Abyss's Queen/Episode

— **Bring It On!**

**Abyssmare, a certain day during a Japan tour**

 **Weronika:**Got a minute, Neo? I need you to come with me.**Weronika**: Got a minute, Neo? I need you to come with me.

 **Neo:**... For what reason?**Neo**: ... For what reason?

 **Weronika:**What else? A fight, I'm calling you out!**Weronika**: What else? A fight, I'm calling you out!

 **Neo:**What type of competition will this be?**Neo**: What type of competition will this be?

 **Weronika:**We're in Japan. The birthplace of karaoke. We're gonna sing with the karaoke machine scoring!**Weronika**: We're in Japan. The birthplace of karaoke. We're gonna sing with the karaoke machine scoring!

 **Elsie:**Typical Weronika. She never learns her lesson...**Elsie**: Typical Weronika. She never learns her lesson...

 **Sophia:**Yes, thinking she could possibly defeat Neo-sama? Utter foolishness...**Sophia**: Yes, thinking she could possibly defeat Neo-sama? Utter foolishness...

 **Weronika:**... Say that again. I dare you.**Weronika**: ... Say that again. I dare you.

 **Sophia:**S-Sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry! I said nothing!**Sophia**: S-Sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry! I said nothing!

 **Weronika:**You're not gonna back out on me, right Neo? We're all here because we're the best of the best. Surely our leader isn't scared to fight, is she?**Weronika**: You're not gonna back out on me, right Neo? We're all here because we're the best of the best. Surely our leader isn't scared to fight, is she?

 **Neo:**Very well... I accept your challenge.**Neo**: Very well... I accept your challenge.

 **Weronika:**Sophia. Elsie. You're both coming too. You'll be witnesses to an overwhelming victory!**Weronika**: Sophia. Elsie. You're both coming too. You'll be witnesses to an overwhelming victory!

 **Sophia:**P-Please try not to bother Neo-sama, if you could... Um, I'm sorry! Never mind!**Sophia**: P-Please try not to bother Neo-sama, if you could... Um, I'm sorry! Never mind!

 **Elsie:**\*sigh\* Here we go again...**Elsie**: \*sigh\* Here we go again...

*After Karaoke*

 **Elsie:**Elsie witnessed it, all right♪ This truly was an overwhelming victory.**Elsie**: Elsie witnessed it, all right♪ This truly was an overwhelming victory.

 **Weronika:**The machine gave me 99 points! How'd you get 100?! You must've cheated!**Weronika**: The machine gave me 99 points! How'd you get 100?! You must've cheated!

 **Sophia:**Oh, Neo-sama... Your voice is so powerful, yet... Delicate, and graceful. It defies quantification.**Sophia**: Oh, Neo-sama... Your voice is so powerful, yet... Delicate, and graceful. It defies quantification.

 **Weronika:**Well, whatever. I'll let you have this win, Neo. One win in the karaoke segment.**Weronika**: Well, whatever. I'll let you have this win, Neo. One win in the karaoke segment.

 **Neo:**Are you implying our competition is not yet over?**Neo**: Are you implying our competition is not yet over?

 **Weronika:**Yeah, didn't I tell you? This is a best of three!**Weronika**: Yeah, didn't I tell you? This is a best of three!

 **Elsie:**She most certainly made that up, just now!**Elsie**: She most certainly made that up, just now!

 **Neo:**Oh ho, I see... What will the other competitions be?**Neo**: Oh ho, I see... What will the other competitions be?

 **Weronika:**Well, uh... Round two is a sprint up a hill! Th-Then, round three is... Speed eating! Ramen!**Weronika**: Well, uh... Round two is a sprint up a hill! Th-Then, round three is... Speed eating! Ramen!

 **Elsie:**Such an incongruous, disorganized set of feats! Quite fitting, for an intellect such as hers.**Elsie**: Such an incongruous, disorganized set of feats! Quite fitting, for an intellect such as hers.

 **Neo:**... Very well. I accept.**Neo**: ... Very well. I accept.

 **Sophia:**I must protest, Neo-sama! You simply can't!**Sophia**: I must protest, Neo-sama! You simply can't!

 **Neo:**...Why?**Neo**: ...Why?

 **Sophia:**You must think of your public image, Neo-sama! Gobbling down ramen is most unbecoming of you!**Sophia**: You must think of your public image, Neo-sama! Gobbling down ramen is most unbecoming of you!

 **Neo:**Is that so?**Neo**: Is that so?

 **Sophia:**Yes, Neo-sama!**Sophia**: Yes, Neo-sama!

 **Weronika:**Fine, fine. We gotta protect our image. Then, hmm... How about that, over there?**Weronika**: Fine, fine. We gotta protect our image. Then, hmm... How about that, over there?

 **Sophia:**Over where?**Sophia**: Over where?

 **Weronika:**Don't you see it? The board game cafe over there. Or do you have a problem with board games, too?**Weronika**: Don't you see it? The board game cafe over there. Or do you have a problem with board games, too?

 **Sophia:**No, I have no complaints there. However... I feel it is reckless, all the same.**Sophia**: No, I have no complaints there. However... I feel it is reckless, all the same.

 **Elsie:**Weronika wishes to match wits with Neo-sama? Reckless, indeed. She would be fighting unarmed.**Elsie**: Weronika wishes to match wits with Neo-sama? Reckless, indeed. She would be fighting unarmed.

 **Weronika:**OK, OK! Let's make it more interesting, then. We play three board games. If I win even once, then I win the whole thing. How's that sound?**Weronika**: OK, OK! Let's make it more interesting, then. We play three board games. If I win even once, then I win the whole thing. How's that sound?

 **Elsie:**Elsie has never heard of such unfavorable terms!**Elsie**: Elsie has never heard of such unfavorable terms!

 **Weronika:**Those games will be, uh, chess... reversi, and... Let's go with this Japanese game, shogi.**Weronika**: Those games will be, uh, chess... reversi, and... Let's go with this Japanese game, shogi.

 **Weronika:**You're supposed to be unbeatable at these, right? What do you say, Neo? You in or out?**Weronika**: You're supposed to be unbeatable at these, right? What do you say, Neo? You in or out?

 **Neo:**I have never played this... Shogi, before. However, I can guarantee you will lose. Swiftly.**Neo**: I have never played this... Shogi, before. However, I can guarantee you will lose. Swiftly.

 **Weronika:**Elsie, Sophia, you heard her! Don't even blink! You don't wanna miss seeing Neo lose to me!**Weronika**: Elsie, Sophia, you heard her! Don't even blink! You don't wanna miss seeing Neo lose to me!

*After Shogi*

 **Weronika:**How, how, how how howwww?!**Weronika**: How, how, how how howwww?!

 **Sophia:**An immediate victory, as I'd expect from Neo-sama!**Sophia**: An immediate victory, as I'd expect from Neo-sama!

 **Elsie:**Weronika lost so fast, Elsie did not get to blink.**Elsie**: Weronika lost so fast, Elsie did not get to blink.

 **Sophia:**Not only was she brilliant, but impressive to see. Her elegant fingers, deftly playing the pieces...**Sophia**: Not only was she brilliant, but impressive to see. Her elegant fingers, deftly playing the pieces...

 **Weronika:**No way this is your first time playing shogi, Neo! You're too good! But next time, I'll beat you!**Weronika**: No way this is your first time playing shogi, Neo! You're too good! But next time, I'll beat you!

 **Sophia:**And off she goes... What was Weronika trying to prove, anyway?**Sophia**: And off she goes... What was Weronika trying to prove, anyway?

 **Elsie:**Agreed. Her mind is no match for Neo-sama's, would you not agree, Neo-sama? ... Neo-sama?**Elsie**: Agreed. Her mind is no match for Neo-sama's, would you not agree, Neo-sama? ... Neo-sama?

 **Neo:**...The shogi game. Weronika took a piece from me. Analogous to a pawn in chess, but still one piece.**Neo**: ...The shogi game. Weronika took a piece from me. Analogous to a pawn in chess, but still one piece.

 **Neo:**While her chess and reversi skills were pathetic, she showed some semblance of strategy in shogi.**Neo**: While her chess and reversi skills were pathetic, she showed some semblance of strategy in shogi.

 **Sophia:**W-What does that mean, Neo-sama?**Sophia**: W-What does that mean, Neo-sama?

 **Neo:**She likely practiced playing that game in advance.**Neo**: She likely practiced playing that game in advance.

 **Neo:**She deliberately proposed terms sure to be denied, then conveniently discovered the board game cafe.**Neo**: She deliberately proposed terms sure to be denied, then conveniently discovered the board game cafe.

 **Elsie:**Neo-sama, are you suggesting that Weronika... Of all people, Weronika, planned all of this out?!**Elsie**: Neo-sama, are you suggesting that Weronika... Of all people, Weronika, planned all of this out?!

 **Neo:**Mere speculation. Regardless, this shogi game... She assumed my unfamiliarity gave her an edge.**Neo**: Mere speculation. Regardless, this shogi game... She assumed my unfamiliarity gave her an edge.

 **Sophia:**All that, and only a pawn to show for it. So sad.**Sophia**: All that, and only a pawn to show for it. So sad.

 **Elsie:**Neo-sama saw through her scheme to claim victory!**Elsie**: Neo-sama saw through her scheme to claim victory!

 **Sophia:**Neo-sama, if I may ask... Why did you keep accepting Weronika's challenges?**Sophia**: Neo-sama, if I may ask... Why did you keep accepting Weronika's challenges?

 **Neo:**Is it so strange? Would you two not challenge me?**Neo**: Is it so strange? Would you two not challenge me?

 **Sophia:**N-N-N-N-No, no, no! No, Neo-sama! I could never!**Sophia**: N-N-N-N-No, no, no! No, Neo-sama! I could never!

 **Sophia:**It is utter bliss, Neo-sama, to merely... Be allowed to accompany you as you play games.**Sophia**: It is utter bliss, Neo-sama, to merely... Be allowed to accompany you as you play games.

 **Elsie:**Elsie only faces opponents she is sure to beat.**Elsie**: Elsie only faces opponents she is sure to beat.

 **Neo:**True. At present, only she would challenge me...**Neo**: True. At present, only she would challenge me...

 **Sophia:**(Neo-sama, is she... Is she laughing?)**Sophia**: (Neo-sama, is she... Is she laughing?)

 **Neo:**I believe that explains everything succinctly.**Neo**: I believe that explains everything succinctly.

 **Sophia:**Wait, what? How?! Please, Neo-sama! Enlighten me!**Sophia**: Wait, what? How?! Please, Neo-sama! Enlighten me!

 **Neo:**... I must return to the studio.**Neo**: ... I must return to the studio.

 **Sophia:**Neo-sama! W-Wait for me!**Sophia**: Neo-sama! W-Wait for me!