image [https://i.imgur.com/4BoZt3A.jpg]
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The poker game between Deshya and Tessa continues, with a bad start for the one looking to protect her secret. However, she manages to increase her bankroll as well as rise above her initial sum of '1000€', but after losing a bet of '300€', Deshya's confidence is shattered again, with even more violence than at the start of the game. Unfortunately, that wasn't all for the teenager: the thirteenth round ended with her losing again. A loss of '155€'! She has only '470€', a total of 94 chips, while Tessa has 306: a disastrous gap for Deshya. Not only does she lose her chips, her confidence vanishes before her eyes. The light, the life, the flames in her eyes are extinguished, and she who had hoped to reach the top and win this game can only sink into this abyss. As she climbs the steep slope with her hands, Tessa climbs with wings on her back. As if she were truly blessed by the Gods! Deshya doesn't seem to deserve a chance, while Tessa manages to dominate her with ease! A chasm created between them, the spectators are all beginning to think that Deshya no longer has a chance of winning! She no longer has the mentality to snatch victory from Tessa's hands: she's just trying to survive, now. Find a way to stay in the game, not get crushed by the pressure! Deshya reaches for the only light she can still see: hope! Even if victory is too far away for her, Deshya has to keep reaching out in the hope that someone will come and save her. Giving up here would be far too soon: she knows it! She knows it! But how can she believe in hope when she's lost so much? How can she keep her self-confidence when she can't defeat her opponent? Is it because she's not good enough at poker? Is it because Tessa is just smarter than she is? Maybe she's just luckier? Maybe the gods don't want Deshya to win! Deshya refuses to believe any of this, but the longer the game goes on, the more she wonders if this isn't reality!
The fourteenth round begins as Korone lays both cards on the table, but unlike Tessa, Deshya feels no excitement. In fact, she's scared! She's afraid she'll lose even more chips, and that she'll fall into the abyss and stay there forever! Then she'll have to show Tessa her fox ears! She won't be able to run away any more and will have to confess everything!!! Putting her in great danger!!! Everyone turns their attention to the cards. These are :
The ♥9 and the ♣A.
Korone offers the three cards to the two players and tries to comfort Deshya, but she says nothing. The little girl closes her mouth and just hopes, inside, that Deshya won't give up so quickly. Losing her determination and self-confidence is a great defeat in itself, but Korone believes in Deshya. Even though they hardly know each other, she's seen it. On that bus, when she offered her deduction, she saw it!
- But here…
Deshya looks at her three cards, her hands trembling gently.
- Something…
Deshya herself doesn't understand. What is this oppressive feeling she feels? Certainly, the fear of losing and the pressure that prevents her from breathing properly are in her heart, but something else is there too. She can't explain it, she can't understand what it is!
- Why... am I frustrated like this...?
Deshya knows herself very well: when she loses, she feels a certain disappointment, but not frustration. The feeling she's feeling now isn't there to annoy her: in fact, it's trying to warn her. To make her understand something important!
- But what...?!
Deshya clenches her cards, as well as her teeth.
- What am I missing?!
CHAPTER 21
⎾The Red And Black Clash ; Lack⏌
Deshya finally observes her three cards.
The ♥A, the ♦8 and the ♣Q.
Deshya should feel happy to have an ace, which gives her a pair of aces right from the start, but she doesn't feel much of anything. Sure, it's the best possible pair, but is it enough? If Tessa continues to be so lucky, won't she have a better hand? What should she keep? Certainly she's not going to trade her ♥A, but should she keep the ♣Q? If she keeps a queen, she'll be sure to have a pair of aces with a fairly high card on the side. So if Tessa manages to get a pair of aces on her turn, she'll need a king to beat her. What's more, if she exchanges just one card, Tessa may be reluctant to bet... In any case, if she doesn’t have a good hand.
- It's my turn to bet first, so I can just fold if I hesitate too much..." she thinks.
Deshya considers that she can't play too risky: she has three times less chips than Tessa, so unlike Tessa, who has a big advantage, she can't afford to put too much on the table and hope her strategy works. Deshya swallows loudly and notices that Tessa is swapping her three cards. So she didn't have a good hand... which means that if she manages to get lucky, then she's bound to have a pair on her turn. She didn't have an ace or a 9: otherwise she'd have kept it. With this in mind, Deshya finally decides what to do.
- I exchange two cards.
She keeps only her ♥A: she has to try to win back some money, so she prefers to keep just one card. In her logic, if she keeps two and Tessa has too weak a hand, she'll give up straight away. Although Deshya may play on this and try to put her in a situation where she'll be forced to bet during the sixteenth round, she considers it far too risky: why not try for a 'two pair'? In that case, she'll probably have a good enough hand to bet a little... After all, even the minimum bet, which is currently '€70', seems huge to Deshya. If she bets and loses straight away, then it will drop to '400€'. The ⅖th of her initial sum, so ridiculous that she'll probably never be able to take another step without a flush in her hand. She continues to cling to the little hope that shines in the dark sky, so she must make sure it lights up right away: otherwise, she'll come to fall so far into the abyss that she won't be able to climb any higher. Whatever happens, she will lose. The summit will no longer be visible, and that will be the end of her.
The game will end up defining Tessa as the victor before it's even over.
Korone offers the two cards to Deshya, who eagerly grabs them and observes.
Her hand is composed of the ♥A, the ♦K and the ♥5 .
A pair of aces with the king as the highest card, an even better hand than the one she had before. Even if it's not a two pair or even three of a kind, it's a hand that allows her to dare to bet. She doesn't need to fold with such a hand, because she still refuses to believe that Tessa is bathed in the light of the Gods. Even if she proves again and again that luck is on her side, Deshya won't accept that only one of them deserves to be lucky! She refuses!
And with this refusal in mind, she pushes a total of 14 chips, the minimum amount she can: '70€'!
- She always dares to bet, that's good!" Korone says to herself with a smile that she tries to hide.
Tessa is not impressed by his wager and decides to follow without even a second's hesitation. Both opponents' armies are the same number! Deshya is now the one who has to bet... or give up!
And she hesitates!
- S-She didn't even hesitate…
She can't believe it! Deshya looks at Tessa and feels her confidence: she can't see defeat! For Tessa, she's already won! She'll crush her opponent like an ant, she's like an indestructible wall! Deshya feels oppressed by this absolute confidence, these powerful feelings that she doesn't hide! She crushes him with her spirit, her will! Deshya looks at her chips and trembles: she hesitates! She hesitates! She doesn't know whether to bet more and risk losing too much or simply give up her 14 chips! Give them to Tessa and try to keep as many as possible on her side: in short, run away! Run away from this fight which seems to be already won in advance on Tessa's part! She's smiling! Tessa smiles! She's not afraid of Deshya, she's fearless !!!!
- Deshya...!" worried Korone, noticing the teenager's frightened expression.
She wants to give up, she doesn't want to lose any more chips than that! She's only got a '400€' margin before she's beaten by Tessa, and without any difficulty at all! A victory so simple that Tessa could sigh, annoyed! Deshya clenches her fist, hesitating. What should she do? What to do?! What should she decide in this position?!!! Believe in her hand or believe in Tessa?!!!!! She can't think straight, she wants to give up! She doesn't want to lose more chips!!! She wants to keep as much money as possible on her side!!!
- I-I should have fold... I... Aah…
Her vision becomes partially blurred: her eyes tremble in their sockets! The pressure crushed her more and more, she could no longer resist! Her heart is pounding, her mind is clouded with doubts! She doesn't know what to do, she wants to ask for advice! She wants to call for help, for someone to play for her !!! She regrets: yes, she regrets having accepted Tessa's proposal! She's no match for her!!! She's too weak, not smart enough, way out of her league!!!
She accepted a challenge against an angel, she, a simple human!!!!
- I-I—
Deshya is going to give up: losing more chips would be far too risky. She has to win, whether it's for her honor or to protect her secret! She doesn't want to put Tessa, the person she loves, in danger! She mustn't know, she must be safe in her ignorance! Hope loses its shine, reaching out is no longer enough: she's sinking in on her own! Tessa doesn't even do anything anymore, she's the only one who lets herself be dragged along at the bottom of the abyss! She can no longer imagine victory, even in one round: this game is already lost in advance for Deshya!!!! A pair of aces is weak in her eyes, whereas before the first set, she considered it lucky! She doesn't know what to believe, or what to do! She doesn't want to lose, she doesn't want to lose, but she can't risk it! She doesn't want it!!! She regrets coming here!!!!
- …
But she doesn't say it!
She won't give up!
Because her mind refuses him. It screams at her: PLAY! PLAY DESHYA! Giving up now would be too soon !!! You have a pair of aces, a king as your high card! If you give up now, you fall in! Yes, you're falling into Tessa's trap! You let yourself be taken in by her smile, which is only there to get you down!!! If you believe in your opponent, you can't win! You can only lose! Hope shining like a dull star above you means nothing if you no longer believe in him, but only in Tessa! You've got to move on! Face the fallen angel that is Tessa!
Bet!
Bet!!!
Bet !!!!!!
- I-I follow!
14 more chips join the fight: they're moving forward! With a firm, angry hand, Deshya bets '70€' again! A total of '140€', an astronomical sum for Deshya, is on the mat! Tessa's double!
Her smile didn't pierce Deshya's heart!!! An almost convincing attempt, but Deshya survives! She's hanging on, not giving up !!!!
- Tsk.
Tessa crosses her arms and there—
- I give up.
She refuses to bet again: Deshya wins this round! The crowd goes wild, Korone clenches her fists in victory and Maruno glares at Tessa.
- I think Tessa is making a mistake, but all the better for Deshya…
Deshya sighs with relief, her shoulders finally able to rest. Her heart is still racing, but at least she didn't lose! She survived the round! Tessa smiles as she hands Korone her cards.
- What kind of hand did you have?" asks Tessa.
- A-A pair of aces..." admits Deshya as she collects the 14 chips she's just won.
- Ah, I only had a high card. Good thing I didn't bet more.
Korone begins to stir, while Maruno squints, arms folded.
- You're wrong, Tessa..." he thinks.
Maybe she didn't notice because she wanted to play it safe and wasn't looking to offer Deshya too much, but Maruno is convinced she made a mistake: she should have bet even more. Even '500€' if she had to. It's probably because he's a spectator and Tessa is playing, so she sees things differently and even if she doesn't show, she must be feeling some stress. Tessa is the one with the advantage in this game, and the one with the most self-confidence, so she must want to play without risking too much so as not to offer Deshya anything. Even if this is a totally understandable strategy, Maruno knows she's just missed a great opportunity.
Because Deshya would clearly have given up if Tessa had bet even more.
- She managed to bet more, which is probably why Tessa didn't follow, but she would have succumbed to the pressure and given up... I'm convinced of it," he thinks.
Deshya calms down and closes her eyes: she's won this round. However, for some reason she still can't quite understand, she's not happy. She's reassured not to have lost any more, but she can't get excited about winning either. This feeling of frustration, as if something in her heart wanted to... get out.
- What is it... what exactly am I feeling?!" she asks herself.
Korone places the two cards between the two players and the fifteenth round begins.
The ♥Q and the ♠J.
A straight possibility surfaces. The opponents look at each other quickly, but when all three cards are offered, they stop challenging each other. Deshya turns her gaze to Korone with a jerk.
- I exchange my three cards.
- ?!
- She didn't hesitate!
- Without hesitation, I see…
- Eeeeh, they must be really crappy cards!
The crowd starts talking and Maruno asks them to be quiet. They comply, and silence quickly returns. Tessa asks to exchange two cards and Deshya looks at the only one she has left in her hand. Is it a pair or the one that allows her to try for the straight...? Deshya looks at her own cards, clenching her teeth behind her closed mouth.
The ♠K, the ♥3 and the ♥8.
Three cards that don't even give her a pair. In short, a hand that doesn't really make her happy.
- I bet '80€'.
Deshya looks up and observes the 16 chips advancing on the table. Tessa waits for her opponent to respond, while Deshya holds her cards firmly in her hand. Just like the previous round, she's hesitating about what to do: however, she knows that this very hesitation is bad for her. If she shows her opponent too much, how can she bluff or gain a psychological advantage? She needs to make up her mind much more quickly! Give up straight away so as not to risk a single chip, or bet a certain amount, hoping that Tessa has tried for a straight, but hasn't succeeded! That the card she kept in her hand is not a pair, but a failed attempt! Should she believe this card or not? She doesn't know. She's hesitating!
But she's betting!
- I follow and I want to see!
She pushes 16 tokens in turn and challenges Tessa with her gaze, but there's no flame left inside them: it's an empty stare, devoid of fire! One that Tessa can't take seriously, one that even makes her laugh inwardly. She shrugs and shows Deshya her cards.
A pair!
Tessa has a pair of jacks, she owns the ♦J!!!
- A-Ah…
Deshya bows her head and closes her eyes, a gesture that lets everyone know she's just lost. Another defeat! She's down to '460€', a total of 94 chips! She sinks back into the abyss, the light grows dimmer and dimmer! However—
- Why... why do I feel so frustrated?! It's not defeat, but... But what?! Why do I feel this way?!!!
She wants to get mad at herself. She wants to yell at his heart and ask him why he won't make it clear to her in a simpler way, but she keeps her cool: she has to win the next round. The minimum amount is '80€', so it can all be decided quite quickly. Going below '400€' is forbidden if she wants to see that faint light of hope that allows her to see the slope in front of her. She can't lose any more! She can't!!!
The sixteenth round begins with the following two cards:
The ♠A and the ♥A !
- ?!!
- Impossible !!!!
- Oooooh!!!
A pair of aces!!!! An impossible high card, a round that begins with excitement in everyone's heart! Korone offers the three cards first to Deshya, then to Tessa, and finally sighs. Maruno touches his shoulder with an amused smile.
- At least it's going to be an interesting round!" he says.
- I hope I don't mix like a foot..." she mumbles.
Deshya and Tessa look at their cards quickly, praying for an ace. Having an ace in their hand must be considered a victory, because a three of a kind would have very little chance of being defeated! A four of a kind would be unbeatable! So they pray! They want the ♣A or ♦A in their hand!!! They want it!!!
However, this wish did not come true for either of them!!!
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
The ♣J, the ♣Q and the ♦10 for Deshya!
The ♠K, the ♦8 and the ♥7 for Tessa!
The other two aces have yet to show their faces! They're still hiding in Korone's 44-card deck! One chance in 44 to get it after swapping cards! Deshya is the first to ask for three new cards, while Tessa surprises everyone.
She only exchanges two cards! She keeps one! She doesn't offer her ♠K to Korone and holds it in her hand!!
- A-A-Are they aces?!" wonders Deshya.
No one can know, but Deshya, even before she receives her new hand, sees defeat engulfing her! She already hesitates to just give up this round and fold straight away!!! She shakily grabs the three cards due to her, while Tessa confidently takes them. One lowering her head towards her cards, the other holding it high. Korone encourages Deshya in her mind, but she can do no more! She'll never agree to cheat, even if it's for herself, so she can only pray that Deshya manages to get an ace! Korone turns to Tessa and squints: would she have one…
- Or did she continue to play it safe and keep a big card, like the king or queen?" she wonders.
However, this is something she can only learn from seeing his game. The two opponents observe their cards for a few moments before Deshya places them on the table and turns to her chips. The minimum she can push is 16 chips at a time, so she has to be careful. She has to make sure her move is the right one! She has to fold if she thinks she can't win! Maruno, Korone, Tessa and the crowd remain on their guard, waiting patiently for Deshya to make her decision. A pair of aces is already in front of them all, so this round can quickly become interesting if Deshya comes to bet. If she doesn't fold, then how many chips will she send to the front? Will she believe in her hand or believe in Tessa? After all, she hasn't traded her three cards, so how can she not hesitate? How do we know whether she's decided to keep an ace or another card? How do we know?! This is impossible! Tessa doesn't show the slightest emotion, apart from a hint of amusement, so she can't guess! She just has to decide whether to believe in her hand or in Tessa, her opponent! Her choice is—
- I bet... '80€'!
16 chips coming forward! Deshya doesn't fold! She dares! She faces Tessa: she doesn't run!!! The crowd gets excited, shouts ring out and Maruno smiles. So this round, which starts with a pair of aces, isn't going to end with a bang: if Tessa follows or bets even more, then Maruno may find this interesting.
- I follow!
And she does! She follows!!! 80€' against '80€'!!! 16 chips against 16 chips!!! None of them run, they face each other: they are confident! They're going to win! The faint light of Deshya's eyes has returned, a part of her life and her usual expression is back on her face!!!
So…
So!!
- I follow too!
'160€' !! She bets again!!! The crowd gets excited: if she loses, she'll only get '300€' as a total sum!!! Less than a third of the initial sum!!! This will be the total destruction of Deshya's confidence!!!! That will probably mean the end of this game, so if Tessa keeps going and doesn't run away from adversity, then... So…!
- I follow!
She follows!!! She doesn't give up!!! She advances a total of 16 chips, but! But!!!
- And I demand to see!
Tessa refuses to go any further! She doesn't run away, but she doesn't want to place more soldiers on her side, nor does she want Deshya to bet even more!!! She wants to know Deshya's hand!!! If Tessa wins, then Deshya will only have a total of '300€', exactly 60 chips!!! In short, almost nothing! That would devastate Deshya! Deshya hesitates, but has no choice but to show her hand. Everyone looks at the table with wide eyes. Hearts beat wildly, only the Gods can know who will win! Is it Deshya who will lose '160€' or Tessa?! Who will succumb to defeat in this round, the one that could ring the final bell for Deshya? Who will win? Who would have the best hand?! Deshya's cards are finally all showing! All three are face up, the tension is immense! Korone is sweating slowly, even Tessa is starting to feel bad!!! If Deshya doesn't have a good enough hand, it's the end!!! Hope will disappear and then it will take a miracle to get back up this immense slope!!! Then who?! WHO'S GOING TO WIN?!!!
- T-This!!!
Tessa opens her eyes wide. This hand—
- A trio of aces!
Deshya holds the ♦A! After switching cards, she's managed to grab an ace! She has a set of aces, a hand that exceeds a 'two pair'! Unless Tessa has a full house in her hand, then it's impossible to overcome Deshya's hand! However, Korone and Maruno already know the outcome of this match. If Deshya holds such a hand, then Tessa—
- Eh.
Tessa turns over her cards and smiles.
- My luck ran out this round.
She doesn't have any cards that would allow her to have a three of a kind or a full house! In short, Deshya wins this round!!! She wins the '160€' bet by Tessa and keeps hers!!!! Deshya sighs with relief and runs her sleeve over her forehead: she's sweating. She was confident during this round, given that a set of aces would have been complicated to beat, but Deshya can't forget the moment when Tessa managed to get a set of 8s... A stroke of luck. Although this may have been the result of a bad shuffle on Korone's part, Deshya doesn't think it was her fault: the cards had already been shuffled several times during the game, so a bad shuffle couldn't have caused this luck. Deshya is convinced that she was just blessed that time, that round.
- Because of that, I feel like Tessa's like an angel now..." thinks Deshya as she collects the 32 chips she's just won.
Tessa pours herself a glass of water and drinks it in one gulp before sighing softly. Even though she's lost this round, the difference between her is very great: ‘1380€' versus '620€'. Tessa still has double what Deshya has, so she's not afraid.
- Besides, the look on your face, Deshya…
She's simply reassured that she hasn't lost any more, but Deshya doesn't show this emotion on her face. Tessa can see it: she feels no satisfaction.
- You just want to survive, not try to live. You don't want to lose, but you don't want to win. Unlike me, who's been wanting to know what's under your hood for so long…
Tessa smiled broadly.
- I can't see defeat: I MUST win. I MUST know what you're hiding, so I MUST beat you.
A fiery determination, while Deshya, even after this victory and she manages to climb that rocky slope, doesn't show the slightest flame. Korone begins to shuffle as she looks at Deshya, happy that she's managed to win this round. She doesn't even want to imagine what would have happened if she hadn't... It would probably have been the end of this poker game. She stops shuffling and lays two cards on the table, but she's afraid of what's going to happen. Deshya had been lucky on this one, but could she keep her luck? Can she regain her confidence… or has she lost it forever in this game? If she can climb above the '1000€', then nothing is impossible... but she still has to get there. It's not the easiest thing to do. Everyone turns to the two cards.
The ♦J and the ♠7.
A straight is therefore possible during this round, which excites some of the crowd. However, the possibility is so remote that Tessa and Deshya don't even think about it. Korone offers all three cards to the two teenagers while hoping that Deshya will win this round.
- You have to..." she thinks.
Deshya looks at her cards and notices that she has a pair of 7s, but the other two cards won't get her anything. Without even hesitating, she swaps two while keeping the ♥7, giving her at least a pair. Tessa imitates her, but Deshya can't tell which card she's kept: is it a 7 too? Maybe a jack? It's also possible that she's looking to make a straight, but Deshya doesn't imagine that's possible, especially as the 7 and the jack are the beginning and end of the straight, so there's only one straight possibility: would she try something so risky?
- A pair of 7s... Does that deserve a bet from me?" wonders Deshya.
Although she has managed to get back on her feet and now has just over '600€' in her hand, the minimum bet is getting higher and higher: for this round, it's '90€'. Soon, they won't be able to bet below '100€', which can end the game in a single round... In short, Deshya can't fool around. Tessa looks at the cards for a few moments, but then puts them down in front of her and pushes out a total of 20 chips. Without hesitation. With a firm hand. With a neutral expression, but with bright eyes.
- I bet '100€'.
10 more than the minimum amount requested: 1/10th of the initial sum! Everyone turns to Deshya: will she dare to follow? Maybe bet '90€'? Or even more? Does she have a hand that can give her confidence? Does she think Tessa has a better hand or not? Deshya clenches her fists, raises her hand and—
- I give up.
She doesn't think she can do any better. She doesn't even try to bet, she just gives up! This disappoints some people, even Tessa sighs. However, she doesn't grumble at her: she has the right to give up and it's a viable strategy, so she has no right to say anything. Korone retrieves Deshya's cards and notices that she has a pair of 7's. She then grabs Tessa's, wondering what she was holding. And there—
- !
Korone opens his eyes wide and turns to Deshya, pointing at Tessa's cards.
- Deshyshy.
- Hmm?
Deshya turns to Korone and looks at the cards.
- You both had a pair of 7s, but…
- A-Ah…
Deshya sighs as she closes her eyes, one hand on the side of her head.
Tessa's highest card was a 10. Deshya a king. In short, she could have won if she had bet.
Tessa is speechless in front of Deshya, but she lets out a wry smile.
- She had a decent hand, but she was too scared…
Tessa feels sorry for Deshya as a friend, but as an opponent, she can only be happy: the other's mind is destroyed. Deshya no longer dares to take the slightest step she considers risky, so until she holds a very good hand, she will hesitate. She'll back down in the face of challenge, and as she'll want to survive rather than fight. She'll run away when she thinks the fight is lost, crumble under the pressure when Tessa bets big.
- I can win even with a single high card as long as I show him superiority on my side. Even if she has three of a kind, she'll hesitate. That's the worst possible thing for her. I can play with more risk, I don't have to try to keep as many chips on my side as possible," she reflects.
She holds 276 chips, so she can afford to bet a little more than that to put even more pressure on Deshya. As long as she doesn't allow him to regain her confidence, as she did at the very beginning of the game, Tessa doesn't see how she can lose. She sees victory ahead of her, and if she can reach out a little further, she'll make it to the top before Deshya, without even a hint of a problem. She'll finally be able to find out what her friend is hiding! After all this time!! She wants to win, she wants to defeat Deshya!!!!
The eighteenth round is about to begin and Deshya lowers her head, looking down at her chips. Her expression is tired and lifeless, as if she has no energy left in her. She takes a sip of water while Korone mixes as best she can and lets out a short sigh.
- Why do I keep getting so frustrated...?" wonders Deshya. What makes me want to kick myself and wake up... What do I do that makes me want to kick myself and wake up... What do I do that makes me want to kick myself and wake up... What do I do that makes me want to kick myself and wake up? What pisses me off that much...?!
Deshya doesn't have time to think about it any further: Korone places the two cards on the table and Deshya watches them with tired eyes.
The ♠3 and the ♦5.
Cards of low rank and different suits, but which allow several possible straights. The minimum bet is always '90€', 18 chips in all! Korone first offers the three cards to Deshya, this with a smile, and then to Tessa. Maruno takes a drink of water in turn and asks the little girl if she'd like to be served, but she tells him she's not thirsty. Deshya looks at her cards and her eyelids droop.
- The ♠5, the ♥2 and the ♥7, huh... I have a pair of 5s, I guess..." she thinks.
Once again, she holds a pair in her hand. Even when luck is smiling on her, Deshya doesn't seem to notice. Tessa directly exchanges her three cards, but Deshya hesitates. She has three choices in front of her: either she keeps the ♠5 and therefore keeps her pair, or she keeps the ♥2 or the ♥7 and tries to have a straight, without which she returns her three cards and looks to have even better. However, she soon realizes that this last option is completely idiotic: it's far too risky. She will trade two cards, deciding to keep the 5 to at least hold a pair and hope to have better, like a three of a kind or even a four of a kind.
- I think too much..." she said to herself.
She's about to exchange two cards when she freezes. Korone hands Tessa three cards with a smile before turning to Deshya, waiting for her choice.
- I... I…
Deshya understands. Suddenly, like a flash of genius, she finally understands.
- If I'm frustrated... If I feel this lack... It's... Why didn't I notice it before...?!
She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. She turns slowly towards her opponent, a heart beating quietly in her chest. Deshya blinks before opening her eyes wide.
- It's because... It's probably because I'm playing against Tessa... and I want to protect my secret so badly…
She understands it better. The feeling of frustration finally disappears and Deshya feels liberated. She now knows the cause of this pressure from elsewhere.
- Since my head is full from the murders I had to solve… Since I didn't really have time to rest... I see... I hadn't thought of that... Ah.
Deshya finally closes her mouth and turns her face towards Korone. Her decision is this:
- I keep my three cards.
She doesn't trade any of them! Tessa looks at her, intrigued, but doesn't think too much about it: she must have a very good hand, that's all. Korone accepts Deshya's decision and everyone waits for her to make her bid. No one expects her to fold, otherwise she'd at least have exchanged a card. The room is silent. Tessa watches Deshya, trying to understand what she's feeling, but her face is perfectly neutral. However, Tessa always notices: this lack of fire in her. Even though she's kept all her cards, she seems to be unconvinced of herself... She has no self-confidence. She's still psychologically destroyed. Tessa knows she's been through a lot this week, since school started, so she feels bad putting Deshya through it, but it's to her advantage. Even though this wasn't her aim when she came to Deshya to propose a poker game, now that she's noticed it, she figures she's picked the best time to fight her. So even before she'd started this game, Tessa was at an advantage. She's looking forward to finding out her stake, but she doesn't think Deshya will dare to bet more than '90€', or even '100€'. She's still the lowest in terms of money, so would she really dare to bet much? She's only got €620, which isn't enough to risk anything. What's more, Tessa understands that Deshya must earn money little by little, so she can't scare her into giving up!
- I can play in a risky way to beat her psychologically, but if I don't think it's worth it, I can always bet the bare minimum. I don't need to bet unnecessarily, I'm still the one with the most chips~" she thinks with a wry smile.
Deshya finally puts down her cards: she's made up her mind. Tessa is ready to face her: she's going to push her down psychologically and prevent her from thinking straight. This way, even if Deshya gets lucky, she won't dare to step onto the battlefield!
- Whatever you do, I'll win!" cries Tessa.
Deshya slowly raises her arms, ready to make her bet: as expected, she's not going to bed. Tessa looks at her with an impatient smile, while Korone bites her lower lip in the hope that Deshya will manage to pull herself together. Maruno and the crowd are breathless, eager to know what Deshya will decide. She finally pushes her chips and—
- I bet '620€'.
She pushes... everything. All her chips. Absolutely…
- I'm all in.
ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!!! ALL OF IT!!!! A TOTAL OF 124 CHIPS !!!!
- W-What?!!!
- EVERYTHING?!!!
- Is she crazy?!!!
Tessa stares wide-eyed at Deshya, almost frightened by her sudden decision. Korone stands up in her chair, mouth agape, while Maruno frowns, perspiration dripping from his forehead.
Deshya has just bet everything she owns on this round!!! If her hand is weaker than Tessa's, it's game over for her! Then she'll be the loser of this encounter between her and Tessa!!!!!
Deshya stares at Tessa with a neutral expression…
But the flames in her soul are burning hotter than ever.