Gambling House Host Candidate

Kohei Katsuragi had opened his heart to Seishiki Otonashi.

His younger sister was frail and sickly, and with both his parents and grandparents gone, she was now being cared for by relatives. As the eldest brother taking on a father's role, he had to set a good example for her. What a truly "fortunate" person—even after experiencing "misfortune," he still had a goal to pursue for "happiness." Caring too much for others while forgetting "oneself" was itself a form of self-neglect. This was his desire and his ideal.

So he should act according to his own "desire."

Seishiki Otonashi genuinely acknowledged Kohei Katsuragi. Sakayanagi Arisu? Not familiar.

But he had no interest in joining the "class battle." Just the "Gambling House" launch plan alone was enough to keep Seishiki busy.

"Use your own correct methods to 'unify the class.' That's your wish, isn't it?"

Kohei Katsuragi's heart was actually "normal," but he was indecisive, even overthinking for others' sake. As a leader, this was both a strength and a weakness. So Seishiki wanted Kohei Katsuragi to recognize his own "weakness"—or rather, to abandon some of his naive, honest thoughts and do what he believed was right.

"Otonashi-kun coming to find me on his own—how rude of you."

"Senior Nagumo, I'd like to use my second wish. I want to turn the board game club into a 'gambling venue.' I hope you'll back me up."

Standing in the shadows, Seishiki's purple pupils alone glowed with a faint, eerie light.

Seishiki laid out his idea of exploiting "loopholes in the rules," along with the specific game content and marketing strategies, in full detail.

Nagumo Miyabi listened intently, as if hearing an amusing story, his smile growing more pronounced.

"Impressive. To discover and exploit such a loophole in the rules. Seishiki Otonashi, you really are the person I need."

"Every month, I'll provide no less than '500,000 points' to Senior Nagumo Miyabi as protection money. Does that interest you?"

"Forget the protection money. Just let me see what you're capable of, Seishiki Otonashi. How far can you go?"

Seishiki thought for a moment, then asked a question.

"Senior Nagumo Miyabi, do you have any reliable recommendations for muscle?"

"Muscle recommendations?"

Nagumo asked, curious.

"I need someone who can maintain order at the gambling table. When the two sides aren't evenly matched in force, one party has the condition to 'flip the table.'"

"So I need a guarantee of 'force.' Violence isn't the most legitimate method, but it is the best way to protect yourself."

"You've even thought of that layer."

Nagumo found Seishiki more and more impressive—a guy with thoroughly comprehensive consideration.

"Fuka Kiryuin from Class B, second year. She might fit your criteria, Otonashi-kun."

"A girl?"

"Yeah."

Seishiki keenly caught the "cunning" in Nagumo's eyes. He figured that one would be a tough nut to crack.

(After school)

Seishiki ran over to the second-year area and stood at the entrance of Class B, looking around.

"White hair... kind of a delinquent girl vibe? Hmm... looks like that's her."

Whoa, kind of an intimidating aura. Hard to imagine this person was actually his senior—she looked more like the boss of a gang of delinquent girls, or the heiress of a yakuza family.

The senior who seemed to be Fuka Kiryuin noticed Seishiki's gaze, and with sharp eyes and a chilling smile, she walked straight over.

"A first-year?"

"Yes! Um... I'm Seishiki Otonashi from Class 1-A."

Seishiki was curious—how could a woman with no visible muscles, a body like chicken breast, unleash such immense strength? An android? Or some ridiculous gag manga setting like "muscle fibers 5.2 times denser than a normal person's"?

"A guy?"

"Huh? Yeah."

Few people could identify Seishiki's real gender at first glance. Seishiki feigned a blush and nodded.

"Totally not my type."

Seishiki's mouth twitched. Who asked you?

Fuka Kiryuin grabbed Seishiki's chin and looked him over left and right.

"So what's the matter? A junior shouldn't interrupt a lady's after-school time."

Talk if you're going to talk, but keep your hands to yourself. Seishiki grumbled internally.

"Um... would you be interested in joining the 'board game club'?"

"A boring club. No need to join."

"What if that club later becomes a 'gambling venue'?"

Seishiki broke free from Fuka Kiryuin's grip, then tilted his head to look at her, his tone calm, as if stating something trivial.

"A gambling venue? What an interesting little one. This is the first time I've heard such a bold idea."

"But I'm not interested, you know. Don't come looking for me with boring little-kid games."

Kiryuuin just gave a light laugh, treating it like a joke, and was about to leave.

"Then how about a bet with me, Senior?"

Star Color flashed the one million points on his phone.

Points exchanged from cash in another card at the Pawn Shop—simple as that. No tricks involved, just the power of money, plus the convenience of the [status] privilege he'd earned through his past struggles.

"One million points, huh? Pretty impressive for a freshman, but I'm not interested."

"Then what about staking our school life? The loser becomes the other's slave or something."

Star Color said something that could make any woman hate him, with an innocent, guileless face.

"You sure have guts to say that, junior."

That sharp gaze was really quite frightening; Star Color was actually scared inside that she might use violence. He was just betting on whether she'd accept.

Star Color's androgynous face coldly stared at Kiryuuin, as if he, a full head shorter, was the one looking down on her.

"You little one, you really know how to pique someone's curiosity. My curiosity about you has now overcome my reason. So what game do you want to play?"

Star Color pulled a silver deck of cards from his pocket.

"Kiryuuin-senpai, draw a card?"

"What's this for?"

"To decide the game's content."

[Heart 5]: Guess the Bead

[Game Rules:]

[1. At the start, confirm the [Attacker] and [Defender]. The roles do not switch during the game.]

[2. The Attacker has five paper cups. Each round, the Attacker chooses one cup and places a bead inside. The Defender guesses which cup the bead is in.]

[If the Defender guesses correctly, they win and receive one bead. If the Defender guesses wrong, they get no bead.]

[3. The game is best of five rounds.]

Simple and easy-to-understand rules.

"This activity room sure is tiny, huh."

Kiryuuin sat across from Star Color, looking around.

The referee was everyone's beloved [Senior Asahina].

"I'll be the witness for both sides' game."

"Then rock-paper-scissors. The winner becomes the [Attacker], the loser becomes the [Defender]."

"Three, two, one, rock-paper-scissors!"

Kiryuuin threw [rock], while Star Color, seeing her gesture, slowly put out [scissors].