---

This is the entrance to the Cafe Friend. Table 2 is right in front of me.

1. Move

2. Look up in the sky

1. Move

Table 2 is right in front of me. The rest of the cafe is straight ahead.

1. Head for Table 2

2. Don't go anywhere

2. Look up at the sky

The boundless sky seemed to be smirking at me. Not too pleasant. I headed back to the Cafe Friend.

To the entrance

Time up

I headed for Table 2. I could see the exit to the north, some plants to the west, and a counter to the east. At this table, an adventurer type was sipping some tea.

1. Move

2. Talk to the adventurer

1. Move

I could see the exit to the north, some plants to the west, and a counter to the east.

1. Head for exit

2. Head for plants

3. Head for counter

2. Talk to the adventurer

Mesa Ricksen, vaguely-familiar adventurer: "I'm Mesa Ricksen, writer of adventure novels. You wouldn't happen to be familiar with my work, would you? I'm back home for the first time in a while; are my books selling well in these parts?"

1. 'Yeah, I've read it all the way through!'

?(If you claim to have read it to the good ending, but haven't:)

2. 'Dunno, I haven't read it."

1. Read it all the way through!

Ricksen: "Oh, I believe you. I can see it your eyes; you have indeed read it. Here, let me give you a 500-point coin as an oh-so-small token of my undying gratitude. What's that? Who am I betting on in the next race? Smackmaster, but why do you ask?"

Head for Table 2

Time up

1. Read it all the way through!

Ricksen: "Now don't lie to me! Ricksen doesn't like to be made fun of! Anyway, if you get a chance, read it, OK? It's a lot of fun! What's that? Who am I betting on in the next race? Smackmaster, but why do you ask?"

Head for Table 2

Time up

2. Haven't read it

Ricksen: "Oh, that's too bad. If you get a chance, read it, OK?"

Head for Table 2

Time up

1. Move

2. Look at the plants

1. Move

Table 2 is to the east, and table 1 is to the south. This is the western edge of the Cafe Friend.

1. Head for Table 2

2. Head for Table 1

3. Don't go anywhere

2. Look at the plants

There's nothing special about them. There's no time; I've got to get going!

Back to Hanging Plants

Time up

3. Head for counter

This is the counter. Table 2 is to the west. To the south, there's a stairwell leading to the second floor, but I can't go up there. The cafe owner and Biggs the bartender are behind the counter.

1. Move

2. Talk to the owner

3. Talk to Biggs

1. Move

Table 2 is to the west. This is the eastern edge of the Cafe Friend.

1. Head for Table 2

2. Don't go anywhere

2. Talk to the owner

Owner of the Cafe Friend: "Oh, Tango. How have you been lately? Could I ask you a favor? I need you to give this to the woman sitting at Table 1. Tell her it's from me."

He handed me the "Pleasant Cocktail".

To Counter

Time up

3. Talk to Biggs

Biggs, hired bartender: "Hi, Tango. Listen, this is just between us, OK? The owner's in love with Kajitena, the material shop owner. How 'bout that?"

To Counter

Time up

1. Move

2. Talk to the card-buff man

3. Talk to the slightly-stuck-up woman

(If you've already talked to the owner, go here)

1. Move

I can see some plants to the north. There's a terrace to the south.

1. Head for the plants

2. Go out on the terrace

3. Don't go anywhere

2. Talk to the card-buff man

Russell, serious card aficionado: "Whoa-ho, if it isn't good old Tango? How's the wife treating you, big guy? What? Who'm I betting on? Well well well well well... I suppose I could reveal that tasty bit of information... if you draw a card higher than mine!"

1. Draw a card

2. No thanks

1. Draw a card

Russell: "OK, here we go! I'll pick first... whoa! An ace of spades! Sorry, dude, looks like I gotcha!"

1. Pick the card on top

2. Pick a card in the middle

3. Pick the card on the bottom

Russell: "What'd you pick? ... A *joker*!? Aww, maaaan. You totally lucked out, dude! Awright, I'll tell you. I'm picking Power Fist. And here, have this gift too."

Got a 100-point coin!

Head for Table 1

Time up

Russell: "What'd you pick? ... Aha! I win! Can't tell you what I'm betting on then. By the way, how's Lucilda? She's totally too good for you, dude."

Head for Table 1

Time up

2. No thanks

Head for Table 1

Time up

3. Talk to the slightly-stuck-up woman

Kajitena: "Why aren't there any good men left? And why doesn't anything good ever happen to me? Why is life so boring? I need a drink!"

Head for Table 1

Time up

3. Talk to the slightly-stuck-up woman

Kajitena: "Tango, what's up? What? A gift from the owner? Wow! I'm so happy! This is great! Here, have this! You know, if you look closely enough, the owner might just be handsome, you know?"

Got a 100-point coin!

Head for Table 1

Time up

2. Go out on the terrace

There's a table here on the terrace. To the north, I can see Table 1. There's an exit to the east.

At this table, a white-bearded gentleman is drinking tea.

1. Move

2. Talk to the white-haired tea-drinking gentleman

1. Move

To the north, I can see Table 1. There's an exit to the east. This is the south edge of the Friend Cafe.

1. Head for Table 1

2. Head for the somewhat suspicious-looking exit

3. Don't go anywhere

2. Talk to the white-haired tea-drinking gentleman

White-haired dandy: "Tango, my good man! Sitting here, looking out at the world, drinking my ryokucha... I look back on those lovely days of the dim and distant past. Say, shall I regale you with a tale of the olden times?"

1. OK, let's hear it

2. No thanks; no time

1. OK, let's hear it

Dandy gentleman: "Now this was a loooooong time ago... quite a ways back indeed... let's see, was the war still going on? I think maybe it was. Yes, yes, of course, it was during the war. That's right. War's no fun, young man, let me tell you. Never know what's going to happen. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the war. So I enlisted and was an engineer on a battle airship. Nerve-wracking job, that. If you're going to join an airship crew, son, let me tell you... oh, yes, yes, the story! Of course. So we stopped off at this tiny hamlet. No more than a little village, this was, one-horse town as they say. Not that anyone rides horses in a technological land like our... oh sorry, sorry, on with the tale. So I visit this tiny village or hamlet as you might call it, and what before my wondering eyes should appear but the loveliest of ladies! The very pinnacle of...'

Suddenly, I could see his betting slip in his pocket! He's betting on Da Thwompa!

To the terrace table

Time up

2. Head for the somewhat suspicious exit

The somewhat-suspicious-looking exit has a stairway to the second floor.

1. Up the stairs we go

2. Head for the terrace table instead

1. Up the stairs

Someone inside the cafe calls out to me.

Cafe Friend owner: "Tango, we've got a private party on the second floor! You can't go up there!"

1. Go up anyway

2. Well, forget it then

1. Go up anyway

Master: "Tango, you can't! I said we've got guests there!"

1. Go up anyway!

2. OK, I give up.

1. Go up anyway

I could hear people talking on the second floor.

"I say, darling, what do you think of this pie? Is it not de-lect-able?"

Hey! That's Lance... and my wife! I'll get her back, just wait and see!

And I found a 300-point coin. Relieves my anger a bit... just a bit.

To the terrace table

Time up

Time was running out! I hurried to the ticket booth. But how much should I bet this time? I've got 50,000 gil. Up to now, I've always made small bets, and usually they haven't panned out. OK, then! I'll bet it all! Gotta trust in these voices! Be a man, bet it all! Yeah!

"Here we go!" said I as I ran to the ticket booth.

"Hey, Tango!" said the attendant. "Luck's on your side today, isn't it?"

~ 6th Race: The Fighting Sprint ~

Group  No. Chocobo Name    Prediction

  1     1  Da Thwompa      Strong finish

        2  Smackmaster     Tail-ender

  2     1  Power Fist      Tail-ender

        2  Heavy Kick      Early lead