Japan was a country where "theme culture" was incredibly popular.
Theme parks, theme trains, theme ships—there was a dazzling variety of them.
The themes themselves were quite varied as well. Some were respectable, such as popular anime or games, while others were less so, like the legendary "pervert train."
Today, one carriage of the Shinkansen traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto had gained a brand-new theme—gambling.
"Full House—three of a kind and a pair. Looks like my luck is finally turning around."
"Too naive, Kinji. Four aces. I'm the true winner."
"Don't be so sure. Royal Flush!"
"You've got to be kidding. You actually drew a hand that shortens your lifespan?"
"Can't be helped. That's just how the Golden First Male Hand is sometimes."
"I've heard that rumor too. People who've never sat at a card table before always have exceptionally good luck the first time they touch cards. If they become a great wizard before sitting down at a table, their streak can last for quite a while, only ending once they finally draw a bad hand."
"Why do you know so much? Don't you two avoid gambling?"
"We don't sit at gambling tables, but we play online games!"
"And mobile games!"
Those two terms carried a distinctly gritted-teeth edge when spoken by those two people. All games of chance were a corrupt civilization.
"I refuse to believe I can't win!"
"Six sixes. Let's see how you're going to beat that this time."
"Small thinking. Too small. If we're competing for the lowest, you can lower the total by breaking the dice. But you can do the same when competing for the highest. Watch closely—six sixes plus six ones! Forty-two points."
"W-What???"
"Ari and I had the same idea. But if we're comparing technique, none of you can beat this—six