[Host has come into contact with an important character] [Starting production of a special episode]
Hearing the system's voice, Dokuho Kouya paused.
A special episode?
He'd never heard of this before.
[A special episode is a story that does not immediately appear before the audience. It may be broadcast later as a flashback, a side story, or in another format.]
After hearing the system's explanation, Dokuho Kouya quickly understood what a so-called special episode was.
Simply put, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was still the protagonist of this story.
But from his perspective, it was difficult to know what everyone else had been through.
Like this time, when Dokuho Kouya had competed against Sakayanagi Arisu at the Chess Club.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka definitely had no idea what had happened.
The audience watching the show from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's perspective certainly wouldn't know either.
That was why there were so-called special episodes.
The story would temporarily shift its focus to supporting characters like Dokuho Kouya or Sakayanagi Arisu, making the world and the characters' experiences more complete.
"The audience will probably get to know how our match went."
Dokuho Kouya thought it over and quickly understood what he needed to do next. "Then this is a good chance to shape my character."
In Class B, where everyone was a little angel and the class was at its most united, Dokuho Kouya needed to show how he didn't fit in and stood apart from those around him.
When facing Class A's leader, the true genius Sakayanagi Arisu, he needed to switch tactics and show off his strength.
With a teacher as witness, Dokuho Kouya and the white-haired girl signed a contract.
They were about to play a game of chess. The winner would take 800,000 points from the loser.
"I didn't expect there to be another first-year who could collect so many points in such a short time."
Sakayanagi Arisu moved a piece with her delicate little hand, a faint smile on her face. "It seems this school won't be boring after all."
"I'm the one who's surprised."
Dokuho Kouya glanced at the board, picked up a piece, and set it firmly where he wanted it. "You actually earned over a million points at the Chess Club."
"If I'd known, I should've been tougher on the upperclassmen at the Shogi Club."
Dokuho Kouya had thought he was already ruthless enough.
He hadn't expected the white-haired girl in front of him to be even more ruthless, earning over a million points directly from the Chess Club.
He was still too kind.
"You don't seem surprised that I guessed you were a first-year."
Sakayanagi Arisu thought for a moment before moving a piece, then looked over with her lovely eyes. "May I ask why?"
"If you were a second- or third-year, there'd be no reason to come challenge me on the first day of the new term, right?" Dokuho Kouya moved his piece quickly. "Besides, when we signed the contract, we wrote down our names and classes, didn't we?"
"Arisu from Class A."
Dokuho Kouya had long since decided to make himself the sort of person who warmly addressed everyone by name.
Even when facing Sakayanagi Arisu, who was known as a little demon, he would call her by her first name.
"Are you trying to distract me this way, Kouya?"
Hearing Dokuho Kouya's chosen form of address, the white-haired girl pursed her lips slightly, then smiled prettily. "You may be disappointed. I'm not affected by little things like that."
That was what she said.
But Sakayanagi Arisu's movements grew slower and slower, and her previously carefree expression gradually turned serious.
It wasn't that Dokuho Kouya's choice of address had distracted her. The game had simply become more and more complicated, and she could no longer play with the carefree attitude she'd had before.
Well, it was about time to close the net.
Dokuho Kouya played at the same pace as ever, quickly moving a piece as soon as his opponent finished her turn.
One fast, one slow.
To onlookers, Dokuho Kouya undoubtedly had the better chance of winning.
Sakayanagi Arisu's defeat was only a matter of time.
However.
"Checkmate."
After placing her piece, Sakayanagi Arisu's faint smile returned. "Kouya, from the very beginning, you've used different methods one after another to mess with my state of mind. I have to admit, it's an effective strategy."
In her view, Dokuho Kouya had played two little tricks during their chess match.
The first was deliberately calling her by her first name.
The second was playing quickly every turn, trying to pressure her that way.
On top of that, Dokuho Kouya was genuinely a very strong player, one of the best Sakayanagi Arisu had ever seen. That had indeed made her tense during the match.
Fortunately, unlike Dokuho Kouya, who insisted on playing quickly, she had plenty of time to think. She could steady herself before considering the position on the board.
In the end, she had broken through her desperate situation and struck back at her opponent.
"Do you think you've already won, Arisu?" Dokuho Kouya's lips curled slightly. He picked up one of his pieces and began moving it at the slowest pace he'd used since the match began. "That's disappointing."
"It's nothing more than the wisdom of mortals."
The piece landed.
Dokuho Kouya won.
Looking at the result on the board, Sakayanagi Arisu froze.
She'd lost?
She hadn't even met the greatest masterpiece of the White Room, yet she'd already tasted defeat.
Besides, she found Dokuho Kouya's words difficult to accept.
The wisdom of mortals.
Having called herself a genius and been surrounded by praise from her family since childhood, Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help feeling that Dokuho Kouya's judgment denied everything she was.
"Kouya, was all of this within your expectations?" Sakayanagi Arisu composed herself and looked at the spirited young man before her.
At first, she'd thought he was only good-looking. Then she'd discovered that he was also skilled at chess.
And in the end, he'd set a trap. Sakayanagi Arisu had thought she'd escaped from it, only to become a laughingstock.
"Habitually considering multiple possibilities is an essential skill for games like this." Dokuho Kouya took out his Student Terminal. "But more importantly, shouldn't you transfer the points, Arisu?"
"You're in quite a hurry, Kouya." Sakayanagi Arisu reluctantly took out her Student Terminal and transferred the 800,000 points she'd worked so hard to earn to him.
Fortunately, she'd earned a million points today.
Even after losing 800,000, she still had 300,000 points left.
It was a pretty good haul.
But more valuable than the points, Sakayanagi Arisu's greatest gain was discovering a man like Dokuho Kouya.
Not only was he powerful, he'd also judged her to have "the wisdom of mortals."
This school certainly wouldn't let her get bored.
"Kouya, if you don't mind, could you take me back to the dormitory?" Sakayanagi Arisu picked up her cane, hinting that she had difficulty walking.
She'd become deeply interested in Dokuho Kouya and wanted to get to know him better.
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