[Dumplings aren't nightmares, god damn it, and bitty puppies don't know how to stare judgmentally. Glaring up at Touya--he hasn't even looked away once, which is typical of him--Hikaru is really starting to wonder if this situation is too surreal to deal with. Getting lectured about his performance while Touya is holding a cute dog still doesn't make any sense. Touya might as well have a python draped over his shoulders, except pythons aren't as cute. Is this some sort of brand-new advanced tactic to affect the meta? Unbalancing Hikaru by wearing defenseless animals as a shield...

This is low, Touya Akira.]

Dude, [Hikaru says, then he reconsiders. He lets the word hang as he tries to formulate a response, any response at all, to what he's been confronted with. This is a lot different from having an opponent play first-hand Tengen.] Your family seriously belongs on another planet. When my parents disagree about something, my mom just starts yelling at my dad until she gets what she wants. [Maybe the proverbial apple doesn't fall far from the tree, in that case.] If you ask me, that's way more dignified than gambling on the game...

[Stirring his soup, he discovers most of the dumplings have gone by now. Truly sad.]

... "You have to win" isn't any different than what I tell myself every second of every hour of every day. I'll be sure to add your nonsense version of it to the pile.