JINX PLAYER

Welcome, dear guest.

What game would you like to play today?

Hmm, let me think.

Maybe I'll roll the lucky die and have it decide for me.

Looks like I'm pretty lucky today.

How about we play a game that you feel you're the most confident in?

Certainly.

Let's start the game.

... Dang it.

You drew the joker.

That's a win for me.

Darn, I thought for sure I'd win since I rolled that 6 earlier.

Your poker face is unbeatable. It's impossible to get a read on you during the game.

You're not cheating, are you?

No, I'm not.

However...

I do feel that luck was on my side today.

Huh? Did you also roll a 6?

No. I have a different way of testing my luck.

I also ran into Blanc and Noir earlier today, and they're the ultimate embodiment of fortune.

Seeing them whenever you're in Coin Rush practically guarantees you're going to win big.

You're a regular, so I'm sure you've heard of these local legends.

Sounds like I ought to see these bunny twins next time I'm here.

By the way, isn't there a special tournament coming up soon?

There's a rumor going around that the grand prize is something that bestows you with good luck.

That's correct. Word gets out quick.

It sounds like you're fascinated by the concept of luck as well, so I encourage you to participate.

I'm planning to.

So tell me, what's the other way you gauge your luck?

I'm dying to know.

Oh, that?

I use this coin to...

Goodness, look at the time.

I'm afraid I have to move onto the next guest.

May your day be an auspicious one.

P-Pit Boss!

Pit Boss!

Oh... Were you resting?

Sorry for barging in unannounced like this.

Apologies, Pit Boss,

but something urgent came up, so there was no time to waste.

We have a big problem.

Rouge...

Rouge hasn't come out of her room for days.

That's exactly what we're concerned about.

We don't really know what's going on.

She hasn't told us anything.

No, there's no way that's it.

She would have told us if she were going on vacation.

Plus, we've been stopping by whenever we have a spare moment,

and we can tell that someone is inside the room.

This has never happened before.

Rouge has always been the consummate professional.

She's always shown up for work,

even on days where she wasn't feeling well, or her luck was off.

And whenever her luck wasn't doing so great, she would come to us to recharge her luck.

But now...

she won't see us even when we come to visit.

Maybe she's sick, or something bad has happened...

We're worried.

Not to mention that Rouge is integral to the tournament finals that are coming up.

She has to take part.

If she keeps being a no-show like this,

the entire tournament might have to be scrapped.

It's called Defeat the Game Master.

We're currently going through the preliminaries.

The winner of that initial round will go on to face Rouge in the finals. If they manage to best her, they'll get a prize.

If they lose, the prize stays with Coin Rush.

Thankfully, most of the customers are preoccupied with the preliminaries.

They think that Rouge's absence is part of the event.

They're expecting her to make a grand entrance on the day of the finals.

So, please,

is there any way you can try and meet with Rouge?

That's right, but...

you're special, Pit Boss.

That's right!

It'll be different if you pay her a personal visit.

Please, Pit Boss.

We're begging you.

Please?

We'll come along as soon as our morning show is over.

Highroller!

Are you okay?!

Highroller!

What's wrong?!

What happened to them?!

I'm not responsible for this, am I?

?

Hold on, did you just...

...

I presume the twins put you up to this?

Several days? Has it been that long already?

I've gotten a whole bunch of messages.

I should have explained what was going on beforehand.

I'm sorry. I feel like I've worried you all for no good reason.

Well...

...

It's a bit awkward to discuss it standing in the doorway.

Would you come in?

Oh, pardon the mess.

There's nowhere for you to sit...

I should have cleaned up, but I've been so out of it.

Give me just a moment.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

As for what's going on...

I don't know where to start.

Hmm...

Do you remember what I told you before about my superstitions?

That's right.

You have a good memory.

No need to apologize.

I only mentioned it in passing before.

I'll explain it to you again.

I have various superstitions, big and small, which I feel influence my luck.

For example.

When wake up in the morning, the first thing I have to do is drink some water.

And when I take a shower, the water needs to touch my toes first.

When I put on my clothes, I put my shirt on first.

And when I put on my shoes, I have to start with the right foot.

As for my underwear...

Oh, okay.

Anyway, there are tons more, but the one that I attach the most significance to is

the coin that I'm always carrying with me.

If, when I flip that coin in the morning, it lands on heads, I'm good to go.

I just need to be careful of minor, everyday occurrences.

But if it lands tails side up, that means I'm due for an unlucky day.

No.

That's the thing...

...

I don't have the coin on me right now.

No.

It's...

at Coin Rush right now.

It's... meant to be the prize in the upcoming tournament.

All right, then.

Let's check my luck for the day.

Whoops!

No!

Gotcha!

...!

Oh no...

It's tails.

Not to mention that I wasn't even able to catch it properly.

I've got a bad feeling about this.

I better be careful today.

Blanc! Noir!

I've gotta recharge my luck, fast!

What the...?!

Oh, sorry!

I thought Blanc and Noir would be here.

Have you seen them, by any chance?

They usually come this way... they're a little late today.

They're both on stage.

What? Already? Why so early?

Today is the day

we announce the prizes being given out during the tournament.

Oh... right.

I forgot.

What?

You're the one who set up all the prizes to begin with.

Wait, those were meant to be the prizes for the contest?!

I had no idea. I'm not even sure if I even set them up properly.

I really have been out of it...

Oh, right! I've got to participate in this as well, don't I?

That's right, so I was looking for you.

Blanc and Noir are ready. They've been waiting for you.

I-I see... Okay.

You go ahead. I'll be right behind you.

We start in five minutes, so don't dilly-dally.

...

Not only did the coin land tails side up, I wasn't able to share any luck with Blanc and Noir...

Is it a good idea to be going on stage under these circumstances?

...

Hold on.

It's not like I have to participate in the proceedings. I'm just announcing the prize.

I should be okay... right? Yeah, I'll be fine.

Get a hold of yourself, Rouge. Let's get out there.

The guests are expecting a show. I can't disappoint them.

Rouge!

Rouge!

Sorry for being late, guys.

Hm?

You look awfully pale.

Are you sick?

Yeah, your face is completely white...

I'm fine.

The guests are waiting. Let's go and introduce the prizes.

I'll explain everything later.

... Okay.

Hello, everyone! I'm Blanc.

Thank you all for coming to Coin Rush today.

And I'm Noir.

Welcome!

Whoooooo!

I'm sure everyone knows about the big tournament we've got going on tomorrow, right?

You all may just have a chance to

defeat the Game Master herself, Rouge, who has the best poker face.

This tournament is called Beat the Game Master.

The prize for first place is an extremely auspicious item,

and we know you're all dying to find out what it is.

An auspicious item? Sounds fascinating!

We're excited to see it ourselves.

Why don't we see what the prize is together?

...

Whoooooooo!

...!

My coin? What's my coin doing there?

I determined the prizes as soon as I got to work.

Instead of Coin Rush's lucky coin, I must have accidently put my own coin on offer.

Honestly... it's all a bit of a blur.

I was so preoccupied with trying to find Blanc and Noir to recharge my luck.

There are a few items at Coin Rush that are referred to as lucky items.

The Lucky Coin and Lucky Die, which are being offered as prizes, are prime examples.

They're said to bring good luck.

This is the lucky coin that should have been used as the prize.

At first glance, it looks similar to my coin,

but the design on the front is different.

This one is decorated with a four-leaf clover, whereas mine has a rabbit on the front.

That's right.

I can't do that.

The prize has already been revealed.

It's too late to say we screwed up and are changing the prize now.

It would negatively impact our image.

It's a matter of trust.

I'm sorry that

you have to see this pathetic side of me...

Not just you, but Blanc and Noir as well.

And it's all because of a coin.

Without it, I can't predict how my day will go, so I have no idea what will happen.

I'm petrified. I can't even bring myself to leave my room.

I know how pathetic that sounds,

but I can't help it.

I'm terrified.

If misfortune were only going to fall on my shoulders, I could handle it.

I could keep telling myself that everything would be okay, and work my way through it.

But that's not usually what happens.

My misfortune always affects other people,

especially those around me.

Even the guests who play games with me.

There was even a time when a guest got into a serious accident because of me.

And, and...

B-but...

...

What?

But it's already been offered as a prize.

Unless you're suggesting...

...!

I-I can't.

I can't leave this room.

If I do, what kind of terrible things will happen to me and others?

... You're right.

I know that. Even as worried as I am about Coin Rush

and about Blanc and Noir,

I know I've got to prepare for the tournament.

I just don't want to bring any trouble to others...

Ugh, I don't know what to do.

Excuse me?

!!

That... does make sense.

... All right, I'll try it!

It's like you said, I can't stay sequestered in here for the rest of my life doing nothing.

Whew.

All right, here we go.

...

A four-leaf clover!

It's the front side!

Yes!

Oh... wait.

This isn't my coin, so I can't be certain of that.

Where to?

... I suppose you're right.

I need to check it myself.

Are you sure you're okay with this, Highroller?

My misfortune might rub off on you.

... Pft.

Ahaha.

Now it's your confidence that's rubbing off on me.

All right then, let's do it.

But promise me one thing.

If you ever feel like something really dangerous is about to happen,

or that something is off, please tell me right away.

I'll call Blanc and Noir over straight away.

How about we make Coin Rush our first stop?

Why?

Thankfully, most of the customers are preoccupied with the preliminaries.

They think that Rouge's absence is part of the event.

They're expecting her to make a grand entrance on the day of the finals.

Oh... I see.

Actually, that's a bit of a relief in a way.

W-wait!

When you step out the door, make sure you lead with your left foot first!

Oh no...

You already started with your right foot.

This is bad...

Huh?

Hm... Okay.

I'll try it.

Rouge!

Rouge!

Hey, you guys. Shouldn't you be at Coin Rush right about now?

How did you...

We came over as soon as our morning show was done because we were worried about you.

We have to be back soon,

but we just wanted to make sure that you were okay.

Pit Boss contacted us beforehand, so we were able to come straight over.

How are you doing, Rouge?

What's this we're hearing about your lucky coin getting switched with the prize?

That coin is incredibly precious to you.

You must be really upset.

Why didn't you tell us?

We could have thought of something.

I'm sorry for worrying you and not telling you sooner.

This whole business about the coins getting switched really had me reeling.

I was too fixated on how my bad luck would affect others,

and I didn't know what to do.

Even so, I should have contacted you and everyone else at Coin Rush.

If you want me to step down as leader of the 777 Squad, I won't object.

I've acted shamefully.

You're right. Your conduct was unbecoming of a leader.

Blanc!

But nobody's perfect.

We all have our weaknesses:

My sis over here, me, and even you.

So don't beat yourself up too much about it.

Blanc is right!

You don't have to feel so bad.

But the next time something like this happens,

you've got to be honest with us, and not hide anything.

Right!

You're usually so detail-oriented, with your ducks all in a row.

It's not like you at all to go incommunicado without saying anything beforehand.

We were worried sick!

... I'm sorry.

And thank you.

Next time something like this happens, I'll tell you everything straight away.

You promise?

Promise, okay?

I promise.

I wanted to thank you as well, Pit Boss.

I knew you'd pull through for us.

Yes, thank you so much!

Also, I brought what you asked for,

but what are you planning on using these for?

You're going to use these to test our luck?

...

There's something written on here.

It says "Normal Luck".

I see!

Hmm... oh!

Oh!

Hehe, I guess we were thinking the same thing.

We always do think alike.

I'll go for this one!

I'll go for this one!

Wow!

It says "Great Luck"!

That means you're practically bursting at the seams with good luck.

To be expected of the lucky bunnies.

I think it's good.

Thanks for thinking of it.

And thank you, Blanc and Noir.

By the way, shouldn't you two be on your way soon?

You have another performance in the afternoon.

Oh my gosh, look at the time!

Rouge, you'll be back for the finals, right?

If you don't think you can do it, we can figure something else out...

No, I'll be there.

Promise.

I made this mess, and it's my job to fix it.

I've got to get my coin back.

!

...!

You're amazing! You're planning on beating whoever makes it to the finals?

I knew you'd say that!

We'll be waiting for you.

We'll see you later, Pit Boss.

See you there!

Oh, right...

I kind of blurted it out without thinking.

In reality, I'm not too sure of myself.

There are so many uncertainties, but still...

I feel inexplicably more confident after running into those two.

On top of that, I'm feeling good that I didn't pick a twig that said I'd have bad luck.

Maybe this is the power of luck.

Thank you for calling those two over.

I'm going to do my best to get through this!

All right!

This is...

Oh yes.

I enjoy fighting games, so I've visited this section quite a few times.

But I always had rotten luck with my favorite character,

so I eventually stopped coming.

...

... Okay.

Let's go for it.

All right, I won't go easy on you.

Sure.

Okie dokie.

Highroller, that was the 20th round.

You've accumulated enough bad luck as is. If you keep playing...

Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! My drink...!

H-Highroller!

No!

I got up too fast and... I'm sorry!

Are you okay?

Oh, right. Sure.

There's been an accident already.

I've 100% accumulated some bad luck.

I knew my superstitions weren't unfounded.

We should get out of here before anything worse happens.

Oh yes, you're right.

Hmm...

Ah!

I felt I did better when I played the game with my right sleeve rolled up.

Or was it when I touched my cravat?

Or maybe it was when I touched the clover bracelet on my wrist...

Hmm... The only way I know for sure that my luck can be improved is by getting a boost from Blanc and Noir.

Everything else is a crapshoot.

Okay!

Let me roll up my sleeves.

It worked!

Before this, I kept drawing ones with "Bad Luck" on them,

but I've gotten "Good Luck" three times in a row.

This might just be the right method!

I think it's by touching the heart pattern on my cravat.

I did that three times in a row and each time, "Good Luck" came out.

How?

A claw machine?

Well... I don't exactly have fond memories of it.

I'd try it every once in a while whenever I was having a streak of good luck,

but whenever the crane lifted up a stuffed toy,

it'd either drop it right before it got to the opening, or it wouldn't even get close, and the rest of my day would go bad.

However,

that would also make it a good testing method.

I'll give it a try.

I failed five times, and succeeded five times.

Straight down the middle.

...

It seems this method isn't foolproof.

I should have figured as much.

Understood!

This is your room.

Are we doing the next test here?

Huh?

Oh...

I tried my best to hide it, but I guess it didn't work.

I appreciate your concern.

Ah!

Please, let me help you prepare something.

Thank you for this, Highroller.

My mind is so much more at ease sitting here with you

than wandering around outside.

At the very least, I don't feel I'll be causing others any trouble.

...!

Yes, I do.

Since you've been helping me, I feel much better than before,

but without my coin... how can I put it...

There's this feeling of unease I can't shake.

Hmm...

I don't remember exactly.

A long time, at any rate.

Since I became a Nikke.

Come to think of it, that's about when I got into the habit of flipping the coin.

Only when it landed heads up could I rest easy.

Whenever that happened, the day would pass by peacefully.

But whenever it landed tails up...

my day would be filled with bad luck.

I'd trip and fall, or lose something.

Or I'd make a critical mistake during a game which would lead to trouble with a customer.

When it got really bad,

there were even instances where someone I knew or a customer got into an accident.

Over time, I got more and more anxious and began to obsess over luck.

Rather than focusing on habits that bring good luck, like you suggested,

the amount of habits intended simply to prevent misfortune kept increasing.

But as expected,

the most important thing of all seems to be that coin.

I appreciate your suggestion of me winning it back in the final match,

but I'm not sure

if that's possible in my current state.

I'm sorry to tell you that, especially after all you've done to help me.

...?

Th-that...

...

Now that you ask... I'm not sure.

I'm sure it wasn't always like that, but I can't remember all the details.

I can't give you a definite answer.

... No.

Definitely not.

Of course luck played a part,

but it didn't influence 100% of the game's outcome.

... You're right.

!

No.

No one could attain that position through sheer luck.

...!

Hi there, Highroller.

That's because I stayed up all night.

I was thinking of something.

Yesterday, I told you it wasn't luck that got me the position of Game Master.

I said it with confidence.

But then I started questioning myself.

What is it about me that the customers enjoy, that makes them come to see me?

Why did I become a Game Master?

I thought long and hard,

but I couldn't come up with a clear answer.

After that, I had a thought:

could it be that I actually do think I only became Game Master because of luck?

Every time I played a game, was I counting on dumb luck alone to win?

I couldn't get these thoughts out of my mind.

Whenever I would win, I'd tell the customers that

I had just been lucky.

Eventually, I'd said it so many times, that I'd come to actually believe it.

My mind was swirling with all sorts of thoughts along those lines,

so I wasn't able to sleep.

I wasn't like this before.

At the very least, when I was presiding over games, I was able to focus and not be overly concerned with luck.

I feel like I've lost my way.

But how?

Hmm? What's this?

It's a place where you can play board games.

These look like fun!

Ah, I used to love this game!

I feel like I'm taking a trip down memory lane.

Oh yes, very much so.

But why did you bring me here?

What do you mean?

...!

I see!

I never thought of that. That might be a solid method indeed.

Plus, there won't be any familiar customers here,

so the games will be entirely new, which makes them more helpful.

How come they're all sitting alone instead of with someone else?

What?

I see...

So it's okay for me to go and challenge them?

All right, I'll give it a try.

Do you wish to challenge me?

That's correct.

Before that, however,

could you briefly explain the rules of the game to me?

Ha! You don't even know the rules and you want to face me?

You must think I'm a real schmuck.

This game is...

Thank you. I think I understand.

By the way, I don't plan on going easy on you simply because you're a beginner.

Just a heads up.

Very well. Let's start.

I can't believe this!

I've lost five times?!

This has to be beginner's luck.

Yes, I was quite lucky.

This was fun. I hope we can play together again sometime.

Oh, hello!

I-I'm not very good at this, so please go easy on me.

Before we start,

could you explain the rules of the game to me?

Oh, is this your first time playing?

What you have to do is...

I think I've got it.

I'm not that great at pulling the wool over other people's eyes,

so let's just try and have fun.

All right, let's begin.

Huh?!

I lost every single time except for the first round.

You're really good at this!

Just lucky, that's all.

I enjoyed playing with you.

Hmm...

I don't think there is anyone left to challenge.

Over here!

You haven't played against me yet.

Old-Timer! Rouge! Over here!

Why wouldn't I be here?

I'm cuckoo for board games.

Whenever a new one comes out, I'm the first in line to try it out! I'll even try to get it in stock at our store.

Stuff like this is always best when shared with friends.

I've been watching you this whole time,

and you're a natural at every game you play.

I wonder if you'll be good at this game too.

Ah, I know this game.

So you've played it before?

It's meant to test our reflexes.

The moment the same picture appears, all you've got to do is hit the bell in front of you as quickly as possible. Easy, right?

I believe I understand the rules.

Shall we start?

Sure♡

!

Darn...

It's okay. I'll take this card.

Again?

Hehe, I'm just lucky, that's all.

I'll take this one too, okay?

...

Um... is your hand okay?

Hahaha, of course!

It doesn't hurt at all.

Besides, that was close! 3:2♡

I won, but just barely.

Am I the only one here who beat you?  I feel so happy♡

But how come you're so good at every game you play?

I think luck was just on my side today,

and that luck ran out with this particular game.

But this game doesn't have anything to do with luck.

It's entirely skill-based.

... Oh.

I suppose you're right.

This game is based entirely on reflexes,

and you performed wonderfully.

It's not just this game.

All the other games you played today were based on skill.

Despite that,

you won every single one of them, even though it was your first time playing.

While I did in fact want to go up against you,

I was honestly more curious to know how you kept up that winning streak.

I told you, it's luck...

Come on, again with luck?

There's no way you could be that lucky every single time.

Isn't that right, Old-Timer?

...!

You can't be lucky every time...?

Come on, spill the beans!

I wanna know the secret.

Can't you just give me a clue?

I promise I won't tell anyone!

...

...

Er...

Ah, maybe that's it.

For the first opponent I faced,

his lips would part ever so slightly whenever he had an even number.

Whenever he had an odd number, the corner of his mouth would twitch.

He had noticeable tells which made it easy to guess his cards.

With the second opponent,

her eyes would often twitch to the left when she was lying.

When she was telling the truth, her eyes would do the opposite and veer right.

It was easy to see through any of her attempts at deception.

As for the third opponent...

As for you, Belorta, whenever you saw the card you wanted, you'd stick out your tongue slightly.

I tried my best to use that to my advantage,

but you were so quick on the draw, I couldn't best you.

Thank you for pointing this out for me. I've learned a thing or two.

As expected,

you can't rely on luck to overcome skill.

Whoa!

Your observational skills are amazing.

You're incredible♡

Yeah.

I don't do it on purpose, but now that I think about it,

I've gotten used to observing my opponents naturally.

Probably because I'm always dealing with customers at Coin Rush.

That's an amazing skill to have in your back pocket! It'll definitely increase your chances of winning.

I'll have to try that method next time I play a game.

Hehe, I'll try it out on Mica first♡

Well, I've gotta get going. See you guys later.

This was fun♡

Highroller,

I think...

I've found a way to win.

At least, a way to increase my chances of winning.

I have to use my special skills as a Game Master.

That was a good one.

Precisely. You didn't fiddle with your fingers like I mentioned before.

You didn't shake your legs, either.

You did, however, try to avoid my gaze.

And you kept clenching and unclenching your fists.

The final is tomorrow.

Thank you, Highroller.

These past few days with you

have truly rejuvenated me,

and I've been practicing almost non-stop.

The more people I played against, the easier it became to observe and figure things out.

Before, it was just an obscure feeling.

But now, I can clearly determine why someone is doing something.

It's made me so much more confident.

Was my explanation too obtuse?

Maybe I should have spoken more simply?

Ah, I see.

So it's not easy for you?

Rather than saying it's easy,

it'd be more apt to say I simply don't find it overly difficult.

Once you focus and really start observing, you start noticing things.

Thanks to that, I'm feeling more confident about my chances.

I know the final round is tomorrow,

but are we going out to play any games today?

To who?

I'm not quite sure I understand

what you're getting at.

Someone who's lucky... wait, don't tell me...

Right off the bat, there are two people who spring to mind.

They should be wrapping up their performance right about now.

I'll try contacting them.

Hello, Pit Boss!

Hello...

Thank you for coming on such short notice.

Don't mention it.

You've done plenty to help us out before.

This is the least we can do.

You can call us whenever you need help.

Ah, right.

I brought what you asked for.

This is what you wanted, right?

That's it.

Thank you.

It's a special case I use for Coin Rush.

I've used this for a long time, so my hands are used to it.

It seemed urgent, which is why we rushed straight over,

but how come you need this all of a sudden?

To play a game.

A game, you say?

Are you practicing for the finals?

You could say that.

I haven't played any Coin Rush games in a while,

so I could stand to refresh my memory.

And test out my own skills.

Honestly,

I don't think you have much to worry about when it comes to the finals.

Your skills are second to none,

and if it's luck you're worried about, you have us.

Right.

We'll be sure to give you plenty of luck when that day comes.

Thank you,

but I realized something when I lost that coin.

I can't always rely on you two.

You never know what will happen on the day of the finals.

Since I don't have my coin to gauge my luck,

all I can do is keep practicing different games.

I know that

darn near anything could happen during the finals,

but I simply want to try the best that I can.

If I don't, and end up losing,

not only would I lose my coin,

I'd end up questioning myself

and whether I'm worthy of being Game Master.

The sense of regret would be crippling.

...

...

Rouge,

we'll do our best to help you in any way we can.

What do you need us to do?

Yeah, we'll do anything!

Just say the word.

... Thank you.

First off, let's start with the game.

Whoa!

Your shuffling skills always amaze me.

So impressive.

Is that what they call a card spring?

That's right.

Oh, whoops!

Sorry to keep you all waiting.

I'm so familiar with this deck, I get a bit carried away whenever I've got it in my hands.

Haha, you must have missed them.

So, am I your first opponent?

Yes.

You two will take turns facing me.

We'll play Catch the Thief.

That's your specialty, isn't it?

... That's what the customers have told me.

Do you remember the rules?

The person who draws the Joker loses. Isn't that right?

Exactly.

Before when I went up against you, I lost.

You did?

Have we played this game with you before?

Once or twice, yeah.

It... was a quick match.

I think we were just lucky.

Oh, right! Now I remember.

You're right, it did end quickly.

...

It's certainly true that you were lucky,

but I'm still curious about something.

I want to see how far that luck takes you.

Let's begin.

All right.

Hmm... Let's see.

I don't think it's this one.

Phew. I was right.

Once I discard this last pair, I win, don't I?

That's right. You win.

Amazing!

How did you avoid the Joker?

I dunno. Instinct?

... Let's keep going.

Noir is up next.

C-could it be this one?

Aw, darn...

*Gulp*

All right, my turn.

...

!

That's a relief...

I've got it this time for sure!

Uh... I think you won, Noir.

Another bout of good luck, I think.

...

... No, it doesn't.

I knew it wouldn't be easy going up against these two.

They're in a league of their own.

Even though I'm observing their moves and trying to read them,

I feel like their luck is compensating for everything else.

It's totally unfair.

But it's like Belorta said.

You can't be lucky every time.

Then again, that might not be applicable to these two...

But I believe that if we continue playing,

there will be an opening.

Thank you. I'll keep at it.

Um... it's getting pretty late. Shouldn't you head back?

The finals are tomorrow, after all.

Whoa, I lost track of time!

How about we make this the last game?

You need to get your rest, Rouge.

All right, agreed.

...

... I don't think it's going to work this time either.

I haven't been able to find any opening at all.

Maybe we should just stop here.

What?

But the game's practically over already.

...!

Highroller...

I'm sorry for doubting myself.

If you believe in me, the least I can do is believe in myself.

I've got to focus and choose wisely.

Hi, Highroller.

Not bad.

A bit nervous, but that's to be expected.

Unfortunately not.

We stayed up late last night,

and I ended up sleeping in because I was so nervous about the finals.

By the time I woke up, I was already running late.

I originally planned to arrive earlier, but when I got here,

the two of them had already gone out to the stage.

I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to get recharged,

but I didn't think it would actually happen.

*Sigh*...

You're right,

and thank you for all you did yesterday!

I truly didn't expect a last-minute windfall like that.

Thanks to you, I was able to beat those two for the first time.

I don't think I could've done it on my own.

I was so caught up in the fact that I was losing,

that I was ready to give up.

And that does it for our performance from the Bunnies.

The finals are going to start soon, so everyone please be ready in 10 minutes and head to the stage.

Guess I should start getting ready to head out there.

Thanks for coming to cheer me on, Highroller.

No matter what happens, I'm going to give it my all.

Yes?

...!

That's reassuring.

If that's how you feel,

then I'll trust in it.

What?

Haha,

you should see your face, Highroller.

You're really something.

Thank you for that. I feel much better.

... Ah.

Got it!

I'll make sure to do that.

*Sigh*...

I've done everything I possibly could.

I have no regrets.

It's a shame I can't use my coin to gauge my luck,

but if I'm a true Game Master,

I'm sure I can win.

I believe in myself.

May fortune smile upon me.

... All right.

Let's go.

Gah!

Ouch...

Not this again... why did it have to be today?

I'm starting to get a bad feeling about this.

Also, why do I feel like I've forgotten something... Oh no!

No! If I don't have that with me while I'm playing...!

Oh, thank goodness!

You're just in time!

It's time for your entrance. Right this way.

I'm sorry, but I left something behind.

I just need to go to the waiting room real q...

Thank you all for waiting!

At long last, we are about to gaze upon our two finalists!

Whooooooo!

... Oh no.

There's no time. You have to go out now.

This way.

... Okay.

Come on out!

...

I have to go out.

Hi there. I've been waiting for you.

Hello.

I didn't expect you to make it to the finals.

Congratulations.

It wasn't all that hard.

I didn't realize it because I've only been playing against you,

but all the other participants are small potatoes in comparison.

I must admit that I've gotten a bit greedy.

I want to beat you,

and claim that prize over there.

I'm sorry, but I don't intend on losing today.

I'm going to win.

Big talk, but your face tells another story.

You look awfully nervous.

...

Looks like I was right on the money.

This is unlike you.

...

Now then, let's decide on the game.

I will spin the roulette wheel!

At this rate, you may struggle with the mind games you're usually so good at.

In fact, I think I'd actually prefer if we get one of those games, hehe.

Oh, it's a game that goes wonderfully with the spirit of this competition!

A game that Rouge, the Game Master, is most confident in!

Catch the Thief!

Whooooooo!

...!

That's the game we practiced yesterday,

but can I do it?

Oh wow, I didn't actually expect them to pick the game I wanted!

This should be fun.

Looks like Lady Luck is on my side today.

Luck...

Well, shall we begin?

... All right.

This is starting to get boring.

You can't even keep a straight face. This is way too easy.

I'm practically being handed victory on a silver platter.

It's so strange... I thought I had her figured out.

She's fidgeting too much, and her movements are so erratic.

It's hard to tell which gesture means what.

None of her movements connect with the other.

Or could it be that I'm just unlucky today?

...

No.

I promised myself not to worry about luck while playing.

Highroller showed me how there's no relation

between luck and the outcome of any given game.

It's not over until it's over.

It's not too late.

I have to believe in myself.

I'll find an opening. I'm sure of it.

What are you mumbling to yourself about?

It's your turn.

... That's it.

!

Hmph. You got lucky that time.

Well, it would have hardly been fun if it had been a washout.

Let's move on to the next round.

Finally. I've got her.

I need to focus on that one specific action of hers.

I need to keep my head in the game.

This will be the last game.

What's that expression for?

You look like you've already won.

Because I have. I'm going to be the winner.

You were a tough opponent, perhaps due to the fact that you're a regular.

You surprise me.

What? What did I do?

You knew how I observe the subtle movements of my opponents, looking for tells,

so you intentionally added as many unnecessary movements as possible.

!

I let my guard down.

Since you're a regular, I thought I'd figure you out quickly and win.

But it was precisely the opposite.

I hadn't counted on you having me figured out as well.

It nearly cost me my victory.

But I've got your number now.

I've figured out all your moves.

I know what you do when you feel nervous,

and what you do when you're at ease.

H-how did...?!

I recalled your movements when you played with me

before the finals.

You were surprisingly easy to see through.

This match is mine to win.

I have this in the bag.

!

I win.

My goodness! I can hardly believe my eyes!

The Game Master has pulled off a dramatic comeback!

It's a victory for Rouge!

Whoooohoooo!

Th-this can't be!

You won by reading my gestures? That doesn't make any sense!

Did you use some kind of trick that only Nikkes can use?

Or have you got some lucky charm tucked away in your pocket somewhere?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: No.

I've recently come to a major revelation.

When you're playing a game, luck really doesn't matter much.

The important thing is skill.

That's the difference between you and me.

There you are, Pit Boss!

I knew Rouge could do it!

I was so nervous during that last match. My hands were shaking.

I'm so glad she won!

I saw her over by the Game Zone.

She was talking with some guests who came to congratulate her.

We're on our way back from congratulating her ourselves.

You should hurry.

... Hmm?

My apologies, but if you'll excuse me,

I have to attend to a VIP guest.

Hello, Highroller.

Thank you... truly.

I don't have the words to express my gratitude.

I was ready to give up. To close myself off to the rest of the world.

But you reached out to me, and encouraged me to keep pushing forward.

You have no idea how much strength you've given me.

When I was on the brink of giving up, your advice played a huge role.

These past few days with you have been invaluable.

Thanks to you, I got my coin back.

Yes, absolutely.

I feel like I can overcome any adversity that comes my way.

I'm brimming with confidence.

On top of that, I've realized that while playing a game, luck in fact has a very minimal influence.

I've grown immeasurably more confident in my skills.

Ah, and there's this.

It's the lucky die that was the prize for the tournament.

I have my coin, so I don't think I'll be needing this.

I want to give it to you as a gift.

Will you accept it?

That's a great idea.

Will you wait a moment?

I'd love nothing more than to play a game with you right now, but

I've got a lot of customers waiting for me.

Let me go talk to them and I'll be right back.

Okay.

Oh, by the way,

I'm definitely going to win.

After all that practice you and I have done,

I know all your tells like the back of my hand.

Now then,

let's check what today will be like.

Hmmm.

Tails.

I should probably be careful today.

Huh? Tails means bad luck, doesn't it?

Do you need a luck recharge?

That'd be great, thanks.

Rechaaaaarrrrge!

Rechaaaaarge!

Thanks.

By the way, Rouge, you seem a bit different.

You used to get super anxious whenever you got tails.

You'd wander all over Coin Rush looking for us.

Are you all right?

I'm perfectly fine.

I still feel a bit uneasy,

but I'm not as scared as I used to be.

Things have been perfectly fine since the finals.

During the finals and the time leading up to it, I realized something.

Luck, good or bad,

doesn't influence every part of your life.

Of course, you two are an exception.

Huh?

Why us?

You two are the embodiment of luck itself.

Anyway,

the finals became an effective wake-up call for me.

I've also realized why I'm the Game Master.

Why?

Because winning is fun.

It's enjoyable figuring out your opponent,

deciding which game I should play next,

who my opponent will be.

I'm looking forward to the days ahead.

I feel like I've found my way again.

This is why I became a Game Master, and why I'm going to keep doing it.

I became aware of all this.

Such a Rouge answer.

That's great to hear.

It's almost time to go...

All right, let's do a good job out there, everyone!