Chapter 590: Kirari's Aquarium
Ren and Ichihara Yuko did not linger long within the opulent, suffocating halls of Hyakkaou Private Academy.
Kirari, naturally, looked incredibly reluctant to see them go—or rather, she was reluctant to see Ren go. As for Yuko, the two women spent their days ruthlessly tormenting each other's blood pressure in their shared group chat, so the idea of a tearful farewell between them was utterly absurd.
"I won't walk you to the academy gates," Kirari murmured, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "In a little while... we will visit you on the day Rindou and the others go for their field study."
Ren gave a calm nod. If that was the case, his restaurant was going to be exceptionally chaotic that day. Yuuka Kazami and her usual crowd would definitely make an appearance. Asuna was bringing her mother for dinner, Rindou's lively group would be there, and now Kirari was bringing her own quartet.
It was going to be a veritable storm of personalities.
Completely ignoring the stunned, wide-eyed gazes of the surrounding student body, Kirari stepped close. She gently pulled Ren down by his collar and captured his lips in a deep, lingering kiss that sent a collective, scandalous gasp rippling through the hallway.
Pulling back with a breathy, elegant laugh, Kirari whispered against his jaw, "Are you absolutely certain you don't want me to help you handle Runa and Yumeko?"
Ren shot her a dry, exasperated look. "Just behave yourself. And next time, leave the mark somewhere a little more discreet."
Kirari sighed, a playful glint in her icy blue eyes. "That card really was The Fool, you know. Never mind... you two should get going. I'll come find you in a few days."
"Mhm. I doubt you'd miss an opportunity for a draw, anyway," Ren replied smoothly. "Have fun."
The moment Ren's silhouette disappeared down the corridor, Kirari raised a slender hand to cover her mouth. Her lips curled upward, twisting into a breathtakingly unhinged smile. A dark, possessive madness swirled in her eyes. "Saya... just as I thought. Ren is simply the best. Truly, utterly wonderful."
Sayaka nodded fervently, her own heart racing at her President's intoxicating aura.
Ren never commanded Kirari to stop. Whatever he said, she would follow with absolute devotion, but his instructions were always the same: have fun. He constantly reminded her that she would never lose to anyone but herself, and most, that no matter how far she went in her twisted games, she always had a home to return to.
It was this deep, unconditional acceptance that drove Kirari's love for him to the very brink of madness.
Hyakkaou Private Academy was Kirari's personal amusement park. It was a dog-eat-dog aquarium of her own design, where every student was merely a fish struggling to survive. But what no one in this academy knew was that Kirari possessed a second aquarium. She had built it with her own two hands, yet she wasn't its master. Once the glass was sealed and the deep waters were poured, she had thrown herself in, willingly becoming a fish.
There was only one fish in that entire, vast aquarium. And its absolute master was Ren.
Kirari slowly lowered her hand. Her eyes narrowed into frigid crescents as a strange, chilling smile graced her features. "Ah... Saya... I won."
Sayaka nodded again. Kirari and Jabami Yumeko's gamble had technically ended in a draw, but both women knew the truth. Kirari had set up a hidden, secondary gamble within the Tarot of Destiny—The Fool. She had bet on whether that trembling young man would actually dare to turn the card over.
The results spoke for themselves. Kirari had won. The boy lacked the spine to flip it.
Entrusting one's future to another required an unfathomable amount of courage. Kirari, who had already wholly surrendered her own future to Ren, naturally couldn't resist playing a few psychological tricks on those who hadn't.
After a moment of silent calculation, Kirari murmured, "Saya, summon Jabami Yumeko to the Student Council room."
As Sayaka bowed and left, Kirari reached into her pocket, pulling out a single, thin strip of paper. She sighed, a rare flicker of genuine dejection crossing her face. As expected, she hadn't won the ultimate prize. She had so desperately hoped there would be another line written on it, but she was left disappointed.
Rolling the paper between her fingertips, Kirari whispered into the empty hall, "Jabami Yumeko... it is entirely impossible for you to ever win my capital. But... if you wish to buy shares, I suppose I wouldn't object... Fufu..."
She completely tuned out the frantic whispers echoing through the school about the President's scandalous new lover. In truth, Kirari reveled in the sensation of being envied—even if it was only her own arrogant assumption that the lesser fish were jealous of her prize.
A short while later, the heavy doors of the Student Council room swung open.
"Ah, Yumeko. You're here."
"Yes, President!" Yumeko strolled in, her eyes gleaming with that familiar, manic energy. "I never would have guessed that your 'capital' was your beloved! What an enviable display of affection out there."
Kirari smiled, her posture radiating absolute authority. "Indeed, it is quite wonderful. I called you here to discuss something... something I believe will pique your interest."
Yumeko's breath hitched, a heavy flush creeping up her neck. "Oh? President, are you finally going to use Mr. Ren as a stake and gamble with me?!"
"Jabami Yumeko!" Sayaka barked, stepping forward with lethal intent.
This wasn't just Kirari's bottom line; it was hers as well. Sayaka loved Kirari with every fiber of her being, and she loved Ren. If anyone dared try to tear Ren and Kirari apart, she would destroy them without hesitation.
Kirari raised a hand, silencing her secretary, though her own smile remained dangerously sharp. "Unfortunately, that is impossible. He is the one capital I will never place on the table. I thoroughly enjoy watching the furious, desperate expressions of those who wish to steal him away, who try every conceivable method to claim him... but I will never bet him."
Yumeko's eyes widened, a shiver of pure thrill running down her spine. "Mmm! How incredibly interesting!"
"Isn't it?" Kirari's airy laugh echoed in the grand room. "Yumeko, we really must dine at Ren's restaurant together sometime. It is a rare opportunity, so why don't we sit down, chat, and... strengthen our friendship?"
"I would love nothing more!"
Sayaka stood frozen by the desk. At first, she hadn't grasped the undercurrents of the exchange, but as the implications settled in, her eyes widened in sheer disbelief. The psychological warfare and twisted camaraderie between Kirari and Jabami Yumeko was simply too stimulating for a normal mind to process.
Meanwhile, far from the suffocating tension of the academy, Ren and Ichihara Yuko strolled down the sunlit streets, exchanging casual banter.
Yuko finally let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Kirari's school is just... I don't even have the words for it. Regardless, speaking purely from an outsider's perspective, I never want to set foot in that place again."
Ren considered this for a moment, his tone calm and measured. "Kirari needs a stage, and she needs bargaining chips. The academy exists to satisfy her endless craving for a challenge while simultaneously silencing anyone who dares to voice dissatisfaction. She simply won't tolerate any disobedient fish in her aquarium."
Yuko chuckled, a sultry, knowing sound. "You really do understand her perfectly."
"I'm also an expert on Yuko."
"Pfft... I'm not nearly that easy to read," she retorted, rolling her eyes playfully. "Speaking of which, where are we eating lunch today? There doesn't seem to be a single decent place around here."
"Who says there isn't?" Ren replied smoothly. "Isn't there a newly opened restaurant nearby? It's actually owned by one of my customers."
Yuko raised an eyebrow. "Who? Hinako?"
"No. Let's just go and see. We might even get to try some genuinely unique dishes." Ren glanced down at her feet. "By the way, aren't your feet killing you?"
Yuko shot him an exasperated glare. "They can't hurt forever. Didn't I spend ages rubbing them earlier? I think I can manage until this evening. Though, slippers really are much more comfortable."
"Little blue butterfly slippers?" Ren teased, his lips twitching into a faint smirk.
"You are so annoying!" Yuko swatted his arm, her cheeks dusting pink. "I'll change into a different pair later!"
"Big black butterfly slippers, then?"
"Pfft... Alright, that is quite enough from you!"
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