"Did I still fail...?" Saotome Meari put down her cards in frustration.
She had made it to the finals, but at the last step before reaching the top, she had failed, still losing the match.
In the final game, the choice was in Meari's hands. She knew that choosing to be the "Landlord" at this point was a risky move, but to turn the tide, she still chose to reveal those three face-down cards.
The face-down cards were good and matched her hand well. She even thought she had won when she received the cards.
Her hand was good, but she was constrained by the continuous plays of Sachiko Juraku and Shimotsuki Okuri, always feeling restricted, and her card-playing was particularly unsmooth.
Even though it was their first time cooperating, they were surprisingly tacit agreement in their card-playing, as if Meari's hand was "open cards" in their eyes.
Meari tried her best, but she still helplessly lost.
Meari lowered her head and came before Ayanokoji, whispering apologetically, "Ayanokoji, I'm sorry, I've been eliminated..."
Ayanokoji had already anticipated this scene. He smiled and rubbed her head to comfort her: "Don't apologize. You've already done very well. If you lose, you lose. Besides, you lost to a hidden big shot, so there's no shame in it."
"Hidden big shot, who are you talking about?" Meari looked up curiously.
"That Shimotsuki Okuri, your classmate," Ayanokoji said. "You should know her, right?"
"Is she that amazing?" Meari looked at her with some surprise.
Although they were classmates, Meari didn't know much about her.
Meari had been at school for two weeks, mostly moving between various casinos. However, Meari still remembered that whenever she returned to the classroom, she would always see Shimotsuki Okuri quietly sitting at her desk.
When there was a teacher, she would listen attentively; when there wasn't, she would quietly lower her head and do practice problems, completely undisturbed by her classmates around her.
Meari had even lamented that in this school, which didn't value academics, there was still such a diligent student, which was truly rare.
Was she actually a hidden gambling master?
"Yes, Meari, don't let her appearance fool you; she's actually very strong," Togakushi Yukimi nodded and began telling Meari about their earlier discussion. Meari grew more and more surprised as she listened.
After listening, Meari was silent for a moment, then said, "...It seems my loss was not unjust."
Although she hadn't fully emerged from her disappointment, her mood had lightened considerably.
After Meari left, only Sachiko Juraku and Shimotsuki Okuri remained for the ultimate showdown.
Yumemi Yumemite appropriately asked, "Now that Meari has left, do you want the Dealer to join, or do you two want to choose another game to determine the winner?"
Shimotsuki Okuri seemed to have already thought about what to compete in. She calmly said, "Lady Juraku, can we play 'Neural Breakdown' next? I'm quite good at that."
Neural Breakdown refers to spreading a deck of playing cards face down on the table. Each time, two cards are flipped over; if the numbers match, they form a pair.
If they are not a pair, they are flipped back down. If they are a pair, those two cards are removed and set aside. The game ends when all cards have been matched.
Finally, the person who picked out more "pairs" wins.
A deck of playing cards has 54 cards, with 27 pairs. One side will always pick out more cards.
Simply put, this is the poker version of "Connect the Dots."
Shimotsuki Okuri has an extraordinary memory, and this game was the best way for her to utilize her superior memory. She wasn't choosing randomly; she came prepared.
"Lady Juraku, what do you think?" Yumemi Yumemite looked at Sachiko Juraku.
Sachiko Juraku stroked her chin and smiled: "Neural Breakdown... sounds interesting."
Just when everyone thought she would accept, she paused and said, "However, I've had enough fun. I won't be competing in the next match; I forfeit."
"Huh? You're not playing anymore?" Shimotsuki Okuri was stunned for a moment.
"I've had enough time to relax. If I continue, people will think I'm short on these two million," Sachiko Juraku smiled and shook her head, then looked at Shimotsuki Okuri and suddenly said, "Little girl, your gambling skills are good. Would you like to join the Student Council?"
At this moment, Sachiko Juraku actually extended an invitation to Shimotsuki Okuri, hoping she would join the Student Council.
Everyone in the casino was startled. Yumemi Yumemite, who was closest, maintained her signature smile, but it was starting to waver.
The final champion actually gets an invitation from the Student Council!!!
Yumemi Yumemite's eyes turned red.
What she wanted most was to join the Student Council, but now the one being invited wasn't her, but Shimotsuki Okuri, who was standing in front of her!
If only she had known, she would have participated in this competition too. Maybe she would have gained Sachiko Juraku's favor!
However, facing Sachiko Juraku's invitation, Shimotsuki Okuri calmly refused her invitation: "No, I'm not suitable for joining the Student Council."
This opportunity was right in front of Shimotsuki Okuri. If it were Yumemi Yumemite, she would definitely consider if this was her only chance in life and then agree without hesitation.
How could she refuse? Did she not know how much power Student Council members had in this school?!
Yumemi kindly reminded her, "Classmate, are you really not going to reconsider? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"No, thank you for your kindness, but I have no intention of joining the Student Council," Shimotsuki Okuri gently shook her head, still refusing.
"...If you're unwilling, then so be it," Sachiko Juraku sighed softly, stood up, and waved to Mikura: "Mikura, let's go."
"Okay!" Mikura quickly responded, following closely behind Sachiko Juraku and hurrying away.
Sachiko Juraku seemed truly angry, not even glancing at Ayanokoji.
After Sachiko Juraku forfeited, the championship naturally fell to Shimotsuki Okuri, who was the only remaining contestant.
Togakushi Yukimi approached her and handed her the 2 million Japanese Yen in cash that she had already prepared: "Congratulations on winning the championship; this money is yours."
On the surface, Togakushi Yukimi was still the organizer of this casino and this competition, so it was Togakushi Yukimi who presented the money to her.
"Thank you."
Shimotsuki Okuri nodded in thanks, saying nothing more, her expression calm, as if she had completed a very ordinary task before leaving.
"Well… I should leave too." Yumemi Yumemite had stayed for the entire duration, and now that the competition was over, she, having perfectly completed her task, should also depart.
"Ayanokoji, you must remember to put in a good word for me," she instructed before leaving, "If there's another event like this next time, you must come find me again!"
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