Editing Kakegurui Trip Fulltext (section)

==Chapter 5, part 7==

The crowd was quiet and the players didn't say more than necessary. You could hear the sounds of the cards being shuffled and the chips being stacked. The game was moving at a fast pace and it was a back-and-forth, suggesting the girls had about equal skill. Yumeko performed her actions with practiced ease while Mitarai's hands were trembling from time to time. 
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You need to play more aggressively when the game is just a one-on-one, so some change in player behavior is to be expected. The impression that Mitarai was making was however so drastically differed, it was hard to believe she was the same girl. Sitting up straight, she declared her actions with an assertive voice and tension on her face. She had taken off her jacket and hung it on her chair. Despite only wearing the shirt, she was sweating heavily. Her breath was heavier too and you could see her small shoulders rising and sinking. The game was a desperate struggle for her and it was obvious she was giving it all she had. 
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Yumeko had a flustered look. She too was breathing heavily. She was acting in her familiar way, happily playing an exciting game. Yumeko started to react to Mitarai calling out her actions, as if she was encouraging her.
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Mitarai's sweat was dripping onto the table. It was like she was in a battle for survival, with her life depending on not being caught between the jaws of the beast trying to devour her. 
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''"Poker should be like this, shouldn't it?"'', Yumeko said, spreading her arms wide, as if she wanted to embrace Mitarai. ''"Could you tell me your first name? Playing with you is so much fun, I'd love to know more about you. It's an honor to share the table with you"'', Yumeko continued. There was no sarcasm or belittlement in her eyes. It truly looked like Yumeko was overflowing with joy.
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Mitarai looked up. Behind the waterfall of sweat, was a tense face with an anxious smile. She had dark shadows under her narrowed eyes like she was lacking sleep. ''"I am... my name is Hana Mitarai."''
<blockquote>Translator's note: Her first name is written as one of the spelling variants of the word 'flower'. So, Hana it kind of the same deal as girl's names like Rose and Violet.</blockquote>

Yumeko's eyes lid up. ''"Hana-san! What a lovely name you have! I wouldn't have expected that from someone playing with such ferocity, spirit and passion! Everything you do is infused with so much conviction! May I ask you one more question, Hana-san? Do you actually want to win this tournament?"''
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One of Hana's eyelids was trembling as she was looking at Yumeko. ''"Of course I do. What kind of a stupid question is that?"'', she said, while another drop of her sweat hit the table.
''"Isn't it obvious I'm doing everything I can to win? I have to beat you. If I don't, I'll have to answer to Kifune-sama and..."'' Hana stopped herself mid-sentence and slapped a hand in front of her mouth.
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Yumeko started luring out a stronger response. ''"Oh, what was that? I didn't hear anything. To me it looks like you don't really want the prize money. That's a bit disappointing, but fine, I guess. I'll just walk over you and call it a day. It seems we are in agreement. It's better if I win, right?"'', she said with a dejected look.
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Sayaka dealt a new hand. Hana peeked and changed tree cards. Yumeko peeked and didn't discard anything. This meant Yumeko had a very strong hand or perhaps this was a bluff to turn up the pressure on Hana even more.
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Yumeko leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table and rested her head in her cupped hands. She was looking straight at Hana with narrowed eyes. 
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Hana swallowed hard. Sweat was still dripping from her and she looked exhausted and fragile, as if she could collapse any moment. ''"What do you mean, 'we are in agreement'? That's just straight up horseshit and you know it"'', Hana slowly said with a rasping voice.
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Yumeko kept baiting Hana. She giggled and spoke with a care-free tone. ''"To tell you the truth, the 500 million Yen is not a big deal for me personally. However, I'm dead set on not letting you have it. I want to win to make you a loser, and you don't mind that much, do you?"''
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[[Image:Kakegurui.trip.06.yumeko.mitarai.webp|frameless|right|300px|Yumeko faces off against Mitrarai]]
Hana grabbed the edge of the table as if she was ready to flip it.
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Yumeko had a wide smile and was almost singing her words. ''"Yeah, that's right.. I absolutely don't want you to win, so be a good Mittens and roll over for me. Though, if I am somehow mistaken about you and you actually have the desire to prevail, why don't you show it? Put all of your soul into the game so we can have a really interesting match. Not that it will be enough to defeat me, but it will make a good show."''
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The stacks of chips were about even. The advantage Hana had at the start of the on-on-one had evaporated. Yumeko seemed to be slightly more skilled and had been slowly gaining on Hana.
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Sayaka was unmoved by the drama in front of her. ''"It's time for the betting. Jabami-sama, your move"'', she said calmly and coldly.
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''"I'm all-in!"'', Yumeko said with enthusiasm while pushing her chip stacks. The highest stack collapsed and one of the chips rolled around the table, stopping in front of Hana.
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Hana rested her eyes on the chip for a moment. Sayaka snagged it up and re-stacked it, but Hana kept looking at the empty spot on the table.
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Yumeko was done with the taunting and spoke more softly.<br> 
''"Let's decide it with this hand. The rising ante will soon kill the game for us, anyhow. The way this is gong, it will surely be just a matter of luck who wins. The ups and downs of each hand, the impact of strategic betting, the bluffing, the mind reading... All those things are fascinating, but sometimes, risking it all at once is the right choice. You know by now that you can't slowly wear me down. Doing the radical thing is your only good option, no matter how frighting it may be"'', Yumeko said with a sincere look.
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Yumeko place her left hand on her chest and made another embracing gesture towards Hana with her right one. ''"Do you have it in you, Hana-san? Can you take the plunge? Let us lose ourselves in the exhilaration!"''
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Hana was looking straight at Yumeko with wide open eyes and her breathing was fast and deep. She stood up and slammed the table full force with both fists. The loud and dull sound filled the hall and was followed up immediately with the soft clatter of the resettling chip stacks.
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Yumeko had been leaning over the table while seated. Hana now also leaned over it while standing, planting her palms on it for support. The girls' faces were now very close to each other. 
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After a moment of silence, Hana filled her lungs to their maximum capacity and shouted. ''"You want all-in?!! You got it!! I'm calling!!"'' Her voice was high-pitched but distorted because she was using it at maximum volume.
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The air displacement swayed Yumeko's hair like a gentle breeze. ''"Hehehe... let us cherish this moment together"'', she said.
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''"On to the showdown then"'', Sayaka said with a neural voice.
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