Do Riri and Mary End Up Together in Bet?

In Netflix’s ‘Bet,’ a young high school student named Yumeko Kawamoto takes on the elite members of a private institute, St. Dominic’s Prep, posing herself as a wealthy challenger to their established authority. While illegal gambling reigns inside the halls of the school, it is mainly the student council members who regulate its use as a means to create a stratified society. One such individual among the council is Mary, who, despite starting the story on an antagonistic scale, becomes a close friend to Yumeko. Eventually, we learn that Mary had a special relationship with Riri, Kira’s sister, while she was on the council. However, after being ousted by the group following her terrible loss to the protagonist, her complex bond with Riri becomes an intriguing talking point as the story progresses. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Riri and Mary are Caught in a Hot-and-Cold Relationship

As ‘Bet’ largely focuses on a high-school setting, sparks of romantic interest being generated are an expected development. However, Riri and Mary’s bond seems platonic at the start. As members of the student council, they both have roles in the school hierarchy. The latter considers it a blessing to be part of the elite as it affords her the luxury to do whatever she wants without others taking advantage of her. Cracks appear when Mary loses her prestige and status after losing badly to Yumeko. Subsequently, she becomes less vitriolic and more authentic in her personality, something that Riri immediately picks up. The two grow closer from that point on, even going on an impromptu date and dancing together, which makes Mary realize the depth of Riri’s feelings for her.

Although Mary and Riri seem to be indifferent to each other at the start of the series, the actual nature of their bond becomes clearer as we learn more about the latter. For personal reasons, Riri likes to exercise restraint when communicating verbally with someone. As such, many can mistake her silence for apathy or disregard. However, underneath her unresponsiveness lies a tender, emotional heart that is in love with Mary. As per the story, she had always liked Mary from the start but could not get close to her because the latter changed her entire attitude when she became a student council member. Riri explains to Mary that she always felt the student council version of her was a lie and waited to see the real person lying beneath the facade. They both get their wish when Mary does just that.

Riri’s Allegiance to Her Father Proves to Be a Problem

When Riri asks Mary to dance with her, the latter is bemused by the offer. Later that night, it becomes evident that Riri likes her more than just as a friend. Subsequently, the two start to see the value in one another and also appreciate their presence. However, for the most part, the relationship is kept a secret from most people. It is likely that Riri fears the reaction from others, like her sister and, more importantly, her father. Both Kira and Riri’s dad is a man who holds his daughters up to the highest standard, making life suffocating under him. Still, the two sisters bear the responsibility and pressure of the father’s overbearing attitude on their shoulders. In some ways, this is even more of a problem for Riri than Kira because of how her father uses her as a pawn.

We learn that Riri was the one responsible for blowing up Blake and her stepdad, Raymond when they were leaving the school in their car. She was tasked with carrying out the murder by her father for certain criminal reasons. Because Riri shows no hesitation in achieving her dad’s goals, he ends up rewarding her at the end of the season with the school representative spot. While the majority expect Kira to win the position without any competition, Riri is the one who lands the role. However, the prize comes at a heavy cost because Mary finds out about Riri murdering Blake and her dad during the St. Dominic’s event. As a result, Riri gains an influential position at the school but creates a massive rift in her relationship with Mary.

Once the division occurs, it seems unlikely that Riri and Mary will resolve their issues soon. However, the final moments of the season show Riri stepping up to protect Mary from the creepy advances of Ray, Michael’s lecherous dad. Riri threatens him to leave, which he does somewhat reluctantly. Seeing the protective side of Riri convinces Mary to give the girl a second chance even though her hands are blood-red with the death of Blake and her dad. It is difficult to say whether they bridge the gap between them, especially considering the tough and honest conversations they need to have about the whole affair. Still, some remnants of an issue might likely stay behind because of her father’s influence in her life. To that end, her bond with Mary might go through further developments in the second season.