You don't need to come with us, Rinko.
You like to stay at home anyway, right?
Mommy's busy taking care of your big brothers.
I rented lots of anime for you, so go watch those.
You can even eat the cake.
Yay!
I love staying home...
Today's...
Christmas Eve...
So?
Who will you choose?
Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home!
Rinko Nakama
Christmas?!
Everyone and their grandma's too festive!
What's so good about Christmas?
I'm crunching here to meet end-of-year deadlines!
I know it's also my duty as his chef-sistant,
but I want to spend this Christmas with Satsuki-san and Usaharu-sensei.
It doesn't seem to be the right time to ask, though.
I finished my work with time to spare,
so I'm going to drop in on a writers' drinking event around sunset.
I'll spend time with you after.
Stop making it sound like I'm a slacker!
It's not my fault I'm a best-seller!
Let's go see a Christmas tree after dinner.
I heard the lights at the park this year are amazing.
Wow!
Hold on!
No fair! Don't leave me outta the plan!
I'm going, too!
I definitely will!
I'll consider it if you can even manage to finish your manuscripts by then.
Yeah, no problem!
I'll finish them at light speed and go see the tree with Rinko!
You were just complaining about this holiday...
Any requests for tonight?
Oh, yeah. I'd say a miniskirt Santa.
Excuse me?
What are you saying?
Satsuki-san...
Rinko-chan would look best in one that's just above the knees.
Ho ho ho!
Satsuki-san?!
Um, I was talking about the menu...
Oh, yeah. Of course. I was just joking.
Liar.
No need to go above and beyond. I'd be grateful for just the usual meal.
R-Really?
I'm fine with anything as long as you make it, Rinko.
What's with that face?
Then let's regroup at dinner!
Okay.
All right!
I'll finish up at max speed!
Tada-Oja.
Usaharu-sensei had such a childlike smile.
I know they said the usual's okay,
Merry Xmas
but I'd like to make something Christmas-y for the season.
I'll make something in secret so I can surprise them.
I'm going to make this a wonderful Christmas for the three of us!
Almond Flour
Milk
Let's see.
Eggs, granulated sugar, almond flour, milk, baking powder...
Wait.
Don't tell me...
Oh, no! Now I've done it!
My failure of a lifetime!
Huge Xmas Sale
Sweets
Christmas Sale
Baking Powder
Sold out...
It's probably in high demand this season since people make things from scratch...
Yes, hello?
Oh, Nakama-san. Sorry to bother you on your day off.
Are you able to make it to the office now?
What? Right now?
The data we received from Okuda-san was corrupted,
and she's already away on vacation.
We've got her password, so could you help find the files?
Thank you! You're a lifesaver!
Now I can rest easy for the new year!
I'm happy to help!
W-Well, have a good rest of the year!
Will do!
Christmas Market
This is going to make me lose so much time!
I'll have to give up on making a cake from scratch.
I'll buy one frozen from the supermarket and head home...
Baking powder
It's here!
The fancy grocery store by my office...
I don't usually come here since it's expensive.
What on earth?
Thank you, Santa!
Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!
Hello?
Oh. You answered.
What does that mean?!
Didn't you call me expecting me to answer?
Well, these last few years, you've always been out with girls, living it up.
I couldn't even reach you!
I don't have time for that!
Huh?
Don't you usually carry on without a care?
Did you find another publisher, Sensei?!
Like hell I did!
I just wanted to free up some time.
So I need to focus.
Oh?
Is this about that muse of yours?
That's good to hear.
Oh, speaking of which,
Fukami-san from the literature department wanted to talk to you.
Fukami?
We were talking about your muse, and it sparked a lot of interest.
Don't go around blabbing about that.
Man, you have some loose lips.
Sorry about that.
Maybe there'll be some novel-related work in it for you?
Uh-huh.
Well, put in a good word for me.
Editor Kaneko
Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!
Mao
Big Bro Haru, are you done yet?
Hey, Mao.
I told you I can't make it this year.
Aw, you're no fun!
Can't you come visit me at least on Christmas?
I'm busy right now, so I'll call you back!
Jeez...
Merry Christmas!
Welcome in! Merry Christmas!
Huh? Where have I seen him before?
Pome-kun, could you take these?
Oh! Of course! Right away!
Welcome.
You're late, Satsuki-kun!
The party's already started!
It's the same stuff every year.
Gotta hurry! Gotta hurry!
I wasn't sure if I could pull this off.
Now I just need to wait until it's all fluffy and risen!
I hope Satsuki-san and Usaharu-sensei will like it.
You don't need to come with us, Rinko.
You like to stay at home anyway, right?
I rented lots of anime for you, so go watch those.
You can even eat the cake.
Yay!
I love staying home!
Let's go!
Yeah!
I get to watch a ton of anime!
There's even cake today!
Christmas is the best!
Christmas is... the best...
Oh, no!
Yikes...
I should still have time to make it!
Yay! Merry Christmas!
Christmas!
Merry Christmas.
Oh, that's right.
The owner said we can take home any leftovers!
Thank you, Santa!
Everyone's so nice.
We need to hurry and make it big so we can repay them.
Cogi is feeling more fired up!
I feel like next year, we'll finally...
...make big money!
Tada-Oja!
It's done!
I can get things done if I put my mind to it!
Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!
Hello, this is Rinko.
Yo.
I was just at a work party with my remote-work assistants.
So you managed to finish your manuscript!
Congratulations!
It's nothing.
Since your manuscript is done, that must mean
the three of us can hold our Christmas party, like we planned—
Big Bro Haru! Let's eat the cake already!
Yeah, I'll be right there!
Sorry.
After the party, I stopped by my parents',
and they forced me to stick around.
Oh...
Please don't worry about dinner here.
Spend some quality time with your family.
No, no. I'll definitely come home!
So don't you and Satsuki get all lovey-dovey!
Big Bro Haru! Are you done yet?!
Give my regards to Mao-chan, too.
Oh, sure.
I guess Usaharu-sensei won't make it.
Huh?
Does that mean I'll be all alone with Satsuki-san?
But if Usaharu-sensei isn't here, will he even want to spend time with me?
He won't have to be my pretend boyfriend...
Satsuki-san
Satsuki-san!
Hi, Rinko-chan.
Sorry it's gotten late. I'm heading home now.
Oh! Actually, about that—
Okay!
Since it's Christmas, should I whip out the Dom Pérignon?
I wanna drink that!
Put it on Satsuki-kun's tab!
Hey, you're too loud!
Um, Usaharu-sensei's...
Sorry about the noise.
Who's that? Rinko-chan?!
Merry Crimmus!
Hey!
Since this place is nearby, why don't you hang with us here?
In that case, I'll swing by—
No, you don't need to come, Rinko-chan!
You don't need to come, Rinko-chan.
I...
You don't need to come, Rinko-chan.
I suppose so...
I tried to grab it from you too aggressively...
Sorry.
Tada-Oja.
Christmas by myself!
Now that I'm an adult,
I can enjoy it even more than when I was a kid!
It's snowing.
You can stay at home by yourself like a good girl. Right, Rinko?
Uh-huh!
All right!
Time to eat cake!
Rinko-chan!
I'm home!
Huh? Satsuki-san?
Welcome back.
Where's Usada?
Usaharu-sensei stopped by his family's house after his work party.
He says he'll be late.
Then...
You were here by yourself?
Yes!
I was happily living the otaku life.
I'm sorry!
You're cold.
I'm sorry.
You didn't even turn on the heat.
I'm sorry.
And I'm the one who made the plans...
How could I have done this?
Remember how I said we should have done this last time?
It's warm... sharing a scarf.
Satsuki-san... Usaharu-sensei's not here right now,
but you're acting like a boyfriend...
You must have been lonely.
Not particularly...
I enjoyed the day like any other year.
I'm completely...
I'm sorry!
I really am!
I-I...
I was completely fine!
I'm never breaking a promise again.
You'll never feel lonely again.
I'll make sure of it.
Rinko-chan.
Do you still not remember the other promise we made that one day?
A promise?
When you woke up, you said you'd...
It was a promise.
Satsuki-san...
I'm home!
Whoa! It's freezin'!
What's with this room?! Is this some sick prank?!
Usaharu-sensei?!
I knew you two would be all lovey-dovey!
Weren't you going to be with your family?
I told you I was definitely coming home!
I just stopped by the patisserie by my parents' on my way back.
I also wanted you to try the special cake from Miki's place.
So we all secretly got cakes for tonight!
Tada-Oja.
You did all this by yourself today?
There were a few hurdles, though.
I'm impressed.
This mochi ghost thing adds a lot of character.
Um, that's supposed to be Mimimi from Usaneko Club...
Huh? What?
Then this one that looks like a traffic light is...
It's Memeru!
I'm so sorry...
W-Well...
It's fine as long as the cake's nice and sweet.
Well, you're not wrong, I guess.
Leave it to me!
I'll eat the cake and every bit of food you make!
After all, Christmas is the day to let out all your desires!
Isn't it a holy night?
What are your desires, Rinko?
Go on! Spit it out!
Shout them from the rooftops on this holy night!
I want the three of us...
I want the three of us to go see the Christmas tree!
Wow! It's so pretty!
Um, here.
It's not much, but it's for you two.
What? You even prepared these?
What are you, a Christmas fanatic?
A rock?
I was secretly worshiping them this whole time.
Is this... me?
So then this is me?
Art isn't your strong suit, huh?
They were only supposed to be for myself, after all.
Rinko-chan, could this be...
Yes! They're the wall fragments from that eventful day!
You were keeping those?
I did!
These are only a few of them.
I have a lot more under my bed from each wall!
I got almost every single fragment!
What?!
Throw those away!
They're garbage!
You may be right.
These are just wall fragments.
But to me, they're mementos of the day I met you two.
They're super-precious, limited-edition items to me.
Without these, I could never have done anything like I'm doing
right now with you two.
Hah!
In that case, want me to tear down the rest of the wall between us?
Then you'd have a whole mountain of your treasure!
Thank you, Rinko-chan.
I'll cherish this.
You will?!
He's totally lying.
I'm sure the great Satsuki-sensei would be terribly inconvenienced by that.
You're right.
If you don't want it, I can take yours, Usada.
Huh?
I didn't say that.
I wish to be with Rinko-chan forever.
That was my wish.
Huh?
This isn't the Tanabata festival.
Hey, Rinko. Hold my hand, too.
What? Why?
It's cold.
Shall I lend you my gloves, then?
That's not the point!
Sensei, you should be more honest about your desires.
Don't you feel sorry for me
since I'm the only one without a hand to hold here?
True.
Okay, here.
What?!
Rinko's hand is the obvious choice for me here!
Come on, Sensei.
No need to hold back.
Go right ahead.
Tch.
I want the three of us...
The three of us to be together.
That's what I really wanted to wish for, but I decided not to.
After all, it already feels like it came true.
Name
Rinko
Job
Location
Stats
Teacher
School
INT
Royalty
Castle
Elegance
Maid
Mansion
Kindness
Adventurer
Mountains
Luck
Witch
Forest
Beauty
Chef-sistant
Apartments
Otaku
Begin?
Otaku
Translation: Karen Bildsoe
Rinko Chef-sistant
Subtitle Timing: Mariana Martinez
Editing & Typesetting: Elisabeth Crist
Quality Check: Geoff Mazzolini
Translation Check: Becky Cottrill
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Continue
Quit
Add to party?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Rinko Chef-sistant
Otaku
Continue
Quit
Aw, man.
Can you believe it? He left his cute little sis, all dolled up for Christmas,
just to go home.
It's Christmas, after all.
He must be spending time with his beloved girlfriend.
So Big Bro Haru's current girlfriend really is Big Sis Rinko?
Next Episode
Mao Stands for "Mom's Adultery Outcome"?!
Next episode:
"Mao stands for 'Mom's Adultery Outcome'?!"