Okame Ruins the Boys Card Game

I’m really proud of myself, just when I think it can’t get any crazier, I up my game. If breaking into the MaMA was a horrible idea with a bunch of consequences that ultimately may not be worth it. This one was definitely an idea that could lead to injury, defamation, or at the very least property damage.

It was a plan in five parts.

“Alright I’m done with the meeting, I think I annoyed him with my positive attitude, but I didn’t really lie so he couldn’t do anything. He said he’ll be in touch if they have any further questions. It was nice seeing him again, he asked me to come back saying the association was going to be much different. We talked about the old days, but then he tried to flirt so I left. I’ll text you if I see anything.”

Ms. Hiyori’s cheery voice on the other side of the phone was reassuring.

Part One of the plan: Ms. Hiyori would go to the Magic and Monsters Association and meet with President Sukimoto. She's a concerned citizen and an eye witness on the incident involving the Hyottoko and the Dodo. Using her old connections with him, and her good looks we bet that he would make time for her.

It wasn’t illegal to own a monster of low or great rank, and she would claim that I was helping her reclaim her domesticated monster. A noble deed for a platinum rank hunter. She would also try and find out if lady-doctor Kawaguchi was currently in the office. Once done she would sit at the café across the street and report if her or President Sukimoto left the building.

Number two: The getaway car.

I would PERSONIFY Ms. Hiyori’s truck that she used for the convenience store: allowing it to move and speak. Find a place to park it near the Kawaguchi’s residence. It was a very nice truck, good manners. I’d have to meet Ms. Hiyori’s dad because if he had the same humor as this truck, he would have a joke off with Hyottoko.

I looked up into the sky to see a large creature emerging from the cloud line.

“Radio tower this is flight seventy-seven coming in hot.”

That was Hyottoko on the other line.

Numbers three and four, and probably the most reckless part of the plan.

Okame would use herself as bait using her transformations and tricks to lure an elite rank monster towards the Kawaguchi residence, while Hyottoko guided one from the opposite direction to form a monster duel around or even on top of the Kawaguchi’s house. There were a few Platinum ranks guarding the house, Kei and Ms. Hiyori thought they would use a high rank relic to keep Daichi restrained. Whatever asset he was keeping from them it was worth a pretty penny to keep security like this up for two years.

“This is Okame and a frog, we’re coming in slow and steady.”

Okame’s little phone voice was so cute. Hyottoko was still a monster, but Okame was just a girl to me. Sorry boys, I am a girl’s girl I can’t help it.

Finally, Number five: Getting Kei out of the house.

Odd-Ball and Keisuke would find a way to get Keisuke to take a step outside of his house. I didn’t know why Odd-ball was involved in this but Keisuke ensured me he was a necessary part of the plan. He had been staring into the eyes of the flightless bird ever since, holding the dull-eyed bird in front of him. Mumbling and eyeing the dodo like it was some kind of oracle.

“Talk to me Odd-ball, tell me your secrets!”

“Doo-ah Doo-ah!”

Hey it takes crazy to beat crazy. If it got him out of the house, I would kiss that dodo. I thought number five was the part that was most likely to fail oddly enough.

I looked up to see Hyottoko coming down towards the house, he had a cowboy hat on and was holding the reigns on a Kite-Dragon monster. He had brought it down from the mountains from quite a distance. Down the block, Okame was running holding what looked like a tuna over her head. She was baiting a large Fishing-Toad monster that was living along the coastline.

Keisuke had located both of them, he had honed his magic sense to an unthinkable range while he was holed up inside. He called it essence projection. He combined it with his radio and online-forum use. He had a few correspondents over the radio that verified and added to his findings. He said essence sense had a lot to do with your essence type. Claiming that Captain Kawakami with his cloud essence could probably reach the same prowess as him, but was already a natural and too lazy to bother to improve.

Secretly, I knew that Kei was probably just an obsessive nerd with an essence that made the President jealous enough to call him his rival. You shouldn’t compare yourself to people like that.

I exited the vehicle and set my sights on the Kawaguchi’s house.

“Alright stay silent and out of sight Truck-Kun, we’re all depending on you.”

“Yes ma’am!”

Said the truck with a low horn-like voice.

In front of the house were the three platinum hunters on security duty, and whether it was my luck or their misfortune; I recognized them. Thor, Resize and the Hatman from my rank evaluation were lounging in front of the house. They were supposed to be stationed on opposite sides, but the three were calmly seated on the large porch playing cards. The Hatman had a card dealer’s visor on and was shuffling.

“Another round boys?”

“There’s nothing else to do.”

“I wanted to play daifugō!

“We need you to learn poker man, you’re in your mid-twenties.”

“It’s a classic game, what’s wrong with daifugō!”

Resize was clearly losing that argument, but at least they weren’t paying attention.

“How many people you know bet on daifugō!”

“You’re just mad I always win!”

“Hey guys, shut up.”

Thor stood up, looking around. I guess he had the best essence sense of the three.

A burst of wind rattled the windows and the bushes as the kite-dragon noticed the presence of the fishing-toad.

“Monster attack!”

“From the left as well!”

The kite-dragon roared, and landed on the roof knocking lose a few shingles. There was a large belching sound from the side of the house as the frog asserted its dominance. The other two stood up, the Hatman’s card visor disappearing. Essence began clumping around the boys.

“Should we attack or let them duel?”

“If they destroy this house and the people inside get critically injured, you can kiss your holiday bonus goodbye.”

“Got it.”

Resize finished chanting his spell.

“MAXIMIZE”

Thor began growing to about the size of the house, coming up just below the roof. He had finished his chant as well, summoning a hammer made of lightning. They all hurried around the side of the building. The Hatman now wearing an auctioneers hat. He began yelling loudly and quickly, his voice amplified by essence.

“Evacuate, evacuate! This area has now become a monster hunt-zone. Evacuate, Evacuate, this area is now a monster hunt-zone!”

He circled around the side of the building, Thor jumping up to smash the kite dragon with his hammer like a giant bug. The Kite dragon began to rise back up into the sky. The fishing-toad, now in range surged with essence, a long and skinny tongue, sprang from its mouth and hooked onto the end of the kite dragon. The reel on it’s back spinning as the kite dragon was pulled back onto the roof, causing a small cave in.

“Well I think that went well.”

A cheery voice appeared behind me. I was never so glad to hear it. Hyottoko was holding Okame in his arms.

“We did it!”

I clapped Okame’s outstretched hands.

“Great Job Okame.”

Hyottoko gave me puppy dog eyes.

“Yeah you too I guess.”

With Hatman now on the other side of the building, and Resize and Thor taking care of the monsters. The security was occupied and the entrance to the house was clear.

“Okame, we need you to go wait in the car okay.”

“Got it.”

She scurried away to where truck-kun waited. I took a deep breath and turned to Hyottoko, who was stretching and cracking his knuckles.

“So shall we walk in through the front door?”

“It’s the easiest way in?”

“After you M’lady.”