Hmm… department stores all feel a little unrealistic — a little decadent, maybe.
It makes it so hard to go in.
They’re okay, really! Just don’t think about that and we’ll be fine.
He… read my mind…?!
More importantly, we need to ask a clerk about the thefts.
Right, right.
Umm, excuse me!
Yes? May I help you?
…
Do you know where you are, young lady?
Umm… This is the High Society Seagull Department Store, right?
That is correct.
The High Society Seagull Department Store!
Say it once more!
The High Society Seagull Department Store!
Good. This store is of High Society, by High Society, and for High Society.
It is no place for obviously low society humans. Please leave!
It seems that even with the fall of mankind, the class system is still firmly in place.
This is blatant speciesism!
I hope you’re ready to swallow your words or defend them with steel, cretin! Draw, man, draw, before I stick you like a rotisserie chicken!
Calm down, Hiyoko!
Getting into a fight here won’t do us any good! Please, don’t act like San!
And just what does Okosan have that makes him so much more High Society than me?!
Please, we just want to ask you a question.
We’ll leave right away!Did the Christmas Thieves really break into this store?
They… did not break into the store, no.
They were not allowed in.However, as you know, the store faces onto the street.
The three Christmas trees we had arranged outside were stolen.
Trees placed outside… just like at Torimi Cafe!
Yeah. Looks like they are aiming for easy targets first.
They seem to be quite crafty.
I think this might get difficult, Ryouta.Aah, I can feel the thrill of the chase!
My hunter-gatherer blood boils!
Right on time.
I knew it was a good idea to ask you along.
The stolen trees were of little value. We have already sent away for new ones.
Do you think you could wait a little before setting them up?
The thieves might come back…
True, but Christmas is almost here.
If not now, when would we put them out?
Christmas trees are just so much rubbish once it’s the 26th…
They’re not rubbish!
You can use them every year!Umm, were there any witnesses?
The trees were in a blind spot between security cameras, so alas, we have nothing.
How do you know they weren’t allowed inside if you didn’t see them or know who they were?
Too busy staring down your own noses to look out the window, were you?
I hope I never see you here again, young lady.
Well, that was a disappointment.
About all we’ve found out is that the thieves aim for trees placed in vulnerable spots outside.
Maybe we should leave?
Let’s go to the furniture section where maybe people would be selling Christmas Trees?
Wow, what a bed!
I’m not even sure this would fit inside my house!
Just what kind of mansions do the high society live in?
There are humidifiers, hot water bottles, and other thermal frivolities lined up nearby.
Winter goods are awfully fancy…
Maybe I should indulge in something? A bonfire alone just doesn’t say “decadent”…
Hey, Hiyoko… look over there.
!
A disturbingly familiar quail is fast asleep on a display bed.
Sir, you can’t just crash in a department store!
You’re a grown-up now! You need to take care of yourself!
…..ah!
Oh, if it isn’t Tosaka… and Kawara.
What is it? Do you want to talk about career plans?
Are you fully awake, sir?
We’re not at school!
Oh…?
Good heavens, so we aren’t.
You might’ve been here until closing time, if we hadn’t happened by…
Oh, yes… It’s been so cold recently, I was thinking maybe I should buy a new bed.
It does get very chilly after dark. Make sure not to catch cold, you two.
Mister Nanaki crawls out of the bed and wobbles off towards a table covered in wool blankets of various dimensions.
Blankets…
I bet my Casio Mini he’ll fall asleep on that too!
A Casio Mini appears to be a… vintage calculator? Why do you have something like this, Hiyoko?
Before we continue on with the story let’s go back and check the clothing section. Maybe someone else will have a cameo there too.
GALAXY ANGLE
All these pretty clothes make me feel out of face!
It’s out of ‘place’, not ‘face’!
H-he did it again!
Can birds even wear clothes like these? Are they just for decoration?
???
Shops are always so pretty this time of year! I feel like I’m looking into a different world…
They do look a little unreal.
Do you like Christmas, Hiyoko?
My family’s Shin Buddhist, so I’ve never really celebrated it, but…
I do like it when everybirdie’s all festive!
I’m not exactly Christian, but I like the atmosphere, too.
…actually, I don’t think that many people celebrate it for religious reasons anymore.
A japanese pigeon’s honed insight on the troubles of a capitalized western holiday.
And there’s all kinds of work this time of year, too!
I always end up really busy.
You dress up as Santa, right?
Yup!
With a miniskirt?
Yup!
Why does Ryouta get all the female main character jobs?
That must be fun… I’d like to try doing something cute and high school girl-ish like that sometime, too.
I’m not sure how costumes are high school girl-ish, but I could refer you!
We could go together next year!
Cosplaying as Santa right before junior year exams… just thinking about it makes my heart flutter!
There’s nothing more to find here. Let’s look somewhere else.
All right, where to next?
The thefts have gotten onto the news — if we ask around, we should find some eyewitnesses.
Sounds good!
We hear the sound of breaking glass.
What?! Huh?!
Some glass object splinters with a monumental crash behind us as we make for the exit.
I turn around, and–
Merry Christmas!! Merry Christmas!!!
Okay this bit is cracking me the fuck up for all the wrong reasons. I knew this was coming, this gif. I knew I would have to make it. But it’s actually a really piss poor example of how they move because halfway through I saved my game and loaded and now they won’t jump so I can’t get screenshots to fix it. Please forgive me, gods of LP.
What are those? They look… a little like doves, but not really… are they… maybe they are doves??
In any case, a pair of bizarre white creatures are bludgeoning themselves against a number of glass Christmas trees and reindeer.
What are those?
Are they doves?
Umm… I’m not sure.
I’ve never seen anything like them.
Merry Christmas!! Merry Christmas!!!
The creatures frolic through the Christmas display like fuzzy wrecking balls, leaving behind nothing but broken glass and lost profits.
There! The white children!
Oh, dear… that’s no good.
You two… where are your parents?
Merry! Christmas!
In any case, I’ll have to take you to the employees’ lounge.
High Society does have rules.
Merry…? Christmas…
The creatures trail dejectedly after the security guard.
What were those?
I can’t believe people let their kids run loose like that!
I’d love to see the parents’ faces when they get billed.
I guess Christmas gets everyone pretty excited.
Sort of like demons which rampage during a full moon!
Ryouta and I spent some time asking around town, but… no one had ever caught sight of the thieves.
Apparently trees aren’t just being stolen from outside, but from inside houses as well.
If only we knew what the culprits looked like…
