The Chess Game

As the final exams approached, the air was thick with the tension of an impending storm.

After school that day, Hoshida No received an anonymous message containing only a location and a time: "Tomorrow, 4:00 PM, Third Music Classroom. Looking forward to a true match. --A"

The sender was clearly Sakayanagi Arisu.

Hoshida No deleted the message.

At 3:55 PM the following afternoon, Hoshida No arrived at the Third Music Classroom right on time.

This classroom was located on a secluded floor of the old building and was rarely used. The door was left slightly ajar.

Pushing the door open, he found the room bathed in soft light.

In the center of the room, a small round table had been set up with an exquisite Shogi board, the pieces neatly arranged on either side.

Sakayanagi Arisu sat in the chair by the window, her cane leaning against the edge of the table.

She was not wearing her uniform today, but rather a well-tailored navy blue dress that reached her knees.

Her hands were folded in her lap, and she wore her habitual faint smile.

Standing behind her to the side was Kamuro Sumire, still dressed in her uniform.

Her gaze locked onto Hoshida No the moment he entered, devoid of any hint of welcome.

"You're very punctual, Hoshida-kun."

Sakayanagi Arisu spoke first, her voice sounding exceptionally clear in the empty classroom. "Please, sit."

Hoshida No said nothing, walking over to the chair opposite her and sitting down.

His gaze swept calmly over the board, the pieces, and Sakayanagi Arisu, finally lingering on Kamuro Sumire's face for less than half a second.

"Kamuro-san will ensure we remain undisturbed."

Sakayanagi Arisu explained with a smile, "After all, a pure match requires a quiet environment. You don't mind, do you?"

"Let's begin," Hoshida No said directly.

"Heh, straightforward as expected."

Sakayanagi Arisu reached out, gesturing for Hoshida No to take the first move. "Please."

Hoshida No did not decline; he picked up a Pawn and made the first move. The game had begun.

The only sound in the classroom was the crisp clicking of pieces against the board.

The first dozen moves were played quickly as both sides established their basic formations.

Kamuro Sumire remained standing there, motionless. Her gaze was fixed on the board most of the time, but the corner of her eye kept a constant watch on Hoshida No's overall demeanor.

As the game entered the middle stage, the pace slowed down significantly.

"Hoshida No-kun,"

In the gap between her thoughts, Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly spoke, "What do you think is the biggest difference between Shogi and the games played at this school?"

She did not look up, her fingers gently stroking the top of a Rook.

"The rules are clearer, and there are fewer variables," Hoshida No replied as he placed a piece.

"Indeed," Sakayanagi Arisu smiled. "The rules of Shogi are fixed, the pieces are public, and the element of luck is almost negligible. It is pure intellect and calculation. But here..."

She finally raised her eyes to look at Hoshida No. "The rules appear clear, but are actually ambiguous."

"The pieces have their own wills and will make unexpected moves. Luck, or rather contingency, also often plays an important role. Isn't it... more interesting, yet more troublesome?"

"The level of trouble depends on one's ability to process information."

Hoshida No said calmly, capturing one of her Silver Generals. "Shogi also requires processing information; it's just that the sources of information are different."

"Well said."

Sakayanagi Arisu did not seem to care about the loss of the piece; instead, she watched Hoshida No's hand as he collected it with interest.

"Then, Hoshida No-kun, your ability to process the information of 'people' also seems quite outstanding. Ryuen Kakeru's recent irritability, the rapid calming of rumors within Class C... all have your shadow on them. Even,"

She paused, her tone becoming playful, "I hear that your relationship with those two lovely girls from Class B is also handled... quite stably?"

Kamuro Sumire's eyelashes flickered slightly, her attention focused entirely on Hoshida No.

"Personal relationships have nothing to do with the match." Hoshida No's reply was airtight, and he placed another piece, his offensive formation subtly taking shape.

"Is that so?" Sakayanagi Arisu was noncommittal, tapping the edge of the board with her fingertips. "But sometimes, personal relationships can become unexpected variables in a match."

"For example, what if Ryuen Kakeru didn't spread rumors, but instead took more direct action against a girl you are close to?"

"Or, what if certain accumulated affections reach a point where they become a burden that affects your judgment?"

She smiled, but her eyes held no warmth. "Can you calculate the impact of these emotional variables as precisely as you calculate chess moves and arrive at the optimal solution?"

"Just like right now—you clearly see the flaw in my left flank, yet because you are wary of a counter-trap I might have set, you choose a safer but slightly slower advance."

Hoshida No was silent for a few seconds, his gaze scanning the board.

Sakayanagi was right; he had indeed seen a faster path to gain an advantage, but he had also seen the risk of a counter-attack inherent in it. He had chosen the safer route.

"The optimal solution," he began slowly, moving a Knight, not choosing the aggressive path Sakayanagi had hinted at.

"It is a comprehensive judgment made after evaluating all possibilities and risks. Emotional variables are part of the risk; they can be assessed and incorporated into calculations. But the foundation of calculation is sufficient information and a grasp of the laws governing the variables themselves."

He raised his eyes to look at Sakayanagi Arisu, "The information I possess is more than you think."

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face faded slightly, and her gaze became focused.

She did not respond immediately, instead carefully scrutinizing the board.

The Knight move Hoshida No had just made, while seemingly conservative, had actually sealed off a hidden counterattack route of hers and quietly cleared a few obstacles for the aggressive path she had mentioned.

It was not that he had failed to see the opportunity, but rather that after calculating several steps ahead, he had chosen a more subtle setup.

"...Impressive." Sakayanagi Arisu said softly, this time a genuine exclamation regarding the game.

"I almost overlooked the subsequent possibilities of this Knight move. Hoshida No-kun, your depth of calculation is even greater than I imagined."

She fell into a long period of contemplation.

Kamuro Sumire's gaze shifted back and forth between Hoshida No and Sakayanagi.

Although her own skill might not be top-tier, she could sense that this match had long since transcended the board itself, becoming a silent contest between the two.

This boy... he was truly not simple.

After thinking, Sakayanagi Arisu played an unconventional defensive move, intending to disrupt Hoshida No's rhythm.

The game entered a more complex and difficult phase.

Both sides' calculations and predictions had reached a considerable depth, with every move concealing hidden traps.

The classroom was so quiet that they could hear each other's breathing.

Another twenty minutes passed, and on the board, Hoshida No gradually gained a slight advantage.

His pieces were positioned more harmoniously, forming a potential encirclement around Sakayanagi's King.

Sakayanagi Arisu stared at the board, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on her cane.

After a long while, she suddenly sighed and leaned back against her chair.

"I have lost." She admitted readily, with no annoyance at her failure on her face, but rather a sense of satisfaction, "Although I could struggle for a few dozen more moves, the defeat is already set. Hoshida-kun, I fully acknowledge your skill; this is the second game you have won against me."

She looked up, her smile reappearing: "This game was very enjoyable. Thank you for accepting my invitation."

"You're welcome." Hoshida No began to tidy up the pieces, his movements steady.

"Then, as an after-game amusement for the loser..." Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Kamuro Sumire, "Sumire, could you bring that over?"

Kamuro Sumire nodded silently, walked to the corner of the classroom, picked up an elegantly wrapped paper bag, walked to the table, and handed it to Hoshida No.

"A small gift, as a token of thanks for taking up your time, and also in appreciation of your chess skills." Sakayanagi Arisu said, "High-quality tea, I hope you will like it."

Hoshida No did not reach for it immediately, instead looking at Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Rest assured, it is just tea."

Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, "As for additional conditions... I hope there will be another chance to play like this with you again. Of course, outside of the battlefield."

Hoshida No took the paper bag: "If there is an opportunity."

He finished clearing the pieces from the board and stood up.

"Hoshida No-kun," as he turned to leave, Sakayanagi Arisu called out to him, "The game is over. But the game is still ongoing."

"I am very much looking forward to seeing how you will utilize this exceptional ability of yours in the upcoming special exams. And..."

She paused, her gaze seemingly sweeping over Kamuro Sumire, "How you will respond when faced with certain surprises."

"I will handle it." Hoshida No's reply remained concise.

He gave a slight nod to Sakayanagi Arisu and glanced once more at the perpetually silent Kamuro Sumire, who was also watching him with a complex and inscrutable expression.

Hoshida No pulled open the door to the music room and walked out.

Inside the music room, Sakayanagi Arisu remained seated in her chair, her fingers gently stroking the smooth surface of the board.

"Sakayanagi," Kamuro Sumire finally spoke, her voice low, "Is his chess really that strong?"

"Indeed."

Sakayanagi Arisu said wistfully, "Strong enough to be exciting, and strong enough to... make one's heart flutter."

She turned her head to look at Kamuro Sumire, "Sumire, what do you think he meant by that last look he gave me?"

Kamuro Sumire thought for a moment and shook her head: "I don't know. But he definitely realized that I wasn't just standing there."

"Exactly." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, "I originally intended for you to observe him, but I didn't expect..."

She leaned on her cane and slowly stood up: "Alright, it is time for us to go as well."

Kamuro Sumire followed silently, and before leaving, she also subconsciously glanced at the empty board and the chair opposite.

Hoshida No walked on the path back to the dormitory, weighing the tea in his hand.

"The gift is a gesture of goodwill, but also a mark."