The first rays of sunlight streamed through the narrow windows of Hyakkaou Private Academy, casting long shadows across the room. Steven woke with a start, the events of the previous day flooding back to him with a sickening lurch. His heart sank as he remembered Runa's twisted smile, the staggering debt, and her chilling words.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering dread. It was just a bad dream. It had to be. But when he looked down at the clothes he had fallen asleep in, still wrinkled and stained with sweat, he knew it was all too real. He was in trouble—more trouble than he had ever imagined.
His stomach twisted with anxiety as he dressed in his uniform, the weight of the 600 billion yen debt pressing down on him. He had no idea how he was going to face the day, but he knew he had no choice. As he left his dorm room, the hallway seemed quieter than usual, the students whispering among themselves as he passed.
When Steven arrived at his classroom, his breath caught in his throat. His desk was covered in graffiti, bright red letters scrawled across the surface in a mocking, childish script: "MITTENS."
Steven froze, staring at the word. His heart pounded in his chest, a wave of humiliation washing over him. He had seen the other house pets—students who had lost everything and were forced into servitude. The boys were all called "Fido," a cruel nickname that marked them as property. But "Mittens"? That was what they called the girls.
He felt the eyes of his classmates on him, their stares burning into his back. Whispers spread like wildfire, barely concealed laughter echoing in his ears. Steven clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. This couldn't be happening. Not to him.
But there was no denying it. The word "Mittens" was everywhere—on his desk, his chair, even scrawled on the inside of his locker. Someone had taken the time to make sure he couldn't escape it. The message was clear: he wasn't just any house pet. He was something different, something worse.
The classroom door creaked open, and Runa Yomozuki stepped in, her ever-present grin widening as she saw Steven standing there, frozen in shock. "Oh, good morning, Mittens," she said sweetly, her voice dripping with mockery. "How are we feeling today? Did you sleep well?"
Steven's stomach churned, anger and shame battling for control inside him. He wanted to shout, to demand answers, but all he could do was stand there, feeling the crushing weight of his new reality.
Runa walked up to him, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You know," she whispered, leaning in close so only he could hear, "I think Mittens suits you. After all, you're not just any house pet. You're special. And I can't wait to see how you'll pay off that little debt of yours."
Steven's blood ran cold. This was all her doing—her twisted way of breaking him down, piece by piece. He was trapped, with no way out, and Runa held all the power.
As she walked away, Runa's laughter filled the room, echoing in Steven's ears. His classmates began to snicker, the sound growing louder until it felt like the walls were closing in on him. He lowered his head, trying to block it all out, but the word "Mittens" was seared into his mind, a constant reminder of how far he had fallen.
Steven slowly made his way to his defaced desk, feeling like every step took him deeper into a nightmare he couldn't escape. He sat down, his hands trembling as he traced the red letters on the desk. This was his life now—no longer the confident, ambitious student from America, but a house pet, a plaything for Runa and the rest of the Student Council.
And as much as he wanted to fight back, to reclaim his dignity, he knew deep down that he was at their mercy. The debt was too high, the power too skewed. All he could do was survive, one day at a time, and hope that somehow, he would find a way out.
But with each passing moment, as the whispers and laughter grew louder, Steven realized that escaping this nightmare was going to be far harder than he had ever imagined.
The day dragged on, each moment in class a relentless reminder of Steven's new reality. Every glance, every whisper, every mocking laugh was like a knife twisting in his gut. "Mittens"—the name haunted him, and with it, the crushing weight of his 600 billion yen debt. He couldn't stand it. He had to do something, anything, to claw back some semblance of control.
By the time lunch break arrived, Steven's mind was made up. He couldn't just sit back and accept this. He needed to prove that he wasn't broken, that he still had fight left in him. The only way to do that was through the one thing this school valued above all else—gambling.
But it couldn't be just any gamble. He needed to make a statement, to challenge someone who would show the rest of the school that "Mittens" wasn't a pushover. And there was one name that came to mind: Midari Ikishima.
Midari, the president of the Beautification Council, was notorious even among the Student Council. Her games were as wild and unpredictable as she was, and rumors of her sadistic tendencies were whispered in every corner of the academy. But if Steven could win against her, he'd send a message—he was still a force to be reckoned with.
Steven steeled himself as he made his way to the Beautification Council's room. His heart pounded in his chest, each step heavy with the weight of his decision. He knew this was risky, that Midari was dangerous, but the thought of doing nothing was unbearable. He needed to fight back, and this was his chance.
When he reached the door, Steven took a deep breath and pushed it open. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Midari was there, lounging casually in a chair with a manic grin on her face. Her eyepatch and disheveled hair only added to her wild, unhinged appearance.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mittens," Midari cackled, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and deranged excitement. "What brings you to my little corner of hell? Did you come to play?"
Steven hesitated for only a moment before nodding, trying to keep his voice steady. "I want to challenge you to a game, Midari," he said, forcing confidence into his words. "I'm not going to let this debt define me. I need to prove myself."
Midari's grin widened, her one good eye gleaming with sadistic delight. "Oh, you want to prove yourself, do you? How exciting!" she exclaimed, almost giddy with anticipation. "But you should know, I don't play for chump change. If you want to gamble with me, you'd better be ready to put something on the line."
Steven swallowed hard, the stakes becoming all too real. "I know," he said, his voice firm. "I'm willing to bet… my future here. If I lose, I'll… I'll do whatever you want. But if I win, I want you to help me get out of this debt."
Midari's laugh was sharp, echoing off the walls of the room. "Your future, huh? That's a pretty big bet for someone in your position. But I like it!" She stood up, leaning forward with a wild look in her eye. "You've got guts, Mittens. And that's exactly what I like to see. Let's make this interesting."
She sauntered over to a cabinet and pulled out a deck of cards, shuffling them with practiced ease. "We'll play a simple game," Midari said, her voice dripping with excitement. "High card draw. We each draw a card, and whoever has the highest card wins. Simple, right? But here's the catch—you have to draw with your eyes closed. No peeking, no hesitating. Just pure chance."
Steven's heart pounded in his chest. He knew this was dangerous, that Midari was unpredictable and likely had some twisted plan in mind, but he was committed now. He couldn't back down.
"Fine," Steven said, his voice steady. "Let's do it."
Midari grinned, her excitement palpable. She dealt the cards, placing one in front of each of them. "Close your eyes, Mittens," she purred. "And draw your card."
Steven took a deep breath, his pulse racing as he closed his eyes. His hand hovered over the card, his mind racing with doubt. This was it—his chance to prove himself, or to fall even deeper into the abyss. With a determined exhale, he reached down and grabbed the card, feeling its cool surface in his hand.
"On the count of three," Midari's voice sang out, her tone gleeful. "One… two… three!"
Steven opened his eyes and flipped his card over. His breath caught in his throat—it was a king. A strong card, one that could very well win him the game. He looked up at Midari, hope flickering in his chest.
But Midari's expression only grew more ecstatic as she slowly turned over her own card. It was an ace of spades.
Steven's heart sank like a stone. The ace trumped his king, leaving him utterly defeated. Midari let out a loud, deranged laugh, her excitement bordering on hysteria. "Oh, Mittens, you really thought you had a chance, didn't you? This is why I love gambling! The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat… it's all so delicious!"
Steven's hands trembled as he stared at the cards, the reality of his situation crashing down on him. He had lost again, and now he was even deeper in debt, even more entangled in the twisted games of the Student Council. His last hope had been dashed in an instant.
Midari sauntered over to him, her smile widening as she leaned in close, her breath hot against his ear. "You remember our bet, don't you, Mittens?" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "You said you'd do whatever I wanted if you lost. And I've got just the thing in mind…"
Steven felt a shiver run down his spine as Midari stepped back, her grin wide and wild. He was trapped, more completely than ever before, and now at the mercy of someone who took pleasure in pushing others to their limits. His future, once so full of promise, was now a dark and twisted path, with no clear way out.
As Midari's laughter echoed around the room, Steven realized just how far he had fallen. And there was no telling how much further he had to go before he hit rock bottom.
The following morning, the student counsel room was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous day. Steven sat in a plush chair in the Student Council's conference room, the weight of his losses pressing heavily on him. His hands were clasped tightly together, his knuckles white with the strain. The once-powerful student had been reduced to a pawn, and the sense of impending doom was almost palpable.
Runa Yomozuki entered the room, her expression serene and composed. Behind her, a couple of other council members followed, including Midari Ikishima, who had a look of satisfaction on her face. They were carrying folders and documents, their demeanor businesslike and detached.
"Good morning, Mittens," Runa said with a smile, her voice cold and calculating. "I trust you've had time to reflect on your recent… setbacks."
Steven didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the floor, his mind racing with anxiety and fear. He had a sinking feeling about what was coming, and he wasn't wrong.
Runa gestured to a large desk at the center of the room, where the other council members began laying out documents and folders. "Today, we're going to finalize your 'life plan.'" She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "You see, with the debt you owe, we control not just your immediate future, but every aspect of your life."
Steven's heart pounded in his chest. "Life plan?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you mean?"
Midari, leaning casually against the desk, chuckled darkly. "Oh, it's quite simple," she said, her tone dripping with malice. "We're going to decide everything for you. Where you live, what you do, and even who you marry."
Steven's eyes widened in shock. "Who I marry? You can't be serious."
Runa's smile widened. "Oh, but we are," she said. "You see, Mittens, you're in no position to make decisions for yourself. You're deeply in debt, and as such, we control every aspect of your life. And yes, that includes arranging a marriage."
One of the council members, a tall boy with a stern expression, stepped forward, holding up a folder with an elaborate seal. "We've been in contact with several influential families," he said. "And we've found a suitable match for you—an influential woman from the Osaka Prefecture. Her name is Lady Hiroko Takeda. She's powerful, wealthy, and known for her dominance in both business and personal affairs."
Steven's blood ran cold at the mention of Lady Hiroko Takeda. He had heard of her—an enigmatic and feared figure in the world of high society. The idea of being married to someone of her caliber was terrifying, a nightmare come to life.
"Lady Takeda has agreed to this arrangement," Runa continued, her voice smooth and indifferent. "She's very excited about the prospect of marrying someone in your position. It will further cement her influence and demonstrate her control. And, of course, it will ensure you remain under our thumb."
Steven felt a wave of despair wash over him. His entire life, every aspect of his existence, was being dictated by the whims of the Student Council. He was a puppet on strings, and now even his personal life was being controlled.
"You'll have to undergo certain preparations," Runa said, glancing at the documents on the desk. "A series of interviews, evaluations, and, of course, a formal introduction. You'll be expected to comply fully with Lady Takeda's demands and maintain a suitable image."
Steven's voice was trembling, a mix of anger and helplessness. "And if I refuse?"
Runa's smile didn't falter. "Refuse? Oh, Mittens, you don't really have a choice. If you refuse, the debt will only continue to grow, and the consequences will be far more severe. You're already deeply in arrears, and we wouldn't want to see you fall into further hardship."
Steven slumped in his chair, the reality of his situation crashing down on him. The thought of being married to someone like Lady Hiroko Takeda was unbearable. He had once been a confident, ambitious student, but now he was reduced to a mere pawn, his future dictated by others.
Runa leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But don't worry, Mittens. You'll have plenty of time to adjust. We'll make sure you're well-prepared for your new life. And remember, you're always welcome to come to us with any questions or concerns. After all, we're here to help… in our own way."
As Runa and the council members left the room, Steven was left alone, the documents and folders a grim reminder of his new reality. The future was dark and uncertain, controlled by forces far beyond his reach. All he could do was brace himself for the challenges ahead and hope that somehow, he could find a way to escape this twisted fate.
The room was silent, save for the faint rustle of paper as Steven picked up one of the documents. His eyes scanned the details of his "life plan," his heart heavy with dread. This was his new reality—a life controlled by the Student Council, with every decision made for him, including who he would be forced to marry. And as he looked at the name on the document, he knew that the nightmare was only just beginning.