Ruricho Nadeshiko naturally didn't fall for Meari's clumsy provocation.
She chuckled, "I'm not a fool. We only have one chance to answer per round. If I answer rashly before the coin bank is placed on the scale, wouldn't I be actively giving you money?"
Saying this, she even acted like a protagonist, comforting Meari: "Don't rush, we still have plenty of time. Would you like me to pour you some tea?"
She talks a good game, but she still has to compare weights using the scale, just like me….
Meari grumbled inwardly, but her expression remained serious: "I don't need your tea. You should put in your coins first."
Meari specifically pricked up her ears when the other party put in the coins.
When coins are dropped into a coin bank, they still collide and clink, making a continuous rustling sound, making it impossible to hear the exact number of coins.
However, Meari did confirm one thing: Ruricho Nadeshiko probably didn't put in many coins, no more than ten.
It seems it should be similar to mine….
Sound is ultimately just a reference; the most important thing is the scale.
Meari used the black coin bank, and Ruribird used the white one. Both simultaneously placed their coin banks on the scale—the scale tilted slightly towards the black one.
It seems my side is slightly heavier, which means Ruribird's coin bank is less than 19 grams, then? Meari pondered.
One 50-yen coin weighs 4g, and one 1-yen coin weighs 1g.
There aren't many combinations to choose from. However, there's only one chance to speak per round. If I guess wrong, I'll lose 100,000 yen. I'll observe first and let Ruribird speak.
Meari watched the other party silently, but Ruribird didn't speak either, also smiling at Meari.
Meari couldn't help but ask first, "Ruribird, aren't your ears very good? Now that you've seen the scale's state, why aren't you speaking?"
"I'm not confident this round." She shook her head, her tone slightly regretful, as if she truly felt that way.
"Since neither side is speaking, this round is a draw." Kurume Laiwei took both coin banks off the scale and handed them back to the two: "You two try again."
Both sides repeated the same process, taking several coins from the box and putting them into the coin banks.
This time, Meari heard that the sound from Ruribird's coin bank was similar to her own.
Meari's hearing wasn't very good either; she could only get a general idea.
Just as she was guessing the number of coins in Ruribird's coin bank, she placed her coin bank on the scale. At this point… the scale stopped.
Ruribird smiled and said, "It seems we get along well. We actually reached a perfect balance. Does that mean we're a good match?"
Meari did not speak.
"Since you're not speaking, I'll go first."
Ruricho Nadeshiko wasn't angry. After a moment of thought, she suddenly said, "I guess… your coin count is 42."
Hearing Ruricho Nadeshiko say this, Meari was stunned.
It wasn't because Ruribird had guessed the correct number of coins she held, but because she had guessed wrong, and by a ridiculous margin.
Meari's count was actually 4 fifty-yen coins plus 26 one-yen coins, totaling 30 coins, which was far from 42 coins.
Meari relaxed. At least this round, she could earn 100,000 yen from Ruribird.
However, why was she so certain of that answer?
Either she couldn't guess her coin count at all and was just bragging about her good hearing, or she looked down on herself and deliberately gave a ridiculous answer.
Looking at the faint, mocking smile on Ruricho Nadeshiko's face, Meari felt the answer was probably the second one.
She actually looked down on herself…!
Meari was annoyed but still forced herself to think calmly.
The answer Ruricho Nadeshiko gave was 42 coins, which was a very effective hint.
Setting up inequalities with x and y, there are 11 combinations of coins totaling 45g. Since she answered 42 coins in total, at least half of the answers could be eliminated.
Meari felt that the difference in the number of coins between herself and Ruricho Nadeshiko shouldn't be too much; at least Ruribird should have the same idea.
The 42 coins she mentioned shouldn't be a ridiculous answer either; it should be similar to her own coin count.
Then, Ruribird's coin count should be between 30 and 42….
Either she has 39 coins, or she has 36 coins.
I need to choose one of these two answers.
"Which one should I choose…."
Meari hesitated for a moment. Should she answer this question, or should she keep quiet and choose to take the 100,000 yen that was already within her grasp?
"Saotome, hurry up and choose." Ruricho Nadeshiko urged.
Meari gritted her teeth and chose a median number: "Your coins are 36!"
Take a gamble and turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. As long as I guess correctly, I can get five times the reward. Plus the 100,000 yen from Ruricho Nadeshiko's wrong answer, I can get a total of six times the reward!
Even if it fails, both sides are just tied, so there's no reason not to gamble.
In front of Kurume Laiwei, the two poured out the coins from their coin banks.
Meari's side had a total of 30 coins, and Ruricho Nadeshiko's side had… 36 coins.
Just as Meari had guessed.
Great, 600,000 yen in hand!
Meari's joy was evident on her face, and she excitedly clenched her fists.
"Saotome, you are excellent. I'm starting to admire you." Although Ruricho Nadeshiko lost 600,000, her expression didn't change, as if this amount of money meant nothing to her.
She smiled and continued to invite her to gamble: "Meari, shall we continue?"
Meari, having won a round, gained great confidence and said confidently, "Come on, let's continue!"
Third round, draw.
Fourth round, Meari won.
Fifth round, draw.
Sixth round, Meari won.
They played a total of six rounds. Meari won three, and in the remaining three, neither of them guessed correctly, resulting in a draw.
Meari gained a total of 1,800,000 yen in this gamble.
I'm really strong at this game!
Yay!
Meari's happy smile was uncontrollable.
Since she came to this school, it was the first time she had successfully earned a large sum of money.
1,800,000 plus her original 1,000,000 was more than enough to buy a dorm room.
Ruricho Nadeshiko lost badly, but she still wasn't angry. Looking at Meari, who was as happy as a child, a faint smile remained on her face.
Meari held two stacks of 10,000-yen bills, a happy smile on her face, and stood up, ready to leave.
"Ruribird, thank you very much today. It's getting late, so I'll take my leave now…."
"Wait." Suddenly, Ruricho Nadeshiko called out to her.
"Meari, don't you think you're being too much? You win money and then want to run, not giving anyone a chance to turn the tables?"
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