A game

Part 1

First hand.

Chips: 5000

Minimum bet: 1. Maximum: 500.

And why can't I bet everything at once and lose in the first round?

Of course, I wasn't going to do this, but the lack of opportunity is unpleasant.

Okay, let's get started.

— I'll bet 50.

Three, queen versus ace.

13 vs 11.

Easy. More.

Ace. 14. Nice.

— More.

Six. 20.

— Stop.

The second Senpai card turned out to be a Seven. Total 17.

Victory. +50.

Looks like a standard blackjack.

Are we going to play until one player runs out of chips?

This can take quite a long time.

Should I raise the bet?

Still no.

50 again.

Second hand.

Seven, ten against the jack.

17 against 10.

I won't do anything here.

— Stop.

The second card this time was an eight.

Couldn't have been better.

Nice play.

-50.

All right, two more fiftys and I'll do some more.

...

...

I lose these two hands too.

What, my luck was enough just for one hand?

Sounds so-so.

— I bet 500.

The maximum.

Fifth hand.

6, 4 against a queen.

Ha, easy.

— Double it.

This time comes the ace.

21.

Perfect.

Senpai has a seven. This is the third time.

An easy victory.

In total, for five hands:

+50, -50, -50, -50, +2000.

I'm up 1,900 chips.

Two more wins like that and it's game over.

Has the tide of luck really started?

If it is, I'm going to have to keep going.

Hand number six.

— 500.

...

...

Draw. Nothing interesting.

The next four hands are also tied. Nothing special.

Senpai didn't show much emotion during the game. Just concentrating on her role as dealer.

It's a pretty boring game.

If that case...

We should spice it up a bit.

Hehe...

Here we go.

Round eleven.

I'm still up 1,900.

— 500.

Two kings are coming this time. Dealer has a three.

20 against 3.

Exactly what I need.

— Double it.

Senpai was already ready to give me the next card, but soon she stopped.

— Uh, are you sure about this?

Since when do dealers get to comment on players' moves?! What kind of outrage is that?

So I try to keep my voice as serious and firm as possible.

— Doubling means doubling! Give me the card.

Look! Hearken to my divine luck!

I will perform a miracle!

— Well, if that's what Kouhai says, then fine...

Senpai pulls a card from the deck...

And...

And...

It's an ace! There's no other way!

What the hell are you doing...?

You've been talking too much lately.

...

...

.......

... I lost.

No miracle.

The last card was a king.

30 points. Overkill.

My cheek twitched nervously.

Did you really expect things to be different?

(Of course!)

Why the hell did I lose?

No, there's definitely something wrong here.

Yes, and that's your stupidity.

Damn.

The twelfth round...

Thirteenth... Fourteenth...

On the fifteenth hand, I get a twenty again.

— Double it.

This time everything should work out.

...

...

Six.

Overkill again.

Again...

Okay... Nevermind.

Half an hour later, the number of hands exceeded 30.

My nearly 2,000-point gain had turned negative.

I'm now down 4,000.

In other words, with a bet of 500, I only have enough for one doubling.

Why did I even start doubling at 20 points?

In such cases, any card except the ace leads to an automatic loss. Moreover, even the ace still does not give a guaranteed win.

The chance of losing here is 92%. And I am not even talking about draw yet.

And yet, this is the fifth time I've doubled.

Why?

Because why not?

I've never looked for easy ways. It's too boring.

My life has always been simple and dull. Why simplify it even more?

So I always knocked down my chances to the minimum at every opportunity.

I've never cared about winning or losing. The process itself is much more important.

Well, also, the pleasure of winning with a scanty probability is much greater.

...At this rate, I'm sure I'll slip into ludomania sooner or later.

Or maybe I already am.

Meanwhile, the thirty-fourth hand has begun.

And, most likely, it will be the last.

I looked at my watch.

16:39

Did two hours fly by so fast?

When I played with myself, the time went slower.....

I wonder what this is related to?

Part 2

Chips: 1000 (-4000)

Hand 34.

Bet: 500

It's going to be 20 + Ace this time.

I'm sure of it.

If not, then I'm committing suicide right here.

As if it's going to influence you in any way, you're settled in well, huh.

Shut up.

Look carefully. I'm definitely going to win this time.

— Am I giving away?

— Of course.

And...

Two tens. A start has been made.

Senpai has... an ace.

Yeah...

This ace should be mine...

And it will.

— Double it.

Senpai looked at me in bewilderment and sighed, but still took out the next card.

It will be an ace. Necessarily.

Ace.

Ace.

Ace.

ACE!

And...

This...

This is...

I'm looking at the card in anticipation.

What took you so long? It's an ace, right?

Give it to me already.

I grab the card.

— ...

This...

— Kha...

A deuce!

A deuce! A fucking deuce!

22... that's too much.

I lost. Completely.

This is a direct mockery of my gambling nature!

— Kha...

I'm coughing...

Looks like...

I'm dying...

A-a-a-a-a-a.....

I just slit my throat with that deuce.

How could this have happened? Will my story end so shamefully?

...Hell no!

...

....

— Looks like I lost.

— …

— …?

(She's in the clouds...)

Inhales the air. Inhales more... and more…

Eyes closed. Fingers are tapping on the table furiously.

Clear signs of overexertion. However, she successfully suppressed them, as if by sheer willpower alone. And...

— ...That means that you won't leave the club. Right, Kouhai-kun? – some nervousness remained in her voice, but it was much calmer than he could have been based on her mental state a few seconds ago.

Why is she paying so much attention to me? Why is she so reluctant to let me leave?

— ...There's no rule about that, isn't it?

— No, but there is a rule that the loser grants the wish of the winner. Look. - Senpai hands me a small piece of paper.

It's just a brochure that every club makes when they need new members. This one looks pretty old. There doesn't seem to be much need for it right now.

I quickly run my eyes over it and spot the item in question.

Rule №9. All disputes and disagreements in our club will be settled through games. The loser fulfills any wish of the winner (within reason).

Ha... looks like I'm in trouble.

— And... your wish is for me to stay?

— Yes!

Just this? Such simple request?

I still don't know exactly what she's up to, but...

— ...Okay. You win.

...But I can't ask directly.

Yeah. I'm still an antisocial wimp, incapable of even simple dialogue. And it looks like I'll be one for the rest of my life.

Not to say that I was really against this club, it's just...

I'm not sure. I just didn't like crowded places.

There's nobody here but Senpai. That'll probably change tomorrow, but I had a pretty good time tonight. It was fun, I guess. Even if it doesn't look like it on my perpetually gloomy face.

Senpai nods and smiles contentedly. She's achieved her goal. I can only guess what it is.

Perhaps my sister put her up to it.

It doesn't seem impossible. She manages to pull pranks from hundreds of miles away. Even in this situation, I can't let my guard down.

Hmph.

If that's the case, I've already been caught. That means there's no point in resisting.

It wasn't anyway. I don't think I'll ever be able to outwit her.

And it's still just a guess. Not much important that I think.

It's pretty late anyway. It's time to go home.

— But I won't be able to come every day. So...

Was it my imagination, or did she just squint suspiciously?

But when I looked at Senpai again, the face was already normal.

— Nothing. It's a free-to-go club, so it's okay.

— ...Fine then.

...Why did I even bother?

As always, I invented a problem, spent the whole day solving it, and in the end it turned out that there was no problem at all.

I feel like a complete idiot.

Part 3

— Are you leaving already? - Senpai spoke with longing in her voice.

— I'm already pretty late.

— ...Do you have somewhere to be?

— Not really, but...

— ...So you didn't like it...?

— …

— …

(Don't look at me like that...)

— ...I liked it. - I squeezed it out.

It's true. But still, to say it out loud a little... I don't know.

That kind of look by her just left no other choice. I mean, after trying so hard to organize, it must hurt to hear the negativity.

— ...I'm so glad ... – muttering to herself, Senpai breathed out with relief.

That's what I meant.

(But she's reacting much more strongly than I thought...)

Anyway…

— Well... I guess I'll go after all. Thanks for... - But when I get up...

Grabbing the edge of her sleeve, she stops me.

Blinking, I turn around.

— ...You can stay longer ... – Letting go of my sleeve, Senpai puts her hands on my shoulders.

— …

—...Okay...?

There's definetly... something... wrong… here...

I stifled a yawn.

— ...I don't think I'll make it through another game. I'm tired...

That was a bit of a lie. I'm not saying that I need to sleep right now. But this place is too calming on the nerves, so I do feel sleepy.

No need to overstay her welcome.

— But if you want, then... you can sleep right here! – The fingers on my shoulders clenched slightly and the tension left my body.

(...Can she read minds?)

— Here?

She nods.

— …

(Come to think of it, why the hell should I go home? Nobody's waiting for me there anyway).

Besides, tomorrow is Sunday. Which means I don't have to go anywhere.

Yes, our school is on Saturday. Not that I care, but five days seems more convenient.

These sofas... beckoning.

— Well, if you don't mind…

— …!

I should have already reached out towards the sleeping place...

— W-w-wait!

— Hm? What's wrong?

A stuttering, downcast-eyed Senpai... A very rare but cute species. She also blushed slightly.

— There are no sleeping accessories here, so... you can use my lap!

—...What?

That was... unexpected. So unexpected that my heart involuntarily quickened.

Lying on a girl's lap... Such a beautiful girl...

— …

I'm swallowing.

My head feels so dizzy... I guess I'm really tired.

— …

Ohh. I'm so tired, jeez....

(I won't make it home... I'll fall asleep on the way.)

I need to lie down very urgently.

Don't be silly. You're just looking for excuses.

Kh... I can't argue.

Without waiting for my answer, Senpai sat down on the sofa and patted her thighs.

— This way...~

Kha!

Oh-h... head... pressure. Too much blood has arrived to the head.

I'm just being tempted!

— Em... are you sure you're okay with this? – The most my consciousness could manage was a pathetic negotiating phrase.

But I still need to make sure that this is not a joke.

— Kouhai-kun, if you delay, I will change my mind...

— Sorry for the intrusion.

I lay down, unable to resist those devilish charms.

...

...

All worries and anxieties instantly vanished.

(Is this heaven?)

What an irony.

I've already updated my idea of ultimate comfort twice today.

The first time was on the couches, and the second time is right now.

It feels... just perfect!

Nothing will change my mind, nothing has ever been invented better than lying on girl's lap.

Judge for yourself.

That softness, that firmness, that warmth. It's a divine combination.

I've never given much thought to religion, but I doubt that something so perfect could have come about by itself.

This is definitely the work of a higher entity.

From here I can smell the shampoo. Senpai definitely takes care of her hygiene, and therefore smells very good.

In addition... from here, the best view of the center of charm. Swaying with every breath... uhh...

No, I should rest! Rest, not excitement, damn it!

I need to close my eyes... and relax.

It's so... good...

I feel the tension leaving my body...

Even this stupid cold has subsided a bit.

I can talk for a long time about this excellent sleeping place, but why... if I can just enjoy it...

Yes... this is the coming of God... he came to reward me for suffering...

Soon consciousness left me, and I finally fell asleep. Probably for the first time without bad thoughts.