December When There Is No Angel

December When There Is No Angel (Japanese: 天使のいない12月, Hepburn: Tenshi no Inai 12-gatsu) is an adult visual novel from developer and publisher Leaf, released on September 26, 2003, in both CD-ROM and DVD formats. The story centers on Tokinori Kida, a protagonist who is unfriendly, quick-tempered, and lacks interest in relationships or life’s expectations. He believes the world would be better off without him, finds comfort only in smoking, and acts decisively when needed, despite having no direction.

Kida’s classmate Touko Kurihara is a simple, troublesome girl who feels she must do her best despite being a nuisance. She has never proven herself and seeks meaning, which she finds upon meeting Kida. Her best friend Shinobu Sakaki, the sharp-tongued class representative, has known Touko all her life and protects her fiercely, even punishing those who cross her—though this often harms Touko, leading classmates to suspect a romantic link between them. Asuna Asou, an older girl working at a local cake shop, is amicable and romantic, taking a liking to Kida and vowing to look after him like an older sister, but becomes tense when her past is mentioned. Yukio Sumadera, a respected and admired underclassman, is intelligent and beautiful but avoids forming bonds and dislikes attention. Maho Hazuki, an energetic lacrosse player and girlfriend of Kida’s best friend Isao Shimomura, sees Kida as an older brother and feels more at ease with him than with her boyfriend, though she rarely engages with ideas not her own. Emiri Kida, Tokinori’s younger sister, is the more dominant figure in their household, has lowered expectations for her brother due to his lack of direction, and admires Yukio. Isao Shimomura, Kida’s outgoing and optimistic best friend, is focused on Christmas plans with Maho but unaware of her discomfort with sex. Bungo Sugamo, the short-tempered cake shop owner and Asuna’s uncle by marriage, is a talented pâtissier who serves as an adult figure, especially in Asuna’s storyline. Tachibana, the English teacher of Kida, Shinobu, and Touko, is unpleasant and disliked for appearing at the worst moments.

The game’s staff includes producer Naoya Shimokawa, director Tsutomu Washimi, scenario writer Shousuke Miyake, character designers Takeshi Nakamura and Misato Mitsumi, and composers Junya Matsuoka, Shinya Ishikawa, Naoya Shimokawa, and Kazuhide Nakagami.