The fierce battle began.Due to the board's limited size, all the land had been snapped up after just four rounds.
Ishigami Yu assessed the situation.
The property holdings were as follows:Shinomiya-senpai: 6 high-tier properties (selling price above 3000), 4 mid-tier properties (2000–3000), 0 low-tier properties (below 2000).As the eldest daughter of the Shinomiya family, Shinomiya-senpai never made a losing move. After carefully calculating the path to maximum profit, she appeared to be executing a strategy she dubbed "One-Hit Victory."She held onto her Plunder Card and invested heavily in building houses on her high-tier properties.If anyone landed on them in the late game, it could mean either a devastating loss of money—or instant elimination.Fujiwara-senpai: 1 high-tier property (a two-story building), 2 mid-tier properties, and 12 low-tier properties.As the daughter of a politician, one might assume Fujiwara-senpai was going for a populist strategy.But actually…Never mind. She was just playing completely at random.In his mind, Ishigami Yu mentally tossed Fujiwara Chika off the game board.Sakurai-senpai and Ishigami himself:Together, they held 5 high-tier, 10 mid-tier, and 12 low-tier properties.The current situation was clear:As long as they didn't land on Fujiwara's two-story building, they wouldn't lose immediately.
"Hehe, my hotel is three stories now!"
Oh. Never mind. It was now a three-story hotel.
Ishigami quickly opened the rulebook to check the toll cost of such a structure on high-tier land.
8900?!Just one lap around the board only gave you 4000 points!
Everyone was short on funds due to aggressive property buying and construction.But wait—he still had a Plunder Card!He could just steal that hotel!
"Sakurai-senpai."
"No rush," Sakurai Saki replied, ignoring Fujiwara Chika entirely.
Their true enemy was Kaguya Shinomiya.She still had two item cards: a Teleport Card and a Demolition Card.One allowed free movement; the other could reduce a building's level by one.
The battlefield remained shrouded in fog. No one could predict the outcome.
Ten minutes later, in the President's seat—
Shirogane Miyuki looked up at the four of them.Fujiwara and Sakurai were being way too serious.This wasn't a corporate battlefield!Did they really need so many building levels?
"I'm using the Demolition Card! Target: Shinomiya-senpai's villa!" Ishigami declared.
So intense.Shirogane smiled faintly.Still, it was good to have these kinds of people in the Student Council.Even while working, he never felt bored.
"Ishigami-kun! Why are you demolishing Kaguya-san's villa?!"
"Then why did you just use a Roadblock Card to block Sakurai-senpai, Fujiwara-senpai?! It's just a game—why so serious?"
Shirogane heard their quarrel, chuckled, and shook his head.
Childishly cute.
Ten more minutes passed.
"Aaaaaah! Fujiwara-senpai! My newly built skyscraper!"
"Eh? Ishigami-kun, didn't you say it's just a game~?"
Occasional fights like these weren't bad.They built relationships, forged team chemistry—All of which would help in future work and studies.
Shirogane repeated this logic to himself, trying to convince his inner self:This wasn't frustration from a board game.It was just... high competitive spirit.
A few minutes later—
"I'm using my Plunder Card. Target: Somiya-san's America. Here's the house construction cost," said Sakurai, playing her ultimate card.
"Then I'll use mine too. Target: Sakurai-kun's Dragon Country. Total construction cost: 13,000," Kaguya replied calmly as she returned her card to the deck.
Sakurai reshuffled the item deck herself.It was necessary.
After all, Fujiwara Chika had once rigged the shuffle in Monopoly.She was not to be underestimated.As expected of Fujiwara Chika.
Shirogane Miyuki, watching the escalating chaos, quickly finished the last of his paperwork.He slapped the table with finality.
"I'm done with work!"
"Oh," Kaguya said, not even lifting her head.
"Nice work, Shirogane," Sakurai mumbled, still strategizing how to force out Kaguya's last item card.
She still had two left.
"Shirogane-senpai! Want to join a round?" Ishigami asked, tossing the dice.
Four.
Oh no! A landmine.It was Fujiwara-senpai's landmine.
"Oh my~ Ishigami-kun, you landed on my villa!" Fujiwara Chika sang sweetly, extending her small palm."Pay up! Accommodation fee!"
Tsk.Ishigami Yu reluctantly handed over the game money.12,000 points.His balance was now scraping rock bottom.
"Ishigami," Sakurai Saki said calmly, "it's time for that move."
"Next, I'll use a Negotiation Card. Its effect lets me negotiate with a player and acquire one of their properties.""And I have three of them."
Ishigami silently passed her three high-tier property cards.As long as their total assets reached 100,000, they could still win.
Shirogane Miyuki's expression sharpened.His already intense gaze grew even more terrifying—The squint of extreme nearsighted focus.When he stared like this, it was like being locked in a laser sight.
Even match?No—Shinomiya had the upper hand.
All of her high-tier properties were fortified with two-story hotels.A deadly front line.
In a corner of the board, Shirogane spotted a terrifying configuration:Three mid-tier properties and one high-tier property clustered together.Fujiwara Secretary owned just one mid-tier tile.The rest—belonged to Kaguya Shinomiya.
This kind of territory…
If Fujiwara gets eliminated, Kaguya will gain full control...And four linked properties doubles the rent...!
Kaguya's lips curved into a cold, calculating smile.Like a villainess orchestrating chaos behind the scenes of a corporate thriller.
"So hot," Kaguya muttered, pulling out a fan.Etched on its surface: [Peerless].
Sakurai Saki noticed.Of course she did.Kaguya was preparing to stab everyone in the back.It was time to act.
"Fujiwara Secretary! Let's form an alliance. If we don't stop Shinomiya, none of us can win!" Sakurai sent a team invite.
"No! I'll never betray Kaguya-san!" Fujiwara Chika declared proudly.
...But Kaguya was just about to betray her.
Good words can't save a doomed soul.
One round later, Ishigami Yu landed again on Fujiwara's hotel.He was honorably eliminated.
A few rounds after that—Fujiwara Chika stepped onto Kaguya's territory.Defeated. Instantly.
"Wuwu~ Kaguya-san, avenge me!" she sniffled, grabbing Kaguya's fan and fanning her like a loyal retainer.
For just a moment, a faint blush touched the ice queen's face.Did they find out about the fan...?She'd used it earlier to subtly interfere with Fujiwara's dice roll.Surely no one noticed... right?
Sakurai Saki stared at her.And smiled.A warm, knowing smile.
"Somiya-san," she said, eyes glittering,"Now it's just the two of us."