A 7-8-9-10-J straight — statistically, that's a pretty strong hand in poker.
Naoki Utsugi's fingers trembled as she stared down at her cards, her heart pounding. This was it — her chance to win it all.
Truth be told, before transferring to this academy, she'd barely gambled a day in her life.
But at Hyakkaou Private Academy, gambling wasn't just a pastime — it was the entire social hierarchy. It was entertainment, judgment, and status all rolled into one.
The better you gambled — the more money you had — the more respect you earned.
To fuel this cutthroat ecosystem, the student council had instituted a mandatory contribution system: every student was required to pay at least 100,000 yen per month.
Those who failed to pay were ranked at the bottom one hundred — labeled "non-contributing cooperative students," or more commonly: livestock.
Becoming livestock meant losing your dignity. You became fair game — humiliated and trampled by everyone else.
Naoki Utsugi was nothing more than an ordinary scholarship student. Unlike the wealthy heirs and heiresses that filled the academy, her monthly allowance barely hit a thousand yen. If she wanted to survive, she had no choice but to gamble for the contribution fee.
Unfortunately, in just two short days since transferring, she had already lost 50,000 yen to her classmate, Kokoro Aikabu.
Now, driven by desperation, Naoki was plunging deeper into this whirlpool — all to win back her losses.
Across from her, Kokoro smiled with mock innocence, her hair styled into two neat buns. Sticking out her tongue, she said sweetly, "You already owe me 50,000 yen, Naoki. Even if you win this round, that's just 10,000 back — barely a dent in your debt."
Naoki bit her lip. Kokoro wasn't wrong. And it wasn't like she got lucky with hands like this very often.
Her gambling skills were laughable at best — all she had going for her was luck.
"So why don't we finish this in one round?" Kokoro proposed with a sugary edge. "Let's bet 50,000 this time. If you win, I'll wipe your debt clean. But if you lose… well, I won't be blamed for what happens next. You'll owe 100,000 yen. And you already know you can't pay that."
Naoki swallowed hard. A single hand worth 100,000 yen… the risk was enormous.
But she was already in debt. If she didn't seize this rare opportunity, she might never get another shot.
Around them, students had gathered to watch. While 50,000 yen wasn't a massive bet, this was a match between Kokoro Aikabu and the newly transferred scholarship girl — a spectacle worth watching.
If Naoki had looked more closely, she might have noticed that the smiles around her weren't friendly — they were the smug, detached amusement of spectators watching animals in a cage.
"Fine," she said, voice trembling. "Fifty thousand it is."
There was no turning back now. If she could erase her debt in one go, it was the best outcome she could ask for.
Of course, Kokoro wouldn't have proposed it if she didn't have a strong hand.
Naoki could only hope hers was better.
Kokoro's face lit up with delight. "Naoki, you really are straightforward. All right, let's reveal."
They both flipped their cards.
Naoki's heart raced as she laid hers down. "7, 8, 9, 10, Jack — it's a straight!"
But Kokoro's smile didn't waver. If anything, it grew more arrogant.
Naoki felt a sinking dread. Her eyes dropped to Kokoro's hand.
Spades. All of them. A flush.
She had lost.
Naoki collapsed into her chair, numb. Another 50,000 gone. Her total debt now sat at 100,000 — completely beyond her ability to repay. And that wasn't even including the mandatory contribution due at the end of the month.
The warnings she'd heard upon entering the school — the stories of what happened to students who became livestock — echoed in her mind.
The room erupted in laughter.
"As expected of Kokoro Aikabu!"
"She's amazing at this."
Kokoro basked in the praise. Poker, after all, wasn't just about luck — it was about reading people, making bold decisions, knowing when to fold and when to go all in.
And there was no way she had won this by chance.
She had cheated.
The deck was specially marked. She was wearing contact lenses that let her see the marks on the cards — she knew exactly what hand Naoki held. Winning had been child's play.
And it wasn't just her. Everyone in the room wore the same contact lenses. This entire setup had been orchestrated for one purpose: to make the naïve transfer student into a public laughingstock.
Naoki Utsugi was an idiot. The kind of fool who deserved to be turned into livestock.
No one here would sympathize with a scholarship student. Not at this academy.
Here, stepping on the weak was a way of life.
If you couldn't see through a con, that was your failure.
Kokoro stood and looked down at Naoki with mock pity. "Such a shame, really. But debt is debt. If you can't repay it, I guess you'll be livestock by the end of the month."
Naoki stared at Kokoro's outstretched hand in despair. Just a moment ago, when she was still only 50,000 in the red, Kokoro had practically begged her to keep playing — even lent her money to keep going.
Now that she'd lost, Kokoro was demanding repayment immediately.
Naoki might have been slow, but even she could tell she'd been played.
And then, just as her life seemed to spiral into oblivion—
"Gambling System Unlocked. Girl, walk the path of gambling without fear!"
Her mind lit up like fireworks.
Memories surged back into her head.
She remembered everything.
She wasn't originally from this world. Before becoming Naoki Utsugi, she'd come from another life — another world entirely. She had transmigrated into the universe of Kakegurui.
And now, after lying dormant for over a decade, her system had finally activated.
Her memories, her past — it was all back.
But the past was the past.
"What can you do, system? What do I need to do for you?" she asked, already grasping how these systems worked.
Systems required hosts to complete tasks in exchange for power and rewards.
"I am the Gambling System," it said. "All you need to do is gamble — win or lose, you'll earn experience points."
"Experience points can be exchanged for temporary abilities, usable for one game: things like telepathy, x-ray vision, or extreme luck!"
"As for your main task — you must capture the hearts of female characters."
Naoki: "…"
Wait, what?
Capture the hearts of female characters?
She'd just been told about gambling powers and now this?
"Why… girls?"
"Come now, host. You didn't really think you were sent to this world just to gamble, did you? Gambling is just a way to build rapport. Winning isn't even the point."
"And what do I get if I complete these capture missions?"
"I'll help you return to your world — with more money than you could spend in a lifetime."
Hmm… this world was full of beautiful women, yes, but a society obsessed with gambling was terrifying. If she stayed, she'd have to keep gambling endlessly.
To escape that fate, she'd do the capture missions.
She looked up at Kokoro, who was still looming smugly over her — and noticed a glowing tag floating beside her: Capturable.
"System, why can I capture someone like Kokoro Aikabu? Isn't she just a minor antagonist?"
"Because she has a name. All named female characters are capturable. But minor ones aren't required — only the major plot characters need to be captured to complete the mission."
"Great. Then I won't bother with her."
"Each 10 points of affection grants you a 'blind box' reward — anything from money to rare items. Rewards saved in the system space can be taken back to your original world."
So, no matter how much money I make in this world, only system rewards carry over.
"Correct. That's to encourage you to complete the missions."
Naoki checked Kokoro's affection level — 9 points.
Was that because she saw her as a gullible target?
Thinking of the blind box, Naoki smiled and said, "Kokoro Aikabu, you're amazing. I can't beat you at all."
Kokoro smirked, pleased. "Flattery won't erase your debt, you know."
[Affection +1. Kokoro Aikabu's affection has reached 10. Red Blind Box unlocked.]
Naoki couldn't resist. She opened the blind box on the spot.
[Congratulations! You've received 1,000,000 yen!]
She could repay her debt right now.
But… why bother?
Especially when the money had been stolen from her through cheating.
Besides, this was system money — her emergency stash. She wasn't going to touch it unless she had to.
Naoki opened the system's experience store. Only games recognized by the system granted XP — she had two points, earned over the last two days of gambling.
She guessed XP was tied to the stakes involved.
With her two points, she could buy two "mystery cards," each with a random temporary ability.
No choice — she had to start winning. She bought one.
[Congratulations! You've received the Enchant Card — for 5 minutes, you'll radiate irresistible S-rank charm to nearby women.]
Naoki: "..."
How is this going to help in a gamble?
She sighed and bought another.
[Congratulations! You've received the Koi Card — your next gamble will be blessed with extraordinary luck!]
Now that was useful.
If she wanted to counter cheating, there was nothing better than dumb luck.
Naoki looked at Kokoro.
"Kokoro Aikabu, one more round — I'll bet 100,000."
Kokoro scoffed. "You don't have that kind of money. I'm just being considerate of your debt by refusing."
To entice her, Naoki considered pulling money from the system.
Then she noticed the Enchant card.
Might as well see what it does.
She used it.
For five minutes, she'd radiate overwhelming charm to nearby women.
Instantly, she noticed the change — the girls around her looked at her like hungry wolves eyeing fresh meat.
Wait… wasn't this supposed to make people like her, not want her?
"Kokoro, what would it take for you to bet with me again?"
Naoki's voice hadn't changed — still soft, still calm.
But now Kokoro heard it differently. So gentle. So vulnerable.
She looked at Naoki, fragile and pure — someone who didn't belong in this brutal world. The thought of anyone else touching her, degrading her, made Kokoro's stomach twist with possessive rage.
There was only one solution.
"You're out of money, right? Then bet yourself. If you lose, you'll become my personal livestock."
Unlike regular livestock, a personal one had a master. No one else was allowed to bully them. The master covered their monthly contributions.
Most students didn't bother — why pay for someone you could humiliate for free?
But Kokoro wanted her.
Naoki stared at her.
This card really worked.
Kokoro wanted to own her.
At least the goal was achieved.
"…Fine. I accept," Naoki replied, reluctant.
Kokoro lit up. The more she looked at Naoki, the more adorable she seemed — sweet and naïve. And if someone had to own her, better it be Kokoro.
Letting anyone else have her would be… unacceptable.