Kakegurui Trip Fulltext

Kakegurui Trip cover page

Table of contents

• Preface
• Prologue
• Chapter 1: The Ryouran Island Summer Camp
• Chapter 2: Casino Dominium
• Chapter 3: The Beach and the Ace
• Chapter 4: The Poker Tournament
• Chapter 5: The Reason for Living
• Final Chapter
• Afterwords
• Credits

Preface

Kakegurui Trip Table of Contents illustration

Note from the translator

In the world of Kakegurui there is no magic or science fiction. Things are however far from mundane. The social norms on some issues are utterly nuts. Anyone familiar with the manga or anime knows this. I thought it's best to mention it here anyway, for the benefit of any unsuspecting readers.

I've preserved the Japanese spoken politeness rules for names in the same way the official manga translation does. Adding the honorific '-san' to a name is casually polite. Using '-sama' instead is more formally polite. Being friends does not automatically mean you call each other by your first names or drop the honorifics.

There are poker games in this novel. The table of contents spoiled that for you already. I've added a poker hand ranking chart on the next page. This allowed me to shorten some explanations, making things not too drawn out for readers who are already familiar with the game.

Please, keep in mind this is a fan translation. I'm not a professional writer and nobody paid me to do this. I hope you enjoy the novel.

Poker hand ranking (worst to best)

• K♥ J♠ 10♣ 7♦ 5♥ High Card; Also called 'trash' or 'no hand'. There is no combination. The lone highest ranked card (a king in this case) faces off against the high card of other players if they also have no combination. The Japanese call high card a 'pig'

• 9♥ 9♠ 7♣ 7♠ J♥ Pairs; Two cards of the same rank is a pair and defeat any high card. Two pairs defeat any single pair.

• 5♥ 5♠ 5♣ A♦ K♦ Three of a kind; Three cards of the same rank are better than pairs.

• Q♥ J♠ 10♠ 9♥ 8♦ Straight; Five cards of consecutive rank. J, Q and K count as 11, 12 and 13 respectively. The ace can serve as both 14 and 1.

• A♦ Q♦ 8♦ 6♦ 4♦ Flush; Any five cards of the same suit (diamonds in this case).

• 6♥ 6♣ 6♦ Q♣ Q♦ Full house; A three-of-a-kind and a pair.

• 4♥ 4♠ 4♣ 4♦ 7♠ Four of a kind; Four cards of the same rank.

• J♠ 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ Straight Flush; A straight that is also a flush. The best possible straight flush (A, K, Q, J, 10) is called a royal flush.

Prologue

Hyakkaou Private Academy is a very prestigious, reputable, 122 year old school. Many of the children here are those of influential people in politics and business. My parents aren't wealthy and worked hard to get me here. They always avoided showing that they were struggling and preferred to proudly smile. I enrolled here with high hopes. My goal is to make it big in life and make my parents proud.

"Mittens! Go get me a sandwich from the cafeteria! The usual one. Hurry up!"

I was hit from the side and fell to the classroom floor. The girls who had been my friendly classmates just a few days ago were now kicking me while smiling. As the pain got worse, all I could do was groan.

"Y-yes... I'll go now..."

If I didn't answer immediately, I'd be kicked again. They don't see me as a human being now. I'm like livestock to them.

A class system exists at this school and it's a pretty simple one. There are two types of people; the oppressors and the oppressed. The powerful student council collects, supposedly voluntary, payments from everybody. Then the students are ranked based on how much they paid. If you are unlucky enough to be in the bottom 100, you become a housepet. Instead of using your name, other students will call you Fido if you are boy and Mittens if you are a girl. You essentially lose your human rights, becoming a servant and punching bag.
I stumble to the cafeteria while clutching my stomach. A tag hangs around my neck. I'm required to wear it so that everyone can see I'm a Mittens. Students I pass, glance at me in disgust as if I'm a dirty, stray, city cat. Occasionally, some show pity, but don't help. Being friendly with housepets can isolate you socially even if you are not one of them. You will be seen as a freak for being generous to the downtrodden. That's how the culture is here.

I stumble to the cafeteria while clutching my stomach. A tag hangs around my neck. I'm required to wear it so that everyone can see I'm a Mittens. Students I pass, glance at me in disgust as if I'm a dirty, stray, city cat. Occasionally, some show pity, but don't help. Being friendly with housepets can isolate you socially even if you are not one of them. You will be seen as a freak for being generous to the downtrodden. That's how the culture is here.

The voluntary payments to the student council are not voluntary at all. Even the most iron-willed would eventually break down and pay up, if they had the money. Being officially marked as sub-human is too much of a burden to bear. It's way easier to pay and be on the side of the oppressors.
The tribute money is not an amount that can easily be earned with part-time jobs. If your parents are rich, you can ask them for it. However, if you are like me and were foolish enough to enroll into this school with modest means, money will be a problem.

This talk about money brings us to another remarkable thing about this school; the gambling. It's openly permitted, endorsed and overseen by the student council. Some only dabble in it during breaks while others specialize in certain games as a club activity. Then there are the ones who run the gambling dens and profit from all the action. Not participating is also an option but doing so means your student council tribute money has to come from elsewhere.
Nobody here cares if you study well or excel at sports. Things like that don't matter to those who one day end up in power. What the elites need is negotiation skills, mind reading and performance under stress. Those are all things learned by gambling.

Nobody here cares if you study well or excel at sports. Things like that don't matter to those who one day end up in power. What the elites need is negotiation skills, mind reading and performance under stress. Those are all things learned by gambling.

I lost a bet and with it my human dignity. Just like the others who aren't rich or good at gambling.
My parents didn't know how normal the abnormal is at this school. You would say the best course of action is to transfer out of this place as soon as possible, but I can't bring myself to do that. It would mean admitting defeat and disappointing my parents. Their hard work needs to pay off.

"I need money", I told myself as I squeezed the housepet tag in my fist. "I'll get my hands on a mountain of it, secure my future and run this place. The sleazy rich kinds and dead-eyed slaves will all bow to me one day."

Chapter 1: The Ryouran Island Summer Camp

Chapter 1, part 1

It's actually quite bizarre. A high school class room filled with students gambling at lunchtime. They went from reading their books to betting money on blackjack in a heartbeat. It was very confusing to me at first but now that I'm a second year student, I've gotten used to it. My name is Ryota Suzui and I'm nothing special. Just because you go to school here doesn't mean you are a gambling genius. I was even a housepet for a while.

"What's wrong with you? You look pathetic", a sneering voice said. It was Mary Saotome. She was the one responsible for making me a Fido back then.

"Nothing. I'm the same as always", I replied.

Mary swept away her ribbon tied blond twin tails. That brisk movement was typical of her. Then she flapped the collar of her short-sleeved shirt to let some air in. The bright red vest she wore over her shirt was the school's summer uniform. The outfit was flattering to her, making her look slender.

"So where did she go? You two are always together", Mary asked. "She should have been back in the classroom by now."

Mary is a very skilled gambler and well respected at the school. Until recently she had the whole class wrapped around her finger. She singled me out and I lost a lot of money playing against her. Because of her, I used to wear that cursed housepet tag. None of the classmates dared to challenge her to a game. Not even to a fun, low stakes one.

"You don't have many friends. I never see you talk to random people", Mary said.

"Isn't that just as true for you?", I asked her while smiling bitterly.

"Shut up! Don't talk to me like that unless you are looking for a fight!", she replied with her face turning red.

She is usually cheerful but when she does raise her voice, she make a bit of a childish impression. It's true that no classmates want to be friends with us. Our reputations contribute to that, but there is an additional, strong reason.

The classroom door slid open with a clatter. A girl appeared. She had very long, back hair that swayed lightly with every breeze. Beneath her neatly trimmed bangs were eyes like those of a cat in the dark. Her glossy lips formed a smile. She was dressed in the summer uniform, like Mary. Though, unlike with Mary's shirt collar, hers was pushed open from the inside. Big difference!

"Suzui-san, Mary-san. Look at this!"

The girl approaching so elegantly was the main reason for Mary's and my social predicament. Yumeko Jabami. A gambler who is shaking this school to it's core. She transferred in recently and in a short time managed to become pretty famous by winning games with student council members as opponents.

Those on the student council have a lot of wealth to tap into and tend to be the most daring, intelligent and sly. Everyone accepts them as the rulers. Because the beautiful and mysterious Yumeko managed to defeat some of them, she has now become the center of attention. Her background remains unknown. Even I, who has been watching her meteoric rise from up close, know very little about her. I wonder what lies beneath that endearing smile and up-beat demeanor.

"This sounds like so much fun!", Yumeko said, breathing heavily while showing us a piece of paper. "They were handing these out in the hallway earlier."

"What is it?"

"What do you mean, 'what is it'? Why didn't you two tell me about this event? I definitely want to go!", Yumeko said. She was clearly excited and giddy.

Surprised by Yumeko's enthusiasm, I took a look at the flyer. "Ryouran Island Summer Camp opens!", it was titled.

"Ah, this. It figures you wouldn't know about it since you transferred in this year", Mary said to Yumeko. "There is this island owned by our school called Ryouran. During school holidays, it's open to the students to spend time there."

Ryouran Island. Hyakka Ryouran... It's a reference to Hyakkaou Academy, I see. {Translator's note: This is word play. The school and island name taken together translate as 'a large gathering of people of excellence' in this context.}

"Students visit it but somehow no one knows where it is. It's not on any map. I suppose a school like ours can pull off a stunt like that. They say it's probably south from here, but the location doesn't really matter anyhow", Mary continued.

"There is that thing there, right?", Yumeko asked Mary while her breathing became heavy again. "Everyone is going there for that reason, right?"

"And what would that be?", Mary asked with a dramatic sigh and a smile on her rosy lips. The answer was obvious.

"A casino." Yumeko shivered in anticipation when speaking that word. "I didn't know there was a full blown casino at this school!!" "I wonder what kind of games they have!!" "They must have blackjack, roulette, and slots, right?!" "Can we play baccarat?!" "I want to play poker the most!!"

"Relax and talk slower", Mary interrupted.

Mary acted cold to Yumeko. This was no doubt because Yumeko was responsible for Mary's downward spiral earlier. When Yumeko transferred in, she was challenged by Mary to a rigged game. Despite the cheating, Mary lost big and in an attempt to recover, lost even more. It was quite humiliating for someone with such a competitive spirit. However, Mary understood that Yumeko was not being mean to her and so the girls remained on speaking terms. Yumeko was just trying to have fun and Mary being handed the housepet tag turned out to be the consequence of that. Besides, since Mary made me a housepet earlier as well, she had little right to complain.

"They probably have all those games. I hear it's on par with a real casino. Also, the hotel attached to it is run professionally so the service should be good. I don't know for sure since I've never been there, though", Mary continued.

So it's just like Las Vegas! Images of glittering neon lights and bunny girls popped into my head.

"You'll coming too, aren't you, Suzui-san?", Yumeko asked me.

"Oh, am I?", I replied in surprise.

"Don't you want to...?" Yumeko asked while looking at me with begging puppy eyes. I was unable to refuse.

"Alright, since I'm a student here I should check the place out at least once. How much will it cost anyway? It may be too expensive for me", I asked Yumeko in return.

"Don't worry, Suzui-san! The trip and hotel stay are free!", she replied while pointing it out on the flyer.

"What? Surely everyone will go then.", I said.

"Don't be silly. Almost all the students here go abroad during holidays. They are rich enough to not care about travel expenses. This island casino camp does sound fancy, though. I'm sure some people will show up", Mary said.

"So, Suzui-san is definitely going. Mary-san, you will come as well, right?" Yumeko looked like a little girl excited about a family trip. Her innocent appearance made it impossible to imagine her as a gambling shark.

"I'll pass", Mary replied instantly.

"But why? It will surely be a blast if the three of us go", Yumeko insisted.

"See, the casino is run by a group called the Kansankai. They are a student club, but have lots of connections and operate like a branch of the Tourism Industry Association. Despite being small, they are rumored to make huge profits with the casino", Mary said as her eyes narrowed and her voice became sharper.

"Secret island, big profits, free entrance. It smells. Going there is too risky unless you are made of money", Mary continued.

Yumeko put her hands on her chest in a pleading gesture. "You worry too much, Mary-san! Please, let us go together! The flyer says that today is the last day we can sign up!"

"No way! You are a target of the student council. Who knows what they might do to me if I show up with you. Maybe some other groups are interested in you as well and... Hey, stop clinging to me!"

Yumeko tightly embraced Mary and wouldn't let go. This was not the first time this happened. For some reason, Yumeko seemed to really like Mary. She would regularly yell "Mary-san, Mary-san" and cling to her. It looked strange, but what was even stranger is that Mary didn't mind it too much.

After a bit of back and forth, Yumeko suddenly said; "Then let's settle this with a gamble. If you win, Mary-san, I'll obey your orders while we're traveling. If I win, it's the other way around. What do you think? Doesn't that sound fun?"

"No! I'm not going!", Mary shouted, but then something occurred to her. She looked down for a moment while touching her chin, then she looked back up. "...In other words, if I win, you will be absolutely obedient to me while we are on Ryouran Island, during the voyage to there and during the voyage back. You will not be able to defy me in any way."

"That's right! I'll be your personal Mittens! Purr!" Yumeko held her clenched hands in front of her face as if they were paws, mimicking a cat while making a sweet and pleading face.

Mary chuckled mischievously. She seemed to be imagining something ominous. As she has tormented housepets before, there was no telling what treatment Yumeko would receive if she were to lose.

"Y-Yumeko... Maybe we should call this off." I was barely able to finish my sentence as Mary interrupted;
"Fine. I'm in on this gamble", she said while pointing at Yumeko.

"Thank you, Mary-san!", Yumeko said with a sunny smile.

"Now, let's decide what game to play! Since this is a gamble about a resort with a casino, let's play poker!", Yumeko said with enthusiasm. Mary did not bother to argue.

Yumeko pulled a deck of cards from her desk drawer. "It's just a regular deck. Do you want to check it, Mary-san?"

"No need. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't cheat", Mary said after a brief pause.

"Hehe, I'm glad you trust me. Shall we play Five-card Draw with Suzui-san as the dealer?" "Please, be our dealer, Suzui-san!"

I wasn't expecting a request like that, but it wasn't much trouble. All I had to do was deal the cards and stay neutral. Besides, this was the exact game in which Mary defeated me, making me a housepet back then. I knew the rules well enough.

Five-card Draw is the most classic variant of poker. Each player is dealt five cards face down. Then there is a betting phase. After that, the players can chose to discard any of their cards and will be dealt replacements. A second betting phase follows and if more than one player is still in the game after that, there is a showdown. The remaining players show their hands and the winner is determined by the strength of the combination of cards they have. Because the girls here are wagering one predetermined thing in a quick one hand game, there are no betting phases.

I took the deck from Yumeko and shuffled it carefully. Dealing poker is easy, but I could not take my assignment lightly. Bad things may happen to Yumeko based on the outcome of this game. Although I was not the one wagering anything, I'm sure I was the one who looked the most nervous.

Mary showed a relaxed smile, but that was probably to mask the nerves. After all, her opponent was the mysterious Yumeko; the girl who defeated some of the strongest players at this school. The last time these girls played, it was a crushing defeat for Mary. I'm sure she remembers that.

Yumeko was intensely gazing into Mary's eyes. I knew what that meant. Yumeko was truly enjoying herself. The game itself, the atmosphere, the opponent, the trill and the risk. She loved it all. This wasn't some poker face or cheap intimidation trick. This was the real Yumeko.

"Alright, let's begin." I started dealing.

Chapter 1, part 2

The next morning we all gathered and boarded the ship docked at the pier, along with the other students. It wasn't extravagant, but large enough to carry several hundred people. Impressive for a school trip, for sure.

The sound of the waves and the sunlight on my skin were soothing. It would have gotten too hot in my short-sleeve, if not for the gentle breeze. The blues of the ocean and the whites of the reflections made the view from the deck be like an endless moving paining. I was having a great time... so far.

The other students on the deck were equally in a good mood. How could they not be, with such a great view and free drinks from the bar. Although this looked like a vacation, it was technically a school trip. The school uniforms remained mandatory.

Someone was not having fun, though. That particular someone was right next to Yumeko and me.
"Why me... Damn it. I should not have played that game", Mary kept saying, or rather, she was chanting it like a curse.

"Mary-san, please don't be so gloomy. Let's make the best of things and have some fun!", Yumeko said.

"Shut up! Don't talk to me! And don't touch me!", Mary shouted.

---

Mary had lost the poker game. Her hand was three-of-a-kind kings. A very lucky draw, considering it was just a quick one hand game. After her card change, it was clear that Mary was already thinking about how she could exploit Yumeko's obedience during the trip. However, when Yumeko declared she would not change any of her cards, Mary's gleeful expression snapped back to neutral. When it was time for the showdown, I instructed them to reveal their hand.

The moment Yumeko revealed, Mary fell to her knees. It was a full house. Yumeko jumped up and down with joy. Once again, I was baffled by Yumeko's incredible luck. To think I was trying to prevent this game from happening earlier. I guess I just have to watch and see where her luck takes her. It almost feels like Mary was manipulated into going on the trip... and into obedience.

---

"Excuse me, may I be of assistance? I have brought you some water", someone said. Without looking up, I took the cup that was offered and gulped it down. It was very refreshing.

"Thanks for the service. But why are so many of you here? Is something wrong?", Yumeko asked.

So many? I wiped my mouth and looked. There was a group of people and they were bowing to us. Then the girl in the middle raised her head. "Yes, I'm afraid we have something to apologize for", she said.

The group was dressed in fancy black suits that looked like a military uniform of sorts. It was a jacket with shoulder pads and shiny gold colored buttons. The woman's variant had an apron-like jumper skirt instead of trousers. The girl who spoke wore a wine-red ribbon as a tie, while the ribbons of the others were black.

"Wait... You are...", Mary started saying with tension in her voice.

"What an honor that you know me, Mary Saotome-sama. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She crossed her legs inside her skirt and bowed gracefully. "My name is Kifune Izayoi. I am the manager and owner of the casino on Ryouran Island, the destination of this ship."

I instinctively bowed in return. "The boss of the casino on Ryouran?! So that makes you the boss of the Kansankai... or is it the chairman?", I asked.

Kifune narrowed her already slanted eyelids and softly laughed. "I guess you can call me the boss, Ryota Suzui-sama. As you said, I lead that organization, yes. I'm also a student at Hyakkaou Private Academy, just like all of you. I'm in my third year."

Kifune introduces herself

Kifune had long, black hair, but her face remained fully visible because of the hairband she wore. Her expression was gentle but reserved. It was as if she was a sheathed sword; at rest but ready to strike when needed.