Sakayanagi Arisu Wants to Compete with Me

A soft knock came from outside the door.

Outside the door stood a cute girl, her snow-white hair topped with a black beret. Looking down, I saw her delicate, lovely face, and her purple eyes made me take a second look. In her hand, she held a cane, as if walking was difficult for her. If I had to rate her, she'd probably score quite high.

But what business did she have with me?

"Greetings, Hajima-kun."

With a clean smile, she formally greeted me.

She seemed oddly familiar, but I couldn't place her at the moment.

"As for how I know you, that's a long story. Won't you invite me in to sit for a while?"

A faint, elusive smile curled at the corners of her lips as she watched me.

"Please, come in."

After a moment's hesitation, I stepped aside and let her into my home.

"As expected, rather plain, Hajima-kun."

She looked around, wearing an expression that said, "Just as I thought." But why did she seem so familiar with me? I sifted through my memories but found no connection between this girl and myself.

Suddenly, she turned around, walked up to me, and said:

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu."

Then she lifted her head to meet my eyes and spoke in an extremely serious tone:

"Hajima-kun, please face me in a decisive match!"

The Sakayanagi family sure are people of action.

Seeing that I hadn't responded for a while, Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to catch on.

"Oh dear, maybe I was a bit too hasty. But who can blame me for getting so excited at the sight of Hajima-kun?"

I silently put some distance between us, then sat down on the sofa, grabbed a throw pillow, hugged it to my chest, and watched her calmly.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, please tell me how you know me, and give me a reason to accept your challenge. Can you do that?"

Sakayanagi Arisu sat down on the sofa across from me, her fair, slender hands resting on her delicate legs, and began to explain from the beginning.

"That facility deep in the mountains, that pure white world—I went to see it once, and I still remember it vividly. That so-called artificial genius experiment piqued my interest, because my father once said that anyone who took the courses at that facility could be cultivated into an outstanding talent, without exception. I had to doubt that. Moreover, I don't believe they can create artificial geniuses. Because the moment a person is born, the instant they receive life, their potential is already decided. No matter how excellent the education, if it's not educating someone who originally possessed that potential, they can never become a genius."

Sakayanagi Arisu paused, then continued.

"Then I met you. Your match with Ayanokouji-kun—even though I only had a slight understanding of chess back then, I could still sense your formidable strength. But that alone couldn't prove the facility's reason for existence. It only showed that the children who stood out there were already exceptional to begin with. So I decided to prove the theory that 'geniuses are not created, but determined at the moment of birth'—not just to myself, but also to my father, who once supported that facility. I cannot lose to any child raised in that facility. This is something I, who inherited the excellent genes of my father and mother, must do. From the first time I saw you through that window, all the way to now, I have never forgotten you, not even for a day. Face me in a match, Hajima-kun."

"A match always comes with conditions, doesn't it? What if you lose?"

"If I lose, then your prize will be my first kiss."

I had to admit, that proposal was quite appealing. So after thinking it over, I nodded and agreed.

"Then, how about chess?"

"No problem."

I fetched the chess set from my room and set it up on the table. Sakayanagi Arisu had already taken her seat first. I sat down across from her, calmed my mind, and prepared to meet her challenge.

I had to admit, Sakayanagi Arisu was an undeniable genius. Just a few moves in, I felt the same overwhelming strength I'd experienced when playing against Ayanokouji-kun.

Unfortunately, although I, as a reincarnator, didn't have some cheat-like system like my predecessors, I had unexpectedly grown stronger. So this kiss was well within my reach, but I silently altered the path I had originally planned to take.

The outcome was unsurprising—a draw.

"Hmm, it seems we're evenly matched, neck and neck."

I chuckled lightly in admiration.

Sakayanagi Arisu silently glanced at me, then reset the board and gestured for another round. After a moment's hesitation, I picked up a piece and played another game with her.

A draw.

Seeing the thirst for victory in the girl's eyes, I silently set up the board again and signaled for her to go first. This round dragged on especially long, every move carefully calculated by her. But unfortunately, the outcome wouldn't change in the slightest.

Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to want to continue, but I stopped her. It wasn't that I lacked the patience to play this game with her, but even if the match went on, it would be meaningless. The result in reality wouldn't change because of personal feelings. I put the board away.

"I lose. I have to admit, you've improved far more than before. Even Ayanokouji-kun probably isn't your match anymore."

Sakayanagi Arisu's face showed no trace of emotion.

"Excuse me, where's the restroom? I'd like to use it."

I pointed to the restroom beside the room. After she went in, I walked into the kitchen and started making dinner for two. As for why I could force a draw, maybe it was because I inexplicably felt a sense of admiration for her. Strange, isn't it—feeling admiration for someone who holds hostility toward me.

When a cute little kid fusses around you, you don't really take it to heart, right?

Mm, I mean purely in terms of our match.

I look forward to seeing her continue to grow.

I also enjoy the feeling of talking and playing chess with her. I could indeed claim that so-called prize, but to me, it was just a spur-of-the-moment joke, even if she might have taken it seriously.

If she was willing to stake such a condition on something she wanted to prove, how could I frivolously disregard her strong desire?

Sakayanagi walked to the kitchen doorway and quietly watched me cook dinner. I didn't know what she was thinking, nor did I care to figure it out. None of that mattered—she had added a touch of liveliness and vitality to my ordinary holiday, and that was enough.

After dinner, I saw Sakayanagi Arisu to the door. She turned around and looked at me, ripples forming in her violet eyes.

"Thank you for the meal. Don't let your guard down in the days ahead. I'll claim this victory sooner or later."

"Then that kiss stays on my tab, waiting for you to win it back."

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I watched Sakayanagi Arisu leave.

But at that time, I didn't know that this incident would mark the beginning of my life veering off the course I had originally planned.