When we met each other at the lounge for breakfast, the first thing Horikita did was ask me how I got my eyebags.

I explained what happened last night from the point that Koenji sent the answer to how we ended up consoling the 30 years old single lady all night long.

"Impossible..." Horikita opened her mouth widely.

"Right? Actually, Chabashira-Sensei is kinda hot. How has she not get any love?"

"I didn't talk about that, I mean you letting Koenji-Kun did something like that!"

"Oh. I see. Well, he did it without any sign, so I can't stop him."

Horikita sighed and shook her head slowly. "This's bad. If he sent a wrong answer, we will lose 50 points."

Horikita's face seemed to be more depressed.

Sometimes, there was something that we couldn't fix.

Koenji had sent the answer and we couldn't change this truth.

The only thing we could do was pray.

Well, I was accidentally good at this thing.

"Tell me about your group. " I decided to change the topic.

"Katsuragi did what he always does, being coward, Kuku."

I got the answer from another one, Ryuen Kakeru who appeared behind me with no signal.

"Ryuen-Kun. " Horikita squinted.

"Good morning, Suzune. Kuku. " Ryuen said with his disgusting smile. Then, his eyes turned to me. "Y--You too, Ayanokouji-Kun---"

Okay--I smelt something.

Was this my popular phrase?

"However, It looked like you still can't find the VIPs, right? Kuku."

Ryuen said to Horikita.

"Hm. You said like you already know their identity."

"I almost know, Suzune. Kuku. "

I felt my hand grabbing tighter. Horikita holed herself with all effort to not automatically glare at me.

"Well. It sounded like you are bluffing."

Ryuen grinned, he sat upon the table between me and Horikita.

"Maybe I am, or am not. Kuku. " He said and grabbed my juice from the table. "Do you know this game depends on the information, right? Kuku."

Horikita nodded. "--And?"

"If we know enough information, it won't that hard to guess the VIP. What about we got 1 of 4 parts of the information? Kuku."

Horkita raised her eyebrows, "Do you mean to know all of the VIPs in your class."

"Smart as always, Horikita. But not smart enough, Kuku--" He zipped my glass of juice, then flinched before mumbling. "Is this considered an indirect kiss?"

Horikita tried to ignore his action and spoke out,

"I don't think you will get any information from your people. They don't trust you like class B trust Ichinose-San."

"But they fear, Suzune. Kuku. Fear is always powerful."

"Don't forget. The teacher said if they don't want, the school won't expose who is the VIP. They can lie to you."

Ryuen laughed. "So naive. Suzune. I just treat them to show me their mail, if they lie, I will make sure that they won't live a happy life in this school anymore. Kuku."

"Wait!" Horikita cried. "That's illegal!"

"Well, no the petition, no crime, no punishment. Someone teach me, Kuku. " He looked at me when he said that.

Ryuen ruled his kingdom with fear. No one would be brave enough to fight against him.

This was why he was confident there would be no one telling the school about his behavior.

"But don't worry. There is nothing bad for you. My target is crushing Class A anyway. Ah. I feel something in my stomach again. Kuku. " Ryuen said. "Goodbye, Suzune, Kuku."

He stood up and walked away with a smile.

Horikita looked followed him, she couldn't be sure if he was telling her the truth or not.

"What do you think?" Horikita asked me.

"It's hard to believe, but if it was Ryuen, who knows?" I shrugged my shoulder and kicked the air for fun.

"Oh, Horikita. I have something to tell you--"

Before I finished my words. My foot was kicking on something. That thing flew from the floor throw the window.

A second later, Ryuen came from nowhere and jumped out of the window too.

"My phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He screamed.

"What the---"

"Maybe Ryuen left the phone for bugging us. " Horikita said. "And what you want to tell me? Or you will confess to me. Sorry, Ayanokouji. I still love my brother, no one can replace him. You almost did though."

I blinked my eyes, this girl changed too much. However, I couldn't say I hate it.

"I have a plan to win this test."

"Really?" Horikita opened her eyes wide.

"Yes. But I want the list of all student names. Can you take it to me?"

Horikita nodded. "I think we can ask it from the teacher. So what will you do?"

"Finding the werewolf. " I said.

...

Being hot was hard sometimes.

Everyone would look at you with interest. There wouldn't be a personal space anymore.

However, I thought it wasn't because I was popular though.

They looked at me because I was followed by Matsushita Chiaki.

She hid behind the corner and looked at me.

I pretended to not see her. Therefore, she thought she could hide very well.

The fact was the whole year saw her following me like a stalker.

I started panicking when I walked into the dark secluded corridor on the cruise.

Matsushita kept following for no reason.

I walked slow, she was slow.

I ran, she ran.

I stopped, she stopped.

It was freaking me out.

I considered the reason why she was stalking me and I could conclude in two ways.

A. She crushed on me. And she stalked me because of that.

B. She wanted to shut my mouth forever. So no one knew what happened to Koenji.

Which was more possible? I asked myself.

Since she claimed she was my sister, I didn't think she would incest me. She wasn't Horikita.

So it was one possibility left.

When I got to the conclusion, I ran till dead to go to the Hare room.

...

I opened the door and came inside. I closed it as soon as I got in. It was ten minutes before the meeting started. But I don't care. I just wanted to run away from that head smasher stalker as soon as I could.

I sighed and walked to my seat.

After a minute, the door was opened again.

Karuizawa Kei walked into the room. When she saw me, she didn't hide her displeasure at all.

We said nothing.

Maybe I had seen her naked body once, she seemed to not trust me at all.

Karuizawa sat on the chair that was farthest from me and started playing with her phone.

I couldn't stand this awkward situation, so I decided to greet her. We had eaten lunch together a few times. At least, I was closer with her than some people in my class that I couldn't remember their names.

"How are---"

"Moshi-Mosh. Ritojji? Yes, I'm in my room now. Oh, this is the worst."

She ignored me and talked about something with her friend on her phone.

I thought she let me hear it for purpose, as telling me "Don't talk to me, you disgust bastard."

After five minutes of silence, B's class reached the room. I almost kissed Honami's foot when she came to save me from this situation.

Another class came after that. When the bell rang, all of Hare group's member was together in the room.

As same as the last time, class A denied joining the conversation.

But this time, Honami had a new strategy.

"Let's play a card! If we are closer, I think everything will be better!"

She said happily.

"Are you an elementary schooler of something?" Machida asked sarcastically.

"Haha. Come on. It's funny!" Honami tried to convince him.

However, except for class B, there was only Doc who agreed to play.

I decided to play with them too.

"5 people. Good. Let's play a Daifugo!"

Kaxxxa taught me once, so I could play it. Doc laughed with the lower tone voice and spoke out;

"Huhu. I need to warn you, Ichinose-Dono. I'm a lord of Daifugo. I never lose to anyone before. You better prepare yourself. So when you lose, you won't be too sad."

...

"Another game!" Doc roared when he lost the sixth game.

Honami giggled and deal the card again. "Kiyotaka is good at playing cards, aren't you?"

I shook my head. "I didn't that good. Honami."

"Didn't that good my ass sir!" Doc cried. "You win six times!"

"It's just a coincidence. " I insisted and looked at my card.

"Who has 3 Club?" Honami asked.

"Me, sir. Haha." Doc grinned and put his card in the middle of the table."This is a good sign! Kiyotaka-Dono. You are next."

I nodded and put the card on the table.

2 Heart-2 Spade-2 Diamond-2 Club.

Everyone lost the color of their face. This is the highest form.

"Ok, since no one has a higher card. You play next, Kiyotaka-Kun. " Honami said.

I put the other four cards.

A Heart-A Spade-A Diamond-A Club.

and

K Heart-K Spade-K Diamond

"I'm outed. Win. Hooray. " I said emotionless.

"Fuck it. I don't play it anymore." Doc cried.

But Yukimura came closer to him and said.

"Not so fast, Doc. We still have a chance to win. " He turned his face to Honami. "Ichinose. Let's play something else."

"What do you want to play, Yukimura-Kun?"

"Poker. " Yukimura said. "This is the best way to make your heartbeat because of risk."

"Yeah, Ichinose-San. Poker is fun!" Aharen supported.

"And for making it more excited. " Yukimura said. "What about we have some--gambling?"

Honami frowned. "Wait. Isn't it against the rule?"

"Last time I check. As long as no one sees. It won't be a problem. We can make a contact here, and transfer the point after it."

"Oh, if you want to play gambling that much. I think I need to teach your place. Yukimura-Kun. "

Manabe walked toward us.

"Manabe-San? Are you playing too?"

"Of course. In class C, they call me the queen of gambling. If I study at Hyakkaou, Jabami Yumeko will never be famous." She licked her lips. "And I will find the money for buying Louis Vitton for Rika-chan!"

Manabe sat down next to Honami.

"Actually, I don't know how to play Poker. But if you guys want to play, I will let you play. " Honami nodded as accept.

"I won't play. " I said. "Gambling is the way to doom. My religion says that."

Doc made his face like the devil.

"Come on, Kiyotaka-Dono. Let me destroy you, sir! Don't be a chicken."

"If you said that to the past Sudo, it might work or you will get his punch. But I'm not him."

I shook my head and prepared to stand up but Honami called me.

"Hey, Kiyotaka-Kun. You don't need to pay on your own. You can use my money. Can you play as my proxy?"

"It's not about money. Honami. It's about sin. I don't want to be a sinner---"

"Please. Kiyotaka-Kun! Sweety."

"Who will be the dealer?"

I sat down immediately.

...

For Yukimura Teruhiko, Poker was the piece of cake.

His mother, who gave me this shitty name, ran away from him when he was five years old.

His father used the casino for healing his feeling.

Teruhiko followed him to that place every day.

This was the origin of his academic wisdom.

He learned match from calculating stake.

He learned statistics from the cards games.

He learned languages from the various nation customers.

He learned physics from the rotation of the roulette circle.

And of course, he learned to read other people's faces by Poker.

He just took a glance at every people's face. He could read their card.

Doc decided to raise, but his face showed his fear. He was bluffing.

Aharen was proud of his card so he decided to raise but he was stressed by others' decisions. His card was good, but not enough.

On another hand, Akasa folded.

Ichinose Honami always smiled so he couldn't know her mind. But since she called, Yukimura was sure this girl's card wasn't that good.

As expected from someone who claimed herself as Queen of Gambit, Manabe Shiho's face was so hard to read.

But when it was his turn, Yukimura didn't hesitate to raise.

Because in his hand, it was 7 heart-8 heart.

And the flop card is 9 heart, 10 heart, J heart.

It was Straight Flush!

He wouldn't overplay his hand at this stage. He wanted to make his opponent be careless. The trick for Poker was don't be too greedy. Know your time.

"Overplay. " The dry emotionless sound spoke beside him.

Everyone on that table was shocked by Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's word.

Yukimura looked at Ayanokouji's face.

And he realized he couldn't read it.

It wasn't changed only an inch!

Calm down. Keisei. He told himself. He saw the poker face like this many times.

All of them had some plan in their mind.

Ayanokouji was the same.

But Yukimura couldn't guess his plan.

Don't worry. You have Straight Flush, don't you?

The only way Ayanokouji could win him was by owning King Heart and Queen Heart.

It was hard to believe that Ayanokouji was that lucky.

Come on, Ayanokouji. No matter what are you planning. I will beat you!

...

Wow! Fucking AyanoLucky!

I didn't like poker but since Honami asked me to do it, there was no reason to denied.

Of course, winning would make her happy.

So I decided to overlap.

Except for Yukimura, everyone else folded.

I was imagining or Yukimura was looking at me with vengeance.

Then, it was the flopping time.

Yukimura showed his card.

It was Straight Flush.

Well, good but not enough, Yukimura.

I showed them my cards. Everyone looked at them with shock.

"Royal Straight Flush."

King and Queen of heart.

...

After losing ten times, Yukimura accepted that he wouldn't eat anything for a while if he still fought. And our game was finished as soon as our meeting.

I walked out of the door for the first person. While Manabe moaned that she couldn't buy anything for Rika-Chan.

Technically, Honami won all the money. So I was sure she would return all of them to the loser.

At that moment, I was too proud of my success until I forgot something.

"Ayanokouji! You scumbag!!"

Chihiro was standing in front of the door. Of course, she was waiting for Honami.

And if she was lucky, she would kill me.

"Shit! Kiyotaka-Kun! Run!" Honami screamed.

I knew but I couldn't run away. Chihiro's speed when she saw me was as fast as Horikita's when she saw the waffle.

In the last breath of my life, I prayed to the Buddha and forgave everyone.

My eyes were closed.

Wait.

I didn't die yet!

I opened my eyes and found Chihiro collapsing to the floor.

Behind her, it was Matsushita with a stick.

"Oh my god! She hit Chihiro-Chan!" Honami screamed.

"Come with me, Ayanokouji-Kun!" Matsushita said and dragged me to the fire escape.

When we were alone, I stepped back from her immediately.

"Don't come closer. " I told her. "I believe in gender equality and I won't mind hurting a woman."

Matsushita looked at me with a warm sad smile.

"I see. You don't want me to protect you."

I raised my eyebrows.

"What do you mean to protect? Didn't you stalk me for finding the chance to kill me?"

Matsushita was surprised by my word. "What do you talking about? How can Onee-San kill her favorite brother?"

"I will tell you for the last time. We aren't a sibling?"

"But I want to be. I stalked you because I want to protect you!"

I didn't understand her words. "Pardon? Why do you want to be my Onee-San that much?"

Matsushita came closer to me and held my hand.

"Because I know you never get the warm touch from anyone." She looked at my hand. "Your hand, it's cold. Back then, when I hugged you and threaten you to not spit a word--"

Oh, now you accepted you threatening me?

"I few nothing but cold. I wondered how was you raised. There is no love and warmth in it. It made me sad."

My hand was shaken.

She was right.

I never got love from anyone.

My father took me to the white room and taught me without love.

My mother---I didn't want to talk about her.

Matsuo, he cared for me. But he couldn't give me love.

But there was the one---

"I had someone who gave me love. " I said. "He was the wonderful and funny man. Believe in gender equality. He loves me, loves women's panties too. However, he was passed away."

Except for him, I never found the love.

My life was the dry desert.

The last tree was cut down.

"Do you miss him?" Matsushita asked.

"In every day of my life."

"So can I do his duty?" She asked me again.

"Why? It's because of your pity on me?"

Matsushita shook her head. "No. It's because you need me. When I was young, my parents did their work and didn't care about me at all. But my sister---she always looked before me and teach me everything."

She grabbed my hand harder. Before I knew it, I grabbed hers too.

"When I had to come to this school. My sister told me she can't protect me anymore. But she believes that I'm strong enough for being alone. And strong enough to be somebody's Onee-San."

Matsushita's eyes looked at mines.

"Can I be your Onee-San?"

I felt the warmth at my hand, and then, my heart.

I never wanted to cry before.

But this time was the first time I wanted to crime, so Chiaki-OneeSan could know how much I want her.

Alas, I couldn't cry.

"Yes, Chiaki-OneeSan."

Matsushita smiled and hugged me, I hugged her back.

Dear Kaxxxa, don't worry about me. Rest in your heaven. With the kind priest, the loli powerful wizard, and Kuudere crusaders as you want.

I found someone that I can ask her for the warmth you gave.

Damn! Why did this turn into the wholesome thing?

"Kiyo-Chan. When we are siblings now, I need to tell you the truth."

"Yes? Chiaki-Oniisan."

She smiled and whispered in my ears.