this chapter was sad, and judging by the end, it'll only get sadder.
In the last chapter Baku said "Hal, I am feeling extremely lucky now," and in this chapter he says "I am not as lucky as you seem to say." The difference between the situations is that in the first Hal was Baku's ally and in the second he is Baku's enemy. Baku also says "I wonder why... I feel like I won't lose to anyone," in the last chapter. Maybe the support of Hal was what gave him that confidence. And before Baku says he's not lucky he thinks of a time when Kyara said he wasn't Baku's ally. I can't remember exactly, but I think in one of the older chapters Baku says Kaji is like a good-luck charm, or that he's considered lucky, something like that. At the time of surpassing the leader Baku believes he has no true allies, so he feels unlucky.
Also has the other Kakerou member that Baku teamed up with been mentioned before? Maybe they are related to Ideal?
Hal was a big part in Baku getting the qualities needed to play surpassing the leader. Souichi also confirms that the Karamete is one of the conditions needed to play surpassing the leader. How come that wasn't mentioned before? Is the Karamete condition part of the new rules and replaced the old condition that ref number 0 was needed?
When Souichi said Baku had to bet his bonds and connections I was like "but he already lost them." Souichi talking about how Baku needed strong bonds to challenge him is both sad and ironic.
Anyway, poor Hal is going through an identity crisis and needs to chose between his relationship with Baku and his duties as future Kakerou leader, and it seems like he will choose his duties.
I wonder what Hal's complete thought is on page 15. "And then, my father will..." Lose? Die? Kill Baku?
Thanks so much, as always, Team Duwang!
Edit: Also wanted to point out that Baku's shocked expression makes it seem like he did not know that Hal was heir/leader to Kakerou. The planes were prepared before he learned the identity of leader, so I wonder if Baku planned to lose no matter who the leader was.