Mentioned Characters: Mike, Takane

What exactly is trading? At its core, it just means exchanging goods—buying, selling, bartering. Originally a financial term, it has since taken on a broader meaning, and today it can simply refer to exchanging one thing for another. Turns out, trading is a remarkably effective way to get what you want, even in Gensokyo. Ability Cards are a perfect example―odd little cards that quietly became commonplace at some point. These cards can't be stolen. The only way to get your hands on one is through a proper, legitimate trade.

Takane Yamashiro, the yamawaro, is always down to trade. She's also the mastermind behind the black market that once threw Gensokyo into chaos. Nobody knows more about Ability Cards than she does, so it's worth tracking her down if you have any questions about them. Maybe it's because yamawaro are natural-born businesswomen, but she seems to be having the time of her life with all this. Her yamawaro haggling skills are the real deal.

Mike Goutokuji, the maneki-neko, came to Takane wanting to make a trade. She was staring hard at the cards clutched in her paws, clearly agonizing over which one to give up. Her troubled expression made it obvious she was not used to situations like this. Even a maneki-neko with a knack for business isn't necessarily cut out for trading.

Each of them held a handful of Ability Cards. Every single one granted a different power, and any of them could turn out to be a game-changer. But the truth was, depending on the situation, some of these cards just weren't really useful. Then again, a card that seems useless might be exactly what someone else is desperate to get their hands on. And that's precisely why trades take place. "Okay, this one... wait, no, hold on a sec. Maybe I should trade this one instead?" "Hehe, take your time. I'm not exactly in a hurry."

"All right, that's it! I'm trading this card!" "Oh, look who finally decided! Didn't think you had it in you, Mike." "Wait, I think I'm making a mistake! Never mind, gimme a bit longer!" "Yeah, yeah, take your time." "I'm taking forever to decide. I'd lose my mind if I were you. Doesn't this bug you at all?" "Hm? Not really, no. If anything, I love seeing someone take a trade this seriously." "Thanks!" "Hehe, however long it takes, as long as you're trading, that's good for business. I treat all customers with the respect they deserve. And in the end, the profit always finds its way back to me. Hehehe!" "...Yeah, no surprise there. You really are a born businesswoman."