image [https://i.imgur.com/p9DXzvh.jpg]
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A total of 88 chips for Deshya. A total of 312 for Tessa. '440€' versus '1560€'.
The poker game between the two friends continues to rage, but after Deshya's psychological defeat at the start of the game and all that followed, the roles seem almost reversed: Tessa can't understand her opponent's actions, while Deshya acts illogically. After finally understanding what he needed to play better, Deshya bet her entire '620€' without hesitation, causing Tessa to give up: and yet, Deshya only held a pair of 5's. Since then, Deshya has continued to bet almost her entire fortune, like someone who taunts death itself with fun. Tessa can't even believe it's a strategy on her part: she's just gone mad. At first she thought it was because of the pressure of the game, but now she believes in something else. She can't explain it yet, but she feels that this part of Deshya is not due to psychological terror, but rather... that it's a part of her. It's simply who she is.
A crazy one.
The twenty-third round begins as Korone lays down the cards in front of the two opponents. Even more than before, the crowd is impatient and even Maruno, including Korone, can't wait to see how the next few rounds unfold. Because of Deshya's crazy behavior, they all understand that the poker game could end at any moment, so it's only natural that they're all on the edge of their seats. The first two cards of this round are as follows:
The ♣5 and the ♥10.
- It's impossible to get a straight or a flush this time..." thinks Korone.
She offers the three cards to the two players before turning her gaze to Deshya, without moving her head.
- I wonder if the way she plays is simply a defense mechanism on her part to cope with the defeat she was about to suffer or simply the way she normally plays…
Korone finds it odd that Deshya judged a shy hand at first, but started acting crazy afterwards. Is this the way to play poker? Is this the right technique to defeat her opponent...? Korone can't answer her questions, but she can observe the results of this technique: Deshya is still alive in this game. If she hadn't lost '500€' all at once, perhaps she could be around '1000€'. Since the twenty-first round has begun, neither Deshya nor Tessa are allowed to fold: they have to bet, even if they think they're going to lose. What's more, the minimum bet has been increased by a further €10 to €120.
Tessa and Deshya look at their cards: the round can begin.
CHAPTER 23
⎾The Red And Black Clash ; Devil⏌
Tessa sighs and promptly returns her three cards, convinced she can't do anything with them. Deshya keeps just one, which intrigues her.
- It's probably a pair, since it's impossible to have a straight..." she thinks.
She picks up her cards, but no sooner has she taken them than Deshya puts hers down. Tessa squints at her, her expression the same as most spectators. She plays with her hair and smiles. She doesn't say a word, which surprises everyone: she's waiting for Tessa to play.
- S-She…
Tessa hates this behavior... or rather, it frustrates her: not being able to understand Deshya's thoughts and the reason behind his actions is horrifying to her. Illogic is like her sworn enemy.
- She didn't even look at her cards!" exclaims Tessa.
Exactly: Deshya laid down her cards before she could even know their ranks. The only one she can know is the one she's kept on her person, but does she trust that card that much? Is it the one that gives her a pair of '10s... ? Tessa squints.
- The more I think, the more frustrated I get... She knows me. That's it, she's playing on it… Fuck, Deshya.
Tessa wants to get angry just as much as she wants to have fun. Even if she can't be convinced, she thinks she finally understands the logic behind Deshya's illogic. So it's highly likely that this is a real strategy for dealing with Tessa.
- Ya know I get frustrated quickly when I can't understand the logic of a person or a situation, so ya're playing on that... Ya want me to think in vain and get angry, which will prevent me from playing well, right? Ya make me nauseous, but at the same time, I adore ya!
Tessa thinks she finally understands Deshya's strategy and smiles, but what she doesn't know is that she's wrong. Sure, Deshya could do this, but she would never try to play in such a risky way that she would lose if she used this strategy. She wouldn't want to lose just to upset Tessa. The reality of this behavior is quite different: it's simply the way Deshya really plays. She doesn't mind losing, on the contrary: she wants to win.
But she hates playing without feelings.
Sure, during that poker game, she felt frustrated, but it wasn't an emotion that came from the game itself, but from a lack. This same lack is easy to understand: she felt nothing. She was playing the game far too simply and was simply trying to survive, not to win. She didn't see Tessa as an adversary to be crushed, but as her friend. She played without feeling the joy of winning, nor the pain of losing: she was empty.
When she realized this, she was finally able to free herself from the chains she had placed around herself.
She wants to win, that's for sure. But she also wants to feel emotions. To feel her heart beat with joy when she wins a risky bet, to feel her guts churn when she loses a large sum. Even as she approaches defeat, she wants to be able to smile, to feel the pressure of the game and to feel alive.
That's the kind of person Deshya really is. Despite all this, she has a certain limit: when she's in real danger, it's a whole different story. She values her life and that of others enormously, so she would never risk it without hesitation. Although she sometimes likes to taunt death, she would never play against the reaper if she didn't need to. When she was on the train with Tessa, Amora and Frie, for example, she would never take a risky gamble if she didn't have to. She would never have risked the lives of hundreds of people, including her friends, just to feel anything: for Deshya, life is not a game. Of course, she agrees with the saying 'We only have one life', but losing it means not being able to live afterwards. It's a logic that hardly needs debate, but you still have to understand it.
That's why Deshya can allow herself to risk everything in this poker game, because she doesn't have to stake her life on it.
However, Deshya herself doesn't fully understand herself. She believes that no life is at stake, but she completely overlooks a certain point. If she loses, Tessa will come to know the existence of her fox ears, as well as her five-month disappearance.
Tessa's life could be in great danger when she learns the truth. Deshya forgets this detail because of the emotions she's now feeling in this poker game, but if she comes back to reality at some point, then she'll get stuck again. Then she won't dare risk it all and will try to win at all costs while trying to survive: at that point, Deshya will lose. Whatever happens, Deshya will return to her reality and will no longer be able to concentrate properly. If the game goes on too long and Deshya notices, then Tessa will end their encounter victorious. The fox-eared girl's secret will be revealed to the one she loves. But that's not all. Deshya thinks she understands herself correctly, but she's wrong. In reality, this part of her is more present in her than she realizes... but she doesn't know it yet. It's with this ignorance that Deshya smiles at Tessa, daring her to bet any amount she wishes. Her expression leaves no room for the thought of defeat: she intends to win this round... and then this game. All she can see now is the summit in front of her.
- I won't be fooled by your shenanigans!" thinks Tessa as she places her three cards on the table.
She finally pushes her chips, which excites everyone.
- I bet '130€'!
A total of 26 chips, '10€' more than the minimum amount required! She's confident in her own hand! Deshya uncrosses her arms after a short hesitation and takes her turn: she's not giving up! She faces Tessa's challenge!
- I follow you.
She bets 26 chips in turn. Some people seem disappointed by this low bet: after such madness, they were expecting her to bet more than '200€'. However, Deshya plays it safe and pushes the equivalent of '130€', as does her opponent. Tessa grits her teeth, but immediately calms down.
- She doesn't know her cards, and she's not going to risk everything when she's not on the verge of death. Nevertheless, Deshya…
She goes to push her chips, but freezes. She stops in time and everyone watches her. They wonder at her sudden immobility and Tessa blinks.
- What do I do...? I've only got one high card and my highest card is a queen... If Deshya has a pair thanks to the card she's kept, then I'm going to give her back some advantage... I thought I'd calmed down, but am I still frustrated? I can't think straight or what?
She goes to move her hands back, but again a thought crosses her mind.
- But wait. What if she's bluffing? She doesn't even know her cards. She doesn't know what hand she has, just as I don't. She doesn't know if I've just had a pair or even a three of a kind in my hand. She only has €440, so she can't just bet either... I just have to bet and hope she quits! I've got more than '1500€', I've got the margin! Do you really want to play like a coward, Tessa?! You're going to play like Deshya played, like a chicken! You're going to win, so if you back down from her and give up, you give her '130€' for free!!!! Sure, you can't fold or you would have, but don't fuck with me!!!! Are you a woman or a wimp?!
She grits her teeth before deciding to push, which elicits shrieks of excitement from the crowd.
- I bet... '170€'!!!
34 chips join the army! A total of 60 chips, '300€' on the mat! She dares! Tessa doesn't flinch from Deshya's challenge !!! What's more, she doesn't ask to see! She leaves her opponent the choice of continuing to bet towards his misery or giving up and rushing towards defeat!!! Tessa may only have a high card, but only she knows: Deshya may believe she has a good pair, or even a three of a kind! It's not an impossibility, despite the hesitation in her gesture!
However!
- I bet '130€' more!
Deshya doesn't back down! She's not giving up! '260€' from Deshya against Tessa's '300'! If Deshya loses this round, she'll be down to '180€'! If Tessa wins, it could mean the end of the game! Tessa decides to bet straight away, without the slightest sign of hesitation.
- I bet '120€' more and I ask to see!
- She's asking to see!" wonders Maruno, surprised.
Nevertheless, the confidence in Tessa's eyes is real: she's convinced she's doing the right thing! She adds 24 chips to her 60, forming an army of 84! A total of €420 on her stack, against Deshya's €260! Tessa smiles as she looks at Deshya, even showing her teeth. Deshya turns over his cards with an amused look on his face and everyone watches. Her hand is—
THE ♠A!
The ♠10!
And the ♥J!
In short—
- A-Ah?!
Tessa falls back in her chair and grits her teeth. The crowd roars with excitement and joy, even despair!
- Thanks for the '420€', Tessa!!!
Deshya sticks out her tongue before laughing and, like a demon, snatches the lives of the 84 soldiers to place them on her side. Tessa hits the wall behind her with a firm fist and Maruno bends his head towards her.
- Why did you bet so much with a hand like that...?" he asks.
Tessa doesn't answer and continues to watch Deshya with an angry expression. Maruno sighs and squints.
- Why did you ask to see? She should have bet more, and if you'd won, you'd have finished the game…
- I have to admit that I felt like I was going to lose, so I didn't want to bet even more and put it back at almost '1000€', but I played dumb. Tsk.
Tessa returns her cards to Korone, cursing to herself in her head, while Deshya swings her head from left to right, happy to be approaching the '1000€' mark. Another '140€' and she's back to where she was at the very start of the game, the original amount. A total of 200 chips. Korone starts to shuffle, but this time the two opponents don't challenge each other's eyes. Although Deshya admires Tessa, the latter looks to her right, where the living-room window shows a glimpse of her glasses behind the closed drapes, trying to calm herself down. She regrets having dared to bet more, and Maruno was right: why asking to see so soon?
- Whatever happens, I won't ask to see it anymore," she decides. If I dare, I dare. I've got to take her down as soon as possible, so stop fucking around, Tessa.
She bites her thumb before Maruno tells her that the two cards are placed in front of her: in short, the twenty-fourth set begins without delay. The crowd can't calm down. The spectators are all wondering who will emerge victorious from this friendly encounter between Tessa and Deshya. All eyes are on the two cards.
The ♠5 and the ♦5!
- A pair of '5's!!!
- Right from the start, oooh!
- Once again, a pair from the start!
- OOOOH!!! A square?! A possible square?!!
- Ahahah, I don't believe it! I don't believe it!!!
The crowd roars and even Maruno lets out a few words. Korone looks at the two players: both smile as if they've seen a treasure. So the little girl offers them her three cards, all abruptly snatched from her gentle hands by the two adversaries. Korone brings them closer to her chest, watching them with surprise, but she understands their haste: if one of them manages to get a '5', or even two, then it's very likely that victory is certain for them. Tessa opens her eyes wide as she looks at her cards, but returns to neutral as quickly as possible so that Deshya doesn't notice the change in her expression.
- I-I've…
Tessa owns the ♥5. Her other two cards are the ♥J and the ♠3, so she decides directly to swap them, but she doesn't make the move before Deshya: she wants to pretend to hesitate so as not to make her opponent understand that she has a '5'. Deshya decides to exchange her three cards and thanks Korone when she passes her three more. Tessa smiles inwardly and offers the little girl two cards.
- I only keep one," she says.
As she waits for Korone to pass her due cards, she watches Deshya, taunting her inwardly. Although Tessa's holding a card can be seen as a strong possibility that she has a '5', she may also want to hold a high card, such as the king or ace: that way, even if she doesn't manage to get a '5', she'll at least have a pair with a high ranking card. Deshya lays down her cards before Tessa even manages to get hers.
- Whatever happens, whether I manage to get the last '5' or not, Deshya will only have four of a kind. The only way Deshya can beat my three of a kind is with a full house, but since she's traded three cards, I don't think that's going to happen. Sure, I managed to get three of a kind in a previous round, but I can't believe it'll happen again in the same game. Right now, I refuse to believe that this game is cheat-free.
Of course, Tessa doesn't believe Korone was cheating during this game, but she can't imagine the odds of having three identical cards in a poker game that's only lasted 24 rounds. Although Tessa still can't believe she managed to get three '8s' in one go during the tenth round, she's convinced it won't happen again. Korone offers Tessa the other two cards and she watches. She hopes for a full house, but it doesn't happen.
Because it has a square.
Her hand consists of the ♥5, the ♦J and the ♣5. In short, she has the only two possible '5's to get... and therefore has a square.
She has the best possible hand in this round. Whatever Deshya has, Tessa can't be defeated. She could bet her €1140 and never lose. She could even offer her house and everything in her possession that she would win. The square of '5', the best hand of this round.
- Victory assured!!!" exclaims Tessa.
She wants to smile and clench her fist above her head in joy, but she tries to keep a neutral expression on her face: if Deshya understands that her opponent holds four of a kind, then she'll only bet once before giving up. Tessa lays down her three cards without hurrying and waits for Deshya's decision. Whatever she does, Tessa knows she'll win, so now she has to play the way Deshya will come to bet as much as possible.
- I'll bet '€160'," says Deshya.
She pushes 32 chips in front of her, which pleases Tessa: she doesn't start with the minimum amount! The more she bets, the more Tessa recovers! The more chances she has of getting her as low as possible! She has to make sure that she bets as much as possible, that she doesn't give up until the end, and that her madness becomes the reason she loses the game! The same madness that has allowed her to live so long against her opponent will then become the reason she loses her entire army!!! Tessa pretends to hesitate before pushing her chips, in turn.
- I follow.
- I bet '120€' more.
As soon as Tessa's chips are pushed in, Deshya bets straight away. Not only does she continue this fight, she does so with the inability to see defeat in front of her. Tessa smiles so hard inwardly that a wry smile forms on her face. She does her best to hide it, but it's difficult for her: Deshya has to bet even more! Let her madness scream and bet everything she's got! Let's get this round over with! Let this poker game come to an end with Tessa bathed in applause!!!!
- I bet '150€' more!
Tessa pushes her army of 62 chips against Deshya's 56!
- Bet!!! Bet even more!!! Bet!!!!
Tessa orders her opponent to continue this fight, to bet and bet until the end: let this be the last war between them, because Tessa cannot be defeated! She holds the ultimate weapon in her cards, so she doesn't want it to end here! She prays that Deshya won't give up, that she'll decide to believe in her own hand and refuse to believe that Tessa could have a '5'!!! Tessa wants her to bet even more!!! Let her madness speak for itself!!!!
However!
- I give up.
Retreat! Escape! Deshya gives up this fight lost in advance!!! The spectators were holding back from screaming with excitement, but with this abandonment, they scream! Of joy or anger!!! Deshya has given up!!! She didn't dare, she didn't try all the way!!!! Deshya pushes the chips towards Tessa after recovering the two cards and her opponent pouts at her.
- Don't ya dare go any further?" asks Tessa.
Deshya smiles broadly.
- I'd rather not, nah.
- What kind of hand did you have?" asks Korone, having just picked up Deshya's cards.
- Eheh…
Tessa giggles before showing Korone her cards.
- A-A square of '5'?!!!!
- S-She couldn't be beaten !
- A sure victory!
- That's why she looked so happy in the end!!!!
Deshya rubs her bangs.
- Second time you've had a square. Lucky you.
- The Gods want me to win this game, I suppose," Tessa taunts her.
Deshya smiles as she closes her eyes and Korone begins to shuffle. Deshya counts her chips: she has 284, which means her opponent has only 116.
- I'm still in the lead... I've got to win it!
Tessa clenches her fists and watches the little girl with the long white hair, praying that luck will continue to bathe her and not Deshya. If she manages to win this round, then Deshya will have to bet the next and will most likely lose the game. Tessa will be able to find out what's behind her friend's hood, as well as beat her at poker! Although she really wants to know if something is really under her hood, what she really wants is to beat her. She has her own reasons, but Tessa doesn't want to lose to Deshya: she wants to be superior. To be better!
Korone stops shuffling and places the two cards on the table.
The ♣7 and the ♠A.
Deshya's three cards are offered to her by Korone's little hands before Tessa gets hers back.
The ♠7, the ♣Q and the ♥8.
- OH?!
Tessa wants to get down on her knees and thank the Gods: a '7'! She already has a pair! If luck really is on her side, by swapping her queen and her '8', she could perhaps get a three of a kind, or even a four of a kind! If she manages to snatch the two remaining '7's from the deck, then she'll still be the only one who can win this round! That would be a stroke of luck! She exchanges two cards and Deshya imitates her: both keep a single card in their hand.
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- If she also has a '7', then we both have a pair of '7s'. If she has an ace, then she beats me, but if I can get three of a kind, or even four of a kind, I'll have to win outright… There's no way I can make a straight, so I guess it's a pair she's got," Tessa reflects.
Korone gives her back her cards and Tessa thanks her with a smile before sighing: if one of her two cards is a '7', then she considers that she can't lose. She looks at the first one and—
The ♥7!
She holds a third '7'! She holds at least a three of a kind! Now, if she has another '7', she holds four of a kind. If it's an ace, then a full house! If it's anything else, it's still three of a kind! Tessa closes one eye and looks at her other card. This one is... Its value is... Its rank is…
- Please, a '7', a '7'...!
She prays! She prays to the Gods who have been bathing her in their light and luck since the beginning of this game! She's convinced they want her to win, so she mustn't disappoint them! A '7' and she can't lose! Deshya will never have three aces, so Tessa prays!!! She implores the Gods to give her the card she wants!!! A '7' and that's it!!! A '7' and Deshya will have to eat defeat!!!
HOWEVER!!!
It's a ♥J that shows itself to Tessa's wide-eyed!!
Neither a 7, nor a full house! The Gods have blessed her with one card, not two!! Nevertheless, Tessa doesn't sigh. Although she keeps a neutral look on her face, she smiles inwardly: although she's slightly disappointed not to own a four of a kind or a full house, she's very happy with her three of a kind. Thanks to this hand, she can only see the victory in front of her. If Deshya has kept a '7' in her hand, then she only holds a pair and can never defeat Tessa. If it's an ace, then she'd need luck to receive another ace, which she refuses to believe: she's the one blessed by the Gods in this game, not Deshya. She's going to seize victory and crush her opponent. Tessa puts down her cards and drinks from the bottle, since she's been sweating for a while. Although she sees the light shining brighter and brighter for her, the pressure of this part begins to take effect on her body. She pulls her sleeve over her mouth after finishing her bottle and cracks the back of her neck: it's her turn to start the betting. This sleeve won't accept a bet below '130€' and of course, Tessa can't lie down. It doesn't take her long to decide how much she's going to put down.
- I bet '150€'.
30 chips go to war for her. Tessa could have bet more, but she doesn't want to discourage Deshya: she wants her opponent to bet as much as possible and fall into the abyss as low as possible. She didn't bet enough in the previous round, so Tessa wants to make sure she bets again and again. After a moment's thought, Deshya decides to call. 30 chips against 30.
- Eh.
Tessa smiles and quickly looks around at the students in her living room. They all get excited especially when Deshya bets, so she wants to steal some of that excitement. She wants them to scream for her too, so Tessa challenges Deshya and bets…
- I bet '270€' more!
54 chips join the front line! 420€', 84 chips that go to battle! Tessa smiles broadly and challenges her opponent: 'Come and beat me! She asks him to come and steal her money, but that's not going to happen! Tessa trusts her cards! Her three of a kind will beat Deshya no matter what! She believes it!!! She totally believes it!!! Deshya opens her mouth, but closes it straight away. Tessa feels her own heart racing in her chest: will she succumb to the pressure and give up directly? Will she gamble even more, refusing to back down in the face of this challenge? Will she run away? Will she go forward? What will Deshya do?! The crowd stops shouting and turns to Deshya. She bows her head. She looks at her own tokens and finally opens her mouth, but with alarming slowness. Will she give up?!
- …
She mumbles, but no one can hear what she's saying. Tessa doesn't believe it: doesn't she even dare say she's giving up?! Has her madness come to an end and the burning flames of her mind disappeared, smothered by the lack of air? Has the pressure finally reached her and Tessa wins this psychological battle?! Tessa smiles, but Deshya looks up.
And with an amused look, faces Tessa.
- I BET IT ALL, I SAID !!!
- WHAT?!!!!
- A-All?!!
- Are you serious, Deshya?!
- She's doing it again! She's doing it again!!!
- Waaa!!! Waaaaa!!!!!
- Deshyaaaa!!!!!
- Tessa!!! Don't let it get to you!!!!
The cries are so loud and numerous that Tessa can't understand what they're saying. She can only watch as Deshya's tokens move forward like tanks off to war, unafraid, fearless, no doubt!
The whole Deshya army! Her 116 tokens are at the front, all sacrificing themselves for their general!!! They believe in her!!! They don't tremble!!! They're convinced they're going to win!!!!
- You want to bet more, Tessa?!" shouts Deshya, smiling.
Tessa was speechless at his reaction, but her shock quickly turned to another emotion: joy. She was happy. Yes, she's so happy: Deshya has just let her madness speak again... and for the last time!!!!
- Naaaah, ya wanna see my cards, don't you?!" replies Tessa with a smile.
- Then show them, Tessa!
Tessa laughs as she turns over her cards and slams them against the table with such violence that her chips shake. Everyone turns to Tessa's hand.
- T-This...!!
- Ooooh!!!
- Three of a kind! Three of a kind!
- Tessaaaa!!!
Deshya looks wide-eyed at Tessa's three cards. She has a set of 7s... A hand that exceeds even a 'two pair'. Korone grits his teeth.
- Why did you bet it all, Deshya?!" she screams inwardly. T-Tell me you've got a better hand, eh...?
However, Korone notices the expression on Deshya's face. Maruno squints and Deshya lowers her head with wide eyes. She clenches her fists and catches chips in them.
- …
She says nothing. Tessa stands up and shakes her hair, giggling. Some in the crowd are already celebrating victory, while others are trying to accept defeat. Deshya opens her mouth, but nothing comes out. Maruno asks her if everything's all right, but she nods with a tired smile.
- I should have known…
She closes her eyes and Korone doesn't hide her shock.
- Deshya just... lost?" she wonders.
Deshya sits down gently and Tessa stops laughing, finally calming down. She shows him her white teeth behind her victorious smile and shrugs.
- We can't all be lucky, ahah.
Tessa sits down in turn and Deshya sighs.
- You're right…
She shrugs her shoulders in turn before slowly raising her gaze. She looks at Tessa and blinks slowly…
Before showing her a devilish expression.
- You're out of luck, Tessa.
Deshya turns over his cards in one go and the two basic ones, including Tessa's three, fly into the air. The chips start to shiver with fear and all the spectators open their eyes and mouths wide. Korone even leans back in her chair and Tessa observes Deshya's cards…
- W-W-W—?!!!!
She can't even finish her sentence. The Deshya cards...! The hand she's holding...!!! Tessa feels her heart stop, time pause!!! Nothing moves in her world! She can't look away from the Deshya cards!!! No one can!!! Deshya throws a token in the air and laughs.
- I should have known, Tessa.
The black token falls to the floor and stands in front of Deshya's field of vision, as if replacing Tessa's head... before grabbing it with a brusque, almost aggressive hand. Tessa steps back in her chair and time resumes. Deshya lowers his fist and continues to show her a diabolical, almost inhuman expression.
- I should have known that I would NEVER lose to your cards!!!!
Because Deshya also holds a set... but a set of aces!!!! The ♦A and the ♥A!!! So Deshya wins this twenty-fifth round! She bends over her head and hugs the 84 chips she's just won. Once again, she passes Tessa's soldiers to hers. Korone doesn't even think of retrieving the cards, shocked by what she's just witnessed. Not only has Deshya pretended to have lost, she's let the seconds pass only for the moment when she reveals the truth to everyone to turn the whole atmosphere upside down.
- She's... Has she done this to break Tessa?!" wondered Korone.
The little girl turns to the purple-haired teenager, who is biting her lower lip so hard it's starting to turn red. Her set of '7s' has been defeated... by her set of aces.
- No wonder she bet it all... She's crazy... She's nuts... We're back at the beginning…
Tessa looks at her chips: she has 200... and so does Deshya.
1000€' against '1000€'. A tie. A return to the first round. The initial sum. Korone picks up the cards after Maruno wakes him from his thoughts and Deshya plays with a chip, whistling. The background noise of students sweating and talking to each other is louder than ever and Korone finds it hard to mix, his mind having just gone through several emotions in the space of a few seconds. Maruno finishes his water bottle and goes to get one for Tessa and himself before Deshya finishes hers. However, she doesn't ask Maruno to bring one back for her and continues whistling. Tessa clenches her fists.
- She does everything to make me angry... She does everything to make me the one who is psychologically beaten... Deshya…
She clicks her tongue and crosses her arms: Tessa can't believe Deshya has made it this far, but she continues to believe in her victory. She thought she'd been bathed in the luck of the gods, but now she understands that it was just an illusion: it doesn't exist. In this poker game, it's Deshya against Tessa; the Gods are mere spectators. She's been lucky, but that doesn't mean she's received any blessing from anyone. She has to believe in herself and not rely on divine help: after all, Tessa doesn't really believe in it. She got carried away when she noticed her incredible luck. Korone finishes shuffling and all eyes are on her: they want to know which cards will come out of her hand. Now that the sum of the two opponents is equal and Deshya seems to have recovered psychologically, although she's still crazy, they're all wondering if the next round is going to be the last. Korone swallows loudly, noticing that everyone is staring at her, and puts down the two cards one by one.
after another. And here—
Just like the third round, the cards just released are the ♥10 and the ♥A.
- Straight flush…
- Royaaaaale!!!
- Oooooh!!! It's like the third round!!!!
- A royal flush or nothing!
- Even a color, imagine! Imagine!!!
- Aaaaah!!!
It's madness in the living room. Korone offers three cards to both players, shaking his head in disbelief: once again, a royal flush is possible. Is it luck, or is it just normal poker? The little girl doesn't know, but she plans to find out after the game... Does she have lucky hands, or the opposite? However, she remembers that the original dealer was Maruno, not her.
- Please, a good card!" begs Tessa.
She observes them, but... No possibility of a royal flush, or a straight flush at all... so impossible to get a straight either. Not only is she out of luck on these hands, she notices something else: none of her cards have '♥' as a suit, so she can't even hold a single card and hope for a flush. Anyway.
- I'm swapping all my cards!
At the same time, both opponents pass their entire hands to Korone while shouting the same thing. They stare at each other before smiling broadly.
- Eeeh, interesting!" blurts out Tessa.
- Which of us will be the luckiest, Tessa~?" asks Deshya.
The tension is real and Maruno starts drinking from the bottle. Korone first offers three cards to Deshya and then to Tessa. All the spectators pray that one of them will miraculously get a royal flush. It would be a grandiose stroke of luck, but given what they've witnessed during this poker game, it no longer seems impossible. Deshya and Tessa look at their cards for a few seconds before placing them face-down on the table. They look at each other before Deshya begins to smile.
- I bet '200€'!
She pushes a total of 40 tokens without the slightest hesitation into his eyes and shakes her head gently to put her hair back correctly. Tessa returns her smile before shrugging her shoulders and pushing out some chips of her own.
- I'm with you, Deshya~!
200€' against '200€'! They believe in their cards! They challenge each other with their eyes and their voices! They say it to each other! They let their opponents know they're going to win! Deshya has no fear! Tessa has no fear!!! They fight!!! They won't give up !!!! Deshya must now choose: how much is she betting? How much does she believe in her hand? Only she can offer answers to these questions! Everyone wants to know how the round will continue: will she call? Will she bet more or less? Deshya closes her eyes and takes her time to think. Tessa waits impatiently, ready to answer her bet.
- Go ahead, keep betting '200€', Deshya. I'll win this round, I'll take all your money. Go on, go on! Come on!" thinks Tessa.
The living room is now silent. Even the students in the crowd have fallen silent. Deshya opens her eyes at last and looks at her opponent with her blue eyes. A second passes. She doesn't make a move. Two seconds pass. Deshya opens her mouth. Three seconds pass. She closes it again... but smiles. Four seconds pass. Deshya finally makes up her mind.
- I bet…
She'll say it. Korone thinks she'll bet '200€' more if she's confident, otherwise '130€', the minimum possible. Now that Deshya has managed to win a good profit, it is certain that she has regained her confidence. So she dares to bet several hundred euros. Tessa waits patiently, her gaze fixed on Desha. How much will she bet? More than €200? Less? How much does she believe her cards? What's she going to do? The tension is intense! The atmosphere is oppressive! The wait is unbearable! They all want to know! What will Deshya do?! What has she decided?
And then she says it.
Her decision is :
- I BET EVERYTHING!!!! ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING!
200 chips!!! 1000€' in one go!!!! Deshya bets absolutely everything she owns!!! She laughs as she pushes her chips, she faces death as she grabs it by the collar!!!! She moves forward!!! She advances!!!! She advances!!!!!! The crowd erupts in euphoria!!!! Even Maruno starts shouting, and Korone slams her fist down on the table.
- W-What's she doing?!!!" she exclaims inwardly.
While it's not the first time Deshya has made such a decision, Tessa grits her teeth as she clenches her teeth.
her fists so hard she hurts herself. She's done it again! She's bet it all again! She doesn't believe in defeat!!! Deshya taunts Tessa and insults her with her decisions!!! She's not cold-blooded, she's not afraid, she doesn't know fear!!!! It's madness in the living room!!! Everyone is screaming with excitement, patting the floor, shouting Deshya's name and cheering Tessa on. It's an incomprehensible mess!!! The flames of Deshya's madness are burning everyone in their path! They're so hot that Tessa's sweating like she's just run a marathon! Breathing is complicated! For Tessa! For Maruno!!! For Korone!!! For everyone!!!! She bet it all... and that with a smile!!!! Deshya risks everything on this round even though she has 200 chips, the initial amount!!!! If Tessa doesn't give up, the game can end in this round! On this twenty sixth hand! Tessa stands up, pounding the table with an angry fist, and stares at her opponent, frowning.
- Ya do it again!!! Ya're doin’ it all over again!!! Don't ya care about losin’ that much, ya crazy bitch?! Ya think I'm gonna let that slide, huh?!!!! Ya think ya're the only crazy one in this room?! I'm gonna win!!! I'm gonna win!!!" she screams at the top of her lungs.
- Fight me if you dare, Tessa!!! Come on, fight me!!! I'll win! I'll beat you, you'll never beat me!! My secret will remain sealed under my hood!!! I will win! You will lose!!! Come on, dare!!! Come on, be the woman I know!!!! Prove you're a genius, Tessa!!!!" Deshya replies mentally.
They smile at each other, eyes wide open.
- I WILL CRUSH YOU!!!!" they roar at the same time.
Their determination is so powerful, so violent and so intense that even without uttering a single word, anyone watching can understand what they're thinking: victory! They see only victory in front of them!! Losing is not an option!!! Losing is their death!!!! Tessa smacks the table with her palm and laughs before opening her mouth wide. She says it!!! She answers Deshya!!! She makes her decision!!!!
SHE FIGHTS IT WITHOUT FEAR !!!!!
- I BET EVERYTHING TOO, DESHYAAAA!!!!
SHE DOES IT!!!!!! SHE BETS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING SHE OWNS!!!!!! '€1,000' AGAINST '€1,000!!!!! 200 CHIPS AGAINST 200 CHIPS!!!!! THE LAST ROUND OF THIS POKER GAME!!!!!
- OOOOOOH !!!!
- TEEEEEESSAAAA !!!!!!
- DESHYAAAAA !!!!
- YOU WILL WIN !!!!
- YOU'LL CRUSH HER!!!!!
- DESHYA!
- TESSA!!!
- LET’S GOOOO!!!!!!
The students scream and even Korone starts shouting. It's a party! It's euphoria!!! They can't sit still!!! It's the last round of this game!!!!
Their entire sum against each other!!!! Whoever wins this round will be the winner!!!! This twenty-sixth round is the last, the last, the last!!!! They scream as the flames of Deshya and Tessa's determination burn absolutely all!!!! They're sweating!!! They're sweating!!!! Will Deshya have to reveal her secret or will Tessa have to give up the search?! Who will win?!! Who has the best hand?!!! Who has been blessed by the Gods for this final round?!!!! Even they, from their cloudy seats, are screaming with excitement: nobody knows what's going to happen!!!! The universe itself has no idea who's going to win this round of poker!!! All attention is on them. They want to know! What are their cards?! Who will crush the other?!!! Who will win the other's 200 chips?!!!! They all want to know!!!! So they grab their cards. They turn them over. They slam their deck onto the table with such force that the chips fly off. It's Deshya's three cards against Tessa's! Only one person can win this round and this game!!!! Only one of the two opponents can be considered 'victorious'!!! The other will lose!!! The other will have to accept defeat!!!!! So everyone turns to their cards.
Tessa holds the '♠A'! She has a pair of aces! The best possible pair!!! If Deshya only holds a high card or a lower pair, then she loses! If she holds better, then she wins!!! Everyone turns their gaze to Deshya's cards. Will she win? Will she lose?! What does she have?!! A better hand or not?!!! The crowd continues to roar, it's a real cacophony in Tessa's living room!!!! They all open their eyes wide. Tessa can't believe it.
Deshya... Deshya...!!
Deshya holds the '♣A'! She also has a pair of aces!!!!
- AAAAH !!!!
- PAIR OF ACES AGAINST A PAIR OF ACES!!!!
- LOOK AT THE OTHER CARDS!!! HAVE A LOOK!!!!!!!
They're screaming!!! They can't calm down: it's way too late now!!!! 1000€' against '1000€', pair of aces against pair of aces !!! Who?! Who will have the highest card between them ?!
Tessa has a '♥3'. Deshya has a '♥2'. However, it's not the cards that count. If they have the same highest card, then Tessa wins this game!!! If Deshya holds a higher card, then she will win!!!! Who?! Who has the best card between them?!!! It's impossible to breathe in such an atmosphere: their flames burn everything!!!! It's impossible to escape!!!!! The room is burning hot, they feel the heat of their determination!!! They only see victory in front of them!!!!
- I'M GOING TO WIN!!!!
- I WILL BE THE WINNER!!!!
Deshya and Tessa look at their opponent's third card. This is the moment that will decide everything! Whoever wins this round, whoever wins the other's 200 chips, whoever gets their opponent's '€1000', whoever emerges victorious from this room... that person is...!
Deshya?!
Tessa?!!
The person with the best card is...! This person is...!!! Tessa has a '♦J'! And Deshya, she…
She has—!!!!!