Seem So Close

Unfortunately, just as the anticipation in the air reached its feverish pitch, the fake Santa Claus dropped the bombshell, dousing their excitement like a bucket of icy water. 

"Alas, our final champion has exercised their rights and refused to have their name revealed at this moment." He released a regretful sigh, though this state lasted only for a fleeting moment before he bounced back to his exaggerated cheerfulness once more. "Oh well, you can check the leaderboard after this if you're curious!" 

He clapped his gloved hands together. "So that's it for this year's Christmas fun, my dear children! Until we meet again ohoho~"

Before the players could even digest the sudden turn of events, they were herded into the buses in a muddled and sluggish manner.