Sakura.
You gave both of our groups different maps.
And you had us searching for different treasure boxes from the beginning.
The hunt you created was just a childish warm-up.
The real game begins right now.
We'll be fighting for these boxes!
Prepare, Saotome!
We end this!
Careful, Mary!
Very well.
Well done, all.
Let's play your final match in a setting that's more appropriate.
Of course, you will gamble.
[opening theme music playing]
TWIN
Hey! Good to see you.
Aoi? Why are you here?
Well, Juraku told me what you were up to.
Once I heard, I couldn't resist, you know?
[Aoi] A Council member of Full-Bloom
and a talented newbie are playing against each other?
There's no way I'd miss this.
Happy to be here. I'll be your dealer for this game.
I'm excited to see this play out.
I'll be rooting for each of you, so you can focus on playing.
Uh…
Now that he's here, I definitely can't lose this match.
Fine, then.
This game was supposed to be an opportunity for me
to show-off to him in the first place.
It won't change what I'm going to do.
Play as hard as I can and beat Saotome once and for all.
So this is the game the two of you will be playing this afternoon.
It's called the "Dice Nim" game.
"Dice Nim"? Really?
Yeah. You sound surprised.
You know how to play it, right?
I'm familiar with the idea.
You have two players removing one to three stones from a twenty-stone pile,
Trying to leave the last one for the loser to claim.
Is that about right?
Right. But with those rules, whoever starts the match off is gonna win.
So, you'll be using dice today to spice things up a little.
As for the pieces, we'll be removing these handy "Go" stones I found.
The first player will roll this die,
then I'll remove the amount of stones from the bowl
equal to the number that they rolled,
and then the next player will do the same, and so on.
That's the rules of the game.
Pretty easy, right?
No fancy technology that anyone can tamper with.
Just a totally equal playing field.
Nice and straightforward.
Seriously?
So everything we did before doesn't count for anything?
After making us do all that legwork, the rest is left up to fate?
No. This isn't entirely out of our control.
There is a way to win this.
If I can pull this off, we can definitely win.
I just hope it'll work.
Do I really stand a chance against her?
Wasn't I just some amateur a couple days ago?
Are you okay?
-Mary, your face looks a little down. -Hmm?
I'm fine.
Are you though? I always feel like I'm such a burden to you.
I may not be very smart,
but I'm pretty confident I can play this game.
We're here for you! Let us know if it starts getting too hard.
What? You said "we."
Am I supposed to be included in that?
Of course!
I do not have that kinda confidence.
Don't say that. Be kind to yourself.
[Mary] That's right. I have friends now.
I don't need to keep doing this all by myself.
Hey. Listen up, you two.
Huh?
[Aoi] We're all set to play.
I'll be watching your throws to see what number you roll,
then I'll remove the stones from the bowl.
Can I inspect everything before we start?
Of course.
We haven't manipulated them in any way.
Huh?
Did Mary's friend just leave?
She probably went to the bathroom, or something.
Anyways, we'll only be using the black Go stones for this game, correct?
-That's right. -Okay, then.
They look fine.
I want to review them as well.
What? You're gonna start questioning me too?
I'd expect nothing less from my fiancée.
"Treat even a shallow river like a deep one."
I don't see an issue with these.
Great. Who's gonna start?
Saotome can go first.
Cool.
Right. Let the Dice Nim game commence.
My strategy is perfect.
If I were only able to play by myself,
I'd probably have a 50-50 chance to win, at best.
But with three of us,
we are totally going to dominate this game.
[Mary] Hey. Listen up, you two.
Tsuzura, when I start checking the equipment,
I need you to leave.
And make a bunch of noise on your way out.
Huh? Why?
I don't have time to explain right now.
Just make a lot of noise when you're leaving.
When you're out, I need you to go somewhere.
I can't say I understand her reasons behind this,
but I know I believe in Mary no matter what happens.
If it's for her, I would do anything for her.
It's two.
Okay. So that means I'm removing two stones.
Next up is Sakura.
Five.
I'll take out five.
It'll be okay.
Mary must have a plan.
There's no way she would've taken the time to prep us like that, if she didn't.
But what if she ends up being wrong about this?
Calm down. I can't keep overthinking things.
I have to believe in her.
Three.
Whoa. Doesn't look like there's a lot of stones left.
Mary, better not roll too high.
-[Sakura] This is pathetic. -[Mary gasping]
I don't like this game.
There's no technique or trick that the players need to know to win.
It's simpler than roulette, but also much more boring.
And if that weren't enough…
Huh?
The other one left?
I wish they would do that a little more quietly.
Makes it easier to set up a distraction.
[Sakura] Stop staring at me like that.
Go! It's your turn.
Did I hear her right?
Is she accusing me of trying to distract them from something?
Does she know my plan?
Soon there won't be stones left to pull.
Go ahead and roll.
Quick. End it.
No.
It's gonna be all right.
I'm positive I'll be able to win!
Looks like a six.
One.
If I'm right, there should only be seven stones left.
-Two. -Then it'll be her turn, and…
-Three. -…that'll be the end.
-Four. -I know there were six stones.
Five and six.
Looks like we're done.
You took the last stone that was left.
No pieces remain for Sakura to take.
-So, that means Mary loses. -What?
I don't… But how?
[footsteps receding]
Pardon my reach.
-Wait. Stop! [gasping] -[dice clattering]
I see. Now I understand.
You asked how?
It must have been confusing for you to lose, even after cheating.
I saw through you.
She was pocketing loaded dice and switching them?
That is correct.
I'm confused. I thought Mibuomi was the one who prepared the dice.
Wouldn't it have been obvious if something was off between each roll?
He noticed what she did to the dice and didn't say anything out loud.
That's just who he is.
Come on. You're making me sound like a jerk.
The rules didn't say anywhere that players couldn't cheat.
I think it's pretty impressive if you can get away with it.
It shows what someone can really do.
Or it can.
Doesn't mean much if you get caught doing it before the game is over.
Right, Mary?
It was easy to spot your deception.
Your first attempt was before the game even started.
While the both of us were examining the pieces,
you put in one of your own dice at that time.
However, this initial die is not loaded to favor any particular rolls,
so we were able to continue the game without any noticeable issue.
Now, as for the Go stones.
The ones we requested for this challenge
were delivered to this room straight from the Go club.
Per the game's rules, there are 181 black stones
and 180 white stones.
If a player knows how many pieces there are in the bowl,
it's easy to keep track of how many remain.
We'll only be using the black Go stones for this game, correct?
As we rolled, Saotome counted the number of stones pulled.
She bided her time, and waited until there were seven stones left in play.
Saotome saw her opportunity and switched a weighted die with the one on the table.
This is the last game dice tossed.
And this dice…
only rolls a six.
Which would have guaranteed that I was left to take the final stone.
She must have gone to great lengths
to prepare as many loaded dice as she could
before playing against me today.
But there was no way for us to know what game we would be playing.
Which means it wasn't possible to use all of the dice
she brought along in her pocket.
That's the reason behind swapping out the die more than once.
As long as the dealer didn't notice, there was still a chance she could win.
Additionally, she told her friends to make loud noises when they were leaving
so we'd be distracted.
I admit I admire your ability to pivot in any given situation.
Under normal circumstances, there's no question I would have lost.
What happened?
How did I lose the game to you?
I was supposed to be the winner. So, why?
It's so simple I didn't think I needed to explain.
I pulled out one of the stones before we started.
It's not complicated.
Your trick of swapping out dice
was something I was able to easily predict.
I had a run-in with someone that did the same thing the other day.
It didn't work then, and is not working now.
If you're going to cheat,
it's natural for me to assume that you'd do anything to win.
You set up the play,
but I made you take the final stone.
I'm capable of skirting around the rules too.
Today, you prepared a well-thought-out deception.
But just like Aoi said,
it means nothing if you get caught.
Saotome,
you have proven that you're not worthy to join Full-Bloom Council.
You don't have what it takes.
[Mary] I can't believe it.
I lost.
My plan just went up in smoke.
Nothing I did was enough to beat this woman.
Okay. Let's make this official.
Sakura Miharutaki is the winner of our Dice Nim challenge.
The treasure box she wagered will be transferred from Mary to Sakura.
Mary Saotome, was this all you had?
I'm sure Aoi's thinking twice about his obsession now.
No. Don't tell me you're jealous of Mary Saotome?
Idiotic!
Very good, Sakura.
I was surprised to see such a well-fought battle
from a game I threw together so last-minute.
Keep it to yourself.
I don't get anything out of being praised by you.
Is that right?
This is Miharutaki's.
It's the treasure box Saotome wagered.
[Mary] I cheated, got caught, and lost
after she took advantage of what I was trying to do.
I have no right to object to this.
[Mary] That's fine.
I'm still gambling. This isn't over yet.
Uh, I don't understand.
[Sakura] This is the map Saotome was given.
Why is this placed inside my treasure chest?
Mary!
Yes! You're back!
Found it!
[Mikura] Huh?
They were right where you told us they'd be, Mary.
What? There was another treasure box we're supposed to find?
What are they doing with that?
What is going on here?
What's wrong? You're messing with me, right?
Oh. You look pale.
You know, you don't have to tell me, but if I were to guess,
you haven't figured out what's going on yet?
[Mary] I guess a Council member isn't that big of a threat.
Mind explaining for the rest of us?
What's with the new treasure boxes your friends brought in?
I'd be happy to.
We were operating from a false understanding of the game
right from the start.
We solved the puzzle of the map using the clues we found.
And understanding the map led us to the first of the treasure boxes.
We thought we could access the treasure inside them
by using the key on the other player's lock.
But all of that was based off an assumption.
Maybe I'm wrong,
but when you were looking at your map, you assumed it was for this building.
That's what we were told off the bat.
Which of the floors did you search first?
First floor. Where else would I start?
We did the same thing ourselves.
We searched the first floor and found those titles from kid songs.
However, the setting for this entrance exam,
the student club building,
is actually four-stories tall.
And there are two numbered musical notations that are slightly different.
So, how do we interpret this information?
This was the conclusion I came to.
The two numbered musical notations represent a point on the map
that has three-dimensional coordinates.
That was the real secret we needed to decode.
Just look.
My lovely assistant found this treasure chest
in the room located at the three-dimensional coordinates.
This is what we were really looking for.
But still, with the numbered notations
there was no way to know which axis was vertical or horizontal.
That's why I had the two of them split up.
Having them leave the room wasn't just a trick to distract you
from what I was trying to do at the table.
That's pretty clever of you.
I'm impressed, Mary.
Congratulations. You are correct.
So while we played, that was all a ploy to buy time.
No. I don't think I'd say that.
My understanding of the coordinates would only get us one chest.
And maybe I was a bit too overeager to win at this point,
but I couldn't give up on the possibility
that our treasure boxes really had the answers.
That's when I decided I was going to get all the treasure chests.
When did you know?
It was right after the three of us figured out how to solve the first riddle.
When I saw you there waiting before we even finished,
I gotta be honest, I didn't know what to do.
Was there any chance I could win against you?
I couldn't help worrying about it.
Your confidence was enough to leave me feeling shaken.
But it was ultimately what led to you showing me your map.
You knew you would win.
You advertised your biggest weakness,
and we exploited it.
You lost because you underestimated us!
That pride was your downfall.
Am I wrong?
You were the one that said it was okay for my friends to help.
Oh, man. That was good.
Ooh, you really thought you were playing on easy mode.
-Mary! -Let me have this!
She thought she was so much better than us.
She's a loser! Loser!
-Big, old idiot loser! -Yeah. You're right.
Huh?
I've been very condescending to you
My arrogance allowed me to be caught off-guard, and I lost.
I was wrong.
I think you're extraordinarily talented.
I apologize for my rudeness.
Whoa. She's so much more mature than I am.
-[both] Huh? -What the hell is this?
That would be the prize you were all trying to track down.
Uh…
The game is now over.
Mary Saotome is today's winner.
-Heck yes! -We won!
I can't believe how far ahead you were. That's so amazing!
Well, sure. But it's only because of you two that I won.
Thank you.
[Mikura] Who do you think you are, Sakura Miharutaki?
How dare you lose?
My plan was perfect.
But now everything is falling apart because of you!
-What do I do with this? -Saotome has a collar now.
This isn't over.
I'll take that collar from her, whatever it takes!
I'm the only one who deserves Mistress Juraku's discipline!
Only me!
Now, then. The wager was for you to gain entry privileges into Full-Bloom.
Mary shall have unlimited right of entry whenever she's ready to join.
Any objections, Aoi? Now's the time.
No. None from me.
So I have time to choose if I wanna join. Good to know.
[Aoi] I gotta say. You are every bit the woman I thought you were!
With you, we can do it!
Come on, Mary. Why don't you join Full-Bloom!
Hang on. You just said I could take my time.
It'd be a waste for us to let someone so talented get away!
-Uh… -I'm begging you, Mary!
-Think of it as helping a friend out! -Too close!
I'm asking too, Saotome. Please join us.
You are more than qualified to serve on the council for the club.
Thanks. I appreciate the enthusiasm.
Hey, hey. What's going on here, Sakura?
Huh?
Why do you think your opinion is relevant?
What?
Well, because I'm serving as a Council member too.
Why would you think that? After all this, you're definitely fired.
Huh?
You wouldn't!
You let me go from losing one time?
After everything I've done to prove that I'm capable before this happened?
This time is the problem, though.
You have the track record,
you could have easily won,
but you couldn't follow through when it mattered.
Fate's abandoned you this time around.
We can't keep you as a member of the club.
You'll just end up being a liability to everyone if we do.
We don't need people who fall behind.
You can stand there scared.
Lean on the rest of us to save you.
Keep being a damsel in distress.
Be pitiful for the rest of your time here.
No way. Really?
Wait. You were thinking about joining up with the Full-Bloom club?
Oh. Of course, I was.
You're worth 100 members. I'm excited to have you.
I'm a lucky guy. My fiancée's amazing.
So what now?
What does this mean for the two of us?
Are you going to call off our wedding?
Huh?
You're disappointed in me, right?
You can't marry someone who'd just keep causing problems.
That's stupid! I'd never do something like that.
There are benefits that come with powerful families getting married I want.
Couldn't care less about what kind of human you are.
It doesn't matter to me.
You… What?
What? Are you surprised?
Now I'm the one you're underestimating.
You're right. I see your point.
If the Mibuomi and Miharutaki families are joined,
we would be one of the most powerful in Japan.
That would be stupid to call it all off.
Well, back to what actually matters.
I know I'm kinda sounding like a broken record today, but hear me out.
I really want you in Full-Bloom.
I promise you won't regret it.
And I'll do whatever it takes to make it worth your while.
EPISODE SIX: A RESISTING GIRL
Huh?
-[Mikura gasping] -[Sachiko cackling]
Could you please take your hands away from me?
Hmm?
Why would I ever wanna be tied to a stupid group
headed by a fricking idiot?
I will never join Full-Bloom!
No matter what! I will never!
[Tsuzura] And that was it.
Mary's plan to way to pick a winning horse
between the Full-Bloom club and Student Council
wrapped up much sooner than any of us could have imagined.
I think that's part of Mary's style.
[Tsuzura] Togakushi is probably worried about what might happen to us.
But, to be honest, I'm just really happy we did it.
GAMBLING DEN REOPENING NEW GAME DOUBT POKER
And while we may not have some grand plan to do it,
I still think the three of us are going to find our own way of winning.
[Tsuzura] Whenever I see a smile on Mary's face,
I know part of that wish for me has already come true.
There's no way to really know
what kind of challenges might be waiting for us down the road,
but whatever might happen, I know I'll be with Mary.
She's everything.
Walking into my life
and extending a hand to save me without asking a thing in return.
Mary is my prince!
[ending theme music playing]
So you think you'll give up on Saotome now that she's turned you down?
Absolutely not.
I'm totally obsessed with her.
I can tell she's gonna end up being a big player at this school.
Oh.
I can't believe you can still say that after you got burned.
See? That's the thing.
I really need her to join Full-Bloom regardless of what she might want.
Otherwise…
I'm gonna have to crush her.