267 Triple Gambit
The enthusiasm of Inbami Miyo seemed a little overwhelming for Yumeko, who instinctively reached out her own hands and gently caressed Miyo's back.
"That's right, Miyo-nee, ever since we left our clan life, it's been a long time since we last met."
The two of them embraced like long-separated sisters, causing the expression on Yobami Miri, who sat on the sofa, to turn sour.
They embraced deeply, only separating when their body scents had mingled.
Moved by Miyo's passion, Yumeko spread her arms and faced Yobami Miri: "Miri-chan, come here for a hug too!"
"No thanks, I'm not that close with you." Miri turned her head away awkwardly.
But such a warm welcome did not make the highly suspicious Hikigaya Hachiman drop his guard.
Could things really be this warm and welcoming?
Unnatural circumstances always have something hidden — suspicious, suspicious. The two sisters exchanged a glance, seeing the deeper meaning in each other's eyes.
Rather than jumping into a gamble immediately, they invited the two to sit side by side on the sofa opposite them and began brewing tea.
"Yumeko, it looks like you've already found someone you fancy~"
"Of course! Hachiman is really amazing. Miyo-nee, want a taste?"
Cough—
Such shocking remarks made both Miyo and Hachiman spit out their tea.
"Yumeko!" Hachiman pinched the soft flesh of Yumeko's thigh gently, hinting at her to watch her mouth.
"It's fine, Hachiman~ Miyo-nee is a very close friend of mine. This level of joking is nothing."
As she said that, Yumeko seductively licked the corner of her mouth and stared at Inbami Miyo: "Of course, if Miyo-nee wants to take it seriously, that's okay too."
After all, she never minded sharing Hikigaya Hachiman with her close sisters.
"That kind of joke... isn't really appropriate." Hachiman didn't even sip the tea in front of him, just put it down.
He was already on guard, and wouldn't easily accept their kindness — even polite gestures. According to Momobami Kirari's intel, these two sisters were masters of poison. Who knows if the tea was drugged?
Hikigaya Hachiman had no intention of becoming the next one to pass out.
"So, the two of you came specifically to find me and Yumeko. What do you want to bet on?"
"Of course, it's about betting our vote chips." Inbami Miyo answered naturally, as if she didn't see the wariness in Hachiman's eyes.
"You two aren't outsiders, so you should know the situation of our Hundred Devouring Branch Family. Coming out of the clan and entering this academy, we have only one goal — to defeat Momobami Kirari and take the position of clan head and student council president."
"A legitimate reason. But looking for us just for votes seems like the wrong move — Yumeko and I together only have ten vote chips."
He had two chips. As for Yumeko, she had won seven more just yesterday in a random bet.
"What we value isn't the vote chips you currently hold, but the proxy vote chips." Miyo revealed her fangs without reservation: "As the Public Morals Committee Chairman, it doesn't matter how many days you work for the Student Council, right~ This kind of gambling setup is like an unlimited overdraft check for you, and that's what we're after."
"Heh... That sounds nice, but why would I risk my freedom just to gamble with you?"
"This kind of question... Hikigaya-kun, you should already know the answer. Why didn't we go to other student council members? It's because they lack ambition."
"That much has already been proven. That Traditional Culture Research Club President, even at the end, didn't overdraft her future and just lost cleanly."
"We've investigated you, Hikigaya-kun. Born in a regular family, you've always been eager to rise. For someone like you, becoming student council president is important, right?"
"If you win against us sisters, then the 107 vote chips we hold will all be yours. It's essential for your final campaign, right?"
It was bait. Hikigaya narrowed his eyes. He had to admit Miyo's words were enticing. 107 vote chips — at most, he'd have to overdraft 99 days' worth of proxy votes. To a first-year committee member like him, that was basically painless, and he'd gain a huge pile of "startup capital."
No matter how he looked at it, it was a risk-free investment.
But Hachiman had seen too many schemes to take things at face value.
His instincts told him something was off.
These two were elites from the Hundred Devouring Clan — there's no way they'd offer such a favorable deal out of kindness.
They couldn't be saints.
"You're right, the conditions are hard to refuse." Hachiman stood up and walked toward a nearby mahjong table: "But win or lose, after this match, you two will hand over the antidote."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Hikigaya-kun."
"You know damn well. Don't make things difficult after the gamble is over."
Inbami Miyo smiled ambiguously. Soon, all four sat around the table.
Yumeko said gently: "Miyo-nee, though we're close sisters, I won't hold back at the gambling table~"
"Of course." Miyo nodded: "According to the rules of Hyakkaou Academy, this gamble needs someone from the management committee to be valid. I'll contact them now to send someone over."
"No need, because I'm already here!"
BANG—!
Yomozuki Runa, exuding a powerful presence, pushed open the door.
"As the Chair of the Management and Election Committee, I'll personally supervise this gamble!"
"Oh my, the top of the management committee came herself."
"Just kidding. Actually, while I'm here to supervise, I also wanted to see the faces of the ones who took down little Yuriko."
Yomozuki Runa licked her lollipop: "Truly surprising. Just a gamble, and they both passed out. Even the doctors couldn't tell if they were drugged."
"Yes, that's really unfortunate..."
"So, as the leader of the Management and Election Committee, I'm personally overseeing your gamble, Miyo-san~" Her expression twisted, and her deep purple eyes looked like an abyss with no bottom: "A proper and fair gamble, right in front of me. Your game with Hikigaya and Jabami — I'll watch every move."
"Judging by Yomozuki Runa-san's tone, are you assuming I used some kind of drug to cause the fainting?" Miyo smoothed her hair. "I don't really mind, but with that kind of preconceived notion, can you really ensure a fair gamble?"
"Of course." Runa leaned back, returning to her usual playful tone. "No one understands fairness better than me."
"For fairness, this match will use a game I designed, and I will deal the cards."
"You four have no objections, right?"
Yomozuki Runa's voice was a little low.
Truthfully, her mood was foul.
Yuriko, someone she was close to in the student council, had collapsed on the gambling table. Yet none of the management staff present noticed anything wrong, and even the doctors said it was normal.
But Runa knew Yuriko very well.
She'd never pass out just from anger.
Which meant — Miyo and Miri had used some kind of undetectable drug.
That behavior trampled the dignity of gambling and the committee that supervised it. Unforgivable arrogance!
Even so, Yomozuki Runa didn't let her anger cloud her judgment.
She upheld her role as a completely neutral arbiter.
"No objections."
"If Yomozuki Runa-san is dealing, that's more than acceptable." Hikigaya gave a thoughtful glance at Runa's small hands, then nodded in agreement.
"If no one objects, I'll now preside over this match."
"You'll be playing the game: [Nim Type-0]."
[Nim Type-0]
Card system is similar to playing cards, but with only numbers 0–3. Ten cards of each number. 40 cards in total.
Each person gets 4 cards per round. Players play cards in turn. If the total on the field exceeds 9, the player who played the last card loses.
Yomozuki Runa explained: "Simple, right? But that could easily become a game of luck. So, just like poker, you're allowed to bet. Even with bad hands, you can pressure your opponents to fold."
"Best of three."
"And because I'm neutral, for fairness, I'll use new cards each round. No cheating by marking cards."
"I'll also shuffle using the same method each time."
"How many times should I shuffle? Hikigaya-kun, pick any number between 10 and 30."
"Then... 11."
"Alright."
Following Hachiman's choice, Runa split the deck into two stacks (11 and 29), then began shuffling them in alternating layers.
Cards flew, dazzling the eye. The sisters glanced over casually and looked away — they had their own surefire winning strategy.
Hikigaya Hachiman, however, was watching Runa's shuffling technique intently, his eyes glittering as if he realized something.
The rules of this game were unexpectedly simple.
In short, the smaller your card numbers, the higher your odds of winning.
Hachiman began analyzing the situation.
They were in teams of two, seated opposite their partners.
He was sitting opposite Yumeko, and the sisters likewise.
'For the first play, if I have a 0, I can immediately play a 3. But I need to consider whether Yumeko has a 0. Otherwise, if everyone has a 0, we might end up causing our own partner to lose in round two or three.'
'Which means, beyond luck and betting strategy, we also need mutual understanding.'
This was a triple-layered gamble.
The Invincible Hikigaya Falls Again
Yomozuki Runa handed out the freshly shuffled cards to everyone.
Then, she called over her subordinates, who carried in boxes full of token chips into the activity room.
"It's clear that the four of you are not the type to accept defeat easily.
So let's gamble to our heart's content!
Three rounds of betting, and there's no limit to how many voting chips you can borrow in advance.
In other words, as long as you have confidence in your hand, you can borrow as much as you want! You might even take this chance to turn your opponents into slaves of the student council!" Yomozuki Runa announced, then clapped her hands and declared the match officially started.
"Once the hands are confirmed, Yumeko will bet first."
"Thirty chips!" Yumeko cupped her face in her hands, smiling sweetly as she pushed 30 chips from her chip box into the center of the table.
"Call." Without any expression, the petite Miri also pushed 30 chips forward.
"That's how it should be~ It wouldn't be fun if the bets were too small from the start."
"Now it's your turn, Hikigaya-kun~" Yomozuki Runa chimed in gleefully, clearly enjoying the drama. "Even though you're a disciplinary committee member, if you lose your position and become a low-ranking lackey of the student council, it wouldn't be surprising."
Hikigaya glanced at his hand.
[1-3-0-0]
Two zeros—relatively good. That meant there were eight remaining cards in play. Statistically speaking...
"Call."
Soon, both Hikigaya and Miyo called the bet.
My hand has a strong advantage, but I need to avoid forcing Yumeko to play a 0...
If the combined cards from Miyo and Miri add up to 9... That must all be considered.
Now was the time to test their mutual understanding. Yumeko, tell me your hand! Hikigaya looked up, locking eyes with Yumeko midair.
But suddenly, Hikigaya felt weak.
His vision started to blur.
"Hachiman, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?" Yumeko noticed his odd state and asked with concern.
Hikigaya rubbed his eyes, thinking it was just from lack of sleep, and shook his head.
They shared the same intentions, so even under this kind of DEBUFF, they still managed to exchange information.
He had two cards, while Yumeko had one.
"Contrary to the betting order, Hikigaya-kun, you'll play first!"
His hand trembling, Hikigaya dropped the card with the number 1 onto the table, pressing it down with his index and middle fingers.
Since Yumeko only had one card, they needed to delay reaching a sum of 9 as much as possible.
Otherwise, Yumeko would definitely lose in round two.
But... what were Miyo and Miri's cards?
Hikigaya instinctively observed the sisters, but couldn't detect any flaws.
As sisters, their mutual understanding seemed to surpass even Yumeko and himself.
They didn't need body language—just eye contact was enough to communicate.
He wondered how far they could go with that.
From an information transmission perspective, if it was simple info, he and Yumeko could manage it.
But complex exchanges of card details and strategies? Impossible.
How... troublesome.
Maybe because he was too focused, Hikigaya hadn't noticed that his thinking speed was clearly slowing.
It felt like... he'd been poisoned.
[3-3-0-0-0]
The four of them played quickly, as if it had been rehearsed. Soon, it was Miyo's turn to play again.
She helplessly scattered her cards on the table. "Sigh, I really shouldn't have bet 30 chips with you guys. I only had one card, so I lost."
Yet despite losing 30 chips, her expression didn't change—still that calm, slightly fake smile.
As if everything had gone according to plan.
She exchanged a knowing look with her sister Miri, their eyes full of mockery.
Seems like it's time.
"Well then, Runa-san, let's quickly begin the next round," Miyo urged eagerly.
"Very well."
"Hikigaya-kun, hand over your cards to me—I need to collect them for processing. Otherwise, they could become tools for cheating."
Hikigaya Hachiman barely managed to hand over his cards to Yomozuki Runa.
His deteriorating condition made it clear—it wasn't fatigue.
It was poisoning!
Damn it—when?!
Hikigaya was furious and panicked.
Ever since entering the room, he had kept his distance from Miyo and never gave her a chance for close contact.
He didn't even drink the tea offered.
Moreover, speaking of close contact—it had been Yumeko who hugged him, yet she was perfectly fine.
No, if there's an issue, it must be with that hug...
That means, Miyo used a poison that had no effect on women but could attach to them and infect men through contact.
Now, Hikigaya's throat was parched, he couldn't speak, and his brain felt like a boiling furnace—clouded and numb, no longer able to think.
So tired... I just want to close my eyes and sleep...
Hikigaya used his last ounce of energy, squinting at Yomozuki Runa's hands as she shuffled the cards.
After confirming something, his body collapsed to the side, limp.
"Hachiman—!!"
Hikigaya felt himself falling into a bottomless abyss. His senses—sight, smell, hearing—were being stripped away.
Just before losing consciousness, he seemed to hear Yumeko's voice.
Even though he knew Yumeko might still win against the Miri-Miyo sisters using her own strength, this was the only moment when they could share vital information.
Hikigaya used the last of his strength, leaning close to Yumeko's ear and whispering hoarsely so only she could hear:
"Shuffle..."
And then, he completely passed out.
"Oh dear, he's... poisoned, isn't he?" Yomozuki Runa rushed over, her tone not so light anymore. "Yuriko also collapsed from poor health and has been sent to the hospital. Same symptoms as Hikigaya-kun. But according to the doctors, they can't identify what kind of poison was used."
"I don't know how you two managed it, but it's certainly impressive."
"Do you have any evidence it was us?" Miyo asked innocently. "All the actions were carried out under your supervision, weren't they?"
"Sure, our families run pharmaceutical businesses. Controlling life and death is a trivial matter for us~"
"Hah, you're being too blatant," Yomozuki Runa smiled coldly.
For the first time, she felt genuine anger rather than amusement.
Arrogant sisters, daring to break the rules with poison right under her nose—without leaving a trace.
There was only one possibility: Hikigaya was poisoned before she even arrived.
"Miyo... what did you do?!"
Yumeko laid Hikigaya gently on a sofa, feeling his pale yet increasingly feverish body.
With her back to everyone, her voice was as cold as the depths of hell:
"As you can see, Yumeko, I didn't do anything~" Miyo replied sweetly.
Yumeko turned around, her pitch-black, lifeless eyes locked onto Miyo.
The sight made Miyo subconsciously take a step back.
"It was then, wasn't it? When you hugged me, you smeared the poison on me. On the sofa, Hachiman got infected by contact."
"Good deduction. But such suspicions might hurt our sisterly bond, Yumeko~ I'd never want to hurt you."
"That's enough. Call an ambulance," Yumeko snapped.
If looks could kill, Miyo would've been dragged into the depths of hell already.
"Oh my, is that really the right move?"
Miyo stood tall, her delicate hands resting on her chest. "When treating someone who's been poisoned, the most critical—and difficult—part is identifying the poison. If you waste time on that... it might be fatal~"
The fury of betrayal and love interwove within Yumeko.
Her fists clenched, she struggled to suppress the urge to slap Miyo across the face.
"Give me the antidote."
"While I wasn't the one who administered the poison, I do happen to have the antidote," Miyo smiled. Even now, she didn't admit guilt.
She took out a syringe in a sealed plastic bag from her purse.
Under the lights, the liquid inside gleamed with a milky glow.
"This syringe contains the antidote to the poison afflicting Hikigaya.
"As long as you agree to one condition, Yumeko, it's yours~"
"Say it." If she hadn't feared Miyo smashing the syringe, Yumeko would've already snatched it.
Miyo slowly sat down, clearly unconcerned with Hikigaya's fate. She spoke at ease:
"As long as you swear that neither you nor Hikigaya will participate in the election gambling, this antidote is yours."
"Stop right there!"
To eliminate Yumeko and Hikigaya, it was enough to force them out of the student council election.
As for the method?
Naturally—each would use their own abilities.
For Miyo and Miri, masters of poison and life manipulation, poison was the simplest and most effective choice.
Their mocking, playful, victorious smiles lit up their faces.