Jin watched as the two duelists sized each other up - Mizumigawa Shin on one side, Kumoru Yuji on the other. He thought back to the other night at the pool hall. Kumoru was unpleasant, certainly, but was he really Yosai Akio's secret weapon - "Chikaku's Demon"?
He flashed back to the image of Mizumigawa standing over Kumoru in the pool hall. And though he was the one lying on the floor, his expression of shock and pain concealed a subtle smile. He was the one in control.
"Ryoichi-san," Jin asked quietly, "are you sure about this?"
Captain Ryoichi watched Mizumigawa calmly. "Trust your teammate, Kotei-kun."
~
"So, Mizu-chan... how did a delicate thing like you become a duelist?" He paused briefly. "Normally duelists are a bit... tougher. You're just-"
"I'm going to shut you up with my first throw!" Mizumigawa clenched her fist. Kumoru, still smiling, shrugged, then raised his fist as well.
The referee, sitting high above them and to the side, chanted as they silently pumped their fists -
"Rock! Paper! Scissors!"
Mizumigawa leapt up just before the throw, twisting to put more force and speed into the arc of her fist, landing just as the referee shouted "Shoot!"
There was a short pause, then:
"Scissors cut paper! Point to Mizumigawa!"
Her smile was confident - but above all, it was calm.
"So," said Kumoru slowly, his tone controlled and flat, "you let me think that I had made you angry enough to throw rock, countering my words with an aggressive throw. Not bad."
~
Quietly, Yosai laughed to himself. "That was quick," he whispered. "You've lost so soon... Mizumigawa-san."
~
A slow grin started to creep back across Kumoru's face. "But the duel is over now. From now on, we play a much simpler game." He stretched up to his full height, and light gleamed madly off one of his eyes from amidst the tangle of his hair.
"That game is called - 'fear'."
~
"Oh, hell," said Yukimura quietly. "I don't believe it."
The others on the bench turned towards her, quizzical looks on their faces.
She shook her head. "This idiot Kumoru - he's an analytical type."
~
Kumoru seemed to loom over Mizumigawa, even from the opposite platform. A complete change had come over him - all of the amusement had left his voice, replaced with cold authority. "I'll make you an offer." His voice dripped with scorn. He raised his hand, two fingers extended, showing Scissors. "We'll both throw Scissors. A show of good faith. If you cooperate, perhaps I'll take it easy on you." He narrowed his eyes. "But if you think of throwing something else, I'll know." He made a fist, ready for the next throw.
"Mizumigawa leads, one to zero," said the announcer.
Mizumigawa looked hesitant, but raised her hand as well nonetheless. Her eyes darted across Kumoru's face from underneath her dark sunglasses, looking for a clue to his next move, but his expression was still, cold, unreadable.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Mizumigawa's throw was less forceful this time, but Kumoru's was completely different from before - his movements were clipped and harsh, almost as though he were striking someone with his hand.
"Scissors cuts paper! Point to Kumoru!"
Kumoru stared into Mizumigawa's eyes, as though looking right through her shades. "I told you to throw Scissors."
She flinched. So this is his strength, she thought.
He brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Utterly transparent. You've been my puppet from the very moment we first met, but even I didn't expect this duel to go so perfectly." He gestured toward her. "The other night, at the pool hall, do you know what I saw? I saw what you look like when you lose your cool. And then, on the very first throw of this match..."
Mizumigawa's eyes went wide as she realized what he was saying.
"... I saw what you look like when you're faking. This is what allows me to use the full power of my technique - 'Fear Itself'."
Her mind raced. His technique is based on intimidation - and reading his opponent. He tells them to make a specific throw, then he can tell whether they'll go along with it by reading their emotional reaction. Such a technique - this is what makes him a 'Demon'!
His lips parted in a thin, cruel smile. "So you've figured it out? A terrifying technique, isn't it? And the best part - is that it works even if you know about it." He shook his head. "I've beaten you so easily. You're worthless, you know that?" He paused, as though just realizing something amusing. "Is that why you duel? To prove you're good for something? I guess that didn't quite work out."
Mizumigawa raised her hand for the third throw, and muttered through clenched teeth, "shut up."
"One all," noted the announcer.
"Fine, then," replied Kumoru, raising his hand in turn. "Now, obey me this time - or you'll regret it. Throw Rock."
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Kumoru's eyes went wide. "Impossible!" he hissed.
Mizumigawa smirked. "I thought you wanted me to throw Rock... ?"
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Mizumigawa!"
~
Ryoichi chuckled softly. "You know, I almost feel sorry for him. To face Mizu-kun when he relies on a technique like that...."
Jin looked up at him.
"She has incredible control over her movements," explained Ryoichi. "While he relies on her reactions to choose his throw, she can make him do whatever she wants. I wonder what he'll do now...?"
~
Kumoru raised his head, peered down at Mizumigawa. "This changes nothing. You haven't seen the limit of my power - I've already figured out how to read you even through this-"
He was cut off by a sound like a thunderclap.
Mizumigawa's hands were pressed together, fingers interlaced, forefingers steepled. "Rin. Seal of the Thunderbolt." All the tension seemed to have left her body - she seemed once again relaxed and confident. "Let's put that to the test, then. I'll show you my 'unreadable throw'! You'd better pay close attention!"
Kumoru frowned, but raised his fist nonetheless.
"Mizumigawa leads, two to one! Match point!"
"Now, listen," she said. "I'm going to throw Rock."
The countdown began.
"Rock!"
A sneer was fixed on Kumoru's face.
"Paper!"
Arrogant. She's too arrogant! She doesn't know my true strength.
"Scissors!"
In one lightning-fast motion, Mizumigawa tore her sunglasses off with her free hand and threw them straight up.
A distraction, thought Kumoru. But if I just manage to keep watching her face, then I'll definitely be able to read her!
But... what's that noise?
"Shoot!"
A harsh hiss escaping her lips, Mizumigawa whipped her hand forward.
There was dead silence. Time seemed to stand still. She held her hand forward, fist clenched. She had thrown Rock. And Kumoru... he stood there with his mouth open.
He hadn't made a throw at all.
Time caught up with them, and Mizumigawa's sunglasses fell back down towards her. She snatched them out of the air, then slid them back over her eyes.
"That... was my King Cobra Strike!"
~
"King Cobra...?" Jin wasn't quite sure what he had just seen.
"King Cobra Strike," said Yukimura, adjusting her glasses. "An esoteric technique, and not an easy one to use. It only works if the opponent isn't expecting it, and is paying careful attention to the duelist's eyes. Essentially, it's a glare of intense, focused intimidation - designed to make the opponent flinch at the exact moment of the throw. It was never meant to be an 'unreadable throw' - she just needed him to watch her as closely as possible."
"This is Mizumigawa-dono's hidden strength," added Jihara. "She has an exceptional talent for learning and executing complex esoteric techniques."
Ryoichi nodded. "You see, Kotei-kun? Trust in your teammates." He watched Mizumigawa with a smile of quiet pride.
~
"Match, Mizumigawa! Thee points to one!" A cheer rose up from the crowd and the Bosatsu bench.
"Sorry, Kumoru-chan. But your technique - it really is despicable. There's no way you could win against me with something like that!"
Kumoru remained silent. He gritted his teeth, then turned and started to leave.
Mizumigawa grinned, seeming once again to be her usual, lighthearted self. She turned to the Chikaku bench, where Captain Yosai was watching in scornful disappointment as Kumoru walked away. "Yosai!" He looked over at her. "I really wasn't impressed with your 'Demon'!"
"... Heh heh heh."
She turned back towards Kumoru, who had frozen in place.
"Heh heh heh heh... ha ha ha ha HA HA HA HA!" Kumoru bent over backwards with angry laughter, as though this were the stupidest thing he had ever heard. "AHAHAHAHA!!"
After a short time, he caught his breath, then turned back towards Mizumigawa.
"You though I was Chikaku's Demon?"
She drew in a breath sharply.
Kumoru shook his head condescendingly. "No. Our 'Demon' is going to play in the next round."
Jin stared at Kumoru intently. I'm playing the next round - so I'll be facing this 'Demon'. But if it's not him, then...
Kumoru raised a hand and gestured towards the Chikaku bench, where Nanafushi Kazue stood smiling brightly in her floral dress.
"That's her right there."
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