This is so adorable I made it into my new avatar.

Summary: In the first half, Yuno, Miyako and those random classmates you see in every other episode visit Miss Yoshinoya’s house in order to help her clean out her room. Seriously. They also bump into her younger brother and his child. Seriously. In the second half, the tenants of Hidamari Apartments throw a Christmas party, and Natsume is invited.

I have to say, it’s great to see N-N-N-N-N-Natsume again. While she usually just shows up once an episode to be the annoying token tsundere, her appearance in this episode was genuinely heartfelt and adorable to boot. Christmas specials have been few and far between in Hidamari Sketch, but this episode was a cute and visually enthralling episode full of fun little details. Sadly enough, though, the Yoshinoya half was a bit disappointing. When are we actually going to learn some more about the ever mysterious teacher? It’d be fun to have a flashback episode in which she is studying at Yamabuki, for instance. Nonetheless, it’s nice to see the side characters getting some attention as well. When is the Principal getting his own episode?

I expected Yoshinoya to dress them all up in full-on maid costumes, really.

I’m not sure if leaving your child in Miyako’s care is such a good idea…

D’aww. Yoshinoya never changes, does she?

Visitor’s Rule #1: Pick your food before Miya eats all of it.

The Holy Christmas Pancake.

THIS SANDWICH OF MINE GLOWS WITH AN AWESOME POWER! IT’S JUICY ZEST TELLS ME TO EAT!

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a girl in anime being forced to eat a banana not being sexual in the slightest.

At least Longcat loves Natsume.

Now Natsume can hang this picture on the roof above her bed and cry herself to sleep every day.

Natsume’s reaction to seeing the end card.

Not pictured: The truth.

Random observations:

• Yuno, that is not how you sing Jingle Bells.
• Miyako chose a book on design from Yoshinoya’s collection. As you may know from the ninth episode, she wants to become a designer. Nice little reference there! Also, Yuno picked a book on photography. Anyone remember the pool episode?
• Winning an expensive wristwatch in a raffle she got tickets for after buying her actual Christmas present and then giving both to Nori is the most Nazuna thing Nazuna has ever done.
• I like commercials in my anime if they are funny. If they are not funny, not related, or just the same long-as-heck commercials over and over again, it just gets annoying, Nutbladder. HOBUNSHA!