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Four of a Kind
Poker tutor Maki Gamou glanced at the cards Nagatoro dealt her.
Two kings. Not bad.
She needed all the willpower she could muster to hide her excitement after Nagatoro dealt the three-card flop—a two, a king, and another king.
Holy shit, that's four of a kind!
Yoshi pointed at the two resting next to the pair of kings. ""Hey, I have a question. In this kind of poker, am I allowed to use my ace like a one?"
"Yes, you can," Gamo replied. She didn't add, "But the odds on making that straight are astronomical." She double-checked her cards. Says the girl holding four kings.
Gamo counted her chips. She had 130, 40 less than Nagatoro's pile. "I'll bet fifty." She pushed in five stacks of ten.
"I'll call," Nagatoro said instantly.
"That's too rich for my blood." Yoshi tossed in her cards.
"I don't like where this is going either." Sakura tossed in hers.
Nagatoro dealt the fourth community card, also known as the turn.
An ace. That's interesting. Gamo quickly worked the calculations in her head. Since there's no way to get a straight flush from those community cards, the only thing that can beat me is four aces.
If Nagatoro held two aces and the river card turned out to be an ace, Gamo-chan was screwed. Then again, the odds on Nagatoro getting four aces was astronomical.
About as astronomical as me getting four kings.
Then Gamo remembered what Yoshi had just asked. "Can I use my ace like a one?" The only card that could beat Gamo's kings lay safely in the discard pile.
Woo-hoo!
Gamo suppressed her fist pump. If Nagatoro was holding two aces—and the odds of that were astronomical—Yoshi just told everyone she had the fourth ace. Gamo had the game in the bag with one hundred percent certainty.
What are the odds of that?
It seemed too good to be true but, in poker as in life, crazy things can happen. Lady Luck was smiling down at her.
This hand is mine. Now the question is, can I maneuver my way into winning it all?
She needed to bust Nagatoro. Which wouldn't be easy since her opponent had a forty chip lead. But there was a way, if she played this right.
"I'm all in." Gamo pushed in her chips.
"My ass you're all in," Nagatoro said. "I think you're bluffing."
Gamo silently maintained her poker face.
Nagatoro bit her lip and eased her hands toward her chip stacks. "If I lose this hand, I'll still have forty chips to play with."
"You'll get to hang out in the basement with us again," Yoshi chirped.
"Oooh, this is so tense." Sakura bent forward. "Whatcha gonna do, Hyacchi?"
Nagatoro pulled back her hands and groaned. She looked at her cards. Then she studied the community set.
"What if I make the pot sweeter?" Gamo said. "I'll do a Texas Dare."
"What?" Nagatoro squinted.
"Look at it this way, you've really got nothing to lose. Once you're down to forty chips, it'll be easy for me to finish you off."
"If I fold, I'll lose some chips, but not nearly as many."
"That's true. But I'll still end up with twice as many chips as you, and I'll probably beat you anyway."
"What kind of Texas Dare are you offering?" Nagatoro asked. "You want me to make you do the One Punch Man workout outside in your underwear?"
"Point of order," Sakura said. "When she loses, she's got to pay up, before you do any kind of special dare."
"That means," Yoshi added, "this chick will be zip-tied and naked."
Nagatoro's lips formed an evil smile. "I'm liking that picture. Okay, how about this? If you lose, you have to walk a loop around Circle Park, at the end of a leash."
Gamo smirked. "Zip-tied and naked?"
"Technically, as the victor, I should be able to dress you however I want. It's not like I can make you any more naked than you'll already be."
"No, Hyacchi." Sakura wagged her finger. "I know what you're thinking. Don't even go there. None of this kinky dildo, nipple clamp, and vibrator stuff. You're picking up way too many kinks from that artist."
Nagatoro groaned. "Okay, how about we specify no pain or penetration?"
"None of the above, you pervert. Hang on." Sakura walked to the kitchen. "Let me write this down."
"Why?"
"Because I don't trust you." Sakura retrieved a pen and paper from the counter and wrote 'Maki Gamou — Terms of Defeat' on the top of the page. Then she wrote:
Part 1. If she loses, Gamo first pays off the Texas Holdem round. Which means:
- She loses all of her chips, hence all of her clothes.
- She gets zip-tied and bounced from the round.
- She has to pay the consequences.
Part 2. Next, Gamo pays off the Texas Dare. Which means:
- In her conquered state (see Part 1, nothing more, nothing less)
- Gamo will go to Circle Park where,
- Nagatoro will lead her, at the end of a leash, once full loop around Tohatsu Lake.
Sakura slid the sheet in front of Gamo. "How does that look?"
"Is that really necessary?" Nagatoro asked.
"I have no problem with this." Gamo grabbed Sakura's pen and initialed the bottom of the sheet. "What do you say, Hyacchi? Do you have the balls to call me, or don't you?"
"I know you too well," Nagatoro countered. "You only do this stuff when you have the nuts."
"Wimp."
Nagatoro checked her cards and stared for a while at the community pile. "This opportunity is way too good to pass up." She shook Gamo's hand. "Okay, you've got a deal."
###
Gamo flipped over her cards and chuckled. "You know me really well, Hyacchi, and you're absolutely right. I wouldn't make a bet like this unless I knew I had the nuts." She pointed to the ace in the community pile. "So it follows that you're holding two aces because I know you wouldn't take the bet unless you thought there was a chance you could beat me."
Nagatoro turned over her two aces and tapped the deck resting in the middle of the table. "So what's keeping me from getting that fourth ace?"
Gamo leaned back, crossed her legs, and intertwined her fingers behind her neck. "Okay, everyone, here's another important lesson. I know I always say this game is about the odds, but obviously, that isn't all. You've got to constantly be on the lookout for clues that'll help you win. A sideways glance, a stiffening spine or, in this case, an errant word. It's impossible for you to get the fourth ace because Yoshi threw hers in the pile."
Nagatoro reached for the river card.
Gamo put up her hand. "Before you deal that last card, there's one more lesson I want to share with everyone. When you've got the nuts, you've got to go for all you can. I could have simply gone all-in and doubled my pot, but I talked Hyacchi into agreeing to a Texas Dare so I could totally clean her out."
Nagatoro murmered through gritted teeth. "Is 'have no mercy' another thing you learned from my dear older brother?"
"It is, actually. Okay, I'm done lecturing. You can deal the last card now."
Nagatoro barked, "I'm not dealing until you put your chips on the table. Are you shy?"
"She has a point," Sakura said. "You still need to buy your chips to call her."
"Okay, Hyacchi. I'll grant you your consolation prize. You got the Queen of Poker to strip butt-naked. I suppose that's a win of sorts." Gamo removed her bra and panties, took two stacks of chips and a zip tie, and pushed all her chips opposite Nagatoro's. Then she stood fully nude at the edge of the table with her arms crossed under her breasts, her hand clutching her zip tie, and her eyes focused on the deck.
Yoshi picked up the two cards she'd earlier discarded. "You know, Gamo—"
"Look, Yoshi. Before you tell me what I did wasn't fair, you've got to remember, 'all's fair in love and cards.' You use the clues you get. Maybe next time, don't talk so much?"
"You know, Gamo," Yoshi repeated. "When I asked you if I could use my ace as a one if I need to, I was asking hypothetically. I didn't say I had an ace." She flipped over her cards, revealing a three and a four, the other side of the straight.
Nagatoro dealt the final river card, an ace, and slid her two aces next to the two in the community pile. "Four aces beats four kings."
Gamo's jaw dropped. The color drained from her face. "No way."
Nagatoro rose and snatched the zip tie out of Gamo's hand. "Turn please." As her brain struggled to process the shock, Gamo crossed her wrists behind her back, and Nagatoro fastened them together.
"Let's use mine too." Sakura kneeled at Gamo's feet and zip-tied her ankles together.
"Open wide." Yoshi grabbed Gamo's panties, stuffed them into Gamo's mouth, and tightened her zip tie around Gamo's head between her teeth to hold the fabric in place.
Lastly, Nagatoro covered Gamo's head with a pillowcase before gently fastening her zip tie around her neck.
"There's got to be consequences for losing," Yoshi said, spatula in hand.
The girls carried Gamo and bent her forward over the sofa where Yoshi gave the Queen of Poker's bare bottom ten firm swats.
"You've got to take this game seriously," Sakura said before blessing Gamo's ass with eight more swats.
"Don't ever let your guard down," Nagatoro quipped before swatting Gamo's glowing bottom an additional six times.
Sakura rubbed her hands together. "Time for part two."
The girls wrapped Gamo in a bed sheet, carried her to the garage, and deposited her in the back of a waiting minivan.
###
Thirty minutes later, defeated Poker Queen Maki Gamou found herself standing under a tree twenty yards from Lake Tohatsu. At least, that's what she imagined. The pillow case covering her head kept her from pinpointing her exact location, but she could hear the waves splash to shore as a cool lake breeze caressed her fully exposed body. She imagined herself tethered to a branch since crouching down put a spring-like tension on the collar fastened around her neck.
She had considered struggling and complaining, but the cloth gag stuffing her cheeks proved pretty effective, and struggling against the plastic ties binding her wrists and ankles would only cause bruising. Plus, the temporary zip tie someone added in the car, connecting her wrists and ankles behind her back, had severely limited her range of motion.
The drive to Circle Park in the back of a van felt like a scene out of a classic movie, and was way more exciting than she could have imagined. The girls carrying her from the parking lot to her present location was kind of fun too, that is, until they unwrapped her.
But I unwrapped someone too, didn't I?
Despite the happy outcome of Gamo's prank, she suspected Nagatoro might yet try to get payback for leaving her vulnerable and naked on the Art Club couch. Now here she stood, bound and gagged, vulnerable and naked, under the stars, tethered to a tree, her glowing bare bottom tingling in the wind. She'd brought that last part on herself, of course. She should have thought twice before spanking her friends.
But disciplining those losers was such a rush. What were the odds I'd be the next loser?
Did she have a sadistic streak? Yeah, well maybe. Gamo shifted her hips in the breeze as her nipples hardened. She supposed she had a masochistic side as well.
She sniffed her hood. Where is everybody?
It was late, way after dark. Fortunately, this was backcountry Japan and not the United States. If anyone saw her, they'd likely run over to help.
She tensed when footsteps approached.
SNIP
Gamo separated her ankles.
Hyacchi has finally arrived. Time for my walk of shame.
SNIP
The second snip removed the zip tie holding the pillowcase over her head.
"Konnichiwa."
Gamo's eyes bulged when she saw who had removed her hood.
"Whassup Gamo-kun?" Ichiro Nagatoro said. "I didn't expect to find you here like this." He chuckled while scanning from head to toe. "I know this is the part where I'm supposed to act all indignant and surprised, and shout, 'Who would do something like this to you?' but damn, I'm enjoying the view."
He pulled Sakura's folded Terms of Defeat agreement out of his pocket and unfolded it.
"It says here that Nagatoro"—he placed his hand on his chest—"which would be me, gets to walk you around this lake." He shook the sheet. "Before we get started, I need to know two things. Number one, you lost to Hyase fair and square, right?"
Gamo remained silent.
"Let me rephrase that. She beat you at Texas Holdem poker, right?"
"Mmm-hmm." Gamo shrugged and nodded.
"And you agreed to a Texas Dare, right?"
"Mmm-hmm."
"And she had the winning hand?"
"Mmm-hmm."
Ichiro laughed. "Okay, let's go for a walk then. It's a beautiful night for it." He untied the leash from the branch and let it dangle between Gamo's breasts. Then he snipped the zip tie holding in her gag, pulled the cloth out of her mouth, and pointed at the flip-flops near her feet. "My sister said you'd appreciate those."
Gamo stepped into the sandals. "Thanks."
Ichiro stuffed the snipping tool in his backpack on top of Gamo's clothes before grasping the leash and leading her up the hill. "When my dear little sister told me I'd be taking for you for a walk around the lake because you lost a Texas Dare, she actually warned me you'd be zip-tied and wearing a collar. She didn't tell me that's all you'd be wearing, though."
"When did she ask you to do this?"
"About a week ago."
"Damn." Gamo shook her head. "Your sister is a devious little bitch."
"Hey, now. Did she cheat?"
"Maybe." Gamo lowered her head. "But I should have seen it coming. I got greedy and totally stepped in it. She played me beautifully."
"While we're on the topic of beautiful, you've got an incredible body."
She bumped her hip into his, knocking him to the side a step. "Is this the first time you've noticed?"
"Well…" He glanced at his well-rounded companion. "Give a guy a break. You're not dressed like this when we spar."
Gamo laughed. "Hey Senpai, are you going to make me walk the whole circle nude?"
"Are you suggesting I do otherwise?"
"No. I suppose I deserve this. I've got to learn my lessons too. But what if we run into somebody?"
"My instructions were for us to hide, and for me to cover you with a rain poncho." He patted his backpack. "Hayase says they work great in a pinch. But we won't need it. I 've been scouting the park for hours. There's no one here but us."
###
Hidden behind a bush, Nagatoro, Sakura, and Yoshi watched Ichiro and Gamo walk away.
"They make a sweet couple," Sakura said.
"Do you think they'll start dating?" Yoshi asked.
"I don't know," Nagatoro said. "That's up to them. All I can do is give them a kick in the pants."
Author's Notes: For those wondering, Ichiro is the original name of Hyase's brother in the webcomic. For some reason, Nanashi renamed him Taiga in the manga. But I'm a big Ichiro Suzuki fan—he's family, right?—so I used that name instead. — S.K.