Rock paper scissors bonk!!

"Rock paper scissors… bonk!!"

The janken they played to that catchy rhythmic chant followed exactly the rules I knew.

After that came the hemisphere-shaped helmet and a soft stick made of rolled-up fur. Bonk your opponent's head with the stick after winning, you score a point. Block with the helmet in time, you're safe.

I knew these rules completely. Well, they have public baths here too, so nothing surprises me anymore.

"And when you add stripping to that… I see… I see!"

Two beautiful women were engaged in fierce back-and-forth combat from the very first round.

Both were beastkin of the less-furry, more human-like variety, one sporting black panther ears and tail, the other tanuki.

The two ladies had started out wearing clothes with plenty of accessories. Watching them strip each other was like watching rose petals fall one by one. The difference was that with each piece removed, their allure only grew.

As for the post-janken combat itself, it was pretty sloppy. They didn't seem particularly motivated, and if anything, it felt like they actually wanted to strip.

With a bewitching smile, one moved as if to remove her outer garment… only to peel off a single lace decoration from her arm instead, letting it drop to the floor.

With each piece of clothing that came off, the male spectators' eyes grew bloodshot and cheers erupted.

"Whoa, that's wild… Isn't this hot?"

"Hey hey, Karina. Getting cold feet, are we, nya? Maybe this is a bit much for some countryside virgin like you, nya?"

"I'm not a virgin though? I have five wives too."

"… Huh? Wives? And five of them… For real? N-not bad…?"

Oops, Misha's getting weirdly flustered. You're the actual virgin here, aren't you?

Meanwhile, Dea-kun was reacting exactly like a virgin would, shyly averting his eyes.

"Dea-kun, Dea-kun, let's watch together! Look, that black panther onee-san is about to go for her underwear! She's gonna show it all!"

"Hyah!? N-no, um, that's! I-I'm fine!"

"Karinaaa! Don't bully Dea-chan, nya! Unlike you, he's a pure innocent girl, nya!?"

With that, Misha pulled Dea-kun into a protective hug, shielding him from me.

I mean, Dea-kun is just so cute I can't help myself. Besides, you're the one who invited us to this tournament, Misha.

"By the way, those two are in the professional bracket to hype up the tournament, nya. They're more like exhibitionists, you know? The type who'd join this tournament even without prize money, nya. It's good advertising for their establishment too."

"Huh. Which establishment are they from? Can you request them?"

"You, hey. Are you actually a man?"

I am. Good guess.

Just then, the loudest cheer yet erupted. The tanuki onee-san had removed her bra. While hiding her tips with one arm, she lifted her chest with a soft squish.

And with that, the match was decided. Huh? She still had her bottoms on and wasn't completely naked, but the tanuki onee-san surrendered. The black panther onee-san accepted it, settling the match.

Staff members covered the tanuki onee-san with a blanket to hide her body.

"Huh. You can surrender?"

"As long as your opponent accepts it, nya. I mean, you could keep going, but apparently leaving something to the imagination is more titillating, nya?"

I see. As expected of the professional bracket. Basically saying, "If you want to see more, come visit our establishment."

"In the finals they usually keep going until someone's fully nude though, nya! Hehehe, I can't wait to strip you bare, nya?"

"Aren't you the one who's getting stripped, Misha? Your outfit doesn't look like it has much HP."

"Hmph! I have a secret strategy, nya!!"

Misha declared proudly. A secret strategy… What could it possibly be…!

"Nya? Actually, Dea-chan, looking at your outfit more closely, doesn't it have pretty few parts, nya? Here, I'll give you these from my secret strategy. Put a bunch on your thighs, nya."

"Eh, ah, thank you very much."

Misha handed Dea-kun a massive pile of garter rings.

Bad news. The secret strategy isn't very secret.

Besides, even if she gave those away, Misha's going to face Dea-kun in the second round, you know?

"Isn't that unfair? Give me some too."

"Like hell I'm giving any to you!?"

"Oh? Is that okay? Even if I lose before making it to the finals?"

"… Fine, I'll lend them to you, so you better win, nya!? Give them back before the finals, nya!?"

What, you're actually lending them to me? You're seriously so nice.