"Second Literature Preparation Room... This has to be the least popular casino on campus," Mary muttered, hesitating at the door with Hanatemari.
Originally, Hanatemari had wanted to bring Naoki along, but she had vanished right after class no one knew where she'd gone.
"Alright, let's head in."
Mary pushed the door open.
"Welcome\~" said a girl seated behind a desk at the far end. She stood up, a flicker of surprise crossing her face upon seeing them. She greeted them politely but didn't come forward.
"This is a casino, right?"
"That's right. I'm Yukimi Togakushi, president of the Literature Club. Are you here to gamble?"
Just like she said someone had finally come. Yukimi's heart tensed. Whatever faint hope she had quickly vanished.
Mary brushed her hair and glanced around the room. "Something like that."
All you needed to run a casino was permission gained through gambling.
This girl didn't seem particularly sharp. Shouldn't be too hard to deal with.
...
Meanwhile, in the club building, students roamed between casinos run by different clubs. The clamor of cheers and groans mixed with the sound of dice and chips.
"Damn it, I blew my entire 200,000 yen allowance this month."
"I lost even more. Forget it, I should stop before I can't pay the student council fee."
Two students stumbled out of a casino, grumbling only to freeze when they saw a tall woman walking toward them with chains in hand.
Their expressions turned ghost-white.
"Shit, it's Juraku Sachiko. Run!"
"We didn't borrow money, she's not here for us... right?"
They bolted down the hall.
"So rude," remarked the girl with purple mid-length hair at the end of the chain. Her face was expressionless, doll-like.
Everywhere they passed, noisy casinos fell instantly silent. Only after they moved on did hushed voices return.
"Why are student council members here?"
"They only show up for money or arrests. Nothing good comes of it. If it's not us, then we got lucky."
"Wait... is that Juraku Sachiko? Someone's gonna suffer today."
"Shhh! If she hears you, losing your casino will be the least of your problems."
Juraku Sachiko, Head Disciplinary Officer of the Student Council, was feared by all.
Aside from the Student Council President, she was the most terrifying presence on campus.
She didn't just defeat opponents in gambling she crushed them mentally.
No one who had played against her ever wanted to sit across from her again.
They described it as being stared down by a snake a sense of imminent death.
...
Upstairs, having watched the scene unfold, Naoki entered the Second Literature Preparation Room.
"Hey, Mary, Hanatemari."
"Naoki! You're here!" Hanatemari beamed.
Before they could say more, the door burst open again.
Two unfamiliar figures filled the doorway.
"You two..."
Yukimi's eyes widened in shock. She rushed forward in panic. "Chairwoman Juraku."
"Still dead quiet in here, I see. A few more people today, though."
Without even glancing at Yukimi, Juraku strode in and sat on Yukimi's desk. Her silver waterfall of hair cascaded down her back as she crossed her long legs casually.
Naoki's eyes flashed. Juraku Sachiko one of her major future targets.
Just as the rumors said: dominating.
Even if she was here to collect unpaid fees, neither Sayaka Igarashi nor Miharutaki Sakura would dare sit on someone else's desk like this.
It was pure contempt.
And that presence... with her height and model-like figure, she exuded overwhelming pressure. Her sharp features and vertical pupils made her look like a beast.
Naoki barely heard the conversation between Yukimi, Mary, and Hanatemari her full focus was on Juraku.
Mary and Hanatemari were also stunned though more so by the girl at the other end of Juraku's chain.
The girl wore a livestock tag.
Was this some sort of punishment game? Mary guessed as much.
Lose a gamble, wear a collar? That made sense.
Still, she didn't dare say it aloud. Judging from Yukimi's reaction, this woman held serious authority.
Naoki sighed internally. She didn't particularly want to pursue someone with such extreme S tendencies.
Then came the voice:
"Mikura."
"Yes." The girl with the collar stepped forward expressionlessly and opened a file. "Effective today, the Literature Club's usage rights for the Second Preparation Room are revoked."
"What?!" Yukimi's face fell. She instinctively looked to Naoki.
"Why are you so surprised? You know you've been behind on payments. We've reminded you several times."
Yukimi bit her lip.
So the Student Council *was* here to revoke the casino.
She had no money. All she could do now was believe in them.
She couldn't lose the Literature Club.
Mary's eyes lit up. She stepped forward.
"In that case, transfer the casino rights to me. I'll run it properly and pay more than enough fees."
Juraku's gaze turned to her. Mary felt a chill, like a beast had locked onto her.
"And you are?"
Drawing on yesterday's humiliating loss and her desire to avoid defeat again, Mary braced herself.
"Saotome Mary. First-year, Class H. Just transferred in."
Fearing her club would be taken, Yukimi finally spoke up.
"I-I'll find a way to pay! Please, give me another chance!"
"Interesting. Then why don't you gamble for it? One million yen the casino's usage fee as the wager," said Juraku with a curious glint in her eye.
Naoki, meanwhile, was feeling entirely ignored.
Despite being adorable, neither Mary nor Juraku had spared her a glance.
"I have no problem with that," Mary agreed. "But I'm short 300,000 yen."
"I'll lend it to you," Juraku offered.
Hanatemari tugged Mary's sleeve. "You probably shouldn't borrow money from the Student Council... I hear bad things happen if you can't pay it back."
"Relax. This is the path to becoming a winner. You have to take risks."
"Yukimi, what about you?"
Yukimi took a deep breath. "I'll accept the challenge."
"Then it's settled. Mikura."
"Understood."
The collared girl stepped forward to explain the rules.
"Wait!"
Everyone turned at the voice. Naoki stood tall.
Finally. They noticed her.
"Naoki?" Mary said.
"Naoki..." Hanatemari echoed.
Juraku's eyes narrowed. "And who are *you*?"
Just one look, and Naoki felt her legs go weak.
Juraku had that mature dominatrix aura that drove weaker types crazy.
Even though Miharutaki was beautiful, her air of refinement made her seem untouchable. Juraku was different.
Everything about her body and aura screamed domination. Just looking at her made you want to submit.
Nope. Not falling for it.
*System, shock me! Wake me up!*
**System: 36V electric shock, coming up!**
Zap!
Naoki jolted. Clear-headed again.
"I'm here to represent Yukimi in the match."
Juraku raised an eyebrow.
Mary and Hanatemari were both shocked. Mary kept calm; Hanatemari was visibly shaken.
She couldn't imagine her two closest friends battling each other.
Mary quickly realized this wasn't a coincidence.
Naoki must've heard their plan and come ahead of time. Maybe she and Yukimi had already made arrangements.
But why? Did she want the casino too?
Then why lend her money yesterday?
The more she thought, the less it made sense. So she stopped.
Just win the match. Claim the casino.
Juraku looked even more intrigued. "Yukimi, is this true?"
"Yes," Yukimi replied, head down. Truth was, she lacked gambling skills. Even a moderately skilled gambler could beat her.
Mikura didn't care about their drama. Her role was simple: find out who Juraku was interested in, then ensure *that* girl lost and became her pet.
**System: Mikura's affection -1. She thinks you're stealing Juraku's attention.**
Naoki: ...
This would be an obstacle.
"Please take your seats."
Mikura produced a die. "Today's match is Three-Roll Dice."
And the gamble began...
(*To be continued in Chapter 24*)