Kakegurui: Ten Consecutive Guaranteed Hits

Volume 1 Chapter 56: A Conversation Between Father and Son

Early the next morning, Kiyohei had just left his home when he saw a black Lexus conveniently blocking his way at the front gate. When he went out, the car window rolled down, and inside the car was his father, Ayanokōji Atsuomi.

‘Sure enough, he's here…’

Kiyohei sighed quietly. Every time he spoke with his older brother on the phone, his father always came the next day without even trying to hide it. Did he really think that Kiyohei wouldn't notice the surveillance he had set up in the house? Or perhaps... he didn't care about his opinion at all?

Every time he came, he drove a different car – Infiniti, Lexus... But without exception, they were all luxury cars made in Japan. Even though he had explicitly told Kiyohei how much wealth he had and what he did, he couldn't help but constantly flaunt his wealth in front of him.

Atsuomi smiled warmly at Kiyohei and patted the passenger seat as if they were just having a casual chat. "Kiyohei, are you going to school? Great, I'll give you a ride. Get in."

Kiyohei rolled his eyes. Although he was reluctant, he still sat in the passenger seat.

Atsuomi started the Lexus and, as he drove, he casually asked Kiyohei, as if they were having a normal conversation, "How do you feel about this elite school? Are you satisfied with it? I specially chose it according to your preferences."

Kiyohei leaned his arm against the car window, resting his head on his fist, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "The school's conditions are indeed very good... But, Dad, you didn't tell me that this school involves gambling."

"Isn't it just gambling? I thought you'd like it. Those card games you play, aren't they all about spending money to draw cards? It's not much different from gambling."

While driving, Atsuomi continued nonchalantly, "I gave you two million yen when you started, didn't I? Did you spend it all so quickly?"

Kiyohei sneered, "Two million yen is not enough for this school. If I really run out of money and can't pay the entrance fee, I'll be treated like 'livestock.'"

"Entrance fee? What's that?"

Atsuomi looked puzzled, as if he didn't understand what Kiyohei was talking about.

He didn't know?

Kiyohei patiently explained, "Every student in the school has to pay a large sum of money to the Student Council every month. If you pay too little, you'll be discriminated against. The lowest one hundred contributors will be treated as 'livestock.' Don't tell me you didn't know."

"Why is it like this?"

Atsuomi was quite surprised. "I went to this school back in the day, and although there was gambling, there was no requirement to pay an entrance fee. When did they change it?"

"The current Student Council President, it was her who established this rule just last year."

"Oh, I see. I'm sorry, Kiyohei. Dad really didn't know."

Atsuomi said sincerely, "If you need money, just tell Dad, and I'll definitely give it to you. Don't worry about gambling; it's just money. No matter how much you need, Dad will provide it. You can gamble without worries."

Kiyohei didn't believe a word of what his father was saying. Did he really think he couldn't see through this? His father was probably hoping he would develop a gambling habit so that he could better control him.

Did he really think Kiyohei couldn't see through it?

Kiyohei's inner thoughts were full of cynicism, but on the surface, he continued, "Dad, our house is too far from the school. I'll be taking the subway every day, so I won't be coming back home."

"You can drive to school."

Atsuomi spoke without hesitation. "I can help you get a driver's license, and you just need to familiarize yourself with the procedures. I can get your documents ready in a few days, and the school has a parking lot, so you don't have to worry."

Was getting a driver's license that easy? Besides, he wasn't even 18 yet.

Indeed, the power of wealth can make many things happen...

Kiyohei declined, saying, "No need, I'm planning to stay at the school. They have a hotel inside."

To Kiyohei's surprise, Atsuomi agreed with a smile, "That's fine, do as you wish."

He really was willing to let him stay outside? This was completely unexpected for Kiyohei. At that house, he had lived under constant surveillance every day, and he had wanted to move out multiple times during junior high school, but Atsuomi had never agreed. What was different this time? Why did he agree so easily?

Although Kiyohei didn't yet understand his father's true intentions, leaving that house was a good thing for him. Atsuomi was a competent driver and soon dropped Kiyohei off at the school gate.

Before Kiyohei got out of the car, Atsuomi retrieved a bag of money from the storage compartment in front of the passenger seat and handed it to Kiyohei, saying, "Take this for gambling. If it's not enough, just give me a call; I'll provide more."

As he watched his son go farther away, a smile gradually appeared on Atsuomi's face. What he wanted most was for Kiyohei to start gambling. The more he gambled, the better.

No matter how much money Kiyohei needed to put on the gambling table, he would generously provide it. His only goal was to get Kiyohei addicted to gambling, all to manipulate Kiyohei's older brother, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.

He had certainly eavesdropped on the phone call from last night. In a school where everyone was involved in gambling, even if Kiyohei initially followed his brother's advice and resisted gambling, he would eventually succumb to it. Three years was more than enough time to turn a fresh young flower into a withered one.

Once Kiyohei developed a gambling addiction and became accustomed to high-stakes gambling within the school, he would undoubtedly need a significant amount of money.

Besides himself, no one else could provide him with such a large sum.

Kiyohei wouldn't be able to leave him, only able to ask him for money. As for Kiyohei's older brother, Kiyotaka, if he still wanted his younger brother after he graduated from that protective environment, he would have no choice but to obey him.

Ten million yen... If Kiyotaka hadn't transferred this money to Kiyohei's account, he wouldn't have known that his "good son" had secretly made so much money.

If Atsuomihadn't sent Kiyohei to Hyakkaou Private Academy, Kiyotaka would have probably taken his younger brother and flown to a place where he couldn't be found.

The ten million yen that Kiyotaka transferred to his younger brother was not meant to encourage him to gamble but to send him a message — he had yielded. So, he should never lay a hand on his younger brother again.

Atsuomi claiming not to know about the school's entrance fee was, of course, a lie. The changes in this school had always been within his expectations, and even the current Student Council President had significant connections with him.