A light knock sounded from outside the door.
A cute girl stood outside. She had snow-white hair beneath a black beret, and below that was a delicate, adorable face. Her purple eyes made me take a second look. She leaned on a cane, seemingly having trouble walking. If I had to rate her, I'd give her a very high score.
But what did she want with me?
"Good day, Hajima-kun."
She greeted me formally with a pristine smile.
She seemed somehow familiar, but I couldn't remember where I'd seen her.
"It's a long story, how I came to know you. Won't you invite me in to sit down?"
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched her lips as she watched me.
"Please, come in."
After a moment's hesitation, I stepped aside and let her into my home.
"Just as I expected—rather plain, isn't it, Hajima-kun?"
She looked around, as if this was exactly what she'd expected. But why did she seem to know me so well? I searched through my memories, but couldn't find any connection between this girl and me.
She suddenly turned and walked over to me.
"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu."
Then she raised her head, looked me straight in the eyes, and said in an exceedingly serious tone:
"Hajima-kun, please have a match with me!"
The Sakayanagi Family really were a bunch of go-getters.
When I didn't respond for a while, Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to realize something.
"Oh my, perhaps I was a little too eager. But seeing you just gets me so excited, Hajima-kun."
I silently put some distance between us, then sat down on the sofa, picked up a cushion, and held it in front of me as I watched her quietly.
"Classmate Sakayanagi, please tell me how you came to know me, and give me a reason to accept your challenge. Could you do that?"
Sakayanagi Arisu sat on the sofa opposite me, her fair, delicate hands resting on her slender legs, and began telling me the story from the beginning.
"That facility deep in the mountains, that pure white world—I visited it once, and I still remember it vividly. I was somewhat interested in the so-called experiment to create artificial geniuses. My father once said that anyone who took classes at that facility could be trained into an outstanding talent, without exception. I couldn't help but doubt that claim. What's more, I didn't believe they could create artificial geniuses. A person's potential is determined the moment they're born, the instant they come into the world. No matter how excellent the education, it can't turn someone who wasn't born with potential into a genius."
Sakayanagi Arisu paused before continuing.
"Then I met you. Your match against Ayanokouji-kun—I only knew a little about Western chess at the time, but I could still tell that both of you were formidable. Even so, that couldn't prove the facility had any reason to exist. It only showed that the children who stood out there were already talented. So I decided to prove that 'geniuses aren't created, but are determined at the moment of birth.' I wanted to prove it not only to myself, but also to my father, who had once supported that facility. I can't lose to any child trained there. It's something I have to do, having inherited my parents' excellent genes. From the first time I saw you through the window until now, I haven't forgotten you for a single day. Face me in a match, Hajima-kun."
"If you're challenging me, there has to be something at stake. What if you lose?"
"If I lose, then my first kiss will be your prize."
I had to admit, it was a very tempting offer. I thought it over, then nodded in agreement.
"Then how about Western chess?"
"No problem."
I fetched the chess set from my room and placed it on the table. Sakayanagi Arisu had already taken her seat. I sat across from her, steadied myself, and prepared to accept her challenge.
I had to admit, Sakayanagi Arisu really was an undisputed genius. After only a couple of moves, I felt the same overwhelming strength I'd sensed when playing against Ayanokouji.
Unfortunately, although I hadn't gained any cheat-like system after being reincarnated, unlike the others before me, I'd gotten stronger in a rather unexpected way. So even though that kiss was within my grasp, I quietly changed the course I'd originally intended to take.
The result was exactly as expected: a draw.
"Hmm, it seems our skills are evenly matched. Neither of us has the upper hand."
I chuckled as I remarked on it.
Sakayanagi Arisu glanced at me silently, reset the board, and gestured for another game. I hesitated, then picked up the pieces and played another round with her.
A draw.
Seeing the girl's yearning for victory, I quietly reset the board and let her have the first move. This game went on for an exceptionally long time, with her calculating every move down to the last detail. Unfortunately, the result wasn't going to change in the slightest.
Sakayanagi Arisu seemed to want to keep playing, but I stopped her. It wasn't that I lacked the patience to play this game with her, but continuing wouldn't mean anything. The outcome in reality wouldn't change because of anyone's personal feelings. I put away the chessboard.
"I lost. I have to admit, you're far stronger than you were back then. Ayanokouji probably can't beat you now, either."
There wasn't a hint of emotion on Sakayanagi Arisu's face.
"Could you tell me where the bathroom is? I'd like to use it."
I pointed to the bathroom next to my room. Once she went in, I headed into the kitchen and started making dinner for two. As for why I'd managed to make our match a draw, maybe I'd developed some inexplicable admiration for her. It was strange, wasn't it, to admire someone who was hostile toward me?
You wouldn't take it to heart if a cute little kid kept pestering you, would you?
Well, I mean when we were playing against each other.
I was looking forward to seeing her keep growing stronger.
I also enjoyed talking and playing chess with her. I could certainly have claimed the so-called prize, but to me, it had only been a joke born of a moment's impulse. She might have meant it seriously, though.
She was willing to stake something like that to prove what she believed in. How could I casually disregard her earnest desire?
Sakayanagi stood by the kitchen doorway, quietly watching me cook dinner. I didn't know what she was thinking, and I couldn't be bothered to puzzle it out. None of that mattered. She'd brought a little liveliness and warmth to my ordinary vacation, and that was enough.
After dinner, I walked Sakayanagi Arisu to the door. She turned to face me, ripples stirring in her purple eyes.
"Thank you for the meal. And don't let your guard down from now on, either. I'll claim this victory sooner or later."
"Then I'll keep that kiss with me for now. I'll wait for you to win it back."
A smile lifted the corners of my mouth as I watched Sakayanagi Arisu leave.
But at the time, I had no idea that this incident would mark the beginning of my life veering away from the path I'd originally expected.
Before you continue