# 20 - Hope and Folly
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/series/GRZX45ZVY/akagi)
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[01:13] Nar**
The second match of
Washizu Mahjong has begun.
**[01:16] Nar**
However, Akagi rejects a rare opportunity
**[01:20] Nar**
to regain some of the blood
he lost during the game.
**[01:23] Nar**
He has chosen to focus solely on
**[01:26] Nar**
taking the last of Washizu's
money, destroying him.
**[01:33] Aka**
I don't need it.
**[01:39] Oug**
Why, Akagi?!
**[01:42] Oug**
Why?
**[01:44] Oug**
No matter how you slice it,
you've got to get that blood back!
**[01:46] Oug**
Akagi!
**[01:48] Aka**
Money.
**[01:50] Aka**
I'm going to only grab
money here like a miser.
**[01:55] Aka**
Only then can I chase down Washizu.
**[01:59] Aka**
Only then can I...
**[02:02] Aka**
kill Washizu.
***SIGN*** Episode 20
***SIGN*** Hope and Folly
**[02:07] Nar**
In the end, Akagi enters the second
match without returning those
**[02:11] Nar**
1,100 CCs of blood into his body.
***SIGN*** - South Hand 2 -
**[02:19] oug**
*It's inconceivable.*
**[02:20] oug**
*Why won't you replenish your blood?*
**[02:24] oug**
*Why don't you return the blood you lost?*
**[02:27] oug**
* Why don't you try to get*
* out of this danger zone?*
**[02:31] oug**
*Why do you keep yourself in this position,*
**[02:34] oug**
* where you could die any time*
* you deal into a mangan hand?*
**[02:37] oug**
*Akagi!*
**[02:41] oug**
*I don't understand.*
**[02:43] oug**
*This is something that I can't understand.*
**[02:46] oug**
* But if I had to force myself*
* to imagine a reason...*
**[02:51] oug**
* I'd guess that by staying*
* in this danger zone,*
**[02:54] oug**
*Akagi has something to gain.*
**[02:57] oug**
* It's as if the danger itself is*
* honing something deep within him.*
**[03:04] oug**
* Is it a matter of that sort of*
* sense, that sort of sensitivity?*
**[03:09] oug**
*Or is it meant to rattle Washizu?*
**[03:13] oug**
*By continuing this reckless act...*
**[03:18] oug**
* he might be trying to instill*
* an indescribable fear into Washizu.*
**[03:23] oug**
* Is he trying to make him nervous,*
* to put him under pressure?*
**[03:29] oug**
*I don't know.*
**[03:30] oug**
* There's no way an ordinary guy*
* like me can understand*
**[03:33] oug**
*what someone like Akagi is thinking.*
**[03:36] oug**
* Perhaps my speculations are*
* completely off the mark.*
**[03:42] oug**
*But no matter what his reasons are,*
**[03:45] oug**
*his refusal of the transfusion is very risky.*
**[03:48] oug**
* It's the kind of act that could*
* result in death from one misstep.*
**[03:54] oug**
*To speak plainly, it's close to suicide.*
**[03:57] oug**
* What kind of a reckless, foolish,*
* idiotic strategy is this?*
**[04:01] oug**
* It's all over the moment*
* he deals into a mangan hand.*
**[04:09] Aka**
Pinfu, tsumo, ittsuu, one dora. Mangan.
**[04:13] Nar**
But despite Ougi's concern,
the flow of the game favors Akagi.
**[04:19] Nar**
With this win, he overturns Washizu's lead.
**[04:21] Nar**
He leads by 12,000 points.
**[04:23] Nar**
This time, he takes 4,000
points from Washizu.
**[04:26] Nar**
Of course, he does not ask
for any of his blood back.
**[04:28] Nar**
On to South Hand 3.
**[04:32] Nar**
In South Hand 3, he sees that
Washizu is close to tenpai.
**[04:39] yasu**
Ron!
**[04:46] Nar**
Akagi plays into Yasuoka's hand
and kills Washizu's chance.
**[04:50] Nar**
He ends the hand quickly
to avoid danger.
**[04:55] Nar**
The last hand, South Hand 4.
**[05:01] oug**
*He keeps making it through.*
**[05:04] oug**
* At one point, he was over*
* 20,000 points behind.*
**[05:07] oug**
* When he finally caught up, he didn't*
* take any of his blood back.*
**[05:10] oug**
*That made me pretty nervous,*
**[05:12] oug**
* but I've come to realize*
* that luck's on his side.*
**[05:16] oug**
*Only one hand left.*
**[05:20] Nar**
If he wins this hand, he will survive.
**[05:23] Nar**
The second match will end.
**[05:25] Nar**
Ougi puts his hopes on this last hand.
**[05:31] Nar**
This is Akagi's starting hand.
**[05:34] oug**
*So-so.*
**[05:36] oug**
* It's not the best hand, but if he gets*
* some good draws, he could end it quickly.*
**[05:40] oug**
*The problem is Washizu.*
**[05:42] oug**
*He's 9,200 points behind right now.*
**[05:45] oug**
* The most frightening prospect*
* is him getting a mangan tsumo.*
**[05:49] oug**
*So long as that doesn't happen, we win.*
**[05:57] oug**
*Nice!*
**[05:58] oug**
*It looks bad for him.*
**[05:59] oug**
*We're almost there.*
**[06:02] oug**
*We can do this.*
**[06:03] oug**
*Akagi will most likely win!*
**[06:08] Nar**
Seeing Washizu's starting
tiles makes Ougi relax.
**[06:12] Nar**
But Akagi is not so relaxed.
**[06:15] Nar**
Unlike Ougi, he felt the
exact opposite of Ougi.
**[06:24] Nar**
A premonition.
**[06:30] Nar**
This tile felt foreign in his hand...
**[06:32] Aka**
* There's a lump I have*
* to cut out to win here.*
**[06:38] Nar**
It's the last hand of the second
match in Washizu Mahjong.
**[06:44] Nar**
On the first discard,
Akagi uncharacteristically pauses.
**[06:48] oug**
*What's going on?*
**[06:50] oug**
* There's nothing particularly*
* worrisome here.*
**[06:53] oug**
*You're 9,200 points ahead of Washizu.*
**[06:56] oug**
* So long as Washizu doesn't get*
* a mangan tsumo, it's all good.*
**[07:01] oug**
* Then we can end the*
* second match in the lead.*
**[07:05] oug**
*His victory would be certain.*
**[07:08] oug**
* And we're lucky; Washizu's*
* hand doesn't look so great.*
**[07:14] oug**
* He'll be lucky if he can win at all,*
* let alone get that hand into a mangan.*
**[07:20] oug**
*I get it. It's the dora!*
**[07:22] oug**
*The dora is the west wind.*
**[07:24] oug**
* And since Washizu is the west player,*
* it's worth more for him now!*
**[07:27] oug**
* If he calls that, he's*
* already guaranteed a mangan.*
**[07:31] oug**
* He's got a ticket for a mangan.*
* He's got a trump card for this game,*
**[07:35] oug**
*and he's got one in his starting hand.*
**[07:40] oug**
*No, it might be more than one.*
**[07:44] oug**
* If that black tile is also a west wind,*
* he'll already have a pair.*
**[07:48] oug**
* Which would make this west wind*
* in Akagi's hand a ticking bomb.*
**[07:56] oug**
*A single demon lurking in his own ranks...*
**[07:58] oug**
*Damn it, what are you going to do?*
**[08:00] oug**
* One false move with this west wind*
* and it will end up costing his life.*
**[08:06] oug**
*Does he have no choice but to keep it?*
**[08:09] oug**
*So long as Washizu doesn't give it up,*
**[08:12] oug**
* you could hold on to it*
* until the end of the game.*
**[08:14] oug**
* If you're lucky,*
* you might even get a pair.*
**[08:18] oug**
* If that doesn't happen, you would*
* be forced into a single west wind wait.*
**[08:23] oug**
*You have to be prepared for the possibility.*
**[08:26] oug**
* But holding on to it might*
* just be the safest bet.*
**[08:30] oug**
*If not, though, will you discard it now?*
**[08:33] oug**
* He's most likely thinking*
* about the same thing.*
**[08:37] oug**
* It'll be fine as long as Washizu*
* doesn't have two of them.*
**[08:40] oug**
* He has the one, but it's not*
* likely that he has another one.*
**[08:44] oug**
* Then it would be best to discard*
* it before Washizu gets a pair.*
**[08:49] oug**
* At least then he'd get away*
* from the curse of this west wind.*
**[08:54] oug**
*But should the opposite be true...*
**[08:57] oug**
* should Washizu already*
* have two west winds...*
**[09:00] oug**
*That would be the absolute worst move.*
**[09:03] oug**
* A folly that would allow Washizu*
* to call his own wind, and the dora.*
**[09:08] oug**
* It's like giving your enemy a*
* knife and saying "please kill me."*
**[09:12] oug**
*It would be an irreversible error.*
**[09:16] oug**
*What are you going to do?*
**[09:18] oug**
*What should you do?*
**[09:20] oug**
*What should you...*
**[09:24] oug**
*Akagi!*
**[09:32] Nar**
Akagi's first discard is a 9 of bamboo.
**[09:34] Nar**
He did not discard the west wind.
**[09:38] oug**
* He's going to wait and see?*
* Oh, that makes sense.*
**[09:40] oug**
*It's not too late to discard the west wind*
**[09:43] oug**
*after he's observed Washizu for a while.*
**[09:46] Nar**
No sooner than Ougi thought this, the situation abruptly changes.
**[09:53] Was**
Chi!
**[09:58] Nar**
And then...
**[10:01] Was**
Pon!
**[10:11] oug**
*This can't be...*
**[10:14] Nar**
Within five seconds of Akagi
discarding that first tile,
**[10:17] Nar**
Washizu calls twice.
**[10:19] Nar**
His hand progresses rapidly.
**[10:22] Nar**
What's more, it's a potential green dragon
honitsu with two dora, a five han hand.
**[10:27] Nar**
It's entirely possible to take
the lead with a mangan tsumo.
**[10:30] Nar**
And that hand seems to be almost ready.
**[10:33] oug**
*No! It can't be!*
**[10:35] oug**
*How is this possible?*
**[10:37] oug**
*I don't think he's in tenpai yet, but...*
**[10:41] oug**
* there's no way Akagi can*
* discard the west wind now.*
**[10:44] oug**
* If he does and Washizu calls it, he could*
* get a green dragon honitsu with three dora.*
**[10:49] oug**
*A haneman.*
**[10:50] oug**
*He's 9,200 points behind right now,*
**[10:54] oug**
* so he wouldn't even need*
* a tsumo with that haneman.*
**[10:56] oug**
* Having Suzuki deal into his hand*
* would be enough to take the lead.*
**[10:59] oug**
*He'll crumble...*
**[11:01] oug**
*Akagi will die!*
**[11:14] oug**
*D-Don't tell me...*
**[11:25] oug**
*Don't tell me...*
**[11:30] oug**
*I can't believe this.*
**[11:32] oug**
* From the starting hands, I was*
* sure we'd make an easy getaway.*
**[11:36] oug**
* It only took a few seconds for*
* Washizu to back him into a corner.*
**[11:41] oug**
* It's like he looked up and*
* death is right behind him.*
**[11:46] oug**
*Akagi!*
**[11:51] Nar**
At this point, even Ougi realizes
that the abnormal is normal here.
**[11:58] Nar**
The special rule of Washizu Mahjong,
**[12:00] Nar**
betting one's life on a Mahjong
game, is already abnormal.
**[12:07] Nar**
Which means that in this abnormal world,
**[12:10] Nar**
it only makes sense to regard
the abnormal as normal.
**[12:15] oug**
*Akagi has understood this from the start.*
**[12:19] oug**
* He knew that his life is at risk*
* in this game of Washizu Mahjong.*
**[12:24] oug**
* You'll be pushed to the very brink*
* and are forced to continue playing.*
**[12:28] oug**
* Being able to maintain your*
* concentration is your lifeline.*
**[12:34] oug**
* He also knew that thinking*
* you were safe from a mangan hand*
**[12:40] oug**
* just because you had your blood*
* transfused back into your body*
**[12:44] oug**
*was the wrong way of thinking.*
**[12:47] oug**
* He made his choice*
* based on the situation.*
**[12:50] oug**
* He knows that he must change his*
* game according to the situation.*
**[12:54] oug**
* Thinking "I'll be all right*
* even if he gets a mangan,*
**[12:56] oug**
*so I can discard this risky tile,"*
**[12:58] oug**
*is the normal way to think.*
**[13:00] oug**
* It's fine for a normal game,*
* but it's too weak for Washizu Mahjong.*
**[13:07] nar**
That's a thought that
one must not give in to.
**[13:10] nar**
It ultimately means that one
**[13:12] nar**
doesn't really mind dealing
into their opponent's hand.
**[13:16] nar**
As a result, you stop trying to
read your opponents completely
**[13:20] nar**
and you will play the
odds on certain tiles.
**[13:22] nar**
You will start making half-hearted
guesses about the opponent's hand.
**[13:26] nar**
Both foresight and
determination deteriorate.
**[13:29] nar**
Playing Mahjong like that leads to
failure at the most crucial moment.
**[13:34] nar**
Impurities will start to filter
into the thought process.
**[13:38] nar**
That is to say...
**[13:42] nar**
...fear.
**[13:45] oug**
*He can't let that creep into him.*
**[13:48] oug**
* It will make its way in if he*
* relaxes even for an instant.*
**[13:51] oug**
*He'll be devoured by fear.*
**[13:56] oug**
*I thought I had grasped that properly,*
**[14:00] oug**
* but compared to Akagi,*
* my comprehension lacked severely.*
**[14:04] oug**
* Had I understood it,*
* I never would've been so naïve*
**[14:08] oug**
*as to consider the blood transfusion.*
**[14:11] oug**
* The problem is, this hunger for*
* safety itself is like a cancer*
**[14:15] oug**
*that will eventually consume your mind.*
**[14:19] oug**
* Pursuing safety and*
* finding a temporary haven*
**[14:23] oug**
*will relax your mind for a while.*
**[14:25] oug**
*That's the way the mind works.*
**[14:27] oug**
*It cannot be helped.*
**[14:29] oug**
* But it's exactly that feeling*
* of relief that is bad.*
**[14:32] oug**
* In fact, since I was so*
* certain of Akagi's victory,*
**[14:37] oug**
* this predicament has me*
* all the more shaken.*
**[14:42] oug**
* An agitated mind cannot possibly*
* make cold calculations.*
**[14:47] oug**
* There is no way to keep calm*
* and take countermeasures.*
**[14:50] oug**
* You can't let your guard down,*
* not even for an instant.*
**[14:54] oug**
* Akagi understands that far*
* better than I ever could.*
**[15:00] oug**
*This is our salvation.*
**[15:01] oug**
*His unwavering composure is our salvation.*
**[15:04] oug**
* His utter tranquility despite*
* this situation is our salvation.*
**[15:08] oug**
* He's most likely not making any*
* shallow reads of Washizu's hand.*
**[15:13] oug**
*He's playing with a black or white mentality.*
**[15:17] oug**
*There are no ambiguities.*
**[15:23] oug**
*Wait a second.*
**[15:24] oug**
*Since Akagi didn't discard that west wind, and kept it in his hand...*
**[15:33] oug**
* That means he assumes Washizu*
* has not just one, but two west winds.*
**[15:43] oug**
*There's no doubt about it.*
**[15:45] oug**
*This is the genius Akagi's intuition.*
**[15:47] oug**
*His sense...*
**[15:50] oug**
*Damn it.*
**[15:51] oug**
* If he's right, we've got*
* the worst-case scenario.*
**[15:55] oug**
* On top of those two calls,*
* he's got two west winds.*
**[15:59] oug**
* He no longer needs to get*
* a tsumo to take the lead.*
**[16:03] oug**
*He's all clear for a haneman.*
**[16:05] oug**
*Which means...*
**[16:09] oug**
*annihilation!*
**[16:10] oug**
*Death is nigh!*
**[16:13] Nar**
Unfortunately, Ougi's thoughts and
Akagi's intuition were right on the mark.
**[16:21] Nar**
They are reality.
**[16:23] Nar**
And with this latest draw,
Washizu's hand progresses yet again.
**[16:31] Was**
*I've got you now.*
**[16:33] Was**
*One more step and I'll kill you.*
**[16:37] Was**
*You cocky little brat.*
**[16:41] Was**
*Tremble before me, Akagi.*
**[16:46] Nar**
The situation is bleak indeed.
**[16:48] Nar**
Washizu no longer needs a tsumo
nor a direct hit to take the lead.
**[16:51] Nar**
He can cause an upset even if his
underling deals into his hand.
**[16:56] Nar**
But even if Akagi wanted
to attempt anything,
**[16:58] Nar**
his hand is far from tenpai.
**[17:02] Nar**
No.
**[17:03] Nar**
Even if he were to get great
draws and get into tenpai,
**[17:08] Nar**
he cannot discard this west wind.
**[17:11] oug**
* So essentially, he can't get*
* into tenpai unless he goes*
**[17:14] oug**
* for a single wait for the west*
* wind or can complete the pair.*
**[17:19] Nar**
Among all this...
**[17:27] Was**
*Pon!*
**[17:29] Nar**
Washizu moves forward by
calling this 1 of circles.
**[17:33] Nar**
He's called three times
without slowing down.
**[17:36] Nar**
And then, the circle tiles start to flow.
**[17:40] Nar**
A honitsu tenpai becomes
more and more likely.
**[17:44] Nar**
By now the possibility of the haneman
**[17:46] Nar**
that will cause the
upset is extremely real.
**[17:52] oug**
*It's over.*
**[17:53] oug**
*There's nothing he can do.*
**[17:56] oug**
*It might even end before his next draw.*
**[18:01] oug**
*If Suzuki draws the west wind...*
**[18:13] oug**
*We've survived.*
**[18:14] oug**
*But it's still hopeless.*
**[18:17] oug**
*The gap is too wide.*
**[18:19] oug**
* If Akagi was at least in tenpai,*
* he might be able to*
**[18:21] oug**
* sneak through without*
* discarding the west wind.*
**[18:26] oug**
*But he's still two tiles from tenpai.*
**[18:34] oug**
*And he keeps drawing useless tiles.*
**[18:36] oug**
* He's still working on getting*
* rid of his honor tiles.*
**[18:40] oug**
* Maybe we have to rely*
* on Yasuoka here.*
**[18:44] oug**
*If he wins quickly, that could work, too.*
**[18:48] oug**
* So long as Akagi has that*
* west wind he can't discard,*
**[18:51] oug**
*Yasuoka is our only hope.*
**[18:56] nar**
But Yasuoka is also not in tenpai.
He's two tiles away.
**[19:03] OUg**
Is there nothing we can do?
**[19:05] OUg**
Is praying all we can do?
**[19:07] OUg**
* Pray that our enemy does*
* not draw the deciding tile?*
**[19:12] OUg**
*Aimlessly pray...*
**[19:17] OUg**
* Are we forced to sit idly by...*
* while praying that...*
**[19:23] OUg**
*he'll keep drawing useless tiles?*
**[19:25] OUg**
* And that while he keeps*
* drawing useless tiles,*
**[19:29] OUg**
* either Akagi or Yasuoka will*
* somehow get into tenpai?*
**[19:35] OUg**
* Or that Washizu can't get his winning*
* tile and have the game end in a draw...*
**[19:41] OUg**
* That we see the end of*
* this hand without Washizu*
**[19:45] OUg**
* getting a tsumo or Suzuki*
* dealing into his hand.*
**[19:48] OUg**
*That's all we can hope for!*
**[19:51] OUg**
*No.*
**[19:51] OUg**
* That's relying too much on the*
* others and it is way too unrealistic.*
**[19:57] OUg**
* When we consider that Washizu's*
* hand just needs someone to deal into it,*
**[20:03] OUg**
* we don't have the time*
* to say things like that.*
**[20:06] OUg**
*We need to get into tenpai.*
**[20:10] OUg**
*It's the only way.*
**[20:12] OUg**
* To get into tenpai before the*
* enemy draws the decisive tile.*
**[20:17] OUg**
*We have get into tenpai somehow.*
**[20:23] Nar**
And yet, the one tile Ougi
wanted to be rid of,
**[20:27] Nar**
the tile he wanted his own
party to draw and kill off,
**[20:31] Nar**
the tile that will decide the
fate of Akagi and Washizu...
**[20:36] Nar**
is drawn by Suzuki.
**[20:47] Oug**
*This can't be happening.*
**[20:50] Oug**
* The enemy... the enemy*
* got the west wind!*
**[20:55] Nar**
Right then, they all foresaw
Akagi's impending death.
**[21:01] Nar**
They all foresaw it,
except for Akagi himself.
**[22:16] Nar**
Next time, "A Ray of Illusion."
***SIGN*** Next Episode
***SIGN*** A Ray of Illusion