Now that the first trimester of our first year in high school is over,
we're on summer vacation.
"Teahouse Isehan" I'm so burned out!
I heard the stories, but summers in Kyoto are way hotter than I thought...
What are you talking about, Aya? It's going to get a lot hotter.
What?! No!
I know! The sea! Let's go to the beach together and wash away the heat!
Sure, but Kyoto isn't near the ocean.
Really?
Yeah, it might be a bit tough to visit and come back in one day.
In that case, we can stay overnight!
You say that like it's easy, but it'll cost a lot of money.
Are you sure?
Well... um...
But I can't just not go to the beach during summer vacation. That's sad...
Um... in that case...
Okay, I'm off.
Be careful out there.
Okay!
So Aya-chan, Midori-chan, and I have decided to go on a trip together.
Destination: Kanazawa.
My Aunt Miyabi runs an inn out there.
Miki going out on a trip with her friends...
Is she going to be okay?
"She just left. They should get there by noon." "I understand. Looking forward to seeing her."
Please take good care of Miki and her friends.
"Episode 5: A Message for You"
I'm so glad the weather is so nice!
Wow, we really went on a trip, just the three of us.
I've never been to Kanazawa!
To tell you the truth, me neither.
We're so lucky that Miki-chan's aunt runs an inn!
Yes.
The beach is close to the inn,
and she said we can stay for a few days in a vacant room.
Oh, Miki-chan! Friendship is such a precious thing!
Is your aunt's inn nearby?
No, it's about 30 minutes from here by train.
In that case, let's go sightseeing before we go to the inn!
Huh? You don't want to go to the beach?
Let's go! We're staying two nights, we can go to the beach tomorrow.
"Kanazawa" "The alluring castle town" Let's go! We're staying two nights, we can go to the beach tomorrow.
Yes! Now that we're here, I want to see lots of stuff!
This area looks so promising!
Sure. If you're okay with that, let's do that.
All right, let's go sightseeing in Kanazawa!
Yeah!
"Oyama Shrine"
Wow, that was fun! We saw so much stuff!
Want to head to the inn now?
Sure. I told Aunt Miyabi that we'd be there in the evening.
I'm so excited about dinner!
Aya, you're literally eating ice cream right now.
It'll be fine! I'm sure I'll be hungry by the time we get there!
"Motoyu-Iwaya Inn"
Well, hello, girls!
Thank you for coming all the way from Kyoto.
Hi, Aunt Miyabi, long time no see.
Indeed! I'll let your mother know you arrived safely. She was worried.
Oh, she was?
And are these your friends?
Thank you for your hospitality. I am Midori Ono, Miki-san's classmate.
I'm Aya Takayashiki, also from her class.
Oh, how polite of you. Well, come in, come in. Dinner is ready.
Wow! This looks delicious!
Enjoy.
Are you sure? We aren't even paying...
Don't worry. You're Miki's friends.
I should be a great host, or my sister would be angry!
Thank you, Aunt Miyabi.
You're welcome.
Well, taking you up on the generous offer...
Let's eat!
Mm! Delicious!
This is the best sashimi I've ever had!
I guess this must be because the ocean is so close.
What is it? You look very happy.
Well, you used to be so shy and scared of people, but now you have great friends.
I'm so happy...
She can be difficult, but please be nice to her.
H-Hey! Auntie!
Oh, we're super close already!
Yes.
The bath is ready, too, whenever you like. Please take your time.
Yes!
Thank you very much!
"Entertainment corner"
Wow! That was super good!
Kanazawa is really great. The city is very tasteful and the food is great.
This place is my new favorite!
Midori-chan, you sound like an old lady.
Aya! Who are you calling old lady?!
Whoa!
Ouch!
Oh!
Oh, no!
Wait, what's wrong with these pieces? There's nothing on the back side.
Huh?
"Silver" See, look.
"Silver" You're right. It's blank on the back.
Right? Shogi pieces are supposed to have characters on the back, too, right?
Like Dragon behind the Rook and Gold behind the Silver.
These aren't Shogi pieces.
Huh...?
I think... they might be GOITA pieces.
GOITA?
What's that, Midori-chan?
It's a traditional game from a port town named Ushitsu, on the Noto peninsula.
Oh, you know about GOITA?
I'm impressed that you know that game despite being from Kyoto.
Midori-chan works at a board game store,
and she knows a lot about all sorts of games.
Oh, is that so!
GOITA's unique rules caught the attention of some game researchers a while ago.
They've turned it into a card game. We sell it in our store, too.
I'm ashamed to admit that I haven't played it yet.
I've never seen a proper GOITA set made of bamboo before.
Is it okay if I studied this?
Yes, of course.
Hey, Midori-chan, can we try it out?
Sure, but we need four players to play GOITA.
Wait, four?
One...
...two...
...three...
...four.
Oh?
Wait, why are you including the landlady?
Well, you know.
Sure, sure. I'm not busy at the moment.
Are you sure?
Yay!
Um...
I match your Bishop and play a Gold.
I can't play anything!
There, I win.
Impressive!
I lost! This is hard!
This game is super fun! I wish I'd played this sooner!
Seriously. I didn't know such a fun game existed out here.
Oh? It's not your first time.
Huh?
Miki, you've played this game when you were little.
I did...?
Hmm... I get the feeling that she's right, but I don't remember at all...
It's fine if you can't remember.
"Bath" "Women's bath"
What a great bath!
GOITA was fun!
Why was such a fun game exclusive to the Noto area?
Similar games were played all over Japan, actually.
Huh?
Really?
Like, Maru-Shogi and Imo-Shogi are basically the same game using Shogi pieces.
Iro-Kammuri is a very similar game that uses Hyakunin Isshu cards,
you just play to a different hand size.
Apparently, these games were often used for gambling.
Starting in the Edo era, numerous bans on gambling were put into law.
The games went out of popularity after that.
I see.
Knowledgeable as always, Midori-chan.
So that's why GOITA only remained in just a part of the Noto region.
I want to play again.
--Yes. --Yeah.
Okay, I'm turning the light off.
Tomorrow's the beach, finally!
You're so excited about it.
Yes... So excited that... I might have trouble falling asleep...
Aya-chan...?
Wow... She's asleep already.
Huh?
Look at her, so happy-looking... I envy her personality.
Hey, come on, Midori-chan.
She must have been tired. Goodnight, Aya-chan.
Okay, we should get to sleep, too.
Yes.
Miki, thanks.
Huh?
I never dreamed of going on such a luxurious trip. It's all thanks to you.
Oh, no...
It's me who needs to thank you.
Huh?
If I didn't meet you, I wouldn't have been introduced to games either.
I would have lived my life not knowing there was so much fun to be had.
Thank you, Midori-chan.
Miki...
Let's play... lots... together...
Miki...
Oh, no... Now I'm losing sleep...
Hurry! Hurry!
What are you doing, you two? It's the beach! The beach!
You're way too excited, Aya! Did you put on sunscreen?
I can do that later!
It's pointless to do it later!
Aya-chan, you don't have to rush; the ocean isn't going anywhere.
I know, but hurry!
Off we go!
Huh?
How can this be?! It was so sunny just moments ago! It's not fair!
Just accept it already. There's nothing we can do.
--No!
Beach!
Come on, we can't change the weather...
No!
You said we're going!
You know...
What should we do, Midori-chan?
What choice do we... Oh, wait.
We can play this.
Good idea!
--Real nice.
--What are you doing? --Real nice.
--What are you doing?
Oh, this boy...
Hello!
This is a game called GOITA.
Do you want to join us?
Yes!
Come on, Takashi. Don't bother the young ladies.
Come here!
No! I'm playing a game!
Stop being selfish!
It's okay, sir. We actually need four players to play this game.
Yes! So it'd be super helpful if he joined us!
See, Dad? Listen to them!
Are you sure it's all right?
Yes, given the weather, we're stuck in the inn anyway, so...
Let's play together.
Yeah!
Well, I will take you up on your offer then.
So let me explain the rules of GOITA.
GOITA is played by two teams of two players each.
There are 32 pieces total. Two Kings, two Rooks, two Bishops...
...four Golds, Silvers, Knights, and Lances...
...and ten Pawns.
Wow!
We turn these all facedown, and take eight each to play.
Here are the rules:
The dealer puts one piece facedown, then another piece faceup.
This second piece is the "attack."
The next player can "match" this by playing the same piece, if they have it.
If you successfully match, you become the dealer and play another attack.
You repeat this process until one player plays all eight pieces in their hand.
That player's team wins.
The last piece you play determines your score for that round.
You play several rounds, and the team to first score 150 points total wins.
Also, if the last move you play is two of the same tiles, you get double the points.
Wow! Double!
Here are some more special rules:
The King is special and can match five different pieces:
The Rook, Bishop, Gold, Silver, and Knight. So basically, just not the Lance and Pawn.
However, you cannot play the King as an attack piece
until someone first plays it as a match piece.
I get it!
Those are the rules, pretty much. Do you understand?
Yep! I got it!
Okay, let's make teams!
Since it's your first game, maybe Takashi-kun can pair up with Midori-chan?
She's really good at games!
Good luck, Takashi-kun.
Okay!
Okay, you can start.
Got it!
Well... So I play the first piece facedown...
...and I attack with Gold!
I will match your Gold and attack with Silver.
I will match your Silver and play a Knight.
Matching your Knight, attacking with Rook...
"Gold"
"Knight" "Rook"
"Gold" "King" "King" "Silver" "Lance" "Gold"
I'll have two Pawns left over, but this is the turning point!
Match your Gold, attack with Bishop!
I pass...
All right!
--Huh...?
--Match the Bishop and attack with Silver! --Huh...?
--Match the Bishop and attack with Silver!
Oh...
Yes!
Match your Silver and finish with a Pawn!
Ten points!
Oh, no! We lost!
If you let the Bishop through, I would have had to pass.
Wait, really?
Takashi-kun, you weren't supposed to play that Bishop.
Huh? Why?
You win if your teammate wins. So there's no need to interfere with me.
Don't match your partner's attack. That's the basic strategy.
Oh, I get it! Don't match my teammate's attack.
Got it! I'll do better next time!
Match with King! Go Rook!
She matched my Silver with a King, so she probably doesn't have any Silvers...
Match with King, and play Silver.
I pass...
Miki doesn't have one either. That must mean Takashi-kun has all the Silvers!
Hmm. I pass, too.
What...?!
Okay, I play another facedown and finish with Rook, 40 points.
That's 150 points! Miki-chan and I win!
Oh, no, we lost!
Takashi-kun, if you had two Silvers back then, you could have matched them.
Then you would have won...
What? But earlier, you said I shouldn't match my teammate's moves.
That's the basic strategy, but this was special.
If you paid attention to the pieces, you would know.
Huh?
I remember now...
Why didn't you match my Gold? Then you would have won since you have two Golds!
But you said I can't match my teammate's attack...
That was different! Why don't you get it?
I'm sorry... I don't understand...
I can't play this game...
Hey, Miki! Miki-chan!
Takashi-kun is in the same spot that I was in back then...
So am I supposed to match or not...? I don't get it...
Takashi-kun.
You want to tag with me next? Let's play on the same team.
Okay.
Hmm?
Match with a Lance and attack with a Silver!
Match with a Silver and attack with a Knight.
Pass.
Um... pass.
Bah! Fine! I have a King! And Rook!
Aya-chan probably doesn't have a Knight... What about Midori-chan...?
I have to take a risk.
Match with a King, and attack with Knight!
I pass.
Midori-chan doesn't have a Knight either.
So both of the remaining Knights must be...
...Takashi-kun's.
Two Kings already played... Miki-san played two Knights...
I have both of the Knights left!
Miki-san...?
Match with a Knight, and attack with Knight!
This is the right play, right, Miki-san?
He got it! He understood my intent!
Good move, Takashi-kun!
Pass!
--I pass!
--Oh, yeah! --I pass!
Then it's my turn!
I play this facedown, then finish with a Lance!
We won!
Oh, no! We lost! Awesome job, Takashi-kun!
Yes, truly.
We did it, Miki-san!
Yes!
Wow, that was fun! Thanks for playing with me!
Thank you very much, all of you.
Thanks to you, we now have a great memory of this trip.
The pleasure is ours.
Yes!
What are your plans for the rest of the day?
Well, we haven't decided on anything...
What about the beach?!
Let's go to the beach together!
We can't do that, not in this rain...
The rain's stopped!
Huh?
Wow!
Beach!
I guess it was just a passing shower.
It looks like we'll have clear skies for the rest of the afternoon!
Yes!
Let's go, Takashi-kun!
Yeah!
Hey, wait! I have to reapply the sunscreen!
I said that can wait till later!
It can't!
Miki really has changed... It's probably thanks to those two.
Hey, Aunt Miyabi!
It's great out here!
Tomoe, it seems like your daughter found a real treasure.
Oh, my!
"Next episode: A Fledgling Designer is Born!"
You want to play the game I made?
"Next episode: A Fledgling Designer is Born!" No! It's not even done yet!
"Next episode: A Fledgling Designer is Born!" Wait, what do you mean it'll never be finished that way...?