Halloween Police Episode 2 Part 2

Scene tunes in over at Daikanyama Academy in Shibuya, going full swing ahead with its Halloween festivities. The school-organized customary festival has tons of visitors like usual, and as busy as it is it also has a calm, dignified mood to it as well. Hotei coos over how amazing it is here too with everyone smiling. Yoyogi had its energy, but Daikanyama is more relaxed. Hotei nods about how he likes both as smiles are everywhere.

Maria thanks Hotei, saying it's an honor that he's enjoying everything. She explains that the event is both for enjoying Halloween, but also themed after the original harvest festival and repose of souls the holiday had. The ideas are brought together with all the food and sweets being offered, and there's a play being put on by the students and volunteers. If there's anything you like, feel free to take it.

Elsewhere, Arslan is playing around as Frankenstein and asking for candy. Children are enjoying this and give him some, so Arslan approves, says he'll stop playing tricks, and suggests eating the candy together. The children agree to this, and Hotei notices that Touji isn't around and asks about him. You note that it's unusual for him to be late, decide to send a text, and/or shrug that he'll show up eventually.

Time passes as Maria leads you guys further inside to a break area for the event. Tables covered in orange tablecloths and antique benches have been set up for people. Maria invites you guys to sit down as she has some tea and snacks ready. You comment on how nice the atmosphere is there since everyone is having fun and tricks aren't a problem. Maria says it is for now, but it is a little worrying if you think about what happened yesterday at Yoyogi. Hotei agrees, saying what happened there was pretty much impossible to prevent. Maria says the school staff are keeping watch in Daikanyama too just in case, though she stops herself as she sets down some tea and snacks.

Azathoth warps in, laughing about seeing all the cookies and pies around. They're so standard, but he's starting to want some. He also asks if he can have a stamina drink instead of tea, then pouts when there isn't any. You react in shock to him suddenly appearing and complain about him not doing so unannounced, but Azathoth argues that he is haxx and the best at stealth games. Today he's playing solo though, and he stops for a second to say how good the cookies are. Hotei starts giving him more and asks for him to stop playing tricks now, but Azathoth jokes about being whimsical and might do so anyway even after accepting the sweets, which then causes Maria to react in dismay.

You ask Azathoth if he's not actually planning on playing tricks here, so Azathoth quickly tells you to relax and say it's all cool. He just wants to play around like a regular person, so Maria thanks him and offers to get him more cookies. She stands up and goes to collect said cookies from a nearby table, then quickly returns and passes them to Azathoth. They're Halloween seasonal items, and if Azathoth likes them then she'll be happy. Azathoth laughs about how good they are and is glad he came out for this event.

You think aloud about taking Azathoth at his word since he seems to be having fun. Hotei agrees, then prompts Azathoth to try some of the stuff Ebisu made. Azathoth is thrilled at that and says fat guys really are generous people. Hotei laughs and brags that his belly isn't just for show, though the subject reminds him that Ebisu has been doing something else since you guys got here and wonders what that is.

Ebisu returns in a mummy outfit, saying he dressed because it is Halloween and asking what you guys think of it. Hotei applauds Ebisu for getting into the spirit of things and says the mummy outfit looks good, though he does ask why he'd pick that. Ebisu brings up the food he made the day before, which he styled after mummies. He figured he might as well try dressing up the part himself to see what it'd be like. He's kind of embarrassed, but he figured he might as well go all the way because of the holiday. Hotei is surprised as he says Ebisu is the passive type, and Ebisu asks for your opinion and mentions he had someone else in a mummy costume help him dress up. You either say the bandages look good, cool and cute, or decide to start pulling on a bandage. In A, Ebisu asks if that's a compliment but is flattered anyway. In B, Ebisu is embarrassed since he's not used to being told either of those things. In C, Ebisu is shocked as he tells you to stop doing that in front of everyone.

Azathoth compliments Ebisu's outfit too, saying that accessory he's wearing is bringing his charm up a level. Ebisu asks if he's talking about the necklace he's wearing, but the topic makes him remember that he doesn't know where he got it from. Azathoth just laughs and claps as he looks at the dark shining necklace...

Some time later, Hotei comments that it's getting loud and realizes the noise is getting closer. Maria is on the phone thanking whoever is talking to her about the update, then informs you guys that Touji has finally made it to Daikanyama. He shows up with Alp, apologizing for being late and fumbling for the words to explain what's going on. Alp dejectedly apologizes after a beat.

You tell Touji that you guys have been waiting for him, happily note that Alp is in costume, or ask if something happened. Alp just barely responds audibly, and he is noticeably different from how excitable he usually is. Ebisu apprehensively asks if the ropes wrapped around Alp's wrists like makeshift handcuffs are part of his costume, but Alp denies it. Hotei freaks out about how heavy the mood is, and Maria attempts to ask Touji and Alp for an explanation for all of this. Touji admits he's not sure either since Alp has been like this the whole time, and Alp starts mumbling something as you point out.

Alp tells you guys he has a favor to ask, so Azathoth encourages him to speak up and get it all out there into the general chat with all caps or bold font or whatever to emphasize it. Alp then yells that he wants to be arrested, shocking everyone including Azathoth present. You either react in shock at the request, say everyone is starting to look over, or joke that you will arrest him. C gets an extra line from Hotei freaking out and saying everyone is looking over.

Alp talks about how his dance made a mess of things, then yells about how this is a police matter and the work of the devil. If it isn't put on that level, then it'd be an insult to everyone at his school. Azathoth asks if Alp is talking about him when he said devil, so you say no and bribe him with candy to sit back down. Azathoth cheers about the pumpkin sweets you give him, and Alp starts yelling again about wanting to be arrested, punished, and savaged body and soul. Touji attempts to shush him, but Alp's outburst is attracting a crowd to Ebisu's shock. Maria says you guys need to move away and leads you all to a staff area, so you pull Alp along and wonder what happened with him. He trails along, continuing to wail about wanting to be arrested and crying.

Time passes as the party heads into Daikanyama's campus and Zabaniya waves you guys over to him. Zabaniya calls to Maria to the chapel, and Maria thanks him before telling you guys to watch your step before going inside. Once the party is in, Zabaniya informs you guys that Arslan and Managarm are working to calm the disturbance at the event area. The commotion should pass soon enough, so he asks that you guys wait there for now. There's also going to be vendors and people involved with the play and parade they're doing here too, and he asks that you guys bear with that. You sigh in relief and thank Zabaniya, say you guys will be sitting there for now, or note that you see familiar faces are around.

Alice comments on how noisy things are to you as she calls you Assistant #2, and she asks if the Queen's soldiers chased you in here. Volos is also there as he notes that you guys seem tired and offers sweets made from his veggies somehow. Hotei thanks Hotei for the snacks and accepts them, then apologizes for any noise the party makes while they're resting. Alice however comments that Halloween is a time for everyone to be festive and see dreams. No one knows what will happen, and nothing is out of the realm of possibility, so she says things are fine since this is also Halloween.

Hotei says he doesn't understand, but he'll take Alice at her word and relax. Alice offers some wonderful pumpkin juice that Assistant #1 made. There's also pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cake, pumpkin chocolate, and pumpkin pudding too if you want any. Azathoth is baffled at all the pumpkin goodies, then says he's tired of them all. Alice is surprised by this, so Azathoth complains that pumpkins are everywhere. They're good, but the flavor profile being full on sweet is getting to him. He demands something new and threatens to play tricks if he doesn't get anything. You get alarmed at this, sigh that he's been munching on sweets nonstop, or ask in concern if there's anything else.

Alice acts mildly concerned and says that the only other thing available is bear meat as she looks to Assistant #1. Volos is put off and politely tries asking Alice to not say alarming things while looking at him. Hotei then asks Ebisu if he brought his test dish, which he only knows of as that wrapped up thingy. Ebisu quickly nods and asks Maria for a kitchen he can borrow, so Maria agrees and asks Zabaniya to show him the way. Zabaniya in turn agrees, saying it's a simplistic one if that's okay.

Time passes to the point where Ebisu comes back with his wrapped sausages, and Azathoth is pleased as he starts biting into them. Azathoth asks what the dish is called, then shrugs as he asks for more. Hotei cheers about Ebisu being successful, and Ebisu laughs in relief before asking everyone else to have a taste if they feel like it. He also encourages Alp to take one, and Alp agrees even while depressed.

Alice says she thought it was a regular old sausage wrap, but she can see it's beyond that now that she's had one as she compliments Ebisu for surprising her. Volos compliments how juicy and delicious it is, and Ebisu looks sad as he comments on how cooking is supposed to be like this. You comment that he's getting good reviews, notice that Ebisu doesn't look happy, then ask him about it.

Ebisu answers that he is happy, but he's also having a really hard time understanding something. He thought that having something salty would go over well since there's so many sweet things around, but so far children and randos aren't showing much interest. He wonders what he's missing with it. Zabaniya has one, saying it's delicious and observing that it's using mummies as a motif. Ebisu confirms that, but he repeats he feels he's still missing something like Halloween specific charm, so Zabaniya goes "I see."

Ebisu talks about being confident in the Ebisu-maki's taste, but it doesn't seem like it'll become a Halloween standard at this rate. He starts wondering aloud what the essence of a mummy is and what being Halloweeny really means. Alice takes an interest in the topic and offers to lend her wisdom as a Halloween detective, so you excitedly say you were waiting for this and plead for Alice's help.

Alice says she needs to back the conversation up a bit to talk about why people like the mummy costume motif for Halloween. She asks what you think, telling you that you can say anything no matter how foolish it may be. You either suggest it's because it's not everyday wear, that being unable to identify what something really is would be scary, or say that they're fascinating. C gets an extra line of Zabaniya thanking you shyly and asking if you were complimenting him.

Anyways Alice says that the mummy being unusual and scary over being unidentifiable are good answers, then gives you a backhanded compliment. She talks about how Halloween is a special festival where fearsome avatars of death come to the world of the living. And then there's the living who dress up like the dead with their hearts racing, hoping they won't get found out. The excitement of life and death brushing against each other with just a bandage to separate them attracts all~.

Ebisu thinks about this idea of excitement, and Alice talks more as she rhetorically asks which side someone dressed as a mummy belongs to. Wanting to see what they look like underneath the wrappings but being unable to just draws your attention in! And maybe some people will mistake that for love. That extreme sort of excitement is the charm of a mummy, and she asks if Ebisu understands anything now. She also adds that putting a dark vampire girl and a bright detective girl together makes both even more charming.

Ebisu seems doubtful but thanks Alice. Zabaniya talks about how people living now forget about death while going through their daily lives. But if they don't know about death, then they won't know the meaning of life either and the value of the lives within themselves. Ebisu starts getting the idea of wanting to see what's hidden from that, then looks at his wrapped sausages again. Ebisu then has something of an epiphany for what to do and tells you he can make it work now. He claps his hands together, and you get the feeling you saw the shadows of many hands behind his back. You then either happily note that Ebisu seems to have an idea now, or you freak out about seeing a lot of dark hands just now coming from his necklace before wondering if you imagined it. The latter has Ebisu asking in surprise what you're talking about before moving on. Anyways, Ebisu tells you he's thought of something and is going to try it out. He then turns to Volos to ask him a question. When Volos asks in some surprise what it is, Ebisu asks if he can prepare some ingredients for him as the episode part ends.