179 Kirari X Shimotsukiuri, Ouri will be sold
The sound in the broadcasting room was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears at Hyakkaou Academy.
Momobami Kirari, who was entertaining guests from other schools in the student council meeting room, smiled faintly upon hearing it.
"Progress is really fast for Hikigaya-kun," she mused.
"If that's the case, it's as if he's openly revealing his relationship with Sakura. I wonder what Mibuomi will do next~"
Kirari squeezed her legs together, feeling an immense satisfaction from the increasingly intense conflict.
This was exactly what she wanted! The more chaotic it became, the more pleasure it gave her.
"The president is currently entertaining guests, you cannot go in," came the voice of Sayaka from outside the student council meeting room. It sounded as if an uninvited guest was trying to force their way in.
"What? Is it not allowed to challenge the president to a gamble?"
"As the student council secretary, are you going to openly defy the gambling regulations?"
It was a cold female voice. She was not in the slightest bit flustered by Sayaka's obstruction.
" Sayaka, let her in," Momobami Kirari said, lowering the cup of red tea in her hand, her eyes gleaming with excitement. This was the chaotic festival she had been waiting for~ How long had it been since someone dared to challenge her? The sly Hikigaya-kun had waited until he could challenge her with no risk involved.
It had been a long wait.
But before that, she'd savor the appetizer before the main course!
A girl with light blue hair, wearing a single braid on her shoulder and sitting upright with her hands on her abdomen, walked toward her. She looked neither subservient nor arrogant as she sat down in front of Momobami Kirari.
"Student Council President," she spoke. "I challenge you."
"Although this is quite forward, may I ask who you are?" Even though the challenger was unknown to her, Momobami Kirari still showed the utmost respect. She waved her hand, signaling Sayaka to escort the guest away.
She had no hint of disdain for the girl with light blue hair in front of her. Sitting with her knees together, her posture straight and dignified, her deep blue eyes fixed on the challenger's bare face beneath her bangs.
"My name is Shimotsukiuri Ouri."
"I see. Shimotsukiuri-san, since you want to challenge me, what game would you like to play?"
Momobami Kirari had indeed heard of the name Shimotsukiuri Ouri. As part of the intel on Hikigaya, she knew about Ouri. A top student since elementary school, she had dominated the first rank academically, capable of full marks in every subject except for Japanese. Her academic talent was on par with Sayaka and Sakura.
It seemed she possessed an ability known as "dynamic memory," a truly remarkable talent.
"President! This is too dangerous!" Sayaka, who had just returned from escorting the guest, overheard their conversation and, looking concerned, tried to stop them. But Momobami Kirari raised her hand to stop her from speaking further.
Kirari naturally understood her concerns.
Gambling with someone like Shimotsukiuri Ouri, who had a special ability, and giving her the choice of the game would be an extremely dangerous move.
For example, if the game was one involving memory, Kirari would be at an absolute disadvantage. Special memory abilities coupled with mental calculation would put Kirari in a losing position before the game even started.
But even then, Momobami Kirari showed no sign of fear.
She looked at the girl in front of her with great interest, as if the theoretical risks didn't exist at all.
"Heh, is the student council president this arrogant?" Shimotsukiuri Ouri coldly said. "But that's fine, because my goal is to take your head."
Shimotsukiuri Ouri tilted her head slightly, raised her thumb, and lightly traced her neck with her finger in the air.
"You're too bold, Shimotsukiuri Ouri!"
At the provocation, Momobami Kirari appeared indifferent, only narrowing her eyes and repeating, "So, Shimotsukiuri-san, what game would you like to play?"
"I've gathered your intel, Student Council President."
"You like dangerous gambling, ultimately crushing your opponents with superior skill and sending them to hell."
"But, you see... your arrogance is your biggest mistake. Since you've given me the chance to choose, I won't pass up on that mistake."
"I will choose my best game, the memory gamble."
"[KoiKoi (Double Hanami)]!"
With that, Shimotsukiuri Ouri slowly took out a new, unopened set of Hanami cards from her pocket and laid them out on the table.
"The rules of [KoiKoi] are simple. Collect Hanami cards, and the first player to complete a winning combination wins. But even if you complete a combination, you can say 'KoiKoi' to earn more points. If you succeed, you gain more points; if you fail, you lose everything."
"There are 48 cards in the deck, and every four cards form a month, with 12 months total."
"Simply put, calculating the remaining cards and determining their expected value will help you win this gamble."
Shimotsukiuri Ouri spread the cards out on the table, forming a fan-like shape.
"If you don't want to run away, let's begin quickly. I will show no mercy and defeat you. Come on, let's determine who's the head and who's the tail!"
"Let's not rush into the gambling," Momobami Kirari said, not even glancing at the cards. She casually extended her finger, pressing it on the corner of one of the cards and pulling it out. "What's the stake?"
"Heh, the stake, huh~"
Shimotsukiuri Ouri's face twisted into a mad smile. She had already made up her mind. To fulfill the ideals of the Full-Bloom Association and to save all the oppressed people, she was willing to gamble even her life:
"Let's make a life-or-death bet, Student Council President!"
"Of course, my life is not as precious as yours. If I lose, I'll leave my life in your hands. You can kill me or have me serve some important person, I don't care!"
"But if you lose, you'll obediently disband the student council and leave Hyakkaou Academy!"
To Shimotsukiuri Ouri, the student council was the source of all evil, and everyone in it, except for Mibuomi-sama, was garbage.
Especially Miharutaki Sakura, that harlot!
She had overheard the declaration of defeat by Rokujou Eneru earlier, and she knew that Miharutaki Sakura had not only betrayed Mibuomi-sama but had also turned around and helped Hikigaya destroy the Full-Bloom Association! A sinful woman! A sinful student council! It must be destroyed by her, Shimotsukiuri Ouri.
"Your life, huh~" Kirari licked her dark blue lip gloss. "I can tell you really dislike Hikigaya-kun."
"Don't mention that guy!"
"When you lose, I won't take your life. I'll make you serve Hikigaya-kun instead~ That'll be the heaviest punishment for you, won't it?"
Momobami Kirari smiled as she flipped over the Hanami card she had drawn.