[dramatic music playing]
[girl] Hyakkao Private Academy.
Known for its prestige and traditions,
this school is about to celebrate it's 121st anniversary.
A hierarchy exists within the ranks of its elite students.
It's not your grades or how you do in sports
that will get you noticed here.
That would be…
gambling!
Gambling is everything!
And if you're good at it, then you can get away with pretty much anything you want.
Oh yeah. And cheating is okay if you don't get caught.
This part is really important!
Let's say you lose it all and end up owing the house?
What then?
[upbeat music playing]
A donation totaling the amount of the debt to the student council is required.
Otherwise, your ranking will fall.
Anyone that falls to the bottom of the ranking list
will be treated as a pet.
Boys are called "Fido,"
and girls are called "Mittens."
They have to deal with bullying from other students just about every day
House pets aren't allowed to disobey human orders.
And this is me, Tsuzura Hanatemari.
And yeah. I got water dumped on me.
I'm a Mitten.
The one the pouring water is Kokoro Aiura.
She's the top gambler in our class.
Nice to meet you. Fresh blood for me.
[Tsuzura] Oh right. You're probably wondering who she was talking to.
This is Mary Saotome.
She's a new transfer student here, but we went to grade school together.
The two of us meeting again after this long must be fate!
You have to be careful, Mary.
I've heard they tend to target the new transfer students.
SPEED PRESIDENT CARD GAME
Mary didn't waste any time and gambled right away,
but was a total amateur who stood no chance
against Aiura's cheating ways, and bam!
Mary was 200,000 yen in debt!
But thanks to some cash I had hidden away,
I was able to give her the money to try again.
REMATCH
[Tsuzura] Unfortunately, she cheated again. Dun-dun-dun.
But Mary was able to figure it out!
Ta-da!
[Aiura screaming]
[Tsuzura] Mary pulled it off and won it all back.
She made 200,000 yen on the day she transferred into the school,
and made it to the top of our class.
That's as far as we've gotten with Mary,
and where the rest of our story's about to begin.
But I'll tell you a secret.
That made me realize Mary isn't just a girl
who got enrolled thanks to her rich family.
It's like I can see her hand reaching out to me.
I want her to be my prince!
[music fades]
A WEEK LATER
[Mary grunting]
[footsteps approaching]
-[whimsical music playing] -[Mary] I'm not making any friends.
[Mary groaning]
[Mary] Why not?
Everyone was watching me when I played against Aiura.
I've made sure to study and have answered everything in class perfectly
so no one could make fun of me.
My make-up is natural and freaking awesome.
My nails are a conservative pastel-pink,
and I've been making sure to be extra nice.
[Mary groaning] Dammit!
I don't have much hope for my life plan at this point.
When people are born,
they naturally tend to fall into hierarchies.
Endurance, intelligence,
appearance, sensibility, and don't forget money.
I hate how society divides its people up into winners and losers
based on circumstances we can't control.
That's why I decided to transfer to this school as an honor student.
By the time I leave this school, I'll be a winner
Although, at this rate I'm not so sure anymore.
-[Tsuzura] Hey, Mary? -[Mary groaning]
-[Tsuzura] Uh, um… -[Mary] Huh?
Oh. Hi, Mary.
How has school been? Are you getting used to it?
Yeah, I guess.
Did you need something, Hanatemari?
Oh. Well, I was hoping,
and I know that this is kinda out of the blue,
but would you like to… would you want to…
Could we please be friends?
[Mary gasping]
Hmm.
Sure. I guess.
[Tsuzura] I guess that was presumptuous.
I'm sure you already have a bunch of friends.
And you might not like me anyway.
I'm slow.
I'll probably just end up being a house pet forever.
-[somber music playing] -Never mind. It's fine.
-Forget I even asked. -What's that pathetic look on your face?
[Tsuzura shuddering]
[Mary] You did this when I was up against Aiura too.
Why do you have this?
Aren't you supposed to be a house pet?
If you have this kinda money, why don't you use it for yourself?
Even if I could get out of being a house pet,
it wouldn't be for long.
And I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I did.
Why are you always like this?
No! I'm sorry!
I'm sorry.
-[dramatic music playing] -[Mary sighing]
Hanatemari, would you mind explaining something to me?
Huh?
[indistinct chatter]
[Tsuzura] Well, I think it's just because that wasn't a whole lot of money.
[Mary] Really?
[Tsuzura] To the kids at this school, 200,000 yen is allowance money.
Something to buy school supplies with.
I don't think it would be, really, enough to prove that you're a good gambler.
You'd probably have to play with higher stakes than that.
[Mary] Wow. I guess this school really is that ridiculous.
Oh. I forgot to ask earlier. What are you drinking?
Huh? Let me show you.
I have one of these.
Oh! That is so cute!
I've been carrying this thing around since middle school.
I can't remember the last time I saw a water bottle.
[Mary] Uh…
Is that why they've been looking down on me?
[Tsuzura chuckling]
So after school, there are gambling dens that pop up, right?
Would you mind showing me around?
[gasping] Yes, of course!
Which one of them did you wanna visit?
Well, I was thinking,
why don't we pop in to whichever one is the least popular?
Are you sure this is gonna be okay?
This will be fine.
If this spot isn't totally dead,
it'll be that much easier for me to take it over.
Huh?
I think I figured out the secret to being a winner.
And it's to be the financier of a den.
Just watch.
Fastest way to the top. This is gonna be a blast.
[opening theme music playing]
TWIN
[chair rolling]
[Mary] Excuse me.
[whimsical music playing]
[Mary] Anyone here? -Huh?
[gasping] Oh, hi! Welcome! So sorry.
I didn't notice you come in at all--
-Whoa! [yelling] -[both gasping]
[Tsuzura] Are you all right?
Welcome to the literary club!
[girl grunting]
I'm the president, Yukimi Togakushi!
Were you two thinking about becoming members today?
No. We're good.
[Yukimi] Yeah. Thought so.
[Yukimi chuckling nervously]
It's embarrassing to admit, but it's always pretty dead in here.
We don't really get patrons.
I'm the only club member that hasn't ghosted yet.
[Mary] Perfect. Now, to figure out how to pull it off.
[girl] Oh. How lucky for me.
There are visitors.
Oh! Yeah, sorry. We're a little busy.
Send them out.
[Mary] Huh?
[dramatic music playing]
MITTENS
-Mikura. -Right.
As of this present reading, the club's access to this room is revoked.
You can no longer this space.
So, please vacate immediately.
[Yukimi] Huh? I can't just do that right away. There's--
When did you last pay usage fees for this room?
Surely you got our collection letters.
Uh…
Who is she? I don't like how she came in here.
Right. You're new.
She's the Chair of the Student Council Public Morals Committee.
Sachiko Juraku.
The gambling dens here are under her jurisdiction.
[Mary] Hm.
What's the matter, Yukimi?
[whimpering, breath shuddering]
[Mary] What do you think about letting me use this place?
Huh?
You?
Let me take over running this den for you.
I'll improve the revenue stream, and I'll even pay a higher usage fee.
[Sachiko] Interesting.
And who are you?
First year, Hana class. Mary Saotome.
Can we slow down for a second?
I can pay you back next month. Even what's overdue.
I think it would be better to go with someone brand new
instead of placing the same losing bet on a person that has failed you.
Hmm?
How fascinating. Let's do this, then.
Mary, Yukimi, you will gamble.
-The winner will control this den. -[Mary] Hmm.
[Yukimi grunting] But, I…
[Mary] Excellent.
I was optimistic,
but there was no way I could've imagined things falling into place like this.
All right. The minimum buy-in will be one million yen.
[gasping]
It's the same amount as a gambling den's setup fee.
I wouldn't worry. The loser pays.
So you'll owe me nothing if you win.
[Mary] That's so much money.
I guess I'll do it. It's not like I have a choice.
[Mary] Oh crap!
What's the matter, Mary?
How much can you put down?
[Mary's breath shuddering]
I only have 200,000.
Fine. I will front the money for the bet.
If you lose, then I'll expect my 800,000.
Don't do it, Mary! You don't want to owe the Student Council money.
[Sachiko] But you do want the den, right?
You should be willing to accept the risk.
[Mary grunting]
Hanatemari, I have to prove myself somewhere.
[Tsuzura gasping]
Fine then. I'll help.
-[Mary] Huh? -I'll front 500,000. I want to.
You do?
[Tsuzura] Hmm.
[Mary grunting]
Very well. Mikura, start us off.
Yes.
[birds warbling]
[suspenseful music playing]
The game we'll be playing today is known as "Three Hit Dice."
As the dealer, I will toss the dice.
It's a simple concept to understand.
The goal is to guess what numbers on the dice will be rolled.
The dice shall read as follows.
One, two, and three will be "down."
Four, five, and six will be designated as "up."
As for you two,
I'll have each of you guess the result of each roll before they occur.
Whichever of you to correctly call a sequence combination will be the winner.
For example, let's say our match is A vs B.
A guesses "U-D-D,"
and B guesses "D-U-D"
Then the dealer will throw the dice.
A's guess of "U-D-D" appears first in this scenario.
Which means A would be the winner.
Please write down your guesses.
Then pass your cards to me, and I will roll.
Sorry about this,
but I need to keep protecting this gambling den.
I'm going to win this.
[Mary] If I win, the gambling den is mine.
If I lose, I owe a lot of money.
It'll be hard to get out of debt once I have it,
and I'll probably end up becoming a house pet.
I don't have a choice. I have to win.
I will win!
The cards are in, and the game will begin now.
[Sachiko cackling]
Here's the first toss.
First toss is down.
[Tsuzura] If she wrote down the same guess as Togakushi,
then the match would be a draw right now.
[Mikura] Second toss, down.
[Tsuzura] But other than that, well…
The likelihood of the die throw landing in a up or down position
is the same at one in two chances.
With these three consecutive tosses, the probability would be cubed.
That would put it at a one-in-eight chance.
Third toss now.
Up.
And there we go.
Whatever you end up writing, your odds of winning are the same.
[Mary] Sure, if you fall into the typical traps.
It's a big mistake to think that way.
If we were just tossing the dice and guessing individual results,
then the probability for any combination is the same.
But guessing which combination is going to come up first is totally different.
There are always going to be combinations
that end up being more probable than others.
This is what's commonly known as a gambler's fallacy.
U-U-D, U-D-D, D-D-U, D-U-U.
That's all possible combinations of letters
where the result appears twice in a row after just eight tosses.
So for us to have a result, with three down or up rolls in a row,
we'd have to expect that as the estimated value of 14 tosses.
The thrill at the core of dice games
stems from the slight fluctuations in probability.
A small difference can lead to big results.
[Mikura] Fifth toss is down.
[Mary] With all that being said, my guess was "U-U-D."
It's the most probable pattern.
I'd be surprised if she didn't know that too.
So, I can't get cocky.
[Mikura] Sixth toss. Up.
[Mary] This is really just a countermeasure
so I won't be at a disadvantage.
I've done everything I can.
Whatever may happen after this is for fate to decide.
The seventh toss.
Up.
[music stops]
This means the game is over.
-Uh… -Huh?
[Mikura] D-U-U was rolled.
-Miss Togakushi is the winner. -[Mary's breath shuddering]
No way! How could Mary have lost?
Then, as we agreed, Yukimi will retain den rights.
And I believe I'm owed a million yen from Mary.
[Mary gasping]
You don't look too happy.
I thought you'd be a more gracious winner, Yukimi.
Oh. I, uh…
Right. I won.
So, that means I can keep using this space for the club, right?
[Sachiko] Of course, it does.
-Do you have any objections to that? -[Mary seething]
[Yukimi] N-no! I'm so relieved.
Mary…
-[dramatic music playing] -[Mary groaning]
One more round. Let's play one more round.
-[Yukimi gasping] -[Sachiko] Hmm.
[Mary grunting]
[Mary] I don't care if the buy-in is twice as much!
I promise I'll pay it back if I lose!
-What? Hold on just a minute! -[Sachiko chuckling]
How very interesting.
Very well. Since you're determined, I'll grant the request.
Wait! But, I won!
[Sachiko] Quiet.
Do you think that you're in any position of privilege to argue?
I… No, I don't…
However, let's raise the stakes for the next round.
-Mikura. -Yes.
What's this?
I'm laying out this collar for you.
[Mary] Huh?
You'll become my personal house pet if you lose.
You'll come if called.
You'll be sent to fetch things for me.
If I tell you to keep watch, you'll not fall asleep.
And
if I tell you to end your life, you will die.
[Mikura whimpering, groaning]
[both gasping]
[Mikura gasping]
[Yukimi grunting]
[Mikura moaning]
[Mikura coughing, breathing heavily]
[Sachiko] So what'll it be, Mary?
Are you certain you're ready for that potential outcome?
[ominous music playing]
-Yes. I'm in. -[Tsuzura gasping]
This about this!
All of this is entirely up to chance.
I just lost, so I'm sure I can win this time.
[Tsuzura's breath shuddering]
[music fades]
All right, then. The game is "Three Hit Dice."
This round will be the one that decides the winner.
Please write your guesses and pass them here.
[tense music playing]
[pen scribbling]
[Mikura] Mistress Juraku only wants to control Saotome.
If I want to be a good pet,
I have to make sure she loses.
[Mary] Here's mine.
Thank you for submitting your cards.
Now for the first toss.
Up.
Second toss.
Down.
There's a deeper level of trickiness to the traps already set by this game.
While it's true that these four combinations
have a higher probability of appearing first,
that doesn't make it any easier for the gambler to win.
Like Rock Paper Scissors,
there's a certain compatibility that makes winning possible.
For example, "U-U-D" could be your winning combination,
but it would lose against "D-U-U."
In this scenario,
"D-U-U" would have a two-in-three chance of winning you the match.
This is a phenomenon where "D-U-U" has a higher probability of appearing
right before "U-U-D."
The same truth could then be applied to all resulting combinations.
Which means making sure Saotome loses is very simple.
Being the dealer means I can look at Saotome's card
and then change Togakushi's card with one that will put her at an advantage.
In this round, Saotome wrote down "U-U-U" as her guess,
so I changed Togakushi's card to "D-U-U," which has a higher probability of winning.
Saotome's odds of winning were only 12.5%,
but those odds all but disappeared when the second toss was down.
Third toss.
Down.
At this rate, Saotome's loss is just a matter of time.
And fourth toss.
Up.
You stupid little girl.
You have no chance of winning.
All you can do is pray for a win.
What do you think of me now, Mistress Juraku?
I'm not like all the other little girls in this school
with no brain and no follow-through.
All I've ever wanted is for you to use me--
[bottle clattering]
[Mikura gasping]
Hey! Careful! You got the cards wet!
Oh. Sorry about that.
[Mikura] You're just as slow and stupid as you look!
Mistress Juraku will get bored of you very quickly.
All right. We'll resume the game at the fifth toss.
[Mary] Oh. There's no need for that.
Huh?
I have D-D-U. That's what I wrote down.
Huh?
Shouldn't the dealer have already known that?
I wrote "D-D-U" on the card before I gave it to you.
I don't know what you're talking about.
That wasn't what I saw.
[Mikura gasping]
D-D-U!
That means Mary wins!
[breath shuddering] What did you do?
How did you change what you wrote?
What? Did you think I wouldn't figure it out?
This game is basically Rock Paper Scissors.
Take the first round.
I noticed Togakushi's hand was a combination
that had an inherent advantage over mine.
So I started to wonder.
You pretty much confirmed my thoughts in the second game.
Despite the fact that she was the winner,
Togakushi was still pretty hesitant to accept it.
Which leads me to believe
that you swapped her card without her knowing.
Being able to change up the player's card puts you in a pretty sweet position,
wouldn't you say?
It's like throwing paper after they throw rock. [gasping]
[Mikura] This doesn't make any sense.
Your card had "U-U-U." I saw!
You changed it! How?
I drew the vertical line in "D" with this.
If you can change your answer, then I should be able to swap mine out.
What is that?
Nail polish remover with acetone is usually clear
whenever you paint it on your nails or paper.
But if you add water,
it magically becomes darker than its surrounding colors.
So, that's when it shows up on the card as writing..
-[Mikura grunting] -Thank you so much!
Because of your tells, it was so much easier for me to win.
I only had a 50-50 chance otherwise.
I never would've made that second bet without knowing you were a cheat.
[upbeat music playing]
[Mary] Huh?
Well done, ladies.
No one said that you had to use a black pen to write your guess.
Even though it was done in nail polish remover,
you did write "D-D-U" on the card.
If "U-U-U" had paid off,
you would have kept quiet and accepted the win, is that right?
Your first bet set your chances of losing at 87.5%
With the little acetone trick you pulled,
you were able to pivot that into a 71% likelihood of winning.
That deserves applause.
Even with that guarantee, you still had a 29% chance of losing.
This bet made you put your life on the line.
Or did you think I was bluffing when I proposed the results?
No.
Isn't that what the core of gambling's all about?
I mean, I had a 71% chance of winning.
I'd be stupid not to play with those odds.
If you aren't willing to take on some amount of risk,
then you'll never have the opportunity to win.
If losing is the only result when I walk away,
then the only way to win is by playing.
[Sachiko] How illuminating.
It's settled. Congratulations to you.
This gambling den is now Mary's.
[both gasping]
You did it! Amazing!
[Yukimi] So what's gonna happen to the literary club?
Give it up.
You knew you had lost the first round,
but didn't argue when Mikura declared you the winner.
You played along.
You have no right to protest this outcome.
[Yukimi crying]
[somber music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
[Mikura crying]
Mistress, please! I am so sorry!
I failed, and I put you in this position.
I need you to punish me! Mistress!
You know, pet?
The fact that Mary Saotome won against her classmate
on her first day is intriguing.
[Mikura] Huh?
[Sachiko] Today was not a loss.
It certainly makes me wonder what she might really be like.
[Mikura] But, then what about me?
[Sachiko] The setup with Togakushi was just an excuse.
I didn't particularly care about the outcome.
That being said,
the results of this experiment were beyond what I'd hoped for.
[Sachiko cackling]
[Sachiko] She's out of line, brazen, and insolent,
but intelligent.
She believes with every part of herself she's going to win.
I want to know what she sounds like
when I make her cry out like a little kitten!
[Sachiko cackling]
Mary, that was so cool!
I had no idea you were gonna cinch the win with that much style!
You were such a goddess right now!
Uh, that's a bit much.
Getting a gambling den was just the first part.
Now I have to make money with it, or else this whole thing is just a bust.
But, you know? It feels good to be the king.
And now I finally have my own castle.
[Tsuzura gasping]
Can I just say,
I really wish I could be like you, Mary?
[dramatic music playing]
-[Mary] Okay, fine. -Huh?
I'm trying to say that I'll be your friend.
You asked me before.
But I do have one condition.
Get rid of this "Mittens" tag.
Don't you hate being treated like you're some sort of animal?
I wouldn't like it at all.
And I'd hate my friends being treated like that even more.
But even if you didn't,
I need you with me at the top.
I don't want anyone to condescend to us ever again.
If gambling is the way to get respect, then we're going to gamble.
Then we'll beat all of them at their own game.
[Tsuzura crying]
Huh? Why are you crying?
Did I say something wrong?
[Tsuzura] No.
She wants what's best for me.
I've never had the chance to think of myself as a winner.
She's my dream girl!
I don't know where she came from,
but I know she rode up on a white horse to give me her chivalrous hand!
I think I found my prince!
[ending theme music playing]
[music fades]