Friendship
thief
parent and child crooks
Episode 8: It's a Game Where You Wait, and Wait, and Wait... and Keep Waiting
We still have some time. We've got to find a perfect hiding spot.
You're right.
Especially because this game has such specific rules.
Before the start of the third game
All right then, I'll explain each of the rules.
Drumroll...
Ta-da!
Things You Can't Do
Violence
Moving the Hider
Things You Can Do
Contact
Food
Surrender (Give Up)
Change Sides (Switch)
Let's start with the things you simply cannot do.
Things You Can't Do
Violence
One: Violence.
Tell us where!
You can't use violence against the other team
Where is he?!
to force them to give up the hider's location. That's forbidden.
No Good
That should be obvious.
Things You Can't Do
Moving the Hider
Two: Moving the hider.
Once the hider has settled on a spot, they are forbidden from moving.
Are they coming? Are they coming?
You can't leave that spot until the game is over.
No Good
It's really harsh that we can't move after choosing a hiding spot.
Yeah.
There are surveillance cameras all over the place.
If you move even a little...
If you do something you're not allowed to, there's a penalty.
Your team's debts will all double, and you will instantly lose.
So be careful!
I'd hoped we'd be able to investigate Tomodachi Game a bit
now that we made it all the way to the third round.
This game might make that difficult.
Especially since this is the only way we can contact each other.
Swipe screen to unlock
Next, the things you can do.
I'll give each of you one cell phone.
Things You Can Do
Contact
One: Contact.
Every player of this game can contact anyone else, friend or foe,
This is annoying.
so if you get into trouble, call for help, okay?
He said we can call anytime,
but unless there's a serious emergency, I don't think you'll hear from me.
Tenji!
What's wrong? Are you okay?
Y-Yeah. Just a little dizzy.
I'm not surprised. We haven't eaten in three days.
Damn it. They could have let us eat something before the game started.
Things You Can Do
Food
Two: Food.
We eatin'
Right in the middle of the forest, there's a stash of food ready for you.
Once the game starts, you can eat as much and as often as you want.
Huh, Group C hasn't eaten anything yet.
Oh, and the searchers have to bring food to the hiders.
Remember, the hiders aren't allowed to move!
Sorry. I'm better now.
Are you sure? Maybe you should rest more.
No, it's okay.
If I let something like this slow me down, we'll never beat this thing.
Things You Can't Do
Violence
Moving the Hider
Things You Can Do
Contact
Food
Surrender (Give Up)
Change Sides (Switch)
The next one is a right that is given only to the hider.
Things You Can Do
Surrender (Give Up)
That's three: Give up.
I'm so bored
I'm so lonely
Hider
This game is actually harder for the hiders.
Well, yeah, they're stuck alone and bored.
Sittin' still for a long time kinda wears you out.
Yeah. So in case you're waiting forever,
but your searcher can't find the other team's hider,
and you can't take it anymore,
you have a give-up button!
It's just what it sounds like. Press this, and your group will immediately lose.
It's not your fault if your teammates are cruel and incompetent.
By the way, it only counts if the owner presses it.
Things You Can Do
Change Sides (Switch)
Finally, the fourth one is changing sides.
Let me join you!
Come on over!
I already explained that, so we're good.
All right, each team, please choose your hiders.
I'm not worried about you, Yuichi, but that girl could be trouble.
She's a total stranger.
Drop Out
There's a good chance she could choose to lose and drop out by herself.
Well, that's on her. I bet she feels helpless alone, though.
All right, nobody should find you here. Especially with that pit in the back.
Where's the girl?
Don't worry.
Just to be safe, I left her waiting far away.
She won't know where this is.
Yuichi, remember what you said?
But it would be almost impossible for the two of us to win.
Can we win with three?
The other team will still have twice as many people searching for me.
Even with three, if we play clean, it's probably impossible.
So basically, if we don't play clean, we might be able to pull it off?
If we don't play clean, it'll all depend on how much you can handle.
Probably.
No matter what I do, you've got to hold on, hold on, and keep holding on...
As long as you don't push the give-up button,
we definitely have a chance to win.
Don't worry, Yuichi. I won't give up, no matter what.
Tenji...
Like I said, you're the last hope I have to avenge my father.
I'll do anything to regain your trust.
All right. That's a relief, then.
I'm sure we can win!
Okay, it's almost been two hours.
I didn't really get a chance to explain my plan,
but it's too risky to stay here, so I'd better go.
Got it. I'm counting on you.
I'll finish and come back as soon as I can,
so just trust me and wait, Tenji.
Yeah, I'll trust you and be waiting, Yuichi.
But after that...
Yuichi didn't come back for two full days.
Why hasn't Yuichi come back yet?
Is it that hard to find someone in this huge forest?
There's no sign of the other team looking for me, either.
We might be in for a really long fight.
But even so...
Even so, couldn't he just bring me some food and water?
Wouldn't that be okay?
Or maybe... has Yuichi betrayed me?!
If that's the case, maybe he already switched teams
and is leading them here now...
No, that still wouldn't take this much time.
Why, then? Why hasn't Yuichi come back?
It's starting to feel like I'm being abused—
Wait, abused? Is Yuichi trying to abuse me?
I totally betrayed everyone in the second game,
but then when he called a truce, I let my guard down...
He's been waiting for a chance to get revenge in the third game!
Right now, Yuichi's probably relaxing and eating with that girl,
Ahahaha!
laughing at me while he imagines me suffering! Isn't he?
No, I've got to calm down!
I'm so hungry, I can't even think straight.
That's right! I still have this!
I thought about calling after one day had passed,
Contacts
Search
Mikasa Tenji (Group C)
Ka
Katagiri Yuichi (Group C)
Kadokura Juzo (Group K)
Sa
Shinomiya Kei (Group K)
Ta
Na
Niwa Banri (Group K)
Ha
Hashiratani Chisato (Group K)
but I held off because I didn't want it to look like I doubted Yuichi.
And now I've been waiting two full days.
Maybe if I called saying I was worried something happened to him,
it wouldn't sound strange.
Why aren't you answering?!
Yuichi! Yuichi!
Shit, I'm so thirsty! I'm so hungry!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Incoming call
Katagiri Yuichi (Group C)
Hello, Yuichi?
You didn't come back, so I was starting to worry.
How are things over—
Uh, sorry, this is a member of Group K.
What? What do you want?
Um, this is a little hard to say,
but Katagiri Yuichi-san is planning to abandon you.
There's no way he'd do that.
I know he's searching like crazy for your hider right now.
I hate to break it to you, but he hasn't gone out searching even once.
He's just been relaxing with that girl, eating and sleeping.
Yuichi-san said,
"Mikasa Tenji totally screwed us over in the second game,"
"and I'll absolutely never forgive him."
If you don't believe me, I'll pass him the phone
and you can ask him yourself.
He's right here with me.
I can talk to Yuichi?
That isn't necessary.
If he needs to, I know Yuichi will contact me directly.
I'll always trust him. I'm going to keep waiting.
Is that so?
Well, when you've really had enough,
please be sure to press the give-up button.
Otherwise, you'll die.
Hurry... Hurry up and come back, Yuichi!
How is he? What kind of shape is their hider in?
Well, I can tell he's trying to bluff, but he sounds like a mess.
He hasn't eaten for a total of five days, right?
That would be rough.
And while he's holding his breath and hiding from us,
he's gotta keep believing in his friend.
That's gotta be totally screwing with his head.
Poor thing. No matter how hard he tries, it's pointless.
Because our guy came up with a perfect strategy.
Right after the start of the third game
I have a strategy to win this Friendly Hide-and-Seek.
S-Seriously, Captain?
Yeah. We'll definitely win.
Kadokura Juzo
Captain and psychological pillar of Group K. Commands absolute trust from his friends.
I knew you would, Captain! We'll never go wrong if we listen to you!
Chief of cut-ins in Group K. Ready to fight anyone for his friends. A hot-blooded virgin punk.
Onigawara Hyakutaro
You're always trying to flatter the captain like that, Hyakutaro.
At least listen to his plan first.
You shut your face!
Hashiratani Chisato
Group K's lead hottie. Smooth with the ladies. A pretentious flirt.
Well, Senpai, the captain's instructions have helped us clear everything so far.
Shinomiya Kei
The youngest Group K member. A little nervous around his senpai, but he always does his best.
Isn't that right, Banri-senpai?
No problem. Everything's fine.
Niwa Banri
Group K's geek. Hard to read because he's usually pretty quiet, but it's best that way!
So, what's the strategy?
It should become obvious when you think about the essence of the game.
Essence?
To begin with, this hide-and-seek game isn't about luck or probability.
Kadokura Juzo
This is still part of the Tomodachi Game.
Onigawara Hyakutaro
Hashiratani Chisato
Kadokura Juzo
Niwa Banri
Shinomiya Kei
It tests friendships.
In other words, it's not simply that we have a better chance
of finding their hider because we have more people?
That isn't the strategy?
Correct. Think carefully.
What did Manabu explain about the game rules?
From here on, you will all play hide-and-seek in this vast forest.
Where exactly does this vast forest begin, and how far does it go?
Huh?! How far?
It does look like a really huge forest.
Whether you had two or four people searching,
it would be nearly impossible to find someone.
Exactly.
You've got to realize that since he used the vague words "vast forest,"
the game isn't about blindly searching for someone who's hiding.
How do you find the other team's hider, then?
The important point is...
The searchers have to bring food to the hiders.
Hider
The rule that searchers have to carry food to the hiders,
because the hiders can't move.
Seeker
Oh, I get it.
Huh...
I've solved all of the mysteries.
Huh? Huh?!
Hyakutaro, you seriously still don't get it?
Huh?! No way!
But Captain, if we're doing that,
The hell?! Of course I get it!
shouldn't we put someone at the food station right away?
Yes, we should.
Oh, but I'm one of the slowest runners here.
In that case, Hyakutaro and Chisato,
you two have the fastest legs on the team, so go ahead to where the food is.
Y-Yes, sir!
Roger.
Kei and Banri, go find a hiding place for me.
You have good eyes for that sort of thing,
so I'm sure you'll pick somewhere I won't be found.
All right! Before we get going, let's do the usual thing!
Huh? Are we really going to do it here?
Shut it, Chisato. C'mon and huddle.
Right, here we go.
One, two—
Fast Fight
Fast fight! Swift win! Solid walls! Strong team!
Swift Win
Solid Walls
Strong Team
We Are
We are! The best!
The Best
Victory!
Well, did you see that?
Their team has perfect unity.
After two games, they're totally in sync
thanks to the guidance of their genius leader.
I'll admit their unity is impressive.
It's kind of gross, though.
Huh?!
But instead of five typical friends, they're more like a single team.
That's right!
They're all members of the same sports club. They're teammates.
Some of them were childhood friends, but they're all different ages
and have a rigid age-based hierarchy.
That's exactly why you could say that they're linked
by the strong bonds of discipline and order, moreso than any equal friendship.
Bonds, huh?
W-What? That isn't to your liking?
Fine. Here's your advance warning.
This game will be over in three days.
And, of course, my Group K will be the victors.
I know because they've truly figured out
a perfect strategy for winning.
And it's one that only the five members of Group K can use.
Third Game: Day 3
It's the third day. You said you'd win.
You really think the winner will be decided today?
Of course.
Take a look at Mikasa Tenji and that expression on his face.
He's bound to press the give-up button.
The strategy for Friendly Hide-and-Seek is extremely simple.
When the hider can't stand the thirst and hunger anymore,
and a searcher goes to take him food,
the other team just has to follow.
Just like they were saying in Group K,
it would be next to impossible to find someone hiding in this forest.
When someone gets lost, even if they want to be rescued,
even with many more people searching, it's still very difficult to find them.
The trick is to always be in a position to tail the other team,
and then to make sure they don't lose you when you do.
Group K won't have any trouble with that.
First of all, they have four people to watch two.
If they work in shifts, they'll be ready to follow at any time.
Second, they're athletes and really tight teammates.
The other two won't be able to run fast enough to get away.
Basically, if Group C moves right now, they'll be tailed,
and their hider will be spotted.
Their defeat is a matter of course.
And if they don't move,
the hider will eventually succumb to hunger and thirst
and push the give-up button.
Third Game
Group C Friendly Hide-or-Seek
Defeated
Either way, they're bound to lose.
And it's impossible the other way around.
Even if only three from Group K go to deliver food,
the other two won't be able to follow.
Also, compared to someone who's been eating properly,
a person who hasn't eaten for three days has a massive handicap to begin with.
By my estimate, he'll reach his breaking point tonight.
Either they lose when Katagiri Yuichi is followed,
or they lose when Mikasa Tenji gives up.
It's a matter of time.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Tenji.
Y-Yuichi...
Thanks, Tenji. I'm glad you trusted me and waited.
Of course I did. I said I'd trust you.
W-What's this? What is happening?
Who in the world is he talking to?
He's probably hallucinating due to extreme stress and hunger.
He's envisioning the thing he most wants to see.
How dreadful.
Even if it is hopeless, you'd think his teammate could at least
search for the other hider or call to cheer him up.
But to do absolutely nothing like this...
For two days, this jerk hasn't left the food station at all
and has just been eating and sleeping.
He's also been blabbing all sorts of info about his team to the other side.
Does he really intend to abandon Mikasa Tenji after all?
Hey, is Maria just going to sit there silently the whole time?
She might just be an observer for now,
but she is still supposed to act as a member of Group C, right?
Yes, but she did send me just one report.
"Katagiri Yuichi is even more of a crazy asshole than I thought," she said.
It seems he's started something while we've been talking.
Hey guys, I have a request to make of Group K.
I want to switch to Group K.
Yuichi, this rice ball... looks delicious...
Katagiri Yuichi... This guy really is...
the worst.
The Worst
Perhaps Katagiri Yuichi is a true supporter of gender equality,
given that he's equally merciless in the way he uses both males and females like tools.
NEXT: Hurry Up and "Switch Sides"