Hikigaya Challenges Kakegurui

231 – The Last Wall of the Student Council

"I lost..."

Yumemi's arms fell limply, her eyes reflecting both disappointment and a sense of relief.

The goal she had been desperately pursuing could not be achieved by her own strength after all.

However... with everything Hikigaya had shown, Yumemi no longer felt that becoming a top idol was an unreachable dream.

She quickly accepted reality and raised her microphone: "Everyone, I, Yumemi Yumemite, have lost. Due to Hikigaya-kun's request, I cannot disclose his true condition. However, I can confirm that this gamble was fair." "I lost."

The support group, which had been showing signs of unrest, immediately stopped their actions. They looked at each other, unsure of what to do next.

"So shameful after all..."

Losing in a gamble to a first-year student, and even her proud idol popularity was crushed by a new freshman.

Yumemi raised her head, her eyes dazed as she looked at the spotlight above, feeling as if her soul was being slowly drawn away from the world. "It's over... dreams, aspirations, everything I built as an idol has ended." "My life holds no value in my own hands... only when it is needed by others can it truly shine."

At some point, Hikigaya Hachiman had silently stepped off the stage. Seeing Yumemi in such a state meant his objective was almost complete.

By striking at Yumemi's pride through this gamble, he had stripped her of her ridiculous idol complex. Now she could be used by him, become a useful tool in Hikigaya Hachiman's hands.

Hikigaya sat back in his seat. Beside him, Yumeko leaned over, curiously asking: "Hachiman, aren't you going to comfort Yumemi-chan now?" "She's in a really bad state. If you want to work with her later, you wouldn't want to see her this down, right?"

"The one who should comfort her isn't me, but the fact that she once tried her best." Hikigaya said with implication: "Effort doesn't betray you, though dreams might. Hard work may not achieve your dreams, but the fact that you tried your best is enough to comfort yourself."

Her dream of becoming a top idol on her own may be broken now, but the fact she worked hard...

Hikigaya glanced at the rows of support group members behind him: "It's about time."

"Yumemi-chan, we love you!" "It doesn't matter how Yumemi-chan sees us, or how strong she is at gambling! We didn't fall for Yumemi-chan because she liked us or because she's good at gambling!" "Keep going, Yumemi-chan! We'll always be your most loyal supporters!"

The fan club leader, Shinonji, cupped his hands like a microphone and shouted with all his might. His unwavering energy inspired the confused fans behind him, who all began to cheer as well.

At Hyakkaou Academy, losing in gambling usually meant a huge drop in popularity—this mindset had affected them all.

But now they finally realized what they truly pursued. To hell with gambling—what they wanted was simply to see Yumemi perform, to be fans and follow their idol!

"Yumemi! Yumemi!"

The enthusiastic atmosphere even drew in students who only came to watch the gamble. Many of them turned into new fans, joining Yumemi's support group.

She had lost the match, but achieved her original goal.

"Eh~ You predicted even this, Hachiman?"

"People always sympathize with the weak, especially when the other party is an idol."

An idol like that—as long as she doesn't publicly date or commit crimes—will always be number one in fans' hearts, unshakable.

Unlike a bestselling author like him who could enjoy the comfort zone forever—no, not really. Unless he quits writing, one poorly written book would become an indelible stain, forever magnified and criticized.

Watching gods fall, watching girls slay dragons—people always like to cycle between making and breaking idols.

Hikigaya gazed leisurely at Yumemi, quietly mapping out future plans in his heart.

"Everyone..." Yumemi stared blankly at the scene before her, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes.

"What a bunch of hopeless idiots...!" Idiots, idiots, idiots...!

The more she cursed them in her heart, the more her tears flowed. But this time it wasn't acting—it was genuine, uncontrollable emotion.

She wiped the tears from her eyes: "Everyone, don't worry. As long as you support me, Yumemi-chan will always be an idol!"

Yumemi Yumemite raised her microphone and began to sing and dance uncontrollably.

At least today, for this moment, she would perform from the heart for her fans. And from today onward, she would follow Hikigaya Hachiman's will.

.

.

.

Yomozuki Runa also sat back in her seat. She nudged Manyuda Kaede with her elbow and asked with a mischievous grin: "Hey, Kaede-kun, have you made up your mind yet?"

Manyuda Kaede coldly pushed up his glasses, the reflection in his lenses gleaming coldly: "What a boring provocation."

"How could it be? I've been looking forward to your gamble with Hikigaya-kun for a long time. You promised—after watching his gamble today, you'd make a decision."

"Yumemi Yumemite was too weak. She didn't even force Hikigaya Hachiman to use his true methods." Kaede gave a cold review. "I'm not like Mibuomi Aoi who wants to borrow external power." "My royal path will crush all opponents head-on."

"Then let's gamble now—representing me and Igarashi Sayaka. Combine our three wills and challenge Hikigaya-kun!" Yomozuki Runa urged him on.

Hikigaya Hachiman's goal was to defeat all the student council members—this much Yomozuki Runa had already figured out.

Now that Yumemi-chan had lost, only the Vice President, Igarashi Seyaka, and Manyuda Kaede remained on the council.

To see Hachiman challenge the student council president as soon as possible, Runa couldn't wait any longer.

She had already contacted Seyaka and Kaede before today's gamble and arranged for Kaede to represent the two of them in a gamble against Hachiman.

Kaede pushed up his glasses again: "No, now is not the time."

"Eh? Why not?"

"Because of the previous student council treasurer, the student council's financial accounts are currently in trouble." "There are still many debts to recover, and mortgaged assets to forcibly liquidate..." "We'll do it after all that is done."

Kaede's voice was deep and ominous.

As the student council treasurer, he had the authority to use the student council's funds. Once he consolidated all assets and unified the power of the entire student council, he would launch the final gamble against Hikigaya Hachiman.

He is the last Wall standing before Momobami Kirari.

232 Hikigaya: I'm Not a Devil Either

The performance ended, and the crowd dispersed.

For the first time, Yumemi finished a handshake event without feeling nauseated.

She stood before the mirror in the dressing room, the smile on her lips fading as she silently washed her hands.

It was over—her final dance.

Next came the time to fulfill the terms of the bet.

Dragging her heavy body, she walked step by step toward the baseball club. When she pushed open the door and saw the room inside, she froze.

An unexpected person was present in the baseball club's activity room.

Juraku Sachiko.

Precisely because of her presence, those usual disgusting behaviors didn't appear in the activity room.

"Yumemi-san, your performance just now was amazing!" Yumeko threw herself forward, wrapping her arm around Yumemi's and pulling her to sit on the sofa.

Yumemi felt awkward being pulled into such an intimate gesture, her body stiff as she sat on the single-seat sofa, waiting for Hikigaya Hachiman's judgment.

"Relax, I'm not some man-eating devil," Hikigaya noticed her tension and spoke to comfort her.

"Man-eating devil? You're worse than a devil," Yumemi snapped back irritably.

At least a devil would only make an idol like her sit on a promotion machine and move on her own, rather than trying to brand her entire soul.

Hikigaya asked calmly, "Do you think the body or the mind is more important?"

"Both are important," Yumemi's tone weakened noticeably. "According to the bet, you have to make me a top idol. If you can't do that, then I have no reason to work for you."

"Take a look at these songs."

Hikigaya reached into the backpack beside him and pulled out a thick stack of documents.

These were all songs he had written from memory—songs that didn't exist in this world.

Every single one had been a massive hit in his memory.

But as someone outside the industry, Hikigaya didn't know which songs suited Yumemi best, nor did he have time to study music theory.

So he simply dumped them all out, letting Yumemi choose the ones most suited for her.

Once she digested this batch, he'd bring out more.

"This many?" Yumemi just glanced at them and saw they were sheet music and lyrics.

She was shocked, but also a little scornful. T

his outsider really thought getting a hit song was that easy? Pulling out this many all at once like they were cheap cabbages?

He must've hired some self-proclaimed experts to rush these out. If these were really any good… she would let Hikigaya—

Eh?! This... this is…

Yumemi's eyes were quickly drawn in by the song titles.

"Candy", "Ultramarine", "Jealousy"...

Just by softly humming along with the sheet music, Yumemi immediately sensed something extraordinary.

The melodies made her heart tremble. If she could sing them properly…

She gave a stiff smile, her tone tinged with both reluctance and frustration: "These… I probably can't handle them right now."

She knew she was an idol, not a professional singer.

To put it simply, idols know a little bit of everything—singing, dancing, rapping—but only superficially.

Put all of those pieces together and you get a public persona.

But when it came to specialized fields, the weaknesses of idols became glaringly obvious.

She could do a bit of everything, but master nothing.

A singer could be an idol, but not all idols could be singers.

"Then go learn," Hikigaya said coldly. "Cancel all your live events. Until your vocal skills are properly trained and you can perform these songs, you won't go back on stage."

All success in this world requires effort—but not all effort leads to success.

The two are not directly connected.

Some people work their whole lives and never see even a glimmer of success.

But what Hikigaya was doing now was giving Yumemi hope—pointing her in the right direction.

Yumemi pursed her lips and nodded solemnly.

Talent determines one's upper limit; effort determines one's lower limit.

Yumemi might not be a naturally gifted idol, but she could endure hardship.

She was willing to do anything to become a top idol. Now that Hikigaya had shown her the path, as long as she kept working, narrowing the gap between her and the songs…

She could do it. She definitely could!

She clenched her fists.

In front of Hikigaya Hachiman, she took out her phone and posted a synchronized tweet to the school forum and Bluebird account: [Yumemi-chan is pausing all performance activities. Next time we meet, I'll show you the best version of me.]

"I'll go receive formal training," she said seriously. "Once I believe I'm worthy of these songs, I'll resume performing."

"Good," Hikigaya nodded. "Songs are just one part of it."

"I told you, you need to master singing, acting, and performing. Start with the songs, since they can be practiced alone."

"If you can't even do that, then there's no point in us working together. I'll just find someone else more suitable."

"I won't let you down."

Hikigaya waved her off. "Saying that is meaningless. Go prove it through action."