191-192

191 The end of gambling is self-destruction

"President, it's too dangerous here, we should leave first!"

As the number one die-hard fan of Momobami Kirari, Igarashi Sayaka quickly stood in front of her goddess, alertly watching everyone present.

"I'll immediately call Ikishima and Juraku to bring people to secure the area."

Momobami Kirari raised her hand to stop Igarashi's intention to evacuate her first.

At a time like this, how could she leave? If she did, it wouldn't serve to "break bones and shatter spines." These people lost in the abyss of gambling—did they think they could escape their chains with this kind of tactic?

How laughable.

Momobami Kirari supported her head with one hand in her classic pose, watching the chaos below with mild boredom. She looked like a god high above, overlooking a crowd of ants driven to madness for a little sweetness, displaying an ugly spectacle.

If this was the last card Mibuomi Aoi had to play, then as a toy, he had completely lost all entertainment value.

"He's not even a tenth as good as Hikigaya-kun~"

Just then, someone in the stands silently weaved through the crowd, step by step approaching the platform. With a flick of his sleeve, a dagger appeared in his hand, and his eyes were filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.

His name was Hajime Hirata.

Once a good student from a well-off family, he became addicted the moment he first encountered the thrill of gambling at Hyakkaou Academy. The excitement of millions of yen flowing through his hands with just a shake of the dice had him hooked instantly.

From then on, his life trajectory seemed to follow a script written by God.

He was set up by others, lost everything, and under the guidance of Mibuomi-sama, joined the Full-bloom Association, foolishly hoping to repay his debts step by step through part-time jobs and return to a normal life.

But gambling releases dopamine far stronger than anything else—if people can't even quit sexual acts, how could they hope to quit gambling?

Great Bloom Festival—a rare opportunity for many to turn their lives around. But Hirata, unable to accept the meager wages of part-time jobs, made up his mind to bet one more time. Without any money, he sneaked out his family's property deed as collateral, essentially selling his life to the Student Council. He even sold his girlfriend's private photos to Rokujou Eneru to get a large sum of money.

Just by betting on Mibuomi-sama, he could instantly double his money. Not only could he clear all his debts, he could even buy a house.

What a beautiful future~

But damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

Mibuomi-sama lost! How could he possibly lose?!

That's right—those rumors: Hikigaya Hachiman is the Vice President's boy toy, so he's one of the Student Council! That explains everything!

Damn President Momobami! Damn Student Council! They just wanted to use such despicable tactics to rob the lives of ordinary students like him!

If you lose, you lose everything… father, mother, girlfriend, even your own life—it's all gone. Life has no meaning anymore...

A person once with the potential to get into Tokyo University, his life path completely derailed at that moment, the gears of fate ceased to turn.

He wanted revenge! To destroy the chains of fate! To drag those despicable dealers down to hell! What did the title of Student Council President matter now? He just wanted that woman who saw him as an ant to understand what it meant when a common man's rage spills blood within five steps!

"This distance, this number of people—it's doable."

"On the platform, there's only Mibuomi-sama, that pretty boy Hikigaya, the Disciplinary Chair, the Council Secretary.!"

He licked his lips. This great act would liberate all the livestock!

No one will forget my name!

Hajime Hirata's heart pounded furiously, adrenaline flooding his body. In this state, he ignored pain, time slowed down, and he no longer cared about his future.

"After killing Momobami Kirari, I'll turn myself in."

"I'm a minor anyway. At worst I'll be detained. Even if her family is powerful and pushes for the death penalty, Japan's legal system will drag it out forever. Later, when a classmate from the Full-bloom Association becomes a judge, they can just bail me out."

Wild thoughts swirled through his mind. Just like that, he stepped onto the platform.

The ever-vigilant Igarashi Sayaka noticed Hirata even before Hikigaya did—and spotted the dagger in his hand.

As a 17-year-old girl, she was understandably scared. But with the President behind her, she had no reason to retreat. She shouted sternly:

"Who are you?! Step back now!"

"Heh… who am I? Just a nobody whose life was stolen by you all."

"But if my life's already taken, then it doesn't matter what I do, right?"

"You people, so high and mighty—take my ruined life with you as burial offerings!"

Overcome by evil, Hirata changed his mind. Since he was a minor—one kill or several made no difference. He'd take the Council Secretary, Igarashi, and everyone around the Student Council President down with him!

"Do you even know what you're doing?! This is a crime!" the naive Igarashi still tried to stop the adrenaline-fueled attacker with words.

"So what?! It's the Great Bloom Festival! It's supposed to be chaotic to be fun!"

"Hirata, that's enough!" — Soutarou Ibuki.

"Hirata, stop this, or you'll ruin yourself!" Mibuomi Aoi said hypocritically.

Though deep down, he wished Hirata would quickly take out all those annoying people—just in case Hirata failed, his verbal objection would earn him credit and preserve a way out.

Hirata looked at Mibuomi Aoi with gratitude: "Mibuomi-sama, thank you for remembering my name. But I can't go back. Today, I must settle things with them!"

He turned with hatred, eyes wild:

"Die! You first, Momobami Kirari!"

Hikigaya Hachiman had a serious expression, but in his heart he was thrilled.

What terrible acting. But thanks to this guy's "assistance," he could once again play the hero in front of Momobami Kirari.

Once is a fluke, twice is skill.

Having once caught a blade barehanded, it would be easier the second time. This time, Hikigaya was fully confident he could disarm the knife without injury.

He took his stance, ready to intercept.

Just then, at the critical moment—

Bang!—

192 A Thousand Havocs for a Gambling Idea

Miss Yor, dressed in a black leather uniform, arrived at the critical moment just in time.

Her speed was so fast that even Hikigaya Hachiman didn't have time to react. A long and slender leg descended from the sky, heavily stomping on Hirata's knife-wielding hand and pinning it to the ground.

The crisp sound of bones fracturing clearly reached the ears of everyone present. Beneath Miss Yor's elegant leather boots was a mess of flesh that seemed to have been ground into meat paste—so gruesome it was enough to cure even the most extreme fetishes.

Hikigaya Hachiman shuddered instinctively, obviously shocked by the horrifying scene before him.

Most importantly, how did Yor appear?

Hikigaya's gaze followed the direction Yor came from, and he looked up. The dome of the large venue, designed like a bird's nest, was supported by steel structures...

So that means Yor didn't use the main entrance—she ran along the steel framework of the dome all the way to the high platform.

'What kind of anime heroine entrance is that?! One wrong step and she would've fallen to her death!!' Hikigaya complained inwardly, once again revising his understanding of Yor's terrifying strength.

All the girls present stared at the woman in black leather, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

Even Momobami Kirari, who was rarely fazed, stood stunned for a second, a dazed expression crossing her face before she quickly regained composure. The look she gave Yor was filled with an unusual emotion—like someone who had found a new, entertaining toy.

Hirata only felt a blur in front of his eyes before he fell to the ground, dizzy as if the world was spinning. At the edge of his vision was Miss Yor's elegant boot and his own hand, now crushed to the point even the finger bones were obliterated.

Perhaps due to adrenaline, it took him three full seconds to feel the searing pain from that horrific scene.

"ARGHHHH!!" The pain was like someone constantly poking at his nerves with a silver needle—hundreds of times worse than stubbing your toe hard against a wall corner.

Yor held a short dagger shaped like a golden needle, eyes alert as she watched the surroundings, faithfully carrying out Hikigaya Hachiman's orders.

Hikigaya, meanwhile, snapped out of his initial shock. He knew this was his time to act—to break this seemingly hopeless deadlock.

Considerately, he took the microphone from Yomozuki Runa's hand and walked step by step, like a devil, toward Hirata. Squatting down, he brought the microphone to Hirata's mouth as he let out a shrill, anguished scream.

That scream—like a soul tortured in the eighteenth level of hell—instantly echoed throughout the gymnasium.

The chaos at the scene seemed to freeze in time for a second, as if someone had cast a time-stop spell.

In that very moment, members of the Honebami Clan who had already entered the venue quickly took control. Their swift movements subdued several ringleaders who had been deliberately inciting the crowd.

"What are you doing? You have no right to arrest me! My dad's a police commissioner!"

"Stop! What are you trying to do?!"

"Ahhh!"

Crack!

Crunch—

The sound of breaking bones followed one after another. The mouths of those shouting "refund!" now issued only screams of agony.

The massive venue turned into a living hell.

Momobami Kirari, seated on her throne, stood up gracefully. It seemed the situation was now completely under control.

The Honebami Clan she had summoned ended up becoming mere supporting actors to Hikigaya. Using a microphone to amplify someone's screams... how exhilarating.

"That's enough, Hikigaya-kun~"

Kirari took the microphone, cleared her throat, and addressed every corner of Hyakkaou Private Academy:

"Hello, everyone. I'm your student council president, Momobami Kirari.

I believe I don't need to explain the rules of Hyakkaou Academy again, do I~?

A bet is a bet. Please abide by this rule.

If anyone else tries to challenge the rules in such a way, breaking their bones will be the best lesson.

If you want to change your fate, you're welcome to do so through gambling.

Now, I ask all students involved in this incident to report themselves to the Disciplinary and Beautification Committees."

The ruthless Kirari had no intention of rewarding anyone after punishment. Strictly adhering to the established rules—that was her way of doing things.

After giving these instructions, she handed the microphone back to Yomozuki, then turned to look at Hikigaya and Mibuomi with mild interest: "You two, come with me."

Hikigaya felt a jolt in his heart. The most important moment was finally here. "Yes!"

"Ehe~ Something unpleasant happened just now, but now that it's resolved..."

"Well then, as the chairperson of the Management Committee, I hereby declare: the National Theft Game is officially over!"

"The settlement of bets must be done through our committee~"

Yomozuki quickly declared the end of the game, then cheerfully followed the others to look for the next source of fun.

In the stands, several students still harbored a fluke mindset, trying to sneak out the back unnoticed. But when they reached the rear door, they froze.

Standing there in shiny red-bottomed patent heels, Sachiko Juraku had already put on her gold-rimmed glasses. With one hand on her hip, she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Midari Ikishima. Behind them stood a large group of Disciplinary and Beautification Committee members.

Midari swiped curiously on her tablet: "Wow, it's really clear. I'd heard the president installed tons of HD cameras in the venue. Didn't expect them to come in handy this fast."

Suddenly, she raised the cold muzzle of her gun and aimed it at the students trying to sneak away: "Hey hey hey, you guys aren't thinking of slipping away, are you?"

"Don't do something so dangerous, dumbasses. If my gun accidentally goes off, that won't end well."

"W-We're here to turn ourselves in..." the group said with ashen faces, putting their hands behind their heads as they were escorted away for interrogation.

What awaited them was a punishment beyond imagination.

Suzui Ryota was among them.

For this gamble, he'd leveraged everything... All the dreams he had envisioned were shattered the moment Yomozuki Runa made her announcement. Gone. Everything was gone. His family's expectations, his hopes for the future.

The debt he now faced—only selling off the family company's shares could possibly cover it.

Suzui Ryota began to cry.

Only when you lose everything in a gamble do you realize what it's like to wake from a dream. If only he'd lived steadily and honestly, he could've graduated without issue. Why did he get greedy? Why did he think gambling would make him rich?!

"Arghhh! Why! WHY?!" Suzui Ryota clutched his head and howled like a madman. But his breakdown didn't attract any attention.

Today, in that place, there were far too many people collapsing just like him.

When the desire to gamble arises, a thousand calamities follow.