Kakegurui: Ten Consecutive Guaranteed Hits

Volume 1 Chapter 53: Fortune is Smiling Upon Us

After replenishing her water, Mary didn't immediately cover the cup. She deliberately placed the cup near her card and, taking advantage of the moment when Mikura took her turn to throw the dice, pretended to stretch lazily. She secretly pushed the cup towards her card.

The cup wobbled and then toppled over, splashing water that almost hit Mikura.

"What are you doing?" Mikura exclaimed, startled. She quickly patted her uniform, looking annoyed as she turned to Mary. "Do you realize you almost splashed me? This outfit was personally chosen by Juraku-sama!"

"Sorry, sorry..." Mary dryly apologized, feigning remorse. She picked up the cup, took out some tissues from her bag, and hastily wiped the wet part of the gambling table while sneakily glancing at the card.

Mary inwardly celebrated her luck. The card was now completely soaked. As soon as Mikura lifted the card, she would see a completely different answer.

"Come on, don't make a scene like this," Mikura grumbled in annoyance. Although she was irritated, she continued her role as the dealer, standing in the center and preparing to roll the dice.

"The fourth round is... up."

Mary anxiously watched the dice.

"The fifth round is... up."

She felt a sense of dread creeping in.

"The sixth round is... down."

Her anxiety deepened.

"The seventh round is... down."

Mary knew it was over.

"The game is over, [DUU] has appeared, and Ayanokoji-san is the winner," Mikura announced calmly. She flipped over Kiyohei's card, revealing the answer to be [DUU].

As Mary had suspected from the beginning, Kiyohei's card had indeed been tampered with. The game was now over, and there was no need for her to reveal her own card.

"...Did I lose?" Mary muttered to herself, her heart feeling as though it had turned to stone.

It was painful, too painful. She didn't know how to face Kiyohei now. He had given her such high expectations, and in this game where she had a three out of four chance of winning, she had ultimately lost.

Yes, she had lost. Mary didn't understand why she had lost, even though she had prepared everything she should have in advance. But in the end, she had still lost.

Three out of four chances, and she had still lost. Mary didn't know what to say. If she had to blame someone, she could only blame her bad luck. Lady Luck had not been on her side this time.

Mary was deeply engulfed in self-doubt, while Kiyohei, as the victor, seemed to have anticipated his triumph.

"Juraku-san, we apologize for taking up your time with our little wager. This is the money that Mary owes your student council. I'll cover it for her," he said politely, handing over 250,000 yen to Sachiko.

Sachiko silently observed Kiyohei for a moment and then let out a sarcastic chuckle as she stood up. "Interesting, Kiyohei. I really wonder what goes on inside your head."

"I just made some extra preparations for the victory," Kiyohei replied calmly.

"You're quite something, really quite something," Sachiko said as she stood up, staring at Kiyohei for a while. Then, she suddenly asked, "Are you interested in becoming my dog?"

Kiyohei was taken aback by the unexpected question. "Huh? What are you talking about? Why would I suddenly become someone's pet?"

He naturally declined, not understanding what was going through Sachiko's mind. While he didn't comprehend her intentions, he was certain that he had no interest in being someone's pet. He wasn't a Maso after all.

"Since that's the case, forget it," Sachiko casually remarked. She didn't insist any further after Kiyohei's refusal. She then tugged at Mikura's chain and walked towards the exit. When she reached the doorway, she suddenly stopped and turned to look at a dejected-looking Mary who seemed to have lost everything, still bowing her head. Sachiko smiled faintly.

"Saotome, if I were you, I wouldn't be wallowing in self-pity here because... this is just the beginning for you."

"Welcome to the world of gambling."

With that, Sachiko bid her farewell, and Yomozuki Runa  also followed suit.

As she walked past Kiyohei, Runa suddenly elbowed him in the stomach. Kiyohei let out a pained grunt and took a step back, holding his abdomen in discomfort. "Yomozuki-san, what are you doing..."

"Hmph, don't play dumb in front of me. Do you really think I can't see through everything? I am an ace dealer, after all."

Yomozuki Runa let out a cold snort, but the next moment, she giggled.

"I won't bother you this time, considering your snacks are delicious. But there won't be a next time, okay?"

Having delivered her parting shots, Runa gave Kiyohei's foot a hard stomp and then walked away with her hands behind her back, her head held high in arrogance. Indeed, Yomozuki Runa, the student council member, was not one to be underestimated. She could discern their cheating from such a distance...

Kiyohei sighed in resignation, then turned his gaze toward Mary. The Student Council had reclaimed the one million yen for the use of the casino, Kiyohei had won the casino, and Mary was now an employee who had to work off her debt. They were all winners in their own way.

As for Togakushi Yukimi, who had left at some point, she had lost both the casino and her debt, so she could be considered breaking even.

However, it was Mary who emerged as the biggest loser in this situation. Everyone else had left, and she finally spoke.

"...Kiyohei, did I lose?"

Mary still had a surreal feeling. What she found harder to accept than the loss itself was that she had lost to Kiyohei Kiyotaka despite having a 75% chance of winning.

"This is what gambling is all about, isn't it? Mary, Did you see it? Even with only having a 25% chance of winning, luck was on my side, and I emerged victorious," Kiyohei said cryptically, seated at the gambling table.

Mary was deep in thought. She couldn't understand why she had lost. Her mind was a mess, and she needed time to process everything.

Kiyohei sighed and patted her shoulder, "Let's call it a day for now. After school tomorrow, remember to report here. Don't forget, you're now an employee at my casino."

Mary nodded in silence. Kiyohei left the casino, leaving only Saotome Mary and Hanatemari Tsuzura inside.

"Mary..."

Tsuzura had been silently observing the entire gambling session. She didn't know what to say to Mary. She had advised her not to gamble from the beginning, but Mary didn't listen.

"Tsuzura, you can go back first. I need some time alone," Mary said, her head hanging low.

Tsuzura realized that no matter what she said now, it wouldn't make a difference. She looked worriedly at Mary and then left the room.

On the top floor of the club building, which was also where the Student Council was located, Sado Mikura and Sachiko Juraku walked toward the Student Council room.

There was no one else in the hallway, and the setting sun cast long shadows of their figures.

As they walked, Sachiko held a leash attached to Mikura's collar. She observed her "pet" from behind, and suddenly, she spoke up.

"Mikura, did you help Kiyohei cheat in that match?”