02x16 - It's just a merry Christmas.

[bunniefuu]

MISSION 56
"IT'S JUST… CHRISTMAS."

December 24. Christmas Eve.

Komi has no plans.

RING

Hello, Komi?

Christmas party at your house on the 24th!
Buy a present to exchange!

The budget is 2,000 yen. Bye!

FREEZE

Komi realized she's not confident
choosing a present by herself.

What would people be happy to receive?

Going alone to the station…

Will she be able to go shopping
without a major incident?

LITTLE BROTHER [SHOSUKE] JUST HAPPENED BY

SHE FORCED HIM TO COME ALONG

RUMBLE

NEKOYA

GLIDES

-THIS WILL DO.
-1KG OF BROKEN RICE CRACKERS

WANTS TO LEAVE

-The little brother wants to leave.
-SHUFFLE

"I'll narrow it down to three,"
says the big sister.

And then Komi's
present options, number one.

-A selection of candles.
-CANDLES

NOD

Number two.

-A reindeer motif vase.
-VASE

SMUG

Number three.

HO HO HO

A dancing Santa doll.

HO HO HO

He didn't like any of them.

SHUFFLE

Let's go to the toy store next! Toys!

Yes, dear.

HMMMMM

And then…

TA-DA!

-BUY IT FOR ME!
-POINT

SHUFFLE

She brought him back to help her buy it.

Komi!

-Merry Christmas!
-TOO EXCITED TO WAIT INSIDE

And…

Happy birthday!

Huh? Isn't your birthday on the 25th?

It's a day early, but as a surprise…

-Huh?
-Hey, Tadano!

Not her birthday?

How dare…

It can't be a mistake! Maybe…

IT IS TOMORROW. THANK YOU.

Oh, yeah, of course.

-Oh good!
-RELIEF

Okay.

Anyway, this is for you!

It's a birthday present from everyone!

Happy birthday and thanks for having us!

Happy Birthday, Komi.

H-Happy birthday!

-Thanks for having us.
-Happy birthday!

I'm finally going to be inside Komi!

Uh… Congratulations.

She doesn't seem very happy…

Extreme social anxiety

can mean when surprised,

it's hard to know
what sort of face to make.

Times like this, I wish
I could say something reassuring.

"I think you can just smile."
Or something?

Um… How about sending everyone
a thank you email afterwards?

Typical Tadano response.

Yes.

Christmas Party.

It may seem cheery at first.

Look closer and it's all
greed and strategy.

Everyone was thinking:

W-Where should I sit
so I can be next to Komi?

-Augh.
-Oh no.

I'm gonna sit on the balance ball!

-Some have no greed.
-Can we just sit wherever?

But the greedy ones.

The greedier they are,
the more their greed

stops them from being able
to decide where to sit!

Naturally, they look to Komi for a sign.

SIMULATION

Komi sits in a random spot.

Be the first to slide into
the spot beside her.

It's highly competitive, but the
chance of sitting nearby is also high!

It's the least risky method.

They all know this. They know it, however!

If Komi sits beside
someone who's already sitting…

That signifies a high degree
of Komi's affection.

The sense of defeat will be dreadful!

They are living within that risk!

Aren't they going to sit?

And then Komi.

Her first Christmas party with friends.

She's never had so many friends over.

Uncharted territory.

Thus…

Her mind has gone completely blank.

Shoko!

Could you carry the snacks and drinks?

Here, Komi exits the scene.

I'll help you!

I'll help, too!

All at once,
the rock-paper-scissors begins.

Leave a spot around the table empty,

and guide Komi there.

They're deciding that seating now.

This strategy was communicated
in a single glance of solidarity.

United in friendship!

Wow, I did it!

I did it!

C'mon over, Komi.

Here I am! Komi!

RESERVED FOR KOMI

There's nowhere for me to sit.

Oh, thank you, Tadano.

I'll just sit on the floor here.

I'll sit on Tadano's lap!

Hey, now what?

Wanna play Swamp Bros?

Hey, are we gonna have a toast?

-Oh, I get it!
-Hang on. I don't have juice.

She was just too bashful
to take the seat of honor.

Can you hear me?

RUMBLE

He felt her eyes boring into him
for the whole party.

Anybody want a juice refill?

I'm already pretty full.

-Whose is this?
-I'll have the rest!

Well now!

Who's the king?

What is the King Game?

Each stick either has "king" or a number.

The king says a number
and issues an order.

Often played at matchmaking parties,
it's an evil game of greed and strategy.

Here! Here!

Yamai suddenly started the game.

I'm the king!

Hasn't she been
holding that one all along?

Alright. I'm the king just like I planned.

-I paid off the ninja for Komi's number.
-SIGNALS BY COUGHING

So what perverted order shall I give Komi?

Wait!

Should I exchange
email addresses with her?

Of course I've gotten it
from a secret source.

But it's not the same!

It's important that she asks me for mine!

That's proof that we're good friends!

I haven't been able to ask until now,
so it's a good opportunity.

But I also want to make her
do something perverted!

Me and number three.

Addresses…

Exch-ch-ch-ch…

A-Are you okay?

Who's the king?

-Me!
-So loud!

Me and number four dress as Santa!
I brought the costume!

A new type?

YAAAAAY

The highlight of the party.

Who's the king?

Uh, it's me.

Okay, how about number seven
massages the king's shoulders?

How about that?

Your shoulders are quite stiff, Tadano.

Yeah, I guess.

Boring.

The lowlight of the party.

Who's the king?

Oh… It's me.

Okay, what's your order?

Hmm. Let me see…

TWO MINUTES PASS.

It's hard to decide…

FIVE MINUTES PASS.

What should I do?

In the end, it took ten minutes.

Who's the king?

GRIN

Just say something.

-MAKERU FAN CLUB MEMBER 3
-Makeru will definitely try to compete!

HEAVY BREATHING

How will she manage to lose today?

The Makeru Fan Club has strange taste.

Numbers one through thirteen.

Yes, everyone.

Say to me, "I lost."

So that's how it's gonna be!

Who's the king?

Oh! I-I-It's me!

Uh, um, n-n…

Number two treats the king like a dog!

The opposite?

Who's the king?

You called?

-Your numbers.
-Yamai, what number are you?

-I can see them in the ornaments.
-Not telling!

Ren Yamai!

So careless.

I'll sink you in a sea of shame.

I-It can't be!

Marsault Les Primavera's orders.

Number six. Spin around three times
before the king and bark like a dog!

Too bad, Nakanaka!

What?

She held her stick upside down!

-I've been deceived by this woman!
-COLORED CONTACTS

NUMBER 6

What's this…

Who's the king?

Me!

Since when?

I've joined in! Can I make an order?

Uh, sure.

Number four and nine kiss.

She went straight for the jugular!

-Uh… um…
-Kiss.

NUMBER FOUR

Number nine… Who's number nine?

Here.

Shinobino.

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

A-Alright, on the cheek.

H-Hurry up.

BLUSH

Why are you turning red?!

Who's the king?

Huh? Hm?

Huh?

Hey!

Who is it? The king!

Hm? There's really no one?

Huh? No, it can't be. Nobody?

Komi!

W-What's her order?

Y-Your order?

PLEASE KEEP BEING MY FRIEND.

So heartwarming!

Of course!

The most touching moment of the day.

And after that.

Komi was in agony
remembering her embarrassing order.

Rewind the clock to noon on December 24.

Let's do something together
over winter break!

I said it.

But it's so hard to invite her out.

It might have just been, you know.

She was just being polite.

She probably doesn't want to hang out.

-Whoa. Komi's birthday is on Christmas.
-SHOKO KOMI, BIRTHDAY DECEMBER 25

Huh? What day was it today?

THE 24TH.

So, tomorrow is…

THE 25TH.

Najimi!

Hey!

Tadano, I contacted Komi
and brought everyone along.

Oh, thank you Najimi.

I just can't get ahold of Yamai.

Even though it's Komi's birthday.

That's odd.

Oh well, let's get going!

Yeah! Let's go!
What should we do? I can't wait.

-She's already here.
-This won't suit Komi.

Oh!

-Wow, Yamai, you're here!
-ALREADY KNEW IT WAS KOMI'S BIRTHDAY

Ren Yamai, secured.

Alright! Now we have everyone.

Let's get started.

The Present Death Game.

Huh?

The rules are simple!

The one who chooses the present
Komi likes best is the winner!

The budget is 5,000 yen!

-Isn't that a little high?
-Ready? Go!

RECOMMENDED!
HIGHLY POPULAR

-Time's up!
-Yay!

Let's see what you got!

Who's first?

I'll go.

YAMAI'S CHOICE

I've known about Komi's birthday
since before summer.

Ever since then,

all I've been thinking about
is Komi's present.

A handmade cake.

A sculpture of Komi.

Sexy undies.

I thought of many things.

But none of them were perfect.

None of them are any good!

In the long darkness, a beam of light.

The thing I really want to give Komi.

A heartfelt present.

The answer is, "me!"

-Komi, take all of me!
-PRICE: PRICELESS

Can you not go there?

Heh. I chose this.

It's a digital society!
She needs digital cash!

That's not a present for girls.

You should be one to talk!

Here's mine.

Umeboshi?

They're tasty, never go bad,
and you can eat them every day!

Hmm.

Here's mine.

I need her to build up her body
so we can compete any time.

This is truly,
"sending protein to your enemy," right?

It doesn't even sound wise.

Here's mine!

-She'll never be hungry again!
-2KG OF ICE CREAM

-Stop recommending two kilo things.
-ICE CREAM COMES IN LITERS.

I-I chose…

-T-This book!
-HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG

Too much raw desire on display.

I chose…

this!

-Oh, those things you see in gift shops!
-OIL TIMERS, 3 FOR 4,480 YEN

These are so fun!

When I'm watching them,
before I know it the day is over.

Why this?

ONIGASHIMA, KISHI, SHINOBINO,
SONODA, CHIARAI'S CHOICE

-I couldn't think of anything.
-NOTHING

I totally know how you feel.

What?

I expected this,
so I have a second selection!

Najimi's choice is this!

-DANCING SANTA FOR 3,780 YEN
-HO HO HO

Nobody wants that.

What?

You're picky about other's presents.

If you're complaining so much,
you'd better have something great!

-TADANO'S CHOICE
-I don't know if it's great…

-Here.
-160CM CAT PLUSH TOY

Wow!

It's huge! It's cute!

Your pick is surprisingly good!

-Surprisingly?

-But look at the price.
-Yeah, it's pretty expensive.

So I thought we could all buy it together?

Oh, um. You know.



Komi would feel uncomfortable.

We're buying Christmas presents too.

I thought it would be just right.

How about it?

Boring.

-Sure, I guess it's alright?
-Yeah.

I think the cat's cute!

Alright, let's get the cat!

Yay!

Wait.

If I get inside, I could legally…

Wow, I'm too smart for my own good.

Komi!

Merry Christmas!

And…

Happy Birthday!

-Uh.
-Huh?

She's…

Hey, Tadano! Did we screw up her birthday?

How dare…

-Surely not…
-It's a day early, but as a surprise…

Yamai?

I-It can't be a mistake! Maybe…

IT IS TOMORROW. THANK YOU.

Oh, yeah, of course.

RELIEF

Anyway, this is for you!

-How's she going to react?
-It's a birthday present from everyone!

Thanks for having us!

Happy birthday! Thanks for having us!

Happy birthday, Komi.

-Hm?
-Not very…

Her reaction…

It's not great.

Thanks for having us! Bye!

-Bye-bye!
-See you later!

GLOOM

It's like a funeral.

Komi…

She didn't seem very happy
about the surprise.

Yeah.

-Whose is that?
-Oh, I think it's me.

Sorry, it's me.

Huh? Me too.

Everyone?

-THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY.
-When a person has extreme social anxiety…

They struggle to communicate with others.

Ha-ha! So formal.

It's very Komi.

Bear in mind.

They only struggle to form connections.

It doesn't mean they don't want to.

Let's do this again next year, Tadano!

Yeah.

They all saved the email.

BONUS SCENE

Thank you for your purchase.

Is this for home use?

HOME… USE?

It's a gift.

-Yes, sir.
-If Shosuke wants to speak, he can.