Even or Odd, Sink or Swim

Yes, my lord. Fuuma Kotarou, at your service.

What's going on? You playing Samurai Lord or something?

Yes, you got us. It's so much fun, we couldn't help ourselves.

Huh? You changed back to your regular outfit, Kotarou?

Oh, yes. I was wearing the other one so much that it was starting to get a little worn out...

I'm sorry to say goodbye to it, but it was going to happen when summer ended anyway.

At any rate, what did you need my help with, Master?

？！

Very well.

You chose some excellent souvenirs, Master.

I'm sure Lady Da Vinci and all the Chaldea staff will be thrilled.

I'm sure Lady Da Vinci and Lord Goredolf will be thrilled.

What is it, Master? ...Oh, it's Himeji Casino.

So it is. That's the casino Lady Osakabehime used to run, if I'm not mistaken.

？！

......Say, Master?

Why don't you stop by there? Only if we have time, of course.

I know we frequented the casinos before, when we were trying to repair the Singularity...

...but now that we don't have to worry about that, I thought you might like getting to just enjoy one normally.

Yes, Master. I'll be with you every step of the way.

Well... I won't deny I have some interest, too...

At any rate, I'll take that as a yes. Let's go!

？！

Meeyaaah!

Hiyaaah!

？！

We've been taking breaks here and there! All right! This is going to be the one that clinches it!

Perhaps it would be best if we let them be.

...Hmm. I guess it comes as no surprise, but Himeji Casino certainly does have many Japanese games of chance.

Just in this room, I can see people playing hanafuda, tehonbiki, chou-han bakuchi...

This could be a fun change of pace from slot machines and roulettes.

？！

Good idea, Master. Chou-han is a classic, easy to learn, difficult to master kind of game similar to odds and evens, but played with dice and a dealer.

I've played my share of it before, so I think I can teach you a few tricks, too.

Chou!

Chou!

Are those your final bets? All right, the dice have been cast.

And...reveal!

...Three-four han, or odds. I repeat, it's a three-four han.

Are you kidding me!?

...Putting aside the question of why MothI mean, Lady Danzo is handling the dice...

It seems Hyde and Izo are, well...

Me too.

They've fallen into the classic gambling traplosing their cool even as cold sweat runs down their backs.

They'll never win any games like that. They're just going to keep spiraling down until they've hit rock bottom.

Right. Any chance they might have had of winning is long gone.

As they say in Osaka, they've "done dug themselves deep." I strongly recommend you only bet what you can afford to lose, Master.

？！

All that aside...

Four-six chou, or evens.

One-six han.

Double-six chou.

Noooooo!

Oh my. They sound as though they've just taken a Noble Phantasm to the face.

The poor men...

？！

Yes, perhaps you're right.

I normally prefer to stay out of other Servants' affairs, but I'm sure they would prefer this to losing all their money.

Excuse me, Lord Izo? Lord Hyde? I think you should call it a day and

Hell no! I can feel it! We're on the brink of a comeback! (Narrator: They are not.)

Yeah, yeah! 'zactly! Since we just lost the last round, we're definitely winning the next one! (Narrator: Utter nonsense.)

Right! We're just getting started! (Narrator: They're just digging themselves in deeper.)

Th-they're not listening to reason!

Understood! Preparing for combat!

Yes, Master! Violence it is then!

？！

Security, would you escort these two out, please?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm not crying! I'm just sweating from my tear ducts!

Dammit, dammit, DAMMIT!!! This can't be right!

...Huh? What do you want, Jekyll? Speak up!

What was that?

"It's obvious that Master is right and you're wrong?"

Shut up!

I'm gonna win the next round, just watch me! It's fifty-fifty odds, right? I'm bound to win eventually!

Huh!?

What a sad turn of events...

On a different subject: Lady Danzo, why are you handling dice here?

Because I am working part-time here.

I, um...

Well, let me just say...I have a variety of, um, expenses...

At any rate, please do not worry about me. We ninja are as accustomed to mercenary work as a dagger is to a sheath.

...I see.

Since you are here now, would you and Master like to play a round, Lord Kotarou?

Gladly.

I expect this will be less like a game of chance and more like a contest of skill.

But in that case, I am very confident in our odds. This sort of skill is right in my wheelhouse, as they say.

It won't be easy, Master, but remember, I'm a ninja as well.

I'm fairly sure I can take her.

？！

I knew the fifth head of the Fuuma clan would be up for the challenge. Very well then!

Let the chou-han battle begin...

Now!

Han!

...Five-six han!

Phew. That was a close one.

Yes, it was. Well played, Lord Kotarou. Now then, I'm afraid I must be going. Thank you for the game.

?

？！

... ...

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was just wondering why Lady Danzo left so suddenly after our game.

I can only imagine she was working there because she wanted money...

...but we shinobi don't require money to get by, so I don't understand what she would need it for.

Master! Lord Kotarou!

?

Phew, I almost lost you. Could I ask you to spare a little time?

What is it, Lady Danzo?

Did our victory get you in trouble with the casino?

No, I already quit my job there, now that I have all the money I need.

？！

O-oh, well...

You've both been so kind to me since I came to Chaldea, so I wanted to give you a present as a token of my appreciation.

So I was working a short-term part-time job to save up the money for the gifts I had in mind.

Now

？！

Here, Master, this one is for you.

And this one is for you, Lord Kotarou.

That's...a new summer outfit!?

Yes. Exactly.

I overheard that you had put your new outfit away, even though it suited you so well.

So I thought that, knowing the fifth head of the Fuuma clan...

...you must have been declining to wear it so as not to embarrass your Master.

I'm sure you thought that if you were going to stand by his side, you would need to look your very best, and you felt you couldn't do that with your outfit showing wear and tear.

...I hope I'm not being presumptuous.

N-no, not at all! I was just thinking you didn't have to do all this for me, that's all...

But, well, I'm sure there will only be more things you need in the future, so...

I, um... Yes. It's true...

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Master, if it please you, would it be all right to have Lord Kotarou change into it now?

A-all right. If that's what you want, Master.

Pardon me then. I'll be right back.

... ...

Thank you, Master. Lord Kotarou has always been, well...

Let's say he can be too humble for his own good at times.

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That may be how a ninja should conduct herself, but I can't help but find it lonesome.

I think he has every right to express his desires more openly, like most children.

...Er, though of course, I know he has grown into a fine young man.

Perhaps my tendency to treat him like a child at times is a sign that there is something defective with me...

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...Thank you, Master.

Even if it's only for the moment...

...I hope he can forget about the pressures that come with being the head of the Fuuma clan...

...and just enjoy his summer vacation...

... ...

All right, Master, as you requested, I'll continue to wear this outfit for a while.

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Yes, Master!

As the fifth head of the Fuuma clan, I, Fuuma Kotarou...

...vow to truly put my heart and soul into enjoying this summer vacation!