In the third volume of Kakegurui, Yumeko's "Deal With the Devil" takes an even more twisted turn when she and Ryota are kidnapped by the sadomasochistic Midari. The "pirate-looking bitch" demands that Yumeko play a high-stakes game combining ESP cards and loaded revolvers, with Ryota (not useless for once) serving as dealer. This installment offers the most condensed plot so far, focusing on the game and its nutty players (there's a subplot where Kirari offers Mary a spot on the Student Council, which mostly shows Mary committing to her alliance with Yumeko). Here, we get more insight into Midari, who previously seemed like a thrill-obsessed nutcase but now seems like a horribly broken death-seeker. It's hard to sympathize with such an extreme character, but after exploring her backstory (as an overachiever who struggled to fit in, and whose insecurity was exploited by Kirari, in an encounter culminating in grisly mutilation), readers can at least understand why she's so obsessed with "the ultimate thrill" and desperate to find someone who understands her. Yumeko seems to be that person, and she certainly shares Midari's recklessness; but she's also resourceful, pragmatic and knows how to outsmart opponents in even the most rigged game (with Ryota's help, in a generally clever twist). In the end, it turns out that Yumeko, our ostensible heroine, is the craziest character of all; but her simple desire to gamble, if not exactly moral, makes her easy to root for against her rivals, who are too wrapped in schemes, neuroses and commitment to the Academy's toxic power structure. If you enjoyed the previous volumes in the series, you should love this.