The thrill of victory faded as Naoki's excitement slowly settled.
After all, she had only earned back five chips.
And once the charm card wore off, Kirari was unlikely to make such an irrational fold again.
Just as Naoki had expected, her brief comeback ended quickly. With only ten chips left, she was easily wiped out in the next round. Her chips were gone.
She had lost.
System Message: Congratulations, Host, for completing the gamble with Kirari Momobami. Although you were defeated, you managed a brief turnaround at the end. Two experience points awarded.
It had been expected. Naoki didn't feel overwhelmingly bitter, but...
When Kirari tossed the white livestock tag in front of her, Naoki couldn't help but sigh. Not even a shred of mercy, even after being briefly enchanted. And now, she was going to brand her as livestock.
"Naoki..."
Sayaka Igarashi looked at her with conflicted eyes. She didn't want Naoki to be reduced to this, but there was nothing she could do.
A hundred million yen in debt. With thirty million in savings deducted, she still owed seventy million.
This was what happened when you crossed Kirari.
Naoki picked up the tag labeled "Noncompliant Student" and hung it around her neck. It wasn't even that ugly, honestly. It just meant she was now at the very bottom.
She didn't say anything else and quietly walked out of the reception room.
Ririka quickly followed.
...
Things had changed, and yet not changed at all.
Even though Naoki had become livestock, Ririka still chased after her fervently.
Sayaka remained quietly worried.
Kirari sat at the table, cards scattered before her. A heavy, stifling pressure sat on her chest. Despite winning the gamble, she felt no joy.
She had to stop looking. Stop thinking about that girl.
...
"Naoki, where are you going?"
Ririka trailed behind her.
"Home. It's already after school."
"Naoki, I can lend you money to help you return to human status."
"Let's not. It was the President who made me livestock. If you lend me money, won't you be going against her?"
Ririka was momentarily speechless. She didn't understand why Naoki seemed so unfazed by her situation. All she wanted was to help.
"It's fine. If it's you, I don't mind."
Sigh.
Ririka was too pure. It almost felt wrong to take advantage of someone like her.
Afraid Ririka would keep following her and interfere with her plans to charm other girls, Naoki stopped and said, "I've got plans. I'll figure out a way to earn money and escape this status."
So Naoki didn't want help? She really was proud. That's the kind of girl she was.
Oh no. Was Naoki upset that she offered money? Did it offend her?
Ririka wrung her hands anxiously.
"But Naoki, a hundred million yen... only Student Council members could possibly wager that much."
She was right. Normal gambles couldn't even come close to earning that kind of money. Regular students wouldn't even dare bet it.
Only the council members could. And their strength was obvious.
Miharutaki Sakura and Juraku Sachiko.
Naoki had already experienced their skills firsthand.
Challenging them as livestock was no different from walking into a trap.
"I'll find another way."
Naoki seemed to have a plan.
Ririka began imagining all sorts of scenarios. If Naoki wasn't going to gamble against the council, how else would she earn money?
Wait. Could it be that Naoki was planning to... ask other women for allowance?
Was she avoiding her out of guilt?
Ririka tried to stop thinking such things, but she couldn't help herself.
...
Rumors spread fast in the academy.
By the next morning, when Naoki arrived at school, the looks from her classmates had already changed.
Her desk was covered in chalk scribbles full of insults. Her textbooks had been thrown on the ground and stomped on.
"Who did this? This is too much!"
Mary Saotome immediately noticed the situation and looked around angrily.
Hanatemari Tsuzura trembled at the nasty words, nervously moved closer to Naoki, and began helping her pick up the books.
"They're all dirty..."
The textbooks were full of shoe prints that wouldn't wipe off.
Mary's angry words quickly drew the disdain of the other classmates.
"Well, no wonder. Birds of a feather. You're all special admissions, aren't you? Of course you'd stick up for her. She's livestock now."
That was from the mockers.
"Did you not know, Saotome-san? Naoki Utsugi became livestock. She lost to the Student Council President yesterday. Owes a hundred million. No way she's bouncing back."
That was from the smug onlookers.
"In this academy, livestock are the lowest. No matter how humans treat them, they can't fight back. You two, as new special admissions, should understand that."
The cruel faces of her classmates and their smug expressions made Mary feel nauseated.
"I don't care. I'm still human. If you think you're that tough, come gamble with me. A million, two million. I'm game. Are you?"
Mary stared each one down.
Those she looked at responded with glares, but no one dared accept.
Everyone knew she had defeated Aipuxin and even caught the attention of Student Council Treasurer and Executive Officer Aoi Mibuomi after making a fortune from her casino.
She had lost in the matchmaking gamble against the council members, but financially, she came out ahead.
Mocking was easy, but gambling with her? Not a chance.
"Tch. Typical special admissions. All the same."
The onlookers dispersed, grumbling as they went.
Naoki and Tsuzura finished cleaning up the books and wiping the chalk off the desk.
"Naoki, you really gambled against the President?"
Mary shook Naoki's shoulders.
"You didn't even tell me!"
"Uh, it happened pretty suddenly."
"Sigh. So the President really is strong. You couldn't beat her. Maybe it was a good thing we didn't join the Zensaki Society after all."
"You're still thinking about that?"
Naoki let out a helpless laugh.
Mary didn't comfort her with empty words. She was pragmatic.
"So what's your plan, Naoki? You can't wear that livestock tag and get mocked for the next three years."
"Well, I've been thinking. Haven't figured it out yet."
"A hundred million... that's just too much. I can't even wrap my head around it."
Mary couldn't think of any solutions either. Her casino brought in a couple million a month at best.
How long would it take to repay that kind of debt?
...
Soon, the bell rang for break time. Students filed out to visit various casinos.
"Naoki, we're off to run our casino."
Mary was already focused on making money.
"Alright. See you later."
Naoki packed up.
She had no money left. No capital to gamble with.
She picked up her bag and walked out of the building. But before she got far, a group of girls blocked her way.
They looked familiar. Weren't they the ones who got punished by Miharutaki for the charm incident and were forced to clean?
"What is it?"
Naoki remained calm, even though she knew they weren't here with good intentions.
"Still acting tough when you're just livestock?"
One of them grabbed her by the shoulder and tried to drag her.
"Come with us."
When she resisted, another girl threatened her.
"Livestock don't get to resist humans. You know that, right?"
They dragged her away from the crowds, leading her to a secluded grove near the school.
It was a place only couples went to in the evenings. This time of day, everyone was gambling or at club activities. No one would come.
"What do you want?"
Being pulled into a quiet place like this... the meaning was obvious.
They stared at her greedily. She looked even more attractive than last time.
They had lost to her in rock-paper-scissors. They never thought they'd get another chance.
But now that she was livestock, this was the perfect chance to get revenge.
"Take a guess," the tall girl said with a smirk.
"Be smart. You're livestock. No matter what we do, the Student Council won't care."
Just as the three girls were about to pounce, Naoki turned to run.
But she had only taken a few steps before she ran straight into someone's arms.
A familiar scent made her look up.
"You... what are you doing here?"
"Yuyuzan said she saw you getting dragged away."
The soft, clear voice instantly soothed her anxiety.
Yuyuzan? That cold, short-haired girl she defeated before? She was that kind?
Seeing Miharutaki Sakura, Naoki relaxed completely. She stopped running and turned to face the startled girls.
They panicked the moment they saw the Beautification Committee Chair. Regular students always panicked around council members.
Still, the tall girl grabbed her companions and tried to act calm.
"Chairwoman Miharutaki, she's livestock. We can treat her however we want. You should know that better than anyone."
She was right. No need to panic. The council had established the system. They had nothing to fear.
With that logic, the other girls slowly regained their composure.
After all, Miharutaki had no grounds to punish them.
Naoki also knew that in her current status, she couldn't hold them accountable.
Miharutaki spoke calmly.
"As a council member, you're right. But what if I'm here not as the Beautification Chair, but as Naoki's friend, Miharutaki Sakura?"
"If you want to keep going, be my guest. Just be ready for the consequences."
The girls turned pale. They hadn't expected her to protect a livestock student.
Even without her council position, Miharutaki came from a powerful family. She wasn't someone they could mess with.
And if she wanted to make their lives difficult, she could do it easily.
"I'm sorry, Naoki. Please forgive me. I won't do it again."
The tall girl dropped to her knees instantly.
Compared to being blacklisted by Miharutaki, an apology was nothing.
The other two girls quickly followed.
"I'm sorry too, Naoki. She made me come. I didn't want to."
"Yeah, it was her idea."
"Hey, you both wanted to come too!"
The three of them started bickering and wrestling with each other.
Naoki let out a sigh and tugged on Miharutaki's sleeve, signaling that it was time to go.
She hadn't expected Miharutaki to come all this way just for her.
It seemed that her earlier flirtation had worked out after all.
Naoki walked side by side with Miharutaki out of the grove, feeling completely at ease.
Just as she expected, even after becoming livestock, her future girlfriends would still come to protect her.
And since they were coming to her aid, she'd have more chances to get close to them.
"Um, Lady Miharutaki, about that day we promised a date after the matchmaking gamble... we still haven't done that."
Naoki smiled shyly.
"You saved me again today. Tomorrow is Saturday. Let me treat you to a meal and fulfill our agreement."
Miharutaki hadn't expected her to remember that. She had only acted from instinct, not wanting to see the girl in front of her get hurt.
A date... Could she really go?
But if it was a debt from a gamble, she had to honor it.
Using that excuse to convince herself, Miharutaki let Naoki hold her hand until they reached the edge of the grove, where she finally pulled away.
System: Miharutaki Sakura's favorability increased by 1 point.
Naoki: ...
She clearly enjoyed holding hands, didn't she? Why pull away like she was embarrassed to be seen?
Naoki confirmed once again that Miharutaki didn't like public displays of affection.
Probably because she feared rumors or damage to her reputation.
Just as they left the grove, Ririka rushed over in her mask.
She lit up when she saw Naoki.
"Naoki, you're okay. I heard you were dragged into the grove."
"I'm fine. Miharutaki helped me. Even though I'm livestock, she couldn't stand seeing that happen."
Naoki answered first, framing Miharutaki's actions as an upright personal choice.
Ririka eyed Miharutaki cautiously. Why would she help Naoki? She didn't recall them being close.
Wait... she did show up during the matchmaking gamble too.
But she's engaged. Maybe I'm just overthinking it.
"I'll be going now."
Seeing Ririka arrive, Miharutaki didn't say anything and turned to leave.
Her calm expression and decisive exit made Ririka relax a little.
She had always heard that Miharutaki was righteous. Now she saw it for herself.
Thankfully she showed up when she did. Who knows what would've happened otherwise.
Ririka had no idea the two had just let go of each other's hands.
"Ririka, how did you even know about this?"
Naoki asked curiously.
"There are many people in the Student Council. I asked some of them to keep an eye on you and let me know if anything happened. I didn't expect those girls to act so fast."
Ririka looked discouraged.
"Because it was Kirari who branded you livestock, everyone thinks you offended her. So they bully you more openly."
Naoki gently took her hand.
"Thank you, Ririka. I'm really touched. I didn't know you were doing all this for me."
"No, I didn't manage to do anything. I couldn't stop them. I didn't help you in time."
Ririka was deeply disappointed in herself.
"Ririka, you're just too sweet. Come on, let's go get dessert. I owe you from yesterday."
Naoki winked.
"If you hang around me in public, everyone will know you're protecting me. They won't dare bully me anymore."
"Okay."
Behind her mask, Ririka smiled foolishly. Too bad the voice modulator turned it into an emotionless buzz.
Why hadn't she thought of that before? If she just stuck to Naoki's side all the time, no one would dare mess with her.
That's it. That's what she'd do.
----------------------------------------------------
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