Yumeko is the undeniable embodiment of the termCompulsive Gambler, as she demonstrates her inability to avoid high-risk situations time and time again. Nobody can deny that she has incredible gambling skills, but she is so oftenswept away in the adrenalin rushthat she throws all logic out the window.
This is essentially why Yumeko has not accumulated that many votes in the Election (so far). While her mind games have significantly helped a select few, they have also destroyed others' lives, making Yumeko the most disruptive player in the entire Hyakkaou aquarium inKakegurui.
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Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Mary Saotome initially comes across as such an unlikeable character that most viewersassume she is the main antagonistof the series, and yet, by the end ofKakegurui XX, she has one of the largest fanbases of the show. Mary is technically an underdog, stemming from a less fortunate family without significant financial backing, promoting the blonde bombshell to take her gambling very seriously indeed. By attempting to secure a win, Mary regularly relies on cheating tactics delivered so smoothly that they are virtually undetectable; until Yumeko gets a turn!
Not only does Yumeko see straight through the deception, but she publically humiliates Mary, subsequently knocking the girl off her egotistical pedestal. Humiliated and desperate, Mary ends up losing again and becomes a housepet, but is essentially reminded of her true goals at Hyakkaou Academy: taking downthe Student Council’s sadistic system. Mary reluctantly begins to team up with Yumeko as they give Kirari and her people hell, eventually disrupting the aquarium enough to create an opportunity for Mary to seize the presidential title.
The Rip-Off Artist
As the only first yearon the Student Council, Itsuki Sumeragi has big shoes to fill, but fortunately, she has a few tricks up her sleeve! The daughter of a prominent Japanese toy maker has access to every gambling hack imaginable, from rigged dice to trick decks and more; practically guaranteeing Itsuki’s winning streak. As is human nature, the power goes straight to her head and she develops a sadomasochistic fetish for collecting human fingernails, ripped from the hands of her unsuccessful opponents.
When Yumeko’s fingers are put on the line (the first time, anyways) she lulls Itsuki into a false sense of security before completely destroying her in “Double Concentration.” As a result, Itsuki is booted off the Student Council and latches on to Yumeko in an attempt to regain some status, (nothing more.) However, by spending time with the raven-haired beauty, Itsuki eventually learns to tap into her selfless side and transforms intoone of the most loyal companionsat the Academy, and literally risks everything for Yumeko and Kaede’s sake.
Pride and Prejudice
The School Council treasurer is a very powerful young man indeed, but that is clearly not enough for Kaede Manyuda, who has set his sights on the presidential position. However, Yumeko proves to the power-hungry bully that greed and ego have no place alongside dreams and aspirations, as they will essentially cancel each other out.
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Yumeko evidently saw great potential in Kaede, as she used her “Official Match” leverage on him, even though she was supposedly saving it for the great Kirari Momobami. Kaede’s brutal defeat hit so hard that he ends up white-haired and hospitalized, with zero control over his life plan (which Yumeko gifted to Itsuki.) Thanks to some friendly encouragement, Kaede manages to pull himself out of deep depression and makes a grand come-back by joining Yumeko in her attack on the Momobami Clan. He may not have won"The Greater Good Game", but he managed to win Itsuki’s heart, some self-respect, and the admiration of many fans through his conduct in the whole affair.
The Discarded Mask
This anime-only character arguably benefited the most from their run-in with the infamous Yumeko, who apparently had her eye on the unsuspecting Rei Batsubami the whole time. The androgynous servant arrives at Hyakkaou Academy along with the restof the Momobami clan, but clearly shares none of their statuses. As the ‘butler’ of the Hundred Devouring Families, Rei has lived a miserable life of servitude, assumedly due to her family’s gambling debts.
Through basic common courtesy, Rei gains many housepet admirers who happily “donate” their votes, giving the servant enough leverage to attempt a claim on the President’s title. “The Hundred Votes Auction” was essentially rigged to destroy the opposition and eliminate them from the running, but naturally, Yumeko gets in the way.
Refusing to lose but also seeing nothing sinister in their actions, Yumeko urges Rei to reveal her true self, and a bold, beautiful lady emerges to confidently gamble against the odds. Even though she ends up losing her votes and is eliminated from the Election, Kirari sees potential in Rei and offers herindependence for the first timein her life, along with a new, self-appointed name that holds greater status than Bastubami does.
The Yumeko Effect
Yumeko’s influence is best displayed during the “Tarot Cards of Fate”, where she manages to convince the oh-so-careful Ryota Suzui totake an extremely daring riskthat would affect her entire gambling career. Instead of asssessing thestickysituation and making a more informed decision, Ryota succumbs to Yumeko’s temptations and picks a card purely by chance, which is just so out of character! He continues to get more involved in the gambling scene thereafter, putting himself in (some potentially fatal) situations he would rather avoid, but desperate to help Yumeko whenever needed.
Yumeko is fully aware of the magnetizing effect she has on people, and she uses it to her full advantage, as often as physically possible. Her attempts to “save people” always conveniently align with Yumeko’s gambling aspirations and her victims-turned-friends have become invaluable allies during multiplayer games, not to mention financially.
Does she truly care about the morals and values at Hyakkaou Academy as her actions suggest, or is this all just part of Yumeko’s greater scheme involving her mysterious connection to the Momobami clan? Is this justone massive, manipulative mind game, with an exhilarating thrill as an added bonus? There is clearly more to Yumeko Jabami than meets the eye.
