"Say, isn't your committee president here yet? She's not the type to be late."
Maybe it was because Naoki had just won a gamble and was recognized by the vice president. Or maybe it was just because she was cute. Either way, the other members didn't mind chatting with her.
"She used to be punctual. Maybe something's bothering her lately," one Beautification Committee member said.
Another chimed in, "Yeah, I noticed it too. A few days ago, I saw her sitting at her desk deep in thought. President Miharutaki Sakura is usually so focused. I've never seen her like that before."
Could it be that the Zensaki Society is planning something?
Not that Naoki wanted to be vain, but even with 13 affection points, she couldn't possibly believe *she* was the reason.
No way.
Just then, the door opened, and the woman Naoki was thinking of walked in.
Everyone who had been slacking off immediately returned to their posts. Conversations about dinner turned into work discussions. Even the girls who were gossiping with Naoki scurried away, leaving her standing out like a sore thumb.
"You all..."
This is kind of impressive.
At a regular school, no one would listen this obediently to a club president. This was starting to look like an actual company.
Of course, it wasn't *just* Hyakkaou Academy's class hierarchy.
When Yuyuzan had been present and she was the vice president people still chatted and slacked off. The difference was clear:
People follow those who are *truly* capable. Not just anyone with a title earns respect.
Miharutaki's gaze swept the room and landed squarely on Naoki.
That familiar face reignited memories of that night of a dreamlike fantasy she'd tried to forget.
Miharutaki entered, not even looking at her directly. She stared at the large office and said coldly, "Why are you here?"
Though addressed to Naoki, the question was really for the others.
Yuyuzan immediately stood up. "President Miharutaki, she came to help with cleaning."
"This room doesn't need cleaning."
Yuyuzan looked troubled. She leaned in and explained the earlier events.
Finally, Miharutaki looked Naoki in the eye. "You. Come with me."
Naoki followed her into the adjacent office, unfazed.
As they walked, she considered Miharutaki's sudden coldness.
Affection had gone up yet her attitude was icier than when she defended her from Sayaka Igarashi.
But this was just surface-level. It didn't mean Miharutaki *hated* her.
In fact, it was the opposite. The coldness was her way of avoiding the feelings she couldn't accept.
When they first met after the seduction incident, Naoki had noticed how Miharutaki stared directly at her with confident, steady eyes.
But just now, when she spoke, she deliberately avoided looking at her. That was clearly evasion.
Combined with the awkwardness of their last meeting, Naoki could guess what was going on: the idea of falling for a girl who stripped in front of her went against Miharutaki's sense of righteousness.
So now she was pushing Naoki away?
Inside the smaller office.
Naoki glanced around. Alone. A private setting perfect for another round of seduction.
"Tell me. What exactly are you after?" Miharutaki said sternly. "I checked. After losing a million yen to Midari Ikishima, you took on janitorial duties here."
"The same week, you and Midari were both absent. People saw you leaving together. You two seem close."
"I also learned why Ina recommended you. With your skills, why go to such lengths just to clean the Student Council building?"
She'd ruled out Naoki being one of the President's people. She wouldn't have clashed with Sayaka otherwise.
She wasn't targeting the Zensaki Society either. So why was she always orbiting *her*?
At first, Miharutaki thought she was trying to infiltrate Zensaki. But then came the gamble. And now this.
Was she the target?
Maybe Naoki wanted her committee chair position? If she couldn't win it outright, was she trying a backdoor approach?
Naoki was speechless.
She'd been planning her next seductive move, and here this serious woman was, still overanalyzing everything.
No wonder Midari called her too straight-laced. With things so obvious, she *still* didn't get it?
Naoki weighed her chances. Confessing now? Practically zero.
But maybe she could create an opening. Judging by Miharutaki's reactions, she *did* feel something.
No need to push too hard just yet.
"President Miharutaki, I'm not a gambling addict. Everything I've done is for survival. When I first arrived, I almost became livestock. I was lucky to win that first game, but I don't want to live in fear."
"But it's not something I can avoid. I figured, if I could work under someone in the Student Council, maybe I could protect myself."
"And you... from the moment I met you, I knew you were honest and good. If you protected me, I'd feel safe."
Miharutaki's expression didn't change not until...
"I know this is a lot to ask. So I'm willing to offer... something else." Naoki began taking off her coat.
Miharutaki's face flushed red. She turned away. "Put that back on!"
*Use Charm Card!*
With such a perfect setup, not using it would be a waste. If Miharutaki regained composure now, she might shut down emotionally.
Better to strike while the iron was hot.
Under the card's influence, Naoki looked especially enticing in just a white shirt.
She moved closer, swaying just enough to be suggestive. Miharutaki kept avoiding her gaze.
"Don't worry. The door is closed. No one would dare interrupt you."
Still blocked at every turn, Naoki went for broke. She undid two buttons and leaned in.
Naturally, her advance was rejected.
"President Miharutaki, if you push me down, I might scream. Then everyone outside would come rushing in... and see me disheveled under you."
"They'd learn what their perfect president is *really* like. But hey, it's not like this kind of thing is rare around here."
There's nothing someone like Miharutaki would fear more than her reputation.
Her hand stopped. She turned away, resisting silently.
No system alert meant her favorability hadn't dropped.
Naoki boldly embraced her from behind.
So close, she could feel Miharutaki's ragged breathing.
Miharutaki Sakura never expected this shameless girl to push so far. Did she really not care if someone walked in?
Or... was she hoping they would?
The door wasn't even locked.
They'd been in here a while. The Beautification Committee was always busy. If someone knocked now\...
The thought made her hot with shame and something else.
Why was she *excited* by that idea? Why did the very image Naoki described fill her with such a dangerous longing?
If someone saw\... if word reached her family...
They'd be devastated. And maybe then, she could finally break free from being the perfect daughter of the Miharutaki household.
**System: Due to your close contact, Miharutaki Sakura is flustered. Favorability +5!**
Naoki paused. She hadn't expected *that* to work.
Wow, didn't think someone so proper would like it rough.
Maybe she just found her kink.
The more someone has to be perfect, the more they crave the opposite.
But then...
Miharutaki came to her senses.
"Enough. Get out."
She didn't look back.
Naoki stroked her chin, uncertain. Was that her limit? Or was she just pretending to be mad?
No point pushing further.
"President Miharutaki, you seemed pretty happy just now. These things help relieve stress, you know. No one saw a thing. To everyone else, I was just here to clean."
Her words, her actions, everything challenged Miharutaki's values.
"You think I'd believe that? With how practiced you are, I doubt I'm the first."
Naoki blinked, then smiled.
Miharutaki realized she'd said too much revealed her jealousy.
"Nope. First time. You can check if you want."
Whether it was or not didn't matter. What mattered was making her *believe* it.
Miharutaki shut down the conversation and kicked her out.
...
Naoki dressed and left.
The committee members swarmed.
"What happened? Did she scold you?"
"Yeah. She seemed mad and kicked me out."
Everyone gasped.
"That serious? She usually seems nice."
"Well, letting outsiders clean in here was risky. We keep important documents."
Naoki said nothing. She'd teased enough for today.
A good seduction involved timing. Overdoing it was desperate.
Make yourself too available, and you lose value.
Back in class.
Mary Saotome and Tsuzura's gamble had ended. Aiho was gone. Mary and Hanatemari were still there.
Naoki saw it went exactly as expected.
"Naoki! You're back!" Hanatemari ran up. "Mary was amazing! She exposed the cheating and won a bunch of money!"
Mary handed Naoki the case. "Here's your 10 million. Since it was your money, you deserve a share. Five thousand."
Would she reject the amount?
"Wow, thanks." Naoki pocketed it.
"You... took it so easily!"
"Didn't you give it to me?"
Mary: ...
Wasn't she supposed to say something noble like, "This is nothing to me"?
Still, seeing Naoki accept it calmed her. She didn't like debts. Or condescension.
"If you're giving me a cut, I guess you consider me a friend. Thanks."
Friendship? That fast?
Mary didn't deny it. She was still adjusting to this school.
Naoki packed her things. With Mary now in the story, the plot was kicking off.
The rise and fall of the Zensaki Society.
But for Naoki, something else mattered more now\...
"Hey Mary, you know how this school works. Lose, and you become livestock. Have you thought about your future?"
"Future?" Mary repeated.
She came here to *win*. She would never be a loser.
"To become strong, you *have* to gamble."
Mary looked at her ten thousand yen. "Sure, but I don't have capital."
"Hanatemari told me this school has many gambling dens. To become a winner, you need money. Best way? Run your own casino. House always wins."
Just like the plot.
"You know the rules to get one, right?" Naoki said.
Only clubs with campus space could run them. You had to pay a million yen monthly in management fees.
All spaces were taken. To get one, you had to win it in a gamble.
Mary smiled. "Then I'll find the weakest one and take it. Some clubs must be struggling."
Hanatemari raised a finger. "I know one! No one goes there."
"Great. Let's challenge them tomorrow," Mary said confidently.
...
Naoki quietly left the classroom, heading to the club building.
"Literature Club. This is it."
She knocked. "Hello? Anyone in?"
A short-haired, bespectacled girl popped out from a pile of books. "Yes! Welcome to the Literature Club. I'm the club president, Yukimi Togakushi."
Naoki tossed her bag on the sofa and looked around. "You're a one-woman show, huh."
"Uh... Are you here to join?"
"This is a gambling den, right? But I don't see any gear. How are you surviving without income? Can you pay the management fee?"
"Of course we have gambling! We do rock-paper-scissors. Wanna play?"
Naoki: ...
Definitely hopeless.
"Yukimi Togakushi, listen. You haven't paid your million yen fee, right? The Student Council will come collect soon. You'll lose the club."
Yukimi's expression turned serious. "What are you getting at?"
"Just being nice. Someone's planning to challenge your casino tomorrow. Thought I'd give you a heads-up."
"What?!"
Yukimi panicked. She couldn't lose the club. But she had no gambling talent. That's why she'd avoided opening for business.
But now\...
"That girl is strong. She won 300,000 yen in her first gamble."
Yukimi looked even more hopeless.
"Don't worry. I'll help you... if you listen to me." Naoki smiled sweetly.
Her true goal was never Mary.
But...
Someone else.