Chapter 21 – Hikigaya Hachiman is Flattered
"A Life Plan Document—staking one's life as collateral, judged by the student council's evaluation standards…"
"An individual's value is assessed based on three aspects: intelligence, appearance, and family background. That value is then exchanged for a hefty sum of money."
"She, with her exceptional looks, was selected as a concubine for a councilman, and valued at 20 million yen…"
"This practice of evaluating people like merchandise is honestly so despicable it defies description."
Hikigaya Hachiman rested both hands behind his head, voicing his thoughts.
In his mind, he recalled the detailed clauses of Saotome Mary's Life Plan Document.
One particular clause had stuck out to him: the money wouldn't be deposited into Mary Saotome's account all at once. At first, only 5 million yen would be transferred to her as gambling funds, while the remaining amount would only be deposited after she failed.
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes.
Strange, isn't it?
Given how the student council treats people like consumable resources, trying to extract every last bit of value, why would they go out of their way to give Mary Saotome a second chance to turn things around? If it were him, he wouldn't give her even a moment to catch her breath—just shove her off the cliff and maximize the profit.
There was only one possibility: the student council's real target wasn't Mary Saotome—it was him, Hikigaya Hachiman.
They were betting he would back her up. After all, if she lost, her life would be forfeit to the student council, and the 10 million yen she owed him would vanish into thin air. So, if he wanted to recover that money, he'd have to help her.
'It's been a while since someone tried to play me like this.'
'Who could it be? Someone in the student council knows me—was it from middle school? Or… elementary?'
"Is Hachiman-kun not planning to help Saotome-san?" Jabami Yumeko, walking beside him, asked with curiosity.
The two of them had become an inseparable pair—a dazzling sight among the first-year students.
At first, everyone only noticed Yumeko's noble and lovely appearance. She was so naturally graceful that even simply walking down the corridor felt like a performance. But after winning two consecutive gambling matches, attention started turning toward the plain-looking boy beside her.
That lazy gaze, hands in pockets, slightly hunched back—paired with rumors of his overwhelming gambling prowess... and his identity as a special scholarship student.
Along the way, several girls' eyes lit up, gathering in small groups along the hallway, whispering and gossiping about Hikigaya Hachiman. This kind of background and skill combo was irresistibly attractive to a bunch of high school girls—like something straight out of a shoujo manga.
"Let's wait and see. Getting caught in someone else's trap just for ten million yen… doesn't seem worth it. Anyway, first things first—I need to get that 100 million yen from Sumeragi."
"Ah, we're here."
Hikigaya Hachiman looked up and stopped in front of a classroom sign.
Knock knock—
"Hi, we're here to see Sumeragi-san."
The student who answered the door led Hikigaya and Yumeko to the center of the last row of desks.
There, Sumeragi Momobami was sitting and spacing out.
When she saw it was the two of them, she quickly stood up and pulled a gold-trimmed bank card from her pocket, bowing to Hikigaya at a 90-degree angle.
That day, after she'd returned home, her father—somehow having learned about her loss—gave her a harsh scolding. But once Hikigaya's representatives and the company's people had completed the transaction, her father's attitude changed drastically. He even said something rather cryptic:
"Please curry favor with that young man. He is a rare talent."
Curry favor? A rare talent?
Sumeragi did acknowledge Hikigaya's skills in gambling—but was he really that extraordinary to be taken so seriously by her father?
What exactly did Hikigaya plan to sell through their family's distribution channels?
Recalling her father's stern attitude, Sumeragi Itsuki, though still full of doubts in her heart, did not dare show the slightest hint of disrespect. She gave Hikigaya Hachiman a deep, respectful bow.
In an instant, the previously noisy crowd of onlookers fell completely silent, their jaws dropping in shock.
Was this really the same Sumeragi Itsuki they knew—the pampered daughter of a wealthy family?
Hikigaya understood the situation at once and didn't react much. He simply reached out and took the bank card Sumeragi handed him.
Turning around, he prepared to leave with Jabami Yumeko.
"P-Please wait, Hikigaya-san, Jabami-san…"
Sumeragi bit her lip, torn between conflicting thoughts. On one side was the student council, a group she had long yearned to fully be a part of. On the other was the severe command from her father at home. Personally, she wanted to continue serving the student council—there were people there she looked up to.
But her family was a traditional one.
Parental commands were not to be defied.
Clenching her teeth, she made the decision to betray the student council:
"Hikigaya-san, Jabami-san… after you defeated me, the student council will surely be keeping an eye on you."
"I'm sure you're curious to know who the student council members are."
At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the identities and information of the student council members weren't made public. The only way students could learn about them was through word of mouth or by personally witnessing their gambling matches. And to do that required connections.
For someone like Hikigaya, who was new here, connections—or rather, socializing—was his weakest area. While he might not fear human interaction now, by nature, he was still not the sociable type.
So, seeing Sumeragi's attempt at favor, Hikigaya had no intention of rejecting it.
"Tell me about Nishinotouin Yuriko."
He wanted to hear different perspectives on the initiator of the so-called "cheat-proof gambling."
Got him. Thankfully, he wasn't one of those arrogant, prideful types. For some reason, Sumeragi breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Miss Nishinotouin is the president of the Traditional Culture Research Club… she oversees the 'Life or Death' game…"
Hikigaya interrupted her: "I already know that. I want something normal students wouldn't know."
"Um…" Sumeragi frowned in thought, hesitating:
"I heard from another student council member, Mibuomi-senpai, that Miss Nishinotouin is a woman who appears gentle on the outside but is extremely vicious on the inside. She'll do anything to win. Some say her subordinates have even been carried out of the casino by ambulance."
"If you ever meet her, don't be fooled by her appearance."
"Using her own subordinates as gambling chips… Nishinotouin-senpai is really twisted," Yumeko murmured absentmindedly, tapping her chin with a finger.
"Does the student council have someone specifically in charge of managing the casinos?" Hikigaya asked suddenly.
"Yes, her name is Juraku Sachiko."
The moment he heard that name, Hikigaya Hachiman's pupils contracted sharply.