"This game is an Officiating Committee Original!" Yomozuki shouts to the crowd as they awe in wonder. "It's called 'Sending Poker,' and here's how it works!

"Each player gets five cards, and you're allowed to exchange cards for new ones, and then you bet until an agreed amount is reached, just like regular Poker! However," Yomozuki pauses for dramatic effect, "after you bet, you are then to swap two of your cards to your opponent. You must swap two cards!"

The crowd murmurs to each other, contemplating the game mode. I guess Yomozuki really did make up a new game for us, because I have never heard of this version of Poker, and, by judging Yumemite's demeanor, neither has she. I look at Yomozuki. She is a mere 4 feet tall, despite being a high school student, and she and all of her subordinates wear a similar orange jacket.

"If there's no objection to this game," Yomozuki announces, "this game will now begin!"

Yumemite looks like she's about to object, but ends up abandoning the notion. Two girls with jackets whose names I've never learned gives us our chips. I look at the obverse of one of the thirteen chips I received, and see a "10,000 man" (A/N: 100 million yen) printed on it. I've never played with such a high denomination chip before! It's certainly going to be exciting. I look over and see that Yumemite's stack is much larger than mine.

"Let's begin round 1!" Yomozuki cries as the crowd cheers for Yumemite louder than ever before. I look at the back of the auditorium to see Yumeko, Mary, Ryota, Sumeragi, and Shinohara watch anxiously.

We each pay a one chip blind and we get five cards each. After exchanging three of my cards, my hand doesn't end up too well- a pair of twos. However, Yumemite is more likely to give me a weaker card, meaning she's more likely to give me 2s or 3s. I also have a three in my hand, so I keep the two 2s and my 3 and plan on giving my other cards away.

Yumemite smiles as she puts down an extra four chips as a bet. The crowd gasps in shock. The bet is already at 500 million yen. I call, eliciting an equally loud gasp from the crowd.

"We have now finished the betting! Now it's time for the card exchanges! Please swap two cards! Also, there's no need to keep them face down, so you can just give them up."

I give my two other cards to Yumemite, which were a 7 and a 10. Our faces both seem to light up as we got our cards. I pick up my cards and put them into my hand to see that Yumemite gave me another 2 card- I got a three of a kind!

"It's time for the showdown!" Yomozuki announces as she motions for us to reveal our cards.

Yumemite has a two pair of 7s and 9s, while I have a three of a kind of 2s- I win!

"Congrats, Kokoro! You win the pot!"

Yumemite stares at me with malice as the crowd erupts into cheers. Perhaps they came around to me, I guess. I haven't really said anything, but I guess I proved I'm a match for Yumemite.

"Now," Yomozuki shouts, "let's get on with Round 2~!"