Halloween Police Episode 1 Part 1

Someone once said that Halloween is a festival for those who are already dead. On this day, the, the spirits and monsters who have already me their bad ending are brought back from the dead for this period of time to march upon the land once more. The dead who return this way are believed to commit various kinds of tricks upon the world. And so people came to fear them, thinking they might drag them and their children back to the land of the dead with them.

For that reason, people began to dress themselves up like the returning dead out of the hope that they would not be attacked. They might pretend to be a vampire, a mummy, or perhaps Frankenstein. They would walk with the dead and act like them, playing tricks on others. So Halloween is about the living acting like the dead while hoping to not actually become one of the dead. At least, for the living. But what would Halloween mean for the dead? What significance would it hold for someone whose game is already over?

We then tune back the Kioh Police Academy, which is right by Kabukicho's shopping district in Shinjuku City. You have gathered along with students from other schools for a Halloween Training meeting. Ideas bandied about include checking the visitors, reviewing your equipment, and keeping preventative measures in mind. There's also discussions about how to curtail excessive tricks and how any of this would be announced to visitors. Sometimes Hotei adds in his two man comedy routine, and things go on in a calm manner. Eventually the discussions end, and everyone present starts chatting amongst themselves.

Arc comments that they never knew that the schools of Tokyo would put out a notice about cancelling their Halloween events. It's understandable given the situation, and yet here you are trying to put a stop to that. Arc approves of you refusing to roll over and let the cancellation happen. You tell Arc they're right, say you want to reopen the Halloween festivities somehow, or declare you won't stand for it to hit a bad end like this. C gets an extra bit of Arc being surprised at your phrasing and commenting you're saying something Azathoth would say.

Ebisu mentions that the schools are staggering their Halloween event schedules, and he worries how Shinjuku and Toyosu will handle things. He does agree with you about trying to keep them open though since he already put in the work to get ready for it. Durga says Yoyogi has already started their Halloween activities, so it'd be a pain to have to stop in the middle of things. Maria then notices upon checking the schedule that Shinjuku would be the last school to end their Halloween festival, which you confirm by saying you guys are charged with being the last performers of the day.

Alp yells as he remembers that Shinjuku is going to be the grand finale for the Halloween festivities, and Durga is dismayed since she was thinking of crashing the place with everyone at her school later. Li Chou says that when every school is opening their events in succession, the one going last would be the star attraction, and he calls this a situation of inescapable trouble.

Arc comments on it being tough since you guys haven't actually come up with a concrete plan yet, so you guys should first get a grasp on what could really happen. Li Chou puffs up as he suggests having everyone visit Umamichi's festival where you guys can see the skills of a bunch of hotheads. Alp brags that Ueno's festival is great too, and he asks that everyone be sure to come see since everyone there worked so hard for it. Maria agrees that visiting the areas would be important, saying it might give you guys a clue. You thank everyone, declare the cancellation isn't a sure thing yet, and say you guys need to think of something.

Arc comments on everyone there being optimistic, so they resolve themselves to help out too. There's not much time to get to it, but they suggest getting struggling together to find the answer. No one's going to get anywhere just waiting for a sentence to be handed down after all. Everyone looks encouraged, and Hotei has gotten back into his vending machine disguise as he wistfully sighs about how nice it is to be young and wanting to be included as he refers to himself as a vending machine. You either react in shock at the vending machine thing or ask Hotei if he does this all the time. B gets an extra bit of Hotei declaring the vending machine thing is HIS gag!

Anyways, Hotei pops out of the vending machine to thank everyone for all they've done in the meeting and says they've done well. Magami barks as he says he has sweets for everyone as a thank you participation gift. Tajikarao also says they have another special gift for everyone too, and Hotei prompts everyone to feast their eyes as he holds out a badge. You either are curious or think it's cool.

Magami excitedly asks what people think of this shiny new evil-correcting badge that he calls a treasure. Tajikarao says it has the Kioh Academy teachers' seal of approval, and with it you guys are going to be special police officers protecting Halloween. Hotei and the two of them are all stoked to inform you guys the thing is called the Halloween Police Badge, though Touji protests right after to say he hadn't heard a thing about this. Tajikarao says of course he wouldn't since the badges are a handmade rush job made the night before, and this fact further shocks Touji. Tajikarao assures Touji that Hougen has signed off on this, has actually pushed for it, and given some instructions.

Magami prompts everyone to line up so that they can get the badge and candy together. Touji starts having a conniption about how Improper™ for civilians to be holding something with Police in the name, but Hougen pops up out of nowhere to tell him to calm down. He's in front of civilians here, he shouldn't be yelling like that. Touji is surprised but still attempts to argue that there should be strict regulations on who gets to act like a public servant. Hougen prompts Touji to define what he means by "public servant," which throws him off, but Touji still says he thinks of it as someone who impartially upholds order and protects the peace. Hougen nods and says he's not wrong...IF said person can always act coexistently.

Touji is confused at Hougen's statement, so Hougen talks about how the police have become the bad guys for being the ones to put Halloween on hold right now. While this is meant to protect the public order, letting things stand as is will cause mistrust from the public and may lead to chaos later. Hougen says he wants everyone here to Act Like Police and learn things from acting in that position but not actually be a part of them. Touji's mind is blown away at this and says he's realized how inexperienced again. But off to the side, Magami asks Tajikarao why Hougen spent the night before during badge making yelling about how young people in tight police uniforms is the greatest thing ever. Tajikarao hushes him, mildly freaked out since Hougen is looking at them and concerned at how easily trolled Touji is. He's totally sure Touji is the type to get swindled out of everything, so he says he needs to work harder himself as his senpai.

Hougen clears his throat to move the conversation along, saying there are things that start with appearances and behavior. Maybe everyone else might notice something the police officers didn't precisely because they aren't police, and Hougen says Touji should know that better than anyone.  He knows how Touji spends his time acting human while living his best as an oni.

Touji nods after a moment at Hougen's speech, but when he turns around to look at everyone else, he sees Alp geeking out over the police badge and planning to brag about it to everyone at Ueno when he goes home. Li Chou is also excited at the idea of having a police badge on his chest, as is Ebisu who notes he feels nervous about it even if the badge is handmade. Durga sighs at the boys getting so worked up about the badges and asks Maria if she thinks so too. Maria politely plays noncommittal and asks if she thinks a nun habit looks too festive. Arc encourages Maria to put the badge on anyways since it might show a new side of her.

Tajikarao laughs about everyone getting into things, which made staying up late to make the badges all worth it. Magami chuckles about how he made one for himself too, saying there's something charming about having something special. Hotei asks Touji I guess what he thinks and nominates him to be part of the Halloween police. Touji is taken aback and doesn't have an immediate answer, so Hotei presses him to just take the badge. Touji gives up at this point and slips the thing into his chest pocket, trying to hide it away beneath the actual police crest on him.

By the time the meeting ends it's just a little past noon. Hotei thanks everyone for coming and greets them all a Happy Halloween, which is followed up by Tajikarao and Magami thanking everyone for their efforts. It's at this point that Ebisu decides to try talking to Hotei since his lack of a reaction to his presence is getting to him, and he tries asking Hotei for his contact info as an old shipmate. Hotei is surprised silent at Ebisu, but after a moment's prodding he finally greets Ebisu happily and asks how he's been.

Ebisu is so baffled that Hotei somehow just didn't see him all morning that he slaps him with his fish pillow, which he quickly apologizes for saying he did it without thinking about it. He asks Hotei if he hurt him, but when Hotei answers he's fine Ebisu whacks him again offended he was just reacting dramatically for a joke.

Hotei tones down the jokes as he says he really was surprised to see Ebisu. He was always the shy and quiet one, and here he's played the straight man to Hotei's buffoonery twice now. He asks Ebisu if the rough waters of Tokyo made him stronger, saying he's gotten cooler as he rubs Ebisu's belly. Ebisu is less than pleased by this as he asks Hotei to stop that, and you either comment on Hotei and Ebisu knowing each other, point out he said he was one of the Seven Lucky Gods earlier, or ask Hotei if he just forgot about Ebisu until just now. In A and B, Hotei laughs and says he's BFFs with Ebisu, swearing on his stomach about it. In C, Hotei is still upbeat as he asks that you not call him a stupid ass. He and Ebisu are BFFs, he swears on his stomach that he compares to a bag!

Ebisu doesn't protest being referred to as a BFF, but he yells again for Hotei to stop rubbing his stomach while saying that. Hotei brushes past that to ask what everyone else will be doing now with the meeting done. Maria thinks aloud and says that since they've all gotten acquainted, it might be nice to have a late lunch together. Durga then suggests that everyone come to Yoyogi then since they have a lot of food stalls set up over there. Ebisu gets excited at this and expresses an interest in seeing what they have, and Arc comments that a sports school festival ought to be pretty energetic. Li Chou attempts to humblebrag that his school's festival is better but is still open to coming along. Alp cheers, saying he's hungry so they should all go now. Hotei agrees since Yoyogi's festival sounds fun.

You ask Touji about coming along, but then it occurs to you he might still be in the middle of work. Touji is about to decline when Tajikarao and Magami huddle up to him and cut him off, saying Hougen told them to tell him to go as part of his training. Touji attempts to protest, but Tajikarao says community is the most important thing when protecting the public order. It's a little sad, but they'll have to send him over. Magami barks and asks Touji to get him a present while he's away.

Durga cheers about everyone agreeing to come, saying they should expect great things since her school is gunning for the top. She then tells everyone to follow her since she thinks Yoyogi is reasonably close enough to not need a bus. Everyone however is baffled at this, and you ask if she really plans on getting there on foot rather than bus or train. Durga assures you it'll just be a light jog, then immediately treats this as a race as she declares she'll get there first. Hotei freaks out at this and starts yelling for a taxi.

Time passes to the point where Durga makes it back to Yoyogi, cheering about getting there first and asking how the run was for everyone else. When she turns around though, she's shocked to see nobody followed her. You guys do pull up soon though, and Hotei protests that Durga ran out of sight within a few minutes of telling everyone to follow along. Durga goes 'oops' at forgetting she was supposed to be showing you guys the way instead of racing, leading Hotei to yell about how quickly that fell out of her mind.

Alp says Durga was still really cool the way she ran so fast she disappeared like that. Ebisu agrees, saying he respects her since he's bad at exercising himself. Durga gets a little shy at the compliments, saying that's nothing for someone who's always aiming for the top. Touji gets alarmed at seeing children in costumes nearby and yells for everyone to get ready for tricks to happen. Hotei, Ebisu, and Maria react in surprise, and some kids run by innocently trick or treating and laughing. One of them even waves to you guys as the pass by.

Alp laughs at how cute the kids are. Li Chou is surprised at how calm things are, noting that at Umamichi things are suitably messy. Durga agrees, saying that for all of Touji's warning the kids seem to be just cute kids not causing any problems. Maria says she got the same impression of things over at Daikanyama. Kids are playing pranks, but nothing anyone would be surprised by. Touji points out that it's a fact that the police have been getting reports of these pranks and is why you guys are even investigating this incident regarding cancelling Halloween events. Hotei shrugs and says Tokyo is a big place, figuring it's just different from area to area. After a moment, he changes the subject to say they should get some food, claiming to feel dizzy from hunger. Durga cheerfully leads the way and suggests you guys buy lunch at the stalls and eat at the sports grounds.

Time passes for a bit to the point where everyone is at the track and field ground. Maria is laying down a sheet and asks you to put some weights down on your end, and you comply as you note it feels like a picnic. Alp notes that it's a pleasant Halloween with a nice breeze out, then laughs about wanting to dance now. This draws the attention of some children who cheer about wanting to dance with him, so Alp does so as they enjoy dancing something like a ballet. Touji thinks to himself in surprise that things do seem calm and questions if there is a pranking incident happening. He then reminds himself of what Hougen said about how there must be some sort of clue to what's going on somewhere.

Hotei and Durga come back accompanied by Yasuyori, and Hotei apologizes for keeping you guys waiting since he was lost with all the choices available. You thank the two of them and express surprise at Yasuyori being with them, so Yasuyori says he came to greet you because he heard you were here. Durga says Yasuyori stopped listening to anything after she told him about you, but then shows you a stockpot she brought with her. Yasuyori says it's Yoyogi's sumo team Halloween special, pumpkin chanko stew, and he encourages everyone to have some.

You thank Yasuyori, say you can smell the pumpkin, and say it really is a Halloween chanko stew. Touji tries some and compliments the mild sweetness and soup stock. Yasuyori thanks him for the compliments and says there's plenty more left. Maria likes the drink she's having and notes that it looks like some kind of vegetable juice. Durga laughs that it's a smoothie with protein in it, then asks if she has any interest in becoming an athlete. Li Chou compliments how big the portions are, even if one decides to ignore that Yoyogi is a sports school. Alp is amazed at there's a big pumpkin with meat put into it, and he says he can't stop eating.

Hotei notices at this point that Ebisu isn't around and asks where he is. Durga starts to answer when Ebisu turns up, saying he was off making dessert. He's carrying a tray with wrapped sausages on a stick lined up on it, and Arc asks about them noting that they weren't sold here if he made them. Ebisu explains that he was talking with his gramps about making something for Halloween, so he brought a trial product with him. He based the idea off of mummy wrappings, and he asks people to try it as he says the taste should be good.

You compare the white dough or batter to bandages, say it smells nice, then pick one up. Li Chou says the dough is springy and delicious. Maria likes how it's fun to look at, noting that children would love it too. Yasuyori compliments it too and says he's looking forward to the final version. Hotei laughs and says Ebisu did great, noting he's always been good with his hands since their treasure ship days. Durga notably doesn't say anything, and Ebisu tries asking what her opinion on the food is.

Durga is slow to respond but eventually says it's good and notes Ebisu's great at cooking. You notice something off with Durga's response, but loud cheering from somewhere ends up drowning you out when you try to talk to her. Touji asks about all the noise, parsing that it doesn't seem to be terrified screaming at least. Yasuyori answers that their event must be starting and invites you guys to come see, and the episode half ends with Li Chou happily agreeing now that he's full.