"What's there to be afraid of? We have a black tablecloth covering us. No one will know what I'm doing," Yumemi said with a grin, then glanced at the heart rate monitor out of the corner of her eye, unconsciously letting out a 'tsk'.
Even after she did something so bold, Ayanokouji Kiyohira's heart rate hadn't risen much, only reaching around one hundred.
Meanwhile, her own heart rate had already crossed the 110 mark.
This was Yumemi's hidden 'trump card', which she had planned to use at a crucial moment. She hadn't expected to use it now, only to find the effect still unsatisfactory.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira had been maintaining eye contact with her and naturally noticed her shift in attention.
Ayanokoji understood, "Yumemi, you're doing this to make my heart rate go up?"
"That's right, why else would I do something like this?"
Yumemi didn't feign modesty and directly admitted her intention, staring into Ayanokoji's eyes and complaining to him with a resentful look.
"Ayanokoji, what's wrong with you? I've made so many expressions, and your heart rate hasn't gone up. Now I even have my foot on your thigh, and your heart rate is still rising so slowly. Do you not have any reaction at all? Am I really that unappealing in your eyes…?"
There was a hint of dejection in Yumemi's words. She felt she had done more than enough, but Ayanokouji Kiyohira's reaction was far less than what she had anticipated.
If this continued, she would truly lose…
In fact, Ayanokouji Kiyohira was quite enjoying the sight. Normally, no girl would make such expressions in front of him.
Hanatemari Tsuzura was too reserved and couldn't let loose, while Ikishima Midari was always seeking thrills. The varied expressions Yumemi displayed were truly pleasing to the eye. Ayanokouji Kiyohira even wanted to take photos to admire as a series.
Many of Yumemi's expressions hit his "sweet spot," making his heart stir.
The reason Ayanokoji's heart rate hadn't changed significantly was, naturally, the 'System's' guaranteed win mechanism.
Before this match began, Ayanokouji Kiyohira had activated the guarantee, ensuring a definite victory in this gamble.
As Ayanokoji's gambling skills improved, the System had become increasingly silent during gambles.
Even if Ayanokoji used the ten-streak guarantee, as long as the System believed Ayanokoji would definitely win by following the gambling process, it wouldn't speak up.
Only at points requiring a decision would it issue cold, mechanical reminders, telling Ayanokoji how to win.
However, in this game, because this gamble was different from previous ones, with victory determined by physiological reactions like heart rate, the System's operation this time was also different in order to win the match.
It didn't make decisions in Ayanokoji's mind or tell him which choices would win. Instead, it acted like an 'inhibitor,' directly controlling Ayanokouji Kiyohira's heartbeat, keeping Ayanokouji Kiyohira calm, so that even in excitement, his heart rate wouldn't exceed 130.
The System could be said to be one with Ayanokoji. Compared to changing the outcome of a dice roll in the outside world, changing Ayanokouji Kiyohira's blood flow was actually much simpler.
It was equivalent to the System giving Ayanokouji Kiyohira a 'locked HP' buff, ensuring his heart rate display wouldn't exceed 130, no matter how high it seemed to go.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira didn't try to control his heart rate using various methods like Yumemi did; his heart rate had entered a 'managed' mode. He only needed to maintain eye contact with Yumemi.
Just as Ayanokouji Kiyohira had said to Yumemi earlier, he wasn't some timid boy who would blush at the sight of a girl. Although he couldn't control his heart rate, maintaining eye contact with a girl and not looking away was still very easy for him.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira could only say these words to himself; even if he spoke the truth, Yumemi might not believe him.
"Of course, you're charming! Isn't my heart rate rising? Though the increase isn't that significant yet," Ayanokouji Kiyohira joked intentionally, smiling as he said, "Maybe if you do something even more daring, my heart rate will skyrocket?"
Ayanokouji Kiyohira was joking, but Yumemi was currently in a state of extreme anxiety, doubting her own charm.
She could tell Ayanokoji was joking, but right now, this 'joke' might be the only hope she saw.
Yumemi glanced at the big screen again, where Ayanokouji Kiyohira's heart rate was stable at around one hundred. She made up her mind.
Since her current small actions weren't enough, she would be even bolder...
Yumemi once again extended her milky-white stockinged foot. This time, she was even bolder; after resting her foot on Ayanokoji's leg, she didn't stop, pressing on and touching Ayanokoji's calf.
Going any higher would be problematic.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira felt Yumemi's movement immediately and looked up in surprise.
If Yumemi had only playfully touched his ankle with her small foot, Ayanokouji Kiyohira could have dismissed it as her mischievousness.
But now, she had gone a step further.
Even if Yumemi was joking, did she really need to go this far? Did she actually take his words seriously?
"Hey, Yumemi, I was just kidding. Don't actually do it."
Ayanokouji Kiyohira tried to shake her foot off by moving his own feet, but she remained unmoving, using his leg as a pivot. No matter how much Ayanokoji swayed, she didn't budge, still stepping on his knee.
Although the gambling table was completely covered by a tablecloth, Ayanokouji Kiyohira didn't dare to shake too hard, fearing that the audience below might notice something amiss.
Seeing that shaking was useless, Ayanokouji Kiyohira simply stopped, frowned, and directly asked Yumemi, "Yumemi, do you really need to go this far? Don't you know you've crossed a line?"
"I can't help it. This is all I can do. Who made it so that I've tried everything and still can't make your heart beat faster? I can only take a gamble."
Yumemi had a smile on her face, but her words were firm: "To establish myself in this school, to continue my path as an actress, I must win this game."
Yumemi wasn't completely blinded by impatience when she did this; Ayanokouji Kiyohira's words actually gave her a hint.
She remembered learning some related knowledge: when the human body is excited, blood flows rapidly from the heart, accelerating the blood flow. At this time, the heart's burden increases, and the heartbeat quickens.
This was the only 'turning point' Yumemi could think of.
Being in Japan and also an idol, Yumemi couldn't possibly be an ignorant girl. She and her teammates sometimes secretly snuck into small rooms to appreciate films together.
At this moment, Yumemi pretended to be nonchalant and continued to maintain eye contact with Ayanokoji.
Her actions below had no impact on her upper body; no one could tell what she was doing.
A moment later, a smile curled at Yumemi's lips.
"Ayanokoji, it seems… not just your mouth is hard."
"That's right, my arms, thighs, and head are all quite hard," Ayanokouji Kiyohira clenched his fist. "My fist is pretty hard too."
Yumemi burst into laughter.
Ayanokouji Kiyohira must have understood what she meant, but he deliberately twisted it. He really was stubborn in some ways…
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