31 - Momobami Kirara is as unfathomable as the abyss
To drag people equally into the hell of compulsive gambling—
That is the gamble of the compulsive gambling woman, Jabami Yumeko.
Not everyone can be like her—able to face hell and still madly secrete dopamine.
The crazier the gamble, the more excited Jabami Yumeko becomes.
"Maybe from a medical perspective, Yumeko should really have her dopamine-secreting organs checked? Something might be seriously wrong."
This sudden thought popped into Hikigaya Hachiman's head, and he couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, amused by his own imagination.
"Have I really spent so much time with Yumeko that I've started cracking jokes to myself too?"
On the monitor outside the room, Nishinotouin was seen collapsing to her knees, trembling all over in fear.
Clearly, her gambling spirit had already been shattered by Jabami Yumeko.
Even though, in terms of betting odds, Nishinotouin still held an advantage over Yumeko,
she lacked the resolve to risk losing everything like Yumeko did.
At this point, the confrontation had risen beyond just wealth and gambling skill—
it had become a battle of willpower.
And Jabami Yumeko's willpower...
"...is unbeatable." Hikigaya sighed, a strange mix of admiration and awe in his heart.
Two gambling matches in a single day—and in both, whether it was Yumeko or Saotome Mary,
the method of victory was remarkably similar:
Turning the opponent's cheating against them to create a winning opportunity.
Now, Nishinotouin was beginning to beg for mercy—
but Yumeko only pushed harder and harder.
Just when it seemed like this gamble involving 2.1 billion yen was about to collapse,
Hikigaya's ears twitched. He looked toward the end of the corridor.
"Someone's coming…"
Hikigaya's heartbeat suddenly quickened as he stared at the hallway's far end.
A pair of brown leather boots came into view first.
Leading the group was a girl wearing matte-colored stockings, her legs full and firm.
Her ultra-short pleated skirt swayed with each step,
as if each swing might expose some forbidden delight.
Her face was enchantingly seductive, with cool bluish lip gloss and matching eyeshadow,
giving off a stunning yet chilling allure.
From the very first glance, Hikigaya Hachiman felt a pressure like he had never experienced before.
"Like a bottomless abyss..."
Hikigaya narrowed his eyes, and under that overwhelming pressure, his gaze sharpened.
So—did Momobami Kirari represent the ultimate mastery of gambling?
Or the deepest evil in human nature?
…Or perhaps, both?
Behind her were a woman with a smiley face mask and a body similar to Momobami Kirari and a petite little girl wearing a bunny hoodie, black and white striped knee-high socks and chewing a lollipop.
As the group approached, Hikigaya's previously calm heart began to stir with anxiety again.
In just a few steps, Momobami Kirari stood before Hikigaya Hachiman.
Her slender fingers—painted with pale blue nail polish—rested against her chin.
With keen interest, she locked eyes with Hikigaya and said:
"You're the student recommended by Yukinoshita, correct? Hikigaya-san?"
"How have your first few days at Hyakkaou Academy been so far?"
She spoke as though she had no idea of the victories he had achieved—
her tone warm and gentle, like a friendly older sister checking in on her junior.
But Hikigaya knew full well:
a woman who created the house pet system couldn't possibly be so harmless and easygoing.
"Pretty good," he replied calmly.
"This school is quite impressive—both in terms of facilities and the quality of education."
"I see…"
"I still have some matters to handle here. If it's convenient for you,
I'd like to have a chat with you later, Hikigaya-san."
"It would be my honor."
Then, Momobami Kirari walked up to the entrance of the research club room.
The two "stray cats" standing guard at the door instantly froze,
as if faced with the apex predator in the food chain, and stepped aside trembling.
Next, Kirari turned around and asked Hikigaya:
"Hikigaya-san, would you care to come in and see how this gamble ends?"
In her eyes, there was only Hikigaya Hachiman.
As for Sumeragi Itsuki, who had already been removed from the student council,
Kirari's gaze didn't linger on her for even a second.
To her, Sumeragi was no different from air.
Despite receiving the invitation, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't feel the slightest bit of joy. His pupils suddenly contracted, and a sense of unease welled up inside him.
'Momobami Kirari knew about this gamble from the very beginning. She might have been watching it remotely this whole time. Would a woman like her just sit by and watch her Student Council members fail again and again?'
'Why isn't she panicking at all? Nishinotouin is clearly backed into a corner.'
'What if her real target from the very start... was Jabami Yumeko?'
'I miscalculated. I underestimated her.'
A chill ran through Hikigaya's body as he met Momobami Kirari's gaze—he felt as if his clothes were being stripped off piece by piece under her eyes.
His schemes, his thoughts, were completely seen through by her.
He, Hikigaya Hachiman, had been seen through?
Cold dread began to spread in his heart.
Hikigaya was someone who prided himself on being calculating and cautious.
He hated gambling precisely because he lacked the resolve to bear the risks of losing.
Without absolute certainty of victory, he would never step onto the battlefield.
And now, this woman before him had completely surpassed his range of calculation.
He couldn't see through her, couldn't touch her.
Even his previous conclusion—that Yumeko would inevitably win this game of "Life and Death"—was beginning to waver.
This was the defeat of a mystery novelist!
"Hikigaya-kun?"
Only when Kirari called out to him again did Hikigaya snap out of his spiral of thoughts.
"Alright. I'll go in with you."
Hikigaya took a deep breath, then strode forward beside Kirari without any hesitation.
From the eyes of the girl in the bunny hoodie, this was quite the surprising sight. She clicked her tongue and licked her lollipop with gusto.
Perhaps for her, it was rare to see a student meeting the President for the first time without a shred of fear or reverence.
"P-President Momobami… Lady Nishinotouin told us not to let anyone related to Jabami inside…"
The two stray cat girls again reached out trembling hands to block their path, faithfully carrying out Nishinotouin's orders.
After all, Kirari may be the Student council President, but she wasn't their President.
"Hmm? So what you're saying is… you want to stop me?"
But just a single cold, lofty glance from Kirari sent the two stray cats collapsing to the ground in terror,
trembling as they knelt, not daring to block the way any longer.
"Sorry for the unsightly scene, Hikigaya-kun," Kirari said meaningfully.
"There are always a few who just don't know how to follow the rules."
Hikigaya understood instantly.
She was likely referring to Nishinotouin, who was planning to go back on the deal—or perhaps… she was referring to herself.
"Ah! Hikigaya-kun!" Jabami Yumeko cried out when she saw Hikigaya arrive.
She immediately ran over with arms wide open, throwing herself into his embrace.
That soft, springy impact actually helped bring Hikigaya back to his senses from the earlier mental turmoil.
Blushing, he coughed and pushed his hand gently against Yumeko's forehead, putting a bit of distance between them.
"Excuse the intrusion."
"P-President?! Why are you…" Nishinotouin stammered.
"Things have gotten very interesting," Kirari replied, her gaze flicking between Yumeko, Hikigaya, and Nishinotouin.
"The stakes seem quite high too. But it's precisely at times like these that problems tend to occur. So let me serve as a witness."
"I—"
BANG—
Suddenly, Momobami Kirari reached out and pinched Nishinotouin's cheek with force.
Even when facing her own subordinates, her cold stare was like she was ready to crush an insignificant insect.
"Enough. Shut up, Nishinotouin."
"Now… open the sword urn."
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