A New Character Joins (Kakegurui)

Otake Ichiro was clearly taken aback by this sudden appearance.

He looked up abruptly and saw the exceptionally handsome yet expressionless face of the young man before him. An indescribable chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

He instinctively tried to stand up straight, but found his muscles stiff as if frozen. A drop of cold sweat uncontrollably slid down his forehead and landed on the rough cement floor.

The boy in front of me showed no ferocity; even his eyes were calm and undisturbed.

But Otake Ichiro's intuition, honed through years of fighting in the underworld, was screaming a warning.

This sense of oppression, this suffocating feeling as if he were being locked on by a apex predator, was far more terrifying to him than the gun barrels and blades he had ever faced before!

He had no doubt that as long as his next answer displeased the other party even slightly.

The next second, I will die on the spot!

Why are you spying on my house?

Tanaka Yukishin's voice rang out, her tone low, even somewhat flat.

But every word struck precisely at Otake Ichiro's taut nerves, its icy sharpness almost piercing his eardrums.

Otake Ichiro swallowed with difficulty, his throat dry and painful.

He recognized the face!

This is the head of the family... no, the person those two noble ladies have been waiting for since they were little!

Indeed... truly extraordinary!

He was about to blurt out, "I am acting on the orders of the head of the family/young lady..." when he suddenly remembered the stern face and strict instructions of the shift leader when he first took over his shift several years ago.

"Remember the rules! If you are discovered by the target, say nothing! Only say that two people you had an agreement with sent us to take turns guarding your family and ensuring their safety. Remember! Two people! Absolutely do not reveal the identities of either of them! This is a strict order!"

That sentence echoed in my mind like a warning bell.

Otake Ichiro swallowed the words that were about to come out, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

He forced himself to look directly into Tanaka Yukishin's unfathomable eyes, using all his strength to control his voice and speak as clearly as possible.

"Yes... it's two people who made an appointment with you. They sent us to take turns keeping watch near your family to ensure their safety."

He paused, then added, trying to emphasize the goodwill, "Absolutely no malice! It's just... just a purely protective mission!"

Tanaka Yukishin's gaze was like a tangible probe, firmly locking onto every subtle change in Otake Ichiro's eyes and facial muscles.

A powerful mental force simultaneously enveloped the other party, scanning for their emotional fluctuations.

The few seconds of silence felt like an eternity to Otake Ichiro.

Finally, the terrifying killing intent emanating from Tanaka Yukishin slowly receded like a tide.

It's confirmed; there were no lies.

Only the unwavering resolve to carry out orders and the fear of facing death.

There were no unnecessary words, and he didn't even glance at Otake Ichiro a second time.

Tanaka Yukishin suddenly turned around, as if she had never been there, and silently disappeared into the shadows of the alleyway she had come from.

The movements were swift and decisive, without any hesitation or delay.

Until the suffocating pressure completely disappeared, until only his own heavy, bellows-like breathing remained in the alley.

Otake Ichiro felt as if all his bones had been removed, and he slumped against the cold wall, panting heavily, his back completely soaked.

"My senior never told me... So the target... is this terrifying..."

He murmured, still shaken, that for a moment just now, he really thought he was going to die.

On the way home, my pace returned to its previous steady rhythm.

Tanaka Yukishin frowned slightly. Otake Ichiro's words were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples in her heart.

Was there an agreement between the two of them?

Long-forgotten fragments of childhood memories surged forth uncontrollably—the bustling stalls at summer festivals, the quiet cherry blossom trees at ancient shrines, the peaceful streets bathed in the setting sun after school...

Several blurry yet clear images of a little girl's face flashed by in turn.

Could it be... his first encounter with that guy Sakayanagi Arisu?

Regarding the 10 million points bet, she mentioned that using household resources was prohibited.

When he recalled his interpersonal relationships, the young lady and childhood sweetheart he remembered actually... existed?

Did they keep that promise in their hearts?

And have you been waiting... until now?

A strange sense of absurdity and a faint warmth welled up in my heart at the same time.

Tanaka Yukishin and unconsciously rubbed her temples.

"What's this?" he asked himself, somewhat uncertainly. "Is my... plum a bit too much?"

Then, he gently shook his head.

As if trying to shake off these chaotic thoughts, a relieved and somewhat carefree smile appeared on his handsome face.

The moonlight fell on him, outlining his tall and confident profile.

"Forget it, things will work themselves out. We'll just have to wait and see, and then things will become clear."

"Right now... going home is the most important thing."

Deliberate speculation is pointless; when he truly needs it, the [Child of Destiny] will naturally tell him the answer.

When he walked to his familiar black iron gate again, the people inside were startled by the sound of him unlocking the door.

He clearly heard a series of hurried and light footsteps coming from inside the door, accompanied by his sister Tanaka Tsukishin's unique, joyful call.

"Onii-chan? Is Onii-chan back?!"

Immediately following were the steady but noticeably quickening footsteps of the parents and the mother's gentle response.

"Yuexin, slow down, don't fall... Xuexin must be back!"

Just as Tanaka Yukishin's hand grasped the cold doorknob, before she could even push it open, the door was suddenly yanked open from the inside with a "whoosh!"

The light embraced him instantly, like a warm tide.

"Onii-chan--!!!"

Shouts filled with boundless joy and longing rang out.

Tanaka Tsukishin, his sixteen-year-old, graceful younger sister.

With a fragrant breeze, it flew over without hesitation, like a cannonball fired from its barrel!

His younger sister, only two years younger than him, had already grown to about 165 centimeters tall. At that moment, filled with excitement and strength, she crashed hard into his arms!

"Hmm!"

Even though Tanaka Yukishin was physically strong, the force of the impact made her stumble and involuntarily take two small steps back before regaining her balance.

"Ha ha..."

Seeing this, Tanaka Shuichi, the father standing in the entryway, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

His stern face was filled with a relieved smile as he gently shook his head.

The mother, Tanaka Fuko, stood beside her husband, her hands clasped in front of her, her face radiating undisguised tenderness and joy.

Her eyes reddened slightly as she looked at her children, who were embracing each other tightly. She smiled, shook her head, and gently scolded them.

"This child is still so impulsive and clumsy..."

"I miss you so much, Onii-chan!"

Tanaka Tsukishin tightly hugged her brother's waist, burying her face in the soft cotton shirt on his chest, her voice muffled, with a hint of coquettishness and barely perceptible sobs.

Sensing her sister's complete dependence and joy, Tanaka Yukishin's previously tense nerves completely Matsushita, her cold and sharp aura vanished without a trace, leaving only a heart full of tenderness.

He stretched out his arms and hugged his sister just as tightly and tenderly.

His chin gently rested on the top of her soft hair, his voice filled with an unprecedented tenderness and affection.

"Hmm... I miss you too, Yuexin." He paused, then added, "I miss you so much."

After a moment of tenderness, Tanaka Yukishin smiled and habitually raised her hand.

Just like when they were little, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he vigorously ruffled his sister's soft, long hair.

The movements were intimate and natural, and he only stopped when RUA's hair became disheveled.

"Ugh! Onii-chan is so mean! He's bullying me again!"

Tanaka Tsukishin finally raised her head, her delicate face flushed with excitement and shyness, and she pouted to express her "dissatisfaction".

But her bright eyes were filled with the joy of reunion.

As she loosened her grip on her brother, she frantically tidied her hair, which he had ruffled into a ball, while muttering threats under her breath.

"The big meal later... I'll make you eat an extra bowl of food as punishment! I'll stuff you until you're stuffed!"

Looking at her younger sister's adorable appearance, Tanaka Yukishin's smile deepened, her eyes filled with doting affection.

He then raised his head, his gaze passing over his sister's shoulder to his parents, who stood under the entryway light, smiling and watching them.

The dim light from the entryway gently bathed the parents. The father, Tanaka Shuichi, still stood ramrod straight, but the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were filled with a contented smile.

The mother, Tanaka Fuko, tilted her head slightly, covered her mouth with one hand, and her eyes glistened with tears of joy.

She gripped the edge of her apron tightly with her other hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force, as if only in this way could she suppress the urge to rush forward and hug her son immediately.

Tanaka Yukishin took a deep breath, the scent carrying the familiar, comforting aroma of home.

The faint scent of tatami mats, the aroma of food wafting from the kitchen, and the gentle fragrance of fabric softener that my mother often uses.

He straightened his back, a bright and sincere smile blooming on his face, and looked intently at his parents.

He spoke clearly and calmly, his voice not loud, yet it resonated distinctly in the warm entryway.

"Father, Mother, I'm back."

The smile on Tanaka Shuichi's face deepened, and he nodded vigorously.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, it all turned into a steady and emotional response.

"Um!"

These simple syllables encapsulate the weight of a father's love, as solid as a mountain.

Mother Tanaka Fuko could no longer hold back, and tears finally streamed down her face, which was adorned with a gentle smile.

She took a small step forward, her voice trembling almost imperceptibly.

"Welcome back, Xuexin."

Chapter 139 & 138: New Character Joins (Kakegurui)

Almost at the same time that Tanaka Yukishin stepped into her home and spent a warm moment with her family.

Deep within the main residence of the Momobami Clan, far away from the outside world, lies a Japanese-style room filled with traditional charm yet exuding modern luxury, where the atmosphere is somewhat subtle.

After resting in the alley for a while to recover, Otake Ichiro...

He barely managed to suppress the pounding in his heart and, with trembling hands, dialed the encrypted line of his direct superior—the master's butler.

He gave a rambling account, tinged with deep awe and lingering fear, of how he was discovered and instantly subdued by his target, Tanaka Yukishin.

He particularly emphasized the other party's inhuman speed and terrifying sense of oppression, as well as his own answer of "two people with an agreement" in accordance with the procedure.

As the butler listened to the report, a hint of seriousness flashed across his usually impassive face.

He knew that those who could be sent to carry out such long-term guarding missions were all carefully selected and experienced experts from the family.

The fact that Young Master Tanaka Yukishin could frighten Otake Ichiro like this suggests that he is even more astonishing than anticipated.

He dared not delay and immediately compiled the information and reported it through internal channels to the current head of the family, Momobami Kirari, and her twin sister, Momobami Ririka.

At this moment, in the center of the Japanese-style room, two stunningly beautiful girls with identical appearances stood facing each other.

They all possessed long, flowing, silvery-white hair, and their eerie yet beautiful eyes shimmered with an unusual brilliance under the lights.

It was Momobami Kirari and Momobami Ririka.

They were dressed in almost identical, exquisite kimonos, with even the curve of their hair buns being exactly the same, and were carrying out their daily practice of "mutual imitation".