Touhai Densetsu Akagi - Episode 22 (作為の足枷)

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**Sakui no Ashikase** (作為の足枷 *The Shackles of Pretense*) is the twenty-second episode of Akagi - Yami ni Oritatta Tensai (series) anime adaptation, Touhai Densetsu Akagi - Yami ni Maiorita Tensai

## Synopsis

Akagi has lost 1,000 ccs at the end of the second round, he has now won 2 Han-Chan sessions in a row. Washizu realizes Akagi's strange deliberate decisions show that Washizu was manipulated by his Akagi throughout the match, and berates himself for failing to notice the strangeness of Akagi's actions. After the round, Akagi's total winnings come to 118.5 million yen, and refuses to regain any blood as he has previously. After the air has settled, Yasuoka asks Akagi to explain why he won't regain his blood. Akagi states that such a move is what allowed him to win the round. With awful draws and the Xia that froze his hand, meaning he needed "Washizu to make a mistake", which Akagi states to be after his Chii of the Pinzu and Pon of the Hatsu, calling the 1-Pin, discarding a 3-Pin, and going for Chanta was an obvious error, keeping the pair and his 3-Pin, would have allowed him to go for honitsu, which would have a higher chance of winning. This error was due to Washizu's urge to rush to tenpai before anything else, a rush caused by Akagi's refusal to transfuse blood. Akagi's insanity awoke a fear in Washizu that Akagi may truly be able to kill him, Akagi's disregard for his own life made him pick up the scent of his own potential death. While not truly a fear, and for now only a tendency to rush, this has continued to break down Washizu, and this moment showed Akagi his timing to discard the Xia safely. Akagi states that the Xia lost its power and instead became an "imaginary force" for him. When asked how he knew Washizu had a pair since the start of the match, before Washizu had made a single discard, Akagi explains that he had 2 entire Han-Chans of discards to read. That Washizu's flow and luck are very evident, and the last round wouldn't go easily, as such, the Dora was Washizu's own wind, and one was visible in his hand, not only that, but Akagi himself had one that would hold him down. The Xia was a "messenger from heaven to help Washizu win", and if the game had continued as normal would have resulted in Washizu's victory. Dealing it would be dangerous and keeping it would be restrictive, so Akagi needed to wait for a mistake, waiting until his hand could no longer move before discarding the tile. He reveals his hesitance to discard the tile after Suzuki drew it was the "imaginary force", which would make Washizu think he hadn't figured out his hand. "Those who see get to choose", controlling Washizu just by discarding his tile a turn later. Ougi comments on Akagi's talent, who, unlike most mahjong players, focuses on manipulating opponents rather than just how effective the tiles are, putting him far beyond normal people. Yasuoka asks how Akagi knew Washizu's wait to base his hand off of it, thinking it wouldn't be Pinzu due to Suzuki holding many of those tiles, and yet not letting Washizu win. Akagi explains that that itself is the answer, this round Suzuki was focused on dealing so his hand housed all the information, holding honor tiles and 1s and 9s for Chanta, due to not dealing the Xia and allowing Washizu to win right away, the tiles in those areas were out of play, even including some of the less prevalent Souzu, which Washizu had discarded around the entire game, only leaving the lower end Manzu, specifically, the 1 and 3, due to Akagi having the opaque 2 in his own hand. This also explains the 3-Man that was left in Suzuki's hand, that was otherwise useless, it could become one of Washizu's waits if the game changed and Washizu could achieve, or no longer needed, a Haneman. Akagi states he had no reason to doubt his reasoning as to how Washizu would react to his riichi, because he was desperate for a win, because he won consistently throughout his life, he knew the difference between a victory and an advantage. While similar, advantages are meaningless on their own, everything is only certain after victory, winners in life such as Washizu know this best, so they always chase after victory the hardest. While given the suggestion to leave with only 100 Million Yen lost, Washizu decides to continue, angry at the idea he should run away. The third match begins with Washizu desperate to win, and regain his pride by erasing his past losses, with his current losses indicating a complete loss of his fortune before the game ends, Washizu can tell his own death is drawing near. However even through this desire, Washizu is doing poorly, and Akagi, very well, but Akagi refuses to relax, forced to only play his best with his life on the line. Washizu begins to feel he was born to kill Akagi, and if he can succeed he will reach the apex of his 75 years of life, feeling the premonition of a great storm that will bring a comeback.