Hikigaya Challenges Kakegurui

Chapter 219: Kirari x Ririka

"That day will come soon."

In a wise tone, Hikigaya Hachiman let out a breath of turbid air: "President, take a guess, who will I challenge next?"

"Yumemite Yumemi."

Momobami Kirari had already seen through Hikigaya's plan: "That kid's gambling is quite interesting, but are you sure she'll gamble with you?"

"That kid, in a certain sense, is similar to you."

"She doesn't lack money, and she doesn't want anything from you."

"She'll definitely gamble with me."

Hikigaya Hachiman raised his hand, pointing to his temple: "Because what she wants is all in my brain."

Kirari was taken aback, her face revealing a silly expression.

She hadn't expected Hikigaya to give such an answer.

In her plan, it was easy to lure Yumemite Yumemi into gambling, just by recording her complaints in secret,

That kid actually hated her fans from the bottom of her heart ~ and Kirari had heard Yumemite Yumemi's low, angry roars in the meeting room toilet more than once.

Just by using that as leverage, it would be easy to force Yumemite Yumemi to participate in the gamble.

But... what did Yumemite Yumemi want?

Dance or songs?

Did Hikigaya-kun know about these two arts?

This was... an unexpected surprise. Kirari smiled, the more excellent Hikigaya-kun was, the more she could feel extreme pleasure.

"Good luck, Hikigaya-kun."

After the two left, the side door of the meeting room was quietly opened.

Ririka, wearing a mask, walked in.

She had heard all the embarrassing voices from earlier in the meeting room.

As her sister, she had no right to interfere with her decisions.

But as a sister, she felt she had to remind her:

"Kirari, are you sure about this?"

"Ah, yes ~ Hikigaya-kun as a toy can always bring surprises ~ like a sponge, when you think the fun is over, he can always secrete more... "

"I'm not talking about as a toy," Ririka immediately denied Kirari's self-deception: "I'm talking about... as a man."

Kirari's exquisite face revealed a mysterious smile: "This kind of thing... Ririka, you can experience it yourself, can't you?"

As Kirari stood up, the sisters' heights were the same.

But Kirari's accumulated aura of superiority over the years clearly suppressed Ririka, making her seem more like a older sister.

As Kirari stood up, Ririka's aura involuntarily fell, and she was gradually pushed by Kirari, her hands on the edge of the meeting table, looking up at her sister.

Kirari reached out, grasped the edge of Ririka's metal mask, and mercilessly lifted it off.

Under the mask was a face that was 90% similar to Kirari's.

If they weren't compared side by side, it would be hard to tell them apart.

The same orchid-colored eyes, the same pale pink lips, but the brows and eyes revealed weakness, forming a stark contrast with Kirari's empress-like demeanor, making one want to pinch her chin and bully her mercilessly.

Ririka's face turned red, and she subconsciously tried to snatch the mask back from Kirari, but Kirari put it behind her back, with no intention of returning it no matter how Ririka's eyes begged.

"Return it to me...

"Ririka, you're still so cute ~"

Kirari, the rebellious younger sister, pushed Ririka onto the meeting table without any sisterly awareness.

She leaned down, facing Ririka, and at a very close distance, she could clearly smell the sweet, peachy scent of their breath, and see the shy, weak look in Ririka's eyes...

"How about it? Ririka, do you want to experience it?" Kirari stuck out her tongue, and the crystal-clear saliva on the tip of her tongue sparkled.

Ririka was always like this, only when she wore her mask could she scold and care for Kirari as a sister.

But if her mask was removed, she would become a soft, helpless sheep, unable to resist no matter how she was bullied.

As a toy, it might get boring after a few tries, but ah ~ Ririka had another identity as her sister, so no matter how many times they played, it wouldn't get boring.

She was the best toy, aside from Hikigaya Hachiman.

"D-don't do this, I'm your sister ~" Ririka's words were weak and harmless, even in her resistance.

Not only did they not have a deterrent effect, but they also provoked the desire to play with her.

If it were any other time, Kirari would have unhesitatingly pinned her sister down, but today she was a bit tired from playing, and she had something important to do, so she let Ririka off.

Ririka had already closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, ready to accept her sister's bullying, but unexpectedly, Kirari released her hands and got off her.

She struggled to stand up, only to see Kirari wearing her mask, and at the same time, Kirari's hands reached for her hairpins, letting down her high ponytail, making her hair the same length as Ririka's, down to her waist.

"Come and sit down, Ririka.

Kirari didn't hesitate and pushed Ririka onto her own throne, her tone gentle, her movements light and gentle as she styled Ririka's hair into the same hairstyle as her own.

Ririka placed her hands neatly on her knees, allowing Kirari to do as she pleased.

Again, she had to pretend to be her sister... Ririka sighed inwardly.

Every time the Hyodo family had a meeting, she and Kirari would switch identities, with Ririka taking Kirari's place at the family meetings.

When the sisters were apart, Ririka became Kirari.

In terms of voice, appearance, figure, and demeanor, she was a perfect replica, only revealing her true, weak self when facing Kirari alone.

In this state, Ririka perfectly resolved many family matters for Kirari.

This time was no exception.

"...I...

Ririka, this time I'll return to the family myself, and you'll play the role of me at school, okay ~"

"When I return to the family, I'll take off the mask, but when I leave school, I'll pretend to be you."

"Huh?" Ririka was taken aback, thinking she had misheard: "Kirari, what are you planning to do?"

Kirari didn't respond, finishing Ririka's hairstyle and walking around to face her, holding her face: "Ririka, you know, as my substitute, you can't let anyone discover the truth."

Hikigaya's One For All

As the stand-in for Momobami Kirari, it was natural to play every aspect of her role.

If it had been in the past, it would've been manageable—Ririka alone could easily imitate "Momobami Kirari."

But… things are different now.

W-What if Hikigaya Hachiman comes looking for her?

If it were the real Kirari, she would go to great lengths to make Hachiman her plaything.

As her impersonator, Ririka must inherit that behavior.

But… what about the cost?

Does she also have to do those shameful things in the conference room like Kirari did?

Momobami Ririka's face flushed red.

For the first time, she felt the urge to refuse her little sister.

Sharing a man between sisters… that was far too embarrassing.

Besides Hachiman, there was also Shimotsukiuri Ouri, who had already been completely reduced to a pet and needed her comfort.

'Damn it... How did Kirari manage all this on a daily basis?'

"Don't worry, Ririka, it won't necessarily come to that." Seeing that her sister had understood her implication, Kirari stood up in satisfaction. "Now then, have the helicopter come to the rooftop to pick me up."

"I'll be counting on you to handle school matters while I'm away."

"Mm, don't worry." Momobami Ririka took a deep breath, forcing herself into character. When she opened her eyes again, her expression was already as cold and commanding as Kirari's.

That proud attitude of viewing people as mere toys—she had already mastered it.

Kirari nodded in satisfaction and pressed the call button for the helicopter.

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What was that?

Hikigaya Hachiman squinted, raising a hand to block the sunlight and prevent his view from being obstructed.

The helicopter's rotors spun rapidly, then landed steadily in the center of the schoolyard, kicking up dust.

At the moment, he was standing shoulder to shoulder with other student council members. Igarashi Sayaka looked longingly at the president's back. "Roughly every two months, the president returns to her family."

"She's usually gone for about a week."

"During that time, as members of the student council, it's our duty to maintain order and await her return."

"Oh." Hikigaya nodded vaguely.

At that moment, Igarashi Sayaka exclaimed in surprise, "P-President?! She didn't leave?"

Looking toward the field, it was the masked Vice President, not Momobami Kirari, boarding the helicopter step by step.

"Why is the Vice President standing in for the President…?"

"You didn't know?" Hikigaya thought for a moment—it wasn't a secret, so he decided to gift the info to Sayaka as a greeting, whispering only loud enough for her to hear: "The Vice President is the President's older sister."

"What?!"

Hearing this, Sayaka was shocked.

She had never connected the relationship between the President and Vice President before.

She murmured in a daze, "She's actually the elder sister…"

"?"

Hikigaya nervously edged away from her. As expected, no one at Hyakkaou Academy was normal.

Even someone who seemed the most normal, like Igarashi Sayaka, turned out to be a woman yearning for Yuri...

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Momobami Ririka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, watching her little sister leave wearing her mask.

A mysterious smile slowly spread across her face.

By the time she turned around, her demeanor was already identical to Kirari's.

Now, she was Momobami Kirari!

Her short skirt swayed subtly, her legs wrapped tightly in matte-colored stockings—an elegant sight.

She walked toward Igarashi Sayaka under her gaze. "Alright, let's return to class, Sayaka."

"Yes, President!"

Hikigaya gave Momobami Kirari a strange look. For some reason, she felt a bit... off.

If he had to describe it, the aura she picked up in the meeting room earlier was now gone.

"Is something wrong, Hikigaya-kun?" Ririka asked naturally, though inside she was a bundle of nerves.

Could he have figured it out already?!

"N-No, it's nothing."

Hikigaya figured he was just being paranoid. He waved it off and turned to head back to the classroom.

Behind him came Ririka's cold voice: "Shishiba Yua should arrive at school around the end of the day."

"Got it."

Although Kirari had promised to handle the Mibuomi family's external tactics, the internal school matters were his own responsibility.

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"Please! Jabami-san! Just this once, lend me 10 million yen! If I can pay off my debts, I swear I'll never gamble again. Once I get my family allowance, I'll repay you!"

Suzui Ryota was kneeling on the ground, kowtowing with tears streaming down his face, trying to stir pity in Jabami Yumeko.

Just like in the beginning…

So please, lend me the money already, Jabami Yumeko!!

Ryota felt like he was going mad.

His suppressed gambling urge was erupting.

In truth, he only needed 6 million yen to get by this month.

The remaining 4 million he could split into four 1-million portions to gamble in favorable conditions.

If he just won once, he could escape his debt crisis!

Ryota crawled forward on the floor, trembling as he stretched out a hand, seemingly trying to grab Yumeko's leg.

Unfortunately, Yumeko gave him no chance. Wearing safety shorts, she didn't even let him glimpse her "absolute territory." Expressionless, she stepped back half a step and said coldly: "Suzui-kun, have some dignity."

Huh?

Ryota felt a chill down his spine. Yumeko's cold expression felt like the ultimate humiliation.

W-What the hell?!

Why won't she lend me money?!

"You've made so much money hanging around that Hikigaya guy, haven't you? Ten million should be nothing to you!" Ryota said with a trembling voice. "If not ten million, then eight! Eight million is okay too!"

"H-Hey, Jabami! Remember the beginning of the semester? It was me—me, Suzui Ryota, who helped you guys!"

Ryota twisted on the floor, reaching out again for Yumeko's leg, as if he could grab hold of hope.

"I won't say it again. Also, Suzui-kun, this kind of behavior is truly disgusting."

The coldness on Yumeko's face turned to disgust.

This Suzui Ryota wasn't even a shadow of Hachiman.

Pathetic like a worm, crazed with gambling lust, trying to exploit others' kindness—he was the scum Yumeko despised the most.

Such a person didn't deserve to gamble.

"Hopeless garbage."

"Why are you doing this to me, Jabami Yumeko?!"

Ryota had completely lost it, twisting his body to crawl toward Yumeko upside-down, trying to tackle her.

"Damn you! Are you crazy?!"

"Suzui Ryota, stop!"

Outside the human wall, Saotome and Aiura called out in panic.

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It had to be said—Ryota picked his timing well, launching his plan while Hikigaya was at student council.

Saotome and Aiura were blocked by gossiping onlookers from the first-year class, unable to break through.

All they could do was anxiously watch Yumeko in danger.

No matter how they pushed, the people wouldn't budge—perhaps they'd intended to watch the spectacle all along.

Even if the ever-dominant Hikigaya wanted to make trouble later, they figured he couldn't act with so many witnesses.

After all, the law doesn't punish the masses.

"If you move another inch, I'll make you regret ever being born."

From beyond the wall, at the classroom door, came a cold voice.

The fiery emotions instantly froze over. The classroom of Class 1-B fell silent.

Ryota's crazed body stiffened at the sound of Hikigaya's voice.

Saotome and Aiura used the opportunity to break through and stood protectively in front of Yumeko.

If that scummy Ryota had touched Yumeko even once, they wouldn't forgive themselves.

Shimotsukiuri Ouri led Hikigaya into the classroom.

When she realized Ryota was acting strange, she immediately sought help from the student council and ran into Hikigaya along the way.

"Hachiman!" Yumeko ran and threw herself into Hikigaya's arms, comforted by his reassuring presence.

The sudden encounter during break had left her feeling sick.

"I was late." Hikigaya patted Yumeko's back, then strode toward Ryota.

His hands clamped Ryota's neck like iron tongs and slammed him into the wall.

Once, twice...

No matter how Ryota struggled, Hikigaya didn't let go.

Only when Ryota's face turned purple and he gasped for breath did Hikigaya fling him to the ground like trash.

"You… You used violence at Hyakkaou Academy." After a long pause, Ryota actually grinned. "I'll report you to the Public Morals Committee, Hikigaya!"

"If you don't want to be punished, give me money!"

Ryota was dreaming: if a beating could get him some cash, that was a sweet deal.

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Hikigaya looked amused. Punished by the Public Morals Committee?

Never mind that he was a member himself… he could easily take whatever punishment the chairwoman, Juraku Sachiko, dished out.

Sniffing or licking—he could endure that with a straight face.

Ryota still thought he could extort money from him this way?

Hikigaya crouched, pulled out his shiny badge, clearly engraved with "Public Morals Committee."

"What now? Want to report me to the Committee?"

His face turned colder than ever. Had he been a moment later, Yumeko might've been attacked by that scum.

That was something Hikigaya could never accept.

"W-Why is this happening…" Ryota backed away in terror, retreating until his back hit the wall.

Tears ran down his face: "I was wrong, I really was! Please, Hikigaya, let me go!"

"I-I just thought… we could all help each other! Jabami has so much money, she could help weaklings like us, right? Boo-hoo—"

"Helping each other, succeeding together, being happy together—that's just a dream. In reality, someone's happiness always means someone else is abandoned. Someone's brilliance requires someone else to be filthy."

Hikigaya's icy voice echoed in the silent classroom.

He swept his sharp gaze across the students who had formed the human wall earlier.

"Human growth is inherently tragic. Only after injury, humiliation, and madness do people truly grow."

"But I won't give you that chance to grow."

Hikigaya grabbed Ryota by the collar again, lifting him off the ground.

Despite his lean arms, his strength struck fear.

No one expected that the master gambler Hikigaya Hachiman had such terrifying physical power.

The law doesn't punish the masses.

Unless a large-scale rebellion broke out like the national theft game—something Kirari herself would have to suppress—a single Committee member couldn't detain an entire class.

Unrestrained power would only erode respect for authority.

So Hikigaya chose a shock tactic.

Like calling a roll, he began naming the bystanders: "Nishihara Gen, small business owner's son; Matsumura Yoshinobu, mother's a bank executive; Mizutani Wataru, beauty salon chain heir; Yasunaga Chiharu, father's a police inspector."

Those named blanched and looked fearful. Since when had Hikigaya learned about their backgrounds?

"Let one person bear the pain, then cut them off—'One For All,' one for the many. It's a common tactic, right?" Hikigaya spoke gently, as if discussing things with the whole class.

But everyone knew—it wasn't a discussion, it was a threat.

"There's a clause in Hyakkaou Academy's application: 'If a student's conduct is deemed excessively inappropriate by the majority of their class and jointly reviewed by the Public Morals and Beautification Committees, they may be advised to withdraw.'"

"After expulsion, their debts still remain—but they lose access to the Academy's gambling system."

"Every year, one or two such students are expelled."

"So—what do you think?"

The classroom was silent. Everyone looked at each other.

Forcing a student out… once done, there's no turning back—but it's oddly thrilling.

Ryota panicked, screaming: "No, no! You can't do this to me! You don't have the authority!"

"Everyone, help me!" He turned toward the crowd.

But someone raised a hand—and soon, a sea of hands followed. Not a single voice objected.