19 - Hikigaya and Juraku Sachiko
From overcast to clear.
Sunlight streamed into the student council conference room, yet it couldn't dispel the chilling atmosphere lingering in the air.
On either side of an antique and grand long table sat eight people. Some sat upright in composed dignity, others casually played with handguns. Some wore traditional kimonos, while others were dressed in short skirts with slits running all the way up.
Among the 3,000 students at the private Hyakkaou Academy, these ten had distinguished themselves. In strategy, mind games, courage, and gambling skills—each excelled. Now, they gathered in the meeting room, taking their places on either side of the long table.
"In the end, Hikigaya Hachiman drew the King of Spades. But before he flipped it over, Sumeragi Itsuki chose to surrender and made a private deal with him."
"...That is all."
"Wow~ Just transferred in and already made a fool of Itsuki-chan. This Hikigaya Hachiman guy is really nasty, huh? That Jabami Yumeko isn't bad either—impressive how far she took that triple memory game with Itsuki-chan," said a girl with stars in her eyes, wearing a fake but pleasant smile.
Next to her, a short-haired girl with a lip piercing nonchalantly shoved her handgun into her short skirt and fiddled with it, saying, "Winning against small fry probably made him feel all proud. Toys like that are the most fun to break."
"After all, she only got into the student council thanks to her high tribute money. But to have a student council member lose to a newly transferred student—this really undermines our council's prestige," commented a girl with a calm and refined demeanor, eyes narrowed like a classic Yamato Nadeshiko.
"Haha! Ara~ Who was it that recommended her into the student council again? Kaede-kun, what do you think?"
"Shut up. You're annoying," snapped a boy whose glasses reflected light coldly as he pushed them up with a detached expression.
"Now then… what should we do with Hikigaya Hachiman and Jabami Yumeko?"
Momobami Kirari leaned on one hand, her pale-blue eyes flickering like the infernal flames of hell—cold, desolate, and melancholic.
She extended her hand, nails painted a deathly blue, and ran her fingers delicately over the photographs of Hikigaya Hachiman and Yumeko.
"Aren't they interesting? Let's stir things up a little~"
"Hikigaya Hachiman~ Hehehe… Looks like Yukinoshita really did sneak a wild lone wolf into the fold."
She placed Hikigaya's photo on the table and, with a flick of her finger, sent it gliding across the polished surface.
Smack—
A finger, nails painted blood-red, pressed down right on Hikigaya's forehead in the photo, pinning it firmly to the table.
"Hikigaya..."
The woman's long legs were wrapped in black stockings, paired with high heels that had crimson soles and thin stiletto heels. The tips of her shoes swayed in the air. Behind her, a girl blushed as she stared at the tips of those shoes, her eyes full of desire.
The woman narrowed her crimson eyes, as if reminiscing about the past.
"Who would've thought, after all these years, that you'd choose to come to Hyakkaou Academy."
"The little kid who used to cry in a corner has grown to this point?"
"Since you've come here on your own, then fall into the depths completely."
"Sachiko, are you interested in Hikigaya Hachiman?"
"Yes. Leave this person to me," said Juraku Sachiko as she stood up. At 173 cm tall with a model-like figure, her red-soled high heels further amplified her commanding, queen-like aura.
Eyes red like blood, hair white as snow. Her waist-length white hair flowed behind her as she spun gracefully, tugging the dog leash in her hand, ready to leave the conference room.
Just then, Momobami Kirari's voice echoed from behind at the perfect moment.
"On the first day of enrollment, together with Jabami Yumeko, he defeated the battle-hardened Saotome Mary."
"On the second day, he and Yumeko defeated a member of our student council."
Jure Sachiko raised her eyebrows and, still with her back to Kirari, replied, "I won't lose. Not to Hikigaya Hachiman, and not to Jabami Yumeko."
"Mhm, I believe in you, Sachiko."
"But I want to see them separated. The two of them seem like they were made to exist together."
"If they're split apart... it'll be more fun, right~?"
"Hahahaha! Leave it to me! I'm interested in that Jabami Yumeko woman—I want to break her completely," laughed the short-haired woman who had previously been playing with a gun. She now shoved the barrel all the way into her underwear, letting out a crazed laugh.
No one paid attention to the madwoman.
Unlike the other student council members who had risen through gambling prowess, she was a special case. Her gambling skills were almost negligible—she relied on simple, obvious cheating tricks anyone could see through. Her seat on the council was granted due to her overwhelming nerve.
The kind of courage that comes from being indifferent to life and death.
"I'll go, President," said a woman in a kimono calmly. "I'll take care of the woman who has disgraced the student council."
"Good, then I'll leave it to you, Yuriko."
"I look forward to hearing about your victory."
Creak—
The conference room door closed slowly, leaving only Momobami Kirari sitting alone in contemplation.
.
.
.
"Hachiman-kun, please~ Just one game with me!"
Jabami Yumeko clung tightly to Hikigaya Hachiman's hand, like a kitten craving its owner's attention, swaying her pleated skirt back and forth.
"N-No. I don't like gambling," Hikigaya blushed, turning his face to the side, trying his best not to look at Yumeko's adorable expression.
That Yumeko—when she's not gambling—is really unfairly cute.
Even Hikigaya had to admit, only Yukinoshita Yukino could compare to that expression she made when seeing Pan-sensei's reactions.
And once gambling was involved, Yumeko could instantly switch from elegant young lady mode to "freak" mode—just like now.
Ever since winning against Sumeragi Itsuki yesterday, Yumeko had locked her sights on him.
Not only was she constantly messaging him on LINE begging to gamble, she acted just as clingy at school. Her complete lack of gender boundaries made Hikigaya incredibly uncomfortable.
"Alright, alright! Just one game, then stop bothering me!"
Eventually, Hikigaya gave in. Under her expectant gaze, he reluctantly pulled a coin from his bag.
He held the gleaming silver coin up to the sunlight. "One round. We'll settle it with this. Call heads or tails."
"If I win, Yumeko, you stop pestering me to gamble."
"And if you lose, Hachiman-kun?"
"If I lose... I'll treat you to dinner after school."
"What?! That's it? So stingy!"
Yumeko puffed up her cheeks, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at him in mock anger.
.
.
.
"They really get along well, huh."
Someone sighed from the crowd.
"But that 'gamble' of theirs is way too boring. Is there some hidden trick involved?"
"Idiot. That's just a couple's little kink game. You wouldn't get it."
Hearing that the two most talked-about new first-years were about to have a gambling match, students from other classes had swarmed into the Class 1-H room.
At first, everyone had been excited to witness a showdown between the rising stars. But now, most of them left disappointed.
This wasn't gambling. It was just a flirty little game between two people playing around.
A simple coin toss, with a completely ordinary bet. Boring!
At that moment, Saotome Mary pushed through the crowd, holding her dog tag tightly to keep it from making noise, and approached the two of them.
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