The original Anime adaptation is derived from the Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler manga, and is set in Hyakkaou Private Academy, a prestigious institution that values its students’ gambling skills above all else. There is a strong hierarchical system within this school, which is thrown completely off balance when Yumeko Jabami joins the ranks of gambling fanatics. Her first victim ultimately becomes one of her strongest allies, and Kakegurui Twin seeks to flesh out Mary Saotome story further.
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There’s Something About Mary
Mary is a highly unlikable character when she is first introduced to viewers, as it seems her position of authority has gone straight to her head. However, after Yumeko kicks Mary off her pedestal, the blonde bombshell slowly begins to let her guard down, and proves herself to be a valuable ally who is not as power hungry as first presumed. She is unwilling to accept the president’s invitation to join the School Council regardless of the potential reward in Kakegurui XX because her honor holds more value to her than false alliances. Unlike Yumeko, Mary is not beyond cheating if the game and opponent call for it, but her quick wits and strategic mind are capable of getting her out of several predicaments without resorting to any immoral hacks.
Some will be sad to discover that Kakegurui Twin will not feature the fan-favorite seductress, as this storyline is set one year before Yumeko arrives at Hyakkaou Academy. The focus of this prequel is on Mary during her first year at the reputable institution and will reveal how she achieved such significant success in her first year alone. It appears that fans will get to see Mary in a whole new light, as she is cast in the heroine role by a new character called Tsuzura Hanatemari.
This fresh ebony-haired beauty has fallen onto hard times at school and subsequently descended into the Mittens territory, and it is up to Mary to save her new friend from the current president’s clutches. Her main goal is to “gain a gambling den and become a financier,” showing that Mary gave a quick and accurate assessment of how the success structure at the Academy truly works. Because Tsuzura does not appear in the primary Kakegurui anime, one can assume that things possibly do not pan out well for the girl, who is absent in Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler and barely acknowledged by Mary, besides the fact that she carries a sentimental hair clip around with her.
Some Familiar Faces
The Kakegurui Twin time period is also set before Kirari Momobami’s ascension to the presidential position, and by the looks of things, as sadistic and cruel as Kirari is, she may have actually been an upgrade. Sachiko appears to have a personal investment in Tsuzura’s suffering, and ultimately becomes Mary’s biggest rival. Don’t worry, it looks like fans will also get a front-row seat to witness how Kirari gained her power by defeating the formidable Sachiko in this prequel. It is likely that viewers will also get more insights into the relationship dynamic between Kirari and Mary, and explain why the Ice Queen takes such an interest in her in Kakegurui XX (Season 2).
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The outrageously quirky Midari Ikishima will also make an appearance, although her role in the grander scheme of things at this point is unclear. Interestingly enough, this Beautification officer has a spin-off manga of her own called Kakegurui Midari, which takes place after Kakegurui Twin in the overall timeline. Depending on the success of Mary’s prequel series, chances are that fans may be gifted with another spin-off Netflix anime adaptation in the future, with the wild card Midari running the show.
Mary for President
Mary Saotome may be more of a supporting character in Kakegurui so far, but that hasn’t impeded her popularity among fans, particularly since she is taking a lead in the current presidential elections. What is probably most intriguing is how invested Kirari’s twin sister, Ririka Momobami, is in Mary’s success, whose support quite frankly came out of nowhere. Ririka is clearly invested in Mary’s awe-inspiring skills and whether acting on her own accord or following Kirari’s orders, Ririka’s presence by her side is a grand statement in itself.
Although many believe that Yumeko should win the “election” because she is clearly the better gambler, being the president of the School Council takes more than just gambling skills. Mary may be prideful but she is rarely impulsive, and almost every action she carries out is assuredly a calculated decision (disregarding her mini-breakdown in Season 1). She is also not as influenced by the thrills of risk-taking as Yumeko is, not to mention significantly less sadistic than Kirari.
After Mary experienced the darker side of being a Mittens herself, she seems adamant to overthrow the relatively new system that promotes the degradation and humiliation of other students. Her newfound hatred for the Student Council is palpable and she will most likely change how imbalances things are in Hyakkaou Private Academy if given half the chance. Mary is undoubtedly the best choice for the presidential position, now all she needs is to accumulate enough tokens. Releasing Kakegurui Twin before Season 3 of Kakegurui Compulsive Gambler is likely a way to get more fans rooting for Mary’s ascension to the throne, as many are just as captivated by Yumeko’s magnetism as most of the other students are.
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