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They day after the death of 'Roger Taketa' and 'Maurine Kissana', Deshya learns within minutes of waking up that the two victims' adopted daughter, 'Korone', will be living with them for a few weeks, until the case of the armed man found dead in the alley is resolved. Deshya is delighted to welcome Korone into the family, even if only for a short time, but at midday, someone knocks on her door and changes everything: it's 'Tessa Merossa', one of the three so-called 'geniuses' at her school, so called by the students, as well as the one Deshya loves. What she proposes will surprise Deshya:
- How about a game of poker between you and me?
What will sow doubt in Deshya is not the game itself, but what happens if she loses: indeed, if Tessa wins this game, then Deshya will be forced to remove her hood in front of her to show her what she's hiding under it. However, if Tessa loses, Deshya will never bother her again about her fox sweater and will agree to do anything that Deshya wants to a certain extent. After agreeing, Deshya goes to Tessa's house with Korone and is surprised to find that 'Maruno Uffite', the third member of the 'Associated Foxes' from the Tetazo school, is the dealer for this game. What's more, in Tessa's living room, where the poker game between Deshya and her is to be played, there are a good twenty students! All spectators to this game between two 'geniuses', they don't hide their excitement when the first round begins. Deshya is confident that she's going to win — or rather, that she MUST win — but that same confidence is soon shattered…
Because the first two runs were won by Tessa.
Deshya has '825€', while Tessa has '1175€'. Almost 1/5th of Deshya's total sum is in Tessa's hands.
- Calm down... Calm down..." Deshya said to herself, clenching her fists.
Even with these defeats, there's nothing to say that Deshya won't be able to win back her sum within the next few rounds. With the exception of cheating, it's impossible for Tessa to always have a better hand than Deshya: in short, her luck will eventually change. Everyone in the room knows it, and so does Tessa. Even if the beginning of this poker game is complex for Deshya, that doesn't mean she's in a position where victory is no longer possible. Nevertheless, these two defeats right from the start are taking their toll on her mental state. Deshya isn't that weak, but her self-confidence is taking a hit.
With Deshya 35 chips down, the third round begins.
CHAPTER 19
⎾The Red And Black Clash ; Folds⏌
Without waiting, Maruno places two cards on the table between the two players. Korone looks at them and wonders if their rank and suit will be interesting. The first round didn't allow for any great combinations, but the second offered the possibility of a straight flush. This time, what will the two cards on the table announce...?
- T-This...?!!
The students in the crowd start to get excited. Deshya and Tessa look at the cards, not believing their eyes. Even though they have to show as little emotion as possible, even before the round begins, they both make no secret of their feelings: crazy excitement. Because the two cards in front of them, face up and new…
The ♥A and the ♥10. Which means—
- A-A possibility of a royal flush," exclaims Deshya.
The strongest hand in poker. Beginning with '10' and ending with 'ace' and of the same suit. Thanks to the two cards in front of them, this hand is possible... but the luck involved is immense. In short, the chance of one of them getting a royal flush is very low. Despite this detail, it doesn't change the fact that they both stare into each other's eyes as Maruno offers them their cards, challenging each other. Even without saying a word, everyone in the room knows what they're saying to each other.
- If I have a royal flush, I can't lose...!" thought Deshya.
She picks up her cards with a quick hand and looks at them with fiery eyes. She recovers some of the confidence she'd lost, but only until she knows which hand she's holding.
And this hand—
The ♥K. The ♣3 and the ♣9.
- !!!
Deshya observes her game with the most neutral gaze possible, but she's unable to completely hide her feelings. Even though Tessa seems a little too focused on her game and pays no attention to what Deshya is showing on her face, Korone and Maruno see it clearly. The little girl hesitates to look at Deshya's cards, but stays put and tries to calm her heart.
- There's no way she's going for a royal flush... Right?" wonders Korone.
Her doubt is directly answered when Deshya asks Maruno to exchange two cards. Tessa is next, returning all the cards in her hand. Korone takes a close look at the one Deshya has kept: is it a card that offers her a pair, or is it one that allows her to have even better...? She jumps out of her chair, unable to stay put, and goes to see.
- A ♥K!
Korone notices that she's showing too much emotion on her face and shakes her head before returning to her seat, calming down. If she's not careful, she could be acting as an unwanted spy for Tessa... By showing certain emotions, Korone could be harming Deshya. She therefore decides to remain in her chair while Deshya looks at the two cards she has just received from Maruno. The first is—
- !!!!
Deshya can't believe it. One of the two cards she has just caught is…
The ♥J.
- T-This means…
She slowly turns her gaze to the second card. If she has the ♥Q, then... then...!
- !!!
The card is red. The possibilities are limited to 2: either it's a ♥, or a ♦. If it's a ♥, then it has at least one color. Plus, there's nothing to say it couldn't be a royal flush... The best hand in poker...!
However, his heart misses a beat. Not only is this card ♦ in color, but it's only a 7. A card that not only shatters her hopes, but wipes her out on the spot.
Because that means the hand she has... is just a high card.
- R-Really?
Deshya grits her teeth and hides it, but she wants to hit the table and scream. With a hand like that, there's nothing she can do. Although she's convinced that Tessa can't have a royal flush, that doesn't stop her from having a flush again, a straight flush or even a single straight.
- N-No, but a pair beats me…
She quickly understands: if Tessa has anything better than a high card, then she can't win. She can't do anything with a hand like that, and yet two of the three cards give her a royal flush. By such a small margin, she misses a phenomenal chance. A chance that may never come again! A chance that would have restored her confidence! Nevertheless, she's not allowed to see the light any time soon!!! It's Tessa's turn to make the first bet, but as this is the third round, the minimum she can place is now '€20'. Tessa ponders while observing her cards. Meanwhile, her opponent is watching her, hiding her emotions as best she can, but her nervousness prevents her from being entirely neutral. Whatever happens, Deshya has already decided what she's going to do. When Tessa comes to say her bet, Deshya already knows what to do...!
However—
- I'm folding.
Tessa places the three cards on the table and sighs. The students in the crowd start talking amongst themselves, while Maruno picks up the cards again without even being surprised. In fact, only Deshya is really surprised. Korone puts one knee on the table and picks up the two cards for Maruno. Maruno thanks her and grabs Deshya's cards before shuffling.
- I don't know what hands they both had, but if Tessa didn't have at least double pair or even three of a kind, it was too big a risk. I guess she didn't get any cards that would give her a chance at the royal flush, so she'd rather choose safety," she thinks.
Deshya sighs in relief and Tessa watches, squinting. Maruno shuffles quickly and efficiently before laying down the next two cards, both shouting the start of this fourth round. Everyone watches.
The ♣2 and the ♦10.
Unlike the old two, these mean that no straight is possible. In short, 'four of a kind' is the strongest possible hand for this round. This reassures Deshya, who takes the three cards offered by Maruno. She looks at them carefully and wonders what she should do.
The ♦2, the ♥2 and the ♥K.
Deshya refrains from opening her eyes wide and even bites her lower lip. It's not a sign of frustration, but rather to hurt herself: in this way, she doesn't show her real emotions.
- I have... three of a kind.
Although this hand is only stronger than the two pair and therefore below the straight, it's a lucky hand that can only say one thing. Deshya gives Tessa a sharp look and, before she knows it, slips Maruno a card, face down.
- I only exchange this card," admits Deshya.
- Oooh?!
- Just one!
Deshya turns to Tessa, wondering if this will upset her, but it backfires on Deshya. Just when she'd hoped to see her squint or show the slightest hint of surprise on her face, it's Deshya herself who comes to be shocked.
- One too.
Tessa... only asks to exchange one card! Like Deshya, she keeps two in her hands and glances sharply at her opponent in turn. Maruno offers a card to each of them, while Deshya has her doubts.
- If she exchanges a single card, then that means she must have a good hand... Right?
Deshya was convinced less than a minute ago that her hand was very good: now she hesitates. She hesitates, she hesitates! She tells herself that it's just a set: even if it's impossible for Tessa to have a set of '2s', there's nothing to say she doesn't have a set of '10s'. ! Maybe even a square '10'! Because the card Deshya has just received is a simple '8'. In short, her hand remains unchanged — or rather, it's a little weaker than before.
- W-Why am I thinking about this?! Who cares?" thinks Deshya.
She's right: even if the highest card in her hand has just dropped in rank, it doesn't matter. Even if she only had a '3' in her hand, it would make absolutely no difference. Deshya bites the inside of her cheek, wondering why she thinks of such trivial things. Admittedly, she'd never played poker seriously before, but to worry about such trivial details…
- It's my turn to start... With three of a kind, I can't fold…
It doesn't take her long to think. Even though she's filled with doubts because of the two cards Tessa has held, she refuses to believe she can lose this round. She refuses!
- I bet '€20'," she says.
The minimum amount allowed. She pushes 4 chips in front of her without hesitation, confident for this round. She has no reason to start with an exaggerated bet, so she sticks to her decision. Tessa imitates Deshya.
- I follow.
Deshya is now pushing 6.
- I bet '30€' more.
A total of 10 chips: '50€' is in front of her. Still without flinching or hesitating, Deshya bets while looking at Tessa. Tessa rubs a strand of her hair and pushes in some chips of her own. Like her previous bet, she places 4 next to the ones she's already put on the carpet.
- I bet '€20' again and ask to see.
So she stops the bet here. Deshya grits her teeth and shows everyone her cards.
- A three of a kind of '2s'," she says.
Tessa smiles and turns over her cards, tossing them to Maruno.
- I only have a pair of '10s.
One of the students stands up, clenching her fists.
- Deshya won, ooooh!!!" he shouts.
The crowd starts to get excited as Maruno starts to mix, but Korone can't quite match the enthusiasm of those behind her. Looking at Deshya, she notices that she herself doesn't seem to be so happy. She collects the 8 black chips she's just won, but even with a win, her total sum has only increased by '40€'.
In short, Deshya currently has '865€' while Tessa still has '1135€'.
Although the gulf between them has narrowed, it's not a big deal, especially for a hand like three of a kind. Korone understands this very well, and Deshya even better. She managed to get lucky, but without being able to stop the bet when she wanted to, she couldn't force Tessa to bet more. It was at this point that she came to understand the advantages and disadvantages of starting first. The way she sees this poker game changes completely, and it's as she waits impatiently for Maruno to finish shuffling that she thinks silently. Tessa plays with a poker chip and looks at the little girl next to Maruno, admiring her beautiful white hair. She hesitates to ask her what product she used to make such a fade, but she mustn't lose focus on the game. Even if it's only a total of '40€', she's just lost a little of her money. What's more, this little defeat must have restored some of Deshya's courage. Although Tessa's own confidence has not wilt, she refuses to let Deshya get back on track: she has to force her to fall and fall some more, to have all the chances on her side. The more confidence Deshya has in herself, the better she'll do against Tessa. Even if it's only by sheer luck, Tessa has managed to shatter much of Deshya's confidence with her two early wins. She has to make sure that her opponent doesn't manage to see the light of the tunnel.
Prevent her from believing in victory.
Maruno finishes shuffling and places the two cards between the two players.
The ♠5 and the ♠8.
Tessa squints and turns her gaze to Maruno.
- Oi, oi.
- What?
- Are you sure you're not cheating?" she asks.
Maruno frowns.
- You really think I'm gonna cheat?! Am I the kind of guy who cheats?
- I know you're not the cheating type, but maybe you're mixing it up wrong...?" asks Deshya.
- Whaaaaat?! I mix very well!
- We've still got two cards left for a straight!" shouts Tessa. What's more, we can even make a straight flush right now!
Tessa crosses her arms.
- I swear, if this keeps up, I'll get the little one to do the mixing.
- I don't know if I'll be mixing it right..." admits Korone.
Maruno sighs and hands the three cards to the two players before crossing his arms.
- I have no reason to cheat, since I adore you both. Besides, how would I chea—
- Yeah, yeah, whatever. We need to concentrate.
Maruno clicks his tongue and sighs loudly. Korone chuckles, but quickly regains his composure as he turns to Deshya. With the two cards they can all see, this round could be very interesting…
The ♠7, the ♥A and the ♥4.
- Wait, I still have a chance of getting a royal flush...?!" thought Deshya.
This is just the 5th round and the minimum sum has just increased to '30€', which is still a rather small sum. Yet the Gods allow Deshya to have a royal flush again. If she manages to get the ♠6 as well as the ♠4 or the ♠9, then she'll have the best possible hand... However, Deshya can't imagine such a scenario. She almost had such a hand during the third round and again, chance means she has this chance again...? She keeps only the ♠7 and asks to exchange her other two cards, while Tessa returns her entire hand. Maruno offers the cards to Deshya and Tessa, and it's with a rapidly beating heart that Deshya looks at the hand she's just had. Although she doesn't think she can get a royal flush, part of her decides to hold out hope. That 'maybe it is possible' that remains in her heart.
Unfortunately, his current hand consists of the ♠7, the ♠Q and the ♥K.
- A... high card…
She feels nothing but disappointment. Once again, she misses out on the chance of a royal flush and has the weakest possible hand. Although she holds a queen and a king, she's not convinced she can win with such a hand. Given the inexplicable luck they're having during this poker game, Deshya refuses to believe that Tessa has just as high a card as she does. It's obviously a possibility, but one she considers unlikely. Deshya ponders when Tessa sighs and throws her cards in the air.
- I'm folding..." she says.
- E-Eh?
- Oh...?
The cards fall in front of the two already face-up, and Deshya observes them.
- The ♥Q, the ♦J and the ♦A... She also had a high card, but... better than mine....
Deshya shows her cards to Tessa, who clicks her tongue.
- Well, I wasn't just going to try with a high card..." she says.
- I wasn't going to try either," admits Deshya.
- Eeeh, but wait…
- Oooh! If Tessa is folding…
Tessa smiles as she turns her face towards the students, who start to make more and more noise.
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- Exactly," she said.
- Ooooh!!!
- That's super interesting!!
- Waaa!
They start shouting and Maruno shuffles the cards carefully, not wanting to be insulted as a cheat: it's only a matter of chance, after all. Korone frowns, staring at Tessa.
- She can't give up on the first bet, nor can she folds... How will Deshya take advantage of this?" she wonders.
Naturally, Deshya thinks things over as she waits for the round, but she quickly comes to the conclusion that she can only decide on a strategy by seeing the hand she's going to possess during this sixth round. The sixth round begins quickly, and the two cards shown to everyone are:
The ♠7 and the ♠10.
Tessa crosses her arms.
- It's the little girl who mixes it up afterwards, I don't give a damn," she says.
- It's not my fault!!!" shouts Maruno.
Deshya blinks at the two cards: they still have the possibility of a straight flush... The possibility of a flush also exists! Tessa glares at Maruno, who grumbles and passes the cards to Korone, crossing her arms. Deshya turns to the little girl, who passes him three cards with a smile. Deshya returns the smile and thanks her, before Korone passes three cards to Tessa. Maruno watches the little girl to make sure she's not cheating, since she's arrived at Deshya's side. However, Maruno doesn't think she's cheating: he's just vexed that he's no longer the dealer. Deshya looks at her cards, hoping to get lucky, especially as Tessa is in a situation that can quickly turn against her. Deshya's cards are as follows:
The ♦Q, the ♥8 and the ♣3.
She notices that she has an '8', which could give her a straight, but she doesn't know if it's worth keeping, especially as it's not the same suit as the two on the table. She decides quickly and without hesitation to exchange her three cards, which she offers to Korone. Korone smiles and gives her three more cards, while Tessa offers her just one.
- She keeps two cards...?!" wonders Deshya.
Korone gives Tessa a card with a smile and waits for them to start betting. Maruno takes a quick look at Tessa's deck, but doesn't react: he wouldn't want to give Deshya the slightest clue, which would almost be cheating.
The ♠5, the ♣4 and the ♠K: these are Deshya's three new cards, which is nothing to write home about. Deshya scratches her hair and looks at Tessa, but she decides to fold and sigh.
- Another one down..." says a student in the crowd.
- I think she just had a high card," assumes another.
- Eeeh, where's the excitement?
- We're not here to entertain you..." thinks Deshya, handing back her cards.
Tessa offers the little girl hers and sighs.
- I just had a pair, but if you give up, you only had a high card, I bet," she says.
Deshya answers nothing and waits silently for the next round. This lack of response makes Tessa smile as she watches her opponent closely, but she prefers not to say anything herself and, like Deshya, waits for Korone to finish mixing. The little girl tries to imitate Maruno, but to no avail. Seeing that she can't copy him, she decides to do it the simpler way, but which may not be the most effective. Maruno asks her if she wants help, but Tessa forces him to stay put. He wants to grumble at her, but prefers not to say anything and just sighs. Even if Korone's technique isn't perfect, the way she mixes is good enough to make it work. When she's done, she takes the first two cards of the deck and lays them down in front of everyone. When they see them, they open their eyes wide. Korone lets out a cry of surprise and Maruno starts laughing. Deshya and Tessa turn to Korone, who bows his head.
- I-I'm worse than Mr. Handsome, I guess..." she mumbles.
Tessa sighs and asks Korone to give them three cards, accepting the two in front of them. Indeed, the two cards in front of them are unthinkable. Improbable, even.
The ♦Q and the ♣Q. A pair from the start.
So it's impossible for Deshya or Tessa to have a high card this round. Whatever they do, the minimum they can have is a pair of queens with '4' as their highest card. The crowd does its best to be quiet, but it can't help but make a little noise in the background. Whispers between its members and sounds of excitement can be heard. Not only has the minimum amount accepted just been increased by '10€', there's another factor that gets the crowd excited:
Tessa can't go fold.
Even if she believes that Deshya has a square, which would then be unbeatable, Tessa is obliged to put in a certain amount. She can, of course, give up after Deshya bets, but she'll come to lose at least '€40' during this round. This is only a possibility, as Tessa could be the lucky one and receive a queen that would allow her to get three of a kind: at that point, the chances of Tessa losing will drop significantly. However, it's all a matter of luck. Korone watches Deshya and Tessa one after the other, wondering what cards they have in their hands. Did one of them get a queen? Perhaps they have a two pair?
- I exchange my three cards.
- So do I.
However, they both return their cards in full... at the same time. Tessa and Deshya stare at each other, squinting, but eventually smile, understanding what this means. Korone picks up their cards with her mouth agape, but she too begins to smile. Maruno rubs his chin, excited to find out what's going to happen next. The crowd gets a little louder in the background, as some of them understand the situation. Korone first gives three cards to Tessa, then three to Deshya. Both of them don't wait a moment to look at their hand, praying for luck to fall into their lap. Even without looking at the cards the two players have dealt him, Korone understands exactly what this means. If they decide to return their entire hand, it means they didn't get a two pair or a full house, but something else as well. A situation where luck could strike Deshya or Tessa like a bolt of lightning to ensure a probable victory in this match. A situation that excites them and makes the round even more interesting. If they both decide to give back the whole of their hand, it's because neither of them is in their hands. Exactly…
The other two queens are not out yet!
There are 52 cards in the poker deck. If we subtract the 2 already on the table and the 6 returned, Korone's deck has 44. There is therefore a 1-in-22 chance of receiving a queen. In reality, the little girl gave Deshya an 'advantage' when she gave the three cards to Tessa. Because Tessa had a 1-in-22 chance, but Deshya had a 1-in-20.5 chance. Even though Korone knows that the probabilities don't really work like that, and that in the end, one of the two queens - or even the two remaining queens - may be in the three cards given to Tessa. It's not impossible that if Deshya had received the first three cards first, she'd be the one with the best hand in this match, but given that Korone decided to start with Tessa, she's prevented her from having a three of a kind, or even a four of a kind. Korone is well aware of this, but she still decided to offer cards to Tessa first. It's not really cheating: just a preference. Deshya waits patiently for Tessa to choose her bet, since she's not allowed to fold. It's not a choice, but the only decision she has to make is how much to bet. Tessa takes a long look at her cards before laying them down in front of her, hiding their rank and suit from view. She touches a black chip, but doesn't push it yet. The silence is total. Everyone wonders what she's going to play. No one except Tessa herself knows her hand, and therefore knows what strategy to employ. Without challenging Deshya with her gaze, the teenager pushes her chips before smiling. She looks up at the crowd, as if asking for praise for her move. The current minimum bet is only '40€', but the one Tessa puts on the mat is higher.
- I bet '100€' !
A tenth of their original total! Twenty or so black chips she pushes with both hands, '€100' in one go!!! A first bet that excites everyone, even Maruno who doesn't hide his surprise!!!! Deshya holds her deck firmly, but decides to lay the three cards on the table, squinting. She didn't want to show any emotion, but how could she not be shocked by this bet?! Tessa had no choice but to put chips on the table, but Deshya would never have believed so much on the first try!
- Does she have a queen...?" wonders Deshya.
She doesn't know what to do. She's the only one who knows her hand, but unfortunately her luck has run out. Indeed, Deshya has received no queen... but the reality is even worse.
Deshya has the cards ♦7, ♠10 and ♥9 in her deck! She only has a pair of queens with '10' as the highest card!
This is a weak hand, given that Tessa starts with a default queen pair, too. If she has a jack, king or ace, then even if Tessa only has a pair, Deshya will come to lose this round. If she gives up now, then she'll find herself in the same situation as Tessa: in short, she won't be able to fold for the next round. Deshya wants to play it safe, given that she's more than '100€' short of her initial sum, but if she drops out here, then the next round could be a real worry. If she's unlucky and can't fold, then she'll lose at least '40€' no matter what. She has to play strategically this round: she has no choice! She blows out her breath and finally makes up her mind. Deshya knows she has to do it if she wants to keep playing... and hope to win this poker game! Preserve her secret!
- I bet... '50€'.
She pushes a total of 10 chips, half of Tessa's own. She smiles and, without even the slightest hesitation, pushes more.
- I'll put back '40€' more," she says.
A total of 28 black chips, a sum of '140€' on the carpet! Enough to show Deshya above the initial sum of '1000€'!!! A sum that can save her from her doubts, give her back the big chunk of her lost confidence!!!! Deshya looks at her own sum, thinking about her sum. Giving up here means she only loses '50€', but if she follows through and loses, then she'll come to lose '90€'. She'll go from her '865€' to '775€'... ! She'll only have '700€' left before she's at the minimum amount she can have and still stay in the game! She doesn't know if she should take this risk, she's hesitating! She doesn't trust her own hand, herself! She only has a pair with a '10' as the highest card! An almost ridiculous hand for this round! However, she has already bet: so maybe stop here? Maybe accept that she's made a mistake and avoid losing even more? Give back the '40€' she managed to win during the 4th game, while giving '10€' more?! Should Deshya continue and face her fears, or simply crumble under the pressure and refuse to lose any more than that?! Deshya hesitates, she hesitates a lot!!! Time passes and all eyes are on her: her answer is awaited by all!!! No one knows what she's going to do, no one knows what hand she's holding, so no one can even imagine what she's thinking !!! Seconds pass, but Deshya raises her head. She's made up her mind! She's made up her mind! After a thought that seemed like an eternity, but actually only lasted about thirty seconds, she lets everyone know the choice she's just made!!!
- I follow... and I want to see!
She doesn't back down in the face of fear! She faces it head on! She refuses to give up those '50€' and even decides to add '40'! Her 10 chips are now 18 and Deshya asks to see Tessa's cards! A '90€' bet from Deshya against Tessa's '140€'! If Deshya loses this bet, then his initial sum will have fallen by almost ¼ since the start of this game. !! A sum which may seem to be insignificant, but which is actually immense ! Gigantic !!! A sum too low, especially for the beginning of the game !!! Deshya must win, she must have a stronger hand than Tessa's if she wants to regain some of her confidence! To be able to move forward without hesitation! Tessa squints and with a sudden jerk shows her cards to everyone. If her hand is a 'two pair' or higher, or even a pair with a jack, king or ace as the highest card, then Deshya will know defeat for this 7th round! A defeat she doesn't want!!! Everyone turns to Tessa's cards, eager to know the result of this round! Her cards are—
- The ♠4, the ♦8 and the ♠9. I have a pair of queens with the highest card a '9'.
Tessa says her hand to everyone while crossing her arms. Everyone then turns to Deshya: if she has better than that, she wins the '140€' that was bet by Tessa. A sum that would allow Deshya to be '5€' higher than the initial sum. Deshya opens her eyes wide, so Korone assumes she's just lost, but a toothy grin decorates Deshya's face. She grabs her three cards and shows them to everyone.
She wins this round, and rightly so!
- A 10!!!!
- That was close!
- Lucky!!!
- I was too scared for our foxy, waaa!!!!
- My heart couldn't take it anymore!!!
- Oooh, Deshya wins!!!!
Tessa clicks her tongue against her teeth before clenching them, while Deshya smiles as she can finally breathe. The '90€' she bet isn't lost and Tessa's 28 black chips become hers!!! She collects them after returning her cards to Korone and passes them on to her side. Deshya now has a total of €1,005! Not only does she get back everything she's lost since the start, but she also manages to win an extra '5€'! In short, this is the first time since the start of the game that Tessa has fallen below the initial sum! A small step towards the victory Deshya is looking for! A way of restoring her confidence in her!!! Korone mixes with a smile, happy to see that Deshya has managed to win this round. However, Korone wonders if this would have been possible if Tessa didn't fold twice in a row. The little girl understands very well why she had refused to bet those two times, but she wonders if it was a wise idea. Moreover, it was clear that she had tried to bluff by placing a bet high enough to force Deshya to back down and give up, trapping her in the same situation she had just experienced. A strategy that could have worked, but failed because of Deshya's courage. Korone stops shuffling and places two cards on the table. The crowd calmed down, but the excitement they had felt during this round prevented them from remaining silent. The two cards shown to all are:
The ♠3 and the ♦K.
- No straight, no color..." thinks Deshya.
After retrieving her three cards, Deshya observes them carefully, but notices that she has nothing good. The ♠8, the ♠A and the ♥J. In short, all she has is a high card. Nothing very impressive. She's about to ask to swap her three cards when she hesitates. She blocks by herself and looks at her cards one last time.
- I'll swap two cards," says Tessa.
- Okii!" said Korone.
Deshya looks at the little girl and finally makes up her mind. She passes him two cards in turn, repeating what Tessa has just said. Korone nods and gives her two new ones. Deshya hopes to have at least one pair, however—
- ... Well, a high card.
The ♦5 and the ♥10. With the card she kept, which is the ♠A, this makes her hand as weak as possible, even though she has the highest attainable card. Unfortunately, Deshya isn't too convinced that this will help her win. She looks at Tessa and then turns her face to her chips. It's up to her to bet... She can fold and keep her full amount, but Deshya doesn't want to give up just like that. Admittedly, Tessa has kept a card too, which could mean being a pair, but perhaps she's done as Deshya has?
- I won quite a bit just before. I've got enough money to dare... Besides, it's possible that Tessa doesn't have a good hand... If I bet a little, maybe I can scare her or force her to give up.
Deshya makes up her mind and pushes the minimum amount she can bet.
- 40€' on my side!" she smiles.
- I follow.
Without hesitation. 8 chips starting from the sum of Tessa and join the fight. A sum similar to Deshya's. The latter bets again, refusing to give up her '40€'.
- I bet '40€' more.
A total of 16 chips on the mat from Deshya. Both show no hesitation and the tension in the room increases. Tessa goes to bet, but stops before pushing her chips. A first sign of hesitation! She's not betting, but she's not giving up! She's thinking, she's thinking!!! Tessa keeps everyone in the living room waiting, unable to choose!
- Perfect...!" thinks Deshya.
Deshya likes this hesitation and hopes Tessa will give up, but the reality is quite different.
- I follow and ask to see.
16 chips against 16 chips. 80€' against '80€'. Tessa crosses her arms and waits for Deshya to show her cards. She blinks and blows out a sort of groan: her heart had started to beat with joy when she saw that Tessa was hesitating, but she quickly comes to her senses and bets back. However, Deshya remains hopeful: chances are that Tessa's hand isn't as good as hers. Having pairs all the time isn't possible, after all. Deshya turns over his cards and shows them to everyone. Maruno inclines his head gently towards them.
- A high card... with an ace as the highest card," he declares.
Tessa stares at them silently for a few moments. All eyes are on her, but Tessa doesn't let a single word leave her mouth. Deshya begins to feel hopeful: can her opponent sense her mounting frustration? Is losing '140€' and now '80€' shattering her confidence, like what happened with Deshya?! That would be a great scenario for Deshya, who's out to win! If she can steal Tessa's confidence and bring her down, while she climbs the ladder by leaps and bounds, then victory will light up for her! Then she won't be afraid anymore! Then she can keep her secret under her hood, her fox ears won't have to see the light of day in front of Tessa!!!!
- ... I see.
Tessa returns the cards to Korone and touches her chips. Deshya lets out a big smile, while Maruno squints. Korone looks at Tessa's cards and—
- ... Oh.
Korone turns to Deshya.
- Deshyshy. Tessa wins.
- ... Huh?
Korone shows Deshya the three cards.
- See? She's got the ♥K, so she's got a pair.
- O-One-One pair…
Deshya blinks, and Tessa, too, smiles broadly.
- The card I kept was this one. I hesitated because I thought you had a pair too, and given that my other two cards were a 4 and a 7, I admit I wasn't too confident…
Tessa brings Deshya's 16 chips closer to her own, once again surpassing the initial sum of '1000€'.
- But it looks like I did the right thing by betting again~!
Tessa chuckled and Deshya gritted her teeth, staring straight at her opponent. She'd thought she'd succeeded in unsettling Tessa, but it looks like that was just an illusion... a false hope.
- On the other hand…
Korone starts mixing and Deshya touches the side of her head. She looks at Tessa, squinting.
- What is this feeling...?
She can't figure out what she's feeling. Like an inner frustration, as if something was asking her... to get out. A feeling Deshya herself didn't understand... but one that annoyed her.
Deshya goes down to '925€'. Tessa has '1075€'.
The ninth round finally begins and the minimum bet is now €50.