Late December, 1944
It's so cold!
Right.
The river's frozen!
Morning, Hikari!
Hey!
Over here!
Come here!
Nipa-san and Kanno-san?
Episode 7 "On a Holy Night"
I-It's cold, huh?
The river's frozen.
Of course it's cold.
The Neva River freezes every December.
Actually, it's later than usual this year.
Is it a warm winter?
How is this a warm winter?
This is the problem with Suomusians.
So, what are you doing?
The river's frozen,
so I thought playing with a sled might be fun.
You're weird.
Recently, the sun's been rising really late, huh?
Sunrise in Petersburg is at 10:00 AM, and sunset is at 4:00 PM.
In northern Suomus, they have what's called the "polar night."
Sometimes, the sun never comes out.
I wouldn't know when to get up!
Rock, paper, scissors!
Me?
I can't push it like this.
Me first!
Guess I'll have to remove these.
Jeez.
Here, I go!
It's so cold...
Yay!
This feels so good!
Having fun, Hikari?
I am...
I'm not!
It's sunrise!
The river's frozen,
the sun is rising so late...
It's so different than Sasebo!
Of course it is!
We're more than 7,000 kilometers from Sasebo.
Winter's cold around here,
but there's lots of fun to have.
There's a festival, too.
A festival?
Okay, who's next?
Rock, paper, scissors!
I lost...
Here, I go.
This is fun!
I'm going to die!
Kanno, look.
What's that?
It's wet.
The ice is thinner there!
Karibuchi, stop!
I tripped!
Screw you!
I'm sorry...
That was bad luck, huh?
Don't get me caught up in it!
I couldn't help it!
This was your idea!
Hikari, save me!
Huh?
Kanno-san, your face looks weird.
Are you picking a fight?!
Hikari!
A cold?
Yes.
I gave her first-aid,
so I think her fever will be down by tomorrow.
I heard you two dropped her into a frozen river?
No, we got dropped!
Um, Witches don't usually get colds, do they?
No.
Witches are protected by their magic,
so they rarely get injured or ill.
But when physical and mental exhaustion builds up,
even a Witch can get sick.
Exhaustion...
Because I dragged her out, early in the morning?
That isn't the only reason.
To begin with, Hikari-san didn't have a lot of magic power.
I think the biggest factor is all our recent difficult missions.
I should have kept that more in mind.
We're fortunate it is only a cold.
Hikari...
The food's ready.
Shimohara-chan, what is this?
It's similar to gnocchi.
Is this fully cooked?
It isn't a pierogi, is it?
Pelmeni without filling?
Suiton soup?
I'm sorry.
With the ingredients we have, it's the best I can do.
Supplies from Murmansk Port have been cut off,
and the artillery strikes on our warehouses a few days ago
destroyed our food storage.
What about Suomus resupplying us?
I've asked, but their only supply line left is land-based, via the North Sea,
and they can spare nothing.
We're devising a plan to restore our supply lines,
but we simply don't have enough food.
So we're gonna have to eat that stuff for a while, huh?
Um... chinton?
Suiton soup.
So we have no way to fix this now,
and we'll just have to wait for the supply situation to improve?
Tomorrow is the base's annual Saturnus Festival.
We'll have to call it off.
Huh?!
No...
Never mind...
What was that "Huh?"
You were planning to use the festival to cheer Hikari up, right?
If you knew, then you should have spoken up with me.
We can't do it. We have no supplies.
Oh, you're up.
Hikari!
Huh?
What's wrong?
I collapsed from a cold?
I'm sorry, Hikari...
It's my fault for inviting you sledding.
No, I was just slacking.
It isn't your fault!
I'm useless, anyway.
I can't believe I collapsed from a cold...
Get better and let's fly together again!
We don't have fuel to run the base's heater.
Keep warm and sleep.
Kanno-san...
That's nasty!
I'm sorry...
Let's do the Saturnus Festival.
I thought you'd say that.
I want to cheer up Hikari, even just a little.
I want her to be glad she came to the base.
Jeez.
But the flight leader canceled it.
And there's nothing but suiton in the base.
But let's do what we can!
I don't know...
I know! Let's ask all the others!
I see.
Then, you want to put on the Saturnus Festival for Hikari-san's sake?
Can you keep it a secret from the flight leader?
Understood.
It would be so nice if Grandpa Winter and the Snow Girl could bring her a present.
Grandpa Winter?
A snow woman gives her a present?
The Snow Girl!
It's an Orussian legend.
Um, is there any present we could give her?
Let me see...
Once, I woke up in the morning and found a wooden doll on my pillow.
I'm sure my grandmother made it,
but it made me really happy.
Could we make one for tomorrow night?
Yes, a full day is plenty.
I'll get everything ready,
so tomorrow morning, let's make it together!
Saturnus?
In Gallia, we eat a sweet called "bûche de Noël."
It's a cake that looks like a log.
A log?
You can eat it?
It's just how it's shaped.
I'm looking, but we don't have ingredients to make a cake anymore.
What else...
At my house, we put carrots under the tree.
They were presents for the reindeer.
Reindeer eat carrots?
We don't have any carrots...
I'm trying to please Hikari, not the reindeer.
I want to do something for Karibuchi-san,
but we don't have any supplies.
Hey, what about those mushrooms that Nipa-san's good with?
I think you could find some in the forest.
That might work.
I'll think up a recipe tonight!
Yay!
We have food and a present.
Is there anything else we can do?
Should we ask Krupinski-san?
Her, huh?
You want to win Hikari-chan's heart at the festival?
That isn't what I said!
Then, I'll tell you something interesting.
On the night of this base's Saturnus Festival,
a silver-haired fox woman appears.
A fox woman?
151cm tall.
She says she's 19,
but she's actually an old fox, who's lying about her age.
Every night she comes to suck the blood of young Witches...
The blood...
There's no such thing!
She's right behind you!
I've never heard a legend like that before!
Th-The fox woman...
Saturnus Festival A festival to celebrate the God of Agriculture, Saturn, that is usually held from 12/17 to 12/23 to include the Winter Solstice. Because the sun and earth are revived during the Winter Solstice, during that period, the people decorate an evergreen tree to symbolize that. They would then merrily eat and drink and exchange small gifts they made.
Nipa-san and Kanno-san are trying to put on a festival.
Day of the Saturnus Festival
Then you can keep them off duty for the day.
That's very nice of you.
That isn't it.
Right now, we're even cutting patrols
because I want to save supplies for the next mission.
Oh, I was sure you'd be interested in the festival.
As for punishment, I'm giving Flying Officer Krupinski for spreading unfounded rumors.
A fir tree...
You need a tree for Saturnus.
Foxes are scary...
I Spread False Rumors.
You haven't told Hikari-san about the Saturnus Festival?
No, I want it to be a surprise.
All right.
Is it done, Kanno-san?
A masterpiece, if I do say so myself!
You're good, Kanno!
That's a cute cat.
It's a dog.
Morning!
It's Hikari... Oh, no!
Hide everything! Quick!
There's no time!
Kanno-san, kneel!
Yes, ma'am!
We're short on supplies, and you keep crashing your Unit!
Hikari, you need to lie down!
Do you feel bad about it?
I do!
I'm fine!
My fever's gone down.
You still have a little fever.
Get back to your room.
But I need to do my training. I was in bed all yesterday.
I finally got it back here...
I brought the biggest one I could find.
Oh, Hikari-chan! Look!
No, Flying Officer!
This tree is for Hikari-chan.
That idiot...
A tree? For me?
See? You need to stay in bed!
A festival for me?
Yeah.
The flying officer and Rossmann-san are going to get yummy mushrooms.
I Leaked Information.
Look forward to it.
I don't really know anything about the Saturnus Festival.
It's said to be a festival collecting legends and traditions from across Europe.
But why are you doing all this for me?
Well, you see, I joined the 502nd just over a year ago.
When I was in Suomus I had many friends my age with whom I fought.
So when I first joined the 502nd, I was so nervous, I couldn't fit in at all.
I can't believe you were once like that!
But about a year ago, they held the Saturnus Festival at the base.
What is it?
It's the same as it was in Suomus...
In Suomus, my friends and I always lit candles.
So when I realized this place celebrated the same way, it cheered me up.
Ever since then, I think I've been able to fit into the 502nd.
I love festivals, too.
I think festivals have a strange power to connect people's hearts.
That's why I want you to enjoy the Saturnus Festival, too.
Thank you.
You're so kind, Nipa-san.
N-No...
I wonder if those mushrooms are here yet!
I'll go look!
Wh-What's wrong, everyone?
We cooked the mushrooms and...
These are laughing mushrooms!
Why did you pick these?
Krupinski-san said they'd be delicious...
I'm sorry, Nipa-kun.
I ruined your festival.
No...
But then, the festival...
A single mid-sized Neuroi is approaching the base.
A Neuroi?
A Neuroi, at a time like this?!
Kanno! Sasha-san!
You, too?
Nipa, can you hear me?
Flight Leader?
You're the only one who can launch.
Roger.
Nipa-san!
Hikari?
Leave it to me.
No following me.
That's your superior officer's order!
Roger.
The tree!
Damn it...
You'll pay for that!
The delay in discovering the enemy was due to some kind of ability it used.
Be careful.
Roger!
I'm glad she's still okay.
Damn it... Where are you?
Is that it?
Camouflage?
Damn it! Where are you?
Nipa-san!
Hikari?
Eleven o'clock!
That way?
Where are you?
Hikari, it isn't here.
I can see it!
Maybe...
There it is!
It's only camouflaged on top!
It got stuck!
Nipa-san!
Why is my luck so terrible?
Who shot that?
Core sighted.
What happened?
Hey, Nipa!
Il!
Enemy downed.
All green.
Sanya-san!
It's been a while, Nipa-san.
Who are they?
Flying Officer Litvyak and Pilot Officer Juutilainen, from the 501st.
What's with those flashy outfits?
Kanno-san! Sasha-san!
Are you okay now?
You picking a fight?
We didn't eat much.
L-Look at that.
What is that?
An NKL-16.
A transport sled?
It's a Saturnus present.
Have you been a good girl, Nipa?
Ham!
And apple jam!
Look, Hikari!
What do you think, Hikari?
It's so pretty!
Sensei picked the mushrooms, too...
I Committed Sabotage.
Why am I the only one punished?
The Suomus military has completed its resupply mission to the 502nd.
Accepted.
I heard things are bad for them, too.
Eila and the other Suomus Witches got stuff together to help Nipa-san.
It's a big help, Flying Officer Litvyak and Pilot Officer Juutilainen.
Nah, it was nothing...
Hey, Karibuchi!
Yes?
It's so cute!
It's an Orussian doll called a matryoshka.
It's for you.
Thank you!
You can open it in the middle.
You can open it more.
It's a cute piggy!
It's a dog.
I can smell it.
This scent that's calling me.
It was you, champagne-kun?
Flight Leader?
Would it be more fun if I shook it?
I think so.
It's so pretty!
Yeah.
My champagne!
I was a little worried...
About Nipa-san?
Yeah, I thought she might not be fitting in with the 502nd.
Seems there's no need to worry.
Yeah, worrying was a waste of time!
To Be Continued
Hello, my pretty, little kitties.
Why not join me tonight?
Enough, fake count!
That isn't a kitty. It's a fox!
Next time on Brave Witches: Grape Juice for Your Eyes.
Episode 8 "Grape Juice for Your Eyes"