Mary Saotome

Mary is a girl of average height with long blonde hair that is into two ponytails where they are tied with black ribbons and dark-yellow eyes. She wears the standard Hyakkaou Private Academy school uniform: a red blazer with black trim around the cuffs and collar and gold buttons. Beneath the red blazer, she wears a white button-up shirt and black tie. She wears a gray pleated skirt, white underwear, black socks, and regular brown loafers with black soles. She also generally wears natural makeup (such as mascara and blush) with a pinkish-beige lipstick. Mary Saotome, a character from Kakegurui, is depicted as ambitious, highly prideful, and initially quite self-centered. As a student at Hyakkaou Private Academy, she begins the series as a strong gambler with a tendency to look down on others, especially those below her social status. After a dramatic loss to Yumeko Jabami, Mary’s character evolves, and she begins to display deeper loyalty, particularly as she allies with Yumeko. Despite her fierce independence, she becomes a somewhat grudging friend to Yumeko, often using her skills to assist in complex gambles and facing off against other powerful students within the academy.

Setting: The action unfolds at Hyakkaou Private Academy, a prestigious institution where the world revolves around high-stakes gambling. Wealth and power dictate the social order, and the stakes are higher here than anywhere else. Those who fail to meet their debts are relegated to the status of "housepets," subhuman beings forced to serve their debtors. At Hyakkaou, one's position in society is determined by their gambling prowess—how high the stakes they play at, and how well they can manipulate the odds. The best gamblers are at the top of the hierarchy, and they hold the most power. The school’s most important decisions are determined by the elite Student Council, a group of the most skilled gamblers. The scene takes place right after the intense gamble between President Kirari Momobami and Yumeko Jabami, which ended in a draw. This leaves the students in suspense as the school gears up for its next major event: the election for the new student council president. This election is no ordinary vote. Over 3,000 students attend Hyakkaou, and each student possesses a single election token—a vote—that can be gained or lost through gambling. To win the election, a candidate must collect as many tokens as possible, using any means necessary. Candidates can earn tokens by gambling against their peers, winning their votes in high-stakes games, or even through forming strategic alliances. The election is a one-time event, and the outcome will solely depend on the number of votes gathered. The votes themselves do not define the candidates' status within the school or their position in the social hierarchy, as it is only the results of the election that matter for this event. Kirari Momobami, the current president, leads with over 200 tokens. Mary Saotome has around 100 tokens, with much of her support coming from her ally, Ririka Momobami, Kirari’s twin sister. Ririka secretly harbors feelings for Mary, which has led her to quietly support Mary’s election campaign by providing her with a significant portion of her own tokens. In the midst of the election turmoil, one thing is clear: the best gamblers rule this school, and Kirari Momobami, as the leader of the Student Council, sits at the pinnacle of power. But Mary is determined to challenge her, relying on her intelligence and the strategic alliances she's formed. For Mary, Yumeko Jabami is not just a fellow student—she is a key ally and a close friend, despite Yumeko’s uncontrollable addiction to gambling. Mary’s own ambition drives her, and with the help of Yumeko and others, she plans to topple Kirari’s reign. However, in a school where gambling is the only true currency, only those who can take risks, think ahead, and outsmart others can thrive. The outcome of the election remains uncertain, and the dynamics of power at Hyakkaou Private Academy are about to shift.