Chapter 18: Hikigaya Hachiman Bares His Fangs
In the vast and empty cafeteria, only the frenzied voice of Jabami Yumeko echoed in the air.
"No... don't..."
Clatter—
Sumeragi Itsuki collapsed to the floor with a blank expression on her face, lifelessly staring at the card in Hachiman's hand, as if her soul had been sucked out of her body.
"I can't do it, I can't do it..."
Her mental defenses had been completely breached by the venomous serpent named Jabami Yumeko. Her pride, her gambling skill, her everything—had been devoured entirely by Yumeko with the loss of this match.
Now, she was nothing more than a hollow shell, devoid of spirit.
"Hah? So boring."
The crazed fervor in Yumeko's eyes vanished completely. The light seemed to be sucked away, leaving her gaze cold and pitch-black—like a mathematician who, upon reaching the end of truth, loses interest in all things.
Indifferent, disdainful...
The silence itself seemed to whisper: "Another one, broken."
Having lost all interest in Sumeragi Itsuki, Yumeko walked somewhat disappointedly back to Hikigaya Hachiman's side. "Hikigaya-kun, you can go ahead now~"
.
.
.
"What just happened? Why did it stop?"
The audience on the first floor broke out in confusion. There was only one card left that could have brought this gamble to its final conclusion—why did they suddenly stop?
Were they just playing with everyone?
And so, dissatisfaction began to ripple through the crowd.
In truth, who won or lost didn't matter at all. What really mattered was the despair that would surface when someone fell into the abyss—that despair was their feast, and it would be devoured completely by the emotional vultures watching.
To better participate in this feast, some had even started betting on the outcome of the main game as a side bet.
That meant: those who had wagered heavily on Sumeragi Itsuki, hoping for a huge payday, would now sink into the dust alongside her. And those who bet against her, aiming for the upset, were about to strike it rich overnight.
"Heh, Sumeragi Itsuki lost."
In the corner of the cafeteria's first floor, a woman with a side ponytail quietly stood up and disappeared into the cafeteria's shadows.
She had to deliver this news to the student council immediately.
She had to warn the god in her heart: a snake had slithered into Eden.
.
.
.
Looking at Sumeragi Itsuki, now sobbing on the floor, Hikigaya Hachiman felt no sympathy or pity.
He simply returned to his usual lazy, dead-fish-eyed expression—appearing harmless and disinterested.
Casually playing with the still-unflipped card in his hand, he crouched down to meet Itsuki at eye level.
"I give up, let me go. I give up, let me go. I give up, let me go..." Sumeragi Itsuki chanted mechanically, like a broken doll.
"Hey, Sumeragi-san, I'm sure you wouldn't want news of how you tried to cheat using your family's playing cards and still lost to get out, right?"
"If you can agree to a few conditions, I might choose to keep this quiet."
Keep it quiet—
Sumeragi Itsuki anxiously lifted her head, the fire of hope flickering once more in her eyes.
No matter the cost, she had to do as he said. Otherwise, her entire family might be destroyed by this scandal.
"First, I want 100 million yen."
Hikigaya Hachiman stated his condition calmly, as if it were just the appetizer.
"No problem!" Sumeragi Itsuki clutched at this lifeline like a drowning person. A hundred million yen was nothing to her—if that was all it took to bury this mess, it was a bargain.
Her eyes never once left the card in Hachiman's hand. Her entire being was tied to it.
"Second, I want your family's department store chain to provide distribution channels and prominently feature my products. We'll split the profits as usual."
This...
Sumeragi Itsuki's eyes flickered with hesitation. Summoning her courage, she tentatively asked, "Can I ask... what it is?"
"Don't worry, it's nothing illegal. I can't tell you the details right now, but I'll have someone get in touch with your people later."
"Well then?"
"Alright, I agree!"
As the heiress of Japan's top toy manufacturing company, Sumeragi Itsuki showed the resolve befitting her status. Compared to a total collapse, giving up a portion of her profits was undoubtedly the smarter decision. Even if Hikigaya wanted to sell adult toys, she would grit her teeth and go along with it.
"I'll have someone draw up a contract. As for the 100 million yen, I'll give it to you tomorrow."
Her voice trembling, Sumeragi Itsuki asked, "Then... the card in your hand, Hikigaya-san…"
"A wise choice, Sumeragi-san," Hikigaya Hachiman said with a faint smile, and right in front of her, he slowly turned over the card in his hand.
"How could it be…" Sumeragi Itsuki's pupils shrank. "The King of Spades…"
She suddenly looked up, staring at the man now standing with his hands in his pockets. This outcome… she couldn't accept it. Her dignity was shattered again. This guy… not only had he memorized the position of every single card, but he even deliberately revealed the wrong card at the end just to mess with her in a psychological game.
It was—
Too cruel!
At that thought, Sumeragi Itsuki couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears.
Little droplets of tears fell like pearls onto her thighs as she knelt, unable to rise again.
If only… if only she had been a bit more insane, like Jabami Yumeko. If she had accepted Yumeko's offer and fought to the bitter end, the winner might have been her.
"How unfortunate, Sumeragi-san."
"There are no 'ifs' in this world."
"If you were a true gambler, maybe you could've turned the tables at the last moment. But sadly, you have neither skill nor madness—only your pathetic cheating tricks to rely on…"
"Next time you want someone's fingernails, think clearly about the consequences."
"Let's go, Yumeko."
The King of Spades, symbolizing failure and humiliation, fluttered down from the air and landed silently on the ground, soaked by Sumeragi Itsuki's tears.
Hikigaya stretched lazily, hands in his pockets, walking off in front, while Jabami Yumeko, carrying her dainty little handbag, obediently followed behind him.
Along the way, those who had bet big on Sumeragi Itsuki sobbed in agony. They simply couldn't accept the result. If she had been just a bit more aggressive at the end, the victory—and the payout—would have been theirs.
Heaven flipped into hell, livestock became humans and humans livestock.
The cafeteria had turned into a den of desire.
And yet, the ones who had orchestrated it all—Hikigaya Hachiman and Jabami Yumeko—walked back toward the classroom with utterly expressionless faces, their hearts undisturbed.
From behind came Yumeko's voice, airy and enigmatic: "Hikigaya-kun, there's one thing I don't understand."
"Mm? What's that?"
"How did you do it? Memorize the positions of the cards without the special markings… and flip them one by one in perfect order from Ace to King?"
"Even I couldn't see through that."
"Oh, that…" Hikigaya Hachiman tilted his head slightly, looking out the window, and said nonchalantly, "Luck, maybe?"
Luck?
Jabami Yumeko stopped in her tracks.
Her full chest heaved with excitement.
"I want to… I really want to have a gamble with you, Hikigaya-kun…"