Despairful Gambler (Pilot Chapter)

Chapter 1 - New Student

It was a sunny day, and a great day to start of school. This is gonna be my first day at Hope's Peak Academy, and I think it's gonna be great! I heard that this school was super prestigious and I would really want a great job to support my family. I really want a great job, specifically a pianist. I'm really good to piano, and that's how I got the scholarship here.

I walked through the entrance, but as soon as I walked in, the atmosphere immediately dropped. The doors closed behind me, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I walked through the dimly lit hallways and walked towards my classroom. I opened the door and the room was crowded but quiet. I shimmied my way to near the middle of the crowd and saw a gambling match going on? Isn't this a school? Why are they gambling? I asked a student  behind me, "Excuse me, why are they gambling? Aren't they supposed to study?" After I said that, she giggled and realized. "Oh, you're that new student, aren't you?" "Yeah, but what does that has to do with this?" I replied, "Well, this is a gambling school. The social hierarchy is based on your gambling skill." She replied back, I was taken aback by her statement.

"Wait, what?" I asked, confused. "Before I explain that, let's talk out of the crowd 'kay? It's so packed here!" I nodded, and she dragged me out of the crowd. "I'll introduce myself, my name is Miu Iruma, nice to meet you. A second-year," He introduced himslef so I followed him and did the same. "My name is Kaede Akamatsu," "Ah, so this school is a gambling school, and the better your gambling skill, the more powerful you are." She explained. "But I thought this was a prestigious school?" I asked, still processing the information she unloaded to me. "Well, yeah but once you get in, you realize that everything that they said about this school was false. I mean yeah we still have lessons but hardly anyone goes to the lessons except for the housepets, of course." She explained more. "Housepets?" "Oh yeah, housepets. Basically every month you have to pay money to the student council. The ones that paid the least, the ones that are in debt, all become housepets. They all become housepets that serve the ones that aren't housepets, or their masters. To show you an example,"

She clapped his hands and yelled. "Doggy~ your master needs you~" a boy with a necklace that's written doggy approached the both of us. "Yes, m-master?" "Get me a glass of water." She ordered the 'doggy'. "That's a housepet." She told me. I was once again baffled. What did I just see? The doggy returned to Miu and gave her the glass of water. "Now spill yourself with that water." The 'doggy' drenched himself with the water with no hesitation. Miu turned to me, "Did I mention that the housepets have no right disobeying us? HAHAHAHA! Oh, I just got carried away, sorry! Now, after being said that, do you wanna gamble?"