Princess Usagi
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「決着!犬追物、そして⋯」 (Ketchaku! Inuōmono, Soshite⋯)
“Settling the Score! A Dog-Shooting Competition and Then…”
That was some riveting action today, with some pretty epic moves on Tokiyuki’s part with the flee and aim move, otherwise known as the Parthian Shot. The Parthian Shot is a perfect example of how running away can actually control the outcome, flipping the tables- if you’re the pursuer, there’s no-where to go but into the oncoming arrows- unless you turn tail as well. Tokiyuki grabs the win with a shot knocking Sadamune down and another shot to the ear in revenge for the shrine maiden (even if the ear was an unintended bonus lol).
Team Suwa/Hojo may have won the battle, but they have not won the war. Sadamune sees to that- uncowed by his loss, he returns the next day with an eviction notice. Now, Sadamune is really putting our crew’s evasion skills to the test. All of the Suwa supporters have to get up and leave, which is obviously bad news. As Yorishige rightfully pointed out, they can’t very well stand up and fight- they’re not ready yet. So, what are our elusive warriors to do? Why, steal the edict, of course- the enemy can’t do anything without a piece of paper. That’s a super duper ballsy move- Tokiyuki’s spit take was pretty much my reaction too. Yorishige has shown from day one, that if anything, he’s not afraid to drop the Hojo lad right into enemy territory. This is one hell of a fun game of cat and mouse, dangling Tokiyuki right in front of enemy noses without them realizing it and stealing from under them. I don’t know how much longer that will last, however- Sadamune seems to be putting two and two together, which only ups the ante further.
Which leads us to our latest Elusive Warrior candidate- a skilled sneak-thief and face changing boy named Genba (Aoi Yuuki). His predecessor left him with a shape-shifting mask (except for tell tale ears haha) and the admonition that he is to trust no-one, the only thing that won’t betray you is money. Not only is Genba good at his job and money-hungry, he’s a spiteful little bloke. If you don’t pay up, he’ll treat you to piss and cockroach mixed rice. His methods are, well….but I can’t blame him for being pissed for missed payments- he has every right to demand that money. It is precisely this boy that Yorishige recommends for the dangerous job at hand.
Genba certainly wasn’t joking about money. The amount he’s demanding is roughly my monthly rent times 100. I could live in my place for a little over 8 years with that money. Pardon me while I pick my jaw off the floor. Tokiyuki’s reaction was no less surprising- “You’re only asking for money, not land, how unselfish”- I had to laugh. I suppose that’s the kid of a noble family for you.
The scene with the angel and devil on Genba’s shoulder was highly entertaining. It is indeed a conundrum- paying up now hedges your risks, you at least get something, but with the potential of kicking yourself down the road when you might have gotten more. Just ask the record companies who turned the Beatles down. What it boils down to is Genba’s least favorite word- trust. How much does he trust Tokiyuki to come through this ordeal and stick to his word. Choosing to place his faith in Tokiyuki essentially means choosing aside and that’s practically an allergen for someone who prioritizes self-interest above all else. Furthermore, knowing that Genba is like this- should Tokiyuki trust him? I say should rather than can, because Tokiyuki certainly seems like he will trust Genba based on Yorishige’s word. The one gamechanger I see happening here is Tokiyuki and Genba’s shared background of betrayal and skill in evasion, not to mention age, they might be able to bond over these similarities which could improve dynamics somewhat.
The negotiations over, it’s right down to business- Genba’s one condition is that Tokiyuki accompanies him. If Genba seriously thought Tokiyuki would chicken out, he knows nothing about the young lord yet. Things seem to go smoothly at first. Genba’s illusionary Sugawara is so convincing, it even throws Tokiyuki for a loop, and leaves some enamored guards in his wake with the gap moe (that whole “I want people to think I’m cute” scene was hilarious). A wrench- and a giant one at that, is thrown in the gears with the super sonic hearing guy who picks up that something’s not right. With Genba still in the (windowless) storehouse, taunting Tokiyuki with his own face, it looks like there’s no way out. This isn’t Tokiyuki’s first time at the “no way out” rodeo, so it’s really more a question of “how”, which always ends up being entertainingly unpredictable.
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