Editing Kakegurui Trip Fulltext (section)

=Chapter 2: Casino Dominium=
<center>wiki chapter navigation:<br>
<noinclude>
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| [[#Chapter 1: The Ryouran Island Summer Camp|previous]]
| [[#Table of contents|index]]
| [[#Chapter 3: The Beach and the Ace|next]]
|-
|}
</noinclude></center>
==Chapter 2, part 1==

Ryouran Island was developed around the pier with the majority of it's natural forest left untouched. What immediately caught the eye was a single, steep hill on the far side of it. It was like a tall, green wall in the distance. The island was small and you could probably cycle around it in less than an hour.
<br><br>
We arrived and set foot on the pier. It was just as refreshing as being on the ship but the sounds were differed. There were squawking seagulls everywhere and the waves were breaching onto the coast. On the path forward was a huge gate, decorated with colorful flower-like ornaments. It was as if we were entering a theme park, rather than a resort. The real Las Vegas is not an island, so it made sense they went with a differed aesthetic here. I'm sure they wanted it to be just as as glamorous, though.<br>
Staff were waiting for us at the gate. As we passed underneath it, each of us received a necklace woven from plumeria flowers. You could see the excitement in people growing as the ornament was placed around their necks.
A cobblestone path was leading us further into the island. Taking it was the only choice as everything else was covered with a dense forest.
<br><br>
''"Mary-san, Suzui-san! What a lovely place this is! You think the hotel is far away?"'' Yumeko said while rushing ahead with impatience.
<br><br>
''"Watch where you're going and take it easy!"'', I shouted to her. ''"The linen room is waiting for you there, remember?!"''
<br><br>
As I was following the path, I started wondering what our plans were. Mary strolled along next to me, clearly not in a good mood even though she was not the one who lost. It was a sign that she truly saw Yumeko as a friend and was unhappy about the treatment she received.
<br><br>
What should I say to Yumeko? Obviously she didn't win every gamble since she joined the school, but that was not what she wanted anyway. Dragging her opponents out of their comfort zone into a bet they could not afford to lose is what she was going for. With that in mind, the quick and decisive loss to Kifune was probably most unsatisfying. She didn't show any signs of being bothered with it now, but I'm sure she did not really forget. 
<br><br>
I gathered my thoughts and picked up the pace. ''"Hey, can I ask you something?"'', I said when I caught up to Yumeko. 
<br><br>
''"Sure, what is it?"'', Yumeko answered, looking around nervously. 
<br><br>
''"After the game with Kifune-san, you said 'I see how it is'. What did you mean by that?"'', I asked. 
<br><br>
''"Oh, that? I meant the cheat"'', Yumeko replied.
<br><br>
''"So the game actually was rigged"'', I said with a sigh. 
<br><br>
''"It sure was! There's nothing I can do about it now, though"'', Yumeko said cheerfully.
<br><br>
''"Wait! What?!"'', Mary said as she was catching up to us.
<br><br>
''"I was the one to chose the girl, so it's unlikely she was co-opted"'', Yumeko began explaining. ''"In addition, I kept a close eye on Kifune-san for anything suspicious, but didn't spot it. So... that leaves only one person to execute the trick. The thermal cup the girl received didn't give away it's contents or the temperature of it. She would have thought it was what she ordered, regardless of what was actually in it."''
<br><br>
''"Ah! I get it now"'', Mary said. ''"The cup was taken from the girl and a replacement was handed to her immediately. The replacement contained her actual order while the original could have been anything. I'm sure Kifune instructed the bartender to pour café au lait in a thermal cup for anyone when he heard or saw some signal, while preparing the actual order on the side in the same kind of cup. And then the switch happened for all of us to see!"''
<br><br>
''"Well, there's a possibility that the girl actually did want milky coffee. We could have asked her then, but we didn't"'', Yumeko said without showing regret.
<br><br>
''"Why didn't you expose the cheat then and there?!"'', Mary shouted. 
<br><br>
''"By the time it clicked for me, the girl was already gone. It would have been a bother to go looking for her"'', Yumeko replied with the same carefree attitude.
<br><br>
''"Why do you act like you are okay with this?! This pisses me off so much!"'', Mary shouted again while waving her arms and looking for some outlet for her frustration.
<br><br>
''"Something just occurred to me"'', I said.
<br><br>
''"Yes?"'', Mary mumbled while adjusting the nylon bag on her shoulder. It held her overnight luggage.
<br><br>
''"Kifune Izayoi used to be a housepet. Back on the ship she was humiliating Yumeko, or all of us rather, for having been one too. That makes it a case of self-loathing. She had the miserable experience and overcame it. Now she hates anyone who did the same somehow, while having a lot of pride at the same time"'', I explained.<br>
''"She is not from a wealthy family and got in dept pretty quickly after enrolling. After becoming a Mittens, she somehow joined the Kansankai and rose in ranks, losing the housepet tag along the way. She took control of the organization and made it a lot more profitable by focusing on the casino. It was quite an impressive feat from what I heard."'' Mary was listening to me in silence while Yumeko ran ahead again. 
<br><br>
''"This was the year before I enrolled"'', I continued.<br>
''"If Kifune-san is such a shrewd operator, it kinda makes you wonder how she became a housepet in the first place. The newfound Kansankai profits are not free however. Large loans were needed to invest in the casino. So even if things seem stable, there may be not much room for error."''
<br><br>
The sun was setting and I only noticed it now. The cobblestone path became darker and dusk was on the way.
<br><br>
''"Hey you two, walk faster! I have to play at the casino tonight! Don't make me abandon you!"'', Yumeko shouted from up ahead. She cupped her hands in front of her mouth to amplify her voice.
<br><br>
''"She's hopeless"'', Mary sighed and puffed out air from her cheeks. I chuckled a little.
<br><br>
Yumeko was standing in front of a large building. It was the resort hotel where we were staying for two nights. The architecture was inspired. A white front wall formed a semi-circle that looked clean and welcoming. It was as if it was guiding guests to the fountain in the middle and the entrance behind it. The fountain was operational and shot water high into the air, cooling the surroundings.
<br><br>
''"We're coming!"'', I shouted back to Yumeko, making the same megaphone gesture.
<br><br>
So here we are. At the hotel with the casino, where hundreds of us are going to gamble during this school camp. Hyakkaou Private Academy is a truly abnormal place and it has many extraordinary students. Kifune is undoubtedly among the most talented. 
<br><br>

==Chapter 2, part 2==

We entered through the revolving door to be greeted by lobby music. A hi-hat set the lively rhythm while a gentle piano melody danced along the beat. There were potted plants everywhere, bathing in the soft orange light of the chandeliers.<br>
Daylight was not gone yet, so the windows to the courtyard helped illuminate the entrance hall. Out footsteps were suddenly louder as we stepped on the marble tiling.
<br><br>
''"Wow, I'm so glad we came!"'', Yumeko said with joy as she held her hands together in a gesture of admiration.
<br><br>
Up ahead was a wide, open door and beyond it was a place with an atmosphere completely unlike that of the entrance hall. It was the casino.
<br><br>
''"Ah, just like in Las Vegas, you can't get into your hotel room without going through the casino. They are nudging the guests into having some fun"'', Yumeko said.
<br><br>
A burly bodyguard, tall enough that I had to tilt my head to look at him, was guarding the entrance. The walls and the carpet beyond that point were black. It looked calm and elegant, making you focus more on what was in the casino, rather than the casino itself. 
Many table spots were already taken by students and plenty of games were in progress. The sights and sounds were somewhat overwhelming with so much going on. No wonder this kind of atmosphere was so exciting for many, especially those like Yumeko.
<br><br>
''"I didn't expect the casino to be right at the entrance. Have you ever been to Las Vegas, Saotome?"'', I asked Mary. 
<br><br>
''"Huh? What does that have to do with anything?"'', she replied, visibly annoyed.
<br><br>
I didn't mean to upset her. Even after knowing her for a while, I still didn't fully understand what kind of things she is bothered by.
<br><br>
''"Let's play right away! Roulette? Table games? Or maybe slots --- mumble."'' Mary interrupted Yumeko by covering her mouth. Yumeko snorted from the unexpected change in air pressure.
<br><br>
''"Of course we're going to check in first. The casino isn't going anywhere, so calm down"'', Mary said with a clam but stern voice, as if she was commanding a child. ''"The casino will still be open for hours, so there is no need to rush"'', she continued.
<br><br>
Yumeko was acting spoiled and tried to stay put. We grabbed her hands and dragged her out towards the hotel reception desk.
<br><br>
When checking in, we were given key cards for rooms on the 30th floor. High floor rooms must have great views, I thought. This was not going to be the case for Yumeko, though.<br>
On our way up, we stopped by the linen room assigned to Yumeko. It was not even prepared for occupation, like Kifune promised. Inside were just shelves with bed sheets and not much else. On arrival at the 30th floor, Mary suggested we check my room first so we headed there. 
<br><br>
The first thing we noticed is how heavy the door was. It swung open slower than I expected from the push I gave it. What was inside was magnificent. We marveled at it as we entered. Although listed as a standard room, it was as luxurious as a high-end hotel one.<br>
Both the double bed and TV were huge but because the room itself was so spacious they didn't seem out of place. A tasteful chandelier was illuminating the space from it's central hanging spot. It all seemed too much for just one person.
<br><br>
''"This is too good for Suzui"'', Mary said, while looking at the bathroom. 
<br><br>
Meanwhile, Yumeko opened the curtains to check the view. ''"Oh, come look at this!"'', she said.
<br><br>
The sun was setting, showing us a red carpet that stretched from the horizon to the sandy beach below. The rest of the ocean was darkened and endlessly expanded to both sides. 
<br><br>
''"It's lovely! And to think this is all part of a school trip"'', Yumeko said while Mary returned from the bathroom inspection. 
<br><br>
''"Let's switch. You can have this room, Yumeko"'', I said.
<br><br>
''"Huh?"'', she replied while turning to me in surprise.
<br><br>
''"I can't let a girl stay in a place without a shower. Besides, I owe you, don't I? It wouldn't be proper if I didn't repay you a little from time to time"'', I said with a smirk as if I was joking.
<br><br>
But actually, I wasn't joking at all.<br>
Back when I was a housepet and Yumeko was a new transfer student, I was forced into deceiving her. A rigged gamble was set up with Yumeko as the target and I was part of the conspiracy. I didn't want to do it, but could not find the strength within me to refuse my classmates' orders. That stunt ended in a way you would least expect. Yumeko saw through the cheating and managed to win the game. After that, she gifted me the money for the student council payment, freeing me from housepet status.<br>
She saved me. I don't know if it's guilt or gratitude, but I don't think I'll ever be able to look Yumeko in the eye. 
<br><br>
''"What? So you do have a manly side after all?"'', Mary chimed in with a faint smile. 
<br><br>
''"Here, take the key card"'', I said while pulling it out of my pocket and handing it to Yumeko.
<br><br>
Yumeko pushed it away. ''"No, Suzui-san. I can't accept it."''
<br><br>
''"Don't be shy, come on"'', I insisted.
<br><br>
''"No way, this room is yours and..."'', Yumeko protested again but stopped herself, while raising a finger.<br>
''"Suzui-san and I can stay in this room together. That solves everything!"''
<br><br>
I'm sure I was blushing. Yumeko said that so casually it caught me off guard.
<br><br>
''"There is plenty of space here and the bed is a double size. It won't be cramped at all"'', she continued with the same cheerful voice. 
<br><br>
''"No, no, no! That's not okay! You shouldn't say things like that so carelessly, girl! When you are alone together he might have uncontrollable urges and ravage you! The guys who appear gentle are the most dangerous like that!"'', Mary said loudly.
<br><br>
''"Eh..., that point is moot. We're not sleeping together"'', I said while trying to push the key card into Yumeko's hand.
<br><br>
''"Mary-san, you shouldn't talk about Suzui-san like that! He would never do such a thing!"'', Yumeko said while deflecting the card again. ''"Please keep it, Suzui-san."''
<br><br>
''"I'm not a senseless beast, I'm not sleeping with you and I'm not letting you sleep in a closet. The linen room is mine!"'', I said while pushing the key card back at her.
<br><br>
''"No it isn't..."'' We were pushing the card back and forth. 
<br><br>
Mary intervened eventually. ''"Ugh, fine. I get it. Suzui, you are keeping this room. Yumeko, I'm sharing mine with you. I swear, if you snore, I'll kick you out."''
<br><br>
''"That would be great! Are you sure you're okay with it, Mary-san?"'', Yumeko asked cheerfully. 
<br><br>
''"Yeah, it's alright"'', Mary said. Now that the rooms were sorted, she wanted to address something form earlier.<br>
''"I didn't think you were joking but back on the ship when..."''
<br><br>
''"Yey!!!"'' Yumeko interrupted and started jumping around with joy. ''"I get to stay with Mary-san! I'm so excited I may not be able to sleep!"''
<br><br>
''"Thank you, Saotome"'', I said
<br><br>
''"It's fine. I suspected it would turn out like this. Yumeko, shall we drop off our stuff at my... Hey, stop clinging to me!"'' Mary was being hugged by Yumeko from the side.
<br><br>
''"Suzui, let's meet at the restaurant in half an hour so we can use those dinner tickets we got. I'm getting hungry"'', Mary said while leaving the room with Yumeko in tow. 
<br><br>
The restaurant did not disappoint. The ceiling was full of fancy chandeliers and glittering decorations. Students were eating at the many round tables while chatting and laughing. Dinner was buffet style with lots of choice and very extravagant desserts.<br>
All of us enjoyed it but we didn't linger for too long. There was still more to do this evening.
<br><br>
''"Well then, let's go!"'' We stood up and headed to the casino.
<br><br>

==Chapter 2, part 3==

I noticed the sign at the entrance. 'Casino Dominium' it read in English. From what I knew, that last word was old fashioned and had something to do with the right to use territory. It was a bit ominous and seemed out of place, but with what I knew about Kifune it made sense.
<br><br>
We went in and looked around. Yumeko may be used to casinos, but Mary and I were a bit out of our depth. We walked with cautious excitement.<br>
It was busy. Probably most of the students on the island were in here. Each of the many large tables had people sitting around them, dressed in the mandatory school uniforms. 
I looked at one of the tables and saw how the dealer made his moves, handling the cards with fast and fluid motions. This must be blackjack, I thought.
<br><br>
The sounds of the slot machines in the back was drowned out by the lively talk of the students. From time to time, a dealer could be heard making a loud announcement in a way that would hype up the players.<br>
The hyping up was effective. It worked on the crowd and it worked on Yumeko. She was standing next to me, full of anticipation. 
<br><br>
A woman with revealing clothing walked past me. I couldn't help but follow her with my eyes. She was dressed in a bunny girl outfit. It seemed inappropriate to have someone walk around like that at what was technically a school event. 
<br><br>
''"Suzui, keep your gun holstered."''
<br><br>
I tensed up as the embarrassment set in. It was just a glance, but Mary didn't miss it. Those keen observational skills of hers are key to her success as a gambler. I don't think I'll be able to relax in this casino.
<br><br>
As we walked further into the casino, Yumeko suddenly pointed to a hall at the side of the walkway. ''"Look at that! There is a stage area!"''
<br><br>
A live performance had just ended. People were cheering while dazzling spotlights danced on a circular platform. The air was humid from the tightly packed crowd. 
<br><br>
''"How was my performance today? Did you enjoy it?"'', the girl on stage asked with a strong, but pleasant voice.
<br><br>
The crowd answered with a loud roar.
<br><br>
''"Thank you for following me all the way to Ryouran Island! I feel so much love from you all! Today's show is over, but I'll upload it to YourTube so you can watch it again!"''
She made the peace gesture while putting up an innocent, starry-eyed face. ''"Please share, like and subscribe!"''
<br><br>
The crowd roared again. Even louder this time. You could faintly feel the air displacement.
<br><br>
The girl had pink hair, tied in pigtails and wore a flower brooch instead of the school uniform ribbon. There was no doubt about who she was. Yumemi Yumemite.<br>
She's a student at Hyakkaou like us, but also a rapidly rising idol. Her fan club is large with hundreds of members from this school alone. Her videos are popular and she seems to be bound for a big, national breakthrough. I'm not a rabid fan myself, but I do kind of like her.<br>
Yumemi is also on the student council. She once gambled with Yumeko with strange stakes. If Yumeko would have lost then, she would have been forced to help Yumemi with her career as an idol sidekick.
<br><br>
''"The summer camp isn't over yet! Don't have too much fun! Bye-bye!"'', Yumemi said with the same starry-eyed look. She then spun around, gracefully left the stage and disappeared from view. 
<br><br>
The crowd was dispersing.<br>
I wasn't expecting to see Yumemi perform here, but it made sense as I thought about it. She is very dedicated to her career and would take every opportunity to advance it. She wouldn't just come to this place to take it easy, especially not while so many of her fans are here.<br>
As we were heading back to the casino floor, I caught a glimpse of someone, probably her manager, throwing a black cape over her from the side of the stage. As her fame increases, so does the number of stalkers she has, I thought.
<br><br>
''"Well, we have toured most of the place, so I think I'll go enjoy myself"'', Mary said and started to walk away.
<br><br>
''"Aren't you sticking with us, Mary-san?"'' Yumeko asked.
<br><br>
''"Let's go solo for a bit. It may be more fun that way. We have tomorrow too, so there is time to team up later"'', Mary said with a dismissive wave and disappeared into the crowd. 
<br><br>
''"Shall we split up too, Suzui-san? Will you be alright playing alone?"'', Yumeko asked. 
<br><br>
''"Sure. I brought some cash and many of the games here I know well enough"'', I replied. 
<br><br>
''"Then let's have a competition to see who can win the most!"'', Yumeko said with her eyes widening.
<br><br>
I laughed. ''"Ha! There's no way I'm beating you! But alright, since we are here to gamble anyway, I'll do my best. I promise."''
<br><br>
''"Yes! That's the spirit, Suzui-san!"'' Yumeko made two fists at chest height while smiling.
<br><br>

==Chapter 2, part 4==

I had already decided which game I would play first. 
<br><br>
Hyakkaou has all the necessary equipment for playing classic table games. However, since most of the gambling was organized by the students themselves, it was often a bare-bones sort of setup. The reason the students were excited to play those same games here is because of the authentic casino experience.
<br><br>
What you couldn't do back at school is play slots machines. This place had plenty of them, however. It's an essential part of the casino atmosphere, after all.
<br><br>
I made my way to the slots corner and was greeted by rows of boxes with LCD displays. It was like being in a pachinko parlor or an arcade hall.<br>
The screens were flashy and the area around them was brightly decorated. It looked like it would tire your eyes quickly, but if you were winning you probably wouldn't care. 
<br><br>
There were many types and they were all differed from the slot machines I've seen before. I was looking at a machine with five vertical axes, while the common Japanese variant only had three. The rules were also more complicated. They were explained around the side of the screen in snippets of technical English and symbol combinations.<br>
Looking over them, I noticed the machine was custom made for Hyakkaou. The school emblem was one of the symbols used, along with the usual fruit ones and the number 7. It served as a quick reminder to how terrifying our school really was.
<br><br>
How much the minimum bet was, varied per machine. I went to the lowest wager version of the five axes machine that I inspected earlier. The stool in front of it was small but had a comfy backrest. I guess I'll try my luck on this one, I thought as I sat down.<br>
There were no other players next to me, so there was no one to impress or be distracted by. I took the coin card out of my walled and inserted it into the machine.
<br><br>
Instead of carrying casino coins, you could load up a card with the currency. As long as there was enough credit on it, it was all you needed at the casino. It was just a plastic card but felt heavy in my hand, as I knew there was 30 thousand Yen worth of coins on it.
<blockquote>Translator's note: Chop off two zeros from any Yen amount to get the order of magnitude of it in US Dollars or Euros. So, Ryota's budget here is like 300 bucks.</blockquote>

I was so excited that a big smile spread across my face. I slapped my cheeks a couple of times. 
<br><br>
On this machine, the number of winning lines depends on how much you bet. You always get the horizontal line but with larger wagers, the wave, peak and valley lines unlock.<br>
It's tempting to go for the maximum bet to unlock everything. I'd have to wager 500 Yen per spin for that. 
<br><br>
One spin would be the cost of a lunch and ten spins the cost of a video game. Thinking about it like that made me hesitate, but I put those thoughts aside. Why did I even come here if I wasn't going to play? I came here to enjoy myself and should be prepared to lose a little. Also, there was the competition with Yumeko. I promised I would take that seriously.
<br><br>
I pressed the button to check the pay table. It listed the payout for each possible match. It was what you would expect, with matching 7s paying out the most. There was however a special case with the Hyakkaou emblem. Matching three of those activated what was called 'Scatter Mode'. It gave you a number of spins that happened automatically. They were free but paid off as normal if there was a match.
<br><br>
I hope it's true what they say about beginner's luck. Let's give this thing a spin. I pressed the 'Play' button with force. The tune the machine was playing suddenly got louder and the lines started to spin rapidly. Then they stopped. The stop here was automatic, unlike how it was with Japanese slots. 
<br><br>
A short tune played and the 'coins remaining' counter went up. I got a Cherry match on a wave. What a good start! 
A drink was placed in front of me. It was the bunny girl from earlier. She looked me in the eye and winked. I took a sip and pressed 'Play' again. This was getting fun!
<br><br>

==Chapter 2, part 5==

This world is governed by natural laws. Nature is all there is. All living things will eventually decay and return to the earth, becoming fertilizer for new life. I am the earth and the earth is me. There is no escaping this cycle of rebirth. Everything will transform into something else eventually. Time is fleeting and merciless. It doesn't stop for anyone, not even for a second. Like a river of a majestic mountain, it flows quietly, yet surely.
<br><br>
All things that rise, will fall. That too is a natural law and my coin balance was following it. At it's peak, it was three times the original amount. I should have stopped there. Now it was close to zero. Gambling is truly terrifying. You can never keep winning. ''"Knowing when to quit is crucial"'', they say. Perhaps it was a gambler who said that first.
<br><br>
The bunny girl brought me another drink. Her expression hadn't changed, but now I felt like she was looking down on me. That's fine. Minimal consideration is enough for a pathetic loser. 
<br><br>
''"How is it going, Suzui-san?"'' Smooth black hair brushed against my cheek as Yumeko poked her head over my shoulder.<br> 
''"Is something wrong? You don't look like you are dong too well."''
<br><br>
''"I'm no good, Yumeko. I guess I'm just not cut out for this."'' I could only manage a forced smile that undoubtedly looked fake.
<br><br>
''"Oh... that's a shame. But slots really are just blind luck, aren't they?"'', she said.
<br><br>
They were. That's why I was playing them. If the winnings are determined mechanically, I figured there was a chance I could beat Yumeko. No bluffing or strategy needed. The plan didn't work, however. The occasional Cherry matches I was getting were no compensation for the long streaks of misses.
<br><br>
I pressed 'Play' again. The machine did it's spin and stopped. No match. ''"Another one. I had so much misses in a row now"'', I sighed. 
<br><br>
''"You still have some spins left, don't give up... Oh, this machine is Hyakkaou branded"'', Yumeko softly spoke beside my ear.
<br><br>
I checked the pay table once more. Above 'Scatter Mode' was another tier; 'Jackpot'.
The slot machines were connected to a network. The wins and losses on all of them were being kept track of. If you hit 'Jackpot', it paid out depending on how much the customers collectively lost since the last time someone hit it.
On this machine, the symbol lineup for Jackpot was one 7 in the middle with everything else being the Hyakkaou emblem. Actually hitting it was a pipe dream of course.
<br><br>
Something occurred to me and I stood up. "Why don't you give it a spin, Yumeko? You might have better luck than me."
<br><br>
"No way! It's your game so you should be the one to enjoy it", she protested. 
<br><br>
''"It's fine, it's fine. I'm almost broke anyway"'', I said while grabbing her shoulders and nudging her onto the stool. Then I pointed at the 'Play' button. ''"All you have to do is press this."''
<br><br>
''"Okay, here I go!"'' She pressed it and the symbols were spinning again. 
<br><br>
What a stark contrast. Such a beautiful girl at such a wretched machine.<br>
I thought that Yumeko might not like slots very much because it lacked human interaction. Probability and strategy were all well and good but not what Yumeko tends to get the most excited about. Predicting the thoughts of the other player, reading their emotions, influencing them with deception and above all, feeling the thrill of uncertainty together with them.<br>
Those were the things Yumeko wanted and she didn't shy away from huge wagers to get them. This is what made her so strong. 
<br><br>
The spin ended. It was another miss.
<br><br>
''"Come on, do it again"'', I said. She did. 
<br><br>
The one who was having the most fun was probably me. Looking at her playing was endearing. It didn't matter anymore if I went bust. Not all my money was on that coin card. I had some stashed away so I had enough for the bare minimum for the rest of the trip.
<br><br>
The bunny girl was back. I gestured that I didn't need the drink. She probably felt sorry for me and wanted to at least let me enjoy the juice.
<br><br>
Suddenly, there was a piercing noise. A short tune played by trumpets. ''"Look, Suzui-san! You've won!"''
<br><br>
On the screen was a perfect row of identical symbols on the central line. An animation played, showing the 'remaining coins' count shooting up.
<br><br>
I felt the gamblers rush. It was as if my brain trembled with joy.<br>
''"Amazing! You're incredible, Yumeko! Congratulations!"'' 
<br><br>
When the coin counter stopped moving, it far exceeded the peak from earlier. Damn, if I hadn't stopped betting the maximum because I was worried about going broke, it would have been even more amazing. I knew there was no use thinking that way, though. This is at least a lot better than not winning at all.
<br><br>
''"I'm so happy for you, Suzui-san"'', Yumeko said cheerfully. 
<br><br>
''"No, no, Yumeko, you're the one who won. I'll cash in the winnings and pay you back"'', I replied.<br>
''"It probably would have been a bust if I was playing. I'd feel hesitant to spend money that I didn't win myself, anyway."''
<br><br>
''"What? No! It was your money being wagered so the winnings are yours too! I'm just happy to have helped."''<br> 
''"Besides..."'', Yumeko said while glancing down. ''"I won a bit at baccarat earlier."''<br>
On the ground was a large bag that looked like it was stuffed to it's limit. No doubt heavy and unwieldy if it was full of coins. ''"It was quite a struggle to drag it all the way to here."''
<br><br>
I was stunned. ''"...Yumeko, let's go get this exchanged for a coin card like the one I have. Carrying so much is no good."''
<br><br>
''"Ah, so that's how it works here"'', she said. ''"I was already wondering how everyone else was managing it."''
<br><br>
I thought she was joking but I wasn't sure. Yumeko can be a bit absent-minded sometimes, regardless of her brilliance. 
<br><br>
''"So, how are you guys doing?"'' Mary was walking towards us. She had a smirk on her face and was waiving a coin card. There was no doubt she had won quite bit too.
<br><br>

==Chapter 2, part 6==

After Yumeko was relieved of the bag and handed her coin card, we sat at the bar for a drink.
<br><br>
The rows of glasses and bottles on the shelves was quite the sight. Back on the ship the choice seemed generous but it was nothing compared to what was on display here. The bar stools were not the most comfortable though. Light piano music was playing in the background.
<br><br>
''"It's all very classy, as you'd expect form Hyakkaou"'', Mary said while picking up a long, thin, chocolate covered cracker. 
<br><br>
''"So how did you do?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
''"Hehehe... I won't have to worry about lunch money for a while"'', she said with a wide grin while chewing on the cracker. She was clearly in an excellent mood. ''"You want a fruit plate? My treat."''
<br><br>
''"Yay! Thank you, Mary-san!"'', Yumeko grabbed Mary's free arm.
<br><br>
Mary pushed her away. ''"No, not you. You've won more than I did."''
<br><br>
Yumeko looked dejected. Then something caught her eye. A girl was sitting one seat away form her. She was wearing the long-sleeve school uniform jacket, unlike most here who wore the summer vest or only the shirt.
<br><br>
''"Good evening"'', Yumeko said with a cheerful voice while turning to the girl.
<br><br>
The girl trembled and didn't reply. Then she hunched as if she wanted to hide.
<br><br>
''"I saw you earlier. You've been sitting at the bar for a long time. Aren't you going to play any games?"'', Yumeko asked with an honest smile.
<br><br>
''"... I'm fine"'', the girl finally said with a voice so quiet I could barely hear it from where I was sitting.<br>
She was short. There was no way her feet were touching the ground and it occurred to me she had to climb onto the bar stool earlier. In her hands was a coffee cup.
<br><br>
''"Since we're at a casino, we should have some fun! My name Yumeko Jabami. May I ask for yours?"''
<br><br>
''"... Mitarai"'', the girl replied with the same timid voice.
[[Image:Kakegurui.trip.04.mitarai.meet.webp|frameless|right|300px|Mitarai is drinking her coffee]]
<br>
Mitarai had a short haircut with long bangs. She was still hunching and looking down. The hair covered most of her face but I saw her eyes were moving around quickly as if she was looking out for danger. She sipped from her coffee cup with slightly trembling hands
<br><br>
''"I'm sorry, Mitarai-san. Yumeko must have spooked you a bit, huh? Would you like a fruit plate? It's on me because I.... ooh..."''<br>
Mary spoke with a calming, guardian-like voice, but stopped half-way as she noticed something.
<br><br>
I noticed it too now. Mitarai was wearing a housepet tag.<br>
The trip and accommodations were free so it wasn't infeasible for a housepet to be here. It didn't seem likely that one would willingly spend their free time among fellow students, though. They had to endure plenty of bad treatment from them as it was.<br>
Was Mitarai trying to strike it rich at the casino? Did someone order her to come here as a servant? 
<br><br>
Yumeko was sitting closest to her and must have seen the tag earlier. ''"Sorry to trouble you. If we meet again, I look forward to it."''
<br><br>
Mitarai didn't reply.
<br><br>
The lights suddenly dimmed. One of the VIP seating balconies overlooking the hall was illuminated by spotlights. Standing on it was a girl dressed in black. People around us whispered. ''"What's going on?" "Is something wrong?"
<br>''<br>
The girl in black spoke with a loud, clear and confident voice. ''"Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, all who have come to Ryouran Island, I hope you are enjoying yourselves tonight! I am Kifune Izayoi, the manager of this casino!"''
She swung her right arm high up, then rested the hand in front of her, waist-high. A bow followed. It was an exaggerated move, but not inelegant. 
<br><br>
There was applause. Some of the students from other halls were heading here, making the crowd thicker. ''"What's this about?" "Is there a show of some kind?"''
<br><br>
Kifune waited for more people to gather and then went on with her speech. ''"We will be holding the Ryouran Island Poker Tournament tomorrow! It's the main event of the summer camp! Many of you expected it, no doubt! I'm proud to announce that you will not be disappointed!"''
<br><br>
''"A poker tournament? I didn't know about this. Did you, Saotome?"'', I asked.
<br><br>
''"Shhh... Shut up and listen. If you're not careful, you'll get involved in something weird"'', Mary whispered back.
<br><br>
''"Anyone can sign up for the tournament as long as they pay the entry fee! All the money from sign ups will be quadrupled and given to the winner!"'', Kifune continued.
<br><br>
The whispering in the crowd got louder. 
<br><br>
''"Yes, you heard that right! The winner takes all and the prize money is much more than the fees collected!''<br>
''It is our way of showing our gratitude to our guests! If we can make your stay even a little more joyous and thrilling, there would be no greater happiness for us! We will announce what the prize money will be just before the tournament begins! I invite you all to participate!"'' Kifune was looking around the hall while speaking.
<br><br>
''"Also, anyone can place bets on who will win! Wager as much as you want! You don't have to bet right from the start! If you wait until there are less participants left in the race, we will still take your bet! The payout depends on how many players are still competing at the time of betting, of course!"''<br>
''"To sign up for the tournament, please speak to a staff member tomorrow evening! Well then everyone, the night is still young! I wish you all good luck and hope you enjoy yourselves to the utmost!"'' Kifune ended the announcement with another bow. 
<br><br>
She maintained the bend forward pose for a while but quickly raised her head to look around the hall again. Her gaze turned towards us. She was obviously looking at Yumeko but I felt targeted just the same. A chill ran down my spine when I saw her expression. There was no sense of challenge in Kifune's eyes. It was the look of mockery towards an inferior.
<br><br>
I looked at Yumeko beside me. Somehow I already knew what I would see. She was smiling and it was not in a calm or inviting way. It was the same expression she had back on the ship. A smile of someone who has madness welling up inside of them. I shivered again.
<br><br>
Kifune left the balcony and the lights returned to normal.<br> 
Mary grabbed Yumeko by the shoulders. ''"You're not planning on signing up, are you? That's something only an idiot would do! You'd be like a moth flying into a flame! I can't stop you, but I sure as hell won't join you!"''
<br><br>
Yumeko wasn't listening. She was still staring at the balcony where Kifune made her speech.
<br><br>
Mitarai was gone. Only the cup with a little bit of coffee left in it remained.
<br><br>