Sus happenings and assholes aplenty

While Iori's game played out, Mimoko managed to reach the spectator area where she found Xiu happily lounging on the bleachers.

"Oh, you picked a bad time to show up. Simein just swept China, meaning you just missed peak cinema," Xiu snickered as she took notice of Mimoko.

"I know. I got there just as things were wrapping up. But if you saw things from start to finish, care to enlighten me on the finer details of the match before I seek them from Noa-chan herself?" Mimoko glared as she crossed her arms.

"Not much to talk about. That Noa girl humiliated Xiao Lin, and after that, everyone else just collapsed like a stack of dominoes. But man, my team losing never felt so good. And to balance it all out, the guys got an easy victory thanks to the Spanish Inquisition not showing up on time."

As if on que, Francis, Franklin, and Franko appeared.

"NO-body expects the Spanish Inquisition... to forfeit on time... Who forgot to turn on the alarm clock!?" Franklin fumed.

"Um, maybe it was a ghost?" Franko shrugged.

"Oh sure, a bloody ghost fucked with us and made us late! Human intervention is to blame!"

"Then why not say one of the Chinese players snuck into our room to mess with it? I heard the world champion's been in poor form, so maybe they did it to get an easy win," Franklin suggested.

"Then prepare for a diplomatic row," a voice snarled.

Everyone turned to notice a woman in a red China dress with half her head shaved and covered in a dragon tattoo, sitting behind them.

"And who the bloody fuck are you?" Francis scoffed.

"Wu Yunzhu, president of The People's Republic of China. And you clowns are?"

"'Clowns'!? You're the one with the white face paint!"

"Heh, grab the popcorn, cuz three fools bout to go-"

Smash!

Everyone stared in horror as Yunzhu kicked Xiu into the plexiglass barrier, bloodying her face instantly.

"Disgraceful. You laughed as our country women fell, while you yourself are on suspension. Disgusting. I'll have you shave your head in repentance and receive 1,000 lashes upon your chest and back each!"

"'Rashes'!? Where!? I'm fit as a fiddle, I tell ya. Or is there a rash on my ass?" an old barefoot man with white hair and beard, clad in overalls and a cowboy hat grinned as he danced over.

Upon noticing Mimoko, he immediately went up to her and began sniffing her hair.

"Smells good. You use them lavender scented corn pop brand?"

"EW! GET AWAY FROM ME, CREEP!"

Mimoko managed to skirt away from the man, yet his eyes stayed laser focused on his pray.

"What a disgrace, you never should have been reinstated as president," Wiley growled as he approached everyone.

"Maestro Frisch? You know this man?"

"Sadly. This is Moe Rydon, the 46th president of the United States of America."

"The president? But didn't Pewler-"

"He scammed me! He said he'd be president, but then he died sky diving into the Grand Canyon. But the courts finally ruled I could stay on as president again until my term ends in January," Moe smiled.

"Meaning 4 more months of your senility and gaffes embarrassing our country," Wiley scowled.

"You're 60 years older than me, boy."

"I'M 60, YOU'RE 80! Ugh, damn the Supreme Court for their sick joke of a ruling."

"My apologies, but could the Americans take their politics elsewhere? I have some discipline to inflict," Yunzhu snarled.

"Diss track? Like the one I made with that wrapper, Skillteles? You know, the guy who beat up Corn Pop?" Moe grinned.

Mimoko decided to take her que and exit, moving further down the bleachers. Yet to her surprise, she ran into none other than Nyoan, dejectedly sitting all curled up with her tail meekly waving around.

"Nya!? Oh, just you, nya."

"What are you doing here? I thought you were trapped in the other world."

"I escaped, nya! Nyow I'm back, but they won't let me play in the tournament, nya!"

"Well, it kind of makes sense. You'd need to join a team, and with the tournament already half-over, there's just no way you can just join a team, even one that doesn't have 4 members."

"But how else can I see Kuon-sama, nya!?"

Track her down after the match?"

Nyoan pouted, but nodded her head in agreement. This was a solid strategy, however, it was not a viable one. The night before, Nyoan had attempted to track down Kuon, but upon doing so, was stopped by Elenora and Agatha.

"Sorry, but Kuon doesn't want to be disturbed, even told us to make sure you don't bother her," were the words Agatha had told her.

However, Nyoan was unsure if those words truly reflected Kuon's will, which is why she sought to confirm things directly.

"If I could roam the floor, they wouldn't be able to stop me from approaching Kuon-sama, nya."

"Still seems farfetched. You can't talk there, except... when giving a check or checkmate. But you'd never get that chance. The United States is one of the top teams, so even if you could join a small team last minute, there's no chance you'd even get paired against her, and even then, Kuon could choose to sit out even if your team hypothetically managed to play against hers."

"Nyagh, I'll come up with something- THAT'S IT, NYA!"

A worried look spread on Mimoko's face as Nyoan let loose a mischievous smile before scampering off. Trouble was about to strike.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, you filthy cat!" a woman with elf-ears and a blonde mohawk fumed as Nyoan scurried past her.

"Never the animal lover. Now to the bus. We have business to take care of," a woman with elf ears and short violet hair smiled.

While it wasn't her business to be curious, Mimoko at the very least scanned the two with her WWCF card, but that only led her to a mysterious rabbit hole. "New Zealand's Kymber Ælfflæd and Ermengarde Æbbe. Hmm, both their games from this round seem kind of odd, in fact, the entire New Zealand team's does. Why were they all going for quick draws, with some outright resigning in won positions?"

As Mimoko pondered that, a red-haired girl clad in a plaid jacket, skirt, beanie, black leggings, bra top, and tan boots suddenly plopped down next to her. "Hey girl, whatcha lookin' at?" she asked.

"Gah! Oh, sorry. Just the New Zealand vs Canada match."

"Funny stuff, I tell ya. Those girls were looking awfully sweaty, as if they just HAD to leave. Not like draws are uncommon, but playing for a draw instead of a win? Lame stuff."

"You talk as if you played them. Are you from the Canadian team?"

"Righty-o, name's Gwen Smith. Vancouver born n' bread, DSPCM there too."

"A DSPCM?"

"You bet. Though I think ya met Justin before, and Grizzley too, right? They had nothing but praise for thwarting that vampire's plan."

"She's a vampire slayer? Let's film her touring some haunted castles then!" Francie grinned as she sat down on Mimoko's other side and wrapped her arm around her.

"And just who are you?"

"Um, Francie Derring? From down under? Come on, you were at Streama festivalen, right? I was there too!"

"Then we missed each other. Now if you'll excuse me, you bringing up that event just made me unwell, so I need to return to my room."

"Guess we'll tag along then. We're heading back to the hotel too."

"Maybe I'll stay-"

"Come on! Don't try n' avoid me! Gwen, come and help me escort her out."

Gwen nodded and along with Francie, got on each side of Mimoko and began nudging her forth.

"Ugh, it's always the weirdos that coalesce around me. But then again, I don't want to be here when Iori-chan wins, as knowing her, it will be a spectacle," Mimoko thought.

The three made their way out to the buses and managed to get back to the hotel around the same time Iori won her game. However, a new world of trouble was about to befall Mimoko.

As soon as she stepped off the bus and tried to head off on her own, a rag was suddenly pressed into her face. Mimoko struggled but to no avail as she slumped down to the ground, unconscious.

"Ara ara, to think our favorite hostage would return so easily," Sorcha giggled as she hovered over the unconscious Mimoko.