Naoki was still in high spirits the next morning when she arrived at school.
She walked into the academic building and opened her shoe locker. Everything looked normal.
If she were demoted to livestock, she'd have to be on guard for things like razor blades hidden in her shoes. And even if something like that did happen to a livestock, the student council wouldn't care. In this school, livestock had no human rights.
That's right in this world, the teachers at Hyakkaou Private Academy were completely powerless. They were only here to teach classes.
All affairs were handled by the student council the academy's true ruling body.
With a long history and deep ties to powerful figures in politics and business, it was no surprise that nearly every student council member came from wealth or influence.
The student council had enough clout to decide a student's entire life. That was even scarier than becoming livestock.
Rumor had it that some livestock who were too deep in debt to ever repay would receive a "Life Plan" from the council detailing everything from future jobs, to who they'd marry, when they'd have kids, and how many.
As Naoki thought about the miserable fate of livestock, she noticed a girl standing nearby, looking like she wanted to speak.
"Ah, sorry," Naoki snapped out of it and stepped aside from the locker.
She glanced at the girl and realized it was someone familiar. Long, deep blue hair down to her waist, a delicate face, and a cute white flower-shaped hairpin. But her timid expression gave away her lack of confidence.
Hanatemari Tsuzura.
The classic heroine type kind, gentle, empathetic... and completely hopeless at gambling. Painfully shy. In the original storyline, she was targeted and bullied into livestock status by Aipuxin.
Naoki's arrival seemed to have disrupted that fate. No one had been paying much attention to Tsuzura lately.
"Um, Naoki... is it okay if I call you that?"
"Sure, I don't mind."
Tsuzura bit her lip. "You were amazing yesterday... I can't believe you turned the tables and beat Aipuxin like that."
Naoki blinked.
She checked the affection panel despite not exchanging a single word before now, Tsuzura already had five affection points toward her.
Maybe seeing her win stirred up admiration?
This was the perfect chance to pull a loot box from her.
Naoki put on a warm smile. "It was just luck, really."
She quickly formulated a strategy to win over Tsuzura. Simple enough encourage her to gamble, let her lose and face livestock risk, then swoop in to help. A textbook rescue scenario.
"But, y'know," Naoki added, "I realized something yesterday. You won't survive in this school without the guts to take risks."
Tsuzura paused, mouthed the words silently to herself, and then straightened up as if inspired. "I understand. I've always been afraid to lose, so I never gambled at all. But that's not good enough."
"Thank you, Naoki."
Naoki beamed. "That's right, Tsuzura. Keep pushing forward. That's the only way to win."
...Hopefully she didn't lose *too* badly.
...
After morning classes, Naoki was still undecided on which cafeteria to eat at when Aipuxin appeared beside her again.
"Naoki, let's eat together."
This girl again.
"Uh, but I already promised Tsuzura I'd eat with her," Naoki replied. She wasn't too keen on spending too much time with Aipuxin there was something unsettling about how she looked at her.
Aipuxin repeated the name, her voice tinged with frost. "Hanatemari Tsuzura?"
"Hanatemari, huh... that one?"
Tsuzura looked flustered but, as always, didn't protest. Especially not when she already liked Naoki.
"Uh-huh."
Under Aipuxin's glare, Naoki grabbed Tsuzura's hand and pulled her away.
They ate lunch quickly, and afterward, Naoki said goodbye to Tsuzura and looked for a quiet classroom to nap in.
Finding one wasn't easy students gambled like crazy during breaks.
Naoki finally found a quiet spot and used her last remaining bit of EXP to draw a card.
Only one chance. Please let it be a strong one.
**System: Congratulations! You've drawn a special ability card Charm.**
Naoki: Not this thing again!
She only had one card left... a Charm card.
Wait there was still the orange loot box she got from Midari.
Fingers crossed open!
**System: You've received a special item Beauty & Fitness Pill. Increases base charm and strengthens the body. Become the ultimate cuddle machine.**
What kind of nonsense...
This system was half flirting simulator, wasn't it?
Still, she hadn't really attracted that many girls yet. And since it was from a loot box, she forced herself to take it.
...
When Naoki returned to class, she found Tsuzura sitting with her head down, radiating defeat, while Aipuxin looked smug and triumphant nearby.
"So weak. She lost all her money just like that. At this rate, she'll be a livestock in no time."
...Not my problem, Naoki thought.
In the original story, Aipuxin bullied Tsuzura too.
"Naoki..." Tsuzura's eyes widened as she saw her.
It hadn't even been a few hours, but Naoki looked... prettier somehow.
**System: Hanatemari Tsuzura's affection +2 (You looked really good).**
**System: Aipuxin's affection +2 (You looked really good).**
So they're both shallow, huh?
The pill had only made her skin clearer and her vibe a bit better. But clear skin *did* go a long way.
"Naoki... I lost."
"Don't stress it. Everyone loses sometimes."
"I... lost 500,000 yen. I'm completely broke. I won't be able to pay the fee at the end of the month."
Naoki: …
Girl, what were you thinking? Betting *everything* on your first gamble?
Aipuxin sauntered over. "Naoki, looks like Hanatemari's gonna become livestock soon. No point hanging out with her, right?"
"What are you getting at?"
Naoki's tone turned chilly.
Unfazed, Aipuxin smiled. "If you feel sorry for her, how about you try winning the money back?"
"I mean, you're close, right? Wouldn't you help a friend?"
Crap.
Naoki realized the whole thing had been a setup. Aipuxin had targeted Tsuzura just to force Naoki to take the bait.
She hadn't given up on turning Naoki into her personal livestock.
And no doubt the game was rigged in her favor.
Naoki only had a Charm card left... and the 70,000 yen left from Midari. Her system space still held 1 million yen, but she didn't want to touch it unless she absolutely had to.
Should she back down?
No. Backing out now would cost her affection from both girls.
"Fine. Let's do it. What's the game?"
Aipuxin's face lit up, like a fisherman watching a fish swim into the net.
Tsuzura looked stunned. They'd only met the day before why was Naoki helping her?
**System: You accepted the gamble. Aipuxin's affection +1.**
**System: You stood up for Hanatemari Tsuzura. Affection +5.**
**System: Hanatemari Tsuzura's affection reached 12. Reward: Red loot box.**
Naoki clicked it open instantly.
A burst of light and a stack of cards.
**System: Jackpot! You received 10 special ability cards Charm x10!**
Naoki: …
She had no words.
Fine.
If it came down to it, she'd just *charm* Aipuxin to death.