A Deep Blue conspiracy

"Ugh, this stuff really doesn't wash off," Mimoko frowned as she stood in the shower.

"That's the point, you gotta stay blue for a day or two," Daria grinned from behind the door.

Mimoko pouted, but had no choice but to deal with it.

Surprisingly enough, Mimoko was one of the only members of the Japanese team aside from Azenira to be dyed blue. As for the latter, she had not gotten back up to full capacity, resulting in her losing a match and getting dunked. Though t looked as though she'd likely be back in top shape in time for the 7th round.

In the men's rooms, Okisato sat around anxiously, waiting for Ginji to show up. Despite all the festivities that had occurred, Okisato hadn't forgotten about his primary objective of confronting Ginji about his actions throughout the tournament. However, the minutes continued to tick by with no sightings of Ginji.

"Perhaps you should try again in the morning," Ryonosuke suggested.

Okisato decided to wait for just a bit longer, but when that proved fruitless, he threw in the towel for the night and headed to his room.

...

In the early hours of the morning, Ginji giddily skipped through the hotel's outdoor courtyard. He looked as though he was in his own little world, but he was completely aware Okisato was about to confront him. Nonetheless, he giddily skipped past Okisato as he stepped forth.

"Oi, you really planning to piss me off further?" Okisato snarled.

Ginji stopped and turned around with a bashful smile on his face. At this moment, he held all the cards, and could choose to run off with them if he so pleased. But today, he felt like slapping one of them down.

"I got a grudge against you. But we both knew that."

"And that's the reason your sabotaging us?"

"Oi, oi, Oki-chwan, sabotaging the oni-tiger" is an easy clout mine within the Desperado league. I wanna be a bigger dog than I already am."

And that right there would have sufficed as a viable response from Ginji to explain his motives. Sure they were petty and vain, but they were perfectly on brand. However, Okisato wasn't stupid.

"What's the REAL reason you're going so far to sabotage us so badly?"

Ginji relaxed his face and simply smiled. "What you think it is."

"Oh, so then it is related in some way to the death of Kana Tanabe."

The mention of Kana's name caused Ginji's muscles to briefly stiffen. His face did return to normal, but it was too late, Okisato had gotten a hit.

"Tch, Oki-chwan. You know why it's dangerous to dig into conspiracy theories? If you do, the ones you're digging up the theories on will come to kill you, or worse. You're only being so bold because of who you are, but what if I said this grand plan will drag others in, and you won't be able to save them. Try digging into that one! There's plenty of hard bedrock between it to keep you from reaching it easily," Ginji snarled as he turned and stormed away.

Once out of sight, Ginji let his anger take over his face. "Damn shit. He's more perceptive than I thought. But I can't risk him spoiling this. The future of ILU is with Deep Blue," he thought.

As for Okisato, he was unable to make sense of what Ginji was hiding. Being aware that a greater conspiracy was in the works was vital information, however, he had the faintest idea on what it truly entailed.

"He said he was going to target the others. I'd like to see him try. I have confidence most if not all the members of both Japanese teams, barring him, could mate his ass three ways to Sunday. He must feel confident thinking he can sway me into making rash emotional decisions, but now I'm calm. No matter if he throws the match before even moving a piece, I won't let him mess with me anymore throughout this tournament!" Okisato thought as he headed back inside to get breakfast.

Little did he know that he was underestimating both how nefarious the plan Ginji was in on was, or how grand it's scale was. A dark shadow, or rather a Deep Blue one, was looming over the tournament.