Inside the VIP lounge, when Mary Saotome saw several familiar faces—those her parents had once introduced her to—she finally understood what made these underground gambling matches financially viable.
Rich people, craving thrills but too afraid to risk their own safety, found joy in watching the desperate poor gamble their lives away.
…
At the gaming table, Naoki was clearly nervous, but she reminded herself of her Safety Card's function and managed to stay calm.
Until Mary Saotome crashed the party.
"Hey!" Mary slapped her palm on the table. "You're betting fingers in this game, right? Doesn't matter whose. Use mine instead!"
Her voice and expression radiated excitement.
Naoki was dumbfounded.
Mary smirked at her stunned look. "Hey, why the blank stare? I'm letting you bet with my fingers. That means you're taking zero risk. Isn't that a good thing?"
No. No, it really isn't. My Safety Card has already been used. If I'm not personally taking on any risk, then the effect of the Safety Card is basically null.
In other words, using it or not would make no difference.
Though that realization brought a wave of frustration, Naoki reminded herself that Mary was a target character—and clearly someone who enjoyed these games. If she rejected her now, Mary would definitely…
"Uh, even if I agreed, I don't think the organizers—"
"The boss says it's fine."
Naoki: …
With giddy enthusiasm, Mary sat down beside Naoki and let the staff strap her hand into the device.
Normally, with her family background, no one would dare play these kinds of games with her. Only in a place like this—an underground casino ruled entirely by capital—could she find an opportunity.
…
There was no turning back now. Naoki could only watch as the game officially began.
From the speaker came an emotionless synthetic voice: "I trust you are familiar with Blackjack, but we'll go over the rules for clarity."
"Each player is dealt two cards. The first card is face-up, the second is face-down."
"The player whose hand is closest to 21 wins. Aces can count as either 1 or 11. An initial hand of Ace + King is a natural Blackjack."
"After the initial deal, players take turns either drawing a card or passing. If your total exceeds 21, you bust and automatically lose."
"When both players pass, all cards are revealed and the winner is determined."
Standard Blackjack. The only difference was what was being wagered.
Naoki glanced at the visibly exhilarated Mary. Well, this lunatic has that "One-in-Nine-Lives" innate talent. Even without card buffs, she should be… okay?
Besides, she offered on her own.
First Deal.
Naoki's face-up card was a 10; her face-down card, a 4—14 total. Not great. Drawing anything over 7 would mean busting. So only 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K were dangerous.
Her opponent, the tall man in black, had a visible 7. Hidden card unknown—so 7 + x.
The stone-faced dealer turned to Naoki. "Will you draw?"
Naoki glanced at Mary. "Just so we're clear, you volunteered for this. If I bust and you lose a finger, don't blame me."
"So heartless…" Mary's voice was stretched long and low—not in complaint, but from a thrill-induced high. A blush was already creeping onto her cheeks. "Do it."
"One more card."
The third card was a 5.
Naoki noticed Mary subtly sigh in relief… and then pout, as if disappointed. Whether she was hoping to win or to bust was unclear, but she looked satisfied regardless.
Total: 19. A strong hand.
"No more," Naoki said.
The tall man pondered his cards for a long time. Whether from nerves or fear, he was sweating heavily.
"I'll pass."
Not even one more draw. Was he afraid of busting? Or did he already have a good hand?
Given how long he deliberated, Naoki guessed his total was likely between 15 and 17. Beyond 15, busting odds become significant. If his hand had been better, he probably wouldn't have taken so long to decide.
"Both players have passed. Reveal your hands."
"Miss Utsugi has 19. Mr. Nishihara has 16."
"Round one: Miss Utsugi wins!"
As Naoki had predicted, her opponent wasn't very strong—or rather, her side had Mary Saotome, the walking embodiment of dumb luck.
Blackjack is a game of observation and decision-making, but luck always plays the bigger role.
"Now collecting Mr. Nishihara's wager." The dealer activated a mechanism.
"No, no—AARGH!" The man jolted upright in terror, but his hand was locked down. He couldn't escape.
With a metallic clunk, a bloody pinky finger dropped onto the table.
"AAAHHH!" Nishihara collapsed onto the table in agony, screaming endlessly.
It was real. He actually lost a finger.
Naoki felt sick. She wasn't some kind of sadist. There was no way she could enjoy something this grotesque.
"Oh Mr. Nishihara, one finger won't kill you. But if you don't try harder next round, things will get messy." The distorted voice from the loudspeaker teased.
A moment later, Nishihara raised his head. Perhaps because he had already lost a finger, his fear was replaced with a kind of crazed desperation.
He had lost his mind.
Naoki saw it. He wouldn't hesitate next time. Even with 16, he might keep drawing.
"Hey, you're not scared, are you?" Mary leaned in close.
"What did you say?"
"I mean, after what you just saw, maybe you're scared of busting. But hey, it's not your fingers, right? So have some fun."
No matter how reckless she seemed, Mary's words were—surprisingly—in Naoki's favor. She was trying to take the pressure off.
A delinquent, sure, but not a bad person.
Round Two.
First card: 8. Second: 7.
Opponent's first card: Ace.
Ugh. Now it was Naoki's turn to agonize.
She did want to win Mary's favor. And ideally, keep her fingers intact.
Reattaching them wasn't guaranteed to restore full function. Or so she assumed… why was she even thinking about that?
Over a 50% chance of busting.
But Mary had ridiculous luck. It should be fine, right?
"One more."
She didn't hesitate.
Mary was so pleased she leaned sideways on the table. "Naoki, you're so straightforward. I love it."
System: Mary Saotome is thrilled by the excitement of gambling. Her affection for you has increased by 3 points.
Next card: a 5.
20 total. Nearly unbeatable.
"No more," Naoki declared.
Nishihara's turn.
"One more!" His voice was weak.
He drew and frowned. Unsatisfied.
"One more!"
His fourth card. This time, relief flooded his face.
In a game where surrender equals mutilation, bluffing is pointless. Naoki figured his hand must be excellent.
"Miss Utsugi?" the dealer asked.
Each time one side draws, the other gets a chance to respond.
Naoki hesitated. Mary's ability didn't guarantee victory. And losing a finger… well, wasn't exactly fatal.
Losing one and winning overall didn't necessarily count as failure.
Still uncertain, Naoki activated a X-Ray Card she'd just drawn from the system shop.
If used properly, it could at least confirm whether drawing again would bust her.
All for the sake of capturing Mary's heart.
With the card active, Naoki peered at Nishihara's cards. Her eyes widened—A, 3, 2, 4—he also had 20!
Naoki asked the dealer, "What happens in a draw?"
"It is considered a tie. No punishment dealt."
At least they weren't that sadistic.
Naoki turned her eyes to the deck. With the card's ability, she could now see the next card.
An Ace.
This is luck. Pure and absurd.
If Mary were in her shoes right now, would she draw?
She looked over. Mary was already watching her. Her eyes sparkled with desire.
"You asked for this," Naoki said, then turned to the dealer. "One more."
Smack!
Mary collapsed forward onto the table. Not from fear—but from euphoria. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes unfocused.
"Ahh… another card…"
It didn't even matter whether it was a smart choice. What mattered was Mary's joy. That rush spiked her affection stat again. Just two more points, and Naoki could unlock a new loot box.
That was the real mission: romance the heroines.
When Naoki flipped her final card, Mary completely melted.
After a long pause, she lifted herself up.
"Whew… that was amazing."
She looked at Naoki with stars in her eyes. "You're incredible."
She hadn't felt that kind of thrill in forever. Drawing another card with a 20-point hand was basically suicidal—but the result was a miracle.
That push and pull between life and death, the rush of it all—it unshackled her completely.
System: Mary Saotome's affection for you increased by 5 points!
System: Mary Saotome's affection has reached 13 points. You've earned an Orange Blind Box.
Naoki didn't check the prize yet.
Final reveal: 21 vs. 20.
Nishihara collapsed onto the table. "No way… You cheated! You had to have cheated!"
"Who the hell draws with 20 points!?"
The dealer activated the machine coldly. "Mr. Nishihara, our games are fair. Miss Utsugi did not cheat."
"If you had the guts to draw at 20, you might've won."
Another clunk, and Nishihara's ring finger was gone.
He howled again.
The rest of the game was no contest. Mary's gambling luck, combined with Naoki's hacks, meant they won all five rounds.
By the end, Nishihara had lost every finger on his left hand, slumped over the table—whether from pain or despair, no one could say.
Even as the victor, Naoki didn't feel happy.
This world… really was messed up.
"Congratulations, Miss Utsugi. Your debt has been cleared." The dealer's normally blank face showed a flicker of emotion.
After all, even winners rarely leave this place unscathed.
System: Congratulations, Host. You and Mary Saotome successfully cleared a gambling event. EXP +1.
Naoki: Only one point!?
Winning against Aibu Kokoro earned her three points. What the hell?
System: Did you take any risks? Without danger, the reward is minimal. The single EXP point was granted due to cooperation with a capturable character.
So… EXP gain depends on risk. Good to know.
…
Naoki rode off with Mary on her motorcycle.
After a while, she realized something was wrong.
"Wait. Where are we going? My house is that way."
"Your house? Didn't they throw all your stuff out? No way you're staying there tonight. I'll be gracious and let you stay over."
Pretty forward of her.
Naoki's heart stirred. Since Mary seemed this fond of her, why not push things a bit further?
She played a Charm Card.
From behind, she hugged Mary, pressing close. "You said earlier… you'd give me a million yen. Still true?"
Mary felt the warmth at her back and the breath tickling her ear. Her heart skipped a beat.
It was strange. Money, prizes, big wins—none of that ever excited her.
She used to think she could only feel alive through danger and pain.
But with this girl… excitement returned.
This feeling…
"Ah, money? If you want it, take as much as you want."
Naoki was taken aback. Even if she didn't value money, wasn't she being too generous to someone she just met?
Maybe… it was the Charm Card's effect.
"But…" Mary slammed the brakes and looked her in the eye. "You have to stay by my side."
She had realized it—gambling with Naoki was thrilling in a way nothing else was. Even now, long after the match, her heart kept pounding.
As long as Naoki was with her, the world would never be boring again.
System: Mary Saotome has recognized your uniqueness. Affection +2.
"You need money, right? I have plenty. It's all yours."
Naoki: …
Nope. This wasn't quite what she had expected…