Chapter Text
Sayaka Igarashi stared at her father, confused by the words she had just heard. The Momobami clan… The heiresses… Hyakkaou Academy… None of it made sense to her. Her father had always been an ambitious man, but this time, it seemed like he was trying to throw her into a game where she didn’t even know the rules.
— “You’re asking me to… win over one of the Momobami clan’s heiresses?” — Her voice sounded hesitant, as if she were waiting for him to reveal that this was some kind of joke.
— “Exactly.” — The man smiled, crossing his arms. — “Getting close to them is the only way. You can’t negotiate directly with the clan. But if you earn the trust of one of the heiresses, you can open doors that no one else has ever managed to unlock.”
Sayaka took a deep breath, folding her arms. The idea of infiltrating unfamiliar territory didn’t sit well with her. But the determination in her father’s eyes told her that a “no” wouldn’t be accepted as an answer.
— “And how exactly do you expect me to do that? Just walk into the school and try to get close to them?”
— “You don’t just ‘try,’ Sayaka. You win. Whether it’s through intelligence, charm, or the game itself. Find out who the heiresses are, get close to them, and make them trust you. The rest… will fall into place.”
Sayaka lowered her head, her thoughts racing.
Hyakkaou Academy was infamous for its gambling culture and psychological games — a place where power and influence mattered far more than any academic achievement. If the Momobami clan heiresses were there, that meant she’d have to play by the school’s twisted rules… or create her own.
— “Fine.” — Her voice came out firm, determined. — “I’ll take on this challenge.”
Her father’s smile widened, satisfied.
— “Good. Your future depends on it.”