Scolded by her little sister, Katsura Yukiji puffed out her cheeks and muttered under her breath.
"I didn't have a cent, okay? If I don't borrow from loan sharks, how am I supposed to live?"
Because she'd once "paid off" an 80-million debt, Yukiji thought she could pull the same trick again. She never expected the casino to be prepared this time, using high-tech tools to catch her cheating on the spot.
Outnumbered and overpowered, she'd been tied up and dragged here.
Hinagiku could only stare at her big sister in exasperation.
She understood Yukiji had come because she was worried about their parents.
But the more she thought about it, the angrier she got.
Those so-called parents had saddled them with a mountain of debt once already—that winter, she and Yukiji had almost frozen to death sleeping in a park.
And now they'd racked up a new debt? How exactly were the two of them supposed to repay it?
More importantly, this debt wasn't theirs to begin with. They had no reason to pay it back at all.
"All right, that's enough sisterly chit-chat," the white-haired man in the loud shirt clapped his hands, cutting the siblings off with a smirk.
"Katsura Hinagiku-san, your sister is in our hands right now. Are you going to accept the job we're offering or not? Make up your mind, quickly."
Hinagiku's face went a shade paler.
But she still forced herself to sound calm. "What you're doing is illegal. Loan-sharking and underground casinos are against the law. We have no obligation to repay your so-called 'debt'."
"And on top of that, I refuse to take part in kidnapping. You want me to abuse my position as student council president to trick an underclassman? No way."
The white-haired man's smile turned cold. He lifted a hand, and more than ten men in suits and sunglasses stepped forward.
"So you won't drink the wine offered in respect, only the wine offered in punishment, huh? Our company and our casino have been running just fine for years. That should tell you they're absolutely legal."
"And we have promissory notes signed by your dear parents. Take those to court and we win, guaranteed."
Hinagiku snorted. "My sister and I are legally the children of our adoptive parents now. Legally speaking, we have no relationship with the people you're calling our debtors."
"So even if you sue, we are not responsible for their debt."
The white-haired man just laughed.
"Heh, you talk a good game. As expected of the Hakuo Student Council President."
"Unfortunately, your sister already owes us three billion dollars. Even if you wiggle free on a technicality, she is definitely staying right here."
Hinagiku's eyes grew colder.
"And if I insist on taking her with me today?"
"Hahaha! Big talk for such a little girl. You think you can just walk out of here now that you've seen all this? Be a good girl, accept our terms, and become our cash cow. Get them!"
At his shout, the goons lunged forward.
Hinagiku's eyes sharpened. Without changing expression, she shifted into an aikido stance.
She had trained in aikido and kendo precisely so that, in a situation like this, she could protect herself—and protect the people important to her.
She wasn't going to back down.
They clearly underestimated a "high school girl." Within a few breaths, two of the men were on the ground, dropped by Hinagiku's hand strikes.
But there were too many of them, most of them big, heavy men easily a head taller than her.
Without a weapon, Hinagiku quickly began to tire.
Then there was a sharp snap.
Bound to the chair, Yukiji suddenly broke free of the ropes and jumped into the fray.
"Hinagiku, run!"
With a single kick she knocked two of the men away from her sister, grabbed Hinagiku, and dragged her toward a gap in the circle.
But the white-haired man only smirked and clapped again.
Another dozen thugs closed in.
This time they pulled handguns from inside their jackets.
Under the weight of all those black muzzles, cold sweat ran down Hinagiku's back.
Yukiji's face went chalk white.
"Heh. What now? So you can fight—but can you take on bullets?"
"Katsura Hinagiku-san, be smart about this and surrender. You're cute—I might even consider knocking a little off that debt if you keep me company for a night."
He ran his eyes up and down her body with a lecherous grin.
Yeah, her chest was pretty flat, but she had youth and cuteness going for her. He could tell at a glance she'd never been touched before.
Corrupting a pure high-school girl—that was the best.
As he thought it, he even licked his lips.
"In your dreams," Hinagiku snapped. "I'd rather die than give in. And I will never help you do something this vile."
She was the student council president of St. Hakuou, a symbol of the school and someone her peers looked up to. There was no way she could sell her body and her soul just because some dirtbags waved a threat in her face.
"Heh, still mouthing off at a time like this. Looks like we'll have to restrain you first and talk later—ow!"
The white-haired man, who'd been leaning against the door smoking and striking a pose, suddenly flew sideways as the door exploded inward, then crashed to the floor.
"Hot—hot—dammit!"
The lit cigarette butt pressed against his lips, and he let out a howl of pain.
"Who the hell—?!"
He scrambled to his feet, glaring toward the shattered doorway.
Hinagiku turned too—and her eyes widened.
"You… Hayashi Maki-kun?"
Yukiji also looked over.
Seeing the handsome boy in the doorway, her eyes lit up. "Whoa—cute!"
"It's me, Hinagiku-senpai," Hayashi Maki said, hands in his pockets as he strolled casually into the room, smiling.
"I was worried, so I couldn't help but follow you. Looks like I got here just in time."
Hinagiku cut him off anxiously. "Did you call the police?"
"Police? Nope," Hayashi Maki said, shaking his head.
Hinagiku stared at him. "Are you an idiot? You came alone? If you get hurt because I dragged you into this, I'll feel awful!"
Hayashi Maki just walked up to her side, voice soft. "It's fine. If I dared come alone, it's because I have the ability to handle it."
"Besides, in a situation like this, the police won't help much. At the end of the day, society thinks 'a debt is a debt,' remember?"
"Haha, kid, I like the way you talk," the white-haired man crowed. "That's right, debts should be repaid! So why don't you help talk some sense into these girls? Otherwise, these guns aren't just for show."
The goons closed in again, guns raised.
Hinagiku frowned deeply and let out a long breath.
"Hayashi Maki… you really shouldn't have come."
He reached up to ruffle her hair, smiling.
"Of course I had to. Who else is going to save you?"
Then he turned to face the ring of armed men.
"Today, I'm walking out of here with both of them," he said calmly. "Let's see who dares to stop me."