184 The Will of Ouri is Collapsing
"Now, it's time for the players' proposal phase!"
Yomozuki Runa held the microphone and first walked over to Mibuomi Aoi.
"Everyone should already be familiar with this one~ The incredibly popular Aoi-kun from our school!"
"Aoi-kun, do you have any rule-related suggestions you'd like to add?"
Mibuomi Aoi smiled and waved to the audience below, earning a wave of cheers. After a brief moment of thought, he said, "I propose that cheating be strictly prohibited."
"In other words, no tampering with the cards in any way. If any cheating is discovered—whether by me, the audience, or the members of the management committee—the offender automatically loses the match."
"Hehe, of course, that goes without saying. Our academy forbids cheating anyway~" Yomozuki Runa replied with a playful smile, then glanced at Mibuomi Aoi with a meaningful look. "But Aoi-kun, some things simply mustn't be done~"
As the chairwoman of the management committee, Yomozuki Runa was naturally aware of Aoi's secret tricks.
Such a bold plan. If this plan succeeds, the student council would be forced to pay a terrifying sum of 600 billion yen. But purposefully losing a match through cheating? That's not allowed.
Yomozuki Runa had no intention of saving Momobami Kirari any money. If Kirari dared to open a gambling table without changing the odds, then she better be prepared to lose everything.
Though, of course, that amount of money wasn't really a problem for the president. Within the student council, only a few people knew about Momobami and the clan behind her—the Hundred Devouring Families. Yomozuki Runa was one of them. Mibuomi Aoi... clearly was not.
He merely had a vague idea that Kirari's background was terrifying—so much so that anyone sent to investigate her simply disappeared without a trace.
"Anything else to add?" Yomozuki Runa asked.
Mibuomi Aoi pointed to the oversized playing cards meant to be used as props. "Chairwoman Yomozuki Runa, didn't you forget something? These oversized cards... don't tell me the players have to move them themselves?"
"Of course not."
Oops~ Did I forget to mention that? Then let me add it now~"
"Since the two players are battling as representatives of their respective nations, it's only natural they need subordinates to command their armies."
"There are three factions. So each of you must appoint three students from our school to act as commanders and move the cards. This is a mandatory order. Regardless of their willingness, they'll become commanders. However, if both of you write down the same person, then it'll depend on that person's willingness. And the side that loses out will have one less commander."
Yomozuki Runa had her subordinates hand out two tablets and styluses: "Now, please write down the names of your chosen people. No matter where they are right now, they'll be brought here to the match!"
Candidates?
Without a moment's hesitation, Hikigaya wrote down three names on the tablet.
Knock knock
The student council meeting room door was pushed open. A management committee member, dressed in the usual cat-dog uniform, bowed deeply to the student council president, Momobami Kirari, who sat on her throne.
"President, under orders from Yomozuki Runa, we must now take Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri to the gambling venue as one of the props. Please allow her to accompany us…"
Kirari Momobami held a leash in her hand, looking at Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri—who was kneeling and crawling on the ground, seemingly stripped of all human dignity. Her once-bright eyes had lost all light and were now hollow. She wagged her tail at Kirari's white-socked feet wrapped in wooden clogs, begging for attention.
Kirari smiled warmly, clearly satisfied with the "toy" in her hand. The only regret was that Ouri had such a weak will. After just a short time of playing, she had completely broken.
"Hikigaya-kun was also toyed by me, yet he still retains his own personality~ Shimotsukiuriuri -san, you're just not cut out to be a toy."
"But no matter. Come along to the gambling venue with me."
"I'd like to see what kind of gamble this will be between those two."
Kirari stood up, leash in hand, and followed the election committee members, while Ouri naturally remained crawling on the ground like a real housepet.
.
.
.
"Let's take a look at both parties' chosen lists—"
"Aoi-kun's list: Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri, Nagi Kamishimo, Soutarou Ibuki."
"Hikigaya-kun's list: Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri, Miharutaki Sakura, Yumeko Jabami."
"Wow~ What a surprising coincidence!" Yomozuki Runa exclaimed theatrically. "Both of you chose first-year student Shimotsukiuri-san! And Hikigaya even chose our student council's beautification committee member. How unexpected!"
"Since Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri is the only one not present, the others who were named, please come up to the stage!"
Mibuomi Aoi crossed his arms, inwardly sneering.
There was no rule saying commanders couldn't participate in the gamble. This match had transformed from a simple 1v1 into a 4v4 battle—a battle of wits.
That idiot Hikigaya actually chose Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri just to disgust him, even though he'd end up with one less person.
Now, possessing Shimotsukiuriuri Ouri—the one with the strongest memory—meant he could easily throw the game.
But throwing a game was a delicate art. If done too obviously, it could backfire badly.
Mibuomi Aoi closed his eyes and began fantasizing about his post-victory life plan.
Soon, the named participants arrived on stage.
"Ugh! That shameless woman dared betray the president!"
"So it's true—the person in those photos was her and Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Whispers rose from the audience, expressing disdain for Miharutaki's betrayal. Many in the crowd were members of the Full-Bloom. Seeing their former vice president now a traitor—she received no friendly faces.
Yumeko, as the main wife, naturally linked arms with Miharutaki, who was two years older than her. Wearing a matriarchal smile, she gently encouraged the downcast Miharutaki.
Encouraged by Yumeko, Miharutaki finally lifted her head, her gaze firm. She wanted to stop her former fiancé from making more mistakes.
She looked to Hikigaya for permission, then called out across the stage: "Aoi, please stop already. You won't beat Hikigaya-sama."
This was her final plea, a clean break from her past.
"Outsiders should keep quiet." Mibuomi Aoi had no appreciation for her sentiment.
At that moment, Hikigaya spoke up: "Yomozuki Runa, I still have the right to propose something, right?"
"Of course, go ahead."
"Let's raise the stakes. Since Miharutaki-senpai already belongs to me... if I win, her engagement with Mibuomi Aoi will be annulled."