(CHRISTMAS MUSIC)
[SOJIRO] CHRISTMAS IS PRETTY NICE DON'T YOU THINK, LADIES?
I SERIOUSLY CAN'T WAIT!
WHY DON'T WE GET THE GUILD TOGETHER
FOR A CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY?
[CHIKA] YEAH THAT SOUNDS GREAT! YOU CAN COUNT ME IN!
I'M ALL FOR A CELEBRATION,
AS LONG AS WE GET CHICKEN AND CAKE ALL NIGHT LONG!
SO, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU THINK WE NEED TO HAVE?
WELL, YOU KNOW, SINCE IT'S CHRISTMAS AND ALL...
MAYBE WE COULD TRY SOME SALMON.
[ALL] SALMON?
MMM, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE SALMON ON CHRISTMAS?
I THINK IT'LL BE PERFECT! LET'S DO IT!
YEAH! YOU GUYS ARE GONNA LOVE IT!
(LAUGHS)
[RAYNESHIA] NOW WAIT A MINUTE.
DON'T YOU THINK THIS IS A LITTLE TOO SHORT?
I REALLY DON'T WANNA SHOW OFF MY LEGS TOO MUCH.
OH, IT'S ADORABLE ON YOU, NESSIE!
YOU LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!
[HENRIETTA] JUST A SKOSH ABOVE THE KNEES
IS A PERFECT FIT FOR YOU!
[SERARA] YOU LOOK REALLY PRETTY, PRINCESS!
I MUST ADMIT I'M NOT VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE
OF ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS...
BUT ISN'T THIS "SANTA CLAUS" YOU WANNA SEE
SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE AN OLDER, HEAVIER GENTLEMAN?
MM‐HM. THAT'S CORRECT.
[MARIELLE] AH AKATSUKI, WHAT'VE YOU DONE?!
I AM SO GONNA HAVE TO PUNISH YOU FOR THAT LITTLE INDISCRETION!
[AKATSUKI] EHH?
(ANNOYED)
WOW! BOTH OF YOU ARE SUPER CUTE!
YOU'RE AS TASTY AS A HUNDRED CHICKENS!
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ROOM FOR SOME SUPPER, YOU GUYS!
(ANNOYED NOISE)
[RIEZE] YES, OF COURSE
[AKATSUKI] HUH? [ALL] HUH?
[RIEZE] THEY APPEAR TO BE DRESSED AS REINDEER
AND A SANTA CLAUS IN A MINISKIRT.
THEY LOOK VERY CUTE.
[RAYNESHIA] LADY RIEZE, WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?
I AM REPORTING TO MASTER KRUSTY.
(BOTH GASP)
I'M JUST KIDDING, IT WAS JUST A FRIEND.
(SIGH OF RELIEF)
[RAYNESHIA] THANK GOODNESS!
WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT MONSTER WOULD DO
IF HE KNEW ALL THIS WAS GOING ON!
[RIEZE] I APOLOGIZE. THAT WAS A TAD DESPICABLE.
IT'S JUST YOU TWO ARE SO TAKEN WITH EACH OTHER,
I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF...
[RAYNESHIA] HUH?
(DOOR OPENING) [MIKAKAGE] PARDON ME, LADIES!
(SMALL LAUGH)
[MIKAKAGE] WE BROUGHT YOU SOME SNACKIES.
[ALL] YOU'RE AWESOME! THANK YOU!
HMMMM... MMMM...
MMMMMM...
(QUIET GIGGLE) [ALI] OH...
[RAYNESHIA, THINKING] STRANGE.
WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, AKATSUKI WAS MY ONLY GUARD.
[RAYNESHIA] WOW, THIS IS GOOD!
THIS FRUITCAKE IS REALLY DELICIOUS! THANK YOU!
[MIKAKAGE] UH‐HUH!
[MARIELLE] MIKAKAGE IS A MASTER OF EVERYTHING
FROM APPETIZERS TO DESSERTS!
BAKING AND PREPARATION OF SWEETS IS AN ART FORM FOR ME,
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE KITCHEN IS JUST A HOBBY!
YOUR COOKING IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH MR. CAT'S.
I LIKE GUARDING A PRINCESS;
AND THE FRINGE BENEFITS AND PERKS AREN'T BAD EITHER,
NOT TO MENTION TASTY.
SO ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN D. D. D.,
WHEN ARE YOU EXPECTING THEM BACK?
EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE DONE A GREAT DEAL
TO VANQUISH THE LATEST GOBLIN ASSAULT,
IT WON'T BE UNTIL NEW YEARS.
AND HERE I WAS HOPING TO HAVE THEM BACK BY CHRISTMAS.
POOPY‐TOOTS, WE WERE GONNA THROW THEM A PARTY.
IT'S LIKE EVERYONE'S SO BUSY THESE DAYS,
I HAVEN'T SEEN MASTER SHIROE IN FOREVER.
DID HE LOCK HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM AGAIN?
UH, YOU SEE‐
[HENRIETTA] WELL, IF HE'S BEING HIS USUAL SELF,
THEN SHIROE ISN'T GOING TO POP HIS HEAD UP
FOR CHRISTMAS ANYWAY.
AND HE PROBABLY HAS A LOT OF WORK
TO FINISH BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.
YEAH, I SUPPOSE...
I GUESS IT'S SAFE TO SAY ALL OF YOU ARE KEEPING BUSY.
(EXHALE)
[MARIELLE] SO LONG, PRINCESS! SEE YA AROUND.
[RIEZE] TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
[AKATSUKI] BYE.
[RAYNESHIA] AH, MISS AKATSUKI!
OH...?
I, UH... I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DID TODAY.
HUH?
THANKS FOR DRESSING UP IN THOSE BIZARRE OUTFITS WITH ME.
YEAH, WELL... THEY KINDA FORCED ME TO WEAR THAT.
SURE, BUT I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN DROPPING BY TO SEE ME EVERY DAY.
AND IT'S JUST REALLY NICE OF YOU TO COME BY AND CHECK ON ME.
[RAYNESHIA] THANK YOU.
AH...!
WELL I WAS... JUST DOING MY JOB.
SEE YOU TOMORROW
YEAH!
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] WHEN DID I ALLOW MYSELF
TO BECOME SO WEAK?
IT'S MY JOB TO GUARD THE PRINCESS.
I SHOULD BE PLEASED THAT MY LORD ENTRUSTED ME WITH SUCH A TASK...
BUT IT HURTS TO THINK THAT HE'S REALLY WORRIED ABOUT HER.
WHAT IF I WAS MORE LIKE HER...?
I MEAN WOULD IT CHANGE THE WAY HE THINKS ABOUT ME?
WOULD HE WORRY ABOUT ME?
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF I WAS LIKE THE PRINCESS...
I NEVER WOULD HAVE STOOD BY MY LORD'S SIDE AS AN ASSASSIN.
I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT HIM IF I'M NOTHING BUT SMILES
AND CHARM AND DESSERTS ALL THE TIME.
(GASP)
UH, HEY...! I'M SORRY AND I DON'T WANNA BOTHER YOU AGAIN,
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SWORD THAT WAS ON DISPLAY?
I SOLD IT.
OH? NO, YOU DID?
[TATARA] YES. AND THE MAN EVEN PAID FOR IT STRAIGHT UP IN GOLD.
UH... (SHAKY INHALE)
[RIEZE] HAS AKATSUKI SEEMED TROUBLED TO YOU LATELY?
[HENRIETTA] I GUESS IT WASN'T JUST ME, HUH?
NO... SHE DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO LETS IT SHOW, EITHER. THAT'S NOT GOOD.
YEAH, THAT'S TRUE...
WELL, SOMETHING IS GOING ON.
IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S BEEN WATCHING
D. D. D.'S TRAINING SESSIONS LATELY.
HUH?
[RIEZE] I'VE ONLY SEEN HER ONCE,
BUT I THINK SHE'S BEEN THERE BEFORE.
IT'S NOT LIKE SHE'S UNWELCOME, YOU KNOW?
ALL SHE HAS TO DO IS ASK,
AND SHE CAN PARTICIPATE IN A RAID WITH US IN D. D. D.
WE ARE THE BEST IN AKIHABARA.
BUT IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN SIMPLY FORCE HER TO JOIN US.
AND WHEN I LET LORD KRUSTY KNOW,
HE JUST SAID TO LET AKATSUKI LOOK ON AS MUCH AS SHE WISHES.
HE SAID THAT HE OWES SHIROE A FAVOR.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING HAPPENS,
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE HER WHATEVER HELP WE CAN.
WELL THAT'S CERTAINLY NEWS TO ME...
BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, SHE MIGHT BE SPENDING TIME
SPYING ON THE OTHER GUILDS AS WELL.
I GUESS SHE'S CONCERNED ABOUT HER ABILITIES,
AND IF SHE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE.
[HENRIETTA] I KINDA GET THE FEELING SHE'S GOT
SOMETHING ELSE ON HER MIND. [RIEZE] OHH...?
IT'S MORE LIKE WHAT SHE'S LACKING IS... CONFIDENCE.
[RIEZE] HM....
[HENRIETTA] I SUPPOSE, FOR RIGHT NOW,
ALL WE CAN DO IS BE THERE FOR HER.
[RIEZE] FAIR ENOUGH.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] THE ORAL ARTS...
WELL BROTHER SHIROE SAID THEY EXIST.
HUH... HE REALLY DID?
[TOYA] YEAH, HE SAID THAT THEY'RE TOTALLY LEGIT.
(COMBAT NOISES)
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] IF MY LORD SAID THEY EXIST,
THEN THERE'S NO DOUBT THE ORAL ARTS ARE REAL!
LARGE RAID GUILDS LIKE D. D. D. AND BLACK SWORD KNIGHTS
SHOULD HAVE FIRST‐RATE ASSASSINS.
IF THEIR ASSASSINS ARE USING THE ORAL ARTS,
I WANT TO SEE JUST HOW STRONG THEY TRULY ARE.
I'LL WATCH UNTIL I ACTUALLY SEE ONE OF THEM USE ONE.
THEY HAVE TO BE EVENLY MATCHED AND WILLING TO BREAK A DEADLOCK.
[GUY C] YOU GOTTA STEP INTO IT!
[GUY D] THAT WAS JUST SAD! PICK UP THE PACE, YOU GUYS!
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] IF I KNEW EVEN ONE ORAL ART,
HOW POWERFUL COULD I BECOME?
(HUMMING A TUNE)
OH! HEY, AKATSUKI! WELCOME BACK!
WE'RE GONNA HAVE BOUILLABAISSE TODAY, YOU GUYS.
PULL UP A SEAT...
WE'RE ALMOST READY TO GET DIN‐DIN STARTED, NYAH.
I THINK I'LL... PASS.
[MINORI] HUH?
[ISUZU] OH COME ON! IT TURNED OUT REALLY GOOD!
AND RUDY AND TOYA ARE GONNA BE BACK ANY MINUTE NOW.
[AKATSUKI] NN‐NM... SORRY, BUT I'M JUST NOT HUNGRY.
UH... WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO HER?
SHE HASN'T BEEN ACTING LIKE HERSELF FOR A WHILE.
UH YEAH... HMM...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] PERFECT LITTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRISS!
THAT SMUG LITTLE, STUPID IMMATURE, KNOW‐IT‐ALL.
WHO THE HELL DOES SHE THINK SHE IS, ANYWAY?
I SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF MYSELF!
WHENEVER I SEE HER, I CAN'T HELP BUT GET JEALOUS AND ANGRY.
IT MAKES ME FEEL UGLY INSIDE...
IT'S NOT LIKE SHE'S SLACKING OFF. SHE ISN'T!
SHE'S TRYING REALLY HARD!
I'LL WORK AT LEAST AS HARD AS YOU...
I'LL DO ALL I CAN.
MINORI, I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE YOU ANY PROBLEMS.
I'LL DO MY BEST TO AVOID THEM.
UH, UM, THANK YOU...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] MINORI WAS HELPING MY LORD GET THINGS DONE,
WHILE I WAS WASTING TIME THINKING ABOUT MYSELF.
I DIDN'T GIVE HIM ANY HELP AT ALL...
I WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME
BUT I DIDN'T ASSIST HIM WITH ANYTHING. I WAS SO USELESS.
I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A RAID OR A QUEST,
WHICH MAKE ME A SECOND‐RATE ASSASSIN.
I CAN'T EVEN BUY A WEAPON THAT'LL HELP ME IN A RAID.
THAT'S WHY HE DIDN'T TAKE ME WITH HIM.
ALL I CAN DO IS FIGHT, BUT I'M WEAK.
SO, THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE THING I CAN WORK TOWARD.
I NEED STRENGTH, BUT HOW DO I GET IT?
WE'VE CERTAINLY BECOME QUITE THE HUB OF ACTIVITY LATELY?
WILL THEY BE COMING BACK AGAIN TOMORROW?
YES, THEY'RE SHOWING ME AROUND THE CITY.
OH, IS THAT RIGHT? WELL YOU SHOULD AT LEAST FEEL SAFE,
WITH A WHOLE TROOP OF MIGHTY ADVENTURERS GUARDING YOU.
THEY TOLD ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DISH CALLED
A "CREAM STEW" FOR DINNER TONIGHT.
[ELISSA] INTERESTING... I GUESS IT'LL BE "ADVENTURER STYLE"?
YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
(YAWN)
[RAYNESHIA] IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF THINGS HAVE BEEN
"ADVENTURER STYLE" LATELY...
THEY WANTED ME TO DRESS UP
LIKE SOMEONE CALLED, "SANTA CLAUS" TODAY.
[ELISSA] AH YES, I ASKED THEM TO BRING SOME OF THEIR CLOTHES,
AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDED TO PICK FOR YOU.
HUH?
THE IDEA WAS TO GET YOU FAMILIAR WITH THEIR STYLE OF CLOTHING.
PERHAPS THAT WAS JUST THEIR WAY OF INCLUDING YOU.
(SIGH)
KAY, WELL THAT EXPLAINS IT.
YOU KNOW? TRYING ON ALL OF THOSE CLOTHES
KINDA MADE ME A LITTLE SLEEPY.
REALLY? WELL IT MIGHT NOT BE MY PLACE TO TELL YOU THIS,
BUT IT LOOKED LIKE YOU WERE ENJOYING YOURSELF.
[RAYNESHIA] UH?
[ELISSA] IT DOES MY HEART GOOD
TO SEE YOU MAKING SOME FRIENDS, MILADY.
LOOK, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT MY FRIENDS.
HUH? BUT YOU WERE HAVING SUCH A NICE TIME.
AND IT APPEARED TO ME LIKE THEY'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY
TO HELP IF YOU EVER GET INTO TROUBLE.
TALKING WITH THEM IS NOT WHAT I WOULD CALL A NICE TIME.
I HAVE TO BE WARY.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NORMAL LIKE WE ARE, OKAY.
THEY'LL ALWAYS BE ADVENTURERS.
YES, BUT MILADY...
[RAYNESHIA] I'VE MASTERED MANY FORMS OF ETIQUETTE,
BUT THEY ARE DIFFERENT.
IF YOU'RE HAPPY, ACT HAPPY.
IF YOU'RE SAD, ACT SAD.
EMOTIONS ARE WHAT THEY ARE...
AND THEY HAVE TO BE EXPRESSED.
IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL UNLESS YOU SHOW THEM...
LET'S FACE IT. I'M USUALLY LAZY, IRRESPONSIBLE, AND SPINELESS.
THAT'S HOW I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.
AND I'M NOT CHANGING. I WAS BORN INTO THIS.
I REALLY DO HATE PLAYING POLITICS.
[ELISSA, THINKING] I UNDERSTAND, YOUR MAJESTY.
I'M SURE IT'S DIFFICULT BEING A NOBLEWOMAN,
NEVER HAVING THE LUXURY OF BEING TRUE TO YOURSELF.
ALTHOUGH, MILADY,
THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO STOP YOU WHEN HE'S AROUND.
[MISA] ALL MEMBERS ARE LEVELING UP
AND GAINING ITEMS ON SCHEDULE.
IF WE CAN KEEP THIS UP INTO THE SPRING,
AKIHABARA'S BATTLE GUILDS AND SECURITY
WILL BE STRONGER AS A UNIT WHEN WE RETURN.
MILORD?
HUH? YES. YES, YOU'RE RIGHT.
Y'KNOW NOW'S NOT A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO LOSE INTEREST.
DO YOU NEED A NEW TOY OR SOMETHING
TO KEEP YOU COMPANY, MASTER?
DON'T BE SILLY!
JUST LET ME KNOW WHEN... THE GOBLINS START MOVING.
(SIGH) WHAT'S HIS DEAL...
[RODERICK] JUST PUT IT WHERE WE USUALLY DO.
[NYANTA] GOT A MINUTE, RODERICK?
[RODERICK] HUH?
[NYANTA] IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU THIS FINE EVENING.
[RODERICK] HMMM?! THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT...
I MEAN IT WAS BARELY NOON THE LAST TIME I CHECKED.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO SKIP LUNCH, MY MAN.
I NEED TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS ANYWAY.
WOULD YOU CARE TO JOIN ME FOR LUNCH?
IT'S TIME FOR DINNER, BUT THAT'S FINE BY ME.
OH RIGHT, THEN LET'S GET SOME RAMEN.
SURE. RAMEN SOUNDS GOOD.
[RAMEN MAN] THERE YOU GO, GENTLEMEN!
[NYANTA] SO, HOW IS THE INVENTORY PROJECT
COMING ALONG, MYAH?
[RODERICK] IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'LL NEED SOME OF THE BEST
EPIC‐CLASS ITEMS AND A FEW SECRET ITEMS AS WELL.
AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ONE OR TWO.
IT'S KINDA STRANGE,
WHY DO WE NEED TO GO OUT OF OUR WAY TO ADD FLAVOR TEXT
TO ALL THESE THINGS NOW?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT MIGHT BE GOING ON HERE?
(BLOWING) NNHNNN.
[RODERICK] I'LL ADMIT, I CAN SEE HOW MY MERCHANT GUILD
HAPPENS TO BE THE RIGHT ONE TO GET THE JOB DONE.
WE CAN RAISE THE MONEY TO GET THE RESEARCH FINISHED,
AND A SMALLER GUILD ISN'T IN THE POSITION TO DO THAT.
WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING.
YOU KNOW WHEN SHIROE ASKS ME TO TAKE ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS,
IT CERTAINLY MAKES ME WANT TO DO IT RIGHT.
AND I'M GUESSING THAT HE WANTS IT DONE QUICKLY
ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE.
(SLURP) MMM‐MM.
WELL FAST IS GOOD, BUT DOING IT RIGHT IS EVEN BETTER.
(PING) [SHIROE, VOICE CHAT] HEY CHIEF,
DID I CATCH YOU AT A BAD TIME?
ACTUALLY, YOU CALLED AT THE PERFECT TIME, MY MAN!
I JUST FINISHED HAVING A LITTLE CHAT WITH OUR BOY, RODERICK.
[SHIROE] THANKS A LOT, CHIEF.
I SHOULD'VE BEEN BACK BY NOW TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.
[NYANTA] DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, OLD FRIEND!
I EVEN MANAGED TO GET
SOME DELICIOUS RAMEN OUT OF THE VISIT. NO WORRIES.
HOW'S EVERYONE BACK HOME DOING?
AH, IT'S GOING PRETTY WELL AROUND HERE;
THE CITY'S IN HIGH SPIRITS OVER CHRISTMAS, OF COURSE, MYAH.
[SHIROE] OH, YEAH, I ALMOST FORGOT.
UH, HOW'S AKATSUKI DOING?
SHE'S DROPPING IN ON PRINCESS RAYNESHIA
EVERY DAY TO GUARD HER, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU MEAN, MYAH.
[SHIROE] IS THAT RIGHT?
I'LL LET YOU KNOW IF ANYTHING CHANGES ON OUR END.
SO WHAT DID HE HAVE TO SAY?
HE SAID IT'S ALL GOOD BACK THERE.
AND HE ALSO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
EVERYONE GETTING ALL REVVED UP FOR CHRISTMAS.
AW MAN, WE'RE NOT MAKIN' IT BACK IN FIVE DAYS.
MPH.
(BATTLE CRY)
WHAT THE... HUH?
WAHHHH!
'KAY, THAT'S GOOD!
HEHEH
(GROANS OF PAIN)
[HISAKO, CHIKA, SANDY] THANK YOU FOR SPARRING WITH US!
[HISAKO] THAT WAS INCREDIBLE, KYOKO! YOU'RE REALLY STRONG.
[KYOKO] WELL, I AM LEVEL 90, YOU GUYS.
[CHIKA] PLEASE TELL ME THE SECRET
TO YOUR STRENGTH, MISS KYOKO!
MISS AKATSUKI...
[MARIELLE] THIS IS JUST LOVELY!
[HENRIETTA] I DIDN'T THINK I'D EVER FIND
SOMETHING LIKE THIS HERE!
LET'S GET ONE FOR THE MANSION. IT WILL BRIGHTEN UP ANY ROOM!
[MARIELLE] GOOD IDEA!
I JUST KNOW THAT NESSIE WILL LOVE IT!
YOU SHOULDN'T CALL HER THAT.
RAYNESHIA'S A PRINCESS, MARIELLE. UNDERSTAND?
NAH. SHE'S FINE WITH IT,
SHE GAVE ME A SMILE WHEN I SAID IT! OH LOOK!
[HENRIETTA] UH... HUH?
[MARIELLE] AHHHH!
[HENRIETTA] AH, FOR NAOTSUGU, RIGHT?
HUH? UHHH... WELL, YOU SEE, I THOUGHT WHEN HE GETS BACK HOME,
HE'D LIKE A LITTLE TASTE OF THE HOLIDAY
AND I'D LIKE TO GIVE IT TO HIM, IF YA KNOW WHAT I MEAN...
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEAN.
NOW WAIT! I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT, OKAY!
SO HENRIETTA, IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE
YOU'RE GIVING A PRESENT?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN? AH... AHEM...
WELL, NO. OF COURSE NOT.
YOU SURE?
[HENRIETTA] SURE, I'M SURE!
GO BUY THE STUPID TREE ALREADY!
[MARIELLE] I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
[MARIELLE] EXCUSE ME!
[HENRIETTA, THINKING] IT'S A ONE‐SIDED LOVE
KEPT AT A SAFE DISTANCE, FOR SURE.
IT'S BETTER TO KEEP IT A SECRET
AND SIMPLY ENJOY THESE SWEET FEELINGS ON MY OWN.
SOME DREAMS STAY UNFULFILLED,
BUT THAT'S ONLY NATURAL, I THINK.
I CAN BEAR THE PAIN FOR NOW.
THAT'LL BE THE BEST FOR BOTH OF US.
(MARIELLE GIGGLES)
[SERARA] A LITTLE HELP HERE...
[HENRIETTA, THINKING] MARIELLE HAS A BEAUTIFUL
AND CHEERFUL ATTITUDE THAT'S ALMOST INFECTIOUS.
SHE'S CONFIDENT AND POSITIVE.
I THINK THAT MUST BE WHERE IT COMES FROM.
BUT AKATSUKI...
AKATSUKI IS DAZZLING!
[AKATSUKI] HM?
SHE HASN'T LOST THE DELICATE FRAILTY OF YOUTH.
IT NORMALLY FADES SO QUICKLY.
SOFT AND TENDER SIDE SHE HAS MIGHT BE A SHORTCOMING TO SOME,
BUT I SEE IT AS A WONDERFUL ASSET.
ALTHOUGH I DOUBT SHE REALIZES THAT...
GAH! I LOVE HER SO MUCH,
I COULD JUST WRAP MYSELF AROUND HER AND SQUEEZE HER UP!
[AKATSUKI] UH?
[RAYNESHIA] THANKS FOR WAITING FOR ME!
PRINCESS RAYNESHIA, YOU LOOK SO CUTE AND FLUFFY LIKE A SNOWBALL!
HOW NICE OF YOU.
SHE LET ME PICK IT OUT OF HER WARDROBE.
COME ON! LET'S HEAD OUT!
[MARIELLE] WE SHOULD TAKE A WALK AROUND TOWN
BEFORE WE HAVE THAT STEW.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SHOW YOU MORE ABOUT CHRISTMAS
WHILE WE HAVE THE TIME, NESSIE!
SURE!
(GIGGLE)
[HENRIETTA] BE CAREFUL! THE SIDEWALK'S FROZEN, MARIELLE!
AH, AH, OHHHH!
[ALL] UH... [MARIELLE] THAT HURTS... OOOOH
[RAYNESHIA, THINKING] I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND
ADVENTURERS, THEY'RE JUST...
THEY'RE SO MUCH DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE.
A LOT OF MY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADVENTURERS,
AND TO BE TOTALLY HONEST,
I'M NOT SURE I HAVE ANY HELPFUL ANSWERS.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS CITY OF THEIRS, AKIHABARA,
AND I THINK I'VE WOUND UP BEING MORE CONFUSED
THAN WHEN I STARTED.
HOWEVER, THERE IS ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED.
ADVENTURERS ARE SIMPLY ADVENTURERS.
I MIGHT NOT KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS,
BUT LABELLING THEM ISN'T THE RIGHT PLACE TO START.
WE CAN'T LOOK AT THEM BASED ON THE KIND OF WORK THEY DO.
I KNOW THAT MUCH.
ADVENTURERS ARE LIKE GEMSTONES.
EVERY ONE OF THEM IS UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFUL;
AND EVERY ONE I'VE MET HAS THEIR OWN INNER LIGHT.
THESE PEOPLE ARE SO SPECIAL.
I REALLY DON'T THINK I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CALL THEM MY FRIENDS.
[RAYNESHIA] HUH?
AH!
[MARIELLE] WELL, LOOKIE THERE! WE'RE HERE!
[SERARA] I TELL YOU, THE STEW HERE IS TO DIE FOR!
[RIEZE] I HEAR NO ONE HAS EVER LEFT THIS PLACE UNSATISFIED.
[SERARA] C'MON, LET'S GO IN!
[AKATSUKI] I'M AFRAID I MUST BE GOING.
[ALL] HUH?
[MARIELLE] WHAT'S THE MATTER?
THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.
UH... UM, OKAY.
IF YOU'RE SURE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE OVER FROM HERE.
MHM...
[RIEZE] SHE'S PROBABLY GOING TO WATCH ANOTHER TRAINING SESSION.
I KNOW SOMETHING'S TROUBLING HER, I WISH I COULD HELP...
SHE'S ALMOST LIKE A SHARP DAGGER.
[HENRIETTA] HUH?
SHE'S LIKE A PURE OBSIDIAN BLADE,
SO STRONG AND BEAUTIFUL.
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] IT'S NOT LIKE JUST WATCHING
OTHER PEOPLE TRAIN WILL HELP ME GET ANY STRONGER.
I DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE ANYTHING WORK FOR ME,
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS.
[AKATSUKI] UH,
I WANT TO SEE MY LORD AGAIN...
[AKATSUKI, THINKING] JUST LET ME SEE HIM FOR A MOMENT.
JUST LET ME TALK TO HIM. I WANT TO BE NEAR HIM AGAIN.
I WANT THE TWO OF US TO SIT ON THE SOFA
AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.
I WANT TO EAT RED BEAN BUNS WITH HIM!
I WANT TO BE WITH MY LORD FOREVER.
WE BELONG TOGETHER.
BUT I'M... ONLY FOOLING MYSELF, AREN'T I?
HE'S NOT HERE.
SO I JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIM.
AND THEN I'LL BE READY TO FACE MY LORD AGAIN...
ACHOO!
[KYOKO, THINKING] I MANAGED TO GET THREE SALTED SALMON
AT SHOPPING DISTRICT 8!
MASTER SOJIRO IS GONNA LOVE THESE. I JUST KNOW IT!
HUH?
SANTA CLAUS?
[KYOKO, THINKING] THAT'S NOT SANTA!
UH....
[KYOKO, THINKING] THAT'S A PLAYER‐KILLER!
BUT, HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO ME IN TOWN, CAN HE?!
[NERURESU, CHUCKLING]
THE ROYAL GUARDS AREN'T COMING TO HELP YOU.
FINE BY ME!
[KYOKO, THINKING] I'M NOT THE CAPTAIN OF
THE WEST WIND BRIGADE'S SECOND UNIT FOR NOTHING.
I'M NOT DYING IN THE STREET!
[NERURESU] HEHE
(INHALE, EXHALE)
UH...
(LAUGH)
[KYOKO] UH...
UGH!
(LABORED BREATH)
GUH...
[AKATSUKI, VOICEOVER] SOJIRO SITS, QUIETLY SEETHING
WITH RAGE AFTER A DEAR FRIEND WAS MURDERED.
RAYNESHIA IS FORCED TO MAKE A GRAVE DECISION.
AND THE WEIGHT OF THE PRINCESS' FEELINGS
ARE LEFT ON THE SHOULDERS OF ANOTHER.
THE BATTLE AGAINST THE SERIAL KILLER BEGINS AT LAST!
AND IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE,
SOJIRO REVEALS THE SECRETS OF THE ORAL ARTS.
[SHIROE] STAND UP, ONE MORE TIME!