Sakayanagi Arisu's Challenge

The afternoon classes were just as ordinary, with the teachers covering only basic material—so boring it felt like chewing wax to a graduate student like Kazehara Tetsu, who had even weathered the rough-and-tumble of society.

His mind wandered the entire time, occasionally glancing at the students around him from the corner of his eye.

The students who made it to Class A were still quite excellent after all; they listened to the lectures with great seriousness.

The bell for dismissal rang, signaling the end of the day's classes.

The atmosphere in the classroom instantly grew lively, with students leaving in pairs or groups, discussing where to kill time.

Kazehara Tetsu packed his things unhurriedly, planning to head back to the dormitory.

Just then, a faint tapping sound approached from afar, growing nearer.

"Tap... tap... tap..."

Kazehara Tetsu looked up and saw Sakayanagi Arisu standing by his desk, leaning on her cane.

The students around him, who had been somewhat noisy, instinctively quieted down at her appearance and made way around her.

"Classmate Kazehara..."

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, carrying a hint of unquestionable authority. "Do you have any plans for the time ahead?"

"Not for now. I was just about to head back to the dorm and space out. What, Classmate Sakayanagi has some advice?" Kazehara Tetsu leaned back in his chair, looking up at her.

From this angle, he could clearly see her delicate jawline and pale, slender neck.

"The gymnasium is hosting a Club Joint Information Session," she said, not directly answering his question.

"Various clubs are recruiting new members. I think it could serve as decent entertainment."

She paused, a glint of amusement flickering in her violet eyes. "But going alone would be a bit dull. Are you interested?"

Hearing Sakayanagi Arisu's words, Kazehara Tetsu only then remembered that during lunch break, the broadcast had announced a club orientation meeting.

But at the time, he had been following those three—Shannei Chunshu and the others—and hadn't paid it much mind.

Kazehara Tetsu smiled. He stood up, slinging his bag casually over his shoulder. "Since it's an invitation from Classmate Sakayanagi, I have no reason to refuse."

The two walked out of the classroom side by side.

In the hallway of the teaching building, students coming and going cast astonished, puzzled looks at them walking together.

In just one day, busybodies could learn about other students, so it quickly became known that Sakayanagi Arisu was the chairman's daughter.

Now, for her to be walking with a boy was enough to draw the attention of her classmates.

"It seems walking with me has brought you quite a bit of trouble." Sakayanagi's voice was very calm, betraying no emotion.

"Trouble? No, I take those looks as... affirmation of my personal charm." Kazehara Tetsu turned his head and winked at her.

"What a greasy way to put it." Sakayanagi commented flatly.

The path to the gymnasium wasn't long, but the two walked slowly.

"I thought about it yesterday. The reason you stood up to speak for me in the classroom wasn't just because you agreed with my point of view." Sakayanagi suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

"Oh? Then what does Classmate Sakayanagi think it was?" Kazehara Tetsu countered.

"You're investing."

Sakayanagi's tone was very certain. "You're showing me your value, your stance, to gain my 'attention.' You want to secure a favorable position in Class A's power structure. And you judged that, compared to Classmate Katsuragi, I align more with your interests."

"A brilliant analysis."

Kazehara Tetsu didn't spare his praise. "Talking to an intelligent person saves so much effort. That's right, I am indeed investing. After all, putting your chips on the one most likely to be the winner is the most natural choice."

"Are you so sure I'll be the winner?"

"I never gamble without certainty." Kazehara Tetsu's smile was full of confidence. "And I'm confident I can swallow up the entire Class A."

Sakayanagi's steps halted.

She turned her head and gave Kazehara Tetsu a deep look.

"...Classmate Kazehara, your ambition is greater than I imagined."

"Ambition is the best ornament on a person's surface, isn't it?"

Kazehara Tetsu's response was understated; he didn't elaborate further.

After entering the gymnasium, the scene before them was like a grand festival, with hundreds of new students weaving through the spacious venue.

From sports clubs to cultural clubs, everything was available.

Senior students from each club went all out, handing out flyers to passing newcomers and loudly introducing their clubs' appeal.

"Classmate Kazehara, which club do you want to join?"

"Unfortunately, I have no intention of joining any club at all." Kazehara Tetsu's tone was calm, as if he had zero interest in club activities.

Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but feel curious and pressed on. "Oh? Why is that?"

"Wasting a finite life on these playhouse-like group activities—what can one possibly gain?"

"It seems our views on this matter are surprisingly aligned." The corner of Sakayanagi's mouth lifted slightly.

They didn't stop at any booth, simply strolling unhurriedly through the crowded throng.

Just as they were about to reach the other end of the gymnasium, a relatively quiet area came into view.

There was no clamorous shouting here, only a simple long table display stand.

A dark green cloth covered the table, upon which several black-and-white chess sets were arranged.

The International Chess Club.

Only two or three senior members were present; unlike the other clubs, they didn't enthusiastically recruit passersby. Instead, they sat quietly behind the table, focused on their games, occasionally lifting their eyes to glance at the students walking by.

Sakayanagi Arisu's footsteps stopped for the first time on her own accord. Her gaze landed on one of the chessboards, where the match had reached the mid-game.

"Kagihara-kun,"

her eyes didn't leave the board, "do you have any insights on chess?"

"Chess, huh..." Kazehara Tetsu's gaze also drifted toward the board, "I know a little, I guess. About as much as knowing the king can't go sacrifice itself and the pawns need to push forward."

His answer was modest to the point of being perfunctory.

Sakayanagi Arisu finally withdrew her gaze and turned to look at him.

"'A little,' is it? That's a rather vague and interesting answer."

She leaned on her cane, took half a step forward, and approached the display stand. "In that case, how about we use this to deepen our understanding of each other?"

The moment Sakayanagi Arisu's words fell, a chime only Kazehara Tetsu could hear rang deep within his mind.

Immediately after, a line of light blue virtual text materialized directly in front of his field of vision.

[Side Quest Triggered: Chess Match]

[Objective: Engage in a chess match with Sakayanagi Arisu and defeat her.]

[Reward: 500 Points.]

Kazehara Tetsu's pupils contracted slightly in an instant no one noticed.

Five hundred points—that was more than he'd accumulated in over a decade. So this was the benefit of entering the main storyline.

Yet, he was well aware that with his current mediocre chess skills, he'd probably be crushed by Sakayanagi Arisu within twenty moves.

His consciousness plunged into the System Store like lightning. Rows upon rows of dazzling skills flashed past his vision.