Chapter 258: Excuse Me, Where's the Love Hotel?

"Hyakkaou Private Academy, huh? Sorry, but I'm doing just fine at Shuchiin. No need to transfer."

Rinji rejected Kirari's proposal without hesitation.

"What can you possibly gain from such a normal school? Repetitive, ordinary days? Listening to students talk about things you don't even care about?"

Kirari smiled.

"Is hiding your fangs in peaceful daily life really what you want? I think someone like you should be in a world where the strong rule everything."

"You're not me. How would you know what I want?"

"I don't, but I saw you once on the Kengan Association's ship casino. From the look in your eyes, I could tell you were bored with a game you knew you'd win. But at Hyakkaou, you'll never feel bored."

"…"

"That's all I'll say. If you ever want to transfer, you're welcome anytime."

With those words, Kirari waved and walked out of the casino.

"Oh, right."

Just as she reached the door, she turned around with a faintly eerie smile.

"Diamond Ace, Heart 6, Spade 8."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Kirari glanced at the ring on Rinji's finger. "You like wearing rings at the poker table. Is that a special habit?"

"Yeah, it's so the goddess of luck will stay by my side."

"Interesting."

After Kirari left, Karura suddenly jumped out of the crowd and pounced on Rinji.

"Yay! Rinji won~"

"Yeah, there's no way I'd lose."

Even if the win was dull, seeing Karura so happy made Rinji smile anyway.

"This was all thanks to you." Momo stepped forward and said.

But her eyes stayed fixed on Karura on Rinji's back, silently wishing she'd get off.

"It's nothing. I know this kind of money doesn't mean much to your family anyway."

Then Rinji seemed to remember something. He gently lowered Karura and walked over to the dealer.

"Let me see the cards."

"Uh… sure."

The cards hadn't been shuffled yet since the game just ended, so the deck was still in its original state.

Rinji drew three cards and placed them on the table.

They were: Diamond Ace, Heart 6, Spade 8.

"…"

Momo leaned in and asked, "Is something weird about those cards?"

"They're exactly what that woman said. Same cards, same order." Rinji put them back in the deck and turned to Momo. "Does that woman come here often?"

"I don't hang around my family's casino every day."

She shrugged.

Made sense—while her dad was a yakuza boss, Momo was still a high school girl. She only visited now and then.

"But I have heard she shows up in Kabukicho sometimes, though she usually visits other casinos. And she's not just any ordinary person."

"I figured."

Rinji held the deck of cards.

"She let me win on purpose. She knew the outcome from the start."

"What?"

"She returned the 1.4 billion she won from you on purpose. She already knew the deck order when she was shuffling. She knew how it would end from the start."

All-in poker is essentially a psychological game. Kirari knew the card order.

Each player got one hole card and four face-up cards from the dealer.

It seemed like the outcome wasn't decided until the last card was revealed—but in reality, everything had already been determined.

And because the hole cards weren't visible, Rinji could manipulate his hole card's suit and number but not the four dealt face-up cards.

Earlier, Rinji's open cards were 7♠, 4♥, 4♦, and 7♥. That meant no matter how he adjusted the last card, his best result was a full house.

His trick was unbeatable, but not omnipotent. And more importantly, this time, he didn't even try to cheat.

So Kirari, who knew the deck's exact sequence, was never in danger of losing. She could have played a safer hand after Rinji went all in—but instead, she matched the bet, knowing she'd lose.

"Feigning weakness to bait me into going all in? That was a clever move."

"You're not actually thinking of transferring to that school, are you?"

Momo frowned.

"That place isn't normal—it's a school full of maniacs. You might fit in there, but I still wouldn't recommend it."

"You know about it?"

"Yeah, tons of students there end up in debt," Momo said. "Some girls owe so much they're probably working in shady clubs around here just to pay it off. Their lives are ruined."

"That's just what happens to gambling addicts. They brought it on themselves."

Rinji stretched and walked over to Karura.

"Anyway, I helped you out. Let me enjoy this rare date."

Momo: "Yeah… Thanks for that…"

She said that, but watching Rinji and Karura act so close made her feel anything but happy.

"You two going on a date in Kabukicho?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I know some good spots." Momo smiled. "Let me take you around. I know this area pretty well."

Rinji: "Uh… Senpai, this is a date. Do you even understand what that means…"

Before he could finish, Karura suddenly got excited.

"Really? You know this area well?"

Seeing Karura's eager expression, Momo realized Rinji's date wasn't going to go as planned.

Which was exactly what she wanted.

"Of course. If there's somewhere you want to go, just tell me. I'll take you there."

"Then… can you tell me where the love hotels are?"

"Sure, they're just—Wait, what?"

"Yup!" Karura beamed. "I want to take care of everything with Rinji today so I can have his baby."

Momo: "…"

Rinji: "…I should've known."

He had been wondering why Karura chose this location. It was because they could easily find a love hotel and get to the main event.