Christmas Eve for the En Passant Grandmaster cast

In no time flat, December 24th, Christmas Eve, had arrived. Attending a party at Ryokoma with the others, Okisato sat in silence.

"Welcome to the Christmas Eve magic show! The great Gindini-chan is here!" a silver-haired girl in a red leotard, red witch hat, and white knee-high boots smiled as she appeared on the stage in a puff of smoke.

"And to assist me..."

More puffs of smoke emitted from the stage as Iori, Leona, and a red-haired girl, all wearing the same outfit as Gindini-chan, appeared.

"Now you know my assistant, Rolly Polly, but who might these colorful haired girls be?"

"Your girl Leona- Leonadini!" Leona smiled.

"Jupiter's magical moon, IO-chan!" Iori grinned as she struck a pose.

"Now, we've got a life-sized box here. Who wants to volunteer?" Gindini-chan called out.

"Hmm, how about that girl?" IO-chan grinned as she pointed at Carol.

Carol giddily got up as Okisato sighed. He could more or less tell Carol was the "hired hand".

"Alright, now into the box," Iori grinned.

"You gonna cut me?" Carol nervously asked.

"Well, yes. That's what magicians do. We cut people up, then put them back together," Leona smiled as she shoved Carol into the box.

Rolly Polly quickly secured Carol inside, leaving open just a small window at the top so Carol's face could be seen.

"Now, BAM!" Gindini-chan smiled as she smacked the middle section of the box, sending it to the side, leaving a giant hole in the middle.

"Uh, my boobs feel weird," Carol grimaced.

"That's cuz you're curving- OH FUCK! I FORGOT!" Leonadini cried as Rolly Polly groaned and turned the box around, revealing what appeared to be a flexible felt back showing Carol's body perfectly curving to make it look like she had been split into thirds.

"Oh, don't worry about this," Gindini-chan smiled as she ripped off the "flexible felt back, revealing the back of the box was in fact smooth.

"Wait, I thought you told us in rehearsal we can't remove that!" IO-chan cried.

Rolly Polly spun the box back around, though now Carol's eyes were rolled back and blood was oozing out of her mouth.

"OH FUCK! WE KILLED CECE-CHAN!" IO-chan cried as she grabbed Carol's head and yanked it out of the box for all to see.

"Fuck! We gotta revive her! I don't wanna get booked for murder!" Leonadini cried.

"Revive," IO-chan nervously shrugged as she chucked Carol's head back into the box, slamming the window shut.

"Alright, I'll need all of you to help me... REVIVE!" Gindini-chan cried.

"That was off-cue! Re-do!" Leonadini cried.

"You all... Ugh, why'd we agree to this?" Rolly Polly groaned as she hugged the box and pressed her head against it.

"She looked like someone a person that looks like me, but isn't me, knows. That's why I chose her! That doppelganger's gonna kill me for this!" IO-chan cried.

"Nah, we revived her just fine," Gindini-chan smiled as she opened up the entire box, revealing a perfectly fine and alive Carol.

"Hey guys, what happened?" Carol asked as she stepped out.

"Yeah, no chancing things. Brainwash her into one of us," IO-chan scowled.

Gindini-chan nodded and in a swift motion, yanked off Carol's shirt and jeans, revealing a red leotard. Then she grabbed Carol's ankles and slowly moved her hands up Carol's legs, turning her sneakers into sneaker boots.

"Eh, the boots are a little off, but it'll pass for now," Leonadini shrugged.

"Uh... Ugh... Me... Me who?" Carol groaned.

"You Now ya Cece!" IO-chan grinned.

"Now ya Cece, now ya don't!" Carol grinned as she suddenly materialized a cape out of nothing and wrapped it around herself before pulling out a top hat.

Rolly Polly face-palmed. "It's a defect. This is why we rehearse."

"They really did a good job," Mimoko smiled as she watched.

"I'll say. I didn't catch on that Leona's flub was deliberate until Madoka ripped off the back," Okisato mumbled.

"You think you know how the magic was done?"

"I have a good idea, but I'll remain quiet."

Once the show was over, Iori showed up to greet the group. "I hear there's gonna be a magic show. So, when is it?"

"You were just in it," Utami scowled.

"I- Huh? B- But I just got here... THERE'S A DOPPELGANGER ON THE LOSE!?"

"Yes, I hear she goes by IO-chan, Jupiter's moon, she said she was," Mimoko giggled, playing along.

"Ain't there some rapper also named Io? Fucking doppelgangin' bitch bout to get sued for double identity theft."

And thus, the merry festivities continued well into the night.

...

The next morning, Mimoko yawned and stretched as she got out of bed.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Daria cheered as she burst into Mimoko's room in plaid pajamas.

"Same to you, Okaa-chan. Now let's do presents quickly."

"Hmm? Somewhere you want to be?"

"The chess center, Tanabe-kun claims he's got something important to tell me regarding the Troitsky game."

"Did he solve it!?"

"He... didn't say..."

Daria began to frown, but stopped herself midway. "Well, we'll just have to make this year's present ceremony all smiles then."

...

Okisato turned and looked up as Mimoko arrived at the chess center in a black overcoat, leggings, and white sneakers.

"So, do you have a Christmas present for me?" Mimoko smiled.

Okisato let out a sigh. "Sit down, it's easier if I show it."