A Worthy Opponent, King Versus King

"Can you bury me? That's quite the confidence—one could even call it arrogance."

Waves of astonished gasps rose from the surrounding crowd.

"None of your trash talk means anything to Princess Sakamayanagi. You just need to be crushed without mercy."

Standing behind Sakamayanagi, Kamuro Masumi could no longer stand it. She spoke with a face full of disdain.

She had been looking for a chance to use Sakamayanagi's name to put Tatsuya Sakuya through hell.

The first-years and upperclassmen watching nearby could not help exchanging glances.

"That's Sakamayanagi Arisu—the acknowledged core of Class 1-A, someone destined to stand at the top of this school."

"Trading trash talk is an essential part of any match. Anyone else feel the same way?"

"Is that so? You there—the one who only knows how to hide behind Sakamayanagi. Do you dare come up and fight me?"

Tatsuya did not call Kamuro Masumi by name. He pointed at the person behind Sakamayanagi, but his meaning was obvious.

Could he know I can't play chess and deliberately want to humiliate me?

Or is he still holding a grudge over the red envelope I took from him before?

Don't tell me he hates me just because I didn't agree to be his girlfriend?

Kamuro Masumi considered all sorts of possibilities, yet she could not find a suitable response. After all, she truly was terrible at chess.

Sakamayanagi Arisu seemed to notice that something was off and stepped in to defuse the situation.

"Words alone do not determine victory or defeat, Sakuya. Let me utterly destroy you on the board."

While Tatsuya Sakuya and Sakamayanagi Arisu traded barbs, the chessboard on the table had already been arranged.

"Please begin, Sakamayanagi, Sakuya."

The Chess Club president had finished the preparations. He also wanted to see just how far these two could take the game.

In chess, White moved first.

Sakamayanagi Arisu elegantly picked up a white pawn and steadily advanced it two squares.

Pawn to E4.

"Consider it a bit of amusement before noon."

Sakamayanagi added, though it was unclear whether she meant to disrupt her opponent or was simply bored.

The King's Pawn Opening.

A standard yet highly aggressive choice.

"Amusement, huh? I was just about to have lunch, so let me settle this quickly."

Tatsuya Sakuya was entirely unfazed by Sakamayanagi's provocation and replied casually.

His fingers swept swiftly over the black pieces, and a black pawn decisively advanced two squares as well.

Pawn to C5.

"The Sicilian Defense—the opening where White plays pawn to E4 and Black responds with pawn to C5. Isn't that as famous as the Italian Game and the Spanish Opening? Aren't those all openings professional players like to use?"

Someone from the Chess Club recognized the opening.

The instant the first move was made, the atmosphere abruptly changed.

Clack. Clack. Clatter.

The sound of pieces striking the wooden board continued without end.

Tatsuya Sakuya discovered that whether he chose a slow positional game or a rapid offensive strategy, Sakamayanagi Arisu could handle it.

Sakamayanagi's moves were precise, like a net woven through meticulous calculation, fully displaying the Class 1-A leader's broad strategic vision and obsession with victory.

The white knight leaped over the defensive line, while the black bishop cut diagonally across the center.

The pieces on the board went through exchanges and fierce clashes like a raging storm.

The eyes of the surrounding crowd widened further and further. Even the Chess Club members who had been commentating on the game stood dumbfounded. The position had completely surpassed the limits of their understanding, and for a moment, they could not keep up with the players' thinking.

"Th-this... what kind of calculation speed is that?"

"Have they already calculated the next move when they place a piece? No, perhaps several moves ahead—even a dozen or more."

A game at this level had utterly exceeded the comprehension of ordinary college students.

This guy really does have some skill. It's my first time seeing someone push Sakamayanagi this far.

Kamuro Masumi's expression changed from casual indifference to solemn focus.

Move forty.

The game had reached a fever pitch. One wrong move could completely bury the position, while one right move could turn an overall disadvantage around.

Sakamayanagi Arisu decided to launch an attack against Tatsuya Sakuya.

The white queen in her hand attempted to forcibly tear open Tatsuya's kingside defense.

That seemingly irregular defensive formation was, in truth, impregnable.

Every heavy blow from White was deflected by the slightest, lightest shifts in move order, losing all its force.

And even...

Without anyone noticing, one of Tatsuya Sakuya's black knights had silently entered a blind spot in White's defenses.

"Check."

"So you calculated this far..."

Sakamayanagi Arisu adjusted her breathing, trying to calm herself.

She seemed to have already seen it.

As long as Tatsuya Sakuya moved his black knight to F3 on the next move, combining it with the black queen's diagonal pressure, White's king would have nowhere to escape within three moves.

Tatsuya Sakuya's hand paused in midair for half a second as he held the piece.

Clack.

The black knight did not land on F3, the killing square. Instead, it moved to a seemingly ordinary but exceptionally secure position.

At the same time, it captured one of Sakamayanagi's pawns that had penetrated deep into his territory.

The previously lethal offensive immediately slowed.

Over the next five moves, the two rapidly exchanged the final few pieces in the endgame.

Only two lone kings and scattered pawns incapable of forming a mating net remained on the board.

The game was over.

"King versus king?"

Tatsuya Sakuya rose to his feet.

"Ah, what a pity. I was just a little short. Looks like my luck ends here today."

"Going easy on your opponent... is not very gentlemanly, Sakuya."

Sakamayanagi Arisu had seen it perfectly clearly.

This man had chosen a draw despite having complete control over the life and death of the game!

"What are you talking about, Sakamayanagi? I gave it everything I had just to avoid losing."

Tatsuya Sakuya put on an innocent expression.

"Now that we're done, I'll excuse myself. My stomach is already protesting."

"Coincidentally, I'm a little hungry too."

Sakamayanagi Arisu spoke.

"I wonder if you would mind letting Kamuro and me join you at your table, Sakuya? Regarding that move just now, I have an entire meal's worth of questions to ask you."

Kamuro Masumi widened her eyes beside her. "Hey, Sakamayanagi, why are we eating with him...?"

"Masumi."

Sakamayanagi calmly uttered two words.

Though Kamuro Masumi was extremely unwilling, she could only grit her teeth and yield before Sakamayanagi's unquestionable attitude.

Tatsuya Sakuya shrugged. "I certainly don't mind if someone else is paying."

"Of course. I'll be buying lunch today."