We're one week away from the school festival.
A new board game café opened near our school.
We decided to pay a visit, to see if we could learn something for our festival...
This must be the place.
Café Geschenk.
Seems like it.
Hello.
There's nobody here.
That's odd. Maybe they're not open yet.
No, there's someone there!
Is she asleep...?
Does she work here?
Welcome...
She's so pretty! She's from overseas!
Hello, nice to meet you, we are--
This isn't the first time we've met.
Nice to re-meet you!
You passed by us on the street?!
"Episode 8: The Fourth Friend" You passed by us on the street?!
"Episode 8: The Fourth Friend" Yes, that's how I know you. You were talking about board games.
What kind of coincidence is this...?
Really... I'm surprised.
My name is Emilia. Call me Emmy please.
I'm Aya Takayashiki! Just Aya is fine!
I'm Midori Ono.
I'm Miki Takekasa.
Great to see you all!
Emmy, where are you from?
From Hamburg, Germany.
Oh, a major center of board game culture! I'm jealous.
Yes. In Germany, kids and adults all play games.
But in Japan, there aren't as many places to play games.
So we opened this shop.
Huh? This is your own shop?
No, my dad is the one who opened the shop.
Um, thank you for your hospitality...
Welcome.
I'm here to help my dad.
What a huge selection of games...!
Yes, and it covers everything from kids' games to core gamer favorites...
Emmy's father really knows his stuff.
Please choose any game you like. If you don't know the rules, I will explain.
What? Just explain? Let's play together!
Really? Can I play with you?
Of course! It would be more fun that way.
Yes.
Wh-What's wrong, Emmy?!
This is the first time I'll play games with girls my age in Japan...
Danke schön! Aya-san, Midori-san, Miki-san!
So cute!
Keltis!
Yes! This is my favorite game.
Nice. I like this one, too.
The board is so pretty!
Seriously! And these fantastic patterns...
This pattern is called a Celtic knot.
Celtic...?
The Celts were a European civilization from the BC era.
The Celtic Knots are patterns that they made.
They say modern-day Ireland was built by the Celts, right?
Yes! My mom is Irish.
Wow!
Hmm?
That necklace...
Yes! This is a Celtic charm.
My mom gave it to me. It has the power to make wishes come true.
So pretty!
Yes, really.
Okay, here are the rules.
You start with eight cards and five pieces.
Wow, the cards are pretty, too!
The pieces are cute, too! A clover!
There are five card colors.
On your turn, you play a card.
You put a piece on the path with the same color as the card you played.
The cards have a number, zero to ten.
Your first card can be any number.
But when you play your second card, it determines what you can play after that.
Huh?
Like this. You play cards with the same color on top of each other.
I played a four, then a six.
After that, I can only play a six or greater.
If I had played the six before the four, then I could only play four or smaller.
I see! Cards of the same color can only go up or down in number!
Exactly!
When you play a card, the piece on the path with that color advances one space.
There are five paths, and there can be only one piece per path.
You can go down all five paths if you want.
But the first three spaces give you a negative score, so watch out!
I see, it says negative.
At the end of the game, you get points depending on where your pieces are.
So...
I have to play at least four cards to not go negative...
Also, you have one big piece. This one gets double the score.
I see...
But it also doubles the negative, so you have to be careful with it.
Oh...
There are three types of tiles on the path.
Numbered tiles give you points. You get points equal to the number.
The clover tile is a One More.
If you land on this tile, you can move again.
In that case, you can move a different piece instead, right?
Yes, exactly! If you use it well, you can move many spaces at once.
This is a very important rule.
The third type is the Wishing Stone. There are nine total.
This tile is first come, first serve. The person to land there first gets the stone.
Collecting stones gives you points, but you need at least two or you lose points.
Another negative score?!
I see, you have to have at least two to get any points. Negative four for zero stones?!
The area of the board with the darker green is the goal zone.
The game ends when a total of five pieces enter the goal zone.
That's all for the rules. Everyone okay?
Yes! I think so!
Let's get started then!
Yes!
The player who's been to Ireland the most recently goes first!
Huh?
I see, you're playing with the Celtic theme. But...
Yes! I went last year!
Wait, are you kidding?! Is that even fair?!
It's kind of a cliché joke.
So I will go first!
Yellow, ten!
I will drop my big piece!
The big piece, right away...?
Okay, I will do the big piece, too.
Midori-chan, too?!
If I have many cards of one color, I know there's a high chance I can get far.
I see...
My colors are all mixed... I'll just play it safe with the small piece for now.
Me, too.
What? How?! I can't play anymore!
I can't play the red nine anymore,
and the others would stop me from moving much further beyond that...
In those situations, you can discard a card and draw another from the deck.
Really?!
However, the card you discarded can be picked up by any other player.
So you want to throw away the card that nobody else wants.
Huh...
Cards that nobody wants...?
Aya-san, try to look at what other people have played, not what you have.
For example, a person who has played blue nine, seven, and six
won't take any blue cards greater than seven.
So in that case...
I get it!
This one!
Yes! Nobody wants that one.
Thanks, Emmy!
Now it's my turn.
I play a green three, get one point.
Land on a clover, move this other piece, two points.
I landed on another clover, so move this other piece...
Total of three points!
Wow! You moved three pieces in one go!
I've never lost in this game.
A clover chain... She is as good as she says.
But I don't think I need to be too alarmed yet.
One point here.
Two points here.
Midori-chan got three points, too!
Okay, I play this green four, then move this one...
And this one...
And this one!
Miki-chan got a clover chain going, too?!
This is fun!
Yes, when you get the chains going, it feels really good.
What's wrong, Emmy?
I'm so happy right now.
Huh?
Japanese people like cute things, yes?
I love cute things, too!
So I'm happy to be able to play games with cute girls!
Huh?!
--C...
--Cute?! --C...
Thank you! You're super cute, too, Emmy!
Am I somehow feeling the same vibes from these two...?
I'll play a blue one...
Now, if one more piece enters the goal zone, the game is over.
What?! It's over already?! I still have three pieces in the negative area!
Aya, you've played all your pieces. You need to focus on a few to get far.
Ugh, at the very least I'll move my big piece one space...
Me, too...
Okay! Now the game is over.
Let's tally up the score!
I got 31 points. Midori-san...
Thirty-four points...?
I... lost?! I don't believe it... I lost in Keltis...
Hey, Emmy?!
I'm so impressed! You're the first person to beat me!
Huh?
--She's happy that she lost? --So impressive! Super!
I have so many negatives. I have only 12 points...
For your first time, it's not bad.
Emmy...
You'll do better next time!
Emmy...!
There, there.
Midori-chan.
Hmm? What is it?
Let's hope the School Festival Café is this exciting.
School Festival?
Our high school is having a festival soon. We're going to do a board game café!
Oh! How nice! I love festivals.
By the way, your uniform... Is your school...?
It's Kamogawa North High School, very close by.
Oh, I just transferred there. I'm starting in September.
Wait, so you're in our school?!
My mom was right. My wish came true.
Your wish?
I wished that I could see the girls I walked by the other day again...
And I wished to become friends with them so I could play games with them!
"54th Kamo-North High School Festival" "Kamo-North Festival"
The day of the festival has arrived.
Some students worked in food stalls to raise the excitement.
Some performed on a stage to let their youthful passions explode.
"Play board games from around the world!"
And...
Nobody's coming.
Yeah...
It must be her. I didn't think she would back down so easily, but...
"Student Council Room" Second floor of the old building?
Why did you put them so far out of the way?
Their application was very late, and that was the only venue left.
That's a waste. The project seemed so interesting.
We don't need that to succeed!
After all the effort we put in!
What should we do, Midori-chan...?
We have to do something to let people know that we're out here...
I finally found you!
Emmy!
Guten morgen!
"Board Game Café" Guten morgen!
"Board Game Café" You came! Thank you!
Yes! I had to search a lot! Why did you put yourself in such a remote location?
I know, right? The whole festival might be over by the time we get a customer...
Don't worry, Aya!
Huh?
I brought something nice!
Hmm...?
"Dance Workshop area: Judo club demonstration, Kendo club demonstration" "Old building: 2F Board Game Café"
Where's the board game café...? What?!
Second floor of the old building?!
Yoshioka-kun! So hot!
Look over here, please!
Hey, it's Ryuji.
Popular with the girls, as always...
He's just a kendo nut.
Hey, Shouta!
Why are you following me around?
The girls won't leave me alone...
Is that a brag?!
"Play board games from around the world in our café!" "Coffee & Tea: 100 Yen" "Cookies: 200 Yen" "Games: Free!!"
This must be the place.
Wow, it seems popular, despite the remote location.
Welcome!
What...?! Takayashiki?!
Hey, Tanoue-kun! Yoshioka-kun! Thanks for coming!
What's with your outfit?!
How do I look?
Well, don't mind me. Great timing!
Come on in! Here!
Thank you for waiting...
Let me explain the game to you.
Yes, head maid!
This is impressive! What a crowd!
We were completely empty just a while ago, but it's thanks to this.
"Board Game Café: Would you like to play board games from around the world? We'll be waiting for you with delicious coffee!" What's this? And this girl...
That's the cute transfer student who's popular with the guys!
Emmy told us about the school SNS!
Emmy?
See, over there.
Thanks for waiting! Let's play a game!
I see, she's the one the male customers are here for.
Tanoue-kun!
Hmm?
"Kaker Laken Poker" --Take this, please! --Huh?
Manage this table for us, please!
Manage?! You want me to explain this game?!
Please! We're so hugely short-staffed!
You're my only hope!
G-Got it! You can count on me!
Thank you so much!
Heh, her only hope...
Who's this guy?
A dude? Seriously? That sucks.
--Come on, three! --Oh, no, a one!
--What do I do here? --This one is played here.
--I found a match! --I don't have any!
--Got it! Goal! --I don't have any!
Customers out the door?!
Awesome! This could be the most popular place in the entire festival!
You're right. Chairperson, your idea to use the SNS to share information
is a huge success.
That's not the only thing.
This is the work of those four girls, and the power of board games.
See, Shibusawa? I was right about them, wasn't I?
Look, a customer seems bored. Go say something.
Huh? But... I...
Excuse us!
Can we get a game going over here please?
Wait, Chairperson? We still have to...
Relax, this is part of our job!
Chairperson...
Vice-Chair, too...
Miki, take care of them all please!
Oh... um...
Yoshioka-kun!
Would you like to play this game with us?
Oh, um... I suppose I could.
Please show me.
Okay... Let me explain the game.
This is a French card game called Dobble.
Please take a look at these two cards.
These two cards share just one symbol. Can you tell which one?
The clover.
Correct. How about this one?
Oh, the purple cat!
Yes, correct. There are 55 cards in this game.
If you take any two cards, they always share just one symbol.
What? Always one pair only?
Really?
Wow, she's right!
That's kind of awesome.
The goal in Dobble is to find the common symbol faster than the others.
The cards can be used to play five different games.
Today, we will play the game called Hot Potato.
First, play your card facedown like this. On "go," turn it faceup.
If you find a symbol on your card that is the same on another person's card--
"Cat"--say the name of the symbol and force the card on that player.
The last person to have cards in their hand loses.
A game of speed! Exciting!
Sounds like fun! Let's play!
Okay, I will deal the cards now.
Is this really fun...?
Okay, we'll start. Ready, go!
--Droplet! --Key!
--Stop sign! --Bomb!
Next, ready, go!
--Bomb! --Chess piece!
--Target!
Impressive.
You have great reflexes, Yoshioka-kun.
I do kendo, so...
Moving on, once more. Ready, go!
--Drop... --Tear!
--Huh?! --Light bulb!
--Sunglasses! --Huh?! --Light bulb!
--Sunglasses! --Anchor!
Wait, hold up!
Huh?
Is this a "tear"? Shouldn't it be a "droplet"?
Oh, you're allowed to make up any name you want,
as long as the other person gets it.
Huh? Oh... Okay. Understood.
Is it really okay to be so vague...?
Now that I look at it, a lot of the things are weird-looking...
--I found it! But what is this thing? --Cheese!
--I have to think of something quick... --Um... Black and white mark!
You're allowed to make up any name you want.
Got it!
Smiley urchin!
Smiley... urchin?
Oh, this thing...?
Smiley urchin? Oh, I get it.
Wow, that's crazy!
Um... Huh...?
It's okay.
Huh?
That's the right way to do it, Yoshioka-kun.
The festival was awesome!
I know, right? Right?
Look, everyone's had so much fun.
This sucks. The chairperson is always right in the end.
Hmm? What's wrong, you look glum.
If what you did was wrong, we wouldn't get so many smiles from everyone.
It's your hard work that got them to smile so much.
But...
Obviously! No need to state the obvious!
There it is! That's the Ren Shibusawa I know!
"Board Game Café is now closed! Thank you very much." So much fun!
"Board Game Café is now closed! Thank you very much." Let us play again sometime!
Thanks for coming!
It's over!
I'm spent...
That was tough...
--My first festival in high school, thanks to board games,
--Good work, everyone! --My first festival in high school, thanks to board games,
--Going to the after party? --Good work, everyone! --My first festival in high school, thanks to board games,
--There's like dancing in pairs and stuff, right? --was a lot of work, but a huge amount of fun!
--What?! --There's like dancing in pairs and stuff, right? --was a lot of work, but a huge amount of fun!
--What?! --With the addition of a new friend,
--Let's go! Let's go! --With the addition of a new friend,
my world grew just a little bit bigger.
"Next Episode: Daruma-Doll Fell Down"
I want to find out about what Japanese children do to play!
"Next Episode: Daruma-Doll Fell Down" How does this game end, though?