Meari looked at Ayanokoji with a distressed expression.
This woman was Mibusakaomi's fiancée. Who knew what she was thinking? Maybe her friendliness towards Ayanokoji was just a pretense, and everything she did was to help Mibusakaomi achieve his goals!
"Meari, you're overthinking it." Ayanokouji Kiyohira smiled and shook his head: "Miharu Taki Senior is a very kind person, and she's very good to me. This time, she treated me to a meal because I helped her."
"You helped her?" Meari raised an eyebrow: "We're working at the casino, but you went to help someone else?"
"There aren't many customers at the casino right now. Aren't you all just playing Landlord idly at the casino? It's only natural for me to go out and find something to do."
Meari retorted indignantly: "How can you look at us like that!? We're clearly preparing diligently for the Ryōran Festival! We have to gamble with customers, so of course we need to strengthen our skills through gambling!"
"Yes, yes, you're right..." Ayanokouji Kiyohira shrugged helplessly.
Meari's words had some merit, and he really couldn't refute them.
He felt that he had explained himself clearly to Meari. As he turned to walk towards Hanatemari and the others, Meari suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
Meari whispered worriedly: "Ayanokoji, you really need to be careful. Even if Miharu Taki isn't malicious towards you, as you say. If Mibusakaomi finds out you're in close contact with his fiancée, who knows what methods he'll come up with to cause you trouble!"
Meari's expression was serious. While there was an element of jealousy, she was more concerned that Ayanokouji Kiyohira and Miharu Taki Sakura getting too close would lead to unexpected trouble.
After all, Miharu Taki Sakura was Mibusakaomi's fiancée. He must be very chauvinistic and hate other men interacting with his fiancée.
Perhaps he would be so enraged that he'd directly call his family's assassins to eliminate Ayanokoji! Even the prime minister had an accident, so this possibility might not be zero!
Ayanokoji chuckled wryly.
Mibusakaomi was practically begging him now, how could he possibly cause him trouble?
Although Meari's worry was unnecessary, Ayanokoji was quite touched that she would think of him.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira smiled and patted her head: "Relax, I know what I'm doing. I won't actively provoke Mibusakaomi. There's nothing between Miharu Taki Senpai and me. My main reason for approaching her this time was for you."
"...For me?" Meari looked up in surprise: "How is it related to me?"
Without another word, Ayanokouji Kiyohira pulled Meari back to their seats at the dining area.
"Senpai, could you explain our bet?" Ayanokoji asked Miharu Taki Sakura with a smile.
"The bet? You mean that money, right?" Miharu Taki Sakura quickly understood and said to Meari: "Ayanokoji and I made a bet. We will gamble again during the Ryōran Festival, and the winner will have ownership of the eighty million."
"So Ayanokoji, you went to her for this money?" Meari paused, then lowered her head in annoyance and apologized to Ayanokoji: "Alright, I admit I misunderstood you. I apologize..."
Did Meari misunderstand? Did she think Ayanokoji came to her because she lost the money? He firmly refused to take the bank card back even when she tried to return it to him.
Miharu Taki Sakura wanted to explain, but then she suddenly saw Ayanokouji Kiyohira deliberately wink at her, as if saying there was no need to explain, and just let Meari continue to misunderstand.
She hesitated for a moment, but still didn't explain.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira smiled and deliberately turned to Meari, saying: "If you hadn't lost, would I have to gamble with Senpai now? Senpai's gambling skills are formidable, and I'm taking a big risk by gambling with her."
"Her gambling skills are strong, but mine aren't weak either!"
Meari couldn't stand Ayanokoji praising her in front of her. She emphasized indignantly: "My luck and skill in that round were overflowing! Who would have thought she would cheat? If I had known she would do that, I would have cheated too...!"
"Cheat?" Ayanokoji raised an eyebrow: "You originally wanted to cheat in the gamble?"
Damn, how did I let that slip!
Meari, too annoyed to care, quickly chuckled and explained: "I just said that casually! I would never cheat! I've never cheated on an exam since I was little!"
"Meari really didn't cheat," Miharu Taki Sakura suddenly interjected at this point, "However... Meari's clothes should have had cheating dice in them at the time."
Meari's expression stiffened. She glared at Miharu Taki Sakura: "I didn't! Don't baselessly slander others!"
"It's also possible I was mistaken."
Miharu Taki Sakura didn't insist on her statement either.
"I noticed your fingers intentionally pinching near your pocket at the time, and your expression was a bit unusual during the gamble. You often glanced down at your clothes. If you weren't carrying cheating tools, then perhaps you were just too nervous, leading me to misunderstand."
Cold sweat trickled down Meari's back.
This woman observed things so carefully!
If she had really used gambling tools during the gamble, would she have been caught on the spot?
It was a good thing she ultimately didn't choose to cheat and instead trusted her luck. At least now, if she lost, she still had a reason to be indignant.
If she had really cheated, she would have lost both face and dignity! Ayanokoji would also look at her differently!
Meari had actually carried gambling tools with her at the time, and she hadn't told him about it...
While Meari was feeling incredibly relieved, Ayanokouji Kiyohira quietly activated his lie detector bracelet: "Meari, in that gamble, did you really not carry any cheating tools?"
"No, absolutely not!"
Meari swore she had disguised herself well this time, and her words were very firm. Ayanokouji Kiyohira shouldn't be able to see through her disguise.
She didn't know that Ayanokouji Kiyohira had already seen through her lie and guessed her thoughts with uncanny accuracy.
Meari had gambling tools on her. Were they left behind by Kamishita Nagi at the time?
She must have felt that the eighty million had to be won back, so she would win the gamble even if it meant cheating.
But, if she had the tools, why didn't she cheat?
Ayanokouji Kiyohira couldn't suppress his curiosity and couldn't help but ask: "Meari, if you had a chance to do it again, and you really had cheating tools that could change the outcome, would you choose to use them?"
Meari thought for a moment, then shook her head seriously: "...Probably not."
"Why?"
"Because… I trust my luck. I have the Luck Rabbit Foot you gave me! I don't need to cheat; I can win even without it!"
Yumemi said, as if on purpose, showing off the pendant on her neck in front of Miharu Taki Sakura.
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