Stop Right There (before battle)
And here comes the final round. You all keeping a good eye on your chips?
Hm, I'm all in.
… All in?
Ooh~ Dealt a nice hand, huh, Rodya?
Hah~ That swagger of yours's been rubbin' me the wrong way the whole way. You lose this round and you're out, y'know that? The hell are ya countin' on?
I'm the kind of gal who goes for the climactic flourish of the final round wager.
……
Not so fast. Pull your sleeve up. Don't think I missed your little sleight-of-hand there.
The heck's your problem?
You just put one of them wish stickers you got from the Tingtang bossman on your arm.
That's why you went all-in on the chips this round - so you can nab the Golden Bough for yourself. Can't fool me.
Lookee here, all! Right 'ere 'neath her hand, this thing. 'S got to be the sticker, ey?
… Can ya back it up?
Sorry, Rodya, but can I take a look at your wrist for a second?
……
Oh no, you ain't! Don't you touch 'er. Far as I know, you two might be in cahoots.
Nooow, I'll lay 'er arm bare, so keep your eyes peeled, aight? I knew this sly little fox would play dirty.
Wait, something about this whole situation... this exchange... it all feels oddly familiar. Am I having a déjà-vu?
You sure are small-minded for such a big hunk of metal, huh? Why are you being such a nitpicky asshole about this?
Didn't they teach you that with stolen Wishpower comes strict responsibility?
… You've been watching too many movies. What stolen Wishpower?
And what if you're wrong, huh? Gonna fold and forfeit the game?
Hah, you've got guts. Fine, I'll bet all my stakes that there's a piece o' the Wishpower on your wrist. What do you say?
Same as yours, which means it's gonna be either you or me. So ask yourself this: am I feeling lucky? Well, do ya, dickhead?
Pahahahah! Oh that's cute. And I'm the one who watches too many movies? Anyhoo, our wager's final, ey?
Oh my… It's just like in that - I think I know where this is going…
Here goes, the moment of truth~
……
Wuhuh? What's going on 'ere?
I saw it. I saw the little fox rub 'er wrist! There's - there's no way…
That means you're out. What a pity.
What happens to the loser, then? Lop off a hand or something?
You're joking, right, Rodya? What's the point of removing a prosthetic hand?
No, this is… This can't be right…
The defeated will be shown generosity, but false accusations need to be taken care of with more finality.
Hang on, are you…?
[DEVELOPER COMMENT NOT TO DISPLAY]
……
Gweh… What in the…!
Holy crap, that came in like a car crash! Couldn't you have put a blinker on for a warning or something?!
Ugh… Look at all the grease and spinal fluid… *gag*
Remember, Rodya? It's that same trash compactor from our Backstreets' junkyard.
……
Remember what I said back then?
That we proletariats must unite and take down the ruling class and build a new society.
I even remember your reply:
"If you mean we should round up the rich and flatten 'em under one of those compactors, then I'm all for it."
… Small correction: I said "crush 'em 'til they pop."
… Is that so.
Rodya, are you still unwilling to return to the Yurodiviye?
I…
We all heard that loud slam just now, right?
I sure did. After a quarrel about… Wishpower and the like.
What? Did they catch on? Oi, quit spacin' out and try turnin' that clock.
Gosh, Can you stop pushing - Ahhh!
Huh, woah - ?!
Unfortunately, the door we were leaning against was a flimsy wooden frame covered with rice paper...
... and we all tumbled into the room as the door fell.