The silence drew out for a long time. The two duelists peered at each other, searching, mute. Chiyoko wasn't typically prone to ostentatious speeches or boasts, and Yukimura, it seemed, was also the quiet sort.
Chiyoko needed to get a good read on Yukimura. Both duelists were analytical types, so this was all going to come down to which one of them could out-predict the other.
But so far nothing seems to be amiss, thought Chiyoko. Yuki-chan is trying not to reveal anything - but I suspect that this means she's taken the bait, and is confident she's going to win.
In the previous round of the tournament, Kohitsuji Academy had faced a team of mystic duelists, each of whom used a different meditative technique to focus and improve their abilities. Chiyoko had dueled an opponent whose style relied, supposedly, around reading the "aura" of their foe. She suspected that this ability was in reality based on reading physical cues to determine a duelist's intent - and had ultimately defeated him by forcing him into a more active stance and deducing his throw pattern. Her final throw had been Rock, but formed in a somewhat unorthodox manner, with the hand tilted slightly and the thumb straight instead of bent. This was a subtle sign that she was using a technique involving switching from Paper to Rock at the last moment of a throw, but had not yet mastered it.
However, she had not in actuality used this technique - she had deliberately faked the awkward throw. She had suspected she would be dueling Yukimura Hisoka, the "mastermind" of Bosatsu, in this round. So, she had planted this trap in her previous duel. Since then, Yukimura would certainly have viewed records of the duel, and caught the subtle tell. She would reason, therefore, that Chiyoko would have been practicing this technique, which would make Rock and Scissors very dangerous to use. The only safe throw would be Paper. This meant that Chiyoko could score an easy point on the first throw, while Yukimura thought she was safe, by throwing Scissors.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Yukimura raised her eyebrows slightly, and Chiyoko kept her reaction carefully controlled.
"Rock crushes Scissors! Point to Yukimura!"
Damn, thought Chiyoko. She realized that it was a trap! She's even more clever than I thought...
I'm in a dangerous position now - I have to outmaneuver her on this next throw, or she'll control the entire match. Let's see... she's going to realize that I want to break her momentum. She knows she tricked me with the first throw, by turning my own trap against me. If I were her, what would I expect me to do? Well, I want a win or a tie on this throw, either would shift the duel's momentum away from her. So, I'll try to exclude her least likely throw, allowing me to narrow down the throw most likely to be successful. Now, I don't know for certain whether she realizes that the technique I pretended to use was a fake, or whether she thinks I just avoided using it to trap her, but it looks like I have to assume she's figured out the entire plot. That means all throws are equally viable to her, but she's not sure that I am aware of this. So, she might think that I'll be expecting her to avoid Scissors and Rock overall throughout the match, allowing her to use the same trick against me twice in a row. If she is, she'll throw Rock, and if she instead actually avoids those throws she'll use Paper. Thus, it would seem that Paper is my safest throw. Chiyoko shook her head slightly, raising her hand in preparation for the second throw. But I have to assume that she's figured all of this out, and is therefore expecting me to throw Paper, which means I should instead use Rock.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
Chiyoko let out a gasp as though she'd been punched in the stomach.
"Paper covers Rock! Point to Yukimura!"
Yukimura let the faintest hint of a smile show through.
What... what is this feeling?! Chiyoko's mind was racing. No matter what I do, it's all been foreseen. My plans, traps, counters, all work in her favor! The more I struggle, the more I am drawn down...
...as though I'm trapped in quicksand!
Yukimura narrowed her eyes slightly, then raised her hand for the final throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
"Rock crushes Scissors! Match, Yukimura! Three points to zero!"
Chiyoko stumbled back, defeated. The match was over so quickly - Bosatsu's duelists truly were fearsome!
Yukimura returned to her seat without ceremony, sitting beside Kotei Jin -
(and even distracted by her defeat, Chiyoko noticed the way Yumikura looked at Kotei, and wondered what she really thought of him)
- who said, "Yuki-chan, that was incredible! You and Mizu-kun are more powerful than I thought."
Yukimura shrugged. "It was a gambit. I knew that if I landed that first throw, she would panic. A panicked duelist is easy to predict. If I had missed with the first throw, however... who knows?"
Ryoichi clapped her on the shoulder. "Enough false modesty, Yuki-chan! It's time for the last match of this round. Ji-kun is up next."
In her seat, Chiyoko flinched. Hairo Asahi was already approaching the dueling platform, and opposite her, sure enough, was Jihara Akatsuki. Bosatsu was powerful, but as far as Chiyoko could tell, Jihara was the most formidable of them all.
Jihara's hands were folded, his eyes half-closed. He seemed utterly calm.
Hairo crossed her arms. "Jihara Akatsuki! You're Bosatsu's 'Lord of Emptiness', huh? You look pretty tough!"
She was acting nonchalant, but Chiyoko could tell she was feeling the pressure. Kohitsuji was down two rounds to zero - if she lost here, they'd be out of the tournament.
Jihara bowed slightly. "Hairo-dono. I am pleased to duel you. Shall we begin?" He raised his hand.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
"Paper covers Rock! Point to Jihara!"
Hairo's throw had been swift, but Jihara threw Paper at the last instant, countering her. Hairo narrowed her eyes at him, then slowly raised her hand for the second throw.
"Rock! Paper! Scissors! Shoot!"
"Scissors cuts Paper! Point to Jihara!"
It was already going as bad as it possibly could. Chiyoko felt sick to her stomach. They had lost two duels, and Hairo was losing two points to zero. She was facing the ground, frowning, apparently deep in thought. If she missed a single throw, it would all be over.
She took a deep breath, seeming to come to a decision, then looked up at Jihara.
"Jihara-san. I would like to offer you the chance to forfeit."
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