The reason Horikita Suzune gave didn't satisfy Amane one bit.
Seeing that pleading look in Suzune's eyes, Amane felt herself starting to soften. But then she remembered—the whole point of refusing Suzune's request was to make her face reality, to help her grow stronger.
How could she let herself cave now?
"So, Suzune, do you really understand that no matter what, saving them is a losing deal? If you save them once, there's a good chance there'll be a second time. Can you really protect them all the way until graduation?"
Amane's tone had softened slightly, but the weight of her words was enough to crush any hope.
"I can't promise I'll be able to protect them until graduation. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try just because I might fail."
"But what if you know the outcome of trying might only make things worse? Even if you save them, they might not remember your kindness. And once you save them once, they'll sit back and expect you to rescue them a second and third time—they'll start thinking it's your duty to save them."
Amane's retort hit far harder than Suzune's reasoning.
After a few rounds of this, Suzune had no choice but to fall silent.
Her intentions were good, that much was true—but that didn't necessarily mean what she was doing was right.
She was using Amane's points to save others, yet she couldn't prove to Amane that it was the correct path.
That realization left Horikita speechless.
"Even the weak have a right to survive."
After a long silence, that was the only noble-sounding phrase Suzune could muster.
"No one's denying them the right to survive. It's just that they failed to seize their own chances. That's not your responsibility—or mine."
Amane shot back effortlessly, cutting through Suzune's pretty words.
Watching Suzune fall silent once more, Amane knew the moment she'd been waiting for had finally arrived.
"Suzune, who do you think is more important—a single powerful leader, or a group of ordinary people?"
Amane already knew how Horikita Suzune would answer.
And she was right there, waiting for Suzune to step into the trap she'd laid.
"I don't deny that a strong individual can change a lot of things. But I still believe the power of the group surpasses that of any one person."
Mhm. Suzune had stepped perfectly into the trap.
"Then… how about a game of checkers?"
Suzune hesitated at Amane's sudden suggestion.
"Checkers? Right now?"
It was already 1:30 in the afternoon. In just four hours, the forced expulsions would take effect.
With time so tight, Amane still wanted to play a game? Suzune couldn't help but suspect Amane was deliberately stalling.
If things dragged on until all six were expelled, even if Suzune wanted to save them then, it would be too late.
"It won't take long. It won't stop you from saving anyone."
Amane stood up and went to fetch the pieces.
When Suzune saw the black and white tokens in Amane's hands, her face shifted slightly.
"If it's Go…"
Seeing the black and white pieces, Suzune mistakenly thought Amane meant to play Go. She didn't know how strong Amane was, but if she suggested it, she must have some skill.
If they both played seriously, a game of Go could easily take more than four hours.
"Not Go—it's international draughts."
Amane set the board and pieces on the table.
Only then did Suzune notice the black and white pieces were actually small cylinders, each carved with different patterns.
Relieved it wasn't Go, Suzune relaxed a little.
She didn't know why Amane suddenly wanted to play, but when it came to checkers, she might not lose to Amane. If she could win this game, maybe Amane would stop giving her such a hard time.
"Alright then, let's make it quick."
The confidence in Suzune's expression made the corner of Amane's mouth lift faintly.
"You're pretty confident, Suzune."
"Of course. I may not be much in a fight, but when it comes to board games, I might just be your match."
Suzune responded with a slight smile.
What a perfect answer.
After setting up the board, Amane motioned for Suzune to start.
Suzune took the initiative without hesitation.
Click.
A crisp sound rang out as a black piece was removed from the board.
But Amane acted as if she hadn't noticed, picking up a piece from the edge and moving it forward one step.
Suzune found it a little strange, but everyone had their own strategies in games, so she didn't dwell on it.
She continued hopping her white pieces forward.
Click.
Another black piece was taken.
Yet again, Amane showed no reaction. She simply advanced the same black piece as before, capturing an unimportant white piece in the process.
Suzune continued her advance, using a white piece to take another black.
Click.
Another black piece was removed.
Amane still pushed that same black piece forward.
If the first two moves hadn't been enough to see her plan, by the third, it was impossible to miss. Suzune had fully grasped what Amane was trying to show her.
"I see what you're trying to tell me. You're planning to move that one black piece all the way to the opposite side to crown it a 'King,' and then use the King's special movement to show me that a powerful individual can surpass a group of ordinary people—is that it?"
Amane gave a slight nod in response.
"But… Amane, haven't you noticed your pieces are disappearing? Your advance is costing you all the other pieces you're leaving behind. In the end, even if you become a 'King,' what can you accomplish alone? If you lose just one piece, you lose the whole game."
Suzune's words were earnest, but Amane only gestured for her to continue playing.
Seeing that Amane wasn't going to back down, Suzune decided to take the game seriously. Now that she knew Amane's strategy, her goal was simple: capture as many of Amane's pieces as possible. If only the King remained, she could easily trap it.
Suzune launched wave after wave of attacks with her white pieces, swarming Amane's side of the board.
Black pieces fell one after another.
In no time, the board was nearly dominated by white.
Amane could only occasionally move another black piece to buy herself some time.
To Suzune, it looked like Amane was barely holding on.
The black piece that was supposed to become the King hadn't reached the end yet, and half of Amane's forces were already in disarray.
Victory seemed so effortless that Suzune even considered offering a draw to spare Amane's pride. After all, if Amane threw a fit later, she wasn't sure she could calm her down.
Amane's idea wasn't bad—checkers was the perfect choice for her metaphor.
The only problem was… while focusing on crowning that one piece, Amane was also trying to protect her other pieces, and as a result, she was failing on both fronts.
Click.
Amane's last black piece finally reached the opposite end and became a King.
Amane had only one piece left. Suzune still had fifteen.
The outcome seemed certain.
But was it really?
Click.
Amane's King took a white piece.
Suzune wasn't too concerned. The King's moves were powerful—losing a few pieces was normal.
But… Amane didn't stop.
Click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click…
It was like a perpetual motion machine had been triggered. Amane's King kept jumping, capturing white piece after white piece, collecting them in her hand.
Suzune's eyes widened in disbelief.
She stared at Amane as if she'd seen a ghost.
How was this possible? Could Amane really wipe her out in a single turn? No—that shouldn't be possible!
Amane had only one piece left. By all rights, Suzune should win on her next turn.
But at this critical moment, Amane's black King began a one-piece show of force.
CLACK!
The last white piece was captured.
Suzune stared blankly at that ordinary-looking black piece, utterly stunned.
Clatter…
Twenty white pieces spilled from Amane's palm onto the board.
Each one felt like a blow to Suzune's heart.
"'Lose one piece, lose the whole game'?" Amane said softly.
"Then I simply won't lose that one piece."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.