140 Miharutaki Sakura Challenges Hikigaya Hachiman
Saotome Mary irritably flicked her golden twin tails.
She couldn't see through Hikigaya Hachiman's plan. Aiura Kokoro, standing beside her, felt the same.
At least for now, they couldn't figure it out.
In their eyes, Hikigaya Hachiman's figure grew even more mysterious.
"Got it, got it. After school, we'll go apply to join the baseball club."
"Make sure to apply in a high-profile manner. " Yumeko added gently, her hands clasped behind her back.
Among the girls present, only she knew Hikigaya Hachiman's plan.
'Even though the gamble hasn't even started, he's already declared the opponent's defeat inevitable. How sly you are, Hachiman~'
.
.
.
"You're saying the ace assassin failed?!"
Mibuomi Aoi clenched his phone tightly, his expression growing darker and more unstable.
Why did any action related to Hikigaya Hachiman always end in failure?
Whether it was gambling, or matters outside the academy.
What the hell had this guy done?!
"Yes, young master," the voice on the other end of the phone sounded fearful, "and the person we sent to liaise with the assassin organization has already been eliminated."
"Killed instantly with a single slash to the throat."
"It was done by that ace assassin..."
"Tch—" Mibuomi Aoi hung up the phone with a snap.
They had been extremely secretive about this matter, leaving no traces behind.
The person sent to liaise with the assassin organization was a death soldier personally cultivated by the Mibuomi family — the kind of person who would absolutely never betray them.
"A bunch of useless trash, they can't even fabricate information properly. That so-called ace assassin is also useless. Useless, all of them!"
Mibuomi Aoi roared viciously out the window. Only when he was certain no one was around would he dare vent his negative emotions like this.
"But it doesn't matter anymore. In just a few days, just a few more days, I'll become the king of Hyakkaou Academy."
"When that time comes, everyone who opposed me will be dealt with."
Mibuomi Aoi's thirst for power had reached its peak.
To become the man standing at the very top of Hyakkaou Academy — what an irresistible title that was!
Standing at the pinnacle of the academy meant standing at the pinnacle of all Japan!
This place was the hope of Japan's future, and he, Mibuomi Aoi, would be the guide to a new era!
Now, pulling Momobami Kirari down from her throne seemed to be only one step away.
He had to think carefully — was this perhaps the one and only opportunity of his lifetime?
After simulating every possible outcome in his mind, Mibuomi Aoi grinned widely:
"Everything is ready — all that's missing is waiting for the right moment."
However, what Mibuomi Aoi didn't know was—
Outside the room, Miharutaki Sakura's trembling hand was pressed against the doorknob, unable to push it down.
She had been standing outside the door since the moment Mibuomi Aoi started cursing out "useless trash."
She didn't understand when her fiancé had changed into someone like this.
Sullen, irritable, his entire being exuding a disturbing, evil aura —
he was completely different from the sunny, warm boy he appeared to be in public.
Which face was his real self?
Miharutaki Sakura was lost.
She couldn't tell. She truly couldn't tell!
At Hyakkaou Academy, she was always among the top in gambling skills and academics —
yet for the first time, she found herself confused over something like this.
She knew about Mibuomi Aoi establishing the Full-Bloom Association, and she had even become its vice president.
Back then, Mibuomi himself had told her,
"The bloom is a reference to your name, Sakura. I want to liberate the ordinary students who suffer under oppression."
Because of that, Miharutaki Sakura had been deeply moved, and she had fought hard ever since to achieve Full-Bloom Association's goals.
Looking back now, all she felt was a bone-chilling cold.
Was that really the truth?
'Did Aoi truly establish the Full-Bloom Association to liberate the ordinary students?'
Miharutaki Sakura felt deeply uneasy.
She had a vague feeling that things were not as simple as they appeared.
She withdrew her hand from the doorknob, recalling all the memories she shared with Mibuomi Aoi.
Her delicate fists clenched tightly.
'Since he's my fiancé, there shouldn't be so much distrust between us.'
'I have to believe in Aoi.'
Miharutaki decided to trust her emotions this time.
Her expression grew colder.
In terms of information, she had access to plenty.
And she knew very clearly who her fiancé's current enemy was—
"Hikigaya Hachiman."
She did not believe the rumor that "Hikigaya was merely a puppet propped up by the vice president."
She had witnessed Hikigaya Hachiman's gambling herself — this man's strength was extraordinary.
Precisely because of that, he had become Aoi's biggest threat.
"Repeatedly challenging and striking at our Full-Bloom Association, huh..."
"So he's your enemy, Aoi."
"Don't worry. I will personally remove him for you."
Miharutaki Sakura turned and left, her slender figure melting into the shadows.
Her gambling style was similar to Shimotsukiuri Ouri's:
both had top-ranked academic results and preferred to overwhelm their opponents through extensive calculation.
But when it came to gambling ability, Miharutaki Sakura surpassed Shimotsukiuri Ouri.
Within the Full-Bloom Association, she was commonly referred to as the number one beneath Mibuomi Aoi.
The reason was that — compared to extensive calculation, she also excelled at manipulating people's hearts.
She would never make the kind of mistake Shimotsukiuri Ouri had made in the "Hidden Rules" gamble, where she ignored the dignity of the "Stray Cats."
Her top-notch psychological resilience, strong mind-reading ability, and unparalleled academic performance had made her the Full-Bloom Association's vice president and the chairwoman of the student council's Beautification Committee.
Now, she was going to personally eliminate Hikigaya Hachiman.
...
...
Ding-ling-ling—
The melodious sound of the school bell signaling the end of classes rang out.
Hikigaya Hachiman stood up, finished organizing the textbooks on his desk, and prepared to head out with Jabami Yumeko for dinner.
But just then, an unexpected figure blocked his path.
It was—
'Miharutaki Sakura.'
'This won't be good.'
Hikigaya Hachiman narrowed his eyes.
The woman before him was Mibuomi Aoi's fiancée — and also one of the top targets he most wanted to crush.
The reason was simple:
if a man's fiancée lost to another man and was forced to endure humiliating consequences...
Any man, no matter who, wouldn't be able to tolerate it.
Let alone a hypocrite like Mibuomi Aoi.
Just imagining Mibuomi Aoi burning with rage, desperate to kill him but forced to maintain the facade of a gentleman in front of others, made Hikigaya want to laugh.
Still, Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't particularly fond of doing vulgar things —
even if the opponent was Mibuomi's fiancée.
'I didn't come to cause you trouble. You're the one who sought me out — don't blame me for what happens next.'
"Hikigaya Hachiman, right?"
Miharutaki Sakura, with her high ponytail, looked like a noble knight astride a warhorse,
her entire body radiating an aura of "righteousness" as she walked step by step toward Hikigaya, blocking his way.
Under Jabami Yumeko's surprised gaze—
Miharutaki Sakura placed her hands under her ample chest and, with a serious expression, said:
"Hikigaya Hachiman, have a gamble with me. Bet everything you have."