KAKEGURUI TWIN (賭ケグルイ双)

Hyakkao Private Academy.

Known for its prestige and traditions,

this school is about to celebrate it's 121st anniversary.

A hierarchy exists within the ranks of its elite students.

It's not your grades or how you do in sports

that will get you noticed here.

That would be…

gambling!

Gambling is everything!

And if you're good at it, then you can get away with pretty much anything you want.

Oh yeah. And cheating is okay if you don't get caught.

This part is really important!

Let's say you lose it all and end up owing the house?

What then?

A donation totaling the amount of the debt to the student council is required.

Otherwise, your ranking will fall.

Anyone that falls to the bottom of the ranking list

will be treated as a pet.

Boys are called "Fido,"

and girls are called "Mittens."

They have to deal with bullying from other students just about every day

House pets aren't allowed to disobey human orders.

And this is me, Tsuzura Hanatemari.

And yeah. I got water dumped on me.

I'm a Mitten.

The one the pouring water is Kokoro Aiura.

She's the top gambler in our class.

Nice to meet you. Fresh blood for me.

Oh right. You're probably wondering who she was talking to.

This is Mary Saotome.

She's a new transfer student here, but we went to grade school together.

The two of us meeting again after this long must be fate!

You have to be careful, Mary.

I've heard they tend to target the new transfer students.

SPEED PRESIDENT CARD GAME

Mary didn't waste any time and gambled right away,

but was a total amateur who stood no chance

against Aiura's cheating ways, and bam!

Mary was 200,000 yen in debt!

But thanks to some cash I had hidden away,

I was able to give her the money to try again.

REMATCH

Unfortunately, she cheated again. Dun-dun-dun.

But Mary was able to figure it out!

Ta-da!

Mary pulled it off and won it all back.

She made 200,000 yen on the day she transferred into the school,

and made it to the top of our class.

That's as far as we've gotten with Mary,

and where the rest of our story's about to begin.

But I'll tell you a secret.

That made me realize Mary isn't just a girl

who got enrolled thanks to her rich family.

It's like I can see her hand reaching out to me.

I want her to be my prince!

A WEEK LATER

- - I'm not making any friends.

Why not?

Everyone was watching me when I played against Aiura.

I've made sure to study and have answered everything in class perfectly

so no one could make fun of me.

My make-up is natural and freaking awesome.

My nails are a conservative pastel-pink,

and I've been making sure to be extra nice.

Dammit!

I don't have much hope for my life plan at this point.

When people are born,

they naturally tend to fall into hierarchies.

Endurance, intelligence,

appearance, sensibility, and don't forget money.

I hate how society divides its people up into winners and losers

based on circumstances we can't control.

That's why I decided to transfer to this school as an honor student.

By the time I leave this school, I'll be a winner

Although, at this rate I'm not so sure anymore.

- Hey, Mary? -

- Uh, um… - Huh?

Oh. Hi, Mary.

How has school been? Are you getting used to it?

Yeah, I guess.

Did you need something, Hanatemari?

Oh. Well, I was hoping,

and I know that this is kinda out of the blue,

but would you like to… would you want to…

Could we please be friends?

Hmm.

Sure. I guess.

I guess that was presumptuous.

I'm sure you already have a bunch of friends.

And you might not like me anyway.

I'm slow.

I'll probably just end up being a house pet forever.

- -Never mind. It's fine.

-Forget I even asked. -What's that pathetic look on your face?

You did this when I was up against Aiura too.

Why do you have this?

Aren't you supposed to be a house pet?

If you have this kinda money, why don't you use it for yourself?

Even if I could get out of being a house pet,

it wouldn't be for long.

And I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I did.

Why are you always like this?

No! I'm sorry!

I'm sorry.

- -

Hanatemari, would you mind explaining something to me?

Huh?

Well, I think it's just because that wasn't a whole lot of money.

Really?

To the kids at this school, 200,000 yen is allowance money.

Something to buy school supplies with.

I don't think it would be, really, enough to prove that you're a good gambler.

You'd probably have to play with higher stakes than that.

Wow. I guess this school really is that ridiculous.

Oh. I forgot to ask earlier. What are you drinking?

Huh? Let me show you.

I have one of these.

Oh! That is so cute!

I've been carrying this thing around since middle school.

I can't remember the last time I saw a water bottle.

Uh…

Is that why they've been looking down on me?

So after school, there are gambling dens that pop up, right?

Would you mind showing me around?

Yes, of course!

Which one of them did you wanna visit?

Well, I was thinking,

why don't we pop in to whichever one is the least popular?

Are you sure this is gonna be okay?

This will be fine.

If this spot isn't totally dead,

it'll be that much easier for me to take it over.

Huh?

I think I figured out the secret to being a winner.

And it's to be the financier of a den.

Just watch.

Fastest way to the top. This is gonna be a blast.

TWIN

Excuse me.

Anyone here? -Huh?

Oh, hi! Welcome! So sorry.

I didn't notice you come in at all--

-Whoa! -

Are you all right?

Welcome to the literary club!

I'm the president, Yukimi Togakushi!

Were you two thinking about becoming members today?

No. We're good.

Yeah. Thought so.

It's embarrassing to admit, but it's always pretty dead in here.

We don't really get patrons.

I'm the only club member that hasn't ghosted yet.

Perfect. Now, to figure out how to pull it off.

Oh. How lucky for me.

There are visitors.

Oh! Yeah, sorry. We're a little busy.

Send them out.

Huh?

MITTENS

-Mikura. -Right.

As of this present reading, the club's access to this room is revoked.

You can no longer this space.

So, please vacate immediately.

Huh? I can't just do that right away. There's--

When did you last pay usage fees for this room?

Surely you got our collection letters.

Uh…

Who is she? I don't like how she came in here.

Right. You're new.

She's the Chair of the Student Council Public Morals Committee.

Sachiko Juraku.

The gambling dens here are under her jurisdiction.

Hm.

What's the matter, Yukimi?

What do you think about letting me use this place?

Huh?

You?

Let me take over running this den for you.

I'll improve the revenue stream, and I'll even pay a higher usage fee.

Interesting.

And who are you?

First year, Hana class. Mary Saotome.

Can we slow down for a second?

I can pay you back next month. Even what's overdue.

I think it would be better to go with someone brand new

instead of placing the same losing bet on a person that has failed you.

Hmm?

How fascinating. Let's do this, then.

Mary, Yukimi, you will gamble.

-The winner will control this den. - Hmm.

But, I…

Excellent.

I was optimistic,

but there was no way I could've imagined things falling into place like this.

All right. The minimum buy-in will be one million yen.

It's the same amount as a gambling den's setup fee.