Ending: A Carmina Carol on the Holy Night
After defeating Foggy, the Spirit of Memories, Chika sealed the spirit away once more. With the incident having been cleanly resolved, they returned to their peaceful daily lives.
Time passed, and Christmas Day arrived. At the Sarendia Orphanage, Ayane was rehearsing her part in Kurumi's play.
Ayane
N-Now, Snow White! Eat the poisoned apple...!
Kurumi
Ahaha... Ayane, you're not hiding your killer intentions at all. You can't say "poisoned apple" out loud...!
Ayane
Oh, you're right! Man, this is sure hard, huh? Okay, here, eat this delicious apple!
Kurumi
Hmm... Is that a little too energetic for an old woman?
Ayane
Ugh, Kurumi, you've got so many nitpicks! I made time to do this special rehearsal with you, and this is how it is?
Kurumi
S-Sorry... I really am thankful, so let's try to stay in a good mood... Here, you can eat the apple!
Ayane
Wow! Well, since you apologized, I forgive you! Yum!
Ayane
Mm? Mmmph!?
Kurumi
... See? That's how casually you should be offering them the food...
Ayane
Cough, cough, I thought I was gonna die! Kurumi, you're scary -- how could you try to kill your always-loving big sister!?
Kurumi
No, I didn't think you'd actually die... Like, this is just a normal apple, not a poisoned one... Ayane, I think you were just eating too fast and choked on some pieces...?
Kurumi
Here, have some water... I'm really sorry, big sis...!
Ayane
Huh? Kurumi, did you call me "big sis" just now...?
Kurumi
Hee hee... I guess it's a Christmas miracle...!
Ayane
Does that mean it takes a miracle to get you to call me "big sis"!?
Kurumi
Ha ha... But I've always just called you Ayane, so changing to "big sis" all of a sudden is embarrassing...
Ayane
Mmm... Well, it's fine -- as a big sister, I won't make a fuss! I'm a good, considerate girl, so Santa will bring me lots of presents!
Kurumi
Yeah! I'm sure this will be a wonderful Christmas that we'll never forget, even once we grow up...!
Chika
Um... Please, excuse us.
Kurumi
Ah, big sis Chika...!
Ayane
Welcome to the Sarendia Orphanage! What are you doing here on Christmas Eve?
Kurumi
Ayane, our guests are older than us, so shouldn't you speak more formally...?
Ayane
Eh, that's a weird reason! I'm also older than you, Kurumi, but you never talk formally to me, do you?
Kurumi
Hee hee... But when you're talking to your own family members, it's weird to use such a stiff way of speaking...
Chika
Ha ha. You two are getting along well as usual.
Nozomi
Yeah, seeing you two really calms me down! I can feel my stress melting away!
Ayane
Ah, big sis Nozomi, you're here too! Merry Christmas Eve!
Nozomi
Ahaha, that was a cute hop you did when you said "eve." That move would fit right in during one of our performances, wouldn't it? You've got the makings of a real idol, Ayane...!
Chika
Ha ha. If that's how you feel, then why not have her join Carmina?
Ayane
Eh, no way, no way! I'm way too shy around strangers for that!
Puukichi
Yeah, yeah, she's only this outgoing at home. It's taken her forever just to get to the point of talking to others around Sarendia Orphanage.
Chika
Ah, was that Puukichi just how? Hello, and thank you for your assistance from before...
Puukichi
Whoa, you don't have to be that polite to me. I'm not used to it -- and I didn't really do anything huge anyway.
Puukichi
You girls plus Yuuki won this on your own strength.
Puukichi
Just be proud of yourselves. I mean, thanks to you all, I managed to get my original form back, so I should be grateful to you for that instead.
Chika
Ha ha. Puukichi, you have quite a boyish way of talking, but you're a bear after all.
Chika
You're very cute. Nozomi, is this what they call "moe"?
Nozomi
You're a little behind the times, Chika, huh... Well, anyway, we can't stay for too long, so why don't we get to business?
Chika
You're right... Um, everyone, the end of the year is a busy time, so we're sorry for imposing on you.
Chika
We're here to thank you for your assistance, and to make up for the trouble we caused you.
Chika
It's a little strange to present something as both an apology and a token of thanks, but... Please, accept this present that Nozomi and I picked out together for you.
Ayane
Wow, I'm so happy! Thank you!
Kurumi
Hee hee... Oh, by the way, Chika, you're dressed up like Santa... Is that the same outfit from before...?
Chika
Yes. We've been preparing for a Christmas concert over the past few days. Tsumugi prepared these outfits for the concert.
Chika
They're very much in the Christmas spirit, so we've been wearing them often. Me, I've grown quite fond of it, but... Nozomi thinks the clothes are too chilly, so she's dressed as usual.
Nozomi
It's because my clothes have less coverage than the others, for whatever reason. If I catch a cold because of that, then won't Tsumugi be upset about having to cover my work again?
Ayane
Ha ha. So you're having a concert! Isn't it tough, having to work on Christmas Eve?
Nozomi
Ahaha, well, public holidays mean big business for idols. It's not just the concert, but also doing publicity for all kinds of other events. It's pretty exhausting.
Chika
But I'm very happy to be doing it. I'm eager to do all I can to make up for how I unsealed Foggy.
Chika
Perhaps this is my just deserts. But, for all the embarrassment this has caused me... I regret everything deeply.
Ayane
Just replace it with some happier memories! Hey, do you have some time after this? We're having a party at the orphanage -- do you wanna come?
Kurumi
Yeah... We've just become friends recently, and I'd like to get to know you even better...!
Kurumi
Hee hee... Or is it too much to try to invite a couple idols over...?
Nozomi
Not at all! I'm really happy to hear you say that! Aren't you, Chika?
Chika
Yes. Perhaps I should take back what I said. It isn't only embarrassment and regret that came from this -- it was also a wonderful meeting, and wonderful memories with new friends.
Chika
Even should Foggy attack me again, I will never forget this. The happy memories within me are warm enough to melt snow...!
Chika
Ah, some new lyrics and a melody have popped into my head. Can I write them down?
Nozomi
Oh? Yeah, let's get the score written down, so that we can have a new song ready to show off at the next concert!
Nozomi
I'm sure it'll be the best Christmas ever for the fans!
Kurumi
Ehehe... Nozomi and Chika look like they're having fun. They must really love their jobs as idols...
Nozomi
Hmm? But I don't think of it as a job, as much as a way of life? Wait, that sounds pretentious! I'm embarrassed!
Kurumi
No... I admire that, and I want to be like you two someday...!
Chika
I'm certain that you can.
Chika
Not long ago, I also never thought about becoming an idol. I only used my songs to fight, as part of my skills as a songstress...
Chika
I had forgotten the love that I'd had for singing when I was a young child. But now, I once again love to sing just as much as, if not more than, I did back then...
Chika
Do you two have things that you love? If you do, then hold those things close to your hearts, and continue to embrace those things without losing that passion.
Chika
One day, those passions are sure to become irreplaceable treasures.
Ayane
Things I love? That's Puukichi! And everyone else in the family, too! Hey, Kurumi, can I embrace you? Hug, hug!
Kurumi
Waaah...!? I think it's an analogy -- you don't actually have to embrace...!
Kurumi
Hee hee... Of course, I also love my family, and lately, I've also begun to love plays...
Nozomi
Ooh, Kurumi, have you been acting in plays? Thinking back, when you were playing with Chika the infant, you really took on the "big sister" role well, didn't you?
Chika
Please don't bring that up again, Nozomi. It was only a one-time thing.
Nozomi
Eh? Well, it was kind of weird hearing you call me "Mama", so I guess I can forget about it if you want, but... It sure was mysterious, something that I would never have imagined.
Nozomi
I wonder if one day, I'll stop being an idol and go back to being a normal girl... Get married, have kids, and hear them call me "Mama" too?
Chika
Ha ha. Why are you looking at Yuuki while saying that?
Nozomi
Eh? I wasn't, though? No way, Chika, don't say weird things like that, or you'll get a spanking, okay? Santa isn't gonna give you presents if you're a bad girl!
Chika
Right, right. Sorry, Mama... I'm kidding.
Chika
Ha ha. Leaving the jokes aside... As a part of our jobs, we often work together with a theater company. If you'd like, then why don't I introduce you to them, Kurumi?
Kurumi
Umm... But if I meet a big company and end up taking on a role, I think the pressure would make me too nervous...
Kurumi
I want to start out on a stage that's more on my level, and work hard from there... If I slowly work and grow like that, then one day I'll be like you two, someone who can show people dreams...
Kurumi
And if I can one day do something for the lonely, scared children like me... If I can inspire them and bring smiles to their faces...
Kurumi
Then I'm sure that even my "Lost" parents will be smiling on me, wherever they are...
Nozomi
That's wonderful! Ooh, you're such a good girl! Santa's gonna give you tons of presents!
Chika
Yes. For now, here's are presents from the two of us -- pick whichever ones you'd like...
Chika
We didn't know what sorts of things you would like, so we had Yuuki help us pick them.
Ayane
Ohh... So that was why you've been in and out a lot, big brother?
Kurumi
Big brother Yuuki is really popular, so I thought he was just going out to see lots of people...
Kurumi
Hee hee... If you get married to someone, Yuuki, then will that person be like our big sister?
Nozomi
Eh, c'mon, I'm not planning to get married yet! I'm not done being an idol yet!
Nozomi
Teasing your elders is what bad girls would do! You won't get presents that way, right?
Ayane
Eh, no, I want presents! Don't be mean or I'll cry, okay?
Nozomi
S-Sorry! I don't want you to cry -- I want everyone to smile, you know?
Chika
Ha ha. If you get upset over strange things, then that only makes other people want to tease you more, Nozomi!
Nozomi
Ooh, Chika. You look all serious and mature, but you're surprisingly into teasing...
Nozomi
But I'm happy that we've gotten to learn more and more of these things about each other. Well, anyway.
Nozomi
Okay, here you go. Merry Christmas! This is for Kurumi, and this... is for Yuuki, right?
Nozomi
You helped us out a lot, too, Yuuki, so it'd be awkward not to give you anything, you know?
Chika
Like I told you before, the more excuses you make, the more awkward it'll feel. Honestly, you're flawless as an idol, but this is what you get bashful over... It's kind of adorable. Ha ha.
Chika
In any case. This is for Ayane, and this is... for Puukichi. Merry Christmas!
Puukichi
Huh? You're giving something to me, too? Thanks, Miss!
Chika
Ha ha. Puukichi, you aren't just an accessory of Ayane's -- you're a very special individual all on your own... And I wanted to give presents to everyone here.
Chika
Just what are you, I wonder? You're quite mysterious... To think that you could be ejected from your hammer by Foggy and sent into my body.
Chika
A ghost, or some manner of spirit?
Puukichi
I'm Ayane's dear friend, and a part of her family. That's all there is to it, right?
Puukichi
And, more importantly. Aren't you ladies forgetting about your work? Spend too long here, and you'll be in for a scolding... Let's not spend too much time on idle chatter -- just come to our party later.
Chika
I'm still quite curious. But, well, perhaps as you say, that's all there is to it. To the kind bear who protects these good girls, I say, merry Christmas to you, too.
Ayane
Hee hee. Thank you, too, for talking to Puukichi normally...
Ayane
We're gonna eat lots of cake! Kurumi's in charge of baking, but I'm helping with the decorations!
Nozomi
Ahh, sounds great! But I'm on a diet right now, and it's easy to put on weight during winter, so I can't eat too many sweets...!
Chika
Ha ha. You'll just have to burn off the excess calories by singing, Nozomi.
Chika
As entertainment for your party, allow me to put my gratefulness into song. A precious hymn for this holy night...
Nozomi
Eh, but I don't know any hymns, you know? Can we just make it one of Carmina's usual songs?
Chika
Don't worry, I'll teach you. They're quite simple, so everyone can sing along, too.
Chika
Merry Christmas! For me, meeting all of you and spending all of these enjoyable moments together with you is the best present I could have asked for...!