This is a story of the New Year's holiday, and society is still going through the hustle and bustle of the twelfth month of the year. The story then tunes in over at Shinjuku as Gyumao's bull pirate assistant reports that they've arrived five minutes before their appointed meeting. He initially refers to Gyumao as Boss before remembering he's supposed to be saying CEO, then comments he's not used to using that title. Gyumao comments that hanging around schools a lot puts him in the mood of a gangster leader, then says they should keep going.
Time passes as Kengo, Ryouta, and Moritaka all look awkward as Shirou politely brings out some tea that isn't particularly high grade. You guys are in the dorm's dining room were Gyumao is sat in his business suit. There's a tense mood in the air that isn't usually there, and Gyumao deftly picks up the tea with one of his big hands. He complements the tea and talks about how tea warms the body during the cold times of the year. You either say Shirou's tea is special, comment on how cold it is today, or politely say Gyumao's doing well at his work.
In A, Shirou gets a bit shy as he thanks you, then mentions it's just cheap economy bulk size tea. Gyumao laughs and says he's really making it worth more than that. He says it's not the monetary cost, but the hospitality that makes him happy. In B or C, Gyumao laughs and says that's business as usual for him. He works hard even if it cuts into his sleep or if it's freezing outside. He's glad for your appreciation though, saying it gives him motivation for his business.
Anyways, Gyumao apologizes for the sudden visit. It may be a bit self-centered of him, but he says it's hard for him to move his schedule much at this time of the year. Kengo starts asking why the meeting is happening here at the dorm and is baffled at how out of place Gyumao looks in his suit. Gyumao says he doesn't have much freedom at this time of year, then asks you guys to think of the appointments he makes as a definite thing. Moritaka says he doesn't know much about what being a CEO means, but he asks if he gets busy when December rolls around. Gyumao explains he takes the hands on approach, so one reason for him being that busy is his tendency to stick his nose in everything. There are people like Ophion who delegate work to others though, and he laughs about how everyone has their own ways of doing things.
The gang start thinking about Tsathoggua, and Ryouta comments that's totally how Tsathoggua is what with him dumping all the work onto his slime minions. Gyumao says he's heard that the minions are a part of Tsathoggua's body, then comments on how fascinating they are. But anyways, Gyumao changes the subject to talk about why he's here, then shows you guys a picture of what he explains is one of his business's properties.
Shirou asks if it's a picture of a Japanese inn when he looks, and he tries to be polite as he comments that it's seen some years. Kengo is far less tactful and calls the place a dump. Gyumao laughs at how refreshingly direct it is and tells you guys he thought the same thing. He explains that it's a long-standing business that shut down about half a year ago, at which point he bought the place to flip it around by rebuilding and remodeling it. You ask if it's because he thinks he can still use it, ask if it still has property value, or ask if this is some sort of hobby. C gets an extra bit where Gyumao asks that you not misunderstand him and insists he still stands by his eye for things. Then Shirou asks if Gyumao sees some value in the place.
Anyways, Gyumao nods and says he believes so. He's been working on getting the place back up for reopening next year, which includes a full site inspection, updating the furniture and bedding, advertising through travel agencies, and opening up bus tours. Shirou brings up that it sounds like everything is going okay, so he asks if there's something is up with the inn. Gyumao confirms this and says he forgot about the important part, then points at Moritaka calling him the old-fashioned one as he asks what he thinks.
Moritaka is surprised at suddenly being roped into the conversation like this, and he tries thinking about what happens after the prep is done when he remembers something to do with waterfalls. Gyumao says he's correct as he brings up having a fortune reading done according to Tokyo's culture. Moritaka flaps his gum in shock at this, and Gyumao goes on to talk about the fateful coincidence that it's the year of the ox coming up. He rants about adjectives like great and powerful and how appropriate they are for bulls, declaring that he'll get Tokyo citizens and Transients with connections to bulls to help him. That is the business of Tokyo, a prayer in accordance to the Chinese zodiac style he yells! He gets so passionate about this that he bursts out of his suit and pants after that. You either comment on how forceful the presentation is, be surprised he flexed his clothes apart, or compliment his muscles for looking great as always. C gets an extra line where Gyumao is flattered by your response and says he doesn't forget to work out even after becoming a CEO.
Gyumao puts a new suit back on, apologizing and says this regularly happens out of habit in his presentations. Kengo is shocked to hear this and comments that Gyumao must run up a lot of clothing costs. Gyumao changes the subject and says he came to ask for the gang's help, and he hopes you guys will introduce him to other bull-related people. Shirou is surprised at how sudden that request is given that the New Year's holiday is really soon. Gyumao says it's fine for you guys to just get whoever you can available as he plans on giving every courtesy he can. Since you guys are connected to like every school and guild, he'd like to rely on you guys and asks if you can have a bit of optimism. You turn to ask the gang what they think and add you guys are always getting favors from people. They think for a bit, then smile back at you.
Time then skips to New Year's Eve morning. Taurus Mask and Wakan Tanka are the first to show up at the school, and Wakan greets you saying he'll always come running if you ask for him. Taurus Masks says he's here for a special appearance on New Year's Eve, then laughs and says it's nice weather for a special pro wrestling performance. Tetsugyuu and Asterios show up next, and Tetsugyuu announces his presence first before telling you today's looking nice out for a raid. Asterios says he didn't want to come down from the mountains when things would be crowded, but he came here for you.
Gyumao greets the guys and apologizes for the early call, then says he'll be traveling with them as the one in charge of things today. Taurus Mask notices that Asterios is here and proclaims that this must be fate for them to see each other. Asterios is less pleased about Taurus Mask being here and tells him to stay away. Wakan Tanka steps in to try to mediate as he frames the day as a joyous occasion to work together. Tetsugyuu sighs about the fuss and suggests ditching everyone else and going on a raid with the two of you.
You turn to Gyumao and ask what he thinks about the people who turned up and say it's already a mess. Gyumao laughs and takes it all in stride, saying they're exactly the type of talents he was looking for the other day. He suggests heading to the inn now and asks everyone to get in the bus outside the school. Gyumao then turns to the gang and asks if they're sure it's fine to have you go along with him. He's glad to have someone along who knows the others, though he's concerned you guys may be busy this time of year too.
Shirou tries to word his response politely, saying that since the people who came are a bunch of hot blooded guys, they figured it'd be fine if you went. Kengo laughs and figures you can corral them if anyone can, then adds that Four Eyes here worrying about stuff is the usual course of things. Gyumao starts commenting that the gang's earnestness towards work is also held in high esteem by Andvari, who he describes as someone in the same business, though he starts trailing off. You shrug and say just introducing him to people doesn't feel like much help from you and/or say you're used to holding the reins on everyone.
Ryouta says they'll take care of your share of the New Year's cleaning, and since you're going on a fortune thing, you might as well do your best with that. Moritaka mentions that they'd like to go too, but they still have cleaning to do. Gyumao doesn't respond at first, then sincerely thanks everyone and promises to make this job a success. You wave the gang bye and tell them you'll see them at New Year's. Gyumao turns to the others you called up and says it's time to get on the giant bus he had brought out. The four respond affirmatively in unison.
A bit of time passes and the camera lingers on the gang. Ryouta comments on how energetic everyone is and figures your stuff will be done in a flash. Moritaka comments that they can't fall behind either and says there's prep for New Year's Eve to do after the cleaning. Kengo notices that Shirou has some sealed envelope in his hands and asks what it is. Shirou starts explaining that he just got it from Gyumao, though before he says anything else about it the scene transition cuts him off.
Camera jumps to your end of things as Wakan Tanka comments on how he's reminded of the bus he takes for his sport. He also asks that people let him know if they're feeling sick. Tetsugyuu waves you over to him and asks you to sit next to him, offering tea or juice or any other drink he's got on hand. Taurus Mask wishes he could have a bus like this whenever he goes to his shows, even though he can send reports of matches to anywhere in Tokyo in an instant. Asterios is surprised that the bus isn't cramped even with him in it, and he admires the power it has even with all the bulls on board.
Gyumao laughs and asks if everyone likes the bus, saying it's a Flaming Mountain marked large bus equipped with a high powered engine. Gyumao's bull pirate assistant tries to ask Gyumao to take a seat in the back since he'll be driving, but Gyumao laughs and tells him to stop with the formalities saying his own driving is great. The assistant lets him have it, though he asks that Gyumao drive safely and not in a way that would give him flashbacks. Gyumao is unfazed as he says he'll handle it and says he can grab onto him in the meantime, then laughs loudly saying it's time to fly. The assistant gets alarmed as he tells Gyumao he's acting like his old self.
Time passes as the bus shakes on the way over, and eventually you guys hit up a mountain road. Soon you all reach the inn, and the bus parks in a parking lot with a great view of the area surrounded by mountains. Gyumao announces that you've all arrived once he gets to the building, and he prompts everyone to hurry in. Asterios is relieved to be here, saying he doesn't hate cars or anything, but the ride sucked. Taurus Mask stretches and comments on how cool the mountain air is, saying it's making his mind and body stiffen up. Wakan Tanka comments that the mountain spirits are greeting you guys. You comment on how it really is cold like the winter there despite the lack of snow, then note how sad the inn looks.
Gyumao mentions that this inn is in the mountains in the southern part of Tokyo and says he heard it used to do well for a long time. He also mentions that there's a confirmed overworld shift in the mountains around and that evidence of it has been reported. Taurus Mask asks if the source of this shift is the inn, but Gyumao says that it isn't according to the reports. The rest of the party is surprised by this, so Gyumao says the inn's owner, hostess, and workers have all worked bravely to protect the inn from otherworldly beings. They'd say wild boars are scary, but Gyumao also shows you a picture of the owner and hostess making peace signs in front of a mountain of things from other worlds they've beaten.
You comment on feeling the strength of humanity coming through it, then ask why the inn shut down if that's the case. Gyumao has to check his notes, then says it seems that the owner had a slipped disk. Wakan Tanka comments on how awful infirmities of the mind and body are, saying that as someone in sports (re: competitive theory) he'd like to keep that in mind. Gyumao says that's why he came up with remodeling plans, and he adds that the owners wanted it to reopen. Wakan says that if they're looking forward, then he's happy with that. He also says you guys should do your best to handle this job.
Shennong walks up from further in, saying he came to check out what all the noise was. He tells you guys you did well getting this far, though the work will be starting from here though. You are surprised at Shennong being here and ask him about this since you didn't see him in the nurse's office. Gyumao laughs about this and asks if you're surprised, saying he found out about Shennong being your school doctor when he went asking around. Shennong is surprised in turn that Gyumao never told you about this and calls him mean.
Gyumao talks about how Shennong is from Hourai just like he is, and he's brought him in to be the on-site medic for the duration of this job. Shennong says he heard that there'd be Shinjuku students here too, so as someone well known he can't let this slip by. Wakan Tanka is surprised as he recognizes Shennong, and Shennong greets him and says he did well at that football game the other day.
You turn to Wakan Tanka in surprise and ask about him knowing Shennong too. Wakan answers that he knows Shennong well, saying he was on the first aid team for the football game that day. Shennong mentions that interschool games and contests have the first aid stuff divided between the doctors and preceptors of each school. That does mean he has to work on his off days too, which can be rough even if he won't let students get hurt if he can help it. But anyways Shennong introduces himself to the party as the temp doctor, telling everyone to be careful as he quotes a Chinese idiom about how caution does no harm.
Gyumao figures that everyone is here and is about to split up the tasks until he notices you looking restless and asks you if someone else is coming. You tell him that you tried calling someone else, but it seems they won't be coming. Gyumao remembers at this point that the person he called up to do the cooking here is also running late, though they aren't a bull. But he shrugs it off, saying if they can't get here in time then oh well. He then suggests getting started with the work.
Wakan Tanka looks surprised as he says nothing, which Tetsugyuu notices and asks if he's interested in the shimenawa ropes he's looking at. Wakan answers that he is, though he notes he's seen them a bunch of times already. The one here caught his attention for some reason, and he wonders what it's for. Taurus Mask says he was told about it once when he was younger and tries to remember, but it's become so common for New Year's that he can't remember what.
Shennong steps in and says it's for Toshigami. Asterios asks him about that, so Shennong explains that it's one of the New Year's customs in Tokyo. Toshigami comes out every year at this time, and they are a local Shinto deity that protects the land and home. Some Toshigami are said to be the spirits of ancestors for a family living in said home. Gyumao says he studied up on them when he came to Tokyo and says that's what the rope is for.
Shennong continues explaining that the kadomatsu New Year's pine decoration is a sort of landmark for Toshigami so that they don't get lost on the way to the entrance. Shimenawa ropes are shrine objects which disperse uncleanliness and act as a barrier to prevent impurities from getting in. If they're tied into a circle like the one Wakan Tanka was looking at, they act as an entrance that asks Toshigami to enter through there. And while he's on the subject, Shennong explains that kagami mochi is an offering while the other decorations around are patterned after the imperial regalia of Japan.
Some time passes as Gyumao leads you guys to a big room that looks like it could be a banquet hall. He then stands in front of the party to start explaining about the job. The place you guys will be cleaning will be divided into three sections: the front entrance area, this room and another banquet hall, and the large public open air baths. The party will be split up between these sections, and while these areas are already somewhat cleaned, he'd like everyone to focus on handling the last finishing touches.
Tetsugyuu is disappointed that for all of Gyumao's talks about making prayers and junk, it's all coming down to cleaning the place. Shennong says that getting rid of dirtiness is the same as getting rid of impurities, which is what praying is all about. Gyumao says he'll assign where each person will go and asks that everyone get started with the cleaning, and he'll be starting with himself.
Time passes and you have been assigned to the banquet halls together with Gyumao, Wakan Tanka, and Tetsugyuu. When you four approach the hall, Gyumao's assistant runs up in a panic. He babbles something about one of the halls as he calls Gyumao Boss, so Gyumao insists on CEO instead of Boss before asking what the problem is. The pirate assistant yells something about the tatami mats before giving up and asking you guys to come see.
When you guys get to the party hall in question, you find a bunch of dust slimes jumping around and kicking the tatami floor mats about. What was supposed to be neatly spread about is scattered around, flipped, turned upside down. Gyumao demands to know what the hell is going on and what the slimes are. The assistant says as best he can tell, the slimes slipped under the mats when the old staff were laying them down. They pop up like whack-a-moles, and any time he tries to get rid of them they run back underneath the mats.
Gyumao sighs about how the slimes running and hiding beneath the tatami mats is making this all very complicated. Tetsugyuu suggests grabbing them along with the mats then and says he and you could just cut through the mats when Gyumao stops him in shock and tells him to refrain from property damage as much as possible. Wakan Tanka says it'll be hard with the mats in the way and wishes there weren't any obstacles on the field. You think about how to avoid damaging the mats despite the slimes using them to hide, so you suggest the idea of getting rid of them temporarily. Gyumao's assistant protests how crazy that idea is given how many there are, so you turn to Tetsugyuu and ask him to help you, say Wakan can probably do something, and tell Gyumao you have a plan. The three look back at you in confusion.
Your explanation gets offscreened as the story skips over it to the part where Tetsugyuu compliments your plan and says he's proud. He says it'll be hard to hold back, but he'll try as he throws out his NP. The tornado he makes starts sucking up the tatami mats into it, then somehow pastes them up against the ceiling and leaves the floor bare. The pirate assistant is shocked by this turn of events, as are three dust slimes who are suddenly exposed. Gyumao points out that they're gathered at the other end of the hall. Wakan Tanka refers to this as the start of the game and says he'll catch them. He also says he needs to get them while the mats are still up in the air, so you ask him why.
Wakan Tanka explains that the mats hurt when they'll fall. Some spirit thing briefly flickers around the dust slimes, which Wakan seems to notice but says nothing about. Tetsugyuu gets irritated at him staring into space and tells him to get on with it before the mats come crashing down. Wakan says he has a point, then adds they'll go in strong as he calls himself and you buffalo. Tetsugyuu says he's also connected to bulls and says he'll work with Wakan. Gyumao slips into his gangster speech patterns as he orders the party to end things quick, and you respond as you call him boss, call him by name, or tell the guys to get started as the episode battle launches. More happens after that.
After the battle, the story tunes in with the slimes trying to run while Wakan Tanka attempts to make them sit still and explain themselves. He calls out his NP and charges ahead. He succeeds in catching Something hiding behind the slimes' shadows, but at that moment you call out to Wakan to watch out above him. When he looks, the tatami mats start falling down.
Gyumao calls to Wakan Tanka and asks if he's okay since five mats fell on him. Wakan gets back up and says it was his mistake to not look up earlier. You ask if he's okay and if he was trying to catch something that wasn't the dust slimes. Wakan is quiet for a moment before apologizing for worrying you guys and saying he's fine since he's a tough boy. He also laughs about something escaping so he lost this game. Gyumao notes that you guys have caught the slimes now and says they seem different from normal ones. You either ask if they're a new type of slime, say you think you've seen them before, or go head empty and say they're just hard to describe. C gets an extra line where Gyumao is curious about your reaction and comments that he won't ask, although he does get the feeling they're connected to the dark side of Roppongi or something.
Some time later, Wakan Tanka suggests putting the tatami mats back in order. Tetsugyuu is less than thrilled by this idea given how many mats there are. Wakan assures him that it'll be fine since the two of them are buffalo, which prompts Tetsugyuu to freak out saying he's been thinking for a while now that Wakan is hard to talk to and beg you for help. You say that Wakan is a good senpai when it comes down to it and that Tetsugyuu is hard to talk to at times too. You also suggest that they might work out great together, shocking Tetsugyuu even further.
Gyumao starts talking to you saying he has a favor to ask, and he asks you to tell the others about what's happened here. Sometimes he wishes things were just coincidences, and he comments that you never know what'll happen here in Tokyo. Gyumao says it's better to be safe than sorry, then asks you to go while he takes care of the others. You agree as you either refer to Gyumao as CEO or Boss. A has Gyumao laugh and thank you as he says that's a good answer. B has Gyumao ask you not to call him that too much since everyone's energy makes him remember some old memories, then laughs. Either way, Tetsugyuu calls out to Gyumao that something is coming from under the tatami mats, and Gyumao reacts in surprise when he goes to look. Narration questions whether things will be okay as the night goes on, and the episode ends.
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