"Did you hear?"
"Of course I did!"
"Miharutaki-san challenged Juraku-san!"
"Hot! What are they betting?"
"I heard Miharutaki's betting her engagement!"
"And Juraku's betting an eye!"
"Bull-shit!"
The rumours were everywhere you went. Of course they were. The two most fearsome (and attractive) gamblers in the second year were facing off against each other. This was a big deal.
Kirari seemed totally unbothered though. As always, wearing her neutral, placid mask, she took lightly to the news.
Runa, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves.
Sacchan had texted her about it, so she had known beforehand, naturally. She and Sachiko were close friends from elementary school. Sachiko had been one of the bullies back then: still was, really, and Runa had been her target. She seemed like an easy one to go for, given her small stature and innocent eyes, but Runa was devious, and Sacchan took a liking to it, and the rest was history.
To this day, they were thick as thieves, and despite outward differences, they were surprisingly similar. Both were hardcore lesbians, had a sweet-tooth, an addiction to "candy crush", adored manga and loved a good gamble- be it one they were participating in (Sachiko) or observing (Runa).
Recently, contact between the two thinned, ever since divisions between classes had sharpened, and Sachiko had claimed her fame as a top gambler, while Runa stuck it out as a dealer. But it hadn't thinned enough for Sachiko to neglect to tell Runa about this new development.
Which was funny, because the only time she spoke of Miharutaki-san otherwise was to admire her gambling prowess or complain about her arranged engagement, so Runa couldn't help but wonder what had changed.
"What do you think happened, Kirari?" Runa exclaimed, sucking on a lollipop as she and the white-haired girl made their way to class.
"Between Juraku-san and Miharutaki-san?" She jutted her head out towards a group of people avidly whispering and glancing towards the entrance of the corridors, as if expecting the two girls to show up all of a sudden.
Runa nodded vigorously.
"Well, I'd say it was an accident waiting to happen, wouldn't you?" Her voice was perfectly calm, perfectly poised, as if this wasn't the biggest school scandal since... well, probably since Kirari joined the school herself.
"Think about it, Runa- they're two big-scale gamblers who keep butting heads. I'm honestly surprised it didn't happen sooner." Kirari giggled sweetly, and Runa felt herself inclined to agree.
"I suppose... who do you think will win?"
At that, Kirari shot Runa her shark's smile. That knowing, devious smile that never failed to chill Runa to the core.
"Well. That all depends on the gamble, doesn't it?"
When the two arrived, she was already there.
She who? Runa had no clue.
The girl sat at the very back of the room, posture erect, motionless. Statuesque would have been one word to describe her. Creepy would be another.
Platinum-blond hair spilled down all the way to her waist, and for a crazy instance Runa thought it might have been Sachiko- until she turned her head to face them.
Had Runa been of a weaker disposition, she would've screamed.
The mask vaguely looked like something from a horror movie- large, triangular, with slit-like holes for the eyes and mouth. Horrifyingly creepy. And absolutely awesome.
"Cool mask," Runa breathed out, feeling the need to break the silence.
Kirari, on the other hand, clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Ririka. Don't tell me you've been here all morning, please. You know that as a Bami you're expected to arrive fashionably late."
...What.
"Sorry." The voice behind the mask was distorted, detached, robotic. Like it wasn't sorry at all, but the slight hunch of her shoulders and fidgety fingers suggested it was genuine.
"Is this the friend you talked about?"
"Yup!" Kirari beamed, patting Runa's shoulder. "Runa, come say hi to Ririka. Ririka-Runa."
A small chuckle from behind the mask. "Already on first-name basis, are we?"
Kirari pouted slightly. "I make friends easily, what can I say?" Another small smile.
Alright. This was getting a little out of hand. Runa cleared her throat, getting the two girls to glance up at her in unison.
"Ah, um, excuse me, but, like- who the hell are you?" Runa questioned, pointed to the masked girl dubbed as "Ririka".
"Oh, right, sorry. You must be feeling a little left out, hm, Runa?" Kirari poked her shoulder, lips still curved in that half smirk, that reminded Runa more than a little of Sachiko. But the mystical glint in her eye was nothing like the veiled, focused gaze of her friend.
"Ririka?" Kirari gestured towards the girl, who seemed to understand.
In one swift, fluid motion, she unclasped the mask from her face, removing it to reveal...
Twins. Oh my god.
Looking back and forth between Kirari and Momobami-san, for a moment Runa couldn't tell them apart. Bright blue eyes, platinum blonde hair, a tall stature, the same pale, porcelain skin.
But then she blinked, and the illusion was over. Momobami-san's face still hadn't lost it's baby fat, and her cheeks seemed tinged with a healthy pink. Her lips curled in a shy half-smile, her eyes more baby-blue than Kirari's, which were deeper, more intricate. And while her figure was straight, without the mask to secure the illusion she seemed... clumsy, almost.
Like a pale shadow of Kirari, with her stark regalness and blue lips and nails, and straight posture, and that smirk that seemed glued to her face. Kirari carried herself on confidence, while Momobami-san, it seemed, carried herself on Kirari.
"Yup. We're twins. No need to act so surprised. Or did Kirari really never mention her older sister?" That smirk, that paralysing smirk found itself onto Momobami-san's face, and Runa did a double take.
Perhaps I was wrong... maybe they're more alike than I thought.
"Surprise! Anyway, Runa, I was thinking about what you said the other day," Momobami-san clasped the mask back on, listening intently to her sister, who in three graceful steps managed to seat herself onto a desk, legs crossed, Sachiko-style.
If Runa had been more timid and less accustomed to Kirari's eccentricity, she may have been intimidated. Now it took all her effort to not roll her eyes at the theatrics.
"About being President. You know." Kirari dismissively waved a hand, and this time Runa openly rolled her eyes.
"So?" She prompted.
"So, I thought: well, I'm already the leader of a clan-"
"You're a what-now?" Runa yelped, shocked by this new development. Kirari looked thoroughly unimpressed.
"You heard me. Anyway, since I'm the leader of a clan- and no, I do not have time to explain Momobami politics to you- I thought, why not take control of a school as well? Especially one like Hyakkaou. Could be a boost for my popularity or profit or whatever." Kirari looked thoroughly bored by the whole prospect. Momobami-san gave a little snort beside Runa, insinuating that it was, in fact, her idea.
"So we were thinking- it's simple. We gotta duel the current President, staking out the Presidency and self-expulsion. If Kirari wins, and she probably will," Momobami-san cast a knowing look at her sister, "then the presidency will be hers. If she loses- which she presumably won't but whatever, then she has a second chance disguised as me. And Kirari never loses twice." There was no admiration or respect in Momobami-san. Only cold, hard facts.
"True, true," voice light and airy as always, mannerisms fluid and naturally elegant, Kirari was the picture of grace.
"That's, um, cool." Runa forced out. Because it was cool. "So, I get my spot on the student council, yeah?" Because it could work.
"Of course!" Kirari clapped her hands together. "I actually already thought of a Committee you might be interested in heading."
"Nya-ha!" The shorter girl squealed. "You're the best, Kirari! What's it called?"
"The Committee of Absolute Neutrality. You'd be in charge of dealing for large scale gambles and elections, and everything. It's basically your thing: but the best thing about the job is that you don't really have to contribute anything to the council. It's just a title and a spot on the council, with no real work!" Kirari beamed.
"Eeeh? So you think I'm not good enough??" Runa protested, crossing her arms.
"Not at all, Runa!" Kirari was quick to amend. "A spot on the council like that is ultimately just like the Presidency itself! A lot of power wielded with no paperwork on the side!"
"Oh... that sounds super cool, actually! When are you planning to challenge the President?" Runa lowered her voice slightly as more students began to stream in.
"We were thinking that the perfect time for a good gamble was the time when everyone was ultimately distracted." Kirari began, in that singsong lilt of hers.
Momobami-san's voice in comparison was like nails on a chalkboard. "And actually, we couldn't figure out the perfect time until this very morning."
Realisation to Runa was like a pinging lightbulb turning on. "Oh! How devious," she smirked at the twins.
"You plan to take down the prez during Miharutaki-san and Sacchan's gamble,"
Kirari clicked her tongue. "Precisely."
To say Sayaka was nervous was a massive understatement. She felt almost jittery from the pure adrenaline rush that landed her right by one of Midari's gambling dens.
This was stupid. What was she even thinking?
Of pale blue eyes and shining blonde hair and-
Nothing about her decision made remotely any logical sense. To visit Midari and her creepy friends in one of their dens was stupid already. And to ask to gamble of all things was like begging for death.
But still. Watching Momobami-san gamble taught Sayaka that sometimes taking risks was the only way to go forward.
So, with one shaky hand, she rapped out three knocks, trying to steady her shaky breaths. Nothing bad was going to happen to her.
...Right?
The double-doors were flung open by an overtly cheery girl with dark hair and twin tails. Her eyes sparkled with a gleam Sayaka did not appreciate as she ran her eyes over the shorter girl.
"Mm, hey cutie!" Her voice was annoyingly high-pitched, and Sayaka instinctively averted her gaze, a pink flush of embarrassment making its way onto her face.
Big mistake.
The girl was wearing her uniform in a way that very clearly exposed her rather large chest. It wasn't even that Sayaka was perverted- it was literally half out on display. And one quick glance at her miniskirt indicated it was waaaaay shorter than regulation length.
The pink flush of embarrassment was replaced by the scarlet blush of shame.
And there girl picked up on it- of course she did.
"Like what you see?" An obscene giggle, almost enough to make Sayaka bolt. Almost.
Think sharp, blue eyes and platinum-blonde hair and beautifully manicured hands and blue lips and BREATHE, IGARASHI SAYAKA!
"Um! I'm here to see Ikishima-san." She let out a shaky breath. She was fine. She was totally calm.
"Ooh! You must be the nerd she always talks about. Sayaka, right?" The girl still wore that smirk, and Sayaka gulped at the casual and crude use of her first name by a total stranger.
"Igarashi-san, please."
"So formal." She pouted, before turning around and cupping her hands over her mouth. "Midari! It's your friend!"
"Coming, coming!" A yell and some rustling later, Midari came out, looking ruffled as ever, with her collar undone and shirt half-unbuttoned. A Cheshire-cat-style grin found itself on her face as she caught sight of Sayaka.
"Sayaka! You're just in time. My besties and I are playing a fun little game. Would you like to join?" Midari leered at her, and usually this would be Sayaka's time to say no and slowly back away, but not today.
"S-sure," she stuttered, instantly regretting her choice. "What are we playing?"
"Strip poker!" The girl by the door clapped her hands excitedly, before bursting into another fit of giggles.
"What?" Sayaka's eyes widened. "Oh, I think the fuck not!"
"Ah ah ah! No takesy backsies!" Midari waggled her finger, before grabbing Sayaka's arm. "Now, let's play!"
The predicament Naoe had gotten herself into was less than ideal, but she didn't exactly blame herself for being seduced by Miharutaki-san's kind mannerisms and gentle words. The latter had approached her right after issuing the challenge with Juraku, requesting for her to pick the game and deal.
Juraku scoffed at that- no surprises- but Miharutaki-san stood her ground on the choice of dealer, and Juraku, supposedly immovable as a block of steel, had bent to her will.
So Naoe was the dealer. The game she picked was a relatively simple one from childhood, something that matched the strengths of both of them, really. Originally, the idea of choosing such a simple game seemed stupid, but the more convoluted her options became, the more confused Naoe got, and so she decided to stick to simplicity.
Library Prep Room #2 was already half-full by the time Naoe had arrived. Thanks to Juraku and all the gossips at the Traditional Culture Club, the challenge was soon to become an urban legend: a face off of two incredibly powerful players in the academy. And the "stakes" they were betting seemed to rise with every rumour, until the entire student body was convinced that Juraku was betting half her fortune and her entire head of hair, and Miharutaki-san her great-grandmother's dangly, diamond earrings, the existence of which Naoe was still sceptical of.
People swarmed her at all sides as soon as she entered. "What game are they playing?" "Is it true you favour Miharutaki-san?" "Who do you think will win?" "Is it dice or cards?"
But, with an angry glare and an angrier yell of "Move aside!" Naoe managed to part the crowds. Why Miharutaki-san chose this room was a mystery to her: Library Prep Room #2 was one of the dingier gambling dens; not worthy of something on such a large scale as this.
Naoe inhaled deeply, feeling the two dice wedged against her side. She could feel the divider pressing into her back through the backpack she was wearing. People were still circling her, trying to guess what it was she was carrying. Naoe gulped, praying for the moment Miharutaki-san- or even Juraku would be welcome at this point- entered the room.
"Now, now. Leave the poor girl alone." A deep baritone sounded. Naoe looked up from the ground, to be met with a pair of blue eyes. For a split second, she thought it was Miharutaki-san, but at a second glance, the speaker was nothing like her. He was tall, sure, with piercing blue eyes, and a lean figure, a handsome jawline and a crooked nose. Naoe knew his face all too well. All of Miharutaki-san's photos were taken with him, be he in the foreground or background. Photos Naoe had pasted all over her bedroom, and locker. It was a face she had spent months trying to figure out what was so special about it.
The face of the Student Council Treasurer Miboumi Aoi, and his ridiculous red hair.
Instinctively, a scowl appeared on Naoe's face, before she realised he was smiling at her.
"Miboumi-san?" She questioned, beyond confused.
A laugh followed in response, which to anybody else would have seemed natural, but to Naoe's tuned ears- having spent hours with Nishinoutouin lecturing her on proper etiquette- it sounded forced. "Naturally. What kind of fiancé would I be if I didn't support Sakura here?" He said, but the slight clench of his jaw gave away that he didn't truly mean what he said.
Which, if he didn't, would've been wholly unfair, for in the few times Miboumi-san did gamble, Naoe always saw Miharutaki-san was present. In fact, her presence was always the reason she attended the matches in the first place. But this was the first time she'd ever seen Miboumi attend his fiancée's gambles.
Probably because he knew the stakes.
"...Yeah," Naoe chewed her lip slightly, not wanting to continue this conversation at all as Miboumi sidled up to her, stretching his arm just shy of her shoulder. He opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to say something more, but lucking Naoe was spared by the double doors opening and Miharutaki-san entering the room.
Unlike with Naoe, nobody dared to come in her way, fearing to be on the receiving end of one of those sharp glares. In fact, the crowd positively parted, and with four graceful strides, she made her way right over to Naoe.
"Habakiri-san," she gave a nod of acknowledgement to the young girl, completely ignoring her fiancée. And Naoe would be lying if she didn't feel at least a little pleasure in that. Miboumi too seemed a little startled at the development, eyes widening as Miharutaki-san refused to even spare him a second glance. "How are you?"
Call me Naoe please and please ask me to address me by your first name, please please please-
"Fine. A little nervous." She coughed, acutely feeling Miboumi's presence beside them. "But nothing compared to how you must be feeling, I'm sure, Miharutaki-san."
"Hm." She looked a little unfocused, as if thinking deeply about something. "I wonder if Juraku is to show up, or if she took the cowards way out."
"I'm sure she'll show...?" Naoe's response was tentative, unsure if Juraku's absence was a good thing or not.
"Yes. She'll show, Sakura. You know Juraku isn't one to back out of a bet," Miboumi finally spoke up, flashing Miharutaki-san one of his signature smiles. "Especially not one like this."
Sa- Miharutaki-san did a double-take at the sight of her fiancé, as if she only just registered his presence in the room. "Oh! Aoi. You're... here." Her tone was flat, speaking to him. And a little surprised. Like Naoe, she probably wasn't expecting him to show.
"Well. I couldn't miss my amazing fiancée upstaging Juraku, could I now?" This was projected loudly enough for practically the entire room to hear, causing Miharutaki-san to send a sharp glare in Miboumi's direction.
"Sh! Don't say that so loud! I might not win, you know?"
"I don't think you'll lose, Miharutaki-san." Naoe piped up, hating how timid her voice sounded.
"Hm?" Miharutaki-san's brows knitted together. "How can you be so sure, Na- Habakiri-san?"
Please. Just call me Naoe- I've watched you afar so long I probably know you better than your fiancé-
"I- well, I've seen your games, Miharutaki-san. You're a good gambler. And you've never lost before." She sucked in a deep breath. "And I know it probably doesn't mean much, but I believe in you."
Mustering an ounce of fearlessness, she hooked her wrist over her idol's arm, causing surprise to flash over Miharutaki-san's face, but she didn't pull away. Instead, the lightest of blushes tinged her cheeks as she locked eyes with Naoe. Blue on blue. Perfect, curved lips slightly parted, the curve of her jawline accentuated by the dim lighting-
"Ahem." Miboumi's voice jolted the two of them out of their reverie. "I think it's cute and all that you're having a "girls moment", but-"
Thankfully, or not, depending on how you looked at it, in that moment Miboumi was cut off by a chubby boy in the crowd who looked ridiculously overexcited.
"She's coming!" He yelled, prompting an onslaught of responses.
"Ohmigod, really?!? That means the game is about to start!"
"My bet is on Juraku-san. 10 million!"
"Raise to 30 million and you got yourself a deal! Miharutaki-san's got this one in the bag."
"Bull-shit."
"So you fold?"
The cries all overlapped with each other until the double doors were pushed open, and everybody fell silent. They fell open to reveal...
Nothing. Just the corridor in plain sight. And then-
"BOO!" Juraku popped out from the side, giving Naoe a jolt. Miboumi let out a piglike squeal, but Miharutaki-san stayed unmoving, simply pursing her lips in displeasure.
"Haha, did I give you all a good scare? How's that for a dramatic entrance, Sakura?" It was also perhaps worth noting that Juraku had undergone a costume change- having changed into a much shorter miniskirt coupled with a leather jacket- as well as fishnet stockings pulled up to her thighs."Sakura? You there, or did I get dressed up for nothing?"
"I'm here." The answer was curt, and the way Miharutaki-san's eyes flitted over Juraku in obvious disdain all but implied that she didn't care for pleasantries.
Juraku obviously didn't get the hint. One flick of her hand had parted the crowd for her, and as she made her way to Miharutaki-san, Naoe could've sworn there was more sway in her hips.
She swallowed, suddenly needing a glass of water from being in close proximity to two very hot girls (one admittedly being a massive bitch but still)
"Hey, sugar mommy, I see you've got your harem with you," Juraku drawled, eyes flicking over to Miboumi and Naoe.
"What's this? Could this be the mighty queen Juraku... stalling?" Miharutaki-san's voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Ooh, burn!" A girl with a blue bob-cut yelled.
"Hm, I see you're not in the mood for foreplay today," With sharp, predatory movements- not unlike a hyena- she circled Miharutaki-san, who, despite her knuckles going white from how tightly her fists were clenched, didn't budge. One hand rested on Naoe's idols' shoulder, before she slapped it away.
"You're a dick tease, Juraku. Get off me, and sit down at the table so we can get to it." Pushing past the other girl and dragging Naoe by the arm in a grip that should've hurt had Naoe not been mooning over the fact that Miharutaki Sakura had just touched her and heavens was this girl strong.
"I believe the correct term would be pussy tease in this case. Unless you're hiding something else down there, Sakura?" The comment was received with a few whistles and titters from the crowd of onlookers, but Juraku herself complied with the request, seating herself opposite Miharutaki-san, who was glaring daggers- no, full fucking swords at this point- at Juraku.
"My anatomy is none of your business, and I implore of you and your self-respect for you to stay professional, for your sake if not for mine." Miharutaki-san forced out, features stony as ever.
"Well, I-"
"Ahem!" Naoe cleared her throat, drawing attention to herself. "Juraku, compose yourself. Allow me to explain the rules of the gamble, play, and then feel free to bicker." Her own confidence surprised her. Perhaps it was the adrenaline rush that came with being around second years.
"Bold little pipsqueak." Juraku smirked haughtily. "Where's your respect for your elders?"
"Probably where you left yours." Naoe retorted. "Miharutaki Sakura was born on the 16th January 2005, and you, Juraku Sachiko, were born on the 24th March. So, as the proverb goes: 'locate the beam in your eye before picking at the splinter in your neighbours'"
Juraku for a split second looked stunned, but was quick to recover. "Whatever you say, Naoe. So. What's this game we're playing?"
Right.
Taking a controlled breath, Naoe reached into her skirt pocket, pulling out two dice.
"I tried my best to pick a game that matched the extent of both of your gambling abilities." She said, tone even. Juraku narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"Yeah, right. Everybody knows that dice are Sakura's specialty." Not even the slightest flinch from Miharutaki-san at the blatantly insulting use of her first name.
Colour me impressed...
"And mind games are yours." Naoe countered, pulling out the divider. "The game we will be playing is called "Limit Dice". Two players will roll their corresponding die at the same time. If they roll any number from one to five, they get one point. However, as soon as they roll a six, their score is permanently set to zero. After each roll, a player can say "stop" if they wish. If player one says "stop" and player two has already rolled a six, the point will go to player one. If, however, player two hasn't rolled a six, then the point is won by player two."
Naoe took a deep breath. "Any questions?"
The two of them simultaneously shook their heads as Naoe put the binder between them. "Pick your poison," she said, holding out the dice. One male, one female. Miharutaki-san reached for the female, eyes narrowing slightly as she no doubt recognised the distinction between the two. Juraku's face was expressionless, with just that tiny, veiled glimmer of viciousness.
Her poker face.
Naoe gulped as she picked up the male die.
"You may begin."
Notes: I'm seriously having way too much fun with this. Imagining Aoi from Naoe's POV is damn satisfying, and I feel like I outdid myself by giving Sayaka her own mini-harem.
.
I imagine that when Ririka transferred into the school, she registered herself under a bunch of false names so that in every class they would call out a different name. Plus that she kept a bunch of wigs and contacts in her bag whenever teachers disallowed the mask (until she became VP, obviously).
.
Sakura x Sachiko "banter" is always so fun to write fr.
.
Next up: Kirari and Ririka challenge the President in which Kirari wagers self-expulsion, while the President wagers her Presidency. Sakura and Sachiko face off (I wonder who you think will win). Sayaka does her best not to lose her dignity in a sex dungeon.