Episode 2: Gate Holder

OP: “Sekai to Issho Ni Mawarou yo!” By Chiaki Takahashi, Youko Hikasa, Ayana Taketatsu & Marina Inoue

ED: “Miracle Chance” by Ultra-Prism

What are you? Chicken?

Mint praises Rio on her promotional video and also her costume that she is currently wearing. However, Rio feels embarrassed wearing them and wonders why she has to do a dance show. She then decides to have a word with the owner. In Mr. Howard’s office, Rio and Mint are listening to Mr. Howard repeating Rio’s request of doing dealing work. He then responds that it is perfect and calls for someone to come over. He introduces Anya Helsing from Russia and tells Rio that he wants her to train recruits. This shocks Rio at first; with Mr. Howard adding that Anya has potential. Anya is happy to be taught by the Goddess of Victory as looking forward to it. Rio feels a bit pressurised by Mr. Howard’s request; stating the fact that it is part of her job to look after juniors. Mr. Howard goes on, revealing a poster of a revealing outfit, telling Rio he plans to have a new show next month. However, before he can finish Rio accepts the job of training Anya.

Listen, I am not playing 52-pickup!!!

Later, Anya is taken to Rio’s room and Rio asks her to show her what she can do. Anya performs perfectly on dealing on the Blackjack table; impressing Rio. Rio then wants to see her on the Roulette Wheel, but is stopped when Anya asks Rio about the Gate Holder; the card within a glass display. Mint asks what it is and Anya explains that the International Casino Dealer’s Guild issued 13 cards called Gates and distributed them around the world. A dealer holding one of these cards is called a Gate Holder. Gate Holders challenge each other betting their Gate. On the open road, the explanation continues by a man driving a car. He goes on to say that the Gate Holders have what is known as Gate battles and the dealer that obtains all 13 cards is named the strongest dealer in the guild. Mint thinks it is amazing but Rio doesn’t really think it is. She tells them that someone gave the card to her when she won a card game.

Quick! she is slipping away!!!

Rio then moves on to see how Anya fairs on the Roulette wheel. As Anya walks across, she trips over and slides across the floor. Rio asks her if she is alright, to which Anya tells her she is ok and gets to her feet, but again falls face down to the floor. Meanwhile, a young man is driving a car; accompanied by young ladies who are part of his fan club. His name is Elvis and he approaches the Howard Resort and plans to defeat a particular person, the person on the photograph which turns out to be Rio. In the Casino, Rio is dealing while watching Anya tripping over herself serving drinks. Later, Anya sits down and leans back knocking over a huge pyramid of champagne glass which sends her and Tiffany into the air. Anya apologises to Tiffany, as she bows she (bums) the slot machine which knocks over into the next one creating a domino effect. Anya runs after the effect and ends flying into the Wheel of Fortune; supervised by the Adam twins. Anya is stuck to the wheel as it rolls across the casino floor chasing the Adams twins. Mean while Rosa is having bad luck on one of the slot machines when she hears the commotion and then sees the wheel coming towards her. The twins run pass and the wheel hits the slot machine and gives Rosa a jackpot and many chips are dispensed, Rosa cheers and thanks Ayana.

Haven't you got one of Pikachu?

Tiffany and the twins complain to Rio about her not keeping an eye on Anya. However, Anya goes by, being towed by Rosa, who is happy by her good fortune recently. However, this short lived as another row of slot machines topple over. Outside the casino, Elvis arrives with the Gate card No.3 slotted into his fashionable microphone. He then brings good fortune to the players in the casino. The men on the craps table giving them a 7 on the roll of the dice. A jackpot for the lady on the slot machine and finally pulling off an amazing 9-ball shoot pocketing the 7, 8 and 9 in one go. He goes looking for Rio when Anya drops a tray of drinks on to the floor in front of him. He helps her pick up the pieces of broken glass, but cuts himself on one of the shards. Anya puts on a band aid over his finger and then walks off. Elvis then spots Rio and sits down at her table. He asks for a card; specifically her Gate card and challenges her to a Gate battle. Rio is lost for words but Mr. Howard accepts the challenge on Rio behalf; against her wishes.

Wow! quick sand!!!

Outside, a huge crowd gathers to witness the Gate battle. Rosa is amazed by the spectacle when the floor below her shakes and Rio is then sent shooting up into the air. It is revealed to be a giant roulette wheel to be used for the gate battle. Mr. Howard tells Rio that when a person carries a gate card they also carry their dreams. This inspires Rio to play and agrees to also change into her costume. However after changing in a bright light, Rio is shocked to find her costume is actually the revealing one from the poster earlier. This also changes Elvis’s attire to a pair of Speedos. Mr. Howard gives the rules; one will bet while the other throws the ball. If the person that bets is correct they win, if not they will lose. Mr. Howard then selects Anya as the dealer and before any objection from Anya, she is sent up into the air, boosted by a good luck cheer from the Adam twins. Elvis then lets Rio decide on who does what. Rio selects that she will bet and Elvis will throw the ball. Elvis has a few practice throws, predicting accurately into which slot the ball lands in. They then both ready to begin the game.

That's a huge one!!!

Elvis taunts Rio that the numbers are on his side and that he will win. However, Rio begs to differ and heads up to the balcony to bet. Elvis begins to calculate the numbers, as coloured numbers circulate around them, including Anya. Elvis decides to put the ball into Black 33 and throws the ball at the calculated speed. Rio chooses Red 1; they then have an illusional game of volleyball with Rio struggling to return the ball as many numbers pin her down. She then unleashes her selected number and a giant Red “1” appears out of the ground and blocks Elvis’s overhead smash of the ball. Returning to the reality, the ball lands into the slot of “Red 1” and everyone cheers for Rio. Elvis is shocked as his calculations were correct but then realises that the plaster on his finger had come off and stuck to the ball; unbalancing it, putting his calculations off. Rio is then announced the winner. Rio is congratulated as she looks towards Elvis who is crawling on all fours, begging for his female fan club to return. Anya then comes up to him and takes his Gate card from him. Later, Rio puts the new card into the glass display, when Anya enters her room with Mint, pushing a trolley with a congratulatory cake with a red “1” on it. However, Anya trips and the cake goes flying.

This episode was quite funny with the clumsy Anya causing havoc; one after the other, which I think makes her a more loveable character. The episode starts with the OP theme (missing from the previous episode) and obviously I can recognise the seiyuus, Ayana and Hisaka within the song, which makes me starting to like it. I would have done this earlier but I wasn’t feeling up to blogging it at the time. Anyway here it is, so IS next…