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A gamble was ongoing between two students at Hyakkaou, a location which catered to the minds of the future generations of Japan.
Wealth, power, hierarchy.
These were the facets which were strengthened during a student's time at this prestigious academy and to have the opportunity to be enrolled here would have been considered an honour for most.
Most, but not all.
Sado Mikura fell into the latter category.
She was a girl bursting to the seams with unadulterated contempt and that emotion was being inflicted onto her opponent in the most merciless of ways.
Mikura grinned as she looked at her hand, displaying her arrogance because there was no need to retain a poker face, not when she was going to win regardless and her opponent was privy of this.
Her fingers were gripping the cards with a frightening ferocity as her eyes went from Mikura, and then to her own hand.
There was no escape; a house pet tag awaited her.
Mikura grew bored, "Get this over with already. I have better ways to spend my lunch".
Her opponent frowned at her, baring her teeth, "Shut it, Sado!".
"Why are you getting pissed off at me?" the redhead scoffed, "You were stupid enough to gamble with me. Were you that desperate to become a house pet?".
The crowd of their classmates jeered Mikura's opponent, taunting and deriding her.
Mikura's delight reared again as she saw the girl wither in her seat and was so close to crying which was how Mikura preferred to destroy them.
Desperately begging her on their knees, tears streaming from their eyes and the pitiful sound of their voices asking her to spare them from their cruel fate.
Unfortunately for them, Mikura wasn't a merciless girl.
She didn't want to attend this forsaken academy to begin with.
Mikura was born into a loveless family with absent parents, venomous when they were around and detached staff as her only source of human interaction.
What was wealth when the core aspects that humans needed in order to grow and develop were stripped from you?
There was no guidance and care, just the feeling of a drafty mansion and empty looks from those in her world.
All of it had accumulated into a strong sense of detestation because of her upbringing and after being forcibly sent to Hyakkaou by her parents, this anger was fully released.
She knew it was to wash their hands off of her, abscond from their duties as parents and whether Mikura survived the three years here, they did not care.
So Hyakkaou became Mikura's outlet and the girl did not restrain herself.
She challenged others around the academy, turning almost half of her own class into house pets and the girl she was gambling against would become the latest addition.
Mikura leaned forward and sneered, "Don't worry, I'll do you a favour and make you the pet you want to become".
"No! I don't want to be a house pet! Please..".
There it was, a euphonious melody to Mikura's ears.
Her feral grin increased, the red of her hair a contrast to the dark blue of her eyes, devoid of emotion on normal occasions but rife with something more disturbing when she was about to bring an opponent down.
"I don't fucking care. You should have thought about that before you chose to gamble with me" she said with disinterest, "Now, show your hand and join the rest of the pets in this academy, mittens" she laughed.
Mikura's destructive behaviour had caused ripples across the establishment which was quite a feat for a first year and the only other to have done so had been Kirari.
The sordid system was being fully utilised as intended but the string of incidents alarmed the Student Council, especially when Mikura started targeting the older students and winning against them.
So unbeknownst to Mikura, her reign of fear was about to end.
The Student Council had no choice but to reach out to the Beautification Committee and their president to solve this problem.
For Mikura's opponent, there was no other way to stall her fate.
Her breathing was rapid, eyes expanded in terror as she placed her cards down, a weak hand compared to what Mikura had.
The classmates cheered as Mikura revealed her hand, elegantly placing them onto the table, if only to mock the shaky way her opponent had done.
"Oh, look at that.." Mikura goaded, "I won. I mean, not that it was a surprise" she laughed as her opponent's face was lowered into her palms, "I've gambled with better than you. How are you not already a house pet?".
A whimper of "Stop" came from behind the girl's hands and it only fuelled the redhead.
Mikura once again mocked her defeated opponent who would become a new house pet.
"Get used to it. You know how everyone in this fucked up academy is. Not a single person gives a damn about forgiveness. It doesn't exist".
Due to the loud decibels of the excited classmates, nobody had heard the door open.
But all it took was one person to turn and notice the new arrival to set off a domino effect of silence taking over. Their eyes followed the girl and they parted to make a path for her, all of them whispering as to what she was doing here. Soon, the entire classroom had met a quietude and this caught Mikura's attention when she met eyes with a girl she hadn't seen before.
"Sado Mikura?".
The textured tone of the girl's commanding yet controlled voice caught Mikura's intrigue enough to spare her a glance.
As did the way those steely blue eyes seemed to shimmer under the lights of classrooms
"Yeah, who's asking?" she replied and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Miharutaki Sakura. President of the Beautification Committee".
Well, that explained why everyone had grown silent and stepped back but Mikura wasn't deterred.
"What do you want? I'm in the middle of something here".
Sakura placed a hand on the shoulder of Mikura's opponent, the girl looking up at her with watery eyes. It tugged at Sakura's patience, that this is what the academy had been reduced to making their students feel.
And if she couldn't hinder the system yet, she could help at least another student from a pernicious fate.
Sakura's gaze turned to Mikura, noticing how the redhead was leaning back on her chair and smirking.
There wasn't a tincture of remorse in the endless blue eyes.
"I'd like to gamble with you".
Mikura looked Sakura up and down, that smirk increasing.
Sakura was certainly an improvement in terms of opponents; the girl a smorgasbord of appealing features that attracted Mikura to her.
The daunting height alone had Mikura curious as she took in the winding dark blue hair which appeared soft to the touch. There was something about the way her red blazer seemed to fit her in all the right ways which had Mikura's mind wandering what those curves and toned areas would feel like under her fingertips. She seemed to carry herself with reserve and dignity, attributes which were notable in her eyes and the way those pink glossed lips were set.
Mikura repeated the girl's name in her head, "Miharutaki Sakura".
She liked the sound of it, wouldn't mind calling it out to get Sakura's attention.
It gave Mikura an idea.
"Fine, but I don't want to play for money. I have enough of that".
Sakura was stunned by the audacity of this girl but she went along with it.
Her reputation preceded her.
"What do you propose?".
"Simple. If I win, you will become my personal house pet. If I lose.." she mulled over her thoughts whilst looking at her defeated opponent, "I will relieve the debt she owes me since you seem taken by her" Mikura grinned.
The suggested caught the girl off guard as her eyes went up to Sakura, wondering if she would be the one to offer her a lifeline.
But the stakes of the gamble were already uneven.
To become someone's personal house pet was another hell of its own.
To become the personal house pet of Mikura was something else in its entirety because of how remorseless and callous she was.
Sado Mikura was nothing short of being a sadist.
So the opponent wasn't expecting Sakura to yield to the bet and accepted her doom, her head lowering again.
"Very well, Sado. I accept the bet".
A gasp went through the class, followed by mutters at Sakura's declaration.
"Y-you do?" Mikura's opponent trembled, "Why?".
Sakura's expression softened as she motioned for the girl to step aside, "I have my reasons".
It was all Sakura said and the girl stood up, bowing quickly to Sakura for even considering this let alone actually going as far as to accept the gamble.
"Thank you, Miharutaki-san".
Sakura took a seat and Mikura scowled at her.
What was with this girl?
Mikura despised how she seemed to ooze of righteousness and justice.
Two things that didn't exist in this world.
She would personally show Sakura this.
Mikura was full of confidence, "Huh, I don't know if you're brave or stupid but I guess we will find out which when I beat you and make you my personal house pet" she grinned, "Please look forward to it because I have so much planned for you" she teased.
Sakura's countenance remained unflappable as a new gamble commenced, one which would teach Mikura the concept of hubris before the fall.
And Mikura's fall from her thorny throne would be devastating.
Every round was won by Sakura and the final result was a complete and utter defeat for Mikura.
Sakura placed her last hand down, signifying said victory.
"Full house".
Mikura couldn't believe what was happening and nor could her classmates as the shocked chatter reached a new high but the girl couldn't hear any of it, only the sound of Sakura's voice repeating in her head.
This couldn't be right.
Nobody had beaten her.
Mikura was never wrong in her assessment of her opponents but throughout their gamble, she couldn't deduce anything from Sakura.
Reading her was next to impossible so Mikura could only assume one thing.
She stood up abruptly as her chair scraped backwards whilst she slammed her hands onto the table.
"You're cheating!" Mikura yelled, "That's the only way you could have won!".
Sakura didn't flinch under the desperate stare as she sighed, "I can assure you that I did not cheat. Even if I was to, there are no rules against it" she said, "Your underestimating of me is what led to your loss, Sado".
"Cut the high and mighty bullshit!".
"That's enough" Sakura said sternly, "We gambled, you lost. At least have the dignity to accept it gracefully".
Then again, from what Sakura had seen and heard, Mikura wasn't a graceful winner either.
Mikura's fists were clenched on the desk, her eyes going to her opponent who was hiding a smile behind her hand.
She felt humiliated and wouldn't let Sakura get away with this but Sakura's point stood; she was the one who lost.
Sakura observed the redhead, the rage in those eyes and all of it aimed at her.
She wondered what the catalyst was to it.
When Sakura stood up, Mikura assumed that Sakura would relentlessly mock her but the other girl said nothing, her attention turning to her opponent.
"You're free to leave" she smiled.
Tears were in the girl's eyes as she bowed again, lower this time, "I can't express my gratitude enough, Miharutaki-san! Thank you so much..I.." she sniffled, "I will never forget what you have done for me".
The girl then ran back to her friends, escaping the clutches of a miserable life thanks to her saviour.
Mikura was livid as Sakura turned to her and tucked her own chair back in place.
She kept expecting to be denigrated and torn down by the older girl, the very thing she did to her opponents.
But the spiel of provocation and condescension never passed Sakura's lips.
Instead, she left Mikura with a simple statement, to not thrown caution to the wind.
"I would refrain from going out of your way to turn your classmates into house pets. It won't end well for you. Take care, Sado".
With nothing more to add, Sakura headed to the door to leave, all the while feeling eyes burrowing into her back.
Her intuition told her that this would not be her last encounter with Mikura.
As for Mikura, she slumped back onto her chair whilst the events of what had transpired played in her head, refusing to acknowledge she had been defeated by this girl.
Sakura's face wouldn't leave Mikura's mind.
Her eyes glanced out to the swaying cherry blossom trees, the pink petals swirling along with the calm zephyr.
Spring had arrived and with it, Mikura's world was to become more turbulent than it ever had been.
***
A week had passed by since the gamble, the academy ablaze as the news travelled fast.
In the Kendo Department, Sakura was duelling with another club member.
However, all the while she could feel crimson eyes on her, coming from the girl seated on the chairs to the side but she wouldn't let that distract her.
As a Miharutaki, Kendo had been a required course for Sakura, but her opponent was also unbelievably strong. Unlike Sakura who depended on her own strength and speed, her rival was more skilled at predicting, always reading Sakura's intentions so precisely before reacting properly to attack or defend.
Their competition continued for a moment longer, and finally ended by Sakura's narrow victory.
Her rival bowed lightly as Sakura did the same, receiving the results peacefully and placed away her own bamboo sword. She then excused herself, more so when a gentle clap came from their spectator and left Sakura with her.
"How remarkable, Sakura. Your movements were too fast and strong to deal with. Even if your opponent could read you successfully, she could not attack you."
"Her predicting skills are also respectable, Juraku." Sakura replied dryly, "Why are you here? Kendo isn't something you have the slightest bit of interest in."
"Well, I did have a reason for being here" the girl grinned, walking up to Sakura, "You know, I've heard something so interesting lately. She is the talk of the academy, in fact."
"Who ?"
"Sado Mikura."
The name mentioned by Sachiko made Sakura freeze for a second while Sachiko smiled and continued.
"You had a gamble with her, taking a high risk of losing everything, no? I'm a little curious of your decisions. If you wanted to stop her, why didn't you ask for a change of the bet, like forbidding her from gambling with others anymore if she lost? Now, although defeated by you, she could still provoke other students. It seems as if nothing has changed despite your win, as admirable as it may have been."
"I have no obligation to explain anything to you, Juraku. Don't forget what you did when Momobami decided to reform the academy and implement this deplorable system." Sakura frowned, her grip on her bamboo sword tightening.
"Well, are you still angry with me for supporting Kirari? How heart-breaking. Do you really think Kirari is the source of this evil? As far as we have seen, she is polite to house pets. In actuality, those responsible for bullying the house pets are ordinary students."
"Of course she would be polite. The harassment of the house pets is being done by others so the only thing she needs to do is sit down and enjoy the carnage. That is the essence of evil, she planted the seed which sowed said evil."
"Come now, has Kirari forced anyone to do those things? She hasn't spurred this treatment, and you know it. All she stated was that bullying those who are weak at gambling will not be punished, and then, people released their true intents."
The nonchalance of Sachiko to say that made Sakura's skin crawl, to even advocate for any sort of bullying was heinous.
This was a conversation she was tired of because the outcome would change nothing in regards to how they felt about the system.
"Stop here. We will never reach an agreement on it. Your continuous defence of Kirari's actions disgusts me. If you don't have anything else to say, take your things and get out."
"Hm, why so irate by this? Was it not you who started this topic?" Sachiko grinned, thrilled to rile the other girl up, "My reason for being here was just to talk to you about Mikura. She is a really interesting girl, isn't she? Did you know that when she entered our school, all the money she had to her name was just a meagre ¥200,000?"
"What?"
"Too insignificant for a Sado, yes? However, the first thing she did after coming here was join a gamble with a bet of ¥1 million yen."
Sakura's eyes widened in shock, unable to comprehend what mood Mikura would have had to be in to participate in such an outlandish bet.
She would have become a house pet on her first day if she had lost.
"Talented, rebellious, but harbouring so much self-destructiveness...I must say, she has my attention. She would be quite the weapon, wouldn't she?"
The tone Sachiko said that in created a gelid sensation to slither up Sakura's spine.
As an unreadable individual with incomprehensible power, Sachiko always brought Sakura a feeling of danger.
"What do you want?"
"I don’t know, most of the students here are dull and so mundane. My dear Sakura, you and Mikura are the most interesting ones I've ever seen. Well, other than Kirari." Sachiko smirked, "I'm so curious about what kind of relationship you would develop with Mikura. And if you are not interested in her..I would be all too pleased to take her under my wing. Mikura is also attractive to me in many ways."
Sakura's jaw tightened at the insinuation.
As the President of the Public Morals Committee, Sachiko had a supreme power to ordinary students.
Considering how chaotic her nature was, Sakura couldn't predict what Mikura would go through if Sachiko sought her out and put her hands on her.
"I look forward to seeing how this plays out for you, Sakura." she chuckled and turned on her heels, "You have the fate of that girl in your hands now and I do look forward to seeing how you will shape it. Because if you don't, I will."
Sakura watched Sachiko leave, keeping quiet while she sank herself into the thoughts about the redhead.
The one who always glared at her with such a ferocious stare.
Mikura's fate.
It was for grabs now and Sakura refused to let Sachiko or anyone else taint what was left of it.
***
After their gamble, Sakura had been the third person Mikura despised the most, only behind her parents.
When they crossed paths in the hallway, or faced each other in any den, Mikura would show her rude attitude and deprecation towards the older girl.
To make the redhead even more perplexed, Sakura responded to her provocation in a dismissive way, giving her a nod as a signal which made Mikura recall Sakura's words again and again.
I would refrain from going out of your way to turn your classmates into house pets. It won't end well for you. Take care, Sado.
How dare she say it like that, like held the higher ground.
What did she think this academy was composed up of?
This was Hyakkaou; an establishment full of loathsome jerks, intrepid fools, ostentatious snobs and undignified cowards.
Being kind meant nothing and would lead to you being ostracized and despised by others.
Once you showed your weaknesses, all those around you would attack you in a group, tearing you into pieces.
Which is what Mikura was going through after Sakura had broken her unbeatable streak and she had been pulled into a problematic status.
The fear she once caused to others had been kept in their hearts while the gossip of her defeat was spread everywhere and they thrived off of it.
People refused to gamble with Mikura, but would endlessly chastise her about her gamble with Sakura, sneering at how complacent she was at the beginning and how pathetic she was by the end.
Some deliberately distorted the truth to make her appear more comical and pitiable.
Being in such a situation and unable to do anything about it, Mikura had been seething quietly for weeks on end.
When those around her continued to spread rumours about her once again, exaggerating the details like how she wept when she lost to Sakura, her anger reached its peak.
Such was the discussion in her classroom, coming from a group of students behind her.
"I heard she was begging Miharutaki for a rematch!" one boy laughed.
"That's nothing." another girl said, "I heard she got down on her knees and was crying! Talk about having no shame!"
"Sado has no shame. Even her family pretend she's dead."
Without a word, Mikura took her book and stood up, straining every nerve to throw it at the boy whom had uttered the scathing words. The spine of the book hit his forehead which caused him to bleed, his chair toppling backwards when he stood up.
"You fucking psycho!" he yelled.
The boy's friend stood up and barked out in his defence, storming his way to the redhead and due to his aggressive movements, ended up knocking down another girl's desk. The girl shouted at the boy as her friends pulled her away to protect her while the other classmates were vexed by the sudden chaotic environment.
More and more students became involved in the disarray and eventually, the situation transformed into an all out fracas.
Without any required negotiations, everyone targeted Mikura.
They loathed her arrogance, detested her luck and were afraid of her strength so they unconsciously joined the team trying to destroy her.
Mikura stood no chance as she was grabbed by two girls who tried to restrain her while countless of fists connected with her abdomen and face.
Her legs and arms were bruised profusely while her hair was violently tugged when she was dragged to the ground. All she could do while she registered her bearings was curl up on her side to protect herself from the ruthless kicks being delivered to her torso and back. The sneers and mockery reached a crescendo while the stomach churning sounds were drilled into her ears and body.
Hatred and fear, both of these feelings from Mikura's classmates were cumulative of the attack on Mikura, causing insufferable pain to the redhead.
But when her fight or flight instincts kicked in, Mikura chose to fight despite being surrounded.
She made every effort to lash out at anyone next to her, clamping her nails into their flesh, biting when necessary, kicking their shins and punching them when she managed to get up again.
But her exhaustion and battered state didn't let her adrenaline remain in control and she was slammed back down onto the floor, her spine digging into the edge of a table before she landed.
Mikura didn't know how long the onslaught went on for but it finally ended when a familiar strict voice bellowed out and the girl currently attacking her was grabbed by the shoulders and shoved aside.
"That’s enough!"
She could only open an eye to see Sakura placing herself between the other students, blocking them off.
"All of you, leave this room, now!".
Through the haze of her pain, it startled Mikura as to how enraged Sakura sounded.
Here was a girl she had continuously antagonised from the moment they had met, and yet, Sakura was protecting her.
Mikura had never had that experience before, of someone putting her first.
Nor had she had someone look at her the way Sakura was when the older girl crouched down onto her knees and pressed her hand against her cheek, calling out to her.
Mikura closed her eyes at the touch, refusing to cry in front of Sakura but she was overwhelmed, defeated and tired.
If she was to slip away to never return to the land of the living, Mikura wouldn't have an aversion to that.
But Sakura refused to let her go, talking to her to keep her awake.
The hand in her own kept her grounded for long enough and a clamour of voices could be heard but Mikura paid no heed to them, only focusing on Sakura.
***
Later on that day at the hospital and after the primary diagnosis, the doctor went out and discussed Mikura's injuries with Sakura.
By the time Sakura had arrived to stop the fight, Mikura had already been injured so direly that moving her would have been a risk so the girl was carried out on a stretcher.
During the procession of the diagnosis, the President of Beautification Committee waited in the hallway and stood up when the doctor approached her.
"She has sustained severe contusions to her torso and skull, along with abrasions to her upper back. There is a concerning fracture to her left shoulder, the acromion bone to be precise which will cause her substantial discomfort until healed. Along with this, Sado suffered with two broken ribs as a result of a collision with a blunt edge. We won't know if Sado has a concussion until she wakes up and given the force of the impact of someone kicking the back of her right knee, there was a tear to the medial hamstring tendon which caused inflammation."
After hearing the doctor's diagnosis, Sakura frowned deeper and she felt the anger within her chest return.
A barbaric attack, that was the only way to describe it.
"How will the recovery process be for her?"
"It will take a time, and it will be arduous, but she will be okay."
"I'm glad to hear this." Sakura replied, grateful that there would be no permanent damage, "Can I visit her, please?"
"Yes, go ahead."
With permission, Sakura entered the room.
Mikura was still sleeping, her red hair spilling down her back as her eyes were closed.
Her arms were bandaged, as was her shoulder from what Sakura could see as she moved closer, taking in the cuts to her face while the machines next to her hummed quietly.
Sakura gazed at her silently before she sighed to herself.
Sachiko had asked her why she didn't stop Mikura from gambling entirely.
And this was the point.
At Hyakkaou, the weak would be bullied cruelly, incessantly and while she disrelished this, it was as Sachiko had said.
Kirari's rules released the evil intents of students, and these evils existed everywhere, not only in the powerhouses.
Still, that didn't exempt Kirari from being the harbinger of said evil because if such a system was never deployed, then the students wouldn't have been able to utilise and exploit it to commit such odious actions.
So many times had Sakura witnessed those without power crying, on their knees and pleading for mercy, but once they met someone weaker than them, they in turn would become the new bully.
An already abhorrent cycle, exacerbated by an abhorrent system.
As the students capacity to gamble meant everything in this twisted academy, if Sakura forbade Mikura from gambling, she would become the fodder that even the weak would prey on.
The fact that the redhead's loss to her had brought such an adverse effects itself was telling and Sakura didn't want to imagine what would have happened to Mikura if she had stopped her from gambling.
Unable to manage the emotions in her own heart, Sakura sat down next to Mikura, gazing at her.
She recalled the first time she had met Mikura, after the girl had defeated her opponent.
Though laughing at her opponent and acting supercilious whilst taunting her repeatedly, Mikura's eyes showed no pleasure, not even a modicum of it.
Instead, they were vacuous and remote, yet lined with so much anger and desperation.
That wasn't a look from a sadist, just from a girl who was lost.
Even after their gamble, Mikura's piercing stares at Sakura never indicated to hatred per se, nor did she want to destroy Sakura. On the contrary, it was more a look of anger for Sakura not destroying her completely.
Mikura would have preferred that instead of the pity she had received from Sakura.
Seeking self-destructiveness.
Sakura had to admit that it was an accurate summary.
Thinking back to the fight, Mikura should not have been injured to such a point if she had put more effort into protecting herself.
Then again, it was her against the entire class so that had to be considered.
But she didn't care, using all of her strength to attack others, trying to get the last strike in, if only to repair what was left of her pride.
Sakura sighed again, wondering what the conduit was in regards to how the redhead functioned.
She would find out when her phone rang.
The call was from Mikura's parents whom had been informed about Mikura's situation by Sakura hours ago and had chosen to call her now.
When Sakura answered the call and Mikura heard the icy tone of her mother voice, she opened her eyes.
The brief but unforgivable conversation which transpired answered all of Sakura's questions.
It was apparent that Mikura's parents would not come to visit her at all.
So Sakura had been Mikura's only recurring visitor for the duration of her stay.
Today was no different as Sakura had raced to get to the hospital after school had ended.
"Would you like an apple?"
"You should have asked me before cutting it, Miharutaki-san." Mikura pointed out, a small smile on her healing lips.
Sakura managed to chuckle, "I'll remember that for next time. Do you feel better?"
"Compared to before, much better. You should be spending your time on something more important rather than visiting me every day."
"Visiting you is of importance to me, Sado." Sakura said and paused for a second as she wiped her hands clean after placing the cut up apple on Mikura's table, "I have been meaning to ask, what is your plan now?"
The conversation with Mikura's parents hadn't left Sakura's mind, nor had the disdain she felt for them.
Rather than asking of their daughter's wellbeing, the first sentence they said was, "Can she pay for her own medical expenses?"
In such a quiet ward, it was so clear, clear enough to be heard by Mikura and she managed to grab Sakura's phone before Sakura could reply.
"I can, no need to use your money."
That was the extent of the call.
Mikura had handed Sakura her phone back, refusing to look at her or speak to her.
She was tired of Sakura's pity and now that she knew of her relationship with her parents, Mikura had a feeling she would be seeing much more of it.
As much as Sakura tried to argue about covering the expense, Mikura put her foot down and that was the end of it
Though the redhead had earned an impressive amount of funds from her gambles, her injuries were so acute that the treatments and hospital stay would drain her bank account.
Sakura still couldn't fathom how her parents had pushed their daughter into such a corner.
Empty pockets, hated by her classmates and desired by Juraku Sachiko.
This was the hell which awaited Mikura when she returned to the academy.
But the redhead didn't care.
"What do you mean?"
"Hyakkaou is a jungle, Sado, you know that and your situation is very dangerous."
"Well, maybe. What's your point?"
Sakura was careful in how she worded her next sentence.
"If you are willing..you could join the Beautification Committee. It would protect you from being targeted by others."
Mikura froze for a second before she smirked in derision, "Where is that coming from, Chairwoman Miharutaki?".
This was another of Mikura's self-defence mechanisms activating and Sakura couldn't stop it.
"Do you select anyone for your council? I have to say that you have terrible tastes if you are picking me." Mikura scoffed, "If I were you, I would never waste my time on someone like me, or any person at Hyakkaou. Being gentle means nothing but being considered a fool and coward, especially in that dump. I don't need your sympathy so you don't have to pretend you care. I'm sure you have more important things to deal with. Just..go."
After finishing the tirade, Mikura looked away and kept silent, exhausted by her words and the energy it took to say them.
Mikura refused to see Sakura's face when the girl called out for her.
"Please, just leave me alone, Miharutaki-san."
She was not a person deserving of any care, dragging others to fall with her and this was Mikura's fate to shoulder alone
Sakura didn't deserve that.
***
After Mikura returned to school, she was completely isolated.
Not a single one of her peers dared to approach her, only looking at her from a distance and the only thing missing between them was glass.
Mikura kept her head down and whilst ruminating on her conversation with Sakura, wondered what was to come of her future at Hyakkaou.
Even though she wasn't a house pet, she had lost what power she had wielded and there were many who were eager to take advantage of that.
"Sado".
Mikura glanced to her side as a group of girls had approached her desk and she recognised the ringleader immediately, scoffing.
"What do you want?".
It was the girl Sakura had saved when she gambled with Mikura.
"What do you think?" she grinned, "To gamble with you. It's not like you have any friends to hang out with. A loser like you should be grateful that I'm even talking to you. Look at you.." the girl sneered, "Bruises still there after the beat down you got but I bet your ego is bruised more".
The girl's entourage giggled, the sound grating to Mikura's ears.
"Get the fuck out of here. Why would I waste my time on you?".
Slamming a hand down on Mikura's desk, the girl got into Mikura's face, "Because I heard your low on money and you're going to need that to survive here. It isn't like you have any friends to protect you, I mean, Miharutaki had to save you".
"At least it was in a fight and not a gamble like you" Mikura laughed, "That's pathetic".
"Keep talking like that and you're going to end up dead, Sado" the girl said darkly, "You got lucky when Miharutaki intervened but you won't be next time. So, shut the fuck up and gamble with me. Unless you really have become a coward".
Mikura was getting tired of the bravado and glared at her.
She was pent up with unfiltered rage and if she could reduce this piece of scum to the ground, it would give her some reprieve.
"Fine".
The girl grinned widely and reached for Mikura's hair to ruffle it but Mikura slapped it away.
"So you still have some fire in you, huh. I can't wait to snuff that out with my foot".
"Are you going to stand there talking crap or are you going to sit down?" the redhead scowled, "You're still boring as fuck".
The class had gathered around again just like that day but the atmosphere was different, even more volatile.
Her opponent grabbed a chair and sat on the opposite side of Mikura's vandalised desk, leaning back and exuding her arrogance.
"You're going to regret messing with me" she smirked as her friend handed her a new deck of cards, "I don't want to play for money. I have enough of that. Sound familiar?".
They were the words Mikura had said to Sakura when they gambled.
Remembering her own stakes, Mikura knew that this wasn't going to be something minuscule, nor an ordinary gamble and she had to prepare herself for it as her opponent declared what the reward was for whoever won.
The rule was to continue the gambling until either of their properties was lost.
So the winner would obtain the other's estate, in other words.
"Well, do you agree or you going to back out, coward?".
Mikura knew that her rival‘s wealth level was similar to her own, so she accepted the challenge despite the risk.
She couldn't wait to rip her opponent's smile off of her face and her property out of her hands.
"I hope you warned your family that they'll need a new place to live".
The gauntlet had been set and the cards were dealt.
If she lost, her parents would kill her.
Then again, she may have already been dead to them.
They didn't visit her at the hospital once and when she arrived home, they barely glanced in her direction.
No daughter of ours would let herself be beaten like that.
Fuck them.
It was proving to be a riveting game of blackjack, one that would cumulate to one girl obtaining her status back, and the other being kicked to the curb.
Mikura's focus was razor sharp as she kept her composure and focused on every round, winning 3 out of 5 so far. She knew she had to be wary of the girl's accomplices cheating her too, not to mention their other classmates.
She was alone.
It ached for some reason, more so since meeting Sakura.
The first person who had truly looked at her.
No, this wasn't the time to be sentimental or weak.
She had to be the bloodthirsty sadist who everyone feared and that was the side which was going to allow her to win.
Her opponent was obviously running out of funds by the fourth round, the stacks of chips on Mikura's side and the redhead could taste victory, the tip of her tongue tinged with the blood.
However, just as her win was around the corner and they were selecting their hand for the final round, the other students around them provided her rival more funds.
Mikura's jaw clenched as her opponent laughed, "What, did you think you were going to win, Sado? Look around you..look at the enemies you made. Look at the fucking tags that you put around their necks".
It turned out that all those who couldn't stand Mikura had joined forces and planned to turn Mikura into a house pet.
With her past actions coming to place a weight on her chest, Mikura felt like the air had been constricted, her breaths become shallow.
The sneers on her classmates expressions was telling enough as they yelled taunts at her whilst encouraging on her opponent. There was no way she could win this because even with the amount she had collected from the other girl, it didn't even come close to matching the amount of her opponent now.
With those funds alone, it would be possible to purchase the Sado estate four times over.
Mikura only had one option, to keep playing, as per the rules.
Till one of them lost everything.
She looked at her hand, not nearly weak but she had no idea what the other girl was holding so either way, Mikura would lose.
Her head burned, the obnoxious jeering cutting through, a discordant cluster of noise that almost brought her down to her knees and just as suddenly, it stopped when the door to the room opened like it was stormed into.
Just as Mikura was in crisis, Sakura had appeared with two silver briefcases in her hands.
The students backed away immediately, noticing the rage in Sakura's usually calm eyes, those pools of light blue stormier than they had ever since.
"Miharutaki-san..".
It was said in a low gasp, almost like a prayer.
Sakura looked at her but she didn't say anything yet as she placed the briefcases down on the table next to me them and opened them up.
The cases held ¥3 billion.
"This should cover you, Sado. Finish the gamble" she said to the stunned redhead.
The disappointed gaze given to Mikura's opponent was enough to dissolve the girl's haughty persona, replaced with panic.
Even the students knew that this gamble was over if Mikura's financier was Sakura.
"Miharutaki-san, I..it's not what you think" the rival stammered, "We were just having a friendly gamble".
But Sakura's eyes had long returned to Mikura, "Finish the gamble" she repeated.
And so, the final round was a quieter affair as Mikura and her rival kept playing until Mikura had cleaned the other girl and her cohorts out.
The last hand had been revealed and the game was over.
Sounds of disbelief and groans surrounded them as it wasn't only Mikura's opponent whom had been defeated. They glared at the ringleader, blaming her for their loss and Sakura was disgusted by them.
Nobody said anything, not even Mikura who had been exhausted so Sakura spoke up to her opponent.
"Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that this happened but I am disappointed in you. When I had asked Sado to forgive your debts, I never expected that you would become what you are now. You rallied all your peers to turn her into a house pet.." she said, "Knowing full well how close you were to becoming one yourself. I understand you will harbour some resentment but doing the same thing does not make you the better person".
The words hit Mikura, the girl finally feeling the impact of Sakura's disappointment this time even if it wasn't aimed at her.
Her opponent looked embarrassed, eyes glistening, "I just wanted her to feel what she made the rest of us feel!".
"That isn't an excuse. Two wrongs don't make a right and considering what happened to Sado, do you not think that that was enough? She ended up in hospital!".
Sakura raising her voice like that continued to confound Mikura and the rest of the students. There was a firmness in her voice that stilled the chatter, that made everyone there pay attention
"Because of your need for revenge, Sado has won again and with what you put up as the bet, I imagine that your actions will be felt by your cohorts and your family. You all have nobody but yourselves to blame" she said, looking around the room, "Everything here belongs to Sado and if anyone tries to argue with that or threatens her, you will be dealing with me directly".
Mikura stood up slowly and shook her head, her eyes on Sakura, "It's fine, you won't have to do anything because I'm not keeping the winnings" she spoke up and then looked at her opponent, "Take everything back, all of you".
This was a course of action that nobody expected, let alone Sakura.
"Sado?".
"I appreciate the help so let's call it returning the favour".
"Why would you do that?!" the opponent demanded, now standing too, "After everything we said and did to you?".
"What, do you want me to take what I won?".
The girl faltered, "No! I..just don't get it. We were awful to you".
Mikura shrugged, feeling Sakura's eyes on her, "Like I was any better to you. We're even now".
It was always the case and Sakura was fed up by it, how the former victim always become a new bully, an already vicious cycle augmented by Kirari's depraved system.
Sakura was done with it all so she collected the briefcases and gave Mikura a long look before leaving the room without saying anything.
The quiet lull returned to the room as Mikura watched her leave, a vortex of emotions brewing within her.
***
A week later, Mikura would find herself outside of the office of the Beautification Committee, her hand lowering after she had knocked on the door.
There had been a copious amount to ponder on after her last gamble and Sakura's intervention.
More so, the way Sakura appeared.
The sight haunted Mikura.
They hadn't spoken much throughout the week, a brief exchange of pleasantries before Sakura would excuse herself. So Mikura had sought the girl out since it was apparent that Sakura was keeping her distance.
She heard footsteps approach the door as it opened, Sakura's surprise at seeing Mikura masked quickly.
"Hello, Miharutaki-san".
"Sado, what can I do for you?" Sakura asked.
Mikura shifted on her feet, "Can I come in?".
There was uncertainty now because Sakura didn't know what Mikura's temperament was.
As far as everything went, she had completed her task of reeling Mikura in so there was no need for her to shadow the girl.
But Sakura had arrived at a frightening realisation that she couldn't refuse Mikura.
Mikura had allowed her in and the feeling of that was addictive.
So she nodded and motioned for the girl to enter the room and take a seat on the couch as a fragile silence loitered between them. Sakura took a seat on the couch opposite her and the action disheartened Mikura more than she preferred but given everything that had occurred, she could understand.
Still, it felt too formal and she didn't want that kind of relationship to form between them.
Sakura was as a patient as always, watching Mikura carefully after she had asked her what was going on, and if she needed anything.
The redhead shook her head, "No, everything is fine actually. All the bullying stopped after that day and I..apologised to my other classmates. We're speaking more now, I guess".
Sakura smiled, genuine and relieved, "I'm glad to hear so. I was concerned that something else would have happened".
"Even if it did, you would be there for me".
The point black statement caught Sakura off guard as she took in the blue eyes watching her, something unreadable in them.
"I just want you to be safe here. I want everyone to be safe here. That is out of my hands now to a certain point but I will do what I can, with the role I have, to protect whoever I can".
"Why would you go that far? Why are you so.." Mikura drawled off and shook her head, "How can you see so much light when there is nothing but cruelty and darkness here? I mean, the world is like that. People don't do things for others unless they want something. What do you want from me, Miharutaki-san? What do you want in return for everything you have done for me?".
Given Mikura's upbringing, Sakura understood why kindness confused the girl.
It made her heart ache, to see such a perplexed expression whilst trying to understand a basic human emotions that she had been starved of.
And Sakura was the first person to show her what kindness was.
The older girl stood up and went to sit next to Mikura, the two now facing each other.
She held Mikura's gaze, her own as gentle as could be.
"It isn't always like that. I know it might be hard to believe given what you have seen and felt but not everyone has an agenda. At least, I don't" she reiterated, "I believe in a fair world despite my upbringing, so to see students suffer like this is something I can't stand for, even if it opposes the Student Council".
"But they could come after your position..".
"Let them. I won't throw away my morals and standards, Sado. I am still the head of the Beautification Committee because they need me. You have seen how things are. So I will do what positive I can while I am here" Sakura said, "Being able to help you is something I can consider a light in that darkness we are all surrounded in".
Mikura's brows furrowed, her hands twisting in her lap, "I made your life hell".
"I have dealt with worse" Sakura chuckled, "Even when I first met you, I kept thinking that maybe you were lost and you did what you did to find some direction. To take back control. It was much deeper, wasn't it?".
"That's a nice of saying I have deep seated issues" the redhead smirked.
"This is Hyakkaou, everyone has those" Sakura teased back.
"I don't know, you seem like the sanest person here".
"I can assure you that I have my fair share of weaknesses".
Mikura wondered on that, "I kind of want to see them. Wait, caring too much is definitely a weakness so I have seen one of them".
"Would you rather I didn't care at all?" Sakura enquired, trying to gauge the younger girl, "You asked me how I can see any light at all. It is precisely because I care about the wellbeing of others without wanting something in return. There is always the option to be cruel, but there is also a choice not to be. Just like when you didn't take your winnings from that gamble. You made that decision, Sado".
"That was because of you, Miharutaki-san".
I saw kindness from you, I learned it from you.
Mikura appeared more focused than usual and Sakura couldn't look away from that spark in those rich eyes.
Things had changed, Mikura had learned many a lesson.
"Maybe I don't get why you are the way you are yet..but I do know that you're someone I can trust" she admitted, "I've never had that before".
It must have taken an insurmountable effort to have revealed that because it was tantamount to arming someone with a weapon which they could use against you.
"Nobody has looked at me like I'm a person, like I don't even exist..and then you arrived".
"It doesn't have to be that way anymore" Sakura finally spoke up, the need to assuage Mikura reaching a pinnacle point, her hand tentatively resting over Mikura's, "You do have me in your corner".
Mikura tensed at the touch but only for a moment before grabbing Sakura's hand, now too scared to let go.
"Is it because you still want me to join the Beautification Committee?".
"No, you declined and I won't push the matter. I'm here with you because I want to be" Sakura reminded, "There are no strings attached to me being in your life".
"What if..I do?".
"What do you mean?".
Mikura's eyes remained on their joined hands before she had the nerve to face Sakura.
"If you will allow it, I want to join the Beautification Committee".
Sakura hadn't anticipated that at all but given the way Mikura's eyes seemed set, she knew she wasn't joking.
"Are you sure, Sado?".
"Mikura" the redhead corrected, "And yes, I am sure. I have been thinking about it for a while now and..I want to join you if you'll still have me".
Sakura sounded at the name in her mind before saying it, "Mikura".
The redhead smiled, a gentle tug of her lips to convey the joy she felt at hearing Sakura say her name.
She had never been close enough to anyone to go beyond family names and her parents hardly addressed her enough.
But from Sakura, there was something warm in it.
"As for you joining me" Sakura then said softly, squeezing the hand in hers, "I would want nothing more".
As tentative as the steps were, at least they were being taken, and in the right direction.