Facing Meari's questioning, Ayanokoji calmly explained.
"My relationship with Miharu Taki Senior is indeed quite good. She helped us before.
Meari, have you forgotten? She even attended our competition as a guest before. Last night, Miharu Taki Senior called and invited me to dinner. I wanted to thank her, so I went without hesitation."
Ayanokoji paused, looked at Miharu Taki Sakura, and said with a disappointed tone, "However, only after arriving did I realize she wasn't simply inviting me to dinner, but to inform me that the person Zenshoukai sent today was her, telling me to prepare for gambling…"
So that's how it was. Ayanokoji went to this 'Hongmen Banquet' to thank the other party… Meari suddenly understood.
Ayanokoji raised his head and asked casually, "Meari, do you mind a lot?"
"I don't really mind…" Meari awkwardly released Ayanokoji's hand.
She secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If it was truly as Ayanokoji said, that he went to the banquet to thank Miharu Taki, then there was indeed nothing to criticize. Meari also disliked owing favors to others, so she easily believed Ayanokoji's words.
What Ayanokoji said was indeed true, but he concealed many crucial parts.
For example, how he met Miharu Taki Sakura, how familiar they were, and so on… Miharu Taki Sakura didn't feel anything was wrong, and Meari thought she had misunderstood Ayanokoji, so she didn't press further and accepted the answer.
A potential conflict was easily resolved by Ayanokoji's clever phrasing.
Miharu Taki Sakura brought the topic back to gambling, her voice softening: "Ayanokoji, why would you rather give me the money directly than gamble with me?"
"Because I feel gambling with you, Senpai, is meaningless."
Ayanokoji sighed lightly and patiently reasoned with her: "Gambling is, firstly, for making money, and secondly, for gaining satisfaction. If I win your money, I won't feel happy, so why would I gamble with you?"
"I am a Student Council member. I can forcibly demand that other non-Student Council students gamble with me. Even if you don't want to, you must gamble with me."
Miharu Taki Sakura paused and said, "As long as you win against me, you can win 80 million from me, and Mibuomi Aoi will no longer trouble you. Why not gamble?"
Miharu Taki Sakura vaguely knew the answer to this question, but she didn't want to think in that direction.
"No gambling, it's meaningless." Ayanokoji acted shamelessly: "I've already given you the money, aren't you even allowing a surrender?"
"…" Miharu Taki Sakura remained silent, in a standoff with Ayanokoji for a few minutes. Seeing that Ayanokoji had no intention of changing his mind, she put down the bank card and prepared to leave.
Since Ayanokoji wasn't interested in gambling today, she couldn't accept the money. She would wait until next time to see if Ayanokoji would change his mind, or find a time to talk to Ayanokoji privately...
As soon as she turned around, Ayanokoji spoke.
"Senpai, you should still take this money. If you don't, Mibuomi Aoi might send others over later. Rather than giving the money to them, I'd rather you keep it."
Indeed, even if she didn't want the money, Mibuomi Aoi would still send others. If she didn't take it, Ayanokoji might hand over the money to avoid conflict anyway. It was better to keep it with her for now.
Miharu Taki Sakura hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, this money will be temporarily held by me. Whenever you want this money back, come find me, and I will give it to you."
She gave Ayanokoji a deep look, picked up the bank card, and turned to leave.
"Hey, Ayanokoji, why did you give her the money?"
After Miharu Taki Sakura and her assistant left, Meari shook Ayanokoji's shoulders, crying out in distress: "That's 80 million, 80 million! It's not a small sum!
Even if you trust that woman, she's Mibuomi Aoi's fiancée! How can you give her the money?!"
"Because I'm tired and don't want to gamble with her anymore."
Ayanokoji smiled, pulled Meari's hand away, found a sofa in the corner, lay down, turned to face the wall, and lazily said, "Let Mibuomi Aoi have this money. If this money can make him stop troubling me, that's quite good. I don't lack this money anyway."
You don't lack it, but I do!
Meari had already considered herself Ayanokoji's secretary, treating Ayanokoji's money as her own. Even a loss of ten thousand yen would pain her, let alone eighty million. She didn't want to easily concede it!
Moreover, she vaguely felt Ayanokoji's attitude towards Miharu Taki Sakura was not right; it wasn't like an opponent, much less an enemy. Their relationship seemed somewhat ambiguous instead.
All of this made Meari anxious.
If you don't want it, I'll get this money back!
Meari gritted her teeth, rushed out of the room, and Hanatemari Kazura hurriedly followed behind her.
"Miharu Taki Senior, wait a moment!"
Meari ran down a floor and finally called out to Miharu Taki Sakura.
Miharu Taki Sakura stopped, turned around, and looked at Meari with some surprise: "Meari, are you here to ask for this money back?"
"No, I'm here to gamble with you!"
Meari looked directly into Miharu Taki Sakura's eyes and said loudly, "Since Ayanokoji doesn't want to gamble with you, then let me!"
"If I lose, you still take this money back. If I win…"
"I will also give you the bank card and an additional 80 million yen," Miharu Taki Sakura said decisively.
If it were anyone else, upon receiving the 80 million yen, they wouldn't bother with Meari, as the money was already in their hands.
But Miharu Taki Sakura really hoped Ayanokoji would gamble with her at least once. Whether she lost or won, she could go back and give Mibuomi Aoi a clear explanation.
If she took the money back without even gambling once, it might lead Mibuomi Aoi to misunderstand her relationship with Ayanokoji, which Miharu Taki did not want to see.
Furthermore, she also didn't want to just hand this money over to Mibuomi Aoi like this.
Having Meari act as Ayanokoji's representative at this moment was perfect. Regardless of winning or losing, she wouldn't have to be troubled anymore.
"Should we go to the Cooking Room to gamble?" Miharu Taki Sakura asked.
Meari shook her head: "No, if I lose in front of Ayanokoji, I won't be able to face him. You find a place instead."
"How about my office?" Miharu Taki Sakura proposed.
"Meari…" Hanatemari worriedly tugged at Meari's shoulder: "Is this okay?"
She actually didn't want Meari to get involved in this messy situation.
There was no benefit to winning, and if she lost, she would bear the responsibility of losing 80 million yen. Meari didn't need to do this…
Meari smiled and reassuringly patted Hanatemari's hand: "No matter what, we can't let her take the money so easily, can we?"
Meari had made up her mind; Hanatemari couldn't persuade her.
Hanatemari saw this and followed behind Meari.
Everyone returned to the School Building and arrived at the Beautification Committee office. There were still two male students on duty there, both subordinates of Mibuomi Aoi.
"Chairman!"
They saw Miharu Taki Sakura return and quickly stood up.
"You two go out first, I have something to attend to." Miharu Taki glanced at them.
"Understood!"
After they hurriedly left, Miharu Taki Sakura looked at Meari.
"Meari, do you want me to go to the Election Committee to find a Dealer to supervise, or should we just start the game directly?"
"Let's just start. I trust you won't cheat, and let's not waste any more time." Meari casually pointed to the girl who had been following Miharu Taki: "Just let her be the Dealer."
Miharu Taki Sakura didn't object and nodded, continuing: "Then what shall we gamble on?"
Meari took out her phone, opened a document she had saved earlier, and handed the phone to Miharu Taki: "I have three games here in total. Don't say I'm bullying you; you choose which one to play."
Meari had prepared several games for Ayanokoji, hoping he could use them to gamble with others, but Ayanokoji never used them. Now they were finally coming in handy.
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