We’ve been on one of the longest runs of low-key, slice-of-life episodes of the entire series. It looked like it was continuing this week for all of the A-part and most of the B, but those last few minutes were… different. They had a certain air of gravitas to them and even, dare I say, something slightly ominous for a moment or two. This is Hell, after all, though it’s only very rarely that it feels like it. It definitely vibes as if that last scene marks the transition to the next significant development in the series.

It’s Un-December! What the hell does that mean? Well, the Underworld has 13 months and that’s the extra. And the the traditional time for – effectively – bounenkai, the omnipresent end of the year parties that define the New Year period here in many ways. Of course even in Hell kids don’t drink alcohol (in anime, anyway). So this bounenkai is an innocent party at the Sullivan estate, with delicious food prepared by Opera-san. Nothing wild or crazy at all.

Except Jazz brings (a lot of ) “Relaxcider” to the party. Relaxcider may be alcohol free, but there’s something in there, that’s for sure. And I would describe the impact as “uninhibited” rather than relaxed. Lead is the one who figures out that the stuff is a concentrate and everyone is drinking it straight. The results are interesting to say the least. My favorite is Azz becoming obsessed with how small Iruma is. Clara – along with generally tripping balls (she’s addled to begin with) – fixates on Iruma’s baby fat. And Purson-kun uninhibited is quite a spectacle indeed (why is he working out with a dumbbell?).

This goes on for a while. Misfit sandwiches are formed, Lead is dissed (66th brother?). Finally he gives in and embraces the moment – when he sees the altered state Nee-san is in, to be specific. But even after a healthy chug of Relaxcider poor Lead-kun can’t bring himself to confess, which elicits a round mocking from fellow Boku Purson. Eventually things get really rowdy and collateral damage ensues – this is a true teen raver in the end. And it gets Iruma-kun in trouble with Grandpa (Opera more pointedly) for the first time in- ever?

Opera-san gives Iruma a short lecture on how he seems to be letting his hair down just a bit too much lately, and Iruma can’t really deny it. The punishment – he’s to become an attendant for a day, learning at Opera’s feet. And Opera is an extremely formidable sort indeed – a true S.D.. He does indeed show Iruma-kun the ropes around the house – cleaning, laundry, cooking (not for Iruma though), the garden. Iruma always defaulting to good boy mode in the end takes all this respectfully and in-stride.

That last conversation between the two of them is definitely the takeaway from the episode, its most interesting and intense element. Opera can veer into scary sometimes, a bit – they’re someone you figure could cause real chaos if they ever went over to the dark side. Opera-san makes it very clear that their loyalty is not cheap or trivial – it’s given without reservation, and it comes with expectations as well as responsibilities. And that they intend to transfer that loyalty to Iruma one day. With the Opera presents Iruma-kun with an invitation to the “Thirteen Crowns” dinner – and it’s obvious that in the local power politics, this is a very big deal indeed. As far as Iruma as future elite goes, his coming out party. And likely the next big event in the series.

Su…ki…ma…