Chapter 8: The Nail Collector
The after-school cafeteria.
I was preparing to enjoy a rare moment of tranquility while considering how to utilize the pawn known as Mary Saotome to gain access to higher-level intelligence.
However, things rarely go as planned.
A girl, looking as exquisite as a porcelain doll, blocked my path. She had short hair, a headband printed with a spade pattern, and a smile so sweet it was sickening.
Student Council member, first-year Class Flower: Itsuki Sumeragi.
"A pleasure to meet you, Ayanokoji-senpai."
She greeted me politely. If one ignored the thugs standing menacingly behind her, it would have looked like a typical confession scene.
"Is there something you need?" I responded flatly.
"I heard you won ten million yen from Saotome-san? That's truly impressive." Itsuki sat opposite me uninvited, pulling a beautifully crafted lacquer box from her bag. "As a greeting gift, I'd like senpai to admire my 'treasures.'"
Her slender fingers gently lifted the lid.
A faint scent of formalin mixed with perfume drifted out.
Arranged neatly within the red velvet-lined box were dozens of items.
They were human fingernails and toenails.
Some were painted with beautiful polish; some were stained with dried blood; others had clearly been ripped out by force, with bits of flesh still clinging to the roots.
The air around us froze instantly.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" A sickly flush rose to Itsuki's cheeks, her eyes drifting dreamily over the nails. "These were all left behind by people who lost to me in the past. They are the best collectibles... the crystallization of their pain and despair."
She snapped her head up, her gaze locking onto my hands.
"Ayanokoji-senpai, your hands are truly beautiful. Long fingers, distinct joints... if these nails were peeled off and pasted into my collection book, it would be stunning."
"Is this your stake?"
Facing this box of nauseating items, I didn't even twitch an eyebrow.
"Exactly." Itsuki clasped her hands together, speaking excitedly. "Let's have a match! If I lose, I'll give you twenty million yen. If you lose... I want all the nails from your left hand and right foot."
"A bodily stake, then."
I looked at the box of nails as if I were looking at a box of expired crackers, then looked up and spoke in a tone reminiscent of an academic report:
"It seems you have a rather severe case of fetishism and sadistic tendencies."
Itsuki's smile stiffened.
"Generally speaking, this behavior of gaining pleasure through collecting human tissue and confirming a dominant position by depriving others of their physical integrity stems from some form of repression during childhood."
Ignoring her gradually twisting expression, I continued my cold analysis:
"It could be an emotional deficit caused by overly strict parenting, or a childish psychological compensation trying to gain attention through extreme methods. In short, your behavior is not only low-level in terms of psychology, but also... quite pathetic."
"Shut up!!"
Itsuki slammed the table and stood up, her cute face instantly turning hideous.
"What do you know! You gloomy bastard! I'm going to tear that composure of yours to shreds. I'll make you scream and beg for mercy as I watch myself pull those beautiful nails out one by one!"
The surrounding students were so terrified they remained as quiet as cicadas in winter.
But I simply maintained my death-like stillness.
"Since you want to gamble, let's begin. I happen to need some operational funds anyway."
Itsuki took several deep breaths, forcing her rage down, and sat back in her chair with a cruel smile. "Fine. Since you have the guts to accept, let's start."
She snapped her fingers, and her attendants immediately brought over two brand-new decks of cards.
"The rules are simple. Two decks of cards, 104 in total."
Itsuki shuffled the cards skillfully as she spoke.
"We will be playing 'Double Concentration.'"
"The rules are the same as regular Concentration (Memory). Flip two cards; if the number and suit match perfectly, you score. If the pair is successful, you continue flipping; if you fail, it's the opponent's turn. Whoever holds more cards at the end wins."
The two decks were placed face-down, neatly covering the entire table in a massive matrix.
This tests not only luck but, more importantly, memory. Memorizing the position of every single card out of 104 is an impossible task for an ordinary person.
"How about it? Feeling like your brain can't handle it?" Itsuki looked at me provocatively.
As the daughter of a major Japanese toy manufacturer, she had been exposed to various card games since childhood. This game was as simple as breathing for her.
What's more... she had a "sure-fire" trick.
"It doesn't matter."
I scanned the dense grid of card backs on the table.
"The outcome has already been decided anyway."
"Ha! Arrogant guy. Just wait until you become a nail-less waste!"
Itsuki reached out, her fingertips touching the first card.
The hunt had begun.