Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid (TV Drama)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid (ジャンケン小僧) is the eighth episode of the TV Drama series Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan. It adapts the Rock-Paper-Scissors Kid Is Coming! story arc from Diamond is Unbreakable.

In this episode, Rohan Kishibe meets Ken Oyanagi, a young boy obsessed with the game rock-paper-scissors who challenges him at it.

Summary
On her way to Rohan Kishibe's house, Kyoka Izumi meets a boy who asks her if she's Rohan editor, as he always sees them discussing work in a cafe downstairs. Izumi thanks the boy for his support but says that she can get him autographs now because they're at work, but the boy stops her, asking why Hot Summer Martha has four spheres instead of three. Izumi quickly invents an excuse to leave but the boy follows her.

At Rohan's home, after playing a bit with Bakin, Rohan deigns to talk with Izumi in his office. He asks what she is doing here as their meeting is scheduled tomorrow and Izumi asks if he is still mad about the design change. Rohan tells her that it isn't her fault, to which Izumi answers by saying that she did find it strange that Rohan had a turnaround in opinion on the design and that having online meetings prevented a good communication. Izumi then suggests to create a new character with three circles which could be approved, as long as it isn't black.

The conversation is interrupted by the boy from earlier who knocks at Rohan's door. Rohan tells him to leave but the boy steps inside the house and asks why doesn't Hot Summer Martha have three circles. The extra sphere on the back seems unnecessary, he says, since those are its eyes, and it makes the design ugly. When the boy asks for the design to change to three circles, Rohan shoos the boy out and says that he'll consider his suggestion before shutting the door. In the office, Rohan notes that this boy only said what he already agreed with and must really be a big fan of his to have read and analyzed his work so carefully. Only, Rohan wonders whether three is really the best number. Taking out two sheets, Rohan folds them into a triangular wedge and a square bar each. Tapping on them with his pen, Rohan shows that the triangular wedge is more stable and explains how the number "3" has had importance significance across many culture. Uninterested, Izumi continues to suggest making Hot Summer Martha a little brother or a sister. Losing his patience, Rohan takes Izumi by the arm and throws her out. Izumi promises to come back tomorrow, privately noting that Rohan seems to have cheered up. Rohan goes back to work. Meanwhile, the little boy walks in the street, ranting about the number three. He suddenly slip right at the intersection leading to the Yabubako-Hoshi's shrine and when he stands up, has acquired a strange obsession with the game rock-paper-scissors.

Later, as Rohan is returning home from a walk with Bakin, he finds the boy sitting at his doorstep. The boy challenges him to a game of rock-paper-scissors but Rohan ignores him. After warming up for work and drawing for some time, Rohan decides to go out again. He calls for a taxi but is cut off by the boy who hails the taxi first. This annoys Rohan and the boy challenges him to a round of rock-paper-scissors to decide who'll get to ride. Rohan goes to a corner and turns the boy into a book with Heaven's Door to read his bio. He learns that the boy is named "Ken Oyanagi" with his quirks and preferences. Rohan also sees that the boy really loves the rock-paper-scissors game and that he uses "scissors" first. Rohan cancels his power and thus wins the round by playing rock, leaving the boy stunned. At another time, Rohan arrives at the cafe but Ken steals his place, playing dumb and arguing that he sat first. The waiter is unable to help because the establishment is full. Ken begins to make a scene. Izumi arrives and tells Rohan to just leave and act like an adult, but Rohan simply accepts Ken's implicit wish to play again. Ken tells Rohan that if he loses, it'll be a tie. Before he can explain more, Rohan tells him to shut up and move to the game. This time, Ken plays "rock" and Rohan plays "paper" and wins. Rohan gloats and shove Ken out of the way, greatly enjoying his victory. He also orders Ken to leave and cruelly laughs. Later, Izumi scolds him for being too strict on kids and fears about his reputation but Rohan does not care and makes her leave by winning a round of rock-paper-scissors against her. Later again in a library, Rohan finds an illustration he finds interesting and tries to check whether he has the money to buy it. However, Ken appears again and snatches the book to buy it. Angered, Rohan challenges Ken to a third round of rock-paper-scissors and almost punches Ken to threaten him. However, Ken happily announces that he's won since he's used "paper" against Rohan's "rock", his closed fist.

Sudenly, Rohan feels greatly weakened. He realizes that Ken must have a gift like him and he tries to flee. His weakness slows him down and thus Ken easily catches up. Rohan uses Heaven's Door on the boy and writes that Ken cannot attack him. Looking at his bio, Rohan read the huge disappointment in Ken felt when he discovered the altered Hot Summer Martha, then his anger against Rohan when the latter threw him out. Ken even feels that Rohan has no right to draw Pink Dark Boy. Rohan then discovers that something happened to Ken as his bio is suddenly covered by huge ink cross, followed by pages where Ken's thoughts are consumed by the idea of playing rock-paper-scissors. Suddenly, Ken wakes up, which startles Rohan. Ken declares his disapproval at Hot Summer Martha and has decided to forbid Rohan to draw manga forever. To do so, he will utterly beat Rohan at rock-paper-scissors, a game of three options founded on "having the will to win" or so he claims. Cornered, Rohan even sees that Ken can nullify his command. Finally, Ken explains that the whole game goes to whoevers wins three rounds first. Rohan tries to punch Ken, but Ken has taken command of a third of Rohan's body, including his right fist, and thus makes Rohan punch himself. Forced to flee, Rohan wonders what the ink cross means and guesses that it represents a road intersection. Thus, he is dealing with a Tsujigami, a yokai dwelling near intersections to mess with humans.

Pursued by Ken, Rohan flees up a service staircase until he's cornered on a roof. Rohan resigns himself to the fact he has to play rock-paper-scissors to escape. Still, he remains confident because he's closer to victory than Ken with his two prior wins. However, Ken declares that he'll outperform Rohan. Rohan tells him he's about to lose but Ken sees through the ploy to pressure him. Ken retorts by trying to analyze his next move. The boy explains that he's won with paper and that common sense would be to use another hand. But perhaps, says Ken, he should use paper again since Rohan would also think of throwing Ken off by using another hand. Staring intently at Rohan, Ken announces he's chosen his move. At the fourth round, Rohan plays "rock" again and Ken uses "paper" and thus Ken wins by having outsmarted Rohan with a bluff. This time, Rohan loses the strength in his legs and must kneel.