Chapter 1: Different Start
You know, I've been thinking about this a lot. What if Ryota isn't just an observant but a gambling genius like Yumeko?
I have to admit as much as I like Kakegurui, it's pretty much above my station because it's hard to write this kind of story after all you need to put effort into learning the games that they play.
It's complicated, really complicated. The reason why I'm making this in the first place is to 'try' because I like the concept of Ryota being a 'gambler' and not just a side character who watches Yumeko matches.
—
My name is Ryota Suzui, I'd like to believe that there was nothing special about me, but that would be a lie.
As my childhood wasn't exactly what you call 'normal'.
It started when my mother got into a massive debt due to gambling, and my father, who couldn't pay it, decided to leave us, completely cutting ties with me and my mother.
As a child, I was confused as to why my father left us, but it didn't take me a long time to understand why he left.
I was forced to grow up mentally, because of how bad my family situation is. After living with only 1 meal per day for a few months, I couldn't take it anymore.
It wasn't living, I refused to live like that so I decided to change that. At that time as a kid, there wasn't any possible job that I could have to get an enormous amount of money in a short amount of time.
So I decided to try 'gambling'. It was the best choice I got at that time.
My first gambling match was in an illegal den, as those legal casinos don't really let a child like me go inside.
So illegal gambling was my only choice, with the money that I'd been saving for months, it was now used as my 'chips'. It was a measly 5,000 yen, it was a situation where I would win or lose it all.
So I didn't dare to think of a scenario where I would lose, because this is my only hope.
So my first gambling match started, my gambling partners were all older than me by at least 2-3 decades which made all of them look at me oddly, as this was the first time they saw a kid like me gamble, a few of them complained about me being here.
But overall, it didn't change anything as I'm also a 'player'.
The game we played was poker, thankfully I know the basics of the game so I wasn't ignorant and that would be quite embarrassing.
As soon as the game started, I started to notice things, minor details that an average person won't notice but I did.
And I decided to use it to my advantage, and by the time we showed our cards, with a nervous look.
I stared at their cards and my shoulder sagged in relief as I realized that my cards are better than all of them combined, a royal flush.
With a big smile on my face, I won! I actually won!
My nervousness faded and it was replaced by excitement! The fact that my previous 5,000 was now multiplied by tenfold.
I was happy with my winnings, but it wasn't enough. My mother's debt was 100 million yen, and a few thousand yen isn't enough.
So I continued gambling because I have a goal to reach.
Time passed, I won and won without fail, and eventually, my winnings reached 80 million yen, only 20 million more before I could reach my goal!
However, right now the other players are now wary of me, some of them were looking at me with a glint inside their eyes, which I noticed as I was a very observant kind of person.
Realizing that I'm in a bad situation, I panicked. I didn't know what to do, no matter how 'smart' I am. I'm just a kid after all.
But with a stroke of luck, the owner of this illegal casino approached me and invited me to come with him to his office. At that time accepting the owner's invitation was the most sensible thing to do.
Nervously following him, I wonder what would happen after they reach the office. Would he tell me to leave the money?
No! I can't, it's my only hope of paying my mother's debt!
However, there's little that I could do to stop him.
But all of my previous thoughts about the owner shattered as not only he allowed me to have the money I won, but he also praised me for my talent for gambling.
Which made me feel proud, as a child it was so easy to evoke such emotions from me.
Then the owner of the illegal gambling casino offered me a deal for me to be his 'player' whether there was a gambling match.
I hesitated at first but ultimately accepted his offer and that decision changed my life forever.
—
It's been years since I've accepted the owner's deal, and it managed not only to pay my mother's debt but also made me and my mother rich, not just rich but very rich.
That's because the owner brought me to a different kind of gambling match and not once did I lose.
Even when my enemy tried to cheat, I've always figured them out and used them to my advantage.
My matches weren't only limited to Japan, but also to different countries, and because of that, I've learned different kinds of gambling matches and tricks.
As I became a teenager, I've gotten bored of gambling because I'd never lost once, the once exciting matches are now plain and dull in my eyes.
The passion I had for gambling was no more as I've always won no matter what, there was no point for me to continue gambling any further as I'd reached my goal, realized my dream, and made my family rich.
With that in my mind, I decided to quit gambling once and for all. After that, I went to the owner who is pretty much my boss, and let him know that I quit gambling.
I spoke to him about my reasons why I wanted to quit and surprisingly he took it well, I thought he'd disagree with my decision to quit.
"I see, I understand your reasons but I'd like you to gamble one last time after this you're free to do whatever you want."
Naturally, I accepted that one more gambling match, and I'm done with the gambling world.
At that time I thought my last match would be dull and boring like my other previous matches but I was wrong.
Because I met her.
—
My boss and I arrived at the Momobami estate. The place was huge, but I've seen bigger.
As a person that traveled around the world for gambling matches, I've seen bigger places but I have to admit that this place was one of the top 10 biggest estates that I have been to.
Even before I started my journey as a gambler, I'd heard of this family before they were in the news a few times in the past.
They were an influential family in Japan after all.
Before I got inside the mansion. I took off my shoes and wore the slippers that were provided by Momobami.
It didn't take me long to arrive at the room where the gambling match would start.
The room was filled with important-looking people, if it was in the past I would have been nervous but I've been in this situation so many times that I've lost count.
So no, these important-looking officials didn't faze me a bit. I got used to their presence.
However, something surprised me, it was a girl my age, sitting in the middle of the room.
And it could only mean one thing, this girl is going to be my opponent for this gambling match.
This was something I'd never expected, as this was the first time I'm going to have a match with someone my age.
I wasn't sure what to think about this situation, wondering if this was a mistake or not, looking at my boss, he noticed my skeptical look, however, he only nodded in return.
With a sigh, I approached the middle of the room and sat down on the opposite side of the girl.
I looked at the table in front of us and I realized that the 'game' that we were going to play was chess, which was quite a surprise. I thought I'd be shogi considering their family.
But then again, they're the ones who decided the match.
The girl in front of me smiled at me, and I could tell it was fake. "Let's have a wonderful match."
"Let's," I replied with the same polite smile, though It was more genuine than hers.
Thus of gambling match started, and she made the first move, she moved her pawn.
I did the same, and after a few moves, my eyes widened.
This girl isn't what I thought she is, I thought she was just a spoiled rich brat, but she's way more than that, she's the real deal.
My expectation was raised, I thought this would be boring like any other match, but right now I have a feeling that it would be different from any other matches I have had before.
I continued making traps, however, she would always see through them, instead of being annoyed, I was more excited than anything.
My earlier doubts were unfounded, she's like me, a genius, not to mention how fast she counters my moves.
While we were playing, I noticed the twinkling in her eyes, I couldn't help but smile.
"You're good." She said,
"You too, I thought you were just a spoiled princess but I was wrong." I suddenly realized what I just said, however before I could say anything, instead of being offended the girl smiled, not just a fake smile but a genuine one.
"You're not wrong to assume I am, forgive me but I thought similar things about you."
O-oh, that's good, really good, it means I wouldn't worry about having an assassin kill me in my bed tonight.
Trust me, it's not a good experience but I eventually got used to them, as there are just some people who get offended by their defeat or perhaps little things.
Our match continued, it was intense as we only had a few pawns left to move. To be honest, I never thought I'd say this but she's amazing. I never knew someone could be my peer in intelligence and strategy.
I could tell she enjoyed the match and so did I. Both of us were reluctant to finish it but, sadly we have to end it due to the fact that there is an audience. If it were up to me I would play with her till dawn, she's just that enjoyable opponent.
Is this what it feels like to finally have a rival?
I looked at her and thought. 'Where have you been all my life?'
And at the end of the match, both of us lost all of our pawns and ended up in a tie.
Her family seems to be both disappointed and surprised by the result of the match, but regardless they didn't say anything.
However, her reaction was quite the opposite of her family. I could still see the twinkling in her eyes, it was fair to say that she enjoyed our match.
"You're good, I never thought I'd meet someone my age who could match me," I said too happily.
"I'm the same." The Momobami heir smiled at me and it made me blush a little because she looks beautiful when she smiles genuinely like that.
"Sorry, if it's rude but may I ask your name? I never really paid attention to it since you know, I thought it would be a boring match."
"Understandable, Kirari Momobami, that's my name, what's yours?"
"Ryota Suzui." I gave her my hand totally forgetting that her family is traditional Japanese, however, she didn't seem to mind and took my hand as a sign of respect.
"Ryota….a nice name," Kirari said my name a bit too fondly, but I didn't realize it at that time.
As I was really happy that I've found someone who could rival me in intelligence.
–
Okay, pretty decent for chapter one!
As you realize I didn't add many details from the matches themselves, but seriously I won't bother to do that because it would take a lot of brain cells from me, so take it or leave it.
— New chapter is coming soon — Write a review
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone