Section 5: Heading for the Girl Left Behind

¡Buenos días! I see you've managed to store up a great deal of Santa Power, yes!

Indeed you have. I'm glad to see my legacy is in such good hands.

Santa Power? I still don't know what that is...

？！

Sí, Master! I'm glad to see you're in good health.

I also see this year's Santa Claus is quite the character.

Not that I'm one to talk, no!

Ho ho ho. Yes, it is I, Santa.

I must say, Chaldea's Santa Clauses certainly keep multiplying. Let's see, one...two...three...

If I'm not mistaken, you're the fifth one.

Hmm?

I take it by the look on your face that you don't remember who I am?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

Hmm, I see.

Well, I suppose that's not too surprising, since I am partly responsible for this state of affairs, yes.

Does that mean you know what's going on here, Quetzalcoatl? Because I'm still kind of lost.

I do! Let me start at the beginning, yes!

You know by now that every winter, a different Chaldean Servant changes their Spirit Origin into Santa Claus, yes?

(Santa Clauses? Plural? And they keep multiplying? Why? How???)

Easy there, Gordy. Deep breaths.

Yes, good idea. (Inhale...) (Exhale...) (Inhale...) (Exhale...)

Right then! Off to bed I go.

Oh no, you don't!

Hey! Get off of me! The only thing I want to do now is hang up a stocking by my pillow and go straight to bed!

Hmm?

I take it by the look on your face that you don't remember who I am?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

Hmm, I see.

Well, I suppose that's not too surprising, since I am partly responsible for this state of affairs, yes.

Does that mean you know what's going on here, Quetzalcoatl? Because I'm still kind of lost.

I do! Let me start at the beginning, yes!

You know by now that every winter, a different Chaldean Servant changes their Spirit Origin into Santa Claus, yes?

You say that as if it were no more remarkable than a dog growing out its winter coat...

It can happen in a number of ways. Sometimes the previous Santa will pick someone, sometimes someone will just up and realize that they're meant to be the new Santa...

And in this case, Nightingale, you became Santa because I chose you, yes!

Why me?

Hmm... Intuition, I suppose!

Pero desafortunadamente, you ended up turning me down.

You said that if you became Santa Claus, you would no longer be able to treat the sick and injured.

I see... That does sound like something I'd say.

So even though you were in the middle of becoming Santa Claus, I tried to take back your Santa Power so I could give it to somebody else.

But I didn't count on anyone else showing up.

Santa Power is the stuff of pure childhood wishes and dreams.

It contains all the hopes and desires that grown-ups want for children.

Toy companies' desire that this year's flagship will be a smash hit... Parents' hopes that their kids will be satisfied settling for a cheap substitute...

......

Ho ho ho.

It just goes to show that not even Santa can escape the pull of capitalism, no!

？！

Anyway, this other person quickly figured out what was going on, and made off with the bells that were supposed to collect the Santa Power.

Bells?

That's right. The bells you have now are only replicas. The real ones...

...are in Astolfo's hands.

Please don't be too hard on him. I'm cierta he was only trying to help.

Even if it did end up doing the exact opposite.

As usual, you don't miss a thing, Master.

I'm sure Astolfo had only the best of intentions, but it's still his fault that things turned out this way.

So on behalf of Santa Clauses everywhere, I apologize for this disturbance.

？！

Astolfo then used the bells to draw out candidates, so he could decide which one would be the next Santa Claus.

After all, any Servant has the potential to become Santa Claus.

Anyway, Astolfo decided to have the Santa candidates fight each other to collect Santa Power, and whoever ended up with the most would become the next Santa Claus.

That could have worked out okay...if it weren't for you still having a good deal of Santa Power yourself, Nightingale.

I do?

¡Sí! It means you started to become aware of your Santa self!

Unfortunately, it also means that unless something is done, none of the candidates can fully assume the Santa mantle.

Which is why we want you to make a choice here and now, Nightingale.

Are you going to be Santa Claus, or aren't you?

...!

Are you going to ring the bells or leave them silent?

Whatever you decide, we'll respect your choice. It's up to you.

Of course, if you do decide not to be Santa, you'll have to give back all the Santa Power you collected, yes!

I...

？！

...Yes, you're right. This is something I need to decide for myself.

I...

My answer is...yes.

I've made up my mind. I'm going to be Santa Claus.

Brilliant, yes! But of course, that also means we need to make sure you're up to it.

Agreed.

After all, you can't have a Santa Claus without a Santa Claus arbiter.

I-is that

？！

Good to see you again, everyone. It's been quite a while since last we met, hasn't it?

What's that? You remember seeing me in the summer? Hahaha, I see your flights of fancy are as elaborate as ever.

Who clauses the Santa Claus? I do, says the cuckoo.

???

In other words, I'm here to judge whether you're fit to be Santa.

？！

Hahaha, I'm fully aware. But I'm glad to hear it all the same.

We'll be taking part in your judgment too. Besides, I want to make sure I haven't lost my touch.

I was hoping Astraea and swimsuit-Martha would join us too...

...but they said that would be overkill, yes.

I agree. A lineup like that would be much too dangerous.

That's why I thought we should keep those two in a separate block.

Hahaha, a championship like that is the last place I'd ever want to fight. Between punches, takedowns, submission holds, and flying kicks, they'd have every approach covered perfectly.

？！

At any rate, we are the ones to whom you'll need to prove your dedication.

Now...show us how much you're willing to fight for your Santa Clausdom!

Absolutely.

I still don't know why you're wearing that mask, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, but I'll be glad to face you all the same!

Please stick to Santa Island Mask here, if you don't mind!

...!

This is quite a surprise.

I see you're still as strong as ever, even with a new Archer Spirit Origin.

And above all...

...I hear your dedication to being Santa Claus loud and clear.

To be honest...I still don't feel confident that I can be a Santa Claus beloved by all, but

I see. So that is what has been plaguing you.

Then hear me, the first Santa Claus of Chaldea.

Pay it no mind.

Dreams, hope, love... We all think we know what they look like, but no two people share the same definitions for these things.

So if you truly believe that medicine is love, then that is the gift you should give.

(I don't know... Medicine feels like a real stretch. Then again, sweet cough syrup does sound pretty yummy...)

...I see.

？！

...Right. I'd almost forgotten.

You believed in me right from the start, didn't you, Master?

You never had any doubt that I could be Santa Claus.

Oh, yes. Now that I've won this battle, does that mean I'm officially Santa Claus?

Not just yet, I'm afraid.

Astolfo still has the last key. Er, the last bell, I mean.

Once you obtain that bell for yourself...

...then you can proudly declare that you are this year's Santa Claus.

Make sure you do your best. I know I certainly did.

I'll be rooting for you on Jeanne Alter Santa Lily's behalf.

I see.

I still don't know what connection you have to Santa Claus, Amakusa Shirou Tokisada, but

My name is Santa Island Mask.

...At any rate, I appreciate your support.

Nightingale?

I'm sorry to interrupt, but would you mind ringing those bells for me?

Hm?

You mean like this?

Perfect. Thank you.

Now that I've calibrated the sensors, I can see there's an almost identical ringing sound not too far from there.

Which means

Now I see.

So that's where we'll find Astolfo.

Come then, Master, let's be on our way!

？！

Well, now that that's over with...

What say we all go watch the finale, yes?

You're still planning to go after all, huh? But yes, that sounds good to me too.

Huh?

Hup!

Well? What happened with Santa Claus, dammit!?

Oh, just what we need. Another loudmouth.

Hey, why don't you go

Now, now, no need for that.

We can all go see whether Nightingale ends up as the next Santa or not.

Isn't it already a foregone conclusion?

I'm not so sure.

From where I stand, it looks to me like she's still wrestling with something.

Whether she's able to get past it or not, well, that's up to her.

Ah c'mon, Amakusa, I'm sure it'll be fi

... ...

Ugh, fine, Something-Something Mask. Whatever. Let's just freaking go already!

In that, we agree. I too would like to witness the birth of the next Santa Claus myself.

AMAKUSANTAAA!!! (Translation: I'm so glad you're here. I was starting to feel awkward around all the ladies.)