Can You Bury Me?

The club recruitment event kicked off in the enormous indoor gymnasium.

In the most conspicuous spot at the center of the gym stood a white tent with an imposing presence.

That was the Student Council's recruitment booth.

The current Student Council president, Horikita Manabu, sat in the middle and delivered a recruitment speech:

"I warmly welcome all outstanding freshmen to join the Student Council. The Student Council can provide you with all kinds of resources, platforms, and opportunities—things no other club can compare with."

Simply sitting there, Horikita Manabu was already the gold-standard advertisement for club recruitment.

For a time, quite a few freshmen stopped to watch, crowding so tightly around the Student Council that not even water could pass through.

At the edge of the crowd.

The black-haired girl, Horikita Suzune, rose slightly onto her toes. She did not choose to approach, merely watching from afar.

It could be said that she was not mentally prepared to face her older brother yet, even though the very reason she had come to this school was to follow in his footsteps.

Horikita Suzune was so absorbed in observing her brother that she did not notice Tatsuya Sakuya passing not far from her.

In stark contrast to the cold solemnity around the Student Council, the rest of the gymnasium was already buzzing with excitement.

Tatsuya Sakuya wandered lazily among the booths.

"Good news, everyone! Our Chess Club is holding a challenge tournament!"

A third-year girl stood atop a wooden crate, waving a megaphone in her hand as she passionately called out to the freshmen around her:

"Any first-year student can register for free to take the challenge! Beat an ordinary club member and win two thousand points; beat the club president and take home twenty thousand points!"

"If no one wins today, our Chess Club will additionally give out ten thousand points to the members who join the Chess Club today."

Hearing there was a points reward, Tatsuya Sakuya stopped and headed straight for the Chess Club's challenge table.

If he won this, wouldn't his milk tea budget for the month be settled?

The area before the Chess Club booth was already packed to the brim. Many freshmen who simply wanted to test the waters gathered around, eager to give it a try.

A third-year student sat behind the wooden table with one leg crossed over the other, enthusiastically beckoning to the freshmen watching nearby:

"Don't be shy, everyone. The four juniors who came to try it just now all lost, but participation is what matters."

"As long as you're interested in chess, you're welcome to join our Chess Club even if you lose. Of course, if any of you think you've got a good feel for it or some real skill, you're welcome to come up and challenge me anytime!"

Tatsuya Sakuya pulled out the wooden chair opposite him and sat down without hesitation.

"Huh? Is that freshman really going to challenge him?"

"He's pretty handsome, but it feels like he's just here to play around..."

Several girls in the crowd whispered among themselves.

"Senior Nakata is at an advanced school-team level. It may be a free trial, but there's no way he can win..."

Leaning back in his chair, Tatsuya Sakuya picked up a wooden chess piece and weighed it in his palm. He tossed it into the air, sending it arcing through the air before catching it steadily.

"Perfect. I've always had good luck."

Propping up his chin with one hand, Tatsuya Sakuya yawned lazily.

Seeing someone take a seat, the senior revealed a warm smile:

"Got guts. You only get one free challenge, and there are no take-backs once you make a move, junior."

The match began.

The senior came out with a fierce offensive, clearly intending to finish quickly and teach this arrogant freshman, who did not know his place, a lesson.

Yet after only a brief thought, Tatsuya Sakuya had already devised a response almost the instant his opponent made a move.

Clack, clack, clack.

The crisp sounds of wooden pieces striking the board ran together across the table, the pace so fast it made people dizzy.

The watching freshmen gradually stared in disbelief.

In fewer than twenty moves.

Tatsuya Sakuya casually pushed forward a black bishop, bringing the game completely to its end.

"Checkmate."

The senior's hand froze in midair. He stared at his king, completely trapped before him, for a long while before giving a bitter laugh and tucking his folding fan back into his sleeve.

"Amazing... the younger generation truly surpasses the old. Junior, your feel for chess is definitely at a master level, isn't it? Why not consider joining our Chess Club? The vice president position is still vacant!"

He politely declined the invitation.

"No, I'm rather lazy. Thanks for the offer. I'll take the two thousand points."

"Fine, I admit defeat!"

The senior laughed heartily and readily took out his phone to transfer the money.

Click.

At that moment, the Chess Club president pushed through the crowd. With a dark expression, he adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and sat down.

"I'll play this round against you. I can tell you're an expert. I'll use my real skill, so please enlighten me."

The surrounding upperclassman club members perked up, all becoming alert:

"The president is best at constructing the King-side Fortress. This defensive formation built through King-side Castling is watertight. He once relied on this system to earn a placing in the regional qualifiers for the national tournament!"

"Please."

Tatsuya Sakuya had been worried he would not find another opponent. This was perfect—the man had delivered himself right to him.

The second game erupted.

The president used the iron-walled defensive tactic known as the "King-side Fortress." His pawn formation stood as steady as a mountain, protecting his king without the slightest gap.

The onlookers around them held their breath as well, scarcely daring to breathe.

The air was so tense it seemed to freeze solid.

"The president's formation is complete... there's no way to find a single weakness now."

Several club members spoke in low voices, confident smiles appearing on their faces.

After dozens of exchanges, the battle on the chessboard grew even fiercer.

During the tense middlegame, Tatsuya Sakuya found a weakness, then precisely leaped the knight hidden in the rear into a crucial square.

Clack.

An upperclassman vice president watching with a smile nearly had his eyes pop out when he saw that move.

"He... he put the knight there? Isn't that just giving it to the queen? No, if the queen takes the knight, the defense on the right will expose half an opening..."

"That move creates a Royal Fork, threatening both the opponent's king and queen at once! It's a dead position—this is a dead position!"

At those words, the watching freshmen and club members erupted in an uproar.

"What? The president's national-level fortress was pried open in a single move?"

"You're kidding, right? How did he even spot that opening?"

The president's pupils contracted violently, and beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from his forehead.

He watched the iron wall of defense he had painstakingly built melt away like cream, but there was nothing he could do. Chess was a game where strength spoke for itself.

"I... resign."

Even after giving it everything, he still could not win?

The president slumped in his chair.

The entire venue fell silent. Every doubt and whisper was instantly erased.

The students watching stared at this challenger in utter shock, with nothing left in their eyes but incredulous awe.

Sakuya opened his phone, brought up his payment code, and placed it at the corner of the table.

"Thank you, Chess Club. May the Chess Club continue to prosper, grow bigger and stronger, and create glory forever."

Tap, tap, tap...

A crisp, rhythmic tapping sounded from behind him.

The newcomer was a silver-haired girl with long hair, holding a slender cane with a silver handle. Flanked by two tall boys from Class 1-A, she slowly entered the scene.

It was Sakamayanagi Arisu, with Kamuro Masumi beside her.

Tatsuya Sakuya recognized the newcomer.

"What an overwhelming slaughter, Tatsuya."

With both hands folded atop the handle of her cane, Sakamayanagi Arisu did not hesitate to praise him.

"I had thought this school was merely a boring nursery, but finding such an exquisite toy as you makes me look forward to what lies ahead. Over the coming days, do make sure to let me enjoy the pleasure of destroying you completely."

"Isn't that Sakamayanagi Arisu from Class 1-A?"

Someone in the crowd recognized Sakamayanagi Arisu.

"I've heard about her chess skills for a long time."

"So even she was drawn here. Now this will be interesting."

"Although Sakamayanagi is strong, Tatsuya doesn't seem like he'll be easy to deal with either."

Everyone began discussing it.

Tatsuya Sakuya spoke.

"Can you bury me?"