"Speaking of the Ryōran Festival, actually, I was also going to discuss this with you all," Ayanokouji Kiyohira clapped his hands to get the girls' attention and asked, "Should our casino do anything for this Ryōran Festival?"
"Of course!" Togakushi Yukimi adjusted her glasses, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"During the Ryōran Festival, even people who are usually very frugal will become generous, hoping to earn a lot of money from the festival. This is a great opportunity to get money from them, and we absolutely cannot miss it!"
Kurume Kurumi also nodded and said, "Moreover, in this Ryōran Festival, there is also a special [Chaotic Award], which is a competition between various casinos organized by the Student Council. During this week of the Ryōran Festival, the Student Council will be responsible for calculating the profits of the casinos. The casino that earns the most money will be awarded the [Chaotic Award], with a cash prize of ten million Japanese Yen."
"So, buying this piano wasn't in vain after all?" Ayanokoji mused, stroking his chin.
"Eh, so Ayanokoji, you didn't prepare these for the Ryōran Festival?" Togakushi Yukimi was stunned for a moment.
"I'm a new student, and I didn't know about the Ryōran Festival until today, so of course, these weren't something I specifically prepared," Ayanokouji Kiyohira shrugged with a smile. "However, isn't it quite a coincidence? If you're interested in the Chaotic Award, it just so happens you can really show off your skills during the Ryōran Festival."
Togakushi Yukimi had originally thought that Ayanokouji Kiyohira had spent a huge sum to buy this expensive piano and hired two more employees because he was determined to win the [Chaotic Award]. It turned out he hadn't thought that way at all...
Togakushi Yukimi suddenly became suspicious of Ayanokouji Kiyohira's motives.
Even rich people wouldn't casually spend over ten million to buy a piano they couldn't even use, right? But Ayanokoji just bought it on a whim... Could he be trying to use this piano to woo Ruribird Nadeshiko?
But Ruribird Nadeshiko, as a rich young lady, shouldn't be bought off by just a piano, right?
Togakushi Yukimi thought this, secretly glancing at Ruribird Nadeshiko, only to find her gently stroking the piano keys as if caressing her own child, occasionally looking up at Ayanokoji, seemingly hesitating about something.
This made her drop her glasses in surprise. No way... Is this young lady that easy to win over!?
Just as Togakushi Yukimi was shocked, she heard Meari say with a regretful tone, "Is the prize money only ten million Japanese Yen? It doesn't seem like very much..."
After Mibuomi Aoi sent people to challenge them continuously, everyone in the casino had gained experience and was no longer surprised by tens of millions.
Oh, except for Togakushi Yukimi.
She looked at Meari in astonishment. She hadn't expected that her friend, who once couldn't even afford five hundred thousand, now didn't even care about ten million. When did she grow so quickly? Had she left her far behind?
No, Meari hadn't earned much money from gambling either. At most, she had three or four million in hand, so why did she even find ten million too little?
Togakushi Yukimi quickly realized that Meari's "values" had been subtly influenced by this school.
People can only earn money within the scope of their cognitive abilities. Meari's horizons had broadened, and her future gambling would no longer be limited to small stakes. Her vision would be more long-term, enabling her to earn more money.
From this perspective, it was a good thing for Meari.
However, if Meari became overconfident and thought gambling was easy, she might also lose money she could never repay in her lifetime due to carelessness.
For Meari, it was hard to say whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
However, Togakushi Yukimi had a clear understanding of herself.
She secretly reminded herself that she did not possess Meari's gambling prowess, and she must absolutely not rashly attempt gambles beyond her reach or try to earn money she wasn't confident about.
It was enough to just earn the money right in front of her...
While Togakushi Yukimi lowered her head and silently reminded herself, the others continued discussing the Ryōran Festival.
Kurume Kurumi said excitedly, "It's not just the prize money! In addition to the prize money, the representative of the casino that achieves final victory will also be invited to join the Student Council! The Traditional Culture Research Society won the Chaotic Award last year, and their president, Sayuri Nishikinotoin, became quite famous as a Student Council member."
"Everyone treats this as an opportunity for [promotion], so they're all green with envy, huh..." Meari mused, "The students at this school are very persistent about joining the Student Council. Our casino was packed from the very beginning because of this gimmick."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira could understand these students' feelings.
It was just like running for a seat in the National Diet. Although the initial investment was huge—requiring nearly 100 million yen—if one succeeded in the struggle, the rewards were very generous. With an annual compensation of several tens of millions, one could "break even" in just a few years.
Moreover, compared to the National Diet, which had stable channels of entry, the opportunity to join the Student Council seemed rather slim. No one knew the Student Council's selection criteria, and to date, there were only seven or eight members in total.
Even throwing money at it wouldn't necessarily guarantee entry into the Student Council.
"I'm so envious of Sayuri Nishikinotoin. I want to become a Student Council member too..." Kurume sighed with envy.
Everyone at this school hoped to join the Student Council, and she was certainly no exception. Having experienced the time when she was "livestock," she yearned for the status of the Student Council even more.
Having spent the last few days together, Ririka already considered them friends. She frowned slightly and couldn't help but advise, "Kurume, there's nothing to envy about her. Although Sayuri Nishikinotoin joined the Student Council, she's just a fringe figure with no real power. She's just a punching bag that anyone can bully.
She only looks glorious on the surface, but in reality, she is walking on thin ice, terrified that any mistake will get her kicked out by the Student Council... Being a Student Council executive like that is worse than not being one at all."
Everyone cast surprised looks at her, and Ayanokouji Kiyohira asked on their behalf, "Anna, how do you know so much about the Student Council? Haven't you not been to school for a long time?"
Ririka's heart tightened, and she quickly said, "I know someone in the Student Council! She told me all of this!"
"Come to think of it, I also know people in the Student Council. I'm quite familiar with Senior Juraku, Miharu Taki Senior, and others. I wonder which one you're talking about..."
"...The person I'm talking about is Senior Juraku."
Ririka calmed down and revealed an elegant smile, "I am an old acquaintance of Senior Juraku. She often talks to me on the phone and tells me about things at school. So... although I haven't been to school for a long time, I still know a bit about it."
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