While Meari and Miharu Taki Sakura were engaged in a covert struggle, Hanatemari was also closely watching Yagyu Ine, preventing her from tampering with the pieces.
This was a task Meari had given her, and she had to accomplish it.
Yagyu Ine was also the same, watching Hanatemari with utmost caution, also guarding against Hanatemari tampering with anything.
Time passed quickly with their successive rolls, and the pieces in the Go bowl gradually diminished, soon reaching the bottom.
There were still 15 black pieces in the Go bowl...
Meari thought, it was time to get ready.
Actually, Meari had a "winning strategy."
In a dice Nim game, each dice roll depends on luck and skill, and no one knows what number their roll will land on.
To "win for sure," there was only one way—and that was to cheat.
In fact, Meari currently had six special loaded dice hidden in various places in her uniform jacket.
Each die was a loaded die that could roll a specific number, with one for each number from 1 to 6.
As long as Meari wanted, she could, depending on the situation, discreetly pull out a loaded die from her pocket that suited the current environment and hide it in her palm.
When picking up an ordinary die, she could secretly swap the two dice in her palm, and when throwing, she would throw the loaded die, making the desired number appear on the gambling table.
These dice were not intentionally made by Meari, but were left behind by Kamishita Nagi.
When he came to the Cooking Room and proposed to gamble with Ayanokoji, all of his cheating tools were inspected and found by Captain Dragonfly.
To gamble with Ayanokoji, he had no choice but to take out all of his cheating gambling tools and place them on a nearby table.
After he lost the gamble, he left in a hurry without bothering to collect these tools, and when he came later, he seemed to have no intention of asking for them back either.
Thus, these tools were naturally confiscated by everyone as "trophies."
Others had no interest in these tools, but Meari was somewhat interested and inspected all of them. After organizing them, Meari found some tools that might be useful to her.
She kept them in mind and placed these tools in a separate location.
Who knew, they might come in handy someday?
These few dice that could roll specific numbers were Meari's collection.
Besides the dice, Meari also carried other cheating tools, which were for dealing with two other types of games.
If Miharu Taki Sakura chose those two games, Meari also had a "winning strategy."
This was a gamble involving eighty million, so Meari naturally had to be fully prepared. How could she just rush in and challenge Miharu Taki Sakura to a gamble based on sheer courage alone?
Meari rolled again, and this time it was a '5'.
Now, only ten pieces remained in the Go bowl.
It was Miharu Taki Sakura's turn. Her expression was no longer as relaxed as it had been at the beginning; it had also become serious.
She carefully pinched the die, making it spin in her hand. Then, feeling the time was right, she threw the die with a skillful flick.
The dice spun on the table, finally landing on '6'.
Now, only '4' pieces remained in the jar.
Meari's expression turned grim, her heart pounding violently, making it impossible for her to calm down.
It was time to use the loaded dice.
The dice that would definitely roll a '3' was in her left pocket.
As long as she secretly swapped the dice, she would win, winning eighty million...
Thinking this, Meari turned her head towards the jar, pretending to supervise Yagyu Ine taking the pieces, while quietly placing her left hand under the table, preparing to pull out the dice from her left pocket.
Just as Meari touched the dice and was about to take it out, she suddenly hesitated.
Wait... did she really want to cheat?
When she won the gamble by cheating, and gleefully brought the money back to Ayanokoji to claim credit, how would she answer when he asked how she won?
Should she admit to cheating?
If he knew she had won the money from Miharu Taki Sakura by cheating, would he be disappointed in her?
This money originally belonged to Ayanokoji, and she had taken it upon herself to act as his representative to gamble with Miharu Taki Sakura, and then brazenly used cheating methods to win against Miharu Taki Sakura.
Even if she won eighty million, would she really have the face to confront Ayanokoji?
Meari was suddenly flustered.
She tightly gripped the sleeve of her left hand with her right hand, lowered her head, bit her lip, and was in great torment internally.
When she brought the money back, given Ayanokoji's personality, even if he knew she cheated, he would surely give her half of the money, or even all eighty million, as a reward.
But... should she take this money?
Was eighty million more important, or Ayanokoji's goodwill?
Even if she could hide it from Ayanokoji, could she hide it from her own heart? Could she really use this money as if nothing had happened?
On one side was the path to financial freedom, on the other was her emotional dilemma. Meari thought for a long time but couldn't find an answer.
Hanatemari Kazura, seeing Meari's hesitation from the side, simply thought that Meari was under too much pressure from her last throw, and she unhesitatingly encouraged Meari.
"Meari, I believe in you, just throw it! No matter what the outcome, I believe Ayanokoji won't blame you!"
Miharu Taki Sakura also thought Meari was under too much pressure, and even as an opponent, she couldn't help but comfort Meari.
"Meari, win or lose, I consider you a very respectable opponent. You were willing to fight for Ayanokoji, so even if you lose, I think he should understand you."
A nameless fire ignited in Meari's heart.
Hanatemari Kazura believing Ayanokoji was understandable, after all, they were friends.
But Miharu Taki Sakura, how dare you say you believe Ayanokoji will understand me? Do you think you're close with him!?
Do I need you to tell me if he'll blame me!?
Meari took a deep breath, loosened her grip on her sleeve, and clutched the fluffy pendant around her neck.
Even Miharu Taki Sakura believes Ayanokoji, so why can't I believe him? Why can't I believe in myself...
She had the Luck Rabbit Foot Ayanokoji gave her.
At this critical moment, where luck was needed, shouldn't she trust her own luck even more!
Meari didn't reach for the loaded dice, but instead unhesitatingly grabbed the dice on the table and threw it, completing her final roll.
Meari decided to trust her luck.
When gambling, if you don't even trust your own luck, then why even sit at the gambling table!?
The dice spun like a top on the table, gradually slowing down, and after a few tumbles, came to a stop on the table.
The side of the dice facing up showed — 3.
There were only 4 pieces left in the jar, and Meari rolled a 3 this time.
This meant that no matter what Miharu Taki Sakura rolled in the next round, even if she rolled a 1, she would definitely take out the last piece!
This time, Lady Luck was on Saotome Meari's side!
"That's great, I won!" Meari exclaimed excitedly.
This was a wager of eighty million!
Meari's family was a working-class family; her mother was a full-time housewife, and her father worked outside, earning about 4 million Japanese Yen a year.
And Meari, in just one round of gambling, earned the money her father would take twenty years of hard work to get!
Seeing Meari's extremely excited and happy face across from her, Miharu Taki Sakura sighed softly, reaching out to pick up the dice for her final throw.
Just as Meari had calculated the remaining pieces in her mind, she too had figured out that only one piece remained in the jar.
Even if she lost, she would withdraw gracefully.
However, as she was about to pick up the dice to throw, Yagyu Ine stopped her.
"Miharu Taki, you don't need to throw anymore, the jar is already empty."
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