183 [National Theft game]
Mibuomi arrived at the main gate and forcefully pushed it open.
"Let's make a bet, Hikigaya Hachiman." He ignored Miharutaki Sakura, who was lying on Hikigaya's lap, treating her as if she didn't exist.
There was no time to bother with such trifles anymore. Once he gained everything from Hyakkaou Academy, it would be the death of these two disgusting lovers!
"Hah? What are you talking about?" Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't surprised at all by Mibuomi's early arrival. He continued stroking Miharutaki Sakura's hair like he was petting a cat.
"Stop saying pointless things," Mibuomi said coldly. "You've provoked me repeatedly — clearly because you want to have a decisive battle with me."
"Why would I take the risk to gamble with you? Nine times out of ten, gambling ends in loss. And you don't even have anything worth me betting for, do you?"
"I've already obtained the only thing worth betting for."
Hikigaya Hachiman smiled faintly. In front of Mibuomi, he raised his index finger and slowly inserted it into the beauty's mouth in his arms.
It made people's eyebrows twitch just watching it.
"Looks like you still haven't understood the situation." Mibuomi had anticipated that Hikigaya might try to dodge the gamble. He sneered, "Even if you're unwilling, I'll just pick a random person, lose to them, and voluntarily become livestock."
"That way, I'll gain the right to challenge anyone to an official match."
"By then, you still won't be able to escape the fate of gambling with me."
"I've already called Yomozuki Runa to act as the absolutely impartial chair of the disciplinary committee. With her as the witness, we'll settle this once and for all."
"What's the bet?"
"Money."
As he spoke, Mibuomi raised his palm as if everything was already under control: "Money is the best metric for a person's value. Hikigaya Hachiman, how much money can you and your baseball club put up to bet with me?"
"1 billion yen." Trying to bait Mibuomi, Hikigaya didn't bother hiding his cards and laid out all the funds he controlled.
Mibuomi scoffed and shook his index finger, then slowly held up three fingers.
"So that's all a worm crawling on the ground can manage? Fine. I'll bet 3 billion yen against you. If you win, you get all the money. If you lose, pay me 2 billion yen and leave Hyakkaou Academy. That's my final mercy."
Mibuomi said hypocritically. Once Hikigaya left Hyakkaou Academy and lost his qualification to gamble, Mibuomi would make him taste true hell.
"Sure." Hikigaya Hachiman crossed his arms. "We start once Yomozuki Runa gets here?"
"No, no, no. My gamble has to take place under the gaze of the entire school. I want you to die in front of everyone."
"Exciting, right? The farewell ceremony I've prepared for you is grand enough, isn't it?"
"Before that, only the student council president election could happen under public scrutiny."
Mibuomi closed his eyes and spread his arms wide, as if cheers and shouts were already echoing around him.
It had to be said, Mibuomi's acting was impressive. If Hikigaya didn't already know his nature and see through his scheme, he might have believed it.
No matter how exaggerated the performance, Mibu's goal was simple — to target the baseball club's 200-to-1 odds.
But unfortunately for him, he underestimated both Hikigaya's ability and the financial power of Momobami. This was a game destined to fail, a one-man show he was performing under the illusion of a carnival.
Mibuomi savored the thrill in his heart with closed eyes. After a while, he slowly opened them, feeling like the world before him had become clearer.
"Before Yomozuki Runa arrives, let me explain the gamble we'll be playing."
"The name of the gamble is—"
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late."
Bang
The baseball clubroom door was slammed open by Yomozuki Runa, cutting off the impassioned speech stuck in Mibuomi's throat.
"I've already prepared the venue. Just waiting for you two to arrive."
"Well then, Aoi-kun, have you finished talking with Hikigaya-kun~?"
Yomozuki Runa licked her lollipop, eyes gleaming with excitement.
She would secretly help Hikigaya cheat when gambling with Miharutaki — not because she liked him, but because she wanted to see what happened next.
But in a duel between Hikigaya and Mibuomi, she wouldn't help either of them.
As a representative of chaotic neutrality, she was very interested in the grudge between the two.
"Alright, Hikigaya agreed to my gambling invitation very smoothly."
"Then no need to delay — let's head out!"
Yomozuki Runa opened the door and led the group to the gambling venue.
The stage once used by Momobami Kirari for speeches had been converted into a massive arena, divided by a central axis into two camps. At the far end of each camp sat a chair inlaid with what looked like gold.
Below, the vast playground was already packed with people, and the giant LED screen was turned on.
Hikigaya Hachiman squinted at the roaring cheers below. Though the cheers were for Mibuomi, they didn't affect him at all.
Mibuomi had said something true — "to die under the gaze of the masses."
Mibuomi opened his arms to bask in the breeze of the applause, and said: "Everyone in the stands will participate in today's gamble."
"Hikigaya Hachiman, are you ready?"
Behind him, Yomozuki Runa was instructing people to move giant playing card props.
Wiping sweat from her forehead, she gave the two a thumbs-up: "To give this gamble a strong sense of ceremony, we specifically brought in these custom-made props. You'll be using them shortly~"
"Now, let me read the game rules to everyone!"
Yomozuki Runa grabbed the microphone and her voice echoed through the entire field.
[National Theft Game]
Victory is decided by comparing playing card values. Players create three armies from their hand of cards. Armies duel based on total card value. Rules in detail:
o Each player gets 5 cards.
o Cards are arranged into three "armies" — each army has 2 to 3 cards.
o Only one card per army may be hidden (not publicly revealed).
o After setup, armies face off and compare total values.
o The player who wins 2 out of the 3 army battles wins the round.
o "A" is a special card that can eliminate a face card (value ≤10) from the opponent's army.
o There will be 3 rounds. Best 2 out of 3 wins.
o Spectators can place bets before the game starts, and also before each army battle.