The Cheers Game

The new principal’s inaugural greeting abruptly turned into the venue for the “Cheers Game.”

“Alrighty, we’re starting the game! When your class gets called, come up on stage and take a glass of juice! First up is… hmm, that’s right, lucky number seven! Class 1-07, get on stage! Right!”

Class 1-07 was made up entirely of advanced merchants, and was also called the “Grand Merchants’ Union.”

Among the entire student body, the best-dressed students climbed onto the stage.

They took glasses filled with a blood-red liquid, raised them to the sky without hesitation, and—

“We’re going to forget everything from the past month — especially all the evil that that garbage bastard pulled! Cheeeeeers!”

As if celebrating the greatest moment of their lives, they clinked their glasses and downed it in one go.

After they finished gulping, their faces looked refreshingly clear, as if something possessed had been lifted.

“Ahh, you win this game! Here, take your prize money!”

Kakerukun struck an exaggerated “you got me” pose, then plunged his hand into the breast of his golden tuxedo.

He pulled it out again and snapped his fingers open like a blooming flower.

The next instant, glowing banknotes burst from his hand like a blizzard and were absorbed into the bodies of the Class 1-07 students.

The ranking board installed beside the stage updated.

…With a loud CLUNK! at the updated numbers, cheers erupted like a demon had just been slain.

“Woooah! Look at that!”

“Finally that garbage bastard dropped in rank!”

“Serves you right! Yes! Yes! Yesss!”

After that, one class after another went up on stage and delivered unbearable toasts.

“Thank you, Principal! Because of the garbage’s hallucinations, I’ve been sleep-deprived this whole time! Cheers!”

“Now the righteous will be properly rewarded! Garbage goes to the garbage dump! Cheers!”

“I’m sure even our Akemi-sama will come back to her senses now! Cheers!”

Glasses clinked, and the asset rankings board kept updating.

Every time “Special Training Class” sank lower, the boys in the crowd turned around and spoke loudly on purpose.

“That garbage face is priceless!”

“Yeah, he’s totally crushed! Serves him right!”

“We’re not letting trash like you act big anymore!”

Leopin really had been discouraged.

But it wasn’t because his asset ranking had fallen.

—If everyone lost the last month of memories…

Would the people I’d beaten back start pestering me again…?

And just when things had finally gotten quiet because word had spread about my traps and bonded beasts…

If all of that got reset too…

Ugh, what a pain!

And then, at last, it was that class’s turn.

“Okay then, next up is everyone’s favorite, Class 1-19! Come on up! Right!”

The students below the stage naturally parted to make a path.

Beyond the crowd split like a parted sea stood a group of beautiful girls in traditional dress.

At their front, a black-haired girl rang out in a dignified voice.

“We must decline. We will not toast.”

The students who had opened the path gasped, “Whaaat!?”

But Kakerukun looked utterly relaxed.

“Ooh, really? Well, can’t be helped! Any other classes that don’t want to toast? Anyone?”

At that, some students raised their hands.

“Alright! Then could all those classes come up on stage? Don’t worry, I’m not going to force you to toast! Because this is a game! Right!”

The classes that stepped up were Monaka’s Class 1-02, Akemi’s Class 1-06, Kurumi’s Class 1-16, and Kotone’s Class 1-19.

They were classes made up mostly of girls.

Kakerukun stared them up and down like he was appraising their value.

“Woooow! You’re all soooo cute! Can I make you my brides? Can I?”

Kotone, standing as their representative facing Kakerukun, answered instantly.

“We must decline. More importantly, please tell us why you brought us onto the stage.”

“Obviously, it’s because I want you to toast! Oh, and don’t worry — I totally get what you’re trying to say! I do, I do!”

Kakerukun dipped his head slightly, wearing a shadowed smile.

—Hah! You think you’re going to corner me with that!?

You greedy women! I know what you’re thinking!

You’re going to say, “If you want us to toast, pay more!”

But you picked the wrong opponent! I’m a ‘Gambler’…!

Greedy women like this are easier than training a puppy…!

I can see it, I can see it…!

The faces of these greedy girls trembling in fear at what I’m about to say…!

Kakerukun lifted his face and snorted as if making a grand show of it.

“Heh-heh. So you want more, right!? More money! Then maybe I’ll give it to youuu~!”

Brimming with absolute confidence, he flashed a V-sign right at Kotone.

“Boom! Two hundred million!”

Kotone blinked blankly, and Kakerukun felt victory was assured.

—How’s that!? You didn’t expect me to double it, did you!

Whoops, the power dynamic just flipped!

Now then, time for a Gambler’s discipline!

Not just making you kneel — maybe I’ll make you cry as an example~?

I’ve gotta make sure these girls never defy me again! Right!

The students below the stage who had already taken 100 million started murmuring.

“Whaaat!? Two hundred million!?”

“Hey, nobody told us complaining makes it double!”

“So that’s it! That’s what this game is!”

“Damn it, we got played! Noticing that — as expected of Kotone-sama!”

“Yeah! Shaking him down for double is insane!”

“But maybe not! Look at Kotone-sama’s face!

She’s so shocked she’s totally blank!”

“Of course! Anyone would be if they got told two hundred million out of nowhere!”

“Principal is amazing! Using the other side’s demands against them and landing a counterpunch!”

“Kotone-sama’s completely been swallowed up by the principal! Looks like she picked the wrong opponent!”

Feeling great about the crowd’s take, Kakerukun moved in for the finishing blow.

“Awww, looks like you feel like toasting now! But too bad! You already refused! If you want to take that back, you have to ask properly!

Kneel down and say, ‘Please let us toast!’ Go on, try it! Tryyy!”

Kotone snapped back to herself.

She looked at Kakerukun like he was an alien from another planet, and said with visible discomfort.

“U-um…? Principal-sama, what have you been saying this whole time? We have been refusing to toast from the beginning…”

Kotone seemed to genuinely not understand, so Akemi added smoothly.

“Mm-hm. The principal thinks if he raises the money, we’ll toast. More than that, he seems to think we’d happily give up Leopin-kun’s memories.”

Kotone and Monaka, the sheltered duo, cried out in unison: “Whaaat!?”

As if something precious had been defiled, they glared sharply at Kakerukun.

“Principal-sama! No matter how much money you offer, we will never toast! If it means giving up our master’s great memories, we are prepared to bite our tongues and end our lives!”

“Yes! Absolutely not! We finally got to meet Leo-kun again! The memories I made with Leo-kun are beyond value…! More than all the years without Leo-kun, this one month with Leo-kun made me happier — so, so much happier!”

And the stage turned into the girls’ Leopin choir.

Surrounding the principal, they began passionately praising just how wonderful Leopin was.

Kakerukun, like a toad surrounded by mirrors, couldn’t stop sweating greasy beads.

At the end, Akemi delivered the killing blow under her breath.

“Ahaha… how pitiful. Someone who can only hold people’s hearts with games and money…”

“H-hassaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!?!?”