Arashi once again made his way toward the main hall. The noise from inside had softened compared to earlier, replaced by a calmer, more focused atmosphere. He stopped in front of the large doors for a brief moment, then pushed them open and stepped inside.
His eyes instinctively searched the room.
But Ichinose wasn't there.
That absence lingered longer than he expected. Arashi slowly scanned the hall again, checking the tables, the corners, the familiar faces—but she was nowhere to be seen. A quiet, almost unnoticeable tension settled in his chest. He didn't know why he had expected her to be there in the first place, and that realization annoyed him slightly.
Just as he was about to move forward, a voice called out to him.
"Excuse me… Arashi?"
Arashi turned toward the sound. A boy stood a short distance away, looking unsure but determined enough to speak up.
"Yes?" Arashi replied.
The boy hesitated for a second, then said, "Would you like to play a game with me?"
Arashi blinked, surprised by the sudden invitation. After a brief pause, he shrugged lightly.
"Sure. Why not?"
They walked together and took their seats at one of the tables. The chessboard between them was neatly arranged, the pieces untouched. The boy fidgeted in his chair, clearly nervous.
"There's something I want to tell you," the boy said quietly. "But… don't tell anyone."
Arashi felt a strange shift in the air. Something about the boy's tone made him uneasy.
"…Okay," Arashi said slowly. "Go on."
The boy scratched the back of his head awkwardly, avoiding eye contact.
"I… I don't actually know how to play chess."
Arashi froze for a moment, genuinely confused. He looked at the board, then back at the boy.
"…Then why did you participate?" he asked honestly. "Didn't they test you before letting you in?"
The boy let out a small, embarrassed laugh, rubbing the back of his neck again.
"Um… no. I just said I wanted to participate, and they agreed. They didn't ask anything. Not even a single question."
Arashi listened silently as the boy continued, his voice growing more honest with each word.
"I'm not really good at anything," he admitted. "They wanted me to act confident, like I knew what I was doing… but I can't. It's too embarrassing for me."
For the first time, Arashi truly looked at him—not as an opponent, but as a person. He could see it now: the insecurity, the pressure, the quiet fear of being judged.
Arashi exhaled softly.
"…Alright," he said calmly. "I'll help you."
The boy's eyes widened in disbelief, and for a brief moment, relief washed over his face.
After that, Arashi calmly began explaining the rules of the game. He picked up each chess piece one by one, showing how they moved across the board—how the pawns advanced, how the rook controlled straight lines, how the bishop sliced through diagonals, and how the knight jumped in its unique pattern. His voice was steady and patient, never rushed.
To make things easier, Arashi also taught him two simple openings—nothing complicated, just enough to help him feel confident and not lost at the start of a match. He explained why each move mattered instead of just telling him what to do.
As the explanation went on, the boy's eyes slowly lit up.
"Wow…" the boy said, looking genuinely impressed. He turned toward Arashi with a small smile.
"You explain things really well. I actually understood everything. Thank you so much. I'm really glad I met you."
Arashi nodded lightly, as if it were nothing special.
"Shall we play a game now?" the boy asked, clearly excited.
"Sure," Arashi replied.
They began the match.
From the outside, it looked like a normal game—but inside Arashi's mind, every move was calculated. He deliberately placed his bishop where it could be captured. Later, he allowed his knight to fall. Then even his rook. Each sacrifice was intentional.
If I crush him completely, Arashi thought, he'll only lose confidence.
He'll start believing he can't win—no matter how hard he tries.
So instead of dominating the board, Arashi shaped the game carefully, allowing the boy to take control. Eventually, the match ended with Arashi losing on purpose.
"Good game," Arashi said sincerely. "Keep playing like this. At this rate, you might even win the tournament."
The boy stared at the board, then back at Arashi, stunned.
"Thank you… really. Thanks a lot," he said, his voice filled with gratitude.
Then suddenly, as if something struck him, he straightened up.
"Oh—sorry! I didn't even introduce myself," he said quickly.
"My name is Nagi. Second year, Class C."
Arashi gave a small nod.
"I'm Arashi. Second year as well. Class A."
Nagi's eyes widened.
"Wow… we're in the same year. Just different sections."
"Yeah," Arashi replied simply.
Just then—
The door slammed open with full force.
The loud sound echoed through the hall, instantly drawing attention toward the entrance.
After the door slammed open, everyone's attention snapped toward the entrance.
A student stood there, visibly exhausted. His shoulders were tense, his breathing uneven, as if he had run a long distance without stopping. He bent forwardeslightly, trying to catch his breath, then straightened up and shouted in a loud, urgent voice.
"The games are about to begin! Everyone get ready!
Chairs, boards, and tables—move everything to the stage!
Five games will be played at a time, so set the shelves properly!
And be prepared—Principal Sir will also come to watch the final match!"
The moment those words left his mouth, panic spread through the hall.
Students rushed in every direction. Some grabbed chairs, others carried tables, while a few struggled with the chessboards, nearly bumping into each other. The calm atmosphere from earlier vanished completely, replaced by hurried footsteps and anxious voices.
Arashi remained quiet, watching the chaos unfold.
After some time, the stage was finally set. The tables were aligned, boards placed neatly, and chairs arranged in rows. Slowly, more students began entering the hall, filling the empty spaces with murmurs and excitement.
The first matches began.
Neither Arashi nor Nagi were called for the opening round—their turn was later. Arashi sat calmly, observing the ongoing games. As his eyes wandered across the stage, he noticed Ichinose seated at one of the boards, already focused, her posture composed and confident.
So she's already playing, Arashi thought.
Time passed.
One match after another ended.
Fast forward—
Arashi won every single one of his games.
On the other hand, Nagi lost one match but won all the rest. His expression had changed noticeably—there was confidence now, something that hadn't been there before.
Eventually, the pairing everyone anticipated was announced.
Arashi versus Nagi.
Before the match began, Nagi turned toward Arashi, his expression serious yet sincere.
"Arashi… you taught me so much," he said. "This time, don't lose on purpose. I won't be able to beat you anyway. If you win against me, it'll motivate me even more. So… please win properly. Okay?"
Arashi studied him for a moment, then nodded lightly.
"If that's how you feel," he said calmly, "then okay."
The match began—and this time, Arashi held nothing back.
He played cleanly, efficiently, and without hesitation. Nagi fought hard, applying everything he had learned, but the difference in experience was clear. In the end, Arashi won.
Soon after, the final pairing was announced.
Arashi versus Ichinose.
By then, Principal Sir had arrived as well, taking his seat among the audience. The hall grew quieter, the tension thick in the air. The board was set—but the game hadn't started yet.
Ichinose looked at Arashi and spoke with a faint, confident smile.
"I didn't expect you to reach the final with me," she said. "But let's see who wins. I've been winning this tournament for the past three years, so I don't think I'll lose this time either."
Arashi didn't know how to respond.
So he simply nodded.
Moments later, an announcement echoed through the microphone.
"The final match is about to begin!
Three-time champion Ichinose versus second-year student Arashi!
Please welcome both players with a round of applause!"
The hall erupted into clapping.
Under the spotlight, Arashi and Ichinose took their seats.
And just like that—
The match between Arashi and Ichinose began.