Part 1

Aboard a train

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1

An

Man, camping was so much fun!

2

Kohane

It really was!
We had an early start, so it'll be nice to head home for the day and rest.

3

Toya

Yes, I agree.

4

Akito

But we have another hour on this train. What do we do until we arrive?

5

An

That's true.
On the way there, we could talk about what we'd be doing... What should we do for the way back?

6

Kohane

Oh, how about cards...?

7

Kohane

I brought some with me, but we didn't really have time yesterday. What if we played something now?

8

An

Yeah, let's do that!
Nice one, Kohane!

9

Toya

Cards...?
I remember Tsukasa teaching me the rules of some games.

10

Toya

If I recall correctly, I learned how to play Old Maid, President and Sevens...

11

Kohane

(Tsukasa? Not anyone from his family...? Does that mean he didn't really play many games at home growing up...?)

12

Akito

He taught you...?
He didn't teach you anything weird, right?

13

Toya

No, nothing unorthodox as far as I could tell.

14

Toya

Although, he personally liked to strike a pose each time he made a pair. Luckily, he didn't make anyone else do that.

15

Akito

So he's always been like that...

16

An

Haha!
Then, why don't we start with Old Maid? Mind handing me the cards, Kohane?

17

Kohane

Okay!

18

An

Alright, every card's been dealt out! What order should we go in...?

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19

Akito

Clockwise, I guess?

20

An

Okay! Let's start with you, Kohane! Draw something from my hand!

21

Kohane

Okay, let me see what's in my hand first...

22

Kohane

Oh no...

23

Kohane

(I... I have the joker...!)

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24

Kohane

(What do I do...?
I can't let the others find out...!)

25

Akito

Lemme guess, you got the joker...?

26

Kohane

*Gasp*...!
N-No, what are you talking about...?!

27

An

(Aha...)

28

Toya

(She has it...)

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29

An

Anyway, let's get started.
Take your pick, Kohane!

30

Kohane

Right. Um... This one!

31

Kohane

No, that didn't help...
Even though I have so many cards.

32

Akito

Alright, I'm next.

33

Kohane

Oh no...

34

Kohane

(Wait, he'll know where the joker is if I keep staring at it. Just play it cool and look away...!)

35

Toya

(It's like she can't hide what she's thinking...)

36

Akito

This one.

37

Kohane

No...!

38

Akito

Hey, that makes a pair.
I should be done in no time.

39

An

What?! No fair, Akito!

40

Toya

Akito's always had been pretty good at these games. It's as if he can find the exact cards that he needs.

41

Akito

Dude, there's no way I can do that.

42

Kohane

(N-No...
I'm gonna lose if this keeps up...!)

43

Akito

There, I win.

44

Kohane

What?! A-Already?!

45

An

That was way too fast! You know this is a game, right? You should be having more fun!

46

Akito

What choice did I have? All I did was avoid what I thought was the joker and voila.

47

Kohane

(N-No, I knew this would happen...)

48

Toya

So now, Shiraishi, you'll be taking from my hand, and Azusawa will be taking from yours.

49

An

Okay!
Eeny, meeny, miny... Mo!

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50

An

Drats, another dud...
Oh well. Alright, Kohane, your turn.

51

Kohane

O-Okay.
How about this one...?!

52

Kohane

Wait.. Yay!
That's what I needed!

53

An

Hey, good for you!
Hold on... You're down to one card!

54

Toya

That means...

55

Kohane

Oh, right... Once you take this from me, Aoyagi, I'm out, right...?

56

An

You've gotta be kidding me! I was so sure that Toya would never draw the joker...

57

Akito

Alright, Kohane gets second.
You did pretty well for yourself.

58

Kohane

Th-Thanks.
I was so worried about what would happen if the joker stayed in my hand, but I'm glad everything worked out...

59

Toya

Now it's just me and you, Shiraishi.

60

An

You're on! There's no way I'm losing this one!

61

Kohane

(Hehe... I didn't expect to finish so quickly...)

62

Kohane

(Oh, I should take a photo on my phone while I still have a chance.)

63

Kohane

(I'll just move away a bit to get them all in the frame and... Huh?)

64

An

Wait, why's that one sticking out like that...?

65

Toya

Tsukasa taught me that it's more of a mental game in these situations.

66

Akito

What, like psychological warfare...?

67

Akito

(Geez, it's the joker too...
Talk about an old-school tactic.)

68

An

(Hmm...
This has to be the joker...)

69

An

(But Toya's really smart...
It could be something completely different. What if he just wants me to think it's the joker...?)

70

An

(But what if that's his actual strategy? What if he's doing this to make me think that...?)

71

An

(Arrgh... My head's starting to hurt!)

72

Kohane

(I can't see Aoyagi's hand from here, but I have to think that's the joker...)

73

Kohane

(Even if it is, he has four other cards. Just in terms of probability, it really just seems better to pick a card other than the one that's sticking out...)

74

Kohane

(What's An gonna do...?)

75

An

Forget it!
Thinking won't help me at this point!

76

An

I'm going with you, middle card!!

77

Kohane & Akito

That's...!

78

An

Huh? Did I do something wrong...?

79

An

Noooo! I-It's the joker!

80

Toya

Hehe. Looks like this battle is mine, Shiraishi...

81

An

Y-You monster...!!

82

Toya

And a pair of twos to finish things off...

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83

An

No, I lost...

84

Kohane

That became such a heated battle in the end...!

85

Akito

Yeah, but Toya's poker face gave him the upper hand.

86

An

No, I got unlucky! That's all!
We're playing again! Right now!

87

Toya

As you wish, Shiraishi.
I'll be sure to pass the joker to you again.

88

An

Grr...!
I'm not losing this time!

89

Kohane

Hehe. Alright, round two it is!