142 In Front of Her Fiancé and the President?
"I've been observing you."
"You seem... very fond of obtaining everything you want through gambling," Miharutaki Sakura leaned forward, and even though there was a long table between them, the pressure she exerted was overwhelming. "If you lose, you will be banned from any gambling activities at Hyakkaou Academy. However, you will be allowed to stay here and focus on your studies until graduation."
"I guarantee this as the Chairman of the Beautification Committee—no one will interfere with your studies."
She was speaking the truth. She had indeed thoroughly investigated Hikigaya Hachiman's activities at Hyakkaou Academy.
Miharutaki could tell that Hikigaya Hachiman was not someone who was addicted to gambling; rather, he saw gambling as a means to climb upwards. Regarding such behavior, Miharutaki neither hated it nor particularly liked it.
However, since it was his most frequently used method, forbidding it would mean stripping away all his power in this school.
At the same time, Hikigaya's academic performance was excellent. Perhaps out of mutual recognition among top students, or maybe due to her inherent kindness and sense of justice, Miharutaki was willing to let Hikigaya continue his education at this institution, which had an elite teaching staff.
'If gambling is prohibited, you might become a good boy, Hikigaya Hachiman.'
'Gambling only drives one's spirit into madness, deteriorates the body, and causes all kinds of blessings to diminish. It will worsen your attitude toward studies and life.'
As she looked at Hikigaya, Miharutaki saw the image of her fiancé.
Everything... it was all gambling's fault. Even Aoi had become somewhat unfamiliar to her because of gambling. Not everyone could maintain their original self like she could.
Thus, Miharutaki Sakura had decided to stop more people from falling into ruin — Hikigaya Hachiman could not be allowed to fall.
Wasn't this also the original purpose of establishing the Full-Bloom Association—to liberate all livestock and abolish the gambling system?
"..."
"Are you joking, Miharutaki-senpai?"
Hikigaya was a bit surprised. He never thought that in this school, there would actually be someone who was almost like a saint.
In a gamble where everything was on the line, this was the wager she chose? Did she not understand that mercy toward an enemy was cruelty toward oneself?
"Indeed. No matter what wager you propose, this is the condition I demand." Miharutaki's aura expanded, and she swept toward Hikigaya with a righteous, kingly force.
This was Miharutaki Sakura's gamble!
Justice and kindness!
"Hey, hey, hey, don't ignore Committee Chairman here! You two have been saying things I can't understand since you walked in! Isn't that too much?!" Yomotsuki Runa, who had been sitting to the side, stomped her feet in frustration. Pulling out the lollipop from her mouth, she pointed at Hikigaya.
"Hachiman! Hurry up and tell me what's going on!"
"I'm about to engage in a non-public gamble with Miharutaki-senpai where everything is on the line. We're here to ask Yomotsuki-senpai to officiate it."
"Oh~ So that's how it is. Got it."
Upon realizing that the two had come to ask her to host a non-public gamble, Yomotsuki Runa bit down on her lollipop with a crunch, her orange-yellow eyes flickering with excitement.
"Things are really getting more and more interesting."
As one of the few who knew the full situation, Yomotsuki was amazed at Hikigaya's boldness. "Hikigaya, you're really daring."
Yomotsuki Runa nodded. "In that case, Miharutaki's wager is decided. Now, what about yours, Hachiman?"
"Mine, huh..."
"Am I supposed to show gratitude now and share a moment of mutual recognition with Miharutaki-senpai?"
"Like proposing a boring wager such as 'Miharutaki-senpai must never interfere with my actions again,' to show my magnanimity as a man?"
"But... sorry, I'm not that kind of person."
Suddenly, Hikigaya's expression changed. His lazy gaze turned wicked, and his evil stare roved openly over Miharutaki Sakura.
That look seemed to penetrate her conservative clothes, as if fully exposing her innocent, pure body to Hikigaya's view.
Miharutaki instinctively clutched her chest, glaring at Hikigaya in a mix of shame and anger. But she quickly realized she was still fully clothed—yet in that moment, she truly felt stripped naked by his gaze.
"Perhaps Miharutaki-senpai doesn't know yet about the grudge I hold against Mibuomi Aoi?"
Grudge?
"I've heard bits and pieces. I can apologize to you on his behalf and compensate you myself. Things between you and Aoi shouldn't be completely irreconcilable, right?"
"But the truth is—they are irreconcilable. He's been the target of my revenge ever since elementary school, Senpai."
"In that case, do you really think I would let his fiancée go?"
"No. Quite the opposite. I will use the cruelest methods against you, because only then will he feel true rage—and I will feel true joy."
Hikigaya's expression turned cold as he tapped the table with his finger. At that moment, he looked more like a villain than anyone else.
"Since you, Senpai, like to repay resentment with kindness, I will fully embody resentment."
"My wager is simple. Since it's a bet on everything—"
"—If you lose, Miharutaki-senpai, you will become my private livestock."
"What?!"
Even though she had mentally prepared herself, hearing Hikigaya say it aloud still made Miharutaki's heart pound violently.
Hikigaya spread his hands in feigned helplessness. "Relax, I won't have you break off your engagement with Mibuomi Aoi. It's much more interesting if you remain his fiancée while serving as my private livestock."
Miharutaki Sakura's eyes nearly burst into flames. "You shameless scoundrel!"
"Since it's a non-public gamble, Mibuomi Aoi won't know. That makes it even more exciting, doesn't it, Senpai?"
Hikigaya's gaze swept over Miharutaki like he was evaluating merchandise. "Let me think. First, your skirt—I'll make you change to a 'half-thigh mini skirt.' That shift in dress code will definitely make Mibuomi Aoi suspicious."
"Then, I'll require you to secretly meet with me during free periods, avoiding members of the Full-Bloom Association. With Mibuomi Aoi's suspicious nature, he will surely investigate."
"Finally, I'll personally put a collar on you, grab your high ponytail, and take an intimate master-servant photo with you. We'll mosaic our faces and post it on the school forum."
"Miharutaki-senpai, after such a series of events, don't you think Mibuomi Aoi will peel back the layers and uncover the truth I left for him?"
"And after he discovers the truth, what do you think will happen?"
"I'm very interested to see."