At St. Dominic's, Yumeko Jabami's reputation precedes her: compulsive gambler, thrill-chaser, the "Kakegurui." Her world is built on risk, instinct, and the intoxicating rush of tearing through opponents one gamble at a time. But when her obsession turns toward Kira Timurov-the ruthless, elegant student council president known for her unshakable control-Yumeko discovers a game far more dangerous than cards or dice. What begins as a wager becomes an obsession. Yumeko thought she could tempt the untouchable queen and claim victory, but Kira rewrites the rules entirely. In her arms, even surrender feels like triumph. And the deeper Yumeko falls into the game, the more she realizes she never really understood the power of Kira's gravity.

"What's the most important thing you've ever gambled?" "My heart." Yumeko said faintly, almost in a whisper. "Did you win?" He asked, genuinely interested in the answer. Yumeko was still looking at Kira when she replied. "I don't know yet."

When the elegant and enigmatic Yumeko Jabami transfers to St. Dominic's Academy, she has no idea that the school is ruled by a powerful student council - and that nearly all of its members are vampires. At the top of this deadly hierarchy is Kira Timurov, the cold, calculating president with piercing blue eyes and an icy heart. Their first meeting is electric. Kira is drawn to Yumeko in a way that terrifies her. Yumeko, meanwhile, senses that there's something monstrous lurking beneath the surface of this prestigious school - and inside herself. As secrets begin to unravel, Yumeko discovers that she might not be entirely human. Haunted by flashes of strange memories and an instinct she can't explain, she begins searching for answers about her true nature. With the help of her human friends Mary, Ryan, and Michael, Yumeko uncovers the hidden history of the school, the vampire council, and the alumni who still pull the strings from the shadows. As she draws closer to the truth, she finds herself caught between two worlds - and between her growing power and her growing feelings for the one person she was told never to trust. But when enemies from both the vampire and human sides threaten to destroy the fragile peace, Yumeko must choose who she really is, and what she's willing to fight for. Can a girl caught between bloodlines and buried secrets truly survive falling in love with a monster - or is she one herself?

For as long as Kira Timurov can remember, her life has been dictated by her father's ruthless vision for their family legacy. At seven years old, she learned her future was already decided: an arranged marriage to Yumeko Jabami, the daughter of a powerful Japanese family. Summers were spent together under watchful eyes - some were bright with laughter, others heavy with resentment - until the bond between them frayed into wary silence. Years later, St. Dominic's Academy becomes their battleground. Kira, cold and calculating, refuses to be caged into a future she didn't choose. Yumeko, all patience and quiet defiance, wants only to reclaim the childhood friend she lost. But in a school where power is gambled and won at the table, every smile hides a strategy and every glance could be a wager. Told through the push and pull of the present and summers past, their story unfolds in high-stakes games, reluctant alliances, and moments neither of them can quite forget - a scraped knee and whispered comfort, a stolen kiss under drunken lights, a dare that lingers for years. As the games escalate and family pressures tighten, both must decide what they are willing to risk: the power they've fought for, or the person who's always been at the other side of the table. Because sometimes, even in an arranged marriage, you get to choose how you play the hand you've been dealt.