Chapter 630: If I win... I hope you can become my boyfriend!

Mido Orihime's gaze lingered on Natsume Chikage for a short time, like a dragonfly touching the water, and then moved away without a ripple.

She took a step and walked straight toward the player seats.

Jinwei Tong, who followed closely behind, also discovered Natsume Chikage in the spectator seats, following the lingering warmth of Mido Orihime's gaze.

She looked at him silently, still with no expression on her face, and then withdrew her gaze, faithfully following the footsteps in front.

Soon.

The clear broadcast sound in the venue drowned out the noise and rang repeatedly:

【The match is about to begin; please, participants of the first session, follow the staff's guidance and come to the center of the venue to gather in an orderly manner!】

【The match is about to begin; please, participants of the first session, follow the staff's guidance and come to the center of the venue to gather in an orderly manner!】

……

Hearing the notification, Natsume Chikage got up from his seat.

Furukawa Saio and others immediately sent a wave of cheering and encouragement.

He nodded simply in response and walked toward the player gathering area.

Asahina Akatsuki and Suzuki Ryunosuke on the side also stood up at the same time.

Asahina Akatsuki walked a few steps quickly, circled lightly to Natsume Chikage's side, and a bright smile bloomed on her face:

"Natsume-kun, let's walk this road together, shall we?"

Natsume Chikage nodded slightly:

"Mm."

Suzuki Ryunosuke, who was following behind her, felt very uncomfortable in his heart upon seeing this; he hurriedly quickened his pace, squeezed to the other side of Asahina Akatsuki, and glanced at the two walking side by side with a complex look.

He always felt that Asahina Akatsuki had been a bit strange lately.

When chatting in the Shogi Club, her topics always seemed to inadvertently circle around Natsume Chikage, revealing extraordinary attention.

Could it be... she likes Natsume-kun?

This thought made Suzuki Ryunosuke feel as if he had been struck by lightning instantly.

But he immediately shook his head vigorously, denying this terrible thought.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Previously at the Shogi Club of Private Moonlight Academy, Senior Sister Huang Mu Jie had clearly asked Akatsuki to her face if she liked Natsume-kun.

And Akatsuki had denied it very clearly at the time!

Therefore, Akatsuki couldn't possibly like Natsume-kun!

This closeness now must just be the appropriate friendliness and care shown by a senior sister to a junior she knows!

That's right, it must be like that!

After repeated self-persuasion, Suzuki Ryunosuke felt a little more at ease.

The players needed to enter the storage room one after another, store personal items like mobile phones in lockers according to regulations, pass security checks, and finally arrive at the gathering area in the center of the hall to start queuing.

Natsume Chikage's movements were slightly faster; after putting things away and coming out, he didn't see the figures of Suzuki Ryunosuke and Asahina Akatsuki.

He didn't wait deliberately and walked straight to the lottery queue.

The match was imminent, the queue was not long, and there was no need to wait.

During the queuing process, Natsume Chikage's gaze swept forward.

I saw Mido Orihime standing in front of the transparent lottery box; her fair hand reached into the box opening and took out a small ball casually.

The clear number on the small ball was—8.

She pinched the small ball that decided her opponent, didn't stay for a moment, turned around, and walked toward the entrance of the competition area, her figure soon disappearing behind the door.

Soon, it was Natsume Chikage's turn.

He pressed the button on the lottery box, and the transparent small balls inside began to rotate and collide rapidly, making a clattering sound.

A moment later, a small ball rolled out from the exit.

He picked it up and looked—No. 9.

At the same time, Suzuki Ryunosuke and Asahina Akatsuki, who had just come out of the storage room, happened to see Natsume Chikage finishing the lottery and picking up the small ball to walk toward the competition area.

Both of their hearts lifted at the same time.

Suzuki Ryunosuke clenched his fists.

He longed to duel with Natsume Chikage on the official competition court to "avenge" his good friend Tanabe Yuto.

Winning against him in private had no meaning.

He wanted to defeat him with a crushing posture on the court where Natsume Chikage created records, so he could wash away his shame and swallow that stifled anger.

And Asahina Akatsuki's longing was completely different.

She was not for revenge, but purely for herself.

She hoped to draw Natsume Chikage, play against him on the same stage, and then use his urgent need for money to propose that carefully prepared bet.

If she wins, he becomes her boyfriend.

If she loses, she will offer all the prize money she has earned so far with both hands.

As for the prize money... Asahina Akatsuki had even thought about it long ago; even if she won, she was willing to give the money to Natsume-kun.

Her family background was well-off, not as strapped as his.

And if he became her boyfriend, this little investment was naturally worth a thousand times over.

Both of them stared tightly at Natsume Chikage's back and quickly cast their gaze toward the lottery box, praying in their hearts that they could draw the same No. 9 ball.

Suzuki Ryunosuke went up to draw the lottery first.

The button was pressed, and the small ball rolled out.

The staff took a look and announced formulaically: "No. 10, please go to the No. 10 competition table."

"Tsk...!"

Just one off! Suzuki Ryunosuke smacked his lips in annoyance, but could only helplessly pick up the No. 10 ball and turn to leave.

Finally, it was Asahina Akatsuki's turn.

She looked at the few small balls left in the box, took a deep breath, prayed silently, and then pressed the button.

The small ball jumped and rolled down.

When the number "9" clearly came into view, a huge surprise instantly overwhelmed her.

Success!

She almost couldn't help but cheer out loud; she endured the excitement and picked up the small ball that seemed to carry temperature.

Natsume Chikage happened to arrive in front of the No. 9 competition table.

Then he noticed that the person sitting at the No. 8 competition table in front of him was precisely Mido Orihime.

Mido Orihime seemed to sense his arrival and slowly raised her head.

Those deep, demonic eyes, carrying a trace of elusive playfulness, fell quietly on him.

She didn't say anything, just tilted her head slightly, as if appreciating something interesting.

Natsume Chikage paused, and finally just nodded lightly at her politely, then sat down at his No. 9 competition table.

His position happened to be right behind Mido Orihime.

Not long after, Asahina Akatsuki, holding the No. 9 ball, walked briskly to the front of the competition table. ===== CHAPTER 631 =====