Special Scenario, Sakayanagi Arisu, The Wisdom of Mortals

[System detected that the host has made contact with an important character.]

[Now beginning the creation of a special plot.]

Hearing the system's voice, Dokuho Kouya was slightly taken aback.

A special plot?

That was a new term he hadn't heard before.

[A special plot is a sequence that will not immediately appear before the audience, but may be broadcast later through flashbacks, side stories, or similar methods.]

Upon hearing the system's explanation, Dokuho Kouya quickly understood what this so-called special plot entailed.

Simply put, the protagonist of this story remained Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

However, from his perspective, it was difficult to know the experiences of everyone else.

Take this instance, for example: the chess match between Dokuho Kouya and Sakayanagi Arisu.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka certainly wouldn't know how things unfolded.

The audience watching the show through Ayanokouji's perspective wouldn't know either.

That was why these so-called special plots existed.

By temporarily shifting the focus onto supporting characters like Dokuho Kouya or Sakayanagi Arisu, the world-building and character arcs would become more complete.

"The audience is very likely to see the process of our match."

Dokuho Kouya thought for a moment and quickly realized what he needed to do next. "In that case, this is the perfect time to shape my own persona."

Within Class B, a group of "little angels" who were the most united, Dokuho Kouya needed to display his unsociable side, the part of him that didn't fit in with those around him.

When facing the leader of Class A, the true genius Sakayanagi Arisu, Dokuho Kouya had to switch tactics and actively showcase his own formidable strength.

Under the witness of a teacher, Dokuho Kouya and the girl with short white hair signed a contract.

They were about to play a game of chess, and the winner would take 800,000 points from the loser.

"I didn't expect that besides me, there would be another first-year student capable of collecting so many points in such a short time."

Sakayanagi Arisu moved a piece with her delicate 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 took a look, picked up a piece, and placed it firmly in his desired position. "I can't believe you managed to earn over a million points from the Chess Club."

"If I had known, I should have been more ruthless with the seniors in the Shogi Club back then."

Dokuho Kouya had originally thought he was ruthless enough.

He hadn't expected the white-haired girl before him to be even more vicious, earning over a million points directly from the Chess Club.

He had been too kind.

"You don't seem surprised that I was able to guess you are a first-year student?"

Sakayanagi Arisu thought for a moment before moving her piece, then looked over with her beautiful eyes. "May I ask the reason?"

"If you were a second or third-year student, there would be no need to come and challenge me on the first day of the new semester, right?" Dokuho Kouya moved his piece quickly. "Besides, didn't we write down our names and classes when we signed the contract?"

"Arisu-san from Class A."

Dokuho Kouya had long decided to shape himself into the type of person who would kindly call everyone by their name.

Even when facing Sakayanagi Arisu, who held the title of the "Little Demon King," he would address her by her first name.

"Is Kouya-kun trying to distract me with this method?"

Hearing how Dokuho Kouya addressed her, the white-haired girl's lips curled slightly, revealing a beautiful smile. "Then you might be disappointed; I won't let such trivial matters affect my mood."

That said.

Sakayanagi Arisu's movements became increasingly slow, and her initially breezy expression gradually turned solemn.

It wasn't because Dokuho Kouya's address had distracted her; it was simply that the situation on the board was becoming more complex, and she could no longer play with the playful attitude she had held before.

Well, it was about time to close the net.

Dokuho Kouya's speed remained the same as always; the moment his opponent finished, he would quickly move his piece to complete his turn.

One fast, one slow.

To an outsider, Dokuho Kouya's chances of winning were undoubtedly higher.

Sakayanagi Arisu's defeat was only a matter of time.

However.

"Check."

After placing the piece down, a faint smile reappeared on Sakayanagi Arisu's face. "Kouya-kun, you've been using different methods to disrupt my mindset from the very beginning. I must say, it's a very effective strategy."

In her view, Dokuho Kouya had played two little tricks during this chess match.

The first was deliberately calling her by her first name.

The second was playing at a fast pace every time, intending to pressure her through that method.

Furthermore, Dokuho Kouya's level of play was truly formidable; he was arguably one of the strongest opponents Sakayanagi Arisu had ever encountered, which caused her to become genuinely tense during the match.

Fortunately, unlike Dokuho Kouya, who insisted on playing at a rapid pace, she had plenty of time to think, allowing her to adjust her mindset before contemplating the state of the board.

In the end, she successfully broke through the desperate situation and counter-killed her opponent.

"Does Arisu-san think she has already won?" Dokuho Kouya curled the corners of his mouth slightly, picked up his own piece, and began to move it at the slowest speed since the duel began. "That is truly disappointing."

"In the end, it is merely the wisdom of a mortal."

The piece landed.

Dokuho Kouya had achieved victory.

Looking at the result on the board, Sakayanagi Arisu's expression froze.

She had lost?

She hadn't even touched the masterpiece of the White Room yet, and she had already tasted the flavor of defeat.

Beyond that, the words Dokuho Kouya had spoken were also difficult for her to accept.

The wisdom of a mortal.

For someone who prided herself on being a genius and had been surrounded by the praise of her relatives since childhood, Dokuho Kouya's evaluation was undoubtedly a negation of everything she was.

"Kouya-san, was all of this within your expectations?" Sakayanagi Arisu calmed her emotions and looked at the dashing young man in front of her.

She had originally thought the boy only had a pretty face, but later discovered that even his level of chess was very strong.

In the end, he had even set a trap, making Sakayanagi Arisu believe she had successfully broken the deadlock, only for her to become a laughingstock.

"Habitually considering multiple possibilities is an essential quality for playing this kind of game, after all." Dokuho Kouya took out his student terminal. "Compared to that, shouldn't Arisu-san be making the transfer?"

"Kouya-san is certainly in a hurry." Sakayanagi Arisu helplessly took out her student terminal and transferred the 800,000 points she had worked so hard to earn to the other party.

It was fortunate that she had gained one million points today.

Even after losing 800,000, she still had 300,000 points remaining.

It was still a decent haul.

But compared to the points, Sakayanagi Arisu's greatest gain was discovering a man like Dokuho Kouya.

Not only did he possess formidable strength, but he had also dismissed her as having "the wisdom of a mortal."

This school, as expected, would not let one be bored.

"Kouya-san, if it is convenient, could you see me back to my dormitory?" Sakayanagi Arisu picked up her cane, hinting at her mobility issues.

She had developed a keen interest in Dokuho Kouya and longed to understand this young man more deeply.