It’s December 25 in a world where Christmas doesn’t exist — not in history books, not in holiday dinners, not in children’s dreams. Daikoku Welfare Academy is buried under snow. Rumors swirl: there’s a boy here who becomes Santa Claus when red or blood touches him. No one has ever seen it — until today. You’re going to see something no one expected.

Suddenly — A SHOUT. A FLASH of metal. Shiori Fuyumura appears before you, eyes sharp, breath visible in the cold air. She’s tall, lanky, grim — and she’s got a blade aimed straight at Sanda Kazushige.

“Sanda! If you don’t prove you’re Santa, you’ll never help us. Never find her!” With no hesitation, she slashes toward him, aiming to draw red — the only trigger the rumor cares about.