Chapter Text
“Man, my hair looks like shit!” You scream in the mirror out of frustration, “It’s my first day at my new school. I need to make a good impression!”
You scramble for your comb and run it through your hair. You look up at the mirror, “It’s passable” You grumble.
Your wavy -and very frizzy- brown hair falls in huge locks onto your shoulders. Aside from this you just look like any other student at a Japanese high school. However, you’re different. You only have one reason for transferring to Hyakkaou Private Academy. A school where popularity isn’t decided by academics or sports, it’s determined by gambling skill. You need to win big to pay back your family’s rising debts.
Ever since you were young, you can’t remember a time when your mom wasn’t in the hospital. Despite your family’s power and influence, the bills quickly started piling up until your family just couldn’t afford it anymore. This is your family’s last remaining chance to stay in the political sphere and maintain their influence.
Suddenly your phone buzzes. “Oh. my. fucking. god.” You exclaim in disbelief, “It’s already 7:30!?! I’m gonna be late on my first day!”
You quickly sprint out of the dorms and run to school at breakneck speed. Guess those years in track really did come in handy.
You make it to class just in time. You start taking notes when suddenly a blonde girl behind you taps you on the shoulder.
“Hi!” She says, rather loud considering there’s class going on, “My name is Mary Saotome! I’ve never seen you here before! Did you transfer today?”
“Uh, yeah” You respond, not sure what to make of the strangely chipper woman.
“Do you know what Hyakkaou Private Academy is all about?!” She exclaims.
“Of course.” You say flatly.
“What’s with that long face? Here, I know what would make you feel better! Let’s gamble after class!”
“Ok..” You respond, too scared to say no.
“Sounds amazing! See you after class!”
Class speeds by like a blur after that. You’re terrified of what’s going to happen. You don’t have the funds to go against someone who can out bet you by thousands of yen!
Suddenly the bell rings. You start sweating. You don’t actually know how to gamble, what are you getting yourself into?
“Hey!” You hear the chipper girl from before yell, “Are you ready?! I’ve got a really fun game planned!”
You slowly walk over while physically shaking. “Yeah…!” You try to sound excited. Can’t show weakness, you think.
“Ok I’ve got a super fun game cooked up for us today! And I’m gonna gamble with the new kid!” Mary exclaimes to the class. Everyone’s heads suddenly whip around. You can feel a pit forming in your stomach. “This game’s called Ultimate War!”
There’s sudden murmuring around the room. “Who does this new girl think she is, challenging Mary like this?” “She’s gonna get destroyed!” “I’ve heard that Mary’s never lost at war!” Shit. I can’t be broke on my first day!
“Ok new girl!” Mary speaks up over the class, “Wait actually what’s your name?”
“Y/N.” You respond, struggling to keep it together.
“Ok Y/N i'll explain the rules of this game! This game’s an adaptation of the common childhood card game, War! We will play with a regular deck jokers removed. Each round both me and you will be dealt one card each. We will then bet on our win! Each player is required to bet one chip at least to play and both players must either call, raise, or fold. Everyone has to bet the same amount. Our cards will then be flipped over and whoever’s card is higher wins! Aces high of course! In the event of a tie both of our bets are automatically doubled and we proceed to war! We burn 3 cards and both get dealt another card to see who wins the war! Does that sound good Y/N?”
“Yeahhh?” You respond, extremely confused.
“Here, let’s play a low stakes round and I think you’ll get it!” Mary says, still as chipper as ever, “Each chip is worth 10,000 yen! How many do you want?”
Your face sinks. “10.” You say sheepishly.
Her face contorts into an eerily wide grin. “What? Don’t have enough money Y/N?! That’s embarrassing. I’m going for 100 chips.”
The room breaks out into murmurs yet again. “Omg I thought that this girl was going to be a lightweight but I didn’t know it would be this bad!” “It’s embarrassing to have poor kids at our school!” “Mary better send this kid packing!”
Your face burns red with anger and embarrassment. Suddenly Mary speaks up, “I can lend you 90 chips if you want. Just be prepared,” She says, her smile growing ever wider, “if you can’t pay me back, it’s not gonna be good for you.”
I’m actually fucked , you think, I can’t lose but I can’t back out now.
“Ok.”
Her face contorts into a smile of pure joy. Who is this girl? “Let’s commence play then! I hope you don’t mind one of my pets being the dealer, do you?”
“Pets?” You say, without thinking. Suddenly a thin and downcast boy steps into the middle of the room where the two of you are sitting.
She towers over you and you can feel the breath on your face. “Don’t tell me you don’t know about the house pets system?”
“I don-“ She interrupts you.
“The lowest 100 kids in the school are deemed pets! And I can do whatever I want to them!” Her eyes flash into a sickeningly dark shade of yellow, “You’d better get used to it, because you’re about to be one!”
Now I know why she wanted me to gamble with her my first day! You think. She just wants me under her thumb like the rest of this world. They took my mother. Took my family’s status. But they will not take me!
“Let’s just gamble already! I’m ready to beat you!” You scream, almost involuntarily.
“Alright then, -pet- commence the first round!”
Our cards get dealt. “I bet two chips.” You say, trying to take it safe.
“Ok. I will call.” Mary says, her eyes briefly flashing that same sickening shade of yellow.
“Ok, on the count of three, show.” Says the “pet”, “Three, two, one!”
You both show, and for a moment you’re too scared to open your eyes. You played an 8 of hearts and she played a 6 of spades. Holy shit, I won! You think.
“Wow, that was impressive!” Mary says, “Must be beginner’s luck.”
Two more cards are dealt out. Mary makes the first bet. “This time I’m gonna turn it up this round! I bet 10 chips!”
“I raise it to 15 chips!” You yell, emboldened from your win last round.”
“This is getting interesting!” She says, her eyes glowing as bright as the sun, “I raise to 50 chips!”
Holy fuck?! You think. Is this bitch crazy?! That’s 500,000 yen! It’s too late to pull out now though, she would gain my 15 chips for free!
“I call at 50!” You yell. You can feel the sweat running down your back. If you lose this, you’re done!
“Three, two, one!” You both show!
“Oh my god!” Screams Mary, -who is looking more like an escaped psych ward patient with every passing moment- “It’s WAR!!!” You see that you showed a 2 of clubs to her two of 2 of hearts. “Guess we’re really betting everything now Y/N!”
What am I supposed to do? If I lose this, I lose everything! I’m not even betting with my own money! I have to stick to my guts and not show how scared I am. You think.
“Uh Y/N you wouldn’t be scared would you?!” Mary yells, inches from your face, “Cause that sweat on the table is betraying you!”
Three cards are discarded and the dealer gives a card to each of you.
Your heart already beat its way out of your chest and is already halfway down the street. It’s time to win this. You need to win this. You’ll be taken seriously, you’ll have status, money, and you can send some of this money to your dad to help pay for the bills! It’s gonna be amazing! You’re gonna win!
“Three, two, one, show!” The dealer screams.
A great swelling feeling creeps its way into your chest as you look down at the cards! This is what you’ve been waiting for.
“Ah. What a shame! You were so close to me!” You hear Mary’s snarky voice say.
You focus on the cards and all of the hopeful feelings drop. She has the ace of diamonds. Your king of spades, while usually a great card, just didn’t cut it.
“Well you almost had me! Great game!” Mary says, slowly stalking over to your side of the table. “Her golden eyes stare right into yours. I hope you’ll be able to pay up! I have it on good word that the ratings will come out tomorrow! Have fun as a pet!”
You sit, just staring in disbelief at the table. Two million yen. You now owe Mary Saotome two million yen. The number strikes pain through your heart. Your family barely has 500,000. There’s no recovering from this. You’re ruined.