Choice

Late at night, the entire school was plunged into a deathly silence. The once-bustling commercial district was now devoid of pedestrians, and even the student dormitories were completely swallowed by darkness.

Only the teachers' office still had a faint light glowing.

Chabashira Sae sat alone at her desk, continuously flipping through the profiles of the students in her class.

Finally, the computer interface stopped on the page for Kato Satsu.

"Kato Satsu"

"Written exam, did not participate"

"Interview, did not participate"

This unusual profile couldn't help but make Chabashira's pupils constrict in shock.

"This is fundamentally impossible."

Chabashira lightly covered her mouth and nose; the expression on her face was not one of shock, but of deep contemplation.

On the second day of school, the first thing Chabashira did upon entering the classroom was not to start the lesson, but to announce that Nagasawa Kuraku of Class 2-C had been expelled for fighting.

The school administration seemed to take this matter very seriously, explaining the ins and outs quite clearly and even providing surveillance footage.

This was something Satsu had never expected. Although he could understand that Horikita Manabu, having just taken office, needed to make an example of someone who violated the newly established rules, providing the surveillance footage had pushed Satsu into the spotlight. No one was blind; anyone could see what Satsu had done to cause Kuraku's sudden change in attitude.

More importantly, Matsuyama's pathetic state was now known to the entire school, and there was no way he could hide his "benmingnian" misfortune now.

"I didn't intend to keep my promise to Kuraku, but now it looks like he's going to come looking for me himself."

Satsu rested his hand on his forehead and closed his eyes slightly: "Why are there so many things to deal with?"

The day's classes were dull and tedious, but an announcement after school caught everyone's attention.

"At five o'clock, an explanation of club activities will be held at the First Gymnasium. Interested students, please attend on time."

Hearing the cute female voice on the broadcast, Satsu stood up immediately, but after a second thought, he asked without much hope: "Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, want to go together?"

"Judging by his eyes and facial expressions, he doesn't have any bad intentions." (Ayanokoji Kiyotaka)

"Sure."

As Ayanokoji responded, he stood up.

"Wait."

Suzune suddenly said: "I'll go with you."

Hearing this, both Satsu and Ayanokoji were stunned. Ayanokoji asked first: "I thought you were the type who wasn't interested in anything."

"You're right about that. I'm indeed not interested in joining any club activities; I just want to go and take a look."

As she spoke, Suzune turned to look at Satsu: "Are we going?"

"Of course!" the latter replied affirmatively.

Although the three were traveling together, their goals were different, and as soon as they arrived at the First Gymnasium, they began to split up.

Satsu quickly wove through the various clubs. Although there weren't many students in this school, the number of clubs was staggering.

Finally, the club he had dreamed of appeared before Satsu's eyes: the Board Game Club!

"With my mind-reading ability, I won't lose at any card game! Points, here I come!"

Holding this thought, Satsu arrived at the entrance of the Board Game Club.

"I want to join the Board Game Club!"

"Sure thing! Welcome, underclassman. Come on in! We're just in the middle of club activities!"

"Eh? Don't I need an interview or to fill out some paperwork?" Facing the enthusiastic senior, Satsu was very confused.

"Oh, our club isn't that complicated. It's just a bunch of people getting together to play cards. We don't turn anyone away, and we don't force anyone to stay."

"Even people who aren't in our club can play along. Even I, the club president, was only chosen temporarily because we needed to recruit new members."

"Oh, right. I've been talking for so long. My name is Dao Jin, Class 2-B."

Hearing this, Satsu was grinning internally. Doesn't this mean there are ATMs everywhere here? Getting rich is just around the corner!

"Ah! You guys don't play for points?"

Faced with this sudden bolt from the blue, Satsu couldn't help but exclaim: "If you're not playing for points, why are you even playing?"

"That would be gambling, wouldn't it? The school strictly prohibits gambling. We don't do that."

"Ah... alright."

Seeing Dao Jin's serious expression, Satsu didn't continue to insist. After all, this wasn't a game for one person; if no one would play with him, there was no point in saying anything else.

"Yo~ Isn't this Kato Satsu from Class D? What a small world!"

The owner of this voice was none other than Tano Matsuyama.

"I didn't expect to see you here, Matsuyama," Satsu replied.

"Does a defective product from the unknown Class D even deserve to play cards?"

"Who is more famous than Senior Matsuyama? Everyone knows about his bad luck this year."

The two were at each other's throats, but the verbal sparring did not last long.

"Since you want to play, I'll play along with you?"

Faced with such a fool delivering money to his doorstep, Kato Satsu naturally had no reason to refuse.

"Fine, what game? How many points are we betting?" Kato Satsu asked confidently.

"As expected of a Class D idiot. Do you think I'd play with you without any preparation? Out of the seventeen people in the Board Game Club, ten have already taken my money. Just wait and see how I crush you." (Tano Matsuyama)

"We're playing a modified version of Old Maid, and I'm betting everything you have!" Matsuyama declared viciously, his gaze sharp enough to swallow Kato Satsu whole.

"The loser drops out of school and hands over all their personal belongings, including their points!"

"Kato Satsu, I am going to truly win everything you have!"

Matsuyama practically roared, slamming his hands onto the table with a loud "bang."

"What kind of modified version?" Kato Satsu asked calmly.

Matsuyama immediately explained in detail. After Kato Satsu fully understood the rules, he replied, "Fine, but if we're going to play, we do it in public. Let's set up a stage outside."

"Hahaha, so eager to make a fool of yourself? Good! That saves me the trouble of recording a video." (Tano Matsuyama)

Matsuyama sneered and agreed, and the group quickly set up a stage inside the gymnasium.

Today was the club orientation, so there were already many people in the gymnasium. With the two of them pulling this stunt, they quickly attracted everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you all for coming to watch the Board Game Club's masterpiece! The competition for the modified Old Maid game, Choice."

"I am today's host, Kudo Tojin from Class 2-B!"

Following Kudo Tojin's passionate opening, the atmosphere in the arena was instantly ignited, with many people even urging them to start quickly.

In the distance, Horikita Suzune glanced over briefly, but she had no intention of joining the spectacle.

"Let me introduce the contestants! From Class 1-D, Kato Satsu!"

"And, from Class 2-C, Tano Matsuyama!"

Only then did Horikita Suzune finally move her feet.

When she squeezed into the front row, she was shocked to see Ayanokoji and the Ike and Yamauchi trio standing right across from her, watching the stage with rapt attention.

On the stage, Kato Satsu and Tano Matsuyama were already seated.

"The two have agreed that the person who loses this game..." Kudo Tojin intentionally drew out his tone, heightening everyone's curiosity, "...must drop out of school immediately and hand over all their personal belongings in the school!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the arena erupted in an uproar.

"Do they have to go that far!" Ike shouted, clutching his head with both hands. He seemed to have already envisioned Kato Satsu's miserable expulsion.

Ayanokoji's face remained expressionless; he simply watched the stage quietly.

"Kato Satsu." (Horikita Suzune)

The words Kato Satsu had spoken that day at the student council hearing couldn't help but surface in her mind.

"Give me all your points, and I'll make Matsuyama drop out!"