Halloween Police Prologue Part 2

Scene opens up with Surtr declaring his preparations are complete and announcing he will begin making desserts for Halloween. He asks Arc to guard the door and insists that Harlot not be let into the kitchen no matter what. Under no circumstances should a Halloween celebration be turned a trigger for setting off Ragnarok. Arc agrees to do their best, saying nobody else should become casualties besides themselves. Surtr thanks Arc for their determination and promises to make their favorite gratin later, which Arc cheers about.

Arc feels a little bad for Harlot, but they comment to themselves that adding four times the required sugar into the flour for cookies is a bit much. Harlot walks in at this point and asks what Arc was saying about her, so Arc quickly denies everything and changes the subject to ask why Harlot looks worried about something.

Harlot doesn't pursue the original topic and asks Arc if they've heard about the police holding a training class for Halloween events. Arc answers that they have, though they don't know what's supposed to actually happen there. Harlot says that the school they go to now normally holds a Halloween event, so maybe it'd be a good idea to go. She thought about going herself, but she has other business to attend to that's happening at the same scheduled time. As such, Harlot asks Arc if they can go instead and represent their school.

Arc agrees to go and assures Harlot she can go handle her own stuff in the meantime. Harlot thanks Arc and asks them to do their best. Harlot then remembers about Azathoth and asks if he's mashing buttons again with his games, though she says it's a good thing to have something to deeply enjoy. She got a costume for him which she's sure will look good on him, and she asks if Arc thinks so too. She puts a hand on her face, looking both bothered yet happy, and Arc in turn happily looks at Harlot.

Scene then jumps to Some Day in October over at Shinjuku Chuo Park where you are walking through with Solomon on your way to Kioh Police Academy. Solomon comments on how calm the park is at that time of year and composes a haiku about autumn before he starts fixating on potato sellers. You are either kind of baffled at his behavior, comment that the falling leaves must've taken his train of thought over, or ask if he's hungry.

Solomon talks about how people in Japan call autumn the season of good appetites and how food tastes better that season. On a related note, Solomon requests that if you come across any baked potato sellers that you buy and share one with him. A couple of kids run by yelling trick or treat and laughing. Solomon doesn't think much on this as he comments on how Halloween is coloring everything and how seeing the children makes him smile, only to stop when he notices something off.

You ask Solomon what's wrong and look ahead to where he's looking at, which is where the children who passed by came running from. There you see a vending machine toppled over, and you are taken aback about this and say it's not really a trick anymore. Solomon asks if those kids did this and says it's not really a prank to push a vending machine over. He then gets concerned and tells you not to get close because there might be broken glass on the ground. You however point out that it'd be bad to just leave it there and consider at least moving it to the side, though you're not sure that's possible. Solomon sighs and says it'd be faster to just call park management, at which point you hear some voice groaning in mild pain and wondering what happened. 

You ask Solomon if he just said something, so he denies it and suggests maybe the machine played some recorded messages because some new vending machines do that now. He's shocked when the vending machine starts yelling and talking to itself in a Kansai/Southern drawl about how things are worse than what they heard about in the rumors. It also gets up on its own as it talks about how with all the kids running wild he's gotta do something now. The machine then notices you looking at it while Solomon flaps his mouth wordlessly.

You freak out at the vending machine talking and moving on its own or figure it's some new mysterious technology. The machine apologizes for startling you and starts speaking like a robot and making its own sound effects, the latter of which you lampshade in shock. The machine drops the robospeak as he asks you to not sweat the small stuff, then tosses you a piece of candy. The candy looks like a Halloween seasonal candy you'd often find in a convenience store, and you either express surprise at being given it, say you didn't really do anything, or thank the machine.

The vending machine says it's all coo' because it's Halloween! Go eat that candy and give him a smile! He also points out that you were all ready to help pick up a vending machine you've never seen before, which he's happy about. What goes around comes around, and that includes good luck! Speaking of, the machine spits another piece of candy at you and suggests you give it to a friend. Solomon cheers about it and notes it's a fall-only pumpkin chocolate pie. You thank the machine, so the machine says it's fine and laughs it off. But on a different subject, the machine asks if you're going to Kioh Police Academy and asks you to take it there because he has stuff to do there.

Time passes to the point you meet Touji in front of Kioh Academy, who admonishes you for being five minutes late. He then says he knows how nice you are, so if you were late you must've stopped to help with some problem you came across. You either apologize to Touji, say he's right, or coo over how cool his police uniform is. In A and B, Touji says to tell him later since the meeting will be starting and prompts you to hurry after him. In C, Touji gets shy at the compliment, then remembers what's happening as he tells you to follow him to the meeting since it'll start soon.

A moment later after you guys get inside, Solomon notices that the vending machine is gone and informs you of such. It was with you guys until just a moment ago, and he says it was running like a car next to you guys earlier. Touji notices you looking around and asks if someone was with you since as far as he knew, you were alone. You awkwardly ask him if there was a vending machine running near you, and Touji has to process the question for a second before being baffled.

Time passes as you two get to the classroom, where Maria, Durga, Li Chou, Ebisu, Alp, and Arc have already arrived. You are glad that the meeting hasn't started yet and notice that there's a lot of people you know there. Touji sighs in relief that you guys made it in time and says he heard the teacher only just arrived. He then tells you he brought tea and passes some to you.

You thank Touji, then ask if he's participating too if he's there. Touji tells you he wasn't planning on it initially, but it turned out that way since he's the one assigned to work in the designated area. Also, Hougen put him up to this saying he might learn something here. You comment that Touji's been working hard, ask about him looking a bit different, and/or say you've been worried about him since he transferred out. Touji is surprised before coughing to cover for himself. He says he's learning a lot, but he frames it as just doing his best. Touji then asks how everyone in class is doing along with the teachers, but he picks up on the teacher for the meeting coming so he stops there for now, saying there's to be no whispering.

A curtain falls down while Touji says you guys should focus on the lecture, shocking everyone present. Tajikarao asks if this was supposed to be a thing, and Magami asks him if he can hear those kabuki wooden clappers being knocked on something. The vending machine from before pops up to their bafflement, and the machine thanks everyone for coming and asks if everyone has been smiling. It then talks about going from dream to dream, spreading fortune on a ship as it describes itself as one of the pillars of the laughing gang the Messengers of Seven Fortunes, represented with the sack, then reveals itself to be Hotei.

Hotei says he's the guy people are referring to in that one proverb about luck coming to those who smile, and everyone reacts in amazement after some time for what happened to sink in passes. Alp asks Hotei how he did the trick with the vending machine, and Maria asks if it was a magic trick. Durga laughs saying she doesn't know what happened, but she thinks Hotei is funny. Li Chou insists he totally wasn't surprised or anything, claiming he just opened his mouth to yawn. Arc mildly comments that they kinda like this sorta mood.

Hotei laughs, glad for the warm reception and saying that silence before the laughs was caring him. He's also glad everyone is so quick to get into the mood of things and says he likes that sorta thing. Ebisu starts freaking out about Hotei existing in Tokyo and asks in alarm what the laughing gang he brought up before is supposed to be.

Tajikarao tries to get things under control and asks people to hush as he comments on how crazy that entrance was. He then reintroduces Hotei and prompts everyone to please clap, so Hotei thanks him/you guys. Magami barks and asks that people start introducing themselves, so Hotei starts over and describes himself as one of the Seven Lucky Gods. He spent some time checking out Halloween and talks about the rumor about how people can play pranks if they don't get candy. He doesn't object to the idea in itself since pranks can make people smile and lighten things up. It's just that the pranks happening lately are getting dangerous, and it's not a good thing to make people sad.

Ebisu is a little taken aback at how serious Hotei is about the subject, and Hotei talks about how great Halloween is to dress up, get candy, and have fun. If people are enjoying themselves, their ancestors will be too. He asks everyone to help him think of something to do about the rumor together and bows deeply. Hotei bows so hard that he bangs his head on a desk. Everyone finds this funny or at least nothing to be concerned about, and Hotei seems fine as he declares the meeting to officially start as he asks people to think hard.

While this is happening, Somewhere Else in Tokyo a dark room is lit up by candles as several people have gathered together. A voice says everyone gathered together are the Top Pranksters who surprise everyone in their various fields. They also talk about going in and out of prison, drinking poison, engaging in buffoonery, going on rampages, and other sorts of nonsense. Arslan, Sanat Kumara, and Shennong are around at least, and the voice talks about how the pride of present day Halloween is in pranks, so they should go ham with them. Ashigara, Nezha, and Ziz are also present, as is Harlot who walks up and announces the meeting for the Prankster Aficionados to begin with a rallying cry of trick or treat.

Scene shifts again to elsewhere to a certain someone deciding to get in on the Halloween antics. Azathoth cackles about there being a boss union scenario and how it's rare for him to find everything annoying. Just one of those rare ass things that pops up every so often. It's time for a limited period event, and Azathoth notes that This Time is Something Special. He then says everyone should face the void together and cheer in chorus the words Happy Halloween. His terrifying cackles echo through the dark of night, neverending. And so the curtain rises on the banquet of mad dreams filled with hidden expectations as the episode ends.