Can You Bury Me?

The club recruitment fair kicked off in the massive indoor gymnasium.

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

That was the Student Council's recruitment booth.

Horikita Manabu, the current Student Council president, sat at the center 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."

Just sitting there, Horikita Manabu was already the finest advertisement for Student Council recruitment.

For a moment, quite a few freshmen stopped to watch, surrounding the Student Council booth so tightly 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 had not yet prepared herself mentally to face her older brother, even though she had come to this school precisely to follow in his footsteps.

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

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

Tatsuya Sakuya strolled lazily between the booths.

"Good news, everyone! Our Chess Club is holding an arena challenge!"

A third-year senior girl stood atop a wooden crate, waving a large megaphone as she called out emotionally to the freshmen around her:

"Any first-year student can register for a free challenge. Defeat an ordinary club member and win two thousand points; defeat the club president and take home twenty thousand points!"

"If no one wins today, our Chess Club will also put up an additional ten thousand points to distribute among those who join the Chess Club today."

Hearing that there was a point bounty, Tatsuya Sakuya stopped and headed straight for the Chess Club's arena.

If he won this, wouldn't this month's milk tea money be settled?

The area in front of the chess booth was already packed with people. Many freshmen gathered around, eager to try their hand.

A third-year senior sat behind a wooden table with one leg crossed over the other, excitedly waving at the watching freshmen.

"Don't be shy, everyone. The four juniors who came to try it earlier 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 have a good feel for the game or some real skill, you're welcome to come up and challenge me anytime!"

Tatsuya Sakuya pulled out the wooden chair across from him and sat down directly.

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

"He's pretty handsome, but he looks like he's just here for fun..."

Several girls in the crowd whispered among themselves.

"Nakata-senpai 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, drew an arc through the air, then caught it steadily.

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

Tatsuya Sakuya propped his chin on one hand and yawned lazily.

Seeing someone take a seat, the senior revealed an enthusiastic smile.

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

The match began.

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

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

Clack, clack, clack.

The crisp collision of wooden pieces against the board rang out in rapid succession, the pace so fast it made people dizzy.

The watching freshmen gradually stared in astonishment.

In fewer than twenty moves.

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

"Checkmate."

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

"Amazing... The younger generation truly surpasses the old. Junior, your instinct for chess is absolutely at master level, isn't it? 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 points.

Click.

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

"This round, I'll play you. I can tell you're an expert. I'll use my true skill. Please enlighten me."

The watching upperclassmen perked up and began talking excitedly.

"Our president is best at building a King-side Fortress. Once he completes his King-side Castling setup, that defensive formation is airtight. He once relied on this system to place in the regional qualifiers for the national tournament!"

"Please."

Tatsuya Sakuya had been worried about finding another opponent. This was perfect—the man had delivered himself right to him.

The second match began.

The president adopted the ironclad defensive tactic known as the "King-side Fortress." His pawns stood as steady as mountains, protecting the king without a single gap.

The surrounding spectators held their breath as well, scarcely daring to breathe.

The tension in the air seemed solidified.

"The president's formation is complete... There's no way to find any weakness now."

Several club members exchanged quiet words, confident smiles on their faces.

After dozens of moves, the battle on the board grew even fiercer.

During the tense middlegame, Tatsuya Sakuya spotted a weakness and precisely leaped the knight hidden in the rear into a critical square.

Clack.

One upperclassman vice president had been watching with a smile, but upon seeing that move, his eyes nearly bulged out.

"He... he put the knight there? Isn't he just offering it to the queen? No, if the queen takes the knight, the defense on the right will expose half a gap..."

"That move creates a Royal Fork, threatening both the opponent's king and queen at once. It's a dead end—a complete dead end!"

At those words, the watching freshmen and club members erupted into 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 gap?"

The president's pupils contracted sharply, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.

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

"I... concede."

Even after giving it his all, 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 the challenger in shock, with nothing left in their eyes but incredulous awe.

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

"Thank you, Chess Club. May the Chess Club grow stronger and stronger, expand and thrive, and create everlasting glory."

Tap, tap, tap...

A crisp, rhythmic tapping sounded from behind.

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

It was Sakayanagi Arisu, with Kamuro Masumi following at her side.

Tatsuya Sakuya recognized the newcomer.

"What a one-sided slaughter, Shiba."

Sakayanagi Arisu rested her clasped hands atop her cane, not sparing him her praise.

"I had thought this school was merely a boring nursery. But finding such an exquisite toy as you makes me look forward to what comes next. Please, by all means, let me enjoy the pleasure of thoroughly destroying you."

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

Someone in the crowd recognized Sakayanagi Arisu.

"I'd heard about her chess skills long ago."

"So even she was drawn here. Now this is going to be interesting."

"Though Sakayanagi is strong, Shiba doesn't look like he'll be easy to deal with either."

The crowd buzzed with discussion.

Tatsuya Sakuya spoke.

"Can you bury me?"