn’t care about Santa.
Tetsuya confirms he said that before and that he doesn’t care about Tomte being a Santa School student either. Tomte asks again about why Tetsuya helped him. Tetsuya doesn’t answer, and Tomte goes on saying he’s not a good kid or anyone worth helping. He admits to hating Santa and a world that accepts him. He yells that he hates any world that would decide that he’s a naughty kid.
Tomte processes that he’s said the thing he shouldn’t say out loud. He always thought things would be fine if he forgot about it, if he pretended he wasn’t a bad kid. Tetsuya then smiles and says that’s the reason he’s doing this for him. When Tomte is confused, Tetsuya repeats that he’s helping him because he’s a bad kid. He doesn’t care about him as a Santa, but he doesn’t mind that he’s a bad kid.
Tomte reels at this and looks around as if looking for help. When he looks at you, you agree and say it’s okay for him to hate Santa. He asks in surprise about whether or not you guys came to take him back or to blame him for running out on the event work. You say you wanted to talk to him or were worried about him.
Tomte starts narrating his thoughts about understanding that he was always afraid of accepting that he wasn’t a good kid. He realizes he isn’t just the good kid that everyone accepts, and he says he didn’t know what to do about the parts of him that wasn’t good.
Tomte starts talking to you and Moritaka and admits that while he remembers hating Santa, he still loves Ded. He’s at a loss for what to do, then starts begging for help. His pent up feelings start coming out as sweat and tears.
Time skips a bit as the story glosses over Tomte telling you about everything that happened since he left. It tunes in at the part where he talks about how the faith in Santa fading caused Ded to disappear, and he mentions about Ded trying to give him his artifact. Tomte says he thought Ded was trying to give him his last will and words, and the anguish of it drove him to run away.
You ask if the bag artifact is something special and/or wonder why Ded would give it to Tomte. Tomte says it’s an artifact that reacts to fate, so presents for nice kids and punishment for naughty kids. To act as a Santa, you have to do things fitting as a Santa. If you give that power away to someone, you stop existing as a Santa.
Tomte then says that Ded’s bag is special to Transients like him and Tomte who carry roles like they do. It works as a safety valve for those who have opposing light and dark sides within themselves, which is why Ded can have two different roles in one body. If Ded didn’t have his artifact, his body would probably have been torn into two.
Moritaka comments on how strange it is to have a role split a body like that and starts mentioning that he’s heard something similar in his home world, only to stop himself. Shino asks why he’s looking at him like that, but Moritaka backs off and says it’s nothing as he grabs his orb.
You start to talk about the demon split off from Tomte, and Tomte says that if he accepted the bag, his contradictory sides could probably settle down. You ask if he’s also split between black and white or comment on how that happened. Tomte however says he doesn’t understand why Ded tried to give it to him. He says he can’t become a Santa like Ded and is the opposite of someone like that.
Tomte starts mulling on about how Ded should have known that Tomte hated Santas and that it’s his fault people aren’t believing in Christmas anymore. He snaps out of it as he says he doesn’t want Ded to disappear. Tetsuya stays quiet, and Moritaka sympathizes a bit saying they might do the same in his circumstances.
As you ponder that hypothetical and think about Mononobe, Jinn, and Triton, Tomte admits he is the reason Ded is gone. He repeats that he hates Santa but doesn’t want Ded to disappear. He pleads for an answer on what to do. You don’t have an answer, but Tetsuya sighs over how seriously you guys are taking this.
Tetsuya asks why you guys have to adhere so closely to what other people think Santa should be. If all you guys want is for Ded to come back, that’s what you should focus on. He suggests that Tomte should become a Santa he can accept being rather than one he can’t. Tomte has a realization after thinking on it, as can you.
Moritaka asks what’s going on, but Tomte asks to delay the explanation for now since time is of the essence, then asks you for help. You swear to bring Ded back, no matter what. Shino laughs about you guys coming up with a plan, having had faith that you would figure something out. He prompts Tomte to say something to him, so Tomte declares he’ll be his own kind of Santa and bring Ded back for sure.
After a moment, Tomte says he needs all of his demons brought together into one place. Then all of the possessed need to be exorcised. Moritaka asks if he’s saying that things will work out if the people all go to the sauna village. Tomte confirms it and says the faith will be returned this way. He trails off on saying what would happen if it doesn’t work, but you suggest starting Christmas before Ded gets back.
Tomte says if Santa doesn’t come for Christmas, the remaining faith in him will be lost. As such, you guys will need to purify the demons and hand out presents at the same time. Tetsuya comments on it being a tough situation and asks if Tomte is saying he can do something about that.
Tomte answers that he has a plan, though he thinks it’s crazy and unbelievable. He can’t do it alone either, so he begs you all for help. You either agree, say to Moritaka you guys should work hard at it, or say it’s for Ded.
In any case, Tetsuya asks if you two will be enough to get Ded back. Tomte admits it won’t be enough, and after a moment Tetsuya is embarrassed as he asks if Tomte plans on asking the other guys connected to Ded there for help. Tomte is astounded by the offer, and you can either thank him, call it a temporary truce, or say you like that about him.
Tetsugyuu offers to help and says he’ll go talk to Ibaraki and the others. Tomte asks if Tetsuya is okay with this since he’s received so much help from them. Tetsuya brushes it off saying that they’re just happening to help because they want to while Tomte is doing what he wants. Tomte thanks him, then says they should head back to the Santa School.
Over at the Santa School, Shirou is trying to delay Tanngrisnir from announcing the cancellation of things, saying that the search for Tomte is still ongoing. Tanngrisnir thinks there’s no point to the ceremony if Ded isn’t around even if Tomte comes back. Shirou concedes that being unable to hand out presents is a reason but argues that Tomte is the one who set the event up. If anyone should call things off, it should be him.
Tanngrisnir thinks it’s a logical argument and offers to help look for Tomte since he can’t sit still. He’s about to say he’ll go all over Tokyo to look, but you run in at this point and say you found Tomte. Tomte apologizes for the worries he caused, and Tanngrisnir tells him everyone looked for him since that morning.
Tomte is surprised they’d do that, so Tanngrisnir tells him it’s the result of all his work he’s done every day. Everyone wanted to thank him, but Tomte was always working so no one could find a moment to do so. When he became the head organizer, everyone did their best for him.
Tomte realizes he’s already had a connection with everyone, and this causes his vihta to shine. Tomte says that he’ll help everyone in the school as they believed in him. He might not be like Ded, but he’ll try to do something only he can do. You cheer him on, ask Shirou to join you, or ask everyone for help. In B, Shirou asks if you have an idea to solve the crisis.
Anyways Tomte says he doesn’t know if it will work and doesn’t have proof it’ll bring Ded back. You guys don’t have any other choice though if you aren’t going for it, and Tomte asks for all the students and organization members to be gathered. He says they’re going to hand out presents without Ded, and the episode ends.
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