Chapter 67: Invitation
"Hand over the chips."
Shunsuke spoke in a calm tone, reminding the dealer, who was still in a daze.
The dealer opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent.
He laid out a gold chip worth 100 million yen and five platinum chips, each worth 10 million yen.
Finally, he added the black-gold chip used for the bet and handed them all to Shunsuke.
Shunsuke picked up the black-gold chip, twirling it between his fingers before looking at the dealer with a sudden smile. "Thanks for today. Consider this your tip."
With that, he casually tossed the black-gold chip. The dealer scrambled awkwardly to catch it.
At this point, Suzuna finally snapped out of her stupor, looking at Shunsuke as though he were a prodigal son. Winning one big hand, and he's already forgotten his own name, huh?
"Oh, interesting."
Behind the two, a striking young woman stood frozen mid-step.
She had been preparing to leave the casino but suddenly stopped.
Dressed in an extravagant red uniform, her white hair tied into twin braids, she had dazzling blue eyes and bold, blue lipstick—a mesmerizing beauty.
Kirari Momobami watched the table with great interest. With her abilities, she easily deduced what had transpired before her arrival, and the smile on her lips deepened.
"Don't let them leave just yet. Investigate their background, and bring me the footage of his game," she instructed.
Standing slightly behind her, Sayaka Igarashi nodded sharply. "Understood." She immediately set off to assign someone to gather the information.
Meanwhile, Shunsuke stood up, ready to leave this place of trouble.
After what had just happened, his original plan to play a few more rounds of poker was now out of the question.
As Shunsuke and Suzuna made their way toward the exit, a dealer wearing a red long-sleeve coat hurried to intercept them. "Are you leaving already, esteemed guests? Was there something unsatisfactory in our service? There's still plenty of entertainment here, and our upper floors include a hotel. Why not stay and enjoy a little more?"
From the dealer's perspective, letting a customer walk away with their winnings was unthinkable.
They had to convince him to stay and play a few more rounds.
And even if he didn't feel like gambling now, he might try other entertainment options and eventually return to the tables.
But Shunsuke, already thinking about coming back next time, wasn't about to agree.
This place clearly couldn't handle his winning streak.
If he kept playing, it might break their resolve completely.
Without hesitation, he declined.
The dealer tried desperately to delay him.
Finally, just as the money was about to be handed over to Shunsuke, Sayaka Igarashi returned with the footage.
"President, that man is a second-year student at Sobu High School, named Fujii Shunsuke. He's also a bestselling light novel author. Our school and Shuchiin both invited him to enroll, but he ultimately chose Sobu High. The woman accompanying him is his editor, Hiiragi Suzuna, from Shurin Publishing."
"What an interesting turn of events," Kirari murmured, her smile growing. "A casual inspection turns up such a fascinating individual—and a student, no less. This must be fate."
As a fatalist, Kirari Momobami felt the pull of destiny at work. After quickly skimming through the footage, she fixed her gaze on Shunsuke with newfound interest and began walking toward him.
"Boy, what is your name?" Kirari asked in a lofty tone, looking down at him.
Though she already knew his identity, this was how those in power often chose to act.
"Hm?"
Shunsuke turned his head in surprise, then his eyes lit up.
Another big fish, huh?
"Fujii Shunsuke. And you?" he replied, giving his name while feigning ignorance himself.
"How dare you! Speaking to Lady Kirari in such a manner!" Kirari's devoted secretary, Sayaka Igarashi, barked sharply, playing the role of a loyal lapdog.
"Sayaka," Kirari interrupted softly, cutting her off with just a word. She then turned her amused gaze back to Shunsuke. "Shunsuke, you already know who I am, don't you?"
Though this was their first meeting, Kirari addressed him by name—a gesture that would normally be considered outrageously rude, yet coming from her, it seemed utterly natural.
Shunsuke didn't answer directly. Instead, he played along. "How did you figure it out, senpai?"
Kirari chuckled softly, a rare laugh escaping her lips. "It's been a while since I've met someone bold enough to challenge me. Shunsuke, you're even more interesting than I expected."
She leaned in slightly, her next words carrying a weight that few could ignore.
"Would you like to transfer to my school?"
Having exerted absolute dominance over Hyakkaou Academy, Kirari had grown bored.
Since her first year, challengers had gradually stopped appearing.
Now, as a third-year, she hadn't encountered anyone daring enough to oppose her in a long time.
The voices of dissent had grown quieter and quieter, until eventually, many had fully accepted their status as mere livestock.
To others, this might signify the ultimate success of Kirari Momobami's school reforms, but to her, it was dull beyond belief.
She had thrown the school into chaos for the sake of entertainment, yet now it had settled into this lifeless monotony.
Where was the once-vibrant energy, the fierce competition, the flourishing scene she had envisioned?
Shunsuke felt a spark of intrigue at her words but quickly turned her down. "Thank you for the invitation, Senpai, but I didn't choose Hyakkaou Academy back then, and I have no intention of transferring now."
To see someone outright refuse the president's invitation was shocking.
Sayaka Igarashi's face contorted into an exaggerated expression of disbelief, startling Shunsuke.
---I can't believe someone can make that kind of face in real life. Props to you for pulling it off.
"In that case, you don't have to transfer," Kirari said nonchalantly. "You can enter and leave the school as you please as an external student, with all the same rights and privileges as a regular student. You'll also be free to participate in our after-school 'little games.' Let's call it an honorary student status."
Hyakkaou Academy had never had such a thing as an honorary student, but with Kirari's decree, the role was now established. Even if it existed solely for Shunsuke and was left vacant forever after, it didn't matter.
In this school, Kirari Momobami's authority was absolute. The principal, the board of directors—mere figureheads. Within Hyakkaou Academy, her power was limitless.
"Kirari-senpai, you really think highly of me. May I ask why?" Shunsuke asked, his curiosity piqued.
"There's no particular reason," Kirari replied with a faint smile. "If I had to say, it's a woman's intuition."
"That's quite a casual answer. Aren't you afraid I won't show up?"
"You will," she said confidently.
"Intuition again?"
"No," Kirari corrected, her sapphire-blue eyes gleaming. "It's your gaze, Shunsuke. You have the eyes of a gambler."
Kirari's cryptic remark left Shunsuke utterly confused, his expression a mix of disbelief and skepticism.
— Me? A gambler? Where would I even get a gambler's gaze?
— I'm a cautious, upstanding citizen who wouldn't even step into a casino without Star Platinum. Don't slander me like that!
"Sayaka," Kirari suddenly called out.
Her ever-loyal secretary, Sayaka Igarashi, immediately understood the cue. She retrieved Kirari's business card with a clearly displeased expression and handed it to Shunsuke.
Shunsuke accepted the card, noting that it contained nothing but a single string of numbers: 950-180-90XX.
— So this is the business card of the head of the Momobami family? Truly minimalist and brimming with pretentiousness.
"When you decide to visit, just call me," Kirari said smoothly.
Seeing Shunsuke pocket the card, Kirari didn't linger a moment longer. With her characteristic decisiveness, she turned and walked away, leaving him standing there.
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