act12side

The proprietor, Arraz, started it from nothing. Gave it everything he had to make it on this street, and got the place to where it is today.

The powers on the streets around all want it for themselves, but nobody's got the teeth to break through his bones.

Excellent.

You wait here.

May I ask if you're here to drink, or to play a hand?

To play a hand.

T-Tough lady we got here...

Q-Quick, call the boss!

Miss, I don't care who you are, but you're too big for your britches, all alone and rowdy in a place like this.

Cut the drivel. Deal.

Quads. Heheheh...

Straight flush.

How?!

You're awful at palming cards.

Miss, I'll admit you might have some real skill...

Can we speed this up? Draw, already. I'm in a hurry.

Grr. It's go time, boys!

Well, I did familiarize myself with her...

But this is the way the Rat King's daughter does things.

Where's Lin Yühsia?

You're here, Miss Ch'en.

That bunch ran after they couldn't handle Miss Lin. She went to chase them down.

Which way?

That way, towards the beach.

Got it. I'll go check it out.

They sprint fast, I'll give them that.

Lin Yühsia, what the hell are you doing?

Ch'en Hui-chieh? What are you doing here?

I'm the one asking you.

Gah, where'd this nutcase pop up from? We can't beat her, we can't shake her off.

Boss, what do we do?

What else? Keep running.

Hm?

Is that... where they're hosting the scrimmage prelim?

Heh, perfect. We're going in!

Found them.

No time to babysit you right now.

Hold it!

There you are.

You even found us here?

Hmph. Good thing we've got plenty of help on hand.

Guys, let's go!

Where are we...? Isn't this the Smash Splash place they mentioned on TV?

Grr. I guess we'll have to clear the field first.

I gotta say, Missy, we've been in this city for days now, and I haven't once seen you up to meet Miss Lin.

After all that talking about how you'd sneak up on her and scare her lights out.

You want an ice cream?

I'll take three scoops. Mint, strawberry, chocolate.

You're gonna get so fat.

A triple, boss—VANILLA, strawberry, chocolate. And a quadruple, those three plus lemon.

Sure thing.

Who's gonna get fat now?

Lin Yühsia went through government channels, nothing like us. You're riding my coattails to get the VIP treatment.

And I gotta say, I think the dummy's still probably on her way here, hahaha!

Vacation won't end any time soon. Let's enjoy the wait.

Shitty rat, sneaking her way into such a nice vacation spot. When I find you, you're done for.

Hey, Missy. Don't forget what this vacation cost you.

It's all my annual leave plus a month of one-day weekends after I get back. Isn't that it? It's fine, I'll be fine.

Once you include my vacation days to keep your trouble in check, yeah, that's it.

Oh, jeez, I'll pay you back later.

Sure, sure.

Hm?

Uh?

Huh?!

Wha-? Did you see her?

Not just Lin Yühsia. Someone you'd never guess with her.

Who the...

Haah?

Careful with your ice cream! You're gonna drop it! Hey!

Hah... how the hell did this happen?

Huff... pant... finally found you.

Weren't the two of you pursuing them? Why are you here in the Smash Splash now?

If I didn't spot you on the TV back in the streets, I would've missed you.

It was an accident.

Well, now what? Are you going to team up and enter the championship?

I was going to enter, but not with her.

There's a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing.

Ch'en Hui-chieh, you're free to pick a different prelim.

No can do. This one is the very last one.

I guess it's time to settle who's the bigger woman.

I'm sorry to have to tell you, half the city is watching through their screens, right now.

You might as well enter together. It'll be good to have each other's backs, too.

...Fine.

Alright. I'll help you out.

After all, I'm your guide. If she heard you joined and I was nowhere around, the Mayor wouldn't let me off easy.

I might not be as strong in a fight as you two, but I'm still a local. I'm sure I can be of assistance.

Will they let us bring a plus-one?

Sure. Team size limit is seven. As long as you complete your registration before the official championship, even finding teammates after winning is fair game.

To be honest, it's a competition where more teammates net you a greater advantage.

One more beats one fewer. Any complaints, Lin Yühsia?

Suit yourself.

We're still two days out from the official start. You're allowed to go recruit more.

No need. We'll go with us three.

Excuse me, er, you two, can I ask you to head up on stage?

Add one more. We're three total now.

Alright, let's give our prelim winners the greatest round of applause!

Have you come up with a name for your team?

How do you figure?

You decide.

Then we're calling it... LUNG wRATh. All caps. Except the 'w' and 'h'.