Playing Chess with Sakayanagi

Tanaka Masamichi: "..."

President Fujiwara: "..."

The surrounding onlookers: "..."

No way, again?

What's going on today?

First, that first-year freshman Kitagawa Kai, under the guise of "knowing a little bit about chess," had him, the vice president, drenched in sweat.

Then President Fujiwara publicly bowed in defeat.

And now someone who feels even harder to mess with has shown up.

The club members nearby exchanged glances, the atmosphere so strange it felt like someone had hit the pause button.

The cold senior had been refined into warm points on the terminal.

460,000.

No time to mourn President Fujiwara.

What awaited Sakayanagi now was the chess master—Great Demon King Kitagawa.

Kitagawa Kai calmly turned toward the door, a faint smile on his face: "This is indeed the chess club, Little Princess Sakayanagi. Please, come in."

The one arriving was none other than Sakayanagi Arisu.

She wore a neat school uniform, her long hair softly draping over her shoulders, a light smile in her blue eyes, exuding an air of elegance and composure.

Though she was stepping into someone else's territory, it felt like she was the host welcoming guests.

"Kitagawa-kun, you're here quite early."

Sakayanagi glanced around. The club members still hadn't recovered from their earlier defeat, their eyes darting away, the atmosphere awkward.

Her gaze fixed on the board where the game had just ended. "It seems Kitagawa-kun has some insight into chess as well."

"No, I only know a little."

Kitagawa Kai claimed to know just a little.

That was the truth, if not for the system.

"A little, huh? Kitagawa-kun is quite modest. That's not how you were yesterday."

Sakayanagi gave him a meaningful look, her ever-present smile unchanged. "So, Kitagawa-kun, are you interested in a game with me?"

"Of course, but how many points does Classmate Sakayanagi have? If the stakes are too small, I'm not interested." Kitagawa Kai opened his terminal, flashing the screen showing 460,000 points.

Sakayanagi Arisu had only started her moves today, so naturally, she didn't have many points, and she had no intention of using her father the chairman's resources to save face.

She had always stood at the top relying on her own mind and family background (in her view, mostly her mind), never needing to depend on external forces like "my father is the chairman."

She tapped her cane lightly on the floor, exuding an unyielding resolve.

"Kitagawa-kun, playing with me isn't about what you want—it's about what I have."

"All in."

The bystanders, lacking any tact, dutifully presented a standard contract.

Kitagawa Kai waved his hand. "Between me and Sakayanagi, there's no need for that. I'm also looking forward to a thrilling match."

The club members: Sorry we couldn't satisfy you.

Sakayanagi gently pulled out a chair and sat down across from Kitagawa. She placed her cane diagonally beside her, her posture composed. "Then, Kitagawa-kun, please guide me well."

The board was reset.

The air instantly grew tense.

Sakayanagi took the white pieces.

Kitagawa, as always, took the black.

In chess matches, moving first with white does grant a slight advantage, and the higher the level of play, the greater that advantage becomes.

In the opening, both sides made cautious moves, yet each had their own strategy.

Sakayanagi first advanced her king's pawn, then quickly developed her knights and bishops, aiming for a full-scale offensive to pressure Black's space.

Kitagawa, meanwhile, continued to move swiftly, as if he didn't need to think at all. Every move landed precisely on a key point, perfectly blocking Sakayanagi's attack routes.

The tension in the air climbed to its peak. The real battle had now begun.

Sakayanagi's talent was considerable, and this was evident in the game. If not for Kitagawa, she might have swept through the entire chess club today.

But there is always someone better, and the mastery of a grandmaster made Kitagawa's chess style unpredictably elusive.

He precisely calculated the variations for the next dozen moves, even deducing Sakayanagi's multiple counterattack routes under different responses, and set up traps in key positions in advance.

The two went back and forth, the situation growing increasingly intense.

White and black pieces clashed across the board, offense and defense shifting within just a few moves.

Someone whispered in awe: "These two's chess skills are terrifying."

In the corner, several senior club members also had their eyes wide, mouths slightly open, forgetting to breathe.

A little while later.

Kitagawa Kai spotted a tiny flaw hidden in Sakayanagi's attack and deliberately set up a feint.

Sakayanagi bravely struck, committing her piece.

Sakayanagi's knight was gone.

Sakayanagi's brow furrowed slightly.

Sakayanagi's bishop was gone.

Sakayanagi's forehead began to bead with sweat.

Finally, after a fierce exchange of tactics, Kitagawa firmly locked down the white king.

"Checkmate." Kitagawa declared calmly, as if the victory in this match didn't matter to him.

"I lost."

Sakayanagi Arisu stared quietly at the board for a long time. Her voice remained calm, carrying a hint of unwillingness and frustration.

"But—" A bright smile rippled in her eyes, more dazzling than the white stones on the board, "Classmate Kitagawa's chess is more 'interesting' than I imagined."

That "interesting" held the appreciation of a worthy opponent, and also the fighting spirit it had ignited.

[Ding!]

[Sakayanagi Arisu Affection Level +10, Current Affection Level 40 (Curiosity)]

[Note: The other party increasingly acknowledges you]

Points +88,000.

Affection +.

Today's decisive battle was a double victory for Kitagawa Kai.

"Classmate Sakayanagi's skill is not bad either. I would call you my strongest opponent."

"In Advanced Nurturing, the chess players are only you and me."

She covered her lips with a light laugh, the corners of her eyes curving into a beautiful arc: "Being called 'not bad' by Classmate Kitagawa makes me happy, but I'd prefer it if next time you said 'very strong.'"

"Then I'll look forward to it. However, those I defeat, I always give them time to catch up—until they are beyond reach."

Kitagawa showed off just a little.

A fine light sparkled in Sakayanagi's blue eyes, as if savoring the confidence and provocation in his words: "Kitagawa-kun is truly not modest at all. But—"

She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying a hint of unyielding sharpness, "Saying 'beyond reach' isn't just something you can say. Next time, I'll make you take it back."

Just then.

Fujiwara, the club president, approached with his usual steady smile: "Would you two be interested in representing the chess club in a competition?"

Kitagawa Kai smiled, staring at Sakayanagi.

She also looked quietly back at Kitagawa Kai.

Everyone else turned their gazes to him.

"Sorry, but I'm really not interested right now!" Kitagawa refused directly.

"I feel the same."

Kitagawa opened his terminal to check the time. The screen's light reflected on his calm face. 12:20.

He put away the terminal, turned his gaze to the lovely Sakayanagi, thought for a moment, and then spoke in a natural tone:

"Miss Sakayanagi, I'm going to eat now. What about you?"

She raised a hand to smooth the hair by her temple, the corners of her lips lifting: "Is Kitagawa-kun inviting me?"

"Well, after playing chess for a while, I am a bit hungry. I suppose I'll reluctantly have lunch with you."

Kitagawa was quite interested in this bratty loli, Sakayanagi.

Don't get him wrong.

He wasn't a lolicon.

He just wanted to take Arisu for a ride someday and say to Sakayanagi Morinari: "Oi, old man, is my ghost fire parked safely outside?"

Just thinking about it was amusing beyond belief.

Kitagawa, like a gentleman, slightly turned his body and made a guiding gesture, his tone gentle: "Since Classmate Sakayanagi honors me with her presence, I am deeply honored."