Editing Kakegurui Trip Fulltext (section)

=Chapter 4: The Poker Tournament=
<center>wiki chapter navigation:<br>
<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| [[#Chapter 3: The Beach and the Ace|previous]]
| [[#Table of contents|index]]
| [[#Chapter 5: The Reason for Living|next]]
|-
|}
</noinclude></center>
==Chapter 4, part 1==

We showered in our rooms, changed back into school uniform and met at the restaurant. It was once again a lavish buffet.
<br><br>
''"It feels like everyone is even more pumped up than yesterday"'', Mary said while moving a large piece of salmon onto her plate.
<br><br>
''"It's tournament night. Everyone will be at the casino, I suppose"'', I replied, while trying to decide what cheese to pick.
<br><br>
Yumeko was generously sprinkling dressing on her salad. ''"I'm sure lots will sign up. Kifune-san called it the main event, after all."''
<br><br>
The meal was excellent. We ate with lighthearted banter. Just like yesterday, we didn't linger at the restaurant for too long and went to the casino.
<br><br>
A large group had gathered. They were crowding someone who was standing in an open space. As we got closer, we saw that there were two guys dressed in the black Kansankai uniform. One was the center of attention, looking down to his clipboard and writing while people were talking to him. The other was giving directions to the crowd.<br>
''"We'll handle your poker tournament sign up. There are only 125 spots, so register quickly if you want to participate."''
<br><br>
''"So many people were looking forward to this. Those 125 spots will be gone in a blink, I bet"'', Mary said.
<br><br>
Yumeko rushed forward.
<br><br>
''"So, you are going to do it"'', I said to her as I was catching up. 
<br><br>
''"Yes of course! This is exactly the sort of thing I came here for! If I miss out, I'd regret it terribly. It's a once-a-year event after all"'', Yumeko said with a smile. ''"Will you two also sign up?"''
<br><br>
I considered Yumeko's suggestion for a moment. I didn't think I had any chance of winning, but it did seem like a fun experience. 
<br><br>
''"Suzui, you are wondering what the entry fee is, right?"'' Mary asked it like the answer was obvious.
<br><br>
''"It would be nice to know that, yes. Have you heard what it is, Saotome?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
Mary looked me in the eye while answering to see my reaction. ''"It's a million Yen."''
<br><br>
I laughed. ''"Ha, no! I'm passing on this then!"'' Thanks to Yumeko, I got some money from that slot machine yesterday. I lost some of it later so I wasn't really in a position to pay one million, even if I wanted to.<br>
''"I can't believe so many are willing to risk that much so easily"'', I said.
<br><br>
Mary looked at me, like she would at an endearing and naive child. I smiled sheepishly. 
<br><br>
''"Sorry, Yumeko. I have to decline. There are other games here I still want to try. Besides, didn't they say that they took bets on who the tournament winner would be?"''<br>
I pulled my coin card from my pocket. ''"I still got some money on this thing so I can bet on you!"''
<br><br>
''"That's a lot of pressure"'', Yumeko said.
<br><br>
I laughed. It was a surprise to hear Yumeko say that. You'd think she was joking but there was not a hint of sarcasm in her expression. She was always fine taking huge risks herself, so if she was being sincere here, it meant she was concerned about me.
<br><br>
''"Just do your best and we'll both make money!"'' I said, cheering her on. 
<br><br>
''"Yes! I'll do my best!"'' She raised both hands in front of her chest and pursed her red lips. 
<br><br>
''"What about you, Saotome?"'', I asked, turning to her.
<br><br>
''"I'll pass too. It's the main event and this place is run by Kifune. I'm not desperate and I don't trust this for one bit."'' Mary looked at Yumeko before continuing. ''"But hey, I'll cheer for those who are actually trying to compete fairly."''
<br><br>
Yumeko looked dejected, but only briefly. She widened her eyes as if she suddenly remembered something and brushed up to Mary. She then started whispering into Mary's ear while covering it with cupped hands, for total privacy.
<br><br>
''"Yes...? And then? I can do that. Okay... Ugh!! No way... You mean you actually want me to --- mumble"'', Mary was saying, but was interrupted when Yumeko slapped a hand in front of her mouth.
<br><br>
The two were staring at each other in silence.
<br><br>
Eventually, Mary removed Yumeko's hand and closed her eyes. She sighed deeply like she had done many times already on this trip. ''"I'm scared of myself for getting used to the outrageous things you say."''<br>
With reluctant acceptance, Mary gestured towards the tournament sign up. ''"Okay, whatever. Hurry up and go."''
<br><br>
''"Hihi. Thank you, Mary-san! I'll see you both later"'' Yumeko waved at us as she disappeared in the crowd.
<br><br>
''"It didn't look like you promised to sign up for the tournament yourself. You two were talking about something else entirely, right?"'', I asked Mary.
<br><br>
''"Ah, no... I mean, yes... It's none of your business. Well, actually it is, but you don't need to worry about it. Or maybe you should, but not now. You'll find out eventually. Anyway, I need to go. Have fun! See you later!"''<br>
After saying goodbye Mary started to walk away quickly.
<br><br>
I felt abandoned but it didn't bother me too much. If those two are pulling off some complicated scheme and don't need my help, I'll gladly get out of their way.
<br><br>
''"The tournament will start in one hour. Those who still wish to sign up, must do so quickly! Don't forget to pay the entry fee at the reception desk!"'', the Kansankai staffer announced, while looking around.
<br><br>
It seemed I had some time to kill. I guess I should check out some of the games I didn't get to play yesterday.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 2==

''"Boss, it looks like Jabami is signing up."
<br>''<br>
''"That's not a surprise. She's a gambling junkie after all. Although, I was hoping she would get scared and stick to the usual games instead"'', I replied.
<br><br>
I was in the surveillance room. It was dimly lit and had mirrored windows. You had a good view of the whole casino floor beneath you from here. Everything in here looked remarkably unremarkable. There were no decorations of any kind, so even if guests got a peak of the inside, they would soon forget all about it. This is how large casinos handle surveillance, so this is how we handled it here to. 
<br><br>
I caught a peek of Yumeko in the crowd at the sign up point. Aside from the holdup there, the rest of the casino was running smoothly.
<br><br>
''"So, eh... Are we doing something, boss? Do you want me to adjust the participant count last-second? If I do it now quickly, I can make her sign up be too late"'', my friend in black continued.
<br><br>
I shook my head. "''Neh, don't bother. Let her join. She screwed up when she became a Mittens and she'll screw up now too."''
<br><br>
I sat on one of the comfortable couches in the room. The casino was running great. We were heavily in debt, but our investors were generous. 
<br><br>
I was in my 3rd year, so this was my last summer as a Hyakkaou student. You could say that everything meaningful I did with my time at the school was hinging on today. From the moment I joined the Kansankai, I stopped existing as a normal girl. Good grades, hobbies, sports, romance... I had no time or energy for any of those. Sometimes I think I'll regret having been so single-minded, but I'm unsure I could have done things any other way. I had to drag myself out of the gutter and realize my dream.
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
With the despair of being a housepet, I found a new strength. I had little to lose so it was easy to take a radical approach.<br>
I could not allow myself to be spat on or become a failure. It was simply unthinkable for me to give up on myself like that. Then, something came along that could bail me out of my misery. Grabbing onto that with all my might came strangely natural.
<br><br>
At the time, the Kansankai was just another student club. Becoming it's leader was not difficult. Things were starting to look good as we were running a couple of gambling dens. This however, was not enough. We made a plan to open a casino. A real one, not just some tables in a basement.
<br><br>
It was strangely easy to secure funding. Just mentioning that we were from Hyakkaou Private Academy was often enough to be taken seriously and attract investors. Some of my club mates had family connections that made this go even smoother.
<br><br>
Then came the next challenge. We needed a location. Something fancy, luxurious and secluded but also easily reachable. A place the high roller students would gladly keep coming to. Ryouran Island was that place. However, getting permission to use it would mean I'd have to deal with student council president Kirari Momobami directly.

Whenever any group at the school came even close to becoming a threat to the student council, they got ruthlessly stepped on. I knew this and became increasingly anxious about what was in store for the Kansankai as our club grew more successful. Strangely, nothing was ever done to us. This was convenient of course, but also suspicious. 
<br><br>
I wasn't going to defy the council... yet. The Kansankai was by no means strong enough for such an act and we'd be forced to disband in no time. I'd have to play their game for a while, showing them that we would be beneficial to them rather than a challenge to their power.
<br><br>
I made an appointment though Sayaka Igarashi. She was the president's secretary and her most trusted servant. After some back and forth, a date and time was set.
<br><br>
I opened the heavy door to the student council president's office. Kirari was sitting at her desk with a large window behind her. It was around noon and the bright sunlight was blinding me as I looked at her. I couldn't see her whole face, but I did catch a faint smile on her blue hued lips.
<br><br>
What this an honest smile? Was she taunting me? Was it something else? With people like her you'd never know for sure. If she were easy to read, she wouldn't be sitting in that chair.
<br><br>
Her presence was unnerving. Looking in her direction made my heart pound. It was as if she had an aura that was pulling you in. With the effortless self-confidence that was radiating from her, it seemed impossible that she was the same age as me.
<br><br>
Standing there, I realized something about myself. I wasn't afraid of her. I wasn't attracted to her. It was something else that was stirring me up so much. I wanted to be like her. I was looking at the girl I wanted to become. The power she was projecting on anyone who stood before her is what I wanted for myself.
<br><br>
I tensed up to suppress the trembling and make a conscious effort to keep my face straight. There was business to be done and I couldn't show weakness. A lot was riding on this conversation. I would be pitching my plan to the ruler of Hyakkaou Private Academy and I'd be damned if I didn't do a good job. 
<br><br>
There was a portfolio under my arm. Weeks of tireless labour went into it. Everything was sourced and all calculations double-checked. There was no way our plan for the casino did not look extremely compelling.
<br><br>
I made a quick bow and spoke as calmly as I could. ''"Thank you for taking the time to see me today. I'm Kifune Izayoi and I lead the Kansankai student club. If you will allow me to present my case, you'll see that our club has..."''
<br><br>
''"So what are the requirements?"'', Kirari interrupted me. She had her elbows on the armrests and her long slender fingers were crossed.
<br><br>
Right to the point, huh? I couldn't let this throw me off.
<br><br>
''"Our intention is to propose opening a casino for this academy. We are confident that it will contribute significantly to the development of Hyakkaou. As for the time line..."''
I took my eyes off of Kirari as I was talking to open my portfolio.
<br><br>
''"That's alright. Keep the papers."'' Her voice was suddenly coming from a lot closer.
<br><br>
I looked up. Kirari was right in front of me. I could make out my reflection in her deep blue eyes. She had them wide open, looking at me with curiosity and anticipation. This froze me up completely.
<br><br>
''"You want Ryouran Island, don't you? Do you need a loan?"'', Kirari asked, slightly tilting her head sideways.
<br><br>
I forced myself out my stupor. ''"No... I mean, yes.... The m-money is something we have covered, actually. A-all we ask for is the right to use Ryouran."''
<br><br>
''"That's fine. If gambling is the essence of this school, what good would it be without a casino? This place was getting boring without one. Your efforts to stir things up are commendable"'', she said softly.
<br><br>
''"You can use the island for free. Sayaka, please..."'', Kirari said while walking around her huge desk, back to her chair.
<br><br>
''"Yes, president"'', Sayaka replied while pulling out paperwork.
<br><br>
Kirari took a stamp the size of her fist out of a desk drawer and pressed it hard onto the document she was handed.
<br><br>
Bang. The room was silent again but my heart was racing.
<br><br>
Sayaka handed me the stamped form as Kirari hung back into her chair and crossed her legs. The tip of her knee was peaking from below the desk, revealing her ink black stockings. 
<br><br>
''"This concludes our business, I'm sure. I'd love to chat a bit, though. Would you like some tea?"'', she asked.
<br><br>
I knew it was just a piece of paper but somehow it felt light in my hand. With how much we worked to get to the point of receiving this, I somehow imagined it should have been heavier. 
<br><br>
Sayaka poured the tea and placed a chair for me. I sat down silently and faced Kirari form across the desk. 
<br><br>
''"What kind of casino will it be? Do you have anything special in mind? Will there be some theme to it? Won't you tell me?"'', she asked with what looked like genuine excitement.
<br><br>
Ah, so this is how it was. The feasibility studies and technical planning didn't interest her. She was just looking forward to having a new toy.
<br><br>
I spoke frantically. It felt like I was talking to calm myself down, rather than for her benefit. The unease within me was still strong and speaking helped to suppress the urge to run away. I humored her as much as I could, rambling on about the luxuries in stock for our guests. 
<br><br>
As the conversation continued, I started looking past her, rather than at her. The light falling through the window was like the path to my future. Kirari was an obstacle on that path. Someday, I'll get rid of this obstacle. I'll rule over everything. 
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
''"Boss...? Kifune-san...? Are you okay?"'' My black suited friend was looking into my eyes with a worried expression.
<br><br>
''"Huh? Yes! I was just thinking about something. Don't worry about it. Let's get moving. It's almost time"'', I said while standing up and straightening out my clothing. 
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 3==

I was killing time while looking around, waiting for the tournament to start.<br>
There was a display set up in a corner. It was hung up pretty high so that many people could watch it. There was some sports show on it yesterday. Today, it was going to be used for the tournament. The screen was very large. It was as tall as I was, probably. Several smaller screens were at it's sides, so they were likely planning to show the action at differed tables simultaneously.
<br><br>
I wasn't planning to stay here, though. Only Yumeko's games interested me so I could just as well watch them in person at her table.
<br><br>
The screen came on and showed a closeup of Kifune. She used a dramatic voice to hype up the public. ''"Ladies and gentlemen! Honored guests! Thank you for waiting! All the 125 player spots are taken and we can proceed with the tournament! The main event of the Ryouran Island Summer Camp is about to start!"''
<br><br>
The crowd was cheering and whistling.
<br><br>
''"The poker variant will be the simple Five-card Draw! However, per played hand, there will be only one betting phase, making the action fast paced! Each table will have five players! The 25 table winners will be grouped for another game of five in the second round! Table winners of the second round get a seat at the final table in the third round! The winner of the final table gets all the price money!''<br>
''As promised, the prize is four times the sign up fees collected! Our lucky champion will go home with a whopping 500 million Yen!''"
<br><br>
The crowd cheered again. Louder this time.
<br><br>
So they were really doing it then. They were prepared to lose money on transportation and the hotel rooms. Now they were also prepared to lose money on the tournament.
<br><br>
The screen changed, showing a list of names. I quickly found Yumeko's near the bottom. Kifune's face was no longer displayed but her voice continued.<br>
''"Who among the 125 will seize their destiny and claim the prize?! You can bet on it! Guess it right and we will multiply your wager by the amount of players still in the tournament at the time of betting! Bets can only be placed before a round starts! Place your bet before the first round and receive 125 times your money back! Bet as much as you like!"''
<br><br>
I had done exactly this. The 30 thousand Yen I had left to play with were wagered on Yumeko. I won't have to worry about lunch money or the cost of any computer games for a while if she would win.
It crossed my mind that the casino was unusually generous with these side bets as well. With this type of set up, the payout is usually a lot less good so that the middleman can expect to turn a profit. 
<br><br>
''"It smells."'' That's what Mary said about this place back at school. The more I thought about it, the more I could see her point.
<br><br>
''"The first round will start when all players are present. Please hurry if you haven't place your bet yet!"'', Kifune went on.
<br><br>
I headed to Yumeko's table.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 4==

One of the casino halls had been rearranged. There were now 25 tables placed in the middle with space around them for the spectators. A barrier draped with a red cloth clearly indicated how close the public was allowed to approach the action in the center. Because the size of the hall was limited and the expected number of spectators large, everything was set up pretty tightly. You could approach the table of your choice fairly closely.
<br><br>
The tables were rounded but had an indentation on one side. This allowed the dealer to stand in a place where everything was within reach. The dealer spot on the outer tables was turned towards the public. Onlookers had a better view of the players' faces this way.
<br><br>
I expected that the tournament would be more of a guys thing. This turned out not to be the case. A quick look gave the impression that there were just as many girls seated. The dealers, all dressed in the black Kansankai uniform, were standing ready at their table.
<br><br>
''"Yumeko!"'', I yelled when saw where she was.
<br><br>
''"Hey, Suzui-san!"'' She waved and smiled. Her long black hair was draped over her chair. 
<br><br>
''"I'm rooting for you! Give it your best shot!"'', I yelled again.
<br><br>
''"I will!"'', she replied, raising her fist to shoulder height.
<br><br>
Unexpectedly, my yelling raised a stir in the crowd. ''"Dude, did you just say 'Yumeko'?!" "Hey guys, Jabami is playing!" "Wait, what? I'm gonna place a bet right now!"''
<br><br>
Ah yes, of course. Yumeko is famous when it comes to gambling. Or infamous, depending on who you ask. The other players at her table caught on too. One was holding his head in his hands, cursing his bad luck.
<br><br>
It suddenly became less crowded around me. People were off to sneak in a last second bet before the round started. It occurred to me that Mary wasn't here. Whatever it was she was doing, she had no time to come in here to cheer Yumeko on, leaving me a loner in the crowd. 
<br><br>
The tables had the typical casino bright green felt finish. The textile made it easy to pick things up from the surface and the visual contrast it created made it easy to spot all the cards and chips.
<br><br>
On each table was a card shuffle machine. I watched how the dealer at Yumeko's table used it. He dropped in a deck and waited a few seconds as the machine hummed. The deck popped out again. It was like a complicated toaster. 
<br><br>
With fluid moves, the dealer took the deck and preformed a riffle shuffle. It's a quick manual way to shuffle cards. The deck is first split in two, then the halves are fanned onto each other so that the corners overlap.
<br><br>
It was for practice, or perhaps the dealer wanted to give the players a demonstration. There might be suspicion of foul play if there was only a manual or only an automatic shuffle. However, with both performed, one after the other, it was safer to assume the card arrangement ended up as random at it could be.<br>
The dealer has several unopened decks on hand so he could swap in a pristine one from time to time. The setup looked fair and professional.
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
Mary and Yumeko played one hand of this same game before coming to the island. A pledge of obedience for the duration of the summer camp was at stake. 
<br><br>
Both girls were remarkably lucky. Mary was confident with her three-of-a-kind but was beaten by Yumeko's full house. I was wondering if Yumeko was cheating but it seemed too far fetched. I was the dealer after all, so I should have spotted something if there was foul play.<br>
It seems Yumeko is just naturally fortunate, but I always get the feeling she is up to something sneaky. 
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
All players were at their seat and the dealers were waiting for the go sign. The spectators noticed that action was imminent and lowered their voices.
<br><br>
There was Kifune's voice again. She spoke on the intercom.<br>
''"Honored guests, the Ryouran Island Summer Camp Poker Tournament starts now! Dealers, please proceed."''
<br><br>
A brand new deck was dropped into the card shuffler at every table. 
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 5==

I watched the dealer at Yumeko's table perform the riffle shuffle again. He did it almost simultaneously with the dealers on the other tables. For a brief moment, the hall was filled with the oddly pleasant noise of clicking paper.
<br><br>
As the cards were dealt to the players, the girl seated next to Yumeko spoke. ''"Did I hear that right, you are Yumeko Jabami-san?"''
<br><br>
Yumeko turned to her and nodded.
<br><br>
''"I'm a big fan! It's an honor to play with you!"'', the girl continued with her high-pitched, excited voice.
<br><br>
''"The honor is mine. Let's have a fun game."'' Yumeko replied with a smile.
<br><br>
The girl squealed. 
<br><br>
''"Please, place your ante"'', the dealer said.
<br><br>
In front of each player was large pile of chips. No hands were played yet so everyone's pile was the same at this point. The denominations of each pile added up to a million, reflecting the million Yen entrance fee. 
<br><br>
In order to not let the tournament drag out, an ante system was used. Before the start of each played hand, all players had to add the ante to the pot. Initially it was 20 thousand, but after some played hands, it doubled to 40 thousand. After some hands, it would double again to 80 thousand, and so forth.
<br><br>
It was still possible to play carefully, but not for long. If the round kept going, the ante would eventually force any remaining players to bet big.
<br><br>
The players obeyed and moved one chip towards the center of the table. This was the 'pot', a pile of chips that the player who won the hand would take. In this case, the pot started at 100 thousand.
<br><br>
''"You may check your hand"'', the dealer continued.
<br><br>
Everyone cupped their hands and peaked at their cards. Picking them up in a setting like this was a bad idea. There were eyes all around and you'd never know if anyone from the public was passing information to players. The cards remained face down on the table with only the edge of them briefly exposed when the players looked. The hands and body were used to obstruct the line of sight of any onlookers during the peek.
<br><br>
After peeking, Yumeko removed her hands from the table and sat up straight. A lot of people were looking at her. Some with caution, some with envy or even fear.<br>
She had her usual faint smile, but showed nothing else. She looked like a wax doll or an android. I'm sure she was completely unreadable for anyone. 
<br><br>
''"Please, discard"'', the dealer commanded.
<br><br>
In this tournament there was no betting before the discard phase. Each player got rid of any cards they wanted, faced down, as their first move and was dealt replacements. Only then did the mind games start in the betting phase.
In each hand played, the players declare their intention in clockwise order. In the first hand, the player after the dealer goes first. In the second hand, the next player clockwise goes first, and so on.<br>
Players can bet and raise to add chips to the pot. When a player says 'call' instead, it means they are matching the money the others put in but do not wish to increase the bet. There is also the option to 'fold'. This means the player forfeits the hand and doesn't have to add any more chips to the pot. 
<br><br>
The first player sitting clockwise after the dealer was a guy. He discarded two and so did Yumeko. When taking it at at face value, this was a strong show. Keeping thee cards implies you may have a three-of-kind already.
<br><br>
Everyone received their replacements and the dealer continued with the same stern but neutral voice. ''"Please, start the betting."''
<br><br>
The guy first in line reacted immediately. ''"Bet! 200 thousand!"'', he said while staring at Yumeko.
<br><br>
Betting ten times the ante right off the bat is aggressive play. It was quite a bold move and possibly just a bluff. If you have a really good hand, the last thing you'd want to do is scare the other players away. Rather, slowly luring them in to a big pot is what you'd typically want to go for.
<br><br>
''"Fold"'', said the next guy in line, sliding his cards towards the dealer. That was probably a wise move. The tournament rules were punishing passive play, but getting reckless so early on was no good either.
<br><br>
The third player in line was also a guy. ''"I fold too"'', he said with a sigh. 
<br><br>
This left the initial aggressor, Yumeko and her squealing fan girl in the race for this pot. The aggressor was visibly amused. Things were going his way. His wide grin made that all too obvious. It was exactly the opposite of a poker face. 
<br><br>
''"I'll raise ya to 300 thousand!"'', Yumeko said loudly, almost like she was singing a tune. She then eagerly pushed the chips forward.
<br><br>
There were oohs and aahs from the spectators. Yumeko narrowed her eyes and stared at the aggressor intensely. I had seen her like this before but it still shocked me a little. It was both an invitation and a taunt.
<br><br>
''"Wow! Jabami-san, you're so awesome!"'', the fan girl squealed again. ''"I have to fold, though. Such a shame!"''
<br><br>
The guy was not that easily defeated. ''"Re-raise! 350 thousand total!"'', he yelled and added another 150 thousand to the 200 thousand stack he had pushed forward earlier. 
<br><br>
There was only one betting phase per hand in this tournament, but players were allowed to re-raise each other. Two players remained in this hand and the betting would only stop if one of them would call or fold. 
<br><br>
Yumeko matched him and then added one more chip. ''"Raise. 360 thousand total."''
<br><br>
10 thousand was the smallest denomination chip available in this tournament. After adding such a large amount to the pot, it was an odd move to raise the minimum.
I understood that this was a mind game. One that was way out of my league. I had no clue if any of them actually had a good hand or not.
<br><br>
The guy yelled again. ''"Raise to 400 thousand."''
<br><br>
''"Re-raise. 410 thousand total"'', Yumeko responded immediately, as if she had already decided to do this beforehand.
<br><br>
The guy must have been thinking that everybody would fold if he would raise so confidently. He would have been right, if not for Yumeko. She was not that easily intimidated. 
<br><br>
Step by step, the pot was getting bigger and bigger.<br>
The guy was visibly shaken. He was breathing deeply and sweating. He must have felt like he was playing a terrifying game of tag; Wearing himself out to tag his opponent, only to be tagged back immediately and effortlessly.
<br><br>
He loosened his tie and spoke with a stained voice. ''"Raise, 570 thousand."''
<br><br>
Yumeko didn't skip a beat. "Raise, 580 thousand." She was staring at him with cool composure and a natural blinking pattern.
<br><br>
The difference between them was somewhat comical. The other players were watching in bewilderment. The dealer remained professional but briefly showed a faint smile now and then.
<br><br>
The guy took a deep breath. ''"Okay, I'll do it! I'm going all-in! Show me what you've got, Yumeko Jabami!"'' He avoided eye contact and looked down onto his cards.
<br><br>
All-in is shorthand for betting all the chips you have. Players are usually forced into this move when their chip count is low. Having someone do it in the first hand played is a rare occurrence. What was this guy thinking? He looked like he was seeking answers. He might find them with the resolution of this hand, which was now imminent.
<br><br>
Yumeko's shoulder trembled briefly. Even though their eyes weren't meeting, she kept looking at the guy.<br>
''"Hihi... How thrilling it is to throw in everything on the first hand..."'', she said, putting her palms on her chest and looking up. She was blushing and pursed her lips slightly. ''"Let us lose ourselves in the exhilaration! Call!"''
<br><br>
The pot was now 2,060,000. It was all of Yumeko's and that guy's chips plus the ante from the other three players. It didn't matter in this case if Yumeko said 'all-in' instead of 'call'. The result would have been the same. 
<br><br>
''"We'll now move on to the showdown. Please flip over your cards"'', the dealer said.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 6==

''"Congratulations, Yumeko! What a great win!"''
<br><br>
''"Thank you, Suzui-san! It was all thanks to your support!"''
<br><br>
''"Haha, I was only watching!"''
<br><br>
After winning the first round, Yumeko stepped over the red barrier and joined me among the spectators. About half the tables had finished the round at this point. The atmosphere was mixed. There was joy and disappointment among the crowd.
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
Yumeko had grabbed the chip lead at her table by knocking out an opponent in the fist hand. She didn't lose it and it carried her to the end of the round.<br>
As expected, showdowns didn't happen all that often after that initial stunt. Poker is mostly a psychological game, after all. If only one player remains during the betting phase, no one has to reveal their cards.
Yumeko's table had attracted quite some attention with many people cheering her on. An applause irrupted when the last hand of the round was finished.
<br><br>
---
<br><br>
Now that Yumeko was close to me in this noisy hall, I could talk to her without shouting. ''"Yumeko, I want to ask you about that first hand. I didn't quite get to see the showdown with the crowd uproar. Did you two actually have good cards or not?"''
<br><br>
''"Oh, sort of"'', she replied. ''"I had three clubs so I went for a flush. I got three-of-a-kind instead. I wouldn't have bet on it so much if that guy was not being such a bully. I was pretty sure everyone would fold after that 200 thousand bet of his. I didn't want tot let it slide."''
<br><br>
''"But what if he did have a good hand?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
Yumeko covered her mouth with one hand and giggled. ''"Well it would have been possible, theoretically. You never know for sure and that's what makes it so much fun. It turned out he had two pairs. I can't say that bluffing was a bad move on his part. It worked on the other players, after all."''
<br><br>
''"Well, everybody seemed pretty meek at your table from the moment that the guy was eliminated. It was you who became the bully in a way"'', I said.
<br><br>
Yumeko changed the topic. ''"By the way, Suzui-san, I'm getting really thirsty."''
<br><br>
''"Some of the other tables are still going"'', I said. ''"We have time to grab something from the bar."''
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 7==

Well, she actually did it. Yumeko was one of the 25 who made it to the second round. 
<br><br>
The screens in the corner where I was sitting were showing the action on the tables. There was also a list of all the table winners. Yumeko was on it. Each time a new name appeared, the crowd around me reacted. Some were screaming with joy, some were sighing with despair. Those who had bet on someone who was eliminated could still turn things around. Betting on someone now would yield 25 times your money back, if that someone ended up winning the tournament. I'm sure many were doing exactly this. 
<br><br>
Suddenly, my hand was grabbed. ''"Goldilocks! I'm so happy to see you again."'' Ace was kneeling at my feet.
<br><br>
''"Arg! What are you doing! Let go!"'' I shook him off.
<br><br>
Ace slowly stood up. He was about a head taller than me. I had to admit, he was pretty good looking and his clothes were flattering his physique. The way he acted was still unacceptable, though.
<br><br>
''"Did you see my brilliant playing?"'', he asked.
<br><br>
I wiped my hand off on my skirt. ''"A little bit. I wasn't really interested so I wasn't playing attention that much. I can see that you won, though"'', I said while looking at one of the displays.<br>
''"So you actually signed up as 'Ace'? Must you use that terribly lame nickname everywhere? Didn't your parents give you a real one?"''
<br><br>
''"Goldilocks, listen, my actual name isn't Ace, but I am Ace. It's the core of my being. This man standing before you is the Ace of Aces and nothing else"'', he said.
<br><br>
I sighed. ''"I have no idea what you are talking about."''
<br><br>
''"That's fine"'', he replied quickly. ''"You can take your time to know me better. Take as long as you need."''
<br><br>
''"It's not happening"'', I replied coldly.
<br><br>
He shrugged his shoulders with an expression that seemed to say, ''"What a troublesome little kitten."''
<br><br>
''"Oh, I see that the black haired maiden won her table too"'', Ace said, looking at the screens. 
<br><br>
''"Yeah, I wonder how far she gets"'', I replied.
<br><br>
Ace kept blabbing about himself and I wanted to tell him to get lost. I didn't. I had an idea and it involved suffering though his monologue.
<br><br>
''"Yeah", "Uhuh", "Oh, really"'', I was intermittently saying to him while standing under the screens. 
<br><br>
''"Oh", "How awful", "Can't be true"'', I was muttering while on my way to the bar for my iced tea refill with him in tow.
<br><br>
Kifune's voice was back with an announcement over the intercom. For once, I was happy to hear her because she was about to release me from my ordeal. ''"Honored guests! The second round of our exciting tournament will begin shortly! Players, please don't dally and take your seat!"''
<br><br>
''"Goldilocks, our wonderful talk makes me so reluctant to leave you, but I must go! After I win, I'll come back to sweep you off your feet! Even if I face the black haired maiden, I won't hold back. That's my style of play. Please forgive me"'', Ace said while he started to walk away.
<br><br>
''"Eh, that last bit is actually alright"'', I said, raising my voice so he would hear me from a distance. ''"She'll get mad if you don't play seriously. She hates that sort of thing."''
<br><br>
Ace nodded and then blew a kiss to me before disappearing in the crowd. He is really not my type. I don't understand why he is so stubborn about me.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 8==

The tournament hall had been rearranged again. There were only five tables now and there was more room for the spectators. Though, it felt about just as crowded as before because more people came in to watch.
<br><br>
All the 25 seats were taken and all the dealers were standing ready. The second round was about to begin.
<br><br>
I found a good spot and could see Yumeko. She was sitting neatly with her back straight, chatting with another player.
<br><br>
It was Ace. Because of his height and brown hair, it was hard to not notice him. As I was thinking back to our nightmare match at the beach, he saw me. ''"Hey, Suzui-san, thanks again for that fierce battle earlier."''
<br><br>
I bowed instinctively. I knew he was in the tournament and I had seen him before in the hall, but it didn't occur to me he might end up sharing a table with Yumeko.
''"I'm a poker pro"'', I remember him saying as he left us at the beach.
<br><br>
''"Black haired maiden, isn't Goldilocks here to watch you play?"'', Ace asked.
<br><br>
''"Oh, Mary-san isn't very interested in this tournament. It's a shame, really. I would have loved it if she played too"'', Yumeko replied.
<br><br>
Ace seemed disappointed. ''"Hmm, I can't show my skill to her but that means that nothing is holding me back either. Let's have a good match, black haired maiden!"''
<br><br>
Yumeko smiled. ''"Yes, lets have a fun game. I'm unsure about Twister, but I'm happy I get to play poker with you, Ace-san."''
<br><br>
Yumeko and Ace made a relaxed impression. The other players at their table did not. They were staring at the chatting duo with wide eyes and made no attempt to join in on the banter.
<br><br>
I overheard students next to me talking. ''"Hey, look here... Jabami and Ace are grouped." "Seriously? They're both favorites." "I made a bet on Jabami, but with Ace, who knows?"''
<br><br>
I was curious and struck up a conversation with them. ''"So eh, this Ace guy is famous then?"''
<br><br>
''"Oh yeah, he is well known pro. I played against him once"'', the guy next to me replied.
<br><br>
''"How was it?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
''"How shall I put it... It was like I wasn't allowed to compete. I mean, the game was fair and I could read his thoughts a bit. Though, when it mattered the most, he just dodged me"'', the guy continued.
<br><br>
I felt like that raised more questions than it answered. ''"What do you mean, 'he dodged you'?"''
<br><br>
''"Just watch him and you'll get it"'', was the unsettling reply. 
<br><br>
I knew Ace was an eccentric guy, but I didn't quite see how his quirks would make him so strong at poker. There was not much use speculating about it now, though. I had no choice but to take the advice and watch him play. 
<br><br>
Kifune used the intercom again to announce the start of the round. The crowd cheered and the dealers started shuffling.
<br><br>
Clockwise from the dealer sat a girl, then Ace, then two other guys and finally Yumeko. The chatting had stopped and both Yumeko and Ace were calmly watching the dealer prepare. They had a confident look, unlike the others at their table.<br>
The crowd was quiet and the atmosphere in the hall was tense. A drop of sweat fell from my cheek. Somehow it was as if much more was at stake now than in the previous round.
<br><br>
The players received their cards and peeked at them, except for Ace. He left his on the table undisturbed and looked at Yumeko. ''"Black haired maiden..."''
<br><br>
She looked at him and so did the rest of the table. Ace behaved like none of the other players existed. He was acting as if it was just him and her, in private.
<br><br>
''"Is something wrong? You didn't check your cards yet"'', Yumeko asked.
<br><br>
''"I win at poker 96% of the time"'', he said, tapping his cards. ''"Do you know why I hardly ever lose? Because in poker you win by dominating your opponents. You fight with your determination, your ability to read people and your bluffing. Sure, there is luck involved, but skill overcomes luck."''
<br><br>
He brushed his hair away with one hand. His fingers looked strangely pristine for a muscled guy. It was unlikely he ever had a part time job doing something like dish washing or order picking.
<br><br>
The dealer interrupted his monologue. ''"Ace-sama, please check your hand. If you don't, we'll be moving to the discard phase as-is."''
<br><br>
''"Haven't you heard of me, dealer? If you do this job, you should have caught a mention of me at least once or twice"'', Ace said to her, raising an eyebrow.
<br><br>
''"Ace-sama..."'', the dealer began with a voice noticeably sharper. It seemed his charm didn't work on her. It occurred to me she was the second girl I saw being annoyed by his style. I smirked.
<br><br>
Ace gave in reluctantly. ''"Eh, yeah, excuse me, I'll check now."''
<br><br>
Somehow, this little stunt with the dealer made Ace seem even more of a formidable opponent. He acted like he was at home. The atmosphere was so tense that even those who had nothing at stake here felt the pressure. But there was Ace, making small talk and boasting with such confidence.
<br><br>
Was he deliberately acting like this? He didn't seem much differed from how he was at the beach, but it did feel like he had more of a sharp edge here. I could certainly understand how other players could feel intimidated by him.
<br><br>
Yumeko didn't show any emotion and kept her eyes fixed on Ace.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 9==

That 96% percent win rate was a lie. I wasn't going to keep track of such things, but it would throw off my opponents if they thought I did. If number crunching helped to improve your skill, everybody would be doing it.
<br><br>
What matters are the psychological ups and downs and in that respect, I'm far ahead. Honestly.
<br><br>
When I play against someone I've just met, I always talk to them. Even if they ignore me, I'll keep talking. The game starts when you first establish contact with someone, not when the cards are dealt. Anyone who doesn't understand that is a loser.
<br><br>
The game between me and Yumeko started when we spoke at the beach. She formed some kind of opinion of me there and it will greatly influence the outcome on this table. 
<br><br>
Poker is a game of mutual understanding. That's my belief.<br>
Almost all my energy goes into understanding my opponent, and if possible, into obscuring their understanding of me. The game mechanics themselves are secondary.
<br><br>
Once you figured out the opponents, it's easy to know what games you should get into and how you should bet. You'll know who you can get under your control and how to do it.<br>
Missing out on some immediate profit here and there is fine, as long as it creates a situation for you to profit from later. Those who think about poker one hand at a time simply don't get it.
<br><br>
What I love the most are games where you can bet as much of your own money as you want. I have lots, and splashing it on the table at exactly the right moment can have a devastating effect on my opponents' psyche. 
<br><br>
In tournament poker everybody starts with the same amount of chips. This is not ideal for me, but I can handle it. It just means I have to rely more on my skills. Reading minds becomes even more important.
<br><br>
Even people who don't play, know the term 'poker face'. Those who think they can pull off such a thing don't get it. Your expression, breath and pupil movement are only the start of it. The body shows many other subtle signals that are not that easily to control. If you learn to spot them, you can tell if someone is trying to create a false impression of themselves.
<br><br>
I got through the first round with ease. It doesn't look like the second round is going to be much of a challenge either. 
<br><br>
The girl first from the dealer was sweating more and readjusted herself in her chair a couple of times. She probably had a good hand. Then I spotted that the muscles at her temples were tense. Ah, not that good then. She had something decent.
<br><br>
''"Bet, 100 thousand"'', she said, moving her chips.
<br><br>
Ah, so that's a mediocre bet with a mediocre hand. I can simply scare her off.
<br><br>
''"Raise to 300 thousand."'' I calmly tossed the chips forward without looking at her. Ignoring her presence was part of the scare tactic. If she thought I wasn't even bothering to size her up, she would surely fold. 
<br><br>
The two guys after me folded.<br>
A normal player would try to observe the others as the hands were played. I'd say that is too late. You should have figured out everybody before the game even starts. 
<br><br>
Now then, what will Yumeko do? Whether or not I sized her up right will determine who wins this round. I don't pay much attention to school drama, but I heard rumors about her. I shouldn't underestimate her because she is a good gambler, no doubt. However, gamblers need luck while I don't.
<br><br>
''"I fold"'', Yumeko said with a very disappointed look.
<br><br>
Ah yes, eager to get in on the action but her hand was bad. That works for me.
<br><br>
The girl who went first also folded, as expected. I had the lead with 1,180,000 worth of chips. Not bad. I'm up next to start the betting phase. 
<br><br>
In the next hand, my cards were trash. I went for a flush when discarding but ended up with nothing. It's unlucky, but I can work with that.
<br><br>
''"Please, start the bet...."''
<br><br>
''"Bet, 500 thousand"'' I didn't let the dealer finish her sentence and splashed the chips in front of me. This was disrespect. Making the dealer re-stack chips for no good reason is frowned upon. I had no beef with her, but doing this helped create the false impression of me that I wanted the other players to have. 
<br><br>
I didn't have to look at them to know they were tense. I have the momentum and those losers wouldn't question it.<br>
The two guys after me folded. I've got them now. They only see me the way I want them to.
<br><br>
''"I'll raise, 600 thousand total"'' Yumeko neatly moved her chips and straightened out the stacks.
<br><br>
Just like in the first round, the starting amount of all players was one million. This made 600 thousand a very big bet. I looked at Yumeko, expecting some kind of poker face attempt. I saw the opposite. She was breathing heavily and blushing like she was turned on.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 10==

The crowd around me was in awe. ''"Ooh, a 600 thousand raise!" "Yumeko Jabami is so amazing" "So what hand does she have?" "Wow, she's being reckless again!"''
<br><br>
The girl after Yumeko folded in frustration. Ace thought for a moment and then quietly called. It was time for the showdown. Yumeko and Ace revealed their cards.
<br><br>
I could hear gasps all around me when it became clear what the situation was. Both of them had high card, the lowest ranked hand. However, Ace had an ace. Yumeko did not. Because in this case the rank of the highest individual card counts, the pot was for Ace.
<br><br>
Was is absurd to bet so much on a trash hand? Was it even more absurd for Ace to call with one? Did the other players feel cheated by this?<br>
This truly was a psychological battle I didn't understand. It didn't look like childishness or recklessness. It was rather like a calm, calculated act of violence.
<br><br>
Yumeko was as graceful as ever, with her intense gaze and long black hair, she looked like she was ready to engulf the audience in darkness. Ace looked like he was burning from the inside. He won the hand but his bluff was called.
<br><br>
Nobody who was watching had any doubt that one of these two would win the round.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 11==

Oh, black haired maiden, what were you thinking? I frequently see people who make big bluffs as if betting on weak hands is somehow a requirement for being a top player. It's usually so transparent that I find it endearing.<br>
Yumeko did the same, but she wasn't trying to hide it. Seeing her do it moved me in a strange way. I felt an uncanny mix of shame, desire and suspicion.
<br><br>
My trash hand bet was purely tactical. It was part of my plan. I can't figure out Yumeko's plan, however. Does she even have one? Her expression was genuine. That I'm sure of. There is no way that blush and heavy breathing were faked. I don't understand her.
<br><br>
The other three players are the usual easy prey. I'll try to finish them off quickly. I have no desire to torment people for longer than needed. Yumeko however is... interesting.
<br><br>
I eliminated one of the guys. The others were steadily losing chips. They were like candles, burning out, slowly but surely.
<br><br>
I was wondering where Yumeko's daring spirit went. She was just folding, over and over. If she kept this up, the ante would eat up all her chips.
<br><br>
The girl first from the dealer was eliminated. It was now just me, one other guy and Yumeko. A large majority of the chips were mine now. This made things even easier. I could afford it to make some bad judgments a couple of times while the others could not.
<br><br>
I bet 250 thousand. It was exactly the amount the other guy had left. He called. His reaction time gave him away. It was faster than last time when it turned out he had a flush. Less hesitation means a better hand. He'll be winning this one. Good for him. It would only prolong his suffering, though. I'll be taking back those chips soon enough. I imagine that he feels like he is being slowly suffocated.
<br><br>
Finally, Yumeko made a move. ''"I'm all-in! That's 320 thousand total!"''
<br><br>
Well, if she waited so long for this, she couldn't possibly be betting on a trash hand again. After so many folds she was bound to have something good eventually. My experience told me I should get out of this one. 
<br><br>
''"Okay, fold"'', I said. 
<br><br>
Folding would be senseless for the other guy. It would leave him with a guaranteed zero chip count. I was out of this hand and the guy had not enough to cover Yumeko's raise. Because of this, the game proceeded as if each of us had bet 250 thousand, the exact stack size of the guy.
<br><br>
The dealer returned 70 thousand to Yumeko. ''"Right, we move on to the showdown."''
<br><br>
The guy quickly flipped over his cards. It was a pair of sevens. Yumeko elegantly flipped hers. She had a pair of nines.<br>
Weak hands, huh? It looks like I misread them both.
<br><br>
The quick reaction time of the guy didn't come form confidence. It was simply that he gave up on thinking. He just went along with the first bet offered to be released from his misery. At least, I understand him in hindsight.
<br><br>
What Yumeko was doing however, was baffling. Why did she keep folding for so long to finally go all-in with only a weak pair? Surely, she must have had a better hand than this at some point. It wasn't that she was upsetting me, it was that I was upset because I didn't understand her.
<br><br>
I guess I'll chat her up some more. ''"Black haired maiden, what kind of play style is that?"''
<br><br>
She looked bewildered when I asked. Was this expression some kind of bluff too?
<br><br>
''"Ace-san, we're in the middle of a round. We shouldn't talk too much. You'll get scolded again"'', she said with a troubled smile.
<br><br>
''"You fascinate me because I don't understand your way of thinking. What is this strange logic that you abide by?"'', I asked. 
<br><br>
Wait, what was I doing...? It must have sounded ridiculous. I was asking my opponent to teach me their best tricks, while in combat with them. 
<br><br>
Yumeko smiled warmly. ''"Oh, isn't that obvious? I'm just playing poker in the most enjoyable way."''
<br><br>
''"Jabami-sama wins"'' The dealer pushed the pot towards Yumeko. The eliminated guy left the table.
<br><br>
''"It was pure luck, but you made your comeback. I guess the fun isn't over yet"'', I said.
<br><br>
Yumeko kept smiling at me. ''"Exactly! Let's have as much fun with this match as we can, Ace-san."''
<br><br>
I guess I understood it now.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 12==

My family was poor, so there was no fortune to get me started in life. Poker is what made me what I am today. Everything I had, I earned from playing it. Managing to enroll into Hyakkaou Private Academy was like a dream come true. It was the perfect environment to advance my career. I've never once played with a frivolous attitude. I'm absolutely obsessed with winning so all matches are important.<br>
No matter how weak my opponent is, I never hold back. No matter how disadvantaged I am, I always stay cool. I don't really see poker as a game. It's not an emotional roller-coaster for me anymore, it's a job. All the money I made from it proves I took the right approach. 
<br><br>
But now, I'm sharing a table with Yumeko. She is inviting me to have a taste of her life philosophy, which is the exact opposite of mine. It's strangely enticing. I feel like I'm being pulled under her black veil. I've never seen a girl like her.
<br><br>
One-on-one poker is very differed from group play. There is a lot less strategy involved and mind reading becomes more important. You have to play way more aggressively too.<br>
I pride myself with being the most experienced poker player at our school, but even I find one-on-one games tricky.
<br><br>
The cards were dealt and the discard phase happened. Yumeko had the first move. ''"Hehe... interesting... I've decided. I'm all-in."''
<br><br>
With only two players, an all-in is always an invitation to gamble for the entire stack of the player who has the least chips.
<br><br>
Again? Fine, I'll play along. ''"Call."''
<br><br>
There was another cheer from the spectators. Yumeko's stack was tiny compared to mine. If she lost, she would be eliminated. If I lost, it would be a minor setback for me.
<br><br>
''"Okay, showdown"'' At the dealer's signal, we flipped our cards.
<br><br>
''"Oh, how lucky, a full house, congratulations!"'', I said.
<br><br>
Yumeko smiled warmly and pulled in the chips. The doubts I had left about her disappeared. She was indeed having fun. That smile was genuine. 
<br><br>
In the next hand, it was my turn to move first. ''"Hmm, maybe I'm lucky this time. All-in."''
<br><br>
''"Oh, if you are so aggressive, it makes we want to take on the challenge. Call."''
<br><br>
Her pair was stronger than mine. ''"Dammit."''<br>
Wait, did I just curse during a match?
<br><br>
''"Oh, Ace. What's wrong with your face? Don't be so irritated. If we aren't enjoying this, why would we bother doing it?"''
<br><br>
Those words startled me. I instinctively touched my forehead to confirm my suspicion. She wasn't lying. I really was frowning. 
<br><br>
''"Don't worry about it. Let's continue. It's your move next."'' I deliberately spoke with a soft voice, trying to snap back into my calm and composed self.<br>
It worked. We played some more hands and I regained the lead. 
<br><br>
''"One-on-one is fun, isn't it? It's our little, private arena and a knockout is possible at any moment. I feel like I'm playing with a knife held to my throat"'', Yumeko said. Her emotions were on full display. She was breathing heavily and spoke with an alluring voice. She told me not talk so much earlier, but now she was doing it herself.
<br><br>
The dealer was no longer instructing us and just kept pace without saying much. We gave her no reason to interrupt our conversation so she was happy to let us chat.
<br><br>
''"Hmm... All-in! This is an interesting hand. You will be very surprised, Ace-san!"''
<br><br>
I'm sure that from her perspective everything was an interesting hand. I had high card jack. This would be terrible in group play but in-on-one it had a chance of working out. 
<br><br>
I should fold... but I was curious. Yumeko was teasing me and I decided I was prepared to pay to see her hand. ''"Hmm... Call."''
<br><br>
I revealed my cards with one quick move.
<br><br>
''"Earlier you said I rely on luck."'' Yumeko flipped over her first card while talking. It was the 4 of hearts.
<br><br>
''"Yeah, I'm sorry if I offended you with that"'', I replied.
<br><br>
''"Don't worry. You weren't wrong to say so. I get it that skill is very important with poker. You set out to master it and made it your profession. Compared to you, I'm practically a novice, but I do love the game very much"'', Yumeko said while flipping another card. It was the 8 of hearts.
<br><br>
She kept talking while revealing slowly. ''"What do you like about poker, Ace-san?"'' She flipped another card. The 9 of hearts appeared.
<br><br>
''"I don't know. Poker isn't really a game to me"'', I said.
<br><br>
''"Oh... I guess I understand that, but the psychology of it aside, the hand you have to play with is pure luck, is it not? Because of that, there is still tension that builds up..."'' She flipped her forth card and revealed the 10 of heats.
<br><br>
The suits matched. Was this a flush?
<br><br>
''"Do you feel the anticipation, Ace-san? Doesn't it stir you up to be at the mercy of the unknown like this?"'', she said while reaching for the fifth card.<br>
''"So why not leave it all to luck sometimes? Let's go gambling crazy!"''
<br><br>
Yumeko tossed her last card at me and giggled. ''"Ta-daa! It's not a flush!"''
<br><br>
What landed on the table was the king of spades. She had high card like me, but her king defeated my jack.
I slapped my head while pushing the chips to her. 
<br><br>
''"You see, Ace-san. I told you I had an interesting hand"'', Yumeko said with a warm smile.
<br><br>
She now had more chips than me. The dealer informed us we had played enough hands to let the ante double again. It would be 1280 thousand from now on. This was forcing a quick resolution. 
<br><br>
''"Aw... It's almost over then"'', Yumeko said with regret.
<br><br>
The dealer dealt the cards. I discarded four. Yumeko discarded five.
<br><br>
''"All of them?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
''"I feel lucky! Maybe it's a straight flush!"'', Yumeko giggled.
<br><br>
''"Now that would be a miracle"'', I said.
<br><br>
The ante had taken all my chips. Because of this, I was all-in automatically and there was no betting.<br>
My pair won. Our stack sizes were now about even. 
<br><br>
Yumeko reached into her skirt pocket and took out her makeup mirror. She opened it and turned it to me. ''"Look at your face, Ace-san. You've been smiling this whole time!"''
<br><br>
I chuckled. It was true. I had a grin on my face like a child reading his favorite manga.
<br><br>
"You said poker was not a game for you? It looks like you are having fun as if was", she said. ''"I bet you'll get really good cards next hand!"''
<br><br>
I laughed. ''"I guess I'm getting carried away a bit, yeah."''
<br><br>
''"Isn't that great?"'', she asked.
<br><br>
''"Black haired maiden, you got me. The rumors were true. You are truly a gambling maniac. I admit it. I'm having a great time."''
<br><br>
''"I'm so happy you understand"'', she said.
<br><br>
New cards were dealt. We discarded. This was going to be the end.
<br><br>
''"All-in?" "Yes."''
<br><br>
''"I'd love to play with you again some time"'', I said.
<br><br>
''"I'd love that too. The tournament rules are holding us back here, aren't they? What about a true no limit match? I bet we will enjoy that even more!"'', Yumeko said with a blush.
<br><br>
I leaned back into my chair and laughed again. ''"Now that is a scary thought. Tell me how much money you have first."''
<br><br>
We revealed our cards.
<br><br>

==Chapter 4, part 13==

The battle between Yumeko and Ace had ended.
<br><br>
Their one-on-one was all the people around me were talking about. Some of the questions they were raising would never be answered. If a hand was folded, the cards remained a mystery.
<br><br>
Ace had an overwhelming advantage, but Yumeko made a comeback, eventually evening the chip stacks.<br>
When it was just her and him, his dominating play style disappeared. Everybody who was watching sensed that.
<br><br>
''"Suzui-san, were you watching?"'' Yumeko squeezed herself through the crowd and appeared beside me. She looked refreshed, like she just had been out for a stroll. Not exhausted like she had fought a formidable opponent.
<br><br>
I greeted her with a smile. ''"Of course! That last bit was incredibly exciting! It ended with a coin flip, basically."''
<br><br>
Ace was standing behind us ''"Black haired maiden, thank you for the incredible game. Oh, hi, Suzui-san."''
<br><br>
''"My pleasure. Thanks to you, I had a fun game."'' Yumeko placed her hands on her thighs and made a polite bow. 
<br><br>
''"It was great fun, and that's why I lost. You made me drop my resolve. I never had this happen before"'', Ace said with a smile more genuine than the one on the beach. You'd never think this was a guy who was just eliminated from the tournament. He looked relaxed and content. 
<br><br>
''"I always stick to my play style, but with you I didn't. That's why it became the best game I ever had. I used to enjoy poker when I was beginner. You took me right back to that."''
Ace ran his fingers through his hair and sighed ''"I never thought I'd meet someone like you. Your strength lies in dragging people into your madness. Ehh... I mean that in a good way, of course."''
<br><br>
Yumeko covered her mouth with one hand and chuckled. ''"If the invitation still stands, I'll gladly play with you gain."''
<br><br>
Aced bowed. ''"Oh, it definitely stands. I'll invite you to somewhere where we can play with drinks and sandwiches in hand. Please bring Goldilocks and Suzui with you."''
<br><br>
''"Uh, wouldn't I be out of place?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
''"Oh no. I want witnesses to my revenge for today's defeat. Perhaps I can make Goldilocks gamble on a date with me again."''
<br><br>
Ace extended his hand. ''"Black haired maiden, it looks like the momentum is yours and you will be the one to win the tournament. I wish you luck."''
<br><br>
Yumeko briefly held his hand with elegance. ''"Yes, I'll do my best."''
<br><br>
''"Well, the loser needs to leave, right? There is non-tournament poker going on here as well and I want in on the action. Until next we meet, gambling maniac maiden and Suzui-san!"'' Ace waved and started to walk away.
<br><br>
Ace was a terrifying guy in many ways. He was clearly someone you wouldn't want to hold a grudge against you. Although he lost time and money here, it was clear that Yumeko didn't have worry about him being a sore loser. This was her unique touch, an ability she could only posses because of her sincere dedication to the thrills of the unknown.
<br><br>
After waving back, Yumeko turned to me. ''"Ace really is an interesting guy. I'm happy I get to gamble with so many people today. I wonder who's in the final."''
<br><br>
From what I picked up from the crowd earlier, none of them could be as famous as Ace. They couldn't be bad players either, obviously.
<br><br>
''"We should have time to grab a drink before the next round starts"'', I said.
<br><br>
''"Hmm... no. I want... ice cream!"'', Yumeko giggled. 
<br><br>
This could be arranged. The bar menu had a page with ice cream choices, I noticed earlier. ''"Sure! Indulge yourself!"'', I said, smiling at her.
<br><br>