Now, in a situation like this you might easily come to believe that most people would weigh up the situation and realise they had been deceived. They might conclude that the logical option within a bad situation was to turn around and plead for assistance from the one and only person with a hope to turn it all around. Yes. You might think that. But... In that situation you would be rather greatly underestimating two qualities humans have in abundance. Pride, and self delusion.
The outfit Shina had shown her was outright scandalous. The kind of thing Toshiko would never be seen dead in (and certainly wouldn’t ever wear around Shino ever ever <i>ever</i>, and nor would she let herself for a moment linger on what his reaction would be to seeing her strutting around in such revealing clothes and nor would she imagine...) and to her mind that was kind of the point. Her horrified reaction had been genuine, her shock was no performance and when she realised that fact, another possibility beyond deceiving her fell into her mind.
Sometimes it was necessary to deceive your friends before you could deceive your “enemy”. In this case, her “enemy” was Shino. She needed him to believe that she was in real danger here, which meant that the best way to make sure he bought it was if she did as well! Therefore, drawing in his little sister to draw up plans for a ridiculous fetish outfit was a stroke of genius! If anything could get under his skin, that would surely be it!
“Shina!” Shino yelled. This was it. She could feel it. Any moment now, he would break! “Don’t forget to pick up some eggs on the way home!”
“Do it yourself!” Shina replied, flicking her wrist and sending the measuring tape back into place with a haughty sniff. No effect. None at all. He was just sitting there enjoying the show. Didn’t he have any feelings at all?! Damn him! Damn his arrogance! Unless... Unless of course he was putting up a brave front? Of course he was, that was just like him. Hiding his real feelings away!
“You know, it’s a fool’s bet to think that everyone’s glad Toshiko accepted the bet on my behalf,” Shino said. “That outfit really wouldn’t flatter my figure at all!”
“Your sister is a miracle worker,” Yumako nodded, “But... I think that might well be beyond even her considerable skills!”
“Now now, brother dear! Careful what you say! That’s just about the only thing we have in common: Neither of us can easily resist a challenge!”
Tomoko nudged Shino’s shoulder. Her face was a good deal more serious than the others, who seemed to all be taking this in fun. Not the reaction she was expecting at all! “Must you be so flippant? Don’t you get it? She’s obviously been set up, and -”
“And that’s her problem,” Shino said, leaning back in his chair and resting his hands behind his head. “She’s a tough girl. I think you underestimate her. This should be... Interesting.”
Right. Well, it was easy enough to say that... Except that a few turns later Toshiko was forced to watch as Uesugi plucked her Queen from the board, replacing it with a Knight and dropping her most powerful piece off the side of the board. If only she had rolled a Five on that last turn she could have moved her Queen out of the way! Dammit! This was hopeless! Her feelings on the matter weren’t helped in the slightest when she took her turn and winced when that was the very number she rolled, leaving her forced to move one of her own Knights instead.
“Oh dear,” Uesugi chuckled. “You seem to be quite thoroughly forked. Before I skewer you, how about I make you this offer? Turn your King on his side, surrender the game and I shall request Shina make a few adjustments to your outfit? She would have to make a few adjustments, ensuring that it would require a little extra time before delivery but I’m certain she will be willing to accommodate...”
“No!” Tomoko yelled from the sidelines. “Don’t give in yet! You can still turn this around”
“Hey, hey now!” Shino said. “I said you guys wouldn’t offer advice, and I meant that! She’s gotta play this game without our help, or would you rather my word mean nothing at all? Just sit back and enjoy the show!”
“Oh, what’s wrong with you? I thought you - Wait... You couldn’t possibly know -”
“That Toshiko made a deal with Uesugi to try and lure me into a game?” Shino said, barely restraining a chuckle. “Well. Of course I knew that! Seemed kind of obvious, didn’t it?”
He knew?! He knew the entire damn time?! Toshiko gripped the sides of the table and twitched nervously. That... That self righteous, arrogant little - That’s why he didn’t care? He should have said something right away! Then there would have been no need for this - For this complete farce!
“Just like it’s obvious she was set up!” Shino continued. “Honestly Toshiko, you should pick your allies a bit better in future, hm? He’s about as slimy as they come!”
“Right!” Tomoko said. “And that’s why you’re going to do something about it, aren’t you? I mean, we can’t just let her -”
“She made her bed,” Shino shrugged. “Best if she lay in it for a little while.”
“I can’t believe you! I thought you were better than that!” Tomoko almost looked like she might well cry.
“It occurred to Yumako just then that her supposedly genius ally was, perhaps, brilliant with numbers but not quite so good with people. Though Shino is a detestable human being at times, it is for reasons other than flippancy when a friend is in danger.”
Both Tomoko and Toshiko had the same thought at the same time. That expression, that laid back attitude, that confidence! He did have a plan after all. Though, there was a war within Toshiko’s head - Did she want his plan to succeed? Considering the outfit Shina was making... Probably! Besides which! Didn’t Shino apparently bet on Uesugi? If she was able to win the game, then not only would she avoid the costume but put a mark on his perfect record at the same time!
“Say, Tomoko. How likely is it that Toshiko could win?”
“In a regular game of chess?” Tomoko said, returning to her seat in a rather flustered manner. “Not great, but she could in theory turn it around. In a game of dice chess, there are many more factors that need to be calculated.”
“But she can still win? Interesting.”
“Careful now, King of Gambling!” Uesugi declared. “That’s coming rather close to breaking your promise, is it not?”
“Hardly,” Shino retaliated. “We’re not giving advice. We are discussing the merits of the game and its rules, aren’t we Tomoko? Ah, but I’ll tell you what. If you allow us to continue the conversation along those lines, I’ll give you special permission to make that costume a little more daring. What do you say?”
“Hey!” Toshiko yelped. “Don’t I get any say in -”
“Deal,” Uesugi firmly said. “But no advice. It should be fascinating to hear your genius pawn ramble on the subject for a few minutes.”
“W-Well...” Tomoko stammered. “I suppose the main difference is that, on your turn you have a decent idea of what your opponent’s options include, but no way to tell what your own next move could be. This forces both players into a narrow, short range view of immediate risk/reward instead of a longer term setup, which is what a normal chess game would entail. Each move should either involve capturing an enemy piece, or preventing one of your own from being taken. It becomes a kind of war of attrition. Wear each other down until the King has nothing left to defend himself with. I expect most games of Dice chess probably end sooner than either player expected due to a very well played roll, or with a surrender when one player obviously would not be able to win.”
Huh. That made a strange sort of sense. But... More to the point... Suddenly this didn’t quite seem like a game of chess anymore, but it sounded a lot like something else. It sounded just like a martial arts contest. Thrust, parry, block! No long term strategy stands up in a real one on one battle, only the short term benefits adding up until one person fell over or submitted! Little injuries on the limbs inhibiting ability to attack and defend, little spots of weakness and vulnerability cropping up here, there and everywhere! Suddenly, her perspective on the game was turned on its head! Maybe... She could win it?
Okay. Let’s regard the board for a moment. Uesugi had rolled a two on his last turn enabling him to move his Knights. This meant that she could either move her Knights, or move based on what she rolled. Both her Knights were on opposite ends of the board right now, so either of them were viable options... But which would be the smarter one to use right now?
“Of course,” Tomoko said, “It doesn’t matter if you make reckless moves that leave you open to unexpected avenues of attack down the line. In that sense, it is absolutely necessary to be able to quickly calculate the risk and the reward for any given move, as well as consider what your opponent might be able to do on their next turn given the number you just rolled.”
“Interesting! Very interesting!” Shino said with a hearty laugh. “Isn’t it amazing the things you can learn? Hm... Toshiko! Hand your phone to Shina for a little while! I’d rather like Tomoko to use my phone to show me what she thinks the smartest move is, and would really prefer it if your opponent did not accuse me of cheating!”
“Hmph,” Uesugi shrugged. “The King pretends to be a mere observer, and yet here he is with such interesting things to say about the game. Very well, hand your phone over to Shina if you wish, but knowing the best possible moves in advance of the game will avail you naught: Even if Toshiko knew what they were, I can still crush her without effort! My dear Queen, no need to look so pale! The dress might not have flattered the King, but you will look positively stunning. Check, and Mate!”
Now, the stubborn martial artist had no choice but to face the truth of the situation she was in. Cornered. Helpless. Utterly dependant on the one person she had sought to teach a lesson in humility, only to find herself the subject of that very same lesson. Still... She somehow felt a flicker of hope within her soul. Shino was too confident. He had a plan. He always had a plan, the bastard! Though how could he even haul her ass from the fire in a situation like this? How? It didn’t seem possible! All she could do was pick up the dice and continue to play -
But, beginning with this very play... A turnaround began, an impossible comeback that nobody could have seen coming. Shino did have a plan, and the lynchpin of it all was none other than -
- The dice, which he did something to before the game started.
- Uesugi, whom he had made a deal with before the game.
- Shina, whom he had made a deal with before the game.
- Something else
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