189 Broken Bones Are the Best Textbook

189 Broken Bones Are the Best Textbook

"You fear those in high positions, and you despise those in low ones." "That is your true nature, Mibuomi Aoi." "Since you fear President Momobami, why don't you fear me, Hikigaya Hachiman? Someone like you—I have no reason to lose to!" "You've made me suffer, ignored my pain, stood high above thinking you could control and manipulate my fate. Someone like you thinks that someone born low and ranked even lower would act just as you imagined." "But you've greatly underestimated me."

Hikigaya Hachiman pressed hard on the breast of Miharutaki once again.

"It's all over now. Our statuses—are going to reverse, Mibuomi." "Heh, don't be ridiculous. It's only 6 billion yen. Even if you had that money, you're still just a mud-legged country bumpkin. A loser dreaming of leaping to the top in one go. Why do you think a single gamble can reverse the social status built by three generations of the Mibuomi family?" "Don't challenge my pocket money with your life's worth of effort." Mibuomi Aoi trembled all over, his tone filled with open contempt for Hikigaya Hachiman. However, reality was not so simple. Even before he could secure the position of head of the Mibuomi household, the 6 billion yen loss had already severely damaged him.

'Yes, reality is not a novel. One man's decade or so of effort surpassing the wealth of three generations isn't realistic. Even if I wrote a dozen or dozens of works, in the eyes of your high society, I'd still just be an amusing performer.' 'But you see, I am the emperor's performer.' 'I am the emperor's favored subject, and you—are merely a Mibuomi' 'I don't need to bridge the gap between us through hard work. I only need the emperor to be pleased—with a single word, it's done.' 'When it's time to flatter, I'll flatter to the extreme. That's the dignity of Hikigaya Hachiman!' What's more, he had been favored to the point he could even enjoy pleasure on the emperor's throne. Of all the trades in the world, every field has its champions—and Hikigaya Hachiman was the champion among favored subjects, the Tiger of Hyakkaou!

"Then, for the third round—please reveal your cards!" "Enough——!" Yomozuki Runa's announcement to open the cards was like the final straw that broke the camel's back. Mibuomi Aoi, unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure, shouted, trembling all over. Though he didn't want to face it, he had to admit—this gamble, he, Mibuomi Aoi, had lost. Forcing a smile:

"Hikigaya Hachiman, what I just said... I lost my temper. I apologize for what I've done in the past. Whatever compensation you want—I'll provide it. Let's call this match a draw. I can privately give you another 3 billion yen." "I think the two of us can bury the hatchet and find a path that benefits us both. No need to fight to the bitter end. What do you think?" "Hah? What are you even saying?" "Not satisfied...?" Mibuomi Aoi gritted his teeth and raised a single finger. "I'll give you another billion. That's my limit. These 10 billion yen will be my apology, my compensation. And you want Miharutaki, don't you? I'll annul the engagement—she's yours." "From now on, we'll be even." 'Calmly think about it, Hikigaya. This is the best outcome for you. You'll get everything you wanted—possibly even more. No need to clash with me head-on right now.'

Mibuomi Aoi couldn't accept his defeat, couldn't accept that the persona he'd so carefully cultivated had collapsed in front of thousands. He was supposed to be the strongest beneath Momobami Kirari, the ever-popular president of Full-Bloom—not some loser beaten by a first-year special student.

Hikigaya Hachiman feigned deep thought: "Your offer... is very tempting." "Right? You see it too—if you agree, then all of this—" "Daga, kotowaru." (Japanese: "However, I refuse.") Hikigaya's expression turned cold, as if his earlier contemplation had been an act. His fingers squeezed harder, dough oozing through the gaps: "Cut the crap. Open your card, Mibuomi Aoi."

"You treat Miharutaki-senpai like a commodity, her dignity like it can be bought with money... You alone—I won't miss a single chance to get back at you." "So stop struggling and fall into hell properly!" "Hey! What's going on on the stage? Why haven't they revealed the cards?!" "Hurry up and settle it already! We bet big on this!" "How much longer are you going to drag this out?!" "Reveal your cards——" "Reveal!" "REVEAL!!!"

Voices surged from all directions, surrounding Mibuomi Aoi. He felt as though trapped in a vast, infinite void, with "Reveal!" echoing endlessly in his mind, robbing him of the ability to think.

The voices that once lifted him to the heavens would become immense gravity pressing down once he lost—crushing him more mercilessly than hell. Reverence, blind adoration, and boundless malice could switch places in a single gamble.

This card would determine the outcome— The loser would lose everything. This is the most terrifying card in the world.

Mibuomi Aoi's arms fell weakly to his sides. His heart was filled with despair. It was as if the world's colors and sounds had been stripped away—everything before him had nothing to do with him anymore.

The harshest punishment in the world is to strip someone of what they value most. For the coward, it's life. For the greedy, it's money. For the ambitious, it's power. For the idealist, it's belief.

Mibuomi Aoi had lost everything. He clenched his teeth and gave the coldest glare to Hikigaya Hachiman and Momobami Kirari: "If I'm going to fall—then I'll drag you both down with me." This was his final plan.

"Followers of Full-Bloom, riot!!"

"18 versus 19, a one-point difference—the winner of this round is Hikigaya Hachiman!" "With two wins and one loss, the final winner of the National Theft Game—Hikigaya Hachiman!" "Let us cheer for this 3-billion-yen gamble!"

The entire hall fell dead silent. No one cheered.

This was the calm before the storm. With Mibuomi Aoi's defeat, the long-restrained malice in every gambler's heart had reached the tipping point—it was about to erupt and flood the entire Hyakkaou Academy.

Sitting high on the throne, Momobami Kirari seemed to have expected it all. With a contemptuous smile, she pressed the call button on her phone: " Honebami, You may begin."

...

In a supermassive gamble involving nearly 3,000 participants— And between two people with such vastly different popularity— Mibuomi Aoi's defeat would inevitably lead to a full-blown riot. Some lowlifes would definitely take the chance to renege on the debts overseen by the Student Council.

Momobami Kirari had near-blind trust in Hikigaya Hachiman, and had anticipated this outcome from the start. In this situation, her reputation alone could no longer suppress the chaos.

Reputation is useless—broken bones are the best textbook! Let them learn what it means to fear absolute power!