You're going away, aren't you?
My life is in service to the Supreme Leader.
So I go forth to the battlefield.
Promise me!
Promise me you'll come back alive!
I do promise.
My life is in service to the Supreme Leader.
But I will return alive...
And when I do, my life will be devoted to you...
No... To both of you.
Be well.
May you have good fortune in battle...
Episode 18: This How a Man Plays Hyperion!
Please!
I want you all to learn how to play this game!
Not again...
Uh, Yamanobe-sensei, you see...
You are the only ones I can count on!
Oh, this time it's a board game.
Bossun-kun, you're good at these, and Switch-kun, you like them, right?
Yes! I love crappy games!
Yeah, but I have no clue what you're talking about.
What is this?
It's Hyperion.
I'm asking what that is!
Hyperion is one kind of board game.
The basic principles of the game fall into the 4-player
zero-sum limited fixed total information variety.
It's easy to imagine it like 4-player shogi, yes?
The leading theory of its origin dates back to a birthplace, 1000 B.C. ancient China.
Afterwards it spread to India where it became popular as 4-player Chaturanga,
and then the theory states that it evolved into present day shogi and chess.
However, its true origins are still cloaked in a veil of mystery.
It's said that the number of players of this game are extremely few in number,
and the available literature on it is few and far between.
It truly exists as a "game of mystery" known only to a small fraction of game enthusiasts.
By the way, Hyperion comes from Greek mythology
and is one of the Titan gods, a god of the sun and moon.
"Hyper" comes from the meaning "high above", and "-ion" is a suffix meaning "to go",
and that is the origin of the name.
It is said to be a game only played by kings and those in upper-class society.
There are many reasons why this game never spread out among the common masses,
but the true reason could be said
to lie deep in the passed down phrase, "In it lies the devil's power".
Once hooked, it steals away your heart and is addictive,
but for some reason it has never spread its reach.
A truly mysterious game, yes?
Excerpt from Minshin Books "Fake? Real? The Legendary Crappy Games (Hah!) Book".
Like that.
Oh, hell no.
But it really exists!
Master Wong taught it to me in between practicing Genesis!
A Master Wong makes his appearance again...
Who is the guy, seriously?
There's going to be a world tournament here in Japan!
But it's a game with two players on one team,
so I can't enter all by myself!
If I can get Bossun-kun or Switch-kun to master the game,
then I can enter the tournament!
Wait a sec. What about me?
Oh, about that...
This is a game that only men can appreciate!
What do you mean?
That's called one of the "Two Mysteries of Hyperion".
Just two?
There should be like 7 at least!
It seems like women don't find playing this game fun even the slightest bit.
On the other hand, men easily get extremely passionate about it.
When hooked, they can even go into a kind of frenzy.
When that happens, they emit the "Hyperiaura".
You can call it "Hyp-ing"!
Whatever!
I hate being left out!
I'm gonna play, too!
Himeko-kun! Your attitude says no, but your heart's all go-go-go!
Goddamn! Goddamn, he's annoying!
Okay, let's try playing.
Everyone please sit on each side of the table.
No, no! There's a certain thing you must do before you sit!
In Greek mythology,
there are gods for each of the four directions of the wind called the Anemoi.
You see the names written on each direction of the table?
Before beginning to play Hyperion,
the ritual is to call out the name before taking your seat.
It is thought to invoke the blessing of the gods
for victory to blow in your direction.
Right. Notus.
Eurus.
Boreas.
Zephyrus.
What the heck?!
Now, let's begin!
Hyperion is a game similar to shogi.
You lose if your king is captured.
The main difference is that it's 2 on 2.
This is the board you play on.
Now then, does anyone know what it's called?
How the hell are we supposed to know?
Without some kind of hint...
Grand Cross?
Correct!
You knew?!
Wow, truly fearsome! Impressive, Bossun-kun!
I just had a hunch it was something like that...
A hunch?
Yes! That's the Hyperhythm that only flows through boys!
What a bunch of bunk! This is pissing me off.
Fine, Himeko-kun. Try telling me what material this Grand Cross is made out of by feel.
Huh? How am I supposed to tell?
Like, white ash?
Incorrect.
White ash is used for things like bats and hockey sticks, yes?
Then can you tell, Switch-kun?
Spruce?
Correct!
How the hell did you know?!
I just had a hunch it was that.
It flows within you! The Hyperhythm flows within you!
Enough about that!
Stop dicking around and get on with it!
I will now explain the pieces.
There are 9 types in total.
Each one moves in a different way.
They are painted in 4 different colors: red, blue, yellow, and white.
Each person uses one color.
It's easy to understand if I draw the comparison to shogi, yes?
The ones that are most similar to the gold and silver generals are these two...
Shoes
Steam
Steam and Shoes.
So the pieces are like this?
Indeed! They have quite a different flavor to them than chess.
And wait a sec, these are from another game! I've seen these!
In Hyperion, each piece has its own character and background story.
The fact they have their own personality is what makes the game special.
Now then, next...
I got a bad feeling about this...
Right! This is Fullhouse.
Fullhouse
Out, out, out, out!
This one's also totally from a different game!
N-No, it's not!
Hyperion has a 3000-year history!
It seems pretty modern to me! This is just a rip-off!
It's not ripping off anything!
The one in the front is called "Mr. Fullhouse",
and the ones in the back are called his "children".
Yeah, we get it!
Next up, we have an even cooler piece!
Oh, yeah? Don't tell me it's a fan...
Dudun-dun-dudun
Dudun-dun-dudun!
Huh? This reminds me of some cyborg thing...
So there are human-shaped pieces as well?
Get a unified worldview, damn it!
And why is it made of rubber?!
As you can see, Dudun-dun-dudun is a human-type piece.
Got enough "du"s in there?
Due to its strong-looking appearance,
it is very popular with beginners at Hyperion, or "Hyperioginners".
Don't go purposefully making up special terms! Such a pain...
Wow, this is really nicely made.
Who is the sculptor?
Definitely the boys who dig this stuff.
Next up is a piece that really sets men's hearts ablaze!
The Mass Produced Zafu!
Mass Produced Zafu
Look at that!
Just look at it! So cool!
I can't get enough of this.
I can never get enough!
This is weird! This entire concept is weird!
Why is there a robot?!
Each player controls 2 Zafus.
Lame! Then don't go slapping "Mass Produced" on the name!
And the next one will
set men's hearts ablaze with a whole other emotion!
Yes! A female human type!
Matcha Azukina
The idol of Hyperion, "Matcha Azukina" and
the "I haven't lost, I just like being alone", "OL"!
What part of that is moe?!
And the world concept is all over the place!
No way. I won't be made a fool of.
Matcha Azukina is not even a 3D figure...
Stop complaining, and let me finish explaining!
I don't have any way to justify Matcha Azukina...
Got nothing?!
But the OLs have a special attack they can use.
Right... Here we have a piece called a Tequila.
If you put it and the OL in the same space...
Bar Hyperion
Barkeep, hit me with another Tequila...
OL-chan, maybe you've had enough tonight. You'll overdo it.
Shut up and pour. I wanna drink.
My, my...
It's a 3-day weekend tomorrow, but I don't have any plans...
And it's not like anyone would invite me out...
I ain't lonely, you hear!
I'd rather be all by myself!
The OL and Tequila can power up to a new piece called the OTL!
The women's friggin' puking!
How's that a power up?
Her range of movement is increased, see...
She's wavering back and forth!
Damn, this game makes my brain hurt.
Gonna quit?
Who the hell would find this interesting?
The boys' team looks quite interested, though...
There's a combination move! I can't get enough of that.
The character can power up! That makes it so exciting!
You've got to be kidding me!
And now, the final piece!
The king!
Supreme Leader Abrashmo Vich!
Abrashmo Vich
Seriously, give me a break!
That's so totally a level 1 mob!
Yeah, it is! So what?!
You got a damn problem with that?!
You're defensive about it?!
Well...
I do like the sense you get of wanting to protect this weak little creature...
Agreed.
You people are wack!
You've noticed a very important point.
Boys can definitely feel the Hyperhythm, yes...
So you know, Abrashmo Vich is the princess of the Abrashmo royal family!
Oh, so it's a girl?
That background detail isn't necessary either!
Its companion piece is its twin sister, Abrashmo Dutch!
Abrashmo Dutch
Ooh, twins!
So, Abrashmo is its family name?
Don't you think the setting is kind of dramatic?
Young princesses... A war between twin sisters... Perfect.
I don't get it... I just don't get it.
My, the Hyperhythm really doesn't flow through girls?
Yeah, I took your Fullhouse!
Hold it, not so fast there.
Look carefully.
Dad!
How could you? How could you?!
But I'm so weak by myself... I could never defeat the Steam alone.
This is payback for my dad!
Dead Extreme Attack!
So cool!
And like this, Mr. Fullhouse's child can enter a Zafu and control it!
Hyperion is so awesome!
Something's exploding within me!
And so... Okay, Stop the Music!
Stop the Music -> Check
Don't Stop the Music -> Resign
Don't Stop the Music.
You people really have a knack for this.
Man, I'm really feeling this!
Next time I'm not gonna lose!
Sensei, another round!
Now that's my budding Hyperists!
This... isn't fun at all.
Something wrong, Himeko-kun?
Nothing... Can I just watch, instead?
I don't really remember all the rules, so I'll just watch carefully...
But why, Himeko? It's finally getting interesting!
Let's play Hyperion!
What's wrong with them?
Yeah, uh... Let me rest a bit.
Well, it's all right. I can play two sides, so it's just the three of us.
Let's do it!
Now things're getting interestin'!
Without further ado... Notus, Zephyrus!
Erurus!
Boreas!
Hyperion!
What devil powers does this game have?
They're totally Hyp-ing.
All right! Check out my awesome formation!
Bossun-kun, that piece arrangement...
The Excalibur formation!
Wow! That sounds really super cool!
That's a legendary formation, which no one is said to have done in the modern day!
To think that you would create it entirely on a lark?!
With the spearhead of Captain Dudun-dun-dudun,
and falling behind a sword-shaped pyramid...
The enemy comes.
OL! Matcha Azukina!
Yes, sir.
I will act as a decoy and lure the enemy away.
While I do that, break through their main formation!
But, Captain Dudun-dun-dudun-tcha!
You'll be in grave danger, Captain Dudun-dun-dudun-tcha!
The spearhead, Captain Dudun-dun-dudun, only has a mere 3% chance of survival...
Worry not...
My duty is to protect Queen Abrashmo Vich!
Queen Abrashmo Vich...
Just setting eyes on your beautiful body
causes courage to flow up from inside me!
OL, Matcha Azukina!
The rest is up to you!
Dudun-dun-dudun!
Survival rate of 3%?! Don't be mad, man!
What about your wife?! What about that child whose face you've never even seen?!
They're waiting for you to return!
Every day they wait, craning their necks for a sign
of you riding across the plain toward them, hand a-waving!
This back story is totally screwed up.
You'd better make it back alive, damn you!
Sensei, I will learn how to use the Excalibur!
So that Dudun-dun-dudun's pure feelings are not wasted!
Well said!
No matter how fierce, nor how numerous the tides of attacks he faces,
Dudun-dun-dudun just closes in closer!
No matter what happens, Dudun-dun-dudun will never retreat-dun!
Well said-dun!
Dudun-dudumb.
An even higher rate-dun!
This is so pointless!
Learned Father Yamanobe!
Learned Father?
Learned Father = Master
Please look at my formation as well.
Your glasses are all weird again!
T-That's...
With the king in the center, it's a flawless doughnut-shaped defense!
This formation...
...doesn't have a name, but very nicely done!
It doesn't?
Thank you very much. I would be honored for you to name it, Learned Father.
As you wish.
I call it the 1000-Handed Peacock Formation!
Awesome!
Thank you very much!
Well then, let's begin! Battlisch!
Himeko thought to herself:
"If I pulverized the Grand Cross to bits with my Cyclone,
would I be able to end this strange situation?"
Maybe I really should.
One Week Later
Master, are we still not at the location of the World Tournament?
According to the letter sent by Master Wong, it should be just up ahead.
I am trembling in anticipation!
Damn it, these guys are way too Hyped up!
They've been basking in so much Hyperiaura that their brains have been fried!
Bossun, this world tournament is obviously a big lie!
This is gonna end up with us finding 10 foreigners in an open clearing.
You're still saying such things, Himeko?!
You really shouldn't be getting your hopes up.
Don't be a fool! We've come all this way to do battle!
In order to fight rivals from around the world!
They're even more annoying than ever!
Please, come back, you two!
What do you mean you got a letter from Master Wong?
If you think of his age, he must have kicked the bucket by now.
You even dare ridicule Master Wong?!
The Master lives forever!
Probably!
Probably?
My warriors...
We have arrived!
Hyperion World Tournament
Just for a second there, I felt myself come to my senses...
Look. There's your cold reality staring you in the face.
T-There's nothing cold about it!
Now, our heated battle with worldwide rivals awaits!
We make our entrance now!
Hypermo~!
Um, you Japanese, yes?
Are you, perhaps, Yamanobe-san?
Yes! Have no other players arrived?
Yes. We're the only ones here.
We're Wong's grandsons.
This is even below my expectations.
So the representatives from China are Master Wong's grandchildren?
You are surely fearsome opponents!
Uh... Sure, right!
I guess we are representatives of China...
Our late grandpa said in his will that we were to come this year to Japan and play Hyperion...
And to send a letter to his old pupil.
We didn't think anyone would actually show up, though...
We're really sorry you came all this way...
W-What did you say?!
Master Wong... is dead?!
Master Wong! Master Wong!!
I, Geography Teacher Yamanobe Kunio, shall ne'er let your teachings go to waste!
See what I said?
This is even more trouble for a serious person...
What else could we do? It was in his will...
What should we do?
The person from Mongolia never came...
Stop complaining!
It's because you got hooked on Hyperion that we're in this crazy...
You're into it, too!
In the beginning, it was amazing! Although we gave up quick...
Sometimes I wonder what that was, really?
Oh, very sorry!
Since we are all here, how about a game?
Yes! Let's Battlisch!
I dedicate this battle to Master Wong!
You will be facing these two: Bossun-kun the Excalibur,
and Switch-kun the 1000-Handed Peacock!
U-Uh... Ex-what?
Now, my knights!
First, devote your love to the gods of wind!
Come to your senses?
Don't Stop the Music.
Hyperion...
It is a devilish game that passionate men get extremely fired up about for a short time.
And because of that, it has never spread very far.
Boys are such simple creatures!
You're the one wrapping it up?!
Hey, where are you going? Battlisch!
Bossun-kun the Excalibur! Switch-kun the 1000-Handed Peacock!
Hey!
Dudun-dun-dudun!
My darling!
Is this... Could she be...
This is your father. Say hello.
H-Hello...
Y-Yeah... I'm home.
Welcome home...
...F-Father!
Upsy-daisy!
It's not fair that only boys get to enjoy Hyperion, don't you think?
So this segment will be a little something for the girls!
*tada*
Melancholic, painful, to wit, the feelings I wish to express...
I want a cat! Saotome Roman
Melancholic Rendezvous!
*hustle hustle*
Oh noes, I'm late!
Why didn't mom wake me up?
*bam* *kya*
*rub*
Owwy!
Where am I looking when I'm walking?
Now I'm late for sure!
*boohoo*
*ah!*
Thanks as always for your support!
Oh, pardon me!
It sure has gotten cold. How is everyone handling it?
*kathump*
I'm in love.
Now then, a lady like myself is taking a bit of a breather while drawing this manuscript... Tea time!
But to say that automatically after bumping into things...
I love orange pekoe tea. Without it, I couldn't draw manga anymore!
You must be a real wild one.
*poke*
*kya*
That's just how much I love it. It warms my head and my heart.
No... I can't see his face very well...
Oh my, I don't have time for this!
What's that supposed to mean?
Just like always, the deadlines are closing in... I have to hurry and finish!
And you're being pretty friendly to a person you just met!
Thank you so much to my Prince who came to help me.
*pout*
I-I'm Nikaido Sara.
And you are?
Oh, Takuya...
Oh, it's you, Kumiko.
Looks like I'm butting in on something. Who's the girl?
*shock*
And I believed in you, Takuya!
To be continued!
And when she finished her manuscript,
the hopefully future manga artist thought this:
This will totally win the grand prize!
Like hell it will!
"A Great New Talent Appears!"
Getting serialized as a high school student?!
It ain't gonna happen!
And how can you write "to be continued" on a piece you're sending in?!
And there's no need for all that message to the reader space!
And there's so much wrong with the actual content, too!
The best thing is how much the backgrounds Bossun drew improve the panels.
The Handy Prince Roped Into Being A Last Minute Assistant
The end!
Did you girls out there enjoy it?
How could we?!
Hi! I'm Shimada from the Newspaper Club!
Next time, the Sket-dan is going to be in the newspaper!
It's a local column that my dad writes,
but... Oh, right!
I'm actually going to get the principal to do an interview for the Academy Times and...
We aren't doing squat!
Shimada-san, you are speaking too much yourself.
Yes... And why are the Student Council people...
That's right! You sure do listen well!
You see, the Student Council...
We said you talk too much!
Next time: Panic and 100 Haircuts In the Principal's Office and Clubroom.
Even the title is really long!
Hurry and wrap it up!
Sket Dance!