Tokyo, but I'm a deceitful scumbag.

"Isn't that Mitsui from the game research department?!"

Chapter 75 Even the Fox Wants to Be a Campus Ghost Story

Hoshino Hideyuki asked, "Do you know him?"

Sakamoto hummed in agreement.

"We were in the same class in first grade." (Many high schools in Japan reshuffle classes every year.)

As they were talking, the people playing against Mitsui suddenly shouted things like "Impossible!" and "My cross-dressing photos!" and then lowered their heads in dejection.

Mitsui went up to comfort him with a smile, and repeatedly said that there was no need for the women's clothing photos, as he preferred the original look, and suggested that they go to a sauna together sometime, blah blah blah.

Clearly, he won another big victory.

Just then, Hoshino Hideyuki observed that strange gray aura emanating from the person who lost the game and merging into Mitsui.

This was the first time he had fully observed the generation and disappearance of this aura.

He immediately and carefully recalled Mitsui's actions just now...

Beside him, Sakamoto continued to sigh:

"I recognize those guys over there. They're always hanging out at the arcade, and they're pretty good. They even won a small prize in a shopping district event. I can't believe Mitsui could beat them so easily. No wonder they're from the Game Research Club..."

Hoshino Hideyuki interjected, "Do you know why he's holding the red bean in his hand? Or have you ever seen anyone else do that?"

"that."

Sakamoto answered without hesitation, "It's a ritual to pray for good fortune."

"Good luck, my lord?"

"Yeah, it was originally one of the seven mysteries of our school, you know? Every school has similar ghost stories, like Hanako in the toilet, moving mannequins, or the homeroom teacher that quietly appears at the back door of the classroom..."

Hey, the last one doesn't seem to be a ghost story, does it?

However, its level of horror is indeed no different from that of ghost stories...

That said, wouldn't my being a fox who infiltrated the school be considered a ghost story?

That makes eight of the Seven Wonders, just like the Four Heavenly Kings have five. That makes more sense, doesn't it? Hmm~

Here, Sakamoto continued:

"It's said that Mr. Good Luck was a principal during the Showa era who had a particular fondness for red beans. He always had the cafeteria make him red bean rice and red bean soup, and even red bean bread. After a while, the students would sneeze and expel red beans..."

"Later he died, but his soul remained at the school and will bless everyone who offers him red beans, so that he can always get fried rice and bread, always guess the right answer on multiple-choice questions, and the teacher will definitely forget to assign homework if he doesn't mention it before get out of class ends!"

I wanted to read those kinds of ghost stories when I was in high school!

Hoshino Hideyuki curled his lip: "That sounds quite interesting."

"Right, right."

Sakamoto laughed and said, "The people in the game research club thought the same thing, so they chose him as the mascot starting with the previous president. They even designed a ritual to clench a red bean and shake it three times to pray for good luck, but it's just a joke, nobody takes it seriously."

is it?

Hoshino Hideyuki narrowed his eyes, suddenly remembering something.

Game Research Department...

It sounds familiar; I think I've seen it in Inuyama Tetsu's materials!

"Is Kondo Nozomi's club... the Game Research Club?"

"Yes, I didn't expect you to know about this, brother."

Sakamoto nodded and said, "She joined last semester, around May, after leaving the flower arranging club. I heard it took a lot of effort and more than a week to get her in."

"Don't you think it's strange?"

Hoshino Hideyuki asked, "A rich girl who likes to bully others would actually join a club whose name includes 'game'?"

"So, Brother Touma, you're new here and don't know our school yet?"

Sakamoto laughed even harder.

He felt a great sense of accomplishment in being able to answer Hoshino Hideyuki's questions in this regard.

"Our school's game research department has a long history, dating back more than 60 years!"

"Back then, there were no video games at all. They mainly studied traditional games like mahjong, shogi, and hanafuda (a type of playing card), and they were quite skilled at them!"

"Not only have two members become Dragon Kings (a specific title in shogi), but several of them have also become renowned professors in the cultural field after graduation, and they are frequently interviewed by television stations!"

"This club now includes video games, and because the president's daughter became the minister this year, it has completely outpaced other clubs in terms of funding and the scale of its activities. The high-end equipment has lured away all the people in the dedicated video game club!"

"So you see, the Game Research Club has a very high status at St. He Middle School."

"However, precisely because of this, the entry requirements are not low; you need to defeat the veteran members in a few specific games..."

Sakamoto scratched his head.

He tried it when he was in his first year of high school, but failed. Later, he joined the comics club.

However, it was precisely because he had tried it that he was able to find out so many things very clearly.

"I've really learned something new..."

Hoshino Hideyuki blinked and suddenly noticed that after winning the game, Mitsui took off his school uniform jacket and took out a thin hoodie from his handbag and put it on.

He looked precocious, and after changing his clothes, he no longer looked like a student.

Then he walked out of the arcade and turned right into the shop next door.

and many more……

If I remember correctly, that's a pachinko parlor over there!

Pachinko is a type of pinball machine, a type of gaming machine that is suspected of being used for gambling.

Ostensibly, Japan prohibits this kind of business.

But pachinko exploited a legal loophole.

The game involves exchanging money for small steel balls, which are then inserted into a machine to play a game. Luck plays a very high role in this game, and winning will return more small steel balls. These small steel balls can be used to redeem prizes or other tokens in the store, such as medals or vouchers.

Up to this point, everything is legal because the steel balls haven't been exchanged for money.

However, once players are outside the store, they can find other shops or underground channels to exchange their prizes and tokens for cash.

Although this step involves cash, it is legal because the transaction is not conducted in the pachinko parlor, but by a third party!

In conclusion, pachinko has become a legalized illegal business.

"Well, let's call it a day."

"what?"

"I have a TV show I want to watch at home."

"Oh, alright."

After saying goodbye to Sakamoto, Hoshino Hideyuki went into the men's restroom and changed his school uniform into a casual suit.

He then went into the pachinko parlor.

Soon, they found that Mitsui classmate.

The other person was sitting in front of a machine covered in anime girl stickers and playing popular anime on the screen, frantically pressing buttons. Sparks flew and the atmosphere was electric.

This scene is so strange...

The fox blinked, then remembered that many pachinko machines actually used anime elements to decorate the machines in order to attract young users.

That's really malicious.

Why not just change it to an animation of the leader's death? During the game, just keep saying the line "Don't stop!" If you lose, sing "Flower of Hope." If you win, rewind the animation to revive the leader. Yeah, that's my honest suggestion!

at this time……

Blah blah blah!

Mitsui won the grand prize; countless tiny steel balls rolled out of the machine, drawing gasps from those around him!

After all, this is all money!

Hoshino Hideyuki, who was hiding to the side, narrowed his eyes.

The Eye of Insight discovered that the few wisps of gray aura had dissipated from Mitsui's body.

Thus……

He had some idea of ​​the nature of this aura.

At this time, the cell phone beeped.

Upon picking it up, I discovered it was a private message from the class monitor.

They said they knew he had a conflict with Kondo Nozomi and hoped to mediate, so they invited him to talk in class after school tomorrow.

LOL, it looks obviously fake.

What mediation? It's clearly a street fight in Shenyang.

However, Hideyuki Hoshino didn't dwell on it much, simply replying "okay" before walking out of the store.

First, I sent a message to Inuyama Tetsuya.

I don't mean anything by this, I'm just reporting this pachinko parlor—they let minors in so easily, you're not an internet cafe, just wait to be punished!

Although I, the fox, don't even have a registered residence, I consider myself a law-abiding citizen and can't stand such despicable things! Humph!

Then, he called Sakamoto.

"Jiro, do you know who the head of the game research club is? Um, I'd like to meet him~"

Chapter 76 Let's play cards, Fox!

The next afternoon.

After school.