Mystic Christmas Epilogue

Things start off some time after the big event with the Santa Sendoff Ceremony in Ded’s office, where Ded has called Tomte to come over. Black is there saying he called Tomte in to tell him how he did as the event lead. Tomte says he’s ready for it because he has the sauna no matter what the result is, then asks Ded to lay it on him. Ded is amused as he says he’ll get to it then.

Ded starts off with the preparations, saying Tomte did unbelievably well to handle that and the demon investigation at the same time. Tomte inwardly wonders if he was personally complimented. Ded moves on to Tomte’s communication with the cohosting school organizers, saying he did great and comments that he’s good at background deals. He also tells him to focus on that.

Ded then says there’s one point that he could point out for Tomte, though he figures he already knows. That point is that Tomte focuses on the feelings of being the one helping rather than the one being helped. What Tomte feels is important, but Ded says he needs to consider the feelings of those helping him too.

A thought of Krampus flashes through Tomte’s head, and Ded makes a point of saying that being in charge means you have to be in a higher position whether you like it or not. It’s not about how great you are. If things are decided to be done a certain way for everyone’s sake, that’s all that’s happening.

Ded then reminds Tomte that roles and rank orders don’t define individual values. He tells him to not act self-important or to take on too much, then says the latter would be more applicable to him.

Tomte asks if that’s all there’s going to be for this discussion since he thought he’d be rebuked more than this. Ded questions the point of that, saying the event went well and Christmas finished without any issues. Tomte brings up that he did temporarily run out on things while he was still supposed to be managing things.

Ded remembers that that happened and adds that would also count as running away from home. He says he has to punish bad kids, then orders Tomte to close his eyes. Tomte is confused but does so.

Tomte expects to be hit, but he’s instead hugged by warmth. Ded tells him to keep his eyes shut or else he’ll really punish him then. He apologizes for trying to give him his artifact without considering how he felt, admitting this is a failure as a Santa and not blaming Tomte for running. Ded then assures that Tomte’s done well enough, no matter what anyone else says. Then he thanks him for saving them.

Ded hugs Tomte even harder, and Tomte pats him on the back in response. Ded says hugging once in a while is fine, then says Tomte can open his eyes again. Tomte comments its the first time Black ever hugged him, then says it was nice how warm he felt.

Ded tells him to stop voicing his thoughts since it’s embarrassing him. He then talks about Tomte finding a new way of being Santa different from his, and says he’s happy he did so. He initially offers what he calls a farewell gift before correcting to Christmas present. Tomte thanks him for it, and Ded says he’ll switch out for White now since he has something to say too.

White starts off saying that Black has already mentioned most of the things he was going to say about his approach to school stuff. So to change the topic, he talks about there being a present for Tomte from some special people. Ded reaches into his bag, then pulls out an envelope for Tomte.

Tomte opens it to find a deed certificate and asks why he was given it and if it’s for that farm. His pad activates as if to respond, and the memories he had cast off start returning. Tomte asks again about the title being for the old couple’s farm, his old home before he had discarded his memories again.

Ded says he was asked to give it to him when Tomte finally finds something he truly wants. Tomte asks once more if the farm now belongs to them, and Ded says it is because he’s the ‘him’ the request referred to. Ded then says he should decide what to do with the place himself, expressing faith that Tomte can make his choice after all he’s changed over Christmas.

Tomte thanks Ded, then says he’ll try to face his old self. If it leads to an end, he’ll try to think more about his future without being tied down to roles. He then suggests moving the sauna village over there, maybe serve dishes with potatoes grown over there. Ded says he’s brimming with dreams, which is both a bit happy and a bit sad. He also feels that Tomte was definitely a different kind of person who brought happiness to children.

Tomte says what he’s aiming for is a little different from Santa, but he can see how it’s similar. He apologizes for saying it without any consideration, but he says he wants to stay and help until he can figure out what his goal is. He asks Ded to give him more guidance and chastising from here on out.

Scene shifts to the Shinjuku dorms as the snow falls. You look around wondering if you imagined someone else being around looking at you. You eventually figure it out as you pull your sword out to point it out, surprising Tomte as you find him. You get annoyed at his mild reaction to being caught and demand to know why he didn’t talk to you.

Tomte says he didn’t because the event managing work has ended, so he’s been trying to think about what he could talk about with you. For some reason his head went blank when he came to see you. Apparently it went a lot easier for him when he went to talk to Krampus after the event, feeling like they had become friends.

Tomte talks about how he’s been thinking up until he got here about what sort of relationship he wants with you. He shrugs at being found out before he could come up with something, so he figures he may as well ask you straight out. He then loudly asks if it’s okay for him to come hang out. You either agree, say it’s okay for a little bit, or gladly welcome him to do so.

Going A, Yule runs up saying he was looking for Tomte. He reminds him that he agreed to join him for some special training to become Santa. You greet Yule good morning, remind Tomte that promises are important, or suggest leaving Tomte’s question for another time.

Tomte seems put off by the idea of giving Yule special training as he admits that he doesn’t think he has anything to teach him. Yule is surprised, so Tomte asks you two if you remember the words related to being Santa. Yule does and asks why he brings them up. Tomte asks if he’s ever thought about what they meant and if he’s ever talked to Ded about it.

Yule says he didn’t since he always thought that there’s only one way to be Santa. Tomte says that the path Ded teaches is the path he had taken himself to be Santa. Tomte also says there can only be one Santa who makes it that one. He asks if Yule understands what he means. Yule sums it up by saying there can only be one Santa who can be Ded and sort of sees where Tomte is going with this.

Tomte confirms that he’s talking about Ded became Santa by inheriting the artifact of his old friend. Since Ded’s friend lost their artifact, they ended up going someplace where Ded can’t reach them. Tomte supposes that this is the same for anyone who tries to be the same as someone else whether it’s Santa or not.

Tomte says none of you guys there can be Ded, and he figures what Ded wants is for all of them to find their own ways of being Santa. Tomte then tells Yule he thinks he’s amazing. He’s faster than Tomte, always struggling to find his own way. Tomte also thinks Yule will be the one to exemplify what Ded truly hopes for. While Ded is strict with Yule, Tomte thinks his expectations for him are the opposite, and that he feels something more than love for him.

Yule is shocked to hear this as he says it’s the first he’s heard this, and he turns to you for an opinion on what to do. You either suggest thinking it over together, say to take it easy, or suggest that he not take what Tomte says as that true.

Going A, Tomte says that you guys can come up with a new idea if you do that. Anyways he then suggests going someplace with everyone to go relax. He describes this place as a place where steam wraps around you and heals your murky and sticky feelings. He’s sure an idea will come to you there, though he starts faltering under the look you’re giving him.

Yule agrees to go to the sauna with him and suggests doing the special training at the same time. He also invites you to come with. You either agree, say you’ll ask everyone to come along too, or tell them to think hard on it. Tomte leads the way as Yule follows behind. And upon looking up, a snowflake drifts by. And so the event story comes to a close.

Mystic Christmas Episode 6 Part 2

Tomte begins narrating that at any time somewhere out there, there’s a child crying. They can do nothing and are unable to accomplish anything except cry that they are there. Up until now, Tomte in his act as being a good kid had always ignored them. He has always lived that way in a bid to be accepted, trying to not cause problems and always trying to give.

Tomte has always rejected being given anything and avoided being close to others. He lived that way because he had always cast off a part of himself whenever things became inconvenient. Perhaps somewhere within himself, he thought he’d be discarding things anyways. He always hated worlds that would divide things between good kids and bad kids, and yet he was the one who did it to himself, denying that the bad side of him was him anymore.

Now though, he sees that resetting it all and trying again wouldn’t be weird. Tomte thinks that maybe a part of himself that had memories of his time with Ded and the Santa School May have been thrown out. He’s had so many encounters though, and he found someone who would chase after him if he tried to run away. Tomte then takes this statement back and says he’s sure it’s not the first time this happened.

Tomte starts thinking of the old couple, of Ded, and maybe plenty of others he can’t remember anymore. He never noticed when people tried to talk to his cast off pieces, but now he feels like he can see it now after repeating his mistakes over and over. He wanted to be happy with his other selves.

Tomte says that making every single child out there happy is an easy thing to say. He also says it’s easy to call whatever doesn’t fit with other people evil and cut it off. Tomte says that his goal is probably not something that can be called Santa.

If what he tries to be also becomes something that everyone would accept, Tomte believes he’ll cut away something from himself again. He doesn’t know what to call himself and his many fragments of himself, and for now has to rely upon a borrowed Santa name. But he hopes to figure out what to call it one day.

Tomte thanks the old couple, then says he can still make it in time to see Ded. Things tune back at the sauna village as the group of randos labeled Naughty Kids say that even if they aren’t possessed anymore, they still hate Christmas and Santa. Tomte laughs as he agrees, which surprises them as they ask if he’s Santa. Tomte says he is, and still is at the moment.

Tomte gets ready to punish the randos, which in practice means smacking them with his vihta and sticking them into the saunas as they start moaning about how good a coal sauna feels. Meanwhile, Ebisu is passing out special dishes using potatoes and animal guts, saying he removed the scents and made the tastes suited for young people. He also comments that he’s much better suited to cooking things like this rather than Christmas food.

The crowd of randos love the food, and Tomte prompts them to let out all the words and feelings they’ve bottled up. Sitri says he’s gonna be cool and listen to whatever they have to say, so they better be ready for it. Tomte then declares that this is his new traditional yet innovative style of Black Santas.

Some time later, all the Santa students and organizers have lined up together at the sauna village. Everyone has bags noted not to have any Santa Power or artifact power in them but still filled with presents to be handed out to children. Tomte asks if everyone’s warmed up and eaten yet, then says it’s about time to get the Christmas present handout operation started. He orders everyone to go, and people start getting into sleighs and positions.

Tomte asks you to come with him, saying he wants you to watch over him and make sure he finishes up with everything to the end. You either agree or ask what happened to the naughty kids. Going C, Tomte says his other selves will handle it, and that it’ll be fine since there’s so many of them. They’re currently spread throughout Tokyo to bring an end to the incident. His selves caused all this, so Tomte says his selves should take responsibility.

Yule calls for you guys to get in the sleigh since he and Tomte have the most addresses or whatever on their list to hit up. Tomte adds that they need to go around in Tokyo, then tells you to be careful as you get in. You do so and start looking around.

Takemaru starts calling for any Santas without buddies heading for Asakusa to go with him in his truck. Krampus asks to join in since a lot of the Black Santas are going on foot. Takemaru says it’s fine and waves them in.

Tetsuya sighs about having to hand stuff out and having to be with HIM on top of it. Kengo laughs and teases Tetsuya about looking good in the Santa suit and mangling the expression ‘clothes make the man.’ Tetsuya scoffs at him saying Kengo never grew at all and corrects him on the saying.

Sitri runs up and asks Kengo to come with him for a sec since he was looking for him. Kengo protests and tries to ask where Sitri is taking him, adding that he’s not getting into a Santa costume himself. Sitri says he can’t handle everything he has on his own and asks Kengo to come with him.

Aegir walks up and laughs about how lively the place is and that he’s participating in more than one thing. He calls it the Yule feast and the beginning of the Wild Hunt, then says he’ll be giving treasures to the jewels he hasn’t seen yet. You wonder if this will be alright and say that there’s a few people you aren’t sure of.

Shirou talks to you and says he thinks they’ll fit just right with the children they’ve been assigned to go to. Ryouta says it’ll be fine even if you weren’t worried since everyone’s motivated after the sauna and the food. Moritaka wishes Ryouta good luck in his job as a Santa and says he and Touji will be cheering for you guys. Touji says he’ll be doing logistical support, then tells you to go on.

Tomte turns to whoever’s around and says it’s time to go trail new paths for the new Santas in town. On his call, the sleighs start flying out, and Yule prompts you guys to hang on as he calls out his own NP to get going. The next thing you know, you’re already up in the sky as you comment on how fast and how high you are.

Tomte calls out asking for the children to tell them what they think, then activates his NP as well. As he swings his vihta, a shining mist spreads into the sky, looking like an aurora as it falls with the snow.

Scene shifts to Alice’s room as she recites Humpty Dumpty for a few lines before deviating and saying Humpty Dumpty never got better because Santa didn’t come. A flash outside the window gets her attention, and she sees a trail of light heading towards her. She notes how beautiful it is and compares it to a dream, then says she needs to get her tea party ready.

Back outside Tomte starts crying, which you notice and ask about. He says he can hear the children’s voices and wishes. None of them are the same, and all are varied. He comments that Ded and the others have always been hearing these voices, and you can either pat him on the shoulder, grab his hand, or hug him.

Going B, Tomte notes that you’re warm and compares you to a sauna. Then he tells you and Yule to stand firm as it’s time to make all the children happy as the episode battle starts. More story happens after that.

After the battle, narration describes you seeing the fires of celebratory parties lighting up one by one down below. And as that is happening, Tomte’s pad is glowing as well. Tomte says all of the demons scattered around Tokyo have been picked up now, though he raises the possibility that he has fragments of himself thrown about in other worlds. If there are, then he’ll just have to go find them one day.

Yule talks about how Tomte could be like Ded if he got back all his parts and then be split between white and black. As he thinks on it, he then asks if this means Tomte can qualify as both Santa and Black Santa. He knows that this is what talent is supposed to be, but he still feels envious towards Tomte. Yule then insists that Tomte accompanies him on some special training after Christmas is over.

Tomte doesn’t really get why Yule is mad but is happy to go along with it. He then asks Yule if he can keep going since he wants to check in on everyone else. Yule sighs but agrees.

Over in Asakusa, Takemaru is at Motosumi’s temple and acting like a Setsubun oni. Motosumi’s kids walk up and recognize him, then ask what he’s doing dressed up the way he is. Takemaru attempts to play dumb and cover his accent as he tries to stick to his act.

The kids huddle together as they have an idea. They agree on a plan, then shout out together for Motosumi saying there’s a raid on the temple. Motosumi promptly charges out ready to fight, and Takemaru in surprise tries to say he’s Santa Claus as he continues with his evil oni lines.

Motosumi tells him he’s doing it wrong because the line is supposed to be Merry Christmas for Santa, and that the line for being a monster out to eat bad children is for namahage. Motosumi also points out that if Takemaru is trying to disguise himself he should have gotten a white beard. Takemaru tries excusing himself by saying he has to dress in a hurry and skipped out on the beard.

Takemaru mentions that the Santa School asked him to help, so Motosumi decides to let it be as he asks him to say hi to Ded for him. Takemaru then says it’s time for presents to the children’s delight.

Scene then shifts to the dojo Kagutsuchi and Ikutoshi are at, with Kagutsuchi greeting Santa and Ikutoshi being surprised at who came. Ikutoshi also figures that Kagutsuchi is enough to deal with them though. Sitri is the Santa who came and is annoyed by the remark, and Ikutoshi then tells whoever to come out.

Kengo comments on Sitri having to go to Ikutoshi’s dojo to hand out presents, and Ikutoshi asks the former #6 if he’s also a Santa. Kagutsuchi apparently never met Kengo in this iteration as he asks if they know each other before introducing himself. Kengo is about to give his name when Sitri cuts him off and explains that he came to help as his assistant.

Sitri then says that the two of them came to grant their wish to spar against Santa. Ikutoshi is interested by this as he figures Kengo is good enough to be worth fighting. He then turns back to Sitri and starts to critique his movements towards the end of his fight with Macan before cutting it off and suggesting they get started.

Kengo gets ready as he says he finally understands why Sitri asked him to come along. He says he’s gotten stronger since last time and challenges the two to come at him. Sitri then announces the start of the tag battle.

Scene shifts again to the slums as Barguest asks what Kenta is doing up so late. Kenta doesn’t answer, so Barguest talks about how bad things gather at night around there and suggests that Kenta go to bed. Kenta says he doesn’t want to go home and that he wants to be with Barguest. Also since it’s Christmas Eve, Kenta says he needs to feed Inugami.

Barguest relents and says he’ll go with him then. Once they finish up, Barguest says they should go somewhere warm or else they’ll catch a cold. Kenta agrees and thanks him, though Barguest waves it off.

Barguest then comments that it’s weird how he doesn’t see any vengeful ghosts around for Inugami to eat when Aegir rolls up talking about how the golden hunting pack appears when the fires of Yule are lit. But instead of riding a horse like that ass Odin, Aegir’s come by car.

Aegir then holds up a present for them, which is mostly meant for Inugami. He then releases a bunch of dead spirits he caught with his artifact. Kenta thanks him as he tells Inugami to eat. Barguest is surprised as he asks if Aegir is Santa Claus before recognizing his costume is that of the Wild Hunt. Aegir figures Barguest must be someone from the world of fairies Tir na Nog as he says he’s probably familiar with it from the twelve nights of Christmas. He also says the look suits him better than dressing as Santa.

Anyways, Kenta thanks Aegir again as he says Inugami is full now. Aegir laughs it off as he says he had fun going on a hunt. Since Barguest mentioned looking for someplace warm, Aegir hands them a written invitation. Barguest reads that it’s for the sauna village and asks when it was made. Aegir says it’s only for tonight and is free of charge, so he suggests they may as well go. Barguest thanks him and suggests to Kenta that they go. He agrees and thanks Aegir one more time.

Over in some unspecified shopping district, Nobuharu is trying to sell some champagne for Christmas. Tetsuya walks up and Nobuharu welcomes him asking what he’s looking for before noticing something. Tetsuya says he came to give a dream to the kids in his care.

Nobuharu is amazed as he asks if Tetsuya became a Santa. He answers it’s just for tonight and gives him a present. He also gives him stuff to give to the people lodging there and for Nobuharu’s whole family since Tetsuya can’t be assed to do it himself.

Nobuharu thanks Tetsuya on behalf of everyone else and feels a little bad to be receiving so much. Tetsuya says it’s fine since Santa is supposed to be a giver. He also tells him he looks forward to working with them more in the future, which he also adds a comment about not meaning that as a Santa. Nobuharu then thanks him for his patronage.

Back to your side, Tomte says it looks like everyone handed out their presents alright. Yule asks if Ded can come back now. Tomte says he thinks so and that they’ll just have to wait for something to happen. He then asks if Yule can take him to one more place.

Time skips a bit as you ask Tomte where you guys are and why he wanted to come here. Tomte tells you this is where he met Ded. He apologizes and asks if you two will let him stay there for a bit. He promises to go back later since he has to clean up and thank everyone for helping. Yule agrees, then asks what you plan on doing. You either say out loud you’ll stay with Tomte or just stand there quietly.

Yule seems sad before accepting your answer and heading off. Snow starts to fall as if to shine on the world and to cover it. It just falls from above, silently. Tomte starts talking to Ded as if he were there saying he’s regained his memories. He thinks that it might be why he can finally see the thread that connects them together now. He admits he was right, that he has more ties than he thought. He’s not alone anymore, but it’s also because of that that Tomte feels lonely.

Tomte says he hasn’t repaid Ded for all his help, and he says he wants to help him and see him again. He calls out begging for Ded to come back, and a voice says that Santa Claus is the one who brings happiness to all ‘children.’ White appears as he says that he can’t look away from any crying children.

You call out to Ded and say he came back. He says it’s because Tomte didn’t take his bag. White then admits that he didn’t know if he could come back, but thanks to that choice both he and Black have returned. Tomte rushes up to him in tears, and Ded says his cute student did well.

Ded comments that it’s really hard to make children grow and graduate. He says it’s probably not time for that yet, so he can probably guide them for a bit longer. Ded turns to you and thanks you for supporting Tomte and everyone. If you weren’t here, he suggests Tomte might have cut off a part of himself again.

Black speaks to White about not needing a hug and that White can do it. White laughs that he’s so indirect and that he can stand to be nice at times. Ded then says it’s time to go back to the Santa School then, and the episode ends to be continued in the epilogue.

Mystic Christmas Episode 6 Part 1

Things start at the sauna village as you and Tomte await for all the demons to come over, who show up as expected. Tomte comments on them finally arriving and says he heard that they’ve been escalating their pranks. Now that they’re here he’s sure that their attempt to mess the event up is their complete rejection of Santa.

Tomte says he worried about it and didn’t accept it at first, but he admits the demons are himself and understands. You either be shocked at how many of them there are and call out to Tomte, or you can stay quiet. Tomte says it’s okay as they won’t hurt either of you guys. He says the main problem is whether he can believe in himself all the way and finish what he’ll set out to do.

Narration questions if Tomte is directing that to the demons, someone else, or both. Tomte talks about hating the people who cast him down as a demon. He hates them and continued hating them, meaning the people of Eden whose faith judged him unilaterally.

Theirs is a simple faith that moves their world, saying good children go to heaven while bad children go to hell. Santa is one thing born from this System, which is why Tomte hated him too. He hated everything that came from Eden, and narration brings up the expression that relates to that.

Narration says this hatred is not a thing that will be resolved in a day since it tied so deeply to Tomte’s way of life. He’d need at least as much time as he spent suffering with the hatred to move past it. Tomte speaks aloud about not having the time for it now, so he says he won’t deny it. He’ll put it on hold for now. Tomte says that he’ll coexist with those feelings and bring about a new image of Santa.

You are shocked at Tomte’s apparent plan to remake Santa, ask what he means, or quietly wait for him to go on. The demons wait for Tomte to continue as if listening closely. Tomte says that in Tokyo, the faith for Eden and the faith for Santa are not equal. In which case, Tomte says he can find some gap to squeeze through.

Tomte talks about how in Tokyo, Santa is just thought of as the guy who brings presents to good kids. Black Santa is the one who punishes bad kids, and according to that belief they do so with gifts that don’t make them happy. Things like coal, potatoes, or animal guts.

Tomte notes that Black Santa is not believed to take naughty children to hell, then repeats that there’s a gap for him to work with. He takes his being able to think of this as proof that he is naughty, unable to let go of his hatred.

Despite that, Tomte thinks of Ded and says he wants White to worry about him one more time and for Black to scold him again. And he wants them to do so as Ded and not as Santa. Tomte then asks you to watch him finish what he’ll do all the way to the end. You ask about watching him or if he’s okay with you doing so.

Tomte explains he wants you to see that he’s not just a good kid or a bad kid since you’ve accepted him as both. It’s why he wants you to watch him all the way. You agree to it and nod, or you can ask if this is a love confession. Going A, he thanks you. In C he says you shouldn’t say something like that so lightly and says he might prank you like the bad kid he is.

Tomte then faces the possessed people and brings out his vihta. He then activates his NP as he tells them all to blow out all their pent up emotions and tells the demons to return to him. The possessed initially react with pain upon being hit with a branch but soon says it feels good. The Evils fall out of them and are absorbed by Tomte’s pad as it glows.

Narration then turns the clock back a bit to the daytime and tunes into the Santa School before the Santa Sendoff Ceremony is supposed to start. Tomte introduces himself formally as the head organizer and thanks everyone there for coming. Aside from the Santa School people, this includes the Crafters, Claude, Snow, Bathym and Sitri, Team Shinya, the Toyosu group, and the Outlaws.

Tomte starts the meeting off with an apology for running out on things. He doesn’t expect forgiveness, but he hopes he can prove himself with his actions. He also mentions for the record that Ded has disappeared from Tokyo and takes the time to explain the situation.

After that’s done, Tomte says that Ded doesn’t really have a connection to people outside of Christmas since he’s a Santa. That’s why the unstable faith in Santa caused him to disappear. Bringing him back will require you guys to take back that faith, and to do that you guys will have to give presents to good kids and punishment to bad kids. Tomte also says however that Ded won’t be coming back if they use his artifact to do so.

The Santa School students are shocked when Tomte declares they’ll have to go without Ded’s bag. Tomte says he can’t do it alone, and that the Santa students can’t do it by themselves either. Everyone else who joined the organizing committee will be needed to pull this off, so Tomte asks them once again for help. You raise your hand and agree to help, or you look around to see how others react.

Going A, Tomte is surprised but thanks you for joining in. Kurogane happily offers to help out until the end of things as a point of pride. Takemaru adds that they need to repay for the help with Musashi. Tomte is happy for the offer but notes that it’s technically his fault that happened to begin with. Takemaru points out that he still helped Musashi get in to the sauna regardless. Their sauna has been a hit since then, so Takemaru says they need to thank him for that.

Talos joins in the conversation and offers to help as Hephaestus. Hephaestus himself is either apparently talking to Talos remotely or is only there as a flashback saying he wants to help you but doesn’t want to be near a crowd, so he orders Talos to go in his place. Talos is happy to do so and plans on trying to improve Hephaestus’s reputation among other people.

Claude agrees to help, reasoning that if the possessed causes this to be the last Christmas ever then it was unintentional. He stakes his own reputation on helping out here, and Sitri asks why he was brought along despite not being a Bukuro student.

Snow says he saw him loitering around looking bored, so he decided to take him with them. Sitri protests being bored but says he can’t give Kengo his present with things like this. He decides to help if he can and that he can’t just overlook people in trouble if he wants to be cool. Bathym happily coos about how great Sitri is turning out, then decides he should work in the background this time instead of being in the spotlight.

Shinya says he’ll help out as much as he can, then asks what Kalki and Taromaiti plan on doing. Taromaiti says she’ll go with him but has reservations about how things are at the moment. She thinks having Santa around on Christmas would be best. Kalki high handedly says he’ll lend a hand too.

Eita is shocked at the idea that Santa could be gone and cries over how sad that is. Makara tries to calm him down, and Aegir says it’s too early to be crying. If someone steals something from you, then he suggests taking it back. Eita however is annoyed Aegir is using him as an elbow rest.

Kengo is shocked Tetsuya is around and asks why he’s there since he couldn’t possibly be one of the organizers. Tetsuya tells him to shut it and says things just happened. Kengo is happy to have him around as an ally and suggests they go hand presents out. Tetsuya sighs it’ll only be for a day and tells him not to drag him down.

Tomte thanks everyone, and Shirou asks him to explain his idea. The Analyst starts up for Tomte’s exposition as he decides to begin with explaining how the presents will be handled. So without Ded’s bag, they’ll need to work off predictions and haul around the presents and people. Tomte also says presents aren’t just objects as there are some things that have to be done with actions. Like one child is hoping to have tea with Santa while another wants to fight him.

Touji feels that this is impossible unless they had an artifact that has the power to predict things. Tomte says his pad has been in use for a long time and has a record of what all the kids in Tokyo want. They can use that to figure out what to get as presents. This is vital to the operation, so he wants Shirou and the others to handle it. You either say it’s a huge responsibility or say you’re counting on him.

Shirou has some doubts about being able to do this since picking presents isn’t his specialty. Tomte has faith in his analytical abilities and assures him you and he will be with him to help. Shirou says he’ll do it then and says he’ll be counting on you too.

Tomte says the next order of business is actually getting the presents, and Shirou says he he heard of a good offer from Kamata and Ikebukuro. Claude backs him up, saying he can put in advertisements for toys and goods from their foundation. He thinks it’ll be a cheap investment if some branding is thought up for it.

Kurogane adds that Takemaru can get the materials they need to make things using his artifact. Takemaru thinks it’s cute of him to volunteer him like this and says he’ll do it. Tomte thanks him and says the next bit is getting the presents handed out. With belief in Santa weakened, transporting the usual Santa way will be delayed. He suggests lightening the load on the reindeer and using alternate methods to make it up.

Tetsuya offers to pitch in on that front, saying the Outlaws’ biker gangs are waiting on standby, which seems to be Suzuka and the yakshas. Tomte accepts the suggestion and moves onto the part with Black Santas and the presents for naughty kids. Moritaka says that seems hard and asks how they’re supposed to keep the kids from running away from them. It was Ded’s artifact that kept them from running away since it’s an artifact related to karma. How do they work without it?

Tomte says he’s already thinking of something. But if he’s right, he thinks the bad kids will come to him on their own. Moritaka is shocked and is about to ask about it, but Tomte asks they leave it to him as he says he’ll use his vihta artifact to retrieve the demons. You either express surprise that it’s an artifact or ask if it wasn’t a sauna tool.

Tomte says he was surprised by it too since he also thought it was just a normal object until recently. He says it started shining with its power when he started to remember things, and he says he’s sure he knows what power it has. Before he says what, he realizes he needs to talk about what’s happening next. He then asks Sitri and the Toyosu group for help here to be the new style Black Santas.

Sitri is surprised he’s needed for this part, but he talks to himself about how it would be cool to say ‘leave it to me’ there. Aegir is surprised but interested as he asks Tomte to explain. Tomte says that all Santas exist to bring happiness to children whether they be regular or Black Santas. He wants to have a connection with the old way of thinking while coming up with something new.

Tomte then declares as the head organizer that it’s time to get started on things. Scene flashes back forward to the sauna village as Kalki welcomes everyone coming in, being really intense as he asks if people want to eat in or get take out. You either comment on how much pressure he’s putting out or ask him to smile. Ryouta compares this to how Touji would do things, but Touji doubts he’d be so cold and says Kalki is inflexible in some ways.

Kalki notices Touji around at this point and asks if he knows you guys. Touji tells him you guys are his friends, then tells you guys he and Kalki study under the same master. Kalki then asks why you’re here and asks if you’re there to help give presents. You say it’s mostly that and hand Ryouta something.

Ryouta jokes that you’re giving him a love letter, then reads that it’s orders from HQ telling him to bring specified presents to an assigned location. He says he can’t go as he is and needs food right away, then asks Kalki for a whole bunch of cakes while inviting you and Touji to eat with him. Kalki is shocked at how much he’s ordering and notes it’s a lot for three. Ryouta admits the point but mulls it over since he still wants to try them all.

Chouji comes over telling Ryouta that there’s still chicken, salad, and hor d’oeuvres left, then says everyone can take them home. Ryouta is happy about that and plans on emptying his stomach before having them later.

Over at the Santa School, Yule is in Ded’s office staring at his bag. He reaches out hesitantly for it, but eventually stops and hangs his head. Tomte walks in looking for him, and Yule starts apologizing for not being around for the last bit of prep for the main event. Tomte almost brushes it off but figures Yule isn’t feeling the best since Ded was like a parent to everyone in the school. Yule agrees saying he wants him to come back. Because of that, he couldn’t bring himself to take Ded’s artifact with him.

Tomte starts talking about how he and Yule are the same, in that there’s a good kid and a bad kid within themselves. Tomte says he wants to remake the image of Santa, and to do that he needs Yule’s help. Yule says he’s a jerk for saying that first since Yule had thought of Tomte as a rival beforehand. Tomte brings up that rivals can also be friends, which is something he heard from Krampus’s DVDs.

Yule laughs at that, then thanks Tomte and says he feels a little better now. Tomte has a request of him, then asks Yule to buddy up with him for tonight. Yule asks if he’s being asked to be the reindeer, but Tomte says he wants to do something that isn’t the Santa and Reindeer setup that’s been happening up until now. Yule is surprised and asks what that is.

Tomte says he knows what Yule has been worried about and that he’s always been hesitating. But it’s precisely for those reasons that he wants Yule’s help so that they can find something new together. Yule agrees after a moment, and Tomte says it’s time for them to be a new age Santa Claus.

The episode ends as the title card pops up, and the chapter is called The Obliging Santa’s Present.

Mystic Christmas Episode 5 Part 2

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.

Mystic Christmas Episode 5 Part 1

Narrations by talking about how Tetsuya is wandering around Kabukicho Ichibancho holding up a signboard meant to attract customers and wearing a Santa costume he got at some bulk retailer. At this time of night lots of customers are around looking for a distraction, and that means it’s time to make money. Narration compares Tetsuya to some migrating fish as he walks from Ichibancho to Hanazono St. to Golden Gai.

Tetsuya then notices a tenant somewhere has put up a new bar. Narration says that while the shops may change, the location does not. It’s a town with an isolated atmosphere. There Tetsuya spends his days working the whole time, doing what looks like gambling from the outside and living as if there was no future.

Narration wonders when was it that Tetsuya first stepped foot in this place. At that time, there was someone (re: Kengo) with him who isn’t here now. This was a a town that accepted noobs that were lost for directions in life and dreams to follow. And this was a town where those who found their dreams left to pursue them out in the world. Those who search for their dreams come to Kabukicho, and one day they leave after they find it.

Tetsuya’s seen many lost people come in, and he’s watched them go. Even still he remains. He still feels like a newcomer, but lately he’s been getting colleagues that are like underlings to him.

Tetsuya comments that customers seem more sullen this year all around town. At this time of year there’s usually more activity happening, meaning the influence of Christmas is waning here. Tetsuya is concerned since the downturn of business will affect their food budget, so he hopes Santa will do something about it.

As Tetsuya looks around for customers, he notices something strange at one of the trash pick up spots in one of the back alleys and goes to check on it. In said alley, Tomte is frantically running through as if running from the fact that he shouted abuse at Ded before he collapses. Everywhere he looked on the way looked the same as if it weren’t almost Christmas. There are no lights out on the trees on the streets, and no Christmas cakes are being sold.

Tomte wonders if he’s ever expressed emotions like this before, and if this happened because he regained his memories. He thinks about his hate for the saint Santa. Within his heart there is a self that laughs at what’s happening. It holds his warped belief and delights in its vengeance against Santa. But at the same time, there’s still the side within Tomte that lived with and studied Ded. The conflict between his sadness and enjoyment of the one he cares for makes him feel as though he were being torn apart.

Tomte wonders what it is he wants to do. Even if he doesn’t accept Ded’s artifact, Ded will disappear if the belief in him goes away. He agonizes at the thought of trampling on the feelings Ded entrusted to him. Because of what he’s said to Ded, Tomte feels that he can’t go back to the Santa School. He thinks about losing his home ‘again’ as he wonders where he should go.

Tomte stares up into the sky, lost for ideas that usually come to him right away. He mutters about not knowing what to do, and Tetsuya walks up to him at this point asking if he’s from the Santa School based on his outfit. He also asks what Tomte is doing lying on the ground like that.

Tomte doesn’t answer, and Tetsuya says he’s in their territory so he ought to leave if he doesn’t have any business there. Tomte starts crying, which takes Tetsuya aback for a moment as he thinks his face may have scared him to tears. Tomte cries about Tetsuya chasing him out and not having any place to go. Tetsuya sighs about him just being someone who collapsed and tells him to come with him then.

Tomte thinks he made Tetsuya mad, and Tetsuya has to quickly deny that, saying he just looks that way. He also tells him to stop crying. Tetsuya sighs over what a pain Tomte is and says he’ll ditch him there if he isn’t coming along. Tomte eventually decides to follow him.

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called The Fairy’s Place in the World.

Scene then shifts that wooded area by the dorm Moritaka practices in the morning where Moritaka is doing just that. You go over to talk to him and comment on him training even on Christmas Eve. He greets you back on comments on how early you’re up. He also says that since he’s always trained since he was young he can’t let himself skip a day.

Moritaka then asks what brings you over as he figures that the sauna village must be done. You can either mention that you never did anything with him over the event in one of two ways or say you wanted to be with him. He’s surprised you came all this way to say so to him, but he’s happy you said so. He is a little sad it didn’t turn out like so, but he doesn’t mind and asks you to not look so sad. You can then thank him, suggest you guys hang out some time, or hug him.

Going C, Moritaka is flustered as he asks what’s going on with you. He tries to protest that he’s still in the middle of his training routine and is unsure of how to react. You call it a make up hug, so he says he wasn’t mad to begin with but accepts the gesture as he rubs your back a little. Narration notes his fur is a little longer for the winter and how warm it is, and Moritaka says he really does feel attracted to you. He immediately tries to take it back, but as you two draw closer, Shirou calls out looking for him. Moritaka panics and tries to get his tail under control.

Anyways, Shirou notices you’re here too and wonders if you were both practicing. Moritaka says he was doing his usual training as he turns to you. You either agree, say you came to watch Moritaka train, or comment to Moritaka that it was really intense. If you go with C there’s an extra bit where Moritaka sputters, though Shirou doesn’t pay much thought to that.

In any case Moritaka asks why Shirou is there. Shirou asks you guys to stay calm as he informs you both that Tomte and Ded have disappeared as of last night. You both express shock, and Moritaka wonders if they were kidnapped. Shirou can’t confirm that but brings up something you and Kengo mentioned to the gang when you were talking with Tomte and Takemaru. Flashback ensues to the time Takemaru compared Santas to oni and how people’s belief affect them.

Shirou then repeats the bit about how belief is what allows Santa to exist, meaning Santa disappears if the belief in him does. If accepted for the time being, he figures that explains why Ded is gone. It happened because the people possessed by Tomte’s demons caused the faith in Santa to dry up.

You ask about the other Santa students, Yule, and Krampus. Shirou says they seem fine, and he guesses it’s because they’re just students instead of official Santas. He then wonders why Tomte is gone then since he isn’t one either. You think Tomte hasn’t really disappeared and is still in Tokyo somewhere. Shirou thought so too and and agrees, though he doesn’t have any evidence.

Shirou does remember that Tomte mentioned not having a home and a place to belong to anymore if Santa is gone, so he takes that as support for his instinct about Tomte being somewhere. Moritaka has heard about how Tomte sees Ded as a father figure, and he figures the shock of him disappearing would cause Tomte to run away. You either agree with Moritaka, ask Shirou’s opinion, or act officially and ask what Shirou thinks as adviser.

Shirou agrees with Moritaka’s thoughts and says he wants you to go look for Tomte since you spent the most time with him. Shirou also asks Moritaka to go as your guard, and Moritaka agrees and swears to find Tomte as well. You then ask where Shirou will go and if the rest of the gang with help look.

Shirou plans to go to the Santa School because the current situation has the schools in chaos. He mentions that everything may be put on hold until Tomte is back. Moritaka is surprised the Sendoff Ceremony might be on hold too, so Shirou mentions Ded being gone caused the students’ present sacks to lose their power. You ask about this happening despite the bags still existing.

Shirou explains that the bags all the students have borrow a part of Ded’s artifact’s power. He doesn’t know much since he heard it secondhand, but Ded’s bag is still around. No one can get it to work though, which Shirou describes as if its ownership was abandoned.

Anyways, the students are unable to give presents to anyone currently. People are saying Christmas may be canceled, or at least the ceremony. Moritaka says Tomte would be so upset if he heard about that. You say that while you may not know what’s actually happening, you need to at least talk to Tomte. Moritaka then gets fired up to go look with you.

Scene shifts to some club in Kabukicho as Tomte wakes up. Tetsuya notices and asks how it feels to occupy someone else’s bed. Tomte say he might cry again if he loses focus, but he calmed down a bit. Tetsuya is glad at least since he says he couldn’t put up with any more crying.

Anyways, since Tomte asked at some point where he is, Tetsuya tells him he’s in a Outlaws safe house where it ought to be warm. It’s supposed to snow that day from what he’s heard. Tomte asks who Tetsuya is and wonders if he’s a Santa since he’s dressed up. Tetsuya says he’s just a fake Santa dressed up for business reasons.

Tomte notices that Tetsuya has some resentment towards Santa and asks about it. Tetsuya says he was always a bad kid and never got presents because of it. Tetsuya finally gives his name at this point and describes himself as one of the infamous lawless people. He also calls Tomte by name and notes his school affiliation.

Tomte ask how Tetsuya knows and if they met before. Tetsuya says they shouldn’t have met before and that he just heard about him from the outside. Tomte asks why he helped him then, so Tetsuya says it’d be a problem to have someone lying around on the ground on their turf. He also adds that it’s because he’s dressed up as Santa and that he knows Black Ded.

Tomte then asks what Tetsuya did to be visited by Black, but Tetsuya’s stomach growls at this point. Tetsuya then grumbles about having not eaten last night because of Tomte, so Tomte offers to cook Christmas stuff for him as thanks.

Tetsuya figures he might as well get Tomte to do all the food prep too as he says their policy is to make everyone work. Marchosias Their knight should already have bought the food and brought it in already. Tetsuya also asks Tomte to make stuff that can be served to customers, so Tomte asks if it’s okay to make more. He then heads off to the kitchen.

Almost all of the other Outlaws walk in at this point, and Gyoubu asks how Tsukuyomi is doing as he refers to him as a white bronze mirror. Suzuka says he’s sleeping like always, though it’s fine since it’ll be busy that night and they can make him work then. Assuming it’s busy anyways. Suzuka then says it’s time for everyone to share their information.

Ibaraki says he went to check on the Santa School and says that Ded and Tomte have disappeared. He’s apparently also an organizer for Shinjuku, so he uses that to verify his info. Tetsugyuu went with Ibaraki and looked around while they were out, and to him it looks like people have forgotten what day it is and acting like it’s any other day.

Tetsuya says something big happened while they were relaxing, then mentions finding Tomte last night. He sighs about what he ended up picking up. Ibaraki starts suggesting they just tie Tomte up and dump him in the river, but Tetsuya laughs and says they aren’t like that in Kabukicho. Everyone else silently agrees.

Tetsuya then describes Kabukicho as the place where idiots in Tokyo end up in when they lose their other places to belong to. So long as Tomte doesn’t express any sort of intent to do something particular, Tetsuya has no plans to kick him out.

Scene shifts to Shinjuku Station as you say it’s time to look for Tomte, though given that you have no idea where to look you ask Moritaka for ideas. Moritaka notes that Tomte has a unique scent and says you have something with that smell in your bag, so he asks to see it.

You have a towel that you both used at the sauna for some reason, and Moritaka figures he can use that to track him even if it’s not his specialty. You can either thank him and say he’s reliable or compare him to a dog. If you go C, Moritaka protests that he’s a dog man and not a dog, and that he just has sharper senses in smelling and hearing than others.

In any case Moritaka starts leading you to the entrance of Kabukicho. He says the smell is getting stronger inside, but he does note that you guys can’t just walk in on Outlaws territory. He asks what you think and will go along with your decision. You either shrug it off as an emergency, wonder if you can see someone you know around, or say it’s time to barge in through the front.

Shino shows up to laugh at Moritaka for doing his job as a bodyguard. Moritaka is taken by surprise at his presence, and Shino calls him a dog that needs more training since he didn’t realize he got so close. Moritaka protests at not being a dog. You start talking to Shino and say he came at a good time.

Shino starts greeting you as the Originator who has the same scent as his spouse. He offers to help however he can in place of the dumb trainee and asks what brings you over. You either say you’re looking for someone, say you came to say him, or claim to be on a date with Moritaka.

In B, Shino is happy to hear that but figures that’s not really what’s up and asks again. You tell him you’re looking for someone at that point and ask to go in. In C he laughs saying Moritaka did well to go on a date with you and figures he’s just high on that, so he stops saying anything else on that. Moritaka is taken aback and says it’s not really a date, and if it were he’d have brushed up some more. Shino stops with the jokes and says Moritaka isn’t that reliable, which shocks him. He asks again why you’re there so you say you’re looking for someone and ask to go in.

Shino offers to take a message for you since there’s a lot of people around who’d pick a fight. He also asks who it is you’re looking for and a description of some kind. Moritaka describes Tomte as a Santa School student with a white branch bundle and a pad.

Shino understands and asks you guys to wait. Moritaka asks where he’s going, and you either thank him, ask if he knows who it is, or be amazed at the Outlaws info net. The episode part ends as Shino asks you to wait for the time being.