3rd Night: We are Middle Schoolers

Okay, let's get going, Reindeer!

Time to deliver some good, practical presents for the good Servants of Japan!

...Is it time yet?

Hmph, Lord Amakusa. What is Fuuma waiting for?

Ah... He requested a present from Santa Claus.

Hahaha! I see! I see! Even the leader of the Fuuma Clan is still human, eh?

I thought ninja were just puppets on strings without human emotions. Man, that's so cute!

We Servants find our psychological ages strongly affected by our physical bodies.

A 15 year-old body means his mind has regressed to that of a 15-year-old.

Indeed. Memories of our older selves often feel like it's somebody else's business.

Servants are such strange beings.

But Lord Amakusa, is this "Santa Claus" really real? Handing out presents sounds like the work of a celestial maiden.

Yes, that's exactly right. But word from him is that there's a bit of a problem this year...

Oh? A problem? That sounds interesting. What is it

They're here!

Thanks for waiting! You must be Fuuma Kotarou!

Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily has arrived!

I see all the Servants of the Far East are gathered here... Are you having a banquet or something?

...A child?

I'm not a child! I'm Santa! Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily! Aww, how come everyone calls me a child?

Mostly because you are, I guess? Come now, want some candy?

No. Thank. You.

Besides, everyone knows you're not supposed to take things from strangers.

Reindeer, where did you get that candy?

A ramune flavored candy? My faaavorite! Its fizziness is so grown-up!

What do you mean, grown-up...?

What? Really!? Thank yo N-no, I'm fine.

I don't um... I really don't like mint... It's a little too grown-up for me...

I see. Mint flavor is for grown-ups, huh? I'll ask the doctor for some next time.

？！

So, Santa. About my present... (Fidget, fidget)

Yes, I know. What you truly need is

This Japanese-English dictionary!

...A dictionary...

Yes! Your Noble Phantasm name has, um... A lot of grammatical issues and things.

Fix it to proper English for a proper NP name!

...

Hmm, even I can tell that this is no fun at all. A Japanese-English dictionary for Christmas?

That's as disappointing as getting a biography of Schweitzer. No, I mean Schweitzer was a great man, but...

Anyway, that's a terrible present.

What? Even Mr. Tawara is complaining! This gift is for Mr. Fuuma's own good!

But I've heard Christmas is a time for celebrations, like New Year's.

Everyone celebrates and everyone is happy. You want a gift like a festival prize, or something cheerful!

Which means it should be something they'll enjoy, not something that makes their life better, right?

...If it's not useful, then it's not a very good present.

Hmph.

Otherwise, giving a present is just about making yourself feel good. The giver just wants to take joy in giving something.

That's no good! It doesn't make the world any better.

So that means no matter what the person says, the giver has to get them a useful gift to help them improve!

That's what it means to be Santa.

...No, it isn't.

Yes, it is.

IT IS NOT!

IS TOO!

Grrrr!

Hmph. Nothing for it, then.

We are Servants. We shall settle this as Servants do, with a Christmas battle!

By the way, I'm joining Fuuma's side. It's childish to give someone a present they don't want.

...Fine, then, be that way! Santa will kick your butts!

I see. ...Then I shall resist with all I've got. I am Fuuma Kotarou, fifth leader of the Fuuma Clan.

I shall destroy this most pointless of presents!

My name is Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily! You're gonna take my gift and like it, whether you like it or not!

...Understood. Leave it to me.

I lost to a kid like her!? When did I get so rusty!?

I guess I can't be touting "Playing is Justice" anymore... Maybe I should take it easy with the eating, too...

I've failed...!

But a defeat is a defeat. I suppose I must now accept your Japanese-English dictionary.

Now you can fix your Noble Phantasm's name!

Hmm? I've no intention of changing its name.

What...?

...The founders of the Fuuma clan were "ijin." Which is to say, they were not from Japan.

I'm told my father was a large, red-haired, blue-eyed Westerner.

For the founders, the fading memories of their homeland must have been hard to endure.

It is the same with the children born here. We can no longer speak the language of our forefathers.

So the least we can do is to use a few (cool-sounding) words of that language to bring them peace...

Such sentiment is embedded in my Noble Phantasm... So I can't change it.

I-I didn't know that... And to think I tried to give you a dictionary...

No, no. I will take it, and thank you for it.

In the future, maybe I'll add something to my Noble Phantasm name. So, thank you...

...Okay. Let's go, Reindeer.

It's time to move on.

Huh, she left in the middle of our bit of reflection.

That girl

Hmm?

That girl doesn't feel any joy in giving presents, does she?

No, she doesn't seem to. She's trying to do it right, but...it is sad, too.

She focuses on usefulness because she doesn't know what kind of gifts bring joy.

But then... Why did she become Santa in the first place?

...Oh?

What's wrong?

No, I was just wondering...

Where did Lord Amakusa go?

...Reindeer.

Umm... Am I doing this all wrong?

...Maybe my present for Fuuma Kotarou wasn't so useful after all...

？！

It's hard being Santa. I thought it would be real easy when I started...

Oh? Don't tell me you're giving up on being Santa!

...Who's there!?

Huh? What? I'm detecting a Servant!

Heheh. Only a fool would reveal his identity when asked.

But I suppose there's no harm in it...

I am Santa Island Mask, the mysterious Servant who lives on Santa Island!

Santa Island Mask...! He's boarding Llamrei Mark II...!

Um, excuse me. But are you Amaku

I am Santa Island Mask!

By the way, just because I'm wearing red doesn't mean I am in any way related to any "Emiya" or "Shirou".

Nope. Not at all. I'm just red and tanned.

Yes. Yes, it is.

？！

Okay! Now I know who you are! But how come you're bothering me?

Ahem. Jeanne... Oh Jeanne...

You mustn't let Fuuma not liking your present get you down.

It is Santa's job to always get back up and always deliver smiles.

Always... smiles...

Stand and present. You must stand up... and give presents.

Even Scrooge made it in time. There's no way YOU can fail, right?

Whenever you're lost, or in trouble, I shall appear.

Santa Island Mask...! Does this make you my mentor?

Um... Sure... I guess...

Okay!

Heheh. Then I shall guide you on the path to becoming a true Santa.