Tsumugi Tsukioka/The Footsteps of Winter

The King of Rock Paper Scissors

Backstage Stories

Part 1

Manager	Drum roll, please! Finally, Mankai Company has all four of its sub-troupes! Congratulations are in order. Sniffle... despite the hard, tear-filled days with that demon debt collector breathing down our necks, we've finally assembled a full team of young, talented rapscallions!
Tasuku	Rapscallions?
Tsumugi	Are we included in that description?
Homare	What a novel expression.
Azuma	If you think I look that young, why don't you join me in bed tonight?
Manager	Oh, goodness. Ahaha. You're making me weak in the knees.
Izumi	You sound like the old one here...
Tasuku	Hey, Azuma, I'm pretty sure this guy would be down for sleeping in bed with you. Just look at him.
Hisoka	...Zzz.
Azuma	Naturally, I've already tried him out. Next would be either Tsumugi or you, director.
Izumi	Me?!
Tsumugi	Um, I think I'll have to pass...
Tasuku	He's obviously kidding. Don't take everything so seriously.
Tsumugi	Sorry. I didn't mean to.
Tasuku	........
Azuma	Hehe. I don't particularly mind taking things seriously, you know.
Izumi	(What is this conversation??)
Tasuku	So, why'd you call everyone out today?
Izumi	Oh, right! That!
Manager	We wanted to divvy up the training hall between each of the troupes.
Tsumugi	Divvy it up, you say? I'm glad we have a fair shake at it despite being the last troupe to form.
Azuma	How do you decide who gets what?
Izumi	With a game of rock paper scissors, of course!
Tasuku	Rock paper scissors...
Manager	The winning troupe gets first pick of spaces, so each troupe must select a representative.
Tsumugi	Who should we pick?
Homare	Hehe, clearly this is a job for the first and foremost genius of Winter Troupe--me.
Tasuku	Now hold on a moment.
Homare	Tasuku? Let go of my arm!
Tasuku	Tsumugi, you go.
Tsumugi	Huh?
Izumi	Tsumugi?
Azuma	Huh? Why did you pick him?
Tasuku	You'll see. Tsumugi, this is rock paper scissors we're talking about. You know you're the only one we can rely on here.
Tsumugi	Are you sure...?
Tsuzuru	Come on, have you guys still not picked?
Tenma	Hurry it up.
Juza	... I'm gonna win.
Tsumugi	Oh, sorry. I guess, I'm... representing Winter Troupe.
Izumi	(Oh no, poor Tsumugi's the only one who doesn't seem particularly confident...)
Tasuku	With this lineup, it'll be easy as pie.
Izumi	What are you talking about?
Tasuku	Just watch.
Manager	Okay! Let's settle this right away! I hope all four of you will demonstrate good sportsmanship.
Tenma	Let's get this over with.
Tsuzuru	Yeah. Ready? Rock, paper--
Tsumugi	I'm going to throw paper.
Boys	!!!
Manager	Oho! Tsukioka threw out scissors while the rest all chose paper! We have a winner! Winter Troupe gets first pick!
Juza	Dammit! I couldn't get paper out of my head!
Tsuzuru	Me neither...
Tasuku	You haven't gotten rusty at all.
Tsumugi	........
Tenma	Wait, he totally played dirty!
Tasuku	You could take on Tsumugi head to head and he'd still wipe the floor with you.
Tenma	Yeah right.
Tsuzuru	Tsukioka, would you mind playing me?
Tsumugi	If you're sure.
Tsuzuru	Rock, paper--
Tsumugi	...scissors.
Tsuzuru	?! I lost... but how?
Tsumugi	Your eyes are your tell, Tsuzuru.
Tsuzuru	My eyes?
Tasuku	Tsumugi majored in psychology, so he's very good at reading people. And very good at rock paper scissors, too.
Homare	Hm, what a fascinating skill you have there.
Tsumugi	It's not really anything special. When I said I was going to throw paper, it was sort of a last-ditch effort more than anything. But if I can see the slightest movement in my opponent's eyes or hand position...
Tasuku	Then you have about a 98% chance of correctly predicting their move. At least as far as I know.
Izumi	I think that's a pretty amazing technique personally!
Hisoka	...Cheater.
Azuma	Oh, good morning, Hisoka.
Hisoka	Zzz...
Izumi	You woke up just to say that?!
Tenma	Oh come on, that's not fair! I want a rematch but with anyone but Tsumugi representing Winter Troupe!
Manager	Now, now, you all agreed to be good sports about this.
Tenma	What?!
Tsumugi	I'm really sorry Tenma.
Tenma	Ugh, don't sincerely apologize like that...! Makes me feell all mean.
Tasuku	I knew you could do it. You should've been more confident from the start.
Homare	Tsumugi is the king of rock paper scissors.
Tsumugi	Thank you very much.
Izumi	(...But in order to ensure equality within the dorm, the king of rock paper scissors was barred from future participation in matches. The end.)

Rumi