Somewhere, a half-elf and a young woman with pinkish-blonde hair are playing UNO.

‘You’ll never guess what I’m holding, Wamy. I’ll give you a hint: it’s seventeen draw-four cards.’

‘You’re only holding one card. I can see it.’

‘That’s cuz that’s what I WANT you to see.’

‘I’m not afraid of you.’

‘Many have made that mistake. Few live to make it a second time.’

‘Nene, you made me hold your hand on the way to the washroom because “the hallway was dark”.’

‘Well, it was!’

‘And then you made me stand outside the door.’

‘I like to chat while I go.’

‘The upshot of what I’m saying is that you are not scary.’

‘Death might ride a pale horse, but I ride a poorly drawn cartoon car. If that’s not scary, then I don’t know what is.’

‘You’re right. You don’t. Now, are you gonna let me play a card or…?’

‘Kukuku.’

‘Nene. No.’

‘Nene! YES!’

‘Please.’

‘WA GA NA WA NENE!’

‘PLEASE.’

‘SUZERAIN OF THE SEVEN SEALS!’

‘STOP!’

‘WIELDER OF THE GOLDEN GLOBULES, KIN AND TAMA!’

‘STOP!’

‘THE ENERGY DRINK OF HEARTS EVERYWHERE!’

‘STO—Oh, forget it.’

 ‘ARRGH! THE DARK POWER! IT FLOWS THROUGH ME! WAMY! RUN! I CAN’T…  CONTAIN IT!’

‘Fine. But I’m taking my cards with me.’

‘NO! THERE’S NO TIME! LEAVE THEM!’

‘What, so you can look at them before you “explode”?’

‘I PROMISE I—HRRGH!—WON’T LOOK—EUEGH!—AT YOUR—OOF!—CARDS!’

‘Nene, you know I don’t believe a word of what you’re saying. Right?’

‘You don’t?’

‘No!’

‘Why not?’

‘Because you’re being ridiculous.’

‘I see.’

‘Have we settled down now?’

‘Yes, Wamy. We have settled down.’

‘Good. Okay. I’m gonna play… Red four. Your tur—’

‘BAKAME! I NEVER SETTLE! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM? I am HER. I have always BEEN HER. I will continue to BE HER. I don’t have TIME to brush my teeth in the morning. ‘Halitosis’ is just a fancy name for ‘success’. I own a hundred different insects but, trust me, the buzz is not a bug, it’s a feature. The hype is REAL. And it’s not just ONE PIECE. It’s ALL OF ME. My bankai BONKS! My honkai is off the RAILS! And I don’t need to play gacha to pull a winner. I AM the prize. A five star get? Nah. I’m the whole dang night sky. Hope you brought your space suit. Cause I’m about to show you why they call me “Galaxy Baby”. Goo-goo get ready to have your diaper changed. Cause here comes my last card! BAM!’

‘Nene, you didn’t…’

‘Take THAT! Green four! Oh, man. What an absolute BLUNDER on your part, playing that red four last round. Tsk-tsk. I can’t even imagine how silly you must feel right now.’

‘Nene?’

‘Yes, Wamy?’

‘You forgot to say “UNO”.’