Gambling House Host Candidate

Kohei Katsuragi opened his heart to Star Color.

His younger sister was frail and often ill, and their parents and grandparents had all passed away. Now she was being cared for by relatives. As the eldest brother, he had to set a good example for her.

He really was a "happy" person. Even after experiencing "misfortune," he still had a goal to pursue for the sake of "happiness." Caring too much about others while forgetting about oneself was a sign of not loving oneself. That was his desire and ideal.

So he should recognize his own "desires" and act on them.

Star Color agreed with Kohei Katsuragi from the bottom of his heart. Sakayanagi Arisu? He didn't know her well.

Still, he wasn't interested in taking part in the "Class Competition." Just getting the "Gambling House" off the ground was keeping Star Color busy enough.

"Use the right methods to 'unify the class.' That's what you want, isn't it?"

Kohei Katsuragi was actually "normal" at heart. He was just indecisive and even put other people first. That was both a strength and a weakness in a leader. So Star Color wanted Kohei Katsuragi to recognize his own "weaknesses"—or rather, to abandon some of his naïve, honest ideas and do what he believed was right.

"I can't believe you came to see me on your own, Otonashi. How rude."

"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 become my backer."

Standing in the shadows, Star Color's purple eyes alone gave off a faint glow.

Star Color laid out his idea for exploiting "loopholes in the rules," along with the specific games and marketing strategy.

Miyabi Nagumo listened intently, as if he were hearing an amusing story. His smile grew more pronounced.

"Impressive. You actually found a way to exploit a loophole like this. Seishiki Otonashi, you really are the person I need."

"I'll pay Senior Miyabi Nagumo no less than '500,000 points' a month as protection money. Does that tempt you at all, Senior Miyabi Nagumo?"

"Forget the protection money. Let me see what you can do, Seishiki Otonashi. Just how far can you take this?"

Star Color thought for a moment, then asked:

"Senior Miyabi Nagumo, do you know anyone reliable who can provide muscle?"

"Muscle?"

Miyabi Nagumo asked curiously.

"I need someone who can keep the games under control. If the two sides aren't evenly matched in strength, one side will have the chance to 'flip the table.'"

"So I need 'muscle' to back me up. Violence isn't the most proper solution, but it is the best way to protect yourself."

"You've even thought of that?"

Miyabi Nagumo was growing more and more impressed with Star Color. He was a talented guy who thought things through thoroughly.

"Fuka Kiryuin from Class 2-B might be just right for you, Otonashi."

"A girl?"

"Yeah."

Star Color keenly caught the "cunning" look in Miyabi Nagumo's eyes. She was probably going to be a tough nut to crack.

(After school)

Star Color hurried over to the second-year area and peered into Class B from the doorway.

"White hair... and kind of a delinquent aura? Um... she must be the one."

Whoa, what a scary aura. It was hard to imagine that she was his senior. Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the head of a delinquent gang—or the heiress to a yakuza family.

The senior who was probably Fuka Kiryuin noticed Star Color staring at her. With sharp eyes and a terrifying smile, she walked straight over.

"A first-year?"

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

Star Color wondered why some women, despite having no visible muscles and a physique like a chicken breast, could unleash such incredible strength. Were they artificial humans? Or was this some absurd gag manga setting where "[muscle fibers are 5.2 times denser than an ordinary person's]"?

"A boy?"

"Huh? Yeah."

Not many people could tell Star Color's actual gender at first glance. He feigned a blush and nodded.

"You're not my type at all."

Star Color's mouth twitched. Who asked you?

Fuka Kiryuin gripped Star Color's chin and looked him up and down.

"So, what is it? As a junior, you shouldn't interrupt a lady's after-school time."

If you're going to talk, just talk. Don't go grabbing people. Star Color grumbled inwardly.

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

"Boring club. There's no reason for me to join."

"What if that club became a 'gambling venue'?"

Star Color pulled free of Fuka Kiryuin's hand, then tilted his head to look at her. His voice was calm, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"A gambling venue? What an interesting little guy. That's the first time I've heard such a bold idea."

"But I'm not interested. These boring make-believe games aren't for me. Don't come looking for me again."

Fuka Kiryuin chuckled, treating it like a joke, and started to leave.

"Then would you like to make a bet with me, Senior?"

Star Color showed her the one million points on his phone.

He had exchanged cash from another card for points at the Pawn Shop. It was that simple. No tricks at all—just the power of money, along with the privileges his hard-won "status" afforded him.

"One million points? That's impressive for a new student, but I'm not interested."

"Then how about betting our lives at school? The loser becomes the winner's slave or something."

With an innocent, guileless face, Star Color said something that would make any woman recoil.

"You've got some nerve, junior."

Her sharp gaze was frightening. Star Color was actually afraid she might use violence. He was just taking a gamble on whether she would accept.

Star Color's androgynous face stared coldly at Fuka Kiryuin. Though he was much shorter than her, he seemed to be looking down at her.

"You're quite good at making people curious, little guy. My curiosity about you has overcome my reason. So, what game do you want to play?"

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

"Senior Kiryuuin, draw a card?"

"What's that supposed to do?"

"Decide the game."

[Heart 5]: Guess the Bead

[Game Rules:]

[1. At the start of the game, determine the [Attacker] and [Defender]. Their roles cannot be switched during the game.]

[2. The Attacker has five paper cups. Each round, the Attacker chooses one cup and places a bead inside it. The Defender must guess which cup contains the bead.]

[The Defender wins by guessing correctly and gets a bead. If the Defender guesses wrong, they get no bead.]

[3. The game is best of five.]

The rules were simple.

"This activity room sure is small."

Fuka Kiryuin sat across from Star Color and looked around.

The referee was the beloved Senior Asahina.

"I'll witness the game for both of you."

"Then let's play rock-paper-scissors. The winner is the [Attacker], and the loser is the [Defender]."

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

Fuka Kiryuin threw [rock], while Star Color, watching her hand, slowly threw [scissors].