Akagi (アカギ)

I would have never expected this.

Never...

My plan was to settle the match in the fifth game.

But...

I never expected Washizu to get that lucky.

Yes, pon!

Pon.

Ron.

No, even more impressive was that pon-chi volley they did to stop Akagi.

This kind of luck really doesn't come to ordinary people.

I was so close.

Just one more step and I would've had my prey.

I've played Mahjong with so many people, and I always came out alive.

But this is a first.

I couldn't bring him down like I thought I would.

The next is the last.

The sixth game.

I can't even imagine what kind of fight it'll be.

This is unknown territory, even to me.

But if I survive this, too, I might understand.

I might understand what on earth I was looking for when I entered this match.

Episode 8

Washizu Mahjong

Washizu Mahjong.

These are the tiles used.

Three of the four tiles in each suit are transparent,

making their faces visible even from the back,

and only one is a regular tile with a black back.

No walls are built in Washizu Mahjong.

Tiles for the starting hand and each draw are taken from a hole in the middle of the table,

wearing a leather glove on the right hand to prevent feeling which tile is grabbed.

Once the starting hands are drawn, the dealer draws one more tile from the hole.

This is the dora indicator.

The same applies to reverse dora and new dora from kan,

which are drawn from the hole when the need arises.

If Akagi can survive through six East-South matches with these rules, his side wins.

Should he die before then,

he will lose all that he had amassed up to that point,

and victory will go to Washizu's side.

1000 points = 1 million

The rate is set at 1,000 points being worth 1 million yen,

or 100 cc of blood.

1000 points = 100 cc of blood

It's a one-on-one match between Akagi and Washizu.

At the end of each East-South match, points are tallied up, including rank bonuses.

Additionally, bonus payments are due every time a direct hit

or a tsumo win causes points to trade hands between Akagi and Washizu.

These payments are made immediately, in cash or blood.

This is the essence of Washizu Mahjong.

Washizu Mahjong

Sixth Game

Start of East Hand 1

All right!

Starting as dealer is a perfect. You get to carry over your luck from the fifth game.

Not bad at all...

He's got two character melds and a pair already.

It's a good hand to ride out this wave.

I wonder how Washizu is doing...

Sorry to say, but his hand looks like a mess.

That hand will take a while.

Sorry, but East Hand 1 goes to us.

Akagi has the advantage.

That's the feeling in the air.

However, Akagi himself did not see it like that.

Washizu made that play at the end of the fifth game...

That was when he came back to life.

And if that's true, then the luck isn't with me right now.

It's with Washizu.

Then to get the ideal situation for an upset would have been to be the last dealer.

And yet, I get dealer at a time like this.

Right now, that's the lot I've been dealt...

My tiles look favorable, but there's more than meets the eye.

This south wind dora that the heavens have dealt Washizu and me.

If I don't discard this south wind, my hand won't advance.

It's the heavy chain binding my feet.

On the other hand,

Washizu's hand is steadily advancing.

By the eighth turn, their prospects at the start have reversed.

He's ready to overtake Akagi.

Pon.

Ron.

Just pinfu.

Hey.

Bring me a cool towel.

Yes, sir.

This is bad.

I thought he'd win this one easy.

No, we've got head wind right now.

Huh? What?

Luck is still on your side.

No.

I've got to take the proper steps right away, or I'll die quick.

What?

Actually, even if I do that, I might just die.

What's wrong?

This isn't like you.

What are you whispering about?

What is it?

Do I have something on my face?

That's right.

It's time to start sprouting.

What are you talking about?

You'll see.

Sixth Game

East Hand 2

The situation is the same.

On the seventh turn, Akagi is one tile away from a san ankou.

At first glance, it looks like a favorable hand, but in truth, it's too heavy.

On the other hand, Washizu's attacks are nimble.

Pon.

Pon.

This is bad.

The other side is fast!

Pon.

Ron.

Red dragon only. 1,300.

That was a close one!

Sixth Game

East Hand 3

Washizu still hasn't noticed the signs that the game favors him.

And even Ougi has no choice but to notice it.

His starting hand is terrible.

His luck is getting worse and worse.

His draws are bad, too.

I guess you were right. The tides really are turning.

Now what, Akagi?

On the other hand, Washizu has no useless draws.

By the fifth turn, he's in tenpai.

Not the best hand, but I am in tenpai.

I'll go for a riichi.

A winning draw for a riichi, tsumo, iipeikou will get me 2,000 from everyone.

No. Don't rush.

You can't kill that monster with 2,000 points.

That's right.

Now is the time to keep a cool head and exercise self-control.

Take a good look.

With another east wind, this hand could be a double east wind san ankou tenpai.

With either a 5 or 7 of circles, I've got a guaranteed san ankou.

And there's still a chance of adding another 5 of characters dora into the hand.

It has potential!

This hand still has a lot of potential!

I'm going to wait.

At least until I get another han.

I have time.

His hand isn't in order yet.

I'm going for a tsumo.

A tsumo that can kill Akagi.

Chi.

Pon.

A bamboo honitsu tenpai.

Or at worst, he may be one away from tenpai.

Akagi, your hand is a mess!

What are you collecting all these black tiles for?

It's a bluff.

He's collecting the black tiles to put the squeeze on Washizu.

Is this the only way he can stand off against Washizu's luck?

And does he honestly think Washizu is going to be believe this obvious bluff?

He broke his tenpai.

Why?

He can't honestly believe that Akagi would have this many black tiles in a sequence!

We're saved!

He would have won with that 6 of circles.

We made him get a bad draw. Now you just have to get through this.

If this 2 of bamboo goes through,

I'll be back in my san ankou tenpai that I was going for...

If I declare a riichi and draw the east wind or the 7 of bamboo,

my hand will be worth more than a mangan.

I really want to get rid of this 2 of bamboo.

Damn it.

I would have won!

With a san ankou!

It slipped away.

Once is bad enough, but a second time?!

Wait a moment.

This isn't the absolute worst.

The winning tiles are coming to me like tsunami waves.

I've got luck on my side. Would I be drawing them otherwise?

Twice? My winning tiles?

No, no. That's not right.

Don't be misled now.

In order to get into tenpai, I would have had to discard the 2 of bamboo,

his most probable winning tile.

I would have been in tenpai,

but the tile I need to discard would have lead to his win.

My luck is categorically bad.

That's where I am. I must not be misled...

The 5 of bamboo dora?

I break it again and again, but it keeps reviving...

What's more, every time, it's a better hand than before.

A tsumo san ankou, and now with dora, too.

One reverse dora and it'd be a haneman.

Pon.

What? No way!

A pon means...

That he wasn't in tenpai?!

Which means...

that if I hadn't backed down, I would have won.

With that 3 ankou mangan hand from before!

This brat is screwing with me!

I was misled... By those calls,