Blackjack
'Plus one,' Tezuka thought as his father dealt the deck of cards. 'Minus one, plus one, neutral, plus one, plus one, minus one,' Tezuka continued to count the card in his head. The pile of growing cards ceased to grow and a deeper voice rang clear.
"What's the count?"
The young woman next to him slouched, "Dude, I lost count ten cards ago."
The older man let out a huff of air, "Don't call me that and Kunimitsu, the count?"
"Plus fourteen," Tezuka sat up and stretched his arms.
The man nodded, "At least someone's learning something."
The woman rolled her green eyes, "I get it, Daddy, geez."
--
The same woman laughed gleefully as the dealer laid the card for all to see, "Blackjack!" She collected the large mountain of chips by her and laughed again.
"Aw, you sure you ain't never played, miss," An older man asked next to her. He eyed her warily as she hurriedly collected the earnings.
"Beginners luck," She said before rushing off.
--
"Stuff it Packey," Kuniharu Tezuka ordered his son. Tezuka sighed and unbuttoned his baggy jeans.
"How much do we have?"
"Over 240 grand, quickly," He whispered and shoved the money down the eleven year old's pants. Tezuka supported himself against the wall of the bathroom stall. "Where are the bands?"
Tezuka pulled out six bands and Kuniharu tied them around his ankles.
"The money shouldn't slip. Remember: act casual."
--
Tezuka's heart pounded against his chest as he went through security. The machine didn't beep and he played it cool. Kuniharu nodded to him in approval.
--
"You have to stop this," Ayana told her husband sternly when they got back to their Vermont home.
"We'll stop…when we go to Japan."
--
Three years later
"We'll be having a competition! The game is blackjack! Step up and play!" Ryuuzaki-sensei said over the loud megaphone.
Sakaki was already at the green table as Atobe, Yukimura, Inui, Sanada, and Fuji sat down. Tezuka sat in the last chair available.
"Tezuka? You know how to play?" Yukimura asked in surprise, he never thought Tezuka would know how to gamble.
--
Sakaki gaped at the mountain of chips Tezuka collected.
"Neh, Sakaki-sensei, blackjack," Tezuka said as he nodded to the cards on the felt.
"How did you do that?" Atobe croaked as he looked at him.
"Addition," Tezuka shrugged and ran a finger along a stack of blue chips.
"You counted!"
Tezuka let a brief smirk flicker over his face as he looked at the shocked coach. "Aye," He pushed the cards forward. "Another round," He placed three chips before him.
--
"Blackjack again," Tezuka said as he collected another round of chips.
Ryoma was at another table that was recently set up. The game became an instant hit among the tennis players. The boy wonder leaned back and crossed his arms behind his back.
"I'll have to go now," Tezuka said and he took the chips and went over to Ryoma's table.
Ryoma took a sip of Ponta, "That's sweet." Tezuka blinked before placing a large wager.
Half way through, Ryoma ran a finger through his bangs and stared across the large room.
Fuji smiled even wider and came across to the table.
--
"Cut it three-way then," Fuji suggested.
"Tezuka, Tezuka, Tezuka," Ryoma shook his head. "Buchou, how are we going to spend all this money?"
Tezuka shrugged as he looked at all the cash in the wheelbarrow.
"We should ask Atobe."