Puns Cost Money

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, gymnasium.

The gymnasium was abuzz with voices, sunlight streaming through the high windows onto the wooden floor, casting dappled shadows.

"Thank you for waiting, Rei-kun."

The sound of a cane tapping the ground came from behind him. Amasawa Reigetsu turned around. Sakayanagi Arisu's silver-white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, a faint, signature smile on her face.

"I just arrived too, Sakayanagi."

Amasawa Reigetsu nodded slightly, his tall figure appearing exceptionally slender before her.

"Ara~ Such a formal address. You were calling me Princess yesterday~ Rei-kun is so heartless."

Sakayanagi Arisu stopped about a fist's distance from Amasawa Reigetsu, leaning in to smile mischievously from below his line of sight, taking advantage of their height difference.

"Chuunibyou? Ah, Sakayanagi is indeed at that age. I understand. Then—"

"At least call me Arisu..."

"Alice?"

"Whatever you like... After all, only you can come up with such strange pun nicknames for me."

"Alice~ Alice~ Calling each other by English code names like this gives it a mysterious organization vibe. I'm starting to understand your chuunibyou a little, Alice."

Sakayanagi Arisu said nothing, merely kicking Amasawa Reigetsu's shin in dissatisfaction, but her kick was too hard to budge him...

"Let's go, Rei-kun, keep me company? Although I don't think you'll be very interested in these clubs."

"Then why did you call me here?"

"Keep me company, it's a princess's privilege, isn't it?"

"You should say 'princess,' Alice."

"Pfft."

Closest to the entrance was the basketball club's booth. Several tall boys were demonstrating their dribbling skills. Sweat glistened on their tanned skin, and every jump exuded youthful power.

The captain, a third-year student with a mohawk, was vociferously introducing the basketball philosophy of "passion and friendship" to the surrounding freshmen. There seemed to be a red-haired guy he'd seen in Class D mixed in, but Amasawa Reigetsu didn't know his name.

In stark contrast to the boisterousness of the basketball club was the light music club's booth. Several girls in cute uniforms were holding guitars, basses, and other instruments, and gentle melodies flowed through the air. Their booth was decorated with pink balloons and streamers, and homemade cookies were arranged on the table.

"Would you like to try some of the snacks we made?"

A girl with brown hair shyly offered a cookie.

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Chihaya Nagasaki, the lead singer of the Myjica Band!"

Sakayanagi Arisu extended her hand and took the cookie from Chihaya Nagasaki. A flicker of disappointment crossed Chihaya Nagasaki's eyes, but upon seeing Sakayanagi Arisu's doll-like cute face, her eyes sparkled again.

"It tastes good."

Sakayanagi Arisu commented softly, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Thank you, Chihaya-san. We'll consider it."

Amasawa Reigetsu's somewhat soft voice reminded Chihaya Nagasaki of a singer she'd promoted before, but given his age, that person absolutely couldn't be on a high school campus (laughs). However, this was enough to excite Chihaya Nagasaki, who was also a lead singer.

"Please do consider it! I love your voice!"

Chihaya Nagasaki clasped Amasawa Reigetsu's hands with both of hers, then realized it might be inappropriate and returned to her booth with a blush. Her teammates immediately became filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Continuing forward, Amasawa Reigetsu discovered just how many unusual people were in this school—

Tea Ceremony Club, Kyudo Club, Going Home Club, Rhythm Game Club, GJ Club, Magical Far East Nap Society, Magical Girl Research Club, Girl Band Aluminum-Copper Extraction Research Club??

Although it was a bit undignified, Amasawa Reigetsu had to admit that these people did seem quite interesting, at least.

On the other side of the gymnasium, the Chess Club's booth was remarkably quiet. In stark contrast to the clamor of other clubs, there was only a chessboard covered with green felt and several comfortable chairs arranged around it. In the center of the booth, a complex endgame silently awaited challengers.

"Rei-kun, we've never played chess together before."

Amasawa Reigetsu raised an eyebrow slightly, then approached the chessboard and carefully observed the arrangement of the pieces—

White King on h1, Queen on d5, Rooks on a1 and f1, Bishop on c4, Knight on e5, Pawns on a2, b2, c3, d4, e4, f2, g2, h2;

Black King on h8, Queen on d8, Rooks on a8 and f8, Bishop on c8, Knight on e7, Pawns on a7, b7, c7, d6, e6, f7, g7, h7.

"White to move, checkmate in three moves."

A third-year student wearing glasses explained.

"This is a small test activity for our club. Solving this endgame will earn you five thousand points."

Amasawa Reigetsu barely thought about it, his finger lightly tapping the board.

"Queen d5 to h5, check."

The club president pushed his glasses up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Correct. And what is the second step?"

"Black can only block with the bishop at g7."

Amasawa Reigetsu's voice was calm and confident.

"Then White's knight jumps from e5 to g6, check."

The club president's expression shifted slightly. "Black is forced to move the king to h7."

Amasawa Reigetsu tapped his fingers lightly against the board. "Queen from h5 to h7, checkmate."

A low murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd around the booth.

The club president adjusted his glasses, scrutinizing Amasawa Reigetsu. "Student, your chess skills are quite impressive."

Just then, the president's gaze fell upon Sakayanagi Arisu, and a look of sudden, utter disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"Wait... are you... Miss Sakayanagi Arisu?"

Sakayanagi Arisu paused for a moment, then nodded with a light smile.

"That is correct, I am Sakayanagi Arisu."

The club president stood up in excitement, his voice trembling slightly.

"It really is you! The champion of last year's National High School Chess Championship! I... I am a huge fan of yours!"

The surrounding students immediately grew restless, crowding around them. Sakayanagi Arisu waved a hand.

"May I borrow this chessboard? I would like to play a game with Reigetsu-kun."

Sakayanagi Arisu turned to look at Amasawa Reigetsu, a glimmer of mischief flashing in her grey-blue eyes.

The opening.

Sakayanagi Arisu played White and moved first, pushing her pawn forward two squares. "e4."

Amasawa Reigetsu didn't even hesitate, pushing his own pawn forward in response. "e5."

"The Italian Game?"

Sakayanagi Arisu said softly, moving her knight to f3.

A flicker of inscrutable light passed through Amasawa Reigetsu's grey pupils. Instead of following standard theory, he moved his knight to c6.

Sakayanagi Arisu was slightly taken aback, then smiled and moved her bishop to c4.

However, the next few moves were completely beyond Sakayanagi Arisu's expectations.

Amasawa Reigetsu's style... was completely different from Ayanokoji Kiyoko's. If playing against Ayanokoji Kiyoko was like playing against an AI, where precise calculations completely sealed off any possibility of victory—

Then Amasawa Reigetsu was like a "kaizo" level in I Wanna Be The Guy, wild and unconventional. He didn't follow standard defensive strategies; instead, he took the initiative, jumping his bishop to b4 to directly threaten Sakayanagi Arisu's knight.

As expected of Reigetsu-kun, this style is exactly to my liking~

Matches against Ayanokoji Kiyoko were far too boring, and matches against other peers, or even world champions, were just as dull—nothing more than a contest of memorized openings and experience, ending in her being crushed by Ayanokoji Kiyoko, or her crushing other players...

Was chess really such a boring game?

Sakayanagi Arisu had wondered.

She stood at such a high, isolated peak; perhaps by the time she arrived here, the narrow space could no longer accommodate a second person.

Yet, when she truly stepped inside the room and turned on the light, she realized—

She was sitting on Amasawa Reigetsu.

Sakayanagi's face felt warm.

As her contact with Amasawa Reigetsu deepened, the scent of a kindred spirit—a stronger kindred spirit—constantly tempted and eroded her sense of loneliness.

If her view of Ayanokoji Kiyoko was that of a target she must defeat, then for Amasawa Reigetsu...

I want to stay by his side just like this.

The lone believer had made contact with the deity she worshipped; having tasted the fruit, she was no longer willing to reach out powerlessly toward his retreating back.

Sakayanagi Arisu wanted to seize the future.

The two played as if in a blitz match, without long deliberation or even hesitation, deploying their pieces based solely on the intuition of their natural talent.

"Check."

Amasawa Reigetsu said softly, jumping his knight to d5.

Her king was forced to g8, while Amasawa Reigetsu's queen waited, poised for the final blow.

Sakayanagi Arisu let out a long breath, smelling of blueberries.

This game had drained too much of her energy; when she finally regained her focus, her bangs were damp with sweat.

Her face was still flushed.

"Reigetsu-kun, I will catch up to you."

Amasawa Reigetsu stood up and reached out a hand to Sakayanagi Arisu, extending an invitation like a knight.

"On this path, there is only you and me, Arisu."