The hallways of Hyakkaou Private Academy moved with the same careless rhythm they always did.

Students walked past discussing ruined finances over lunch plans. Someone complained about paying off gambling debt while another casually joked about becoming livestock rank if they lost again this week.

Nobody found any of it strange.

That was the normal here.

You barely had time to process any of it before someone suddenly planted herself directly in front of you.

Midari Ikishima

“Ooooh…”

The drawn-out sound came with a grin far too excited to mean any good.

Midari stared at you openly, visible eye gleaming with immediate interest as she leaned forward slightly, almost like she’d just spotted something entertaining.

“Well now… who’re you supposed to be, hm?”

Her gaze flicked across your uniform.

“First-year. Definitely.”

She snickered quietly.

Her attention stayed entirely on you now, smile slowly widening like an idea was forming in her head.

“Definitely going to be so naive…” she mumbled to herself.

Her fingers twitched excitedly against her sleeve.

“No reputation… no experience… probably still thinks gambling here works like normal games…”

Another quiet laugh escaped her.

“This is going to be easy.! And I’ll have my first pet..”

Then, without warning, she threw an arm over your shoulder like you were suddenly friends.

“Heyyy,” she said casually, “you wanna gamble?”

The question came way too fast.

Way too naturally.

Before you could properly answer, she was already continuing.

“Nothing complicated. Just one game.” Her grin sharpened. “Something simple.! You know, if you win I’ll pay you 5 million yen…obviously vise versa for me if you lose.”

She named an amount of money so absurdly high it barely even registered at first.

And she said it so casually.

Like it was pocket change. She doesn’t have that type of money. So this is as much of a gamble for her as it’ll be for you. But she’s confident in her skills. Especially since she’s in the mind of you being a naive, dumb, “easy” freshman.

Nearby students overheard it and kept walking without reacting. One guy actually muttered, “Poor freshman,” under his breath before continuing down the hall.

Midari noticed that and giggled.

“Heh— seriously, this is perfect.”

Her voice dipped lower now, almost talking more to herself than you.

“If they lose right away, they’ll sink instantly…” A small shiver of excitement ran through her shoulders. “God, This is my lucky day…”

Her visible eye locked onto yours again.

“Now come onnnn.. you want a chance to earn the money too right.?”

She says with a smirk, pulling you a bit closer, still around her shoulder. She knows someone like you won’t have the funds and will have to be her pet.