Upon hearing Naoki's strategy, the team was momentarily stunned, but no one objected. After such a devastating loss last round, this might be their only shot at winning.
To confirm, Naoki checked again with Runa Yomozuki. The order list submitted by the confessors didn't need to match the confession sequence exactly it was just a way for the choosers to identify them by slot number.
Naoki scrambled the positions of the other four girls completely, while keeping herself as Slot 2, just like last time.
Why? Because ideally, she would be the only one to pair successfully this round.
There was no way she'd give up a one-on-one date with someone capturable.
As for whether it would be a daytime outing or an overnight stay, she still had to decide.
Although overnight sounded more exciting, most of her favorability with targets hadn't reached a home-run level yet. Spending a night together might just mean playing games all evening.
A full day date, however, could yield better results with lower favorability.
After setting the plan, Naoki couldn't completely relax.
Luck played a real role in this world.
In a pure game of chance, even with the advantage of being the confessor, it was possible to be crushed by a chooser with great gambling fortune.
Unfortunately, even if she drew a Koi Blessing card, she could only use it on herself. And she was already planning to lose this round anyway.
If things didn't go as hoped, she would just use the "Retry" card.
With their strategy in place, the second round's confession and selection phase began.
To avoid suspicion and mislead the opposition, the five girls sat in the same positions as last round and confessed in that order.
"Ah, the exciting moment of confessions is here again! Choosers, any perks to use?"
This time, all four besides Naoki chose the Overnight Stay perk.
"I'll just go with the Day Date," Naoki said casually.
Runa blinked. "Didn't expect you to be even more cautious than last round."
Naoki glanced at Mikura. The usual Juraku fangirl had just chosen Overnight Stay. She was finally getting serious.
Openly defying her former master?
If Juraku got provoked and selected Mikura, while Mikura confessed to someone else, they could win.
But it was also possible Juraku would ignore the provocation completely. Whether Mikura would actually confess to Juraku was a gamble in itself.
"Attackers, have you chosen who you'll accept as Slot 1?"
Naoki closed her eyes as the dealer collected cards.
Yukimi Togakushi stood up, calmer than the first round. "I want to confess to the Vice President."
No real reaction from the others it was just the first move.
Next was Naoki.
She got straight to the point. "Miharutaki-sama, we had a great conversation earlier. I think we have real chemistry. I like you."
If everything went right, Miharutaki would see through her plan and select her.
Ririka lowered her head in disappointment. Why didn't Naoki confess to her?
Was she only invited here to be part of the game?
...
Mikura went next.
"Mikura, will you come back to me?" Juraku Sachiko asked softly.
Swallowing hard, Mikura forced a serene expression. "Juraku-sama, how could I ever leave you? Of course I'm confessing to you."
Mary frowned. "Dealer! Is this allowed? The chooser said their name before selection."
Runa waved it off. "That declaration is void until the actual selection. But convincing a chooser to pick you? That's fair game."
"Ugh!"
Mary glared daggers at Mikura.
Naoki chuckled inwardly. Mary really wanted to win if she was acting that hard.
The third slot card decision was made. Mikura officially confessed.
"I bet Juraku-sama already chose me," Mikura said with a faint smile. "I would never betray you."
She flashed her card. "My confession is for Juraku-sama."
She didn't know her actual slot number, so the confession was genuine.
Mikura left it to fate.
Naoki couldn't tell whether Juraku had picked her or not. If she had, then after the order switch, the pair would fail.
It was a gamble on whether Juraku still loved her.
Whether she was willing to take the risk.
But thanks to Naoki's trick, if Juraku had real feelings and chose Mikura, she would lose. Even if she used mind-reading to pick Mikura, she would still lose.
Selections wouldn't be announced immediately.
Fourth was Tsuzura Hanatemari.
Blushing, she said loudly, "I confess to Sayaka-sama!"
Did she really like that strict woman?
Naoki assumed Tsuzura would pick someone she genuinely liked, as long as it didn't overlap with her teammates. Surprising it was Sayaka.
Last was Mary.
Instead of picking Kirari, who hadn't received any confessions, she raised her card and declared, "I like you too, Vice President."
All five had confessed.
Juraku chuckled. "Kirari, seems nobody likes you."
Without a confession, Kirari's selection wouldn't matter. Pairing games were cruel that way. If you weren't liked, you lost by default.
Naoki was a little surprised. She hadn't told anyone to avoid Kirari.
This was borderline dirty play, but still within the rules.
A few minutes later, Runa announced the results.
"Now for the matchups. First, Mary Saotome and the Vice President matched!"
Mary's face turned grim. She had no idea she was assigned Slot 1. If she'd known she'd collide with Yukimi, she never would have chosen the VP.
Sayaka realized. "You changed the order list!"
Mary had confessed fifth, but she was actually Number 1.
"If it's not forbidden, it's allowed," Runa chimed.
"Sachiko, you saw this coming, didn't you?"
Juraku simply smiled, giving nothing away.
"Second, Naoki Utsugi and Miharutaki Sakura matched. Congrats!"
Everyone glanced over. Naoki hadn't changed her position from last round.
Miharutaki felt a flutter in her chest. She'd suspected Naoki would pick her, but hadn't expected her to keep the same slot on purpose.
Did she really want to be paired with her that badly?
*System: Due to your affection, Miharutaki Sakura's favorability increased by 2 points.*
On the flip side, although Ririka also matched, she looked gloomy.
Spending a night with someone she didn't care about? Ugh.
Why didn't Naoki pick her?
"Third, Yukimi Togakushi must pay her partner the wager since her confession failed."
She hung her head. It was just bad luck. How did she end up clashing with Mary?
Good thing she used a perk 200,000 yen was manageable.
"Fourth, Mikura Sado and Juraku Sachiko matched. Congrats!"
Mikura looked stunned. "How\... we switched the order..."
Realization dawned. "So Juraku-sama didn't pick me after all?"
Torn between joy and heartbreak, she realized Juraku had picked someone else, but by coincidence, that choice matched her number.
Sachiko stood and gently lifted Mikura's chin. "Looks like fate binds us."
Mikura instantly melted back into her submissive role. "Yes, Juraku-sama. Even with obstacles, we still matched."
Naoki smirked. Maybe it was just Juraku's good luck.
Mikura had lost the gamble, but achieved her real goal.
Runa closed the list. "Two successful pairs. Confessors must pay their partners and fulfill perks. Yukimi also owes the VP. Sayaka and Kirari must pay the confessors."
On paper, only Hanatemari gained money.
Four choosers paid up, but only two confessors did. So confessors seemed to win.
But with perk discounts, choosers paid only 1.2 million total. Naoki added 400k. Total outflow: 1.6 million.
Confessors paid a full 4 million.
The choosers netted 2.4 million.
Using perks fearlessly, this gamble favored choosers.
And Naoki and Mikura had achieved their hidden goals. Only Mary came out worse for wear.
Mary sat in stunned silence, not even reacting to the payout.
300k divided five ways was 60k each.
Yukimi was happy. Spending a night with a girl didn't bother her.
"Hey, Mary. Earth to Mary!" Naoki shook her lightly.
She flinched. "We're really spending the night...?"
"Of course. It's the student council. They'll hold you to the bet."
Mary looked crushed.
"But maybe they won't do anything bad," Naoki added.
"If it comes to it, call me. I'll join you."
Mary: ...
"Naoki, you..."
Mary was touched. Even after losing, Naoki still cared for her.
*System: Mary Saotome's favorability increased by 1 point.*
Everyone else remained clueless. Only Mikura suspected Naoki's true intentions.
After all, the perk only required the confessor and chooser to stay together overnight. It never said others couldn't join.
So a group sleepover? Totally allowed.
...
The 50th matchmaking party officially ended. The girls left the venue with mixed feelings.
"Kirari, Naoki has so many girls around her..." Ririka said sadly.
Maybe that was why she didn't get picked.
Kirari didn't care much about the outcome, but seeing her sister like this, she couldn't help but scoff.
"If you really like someone, do what Juraku does. Make them your personal livestock."
Ririka shook her head. That wasn't love.
Seeing her sister so timid, Kirari sighed. "If you don't, someone else will steal her."
Didn't she realize that woman was just playing her?
She hadn't even changed her slot number. Clearly, she wanted to give Miharutaki the win.
Ririka had been discarded.
Naoki had invited her, only to abandon her.
What a cruel woman.
But Ririka liked her anyway.
Which meant one thing:
Naoki had to become her livestock. That was the only title that truly suited her.
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