Part 1
(Horikita Suzune POV)
I watch as a chessboard is placed in front of me. A week ago, I didn't even know the rules.
Today will be the first time I will be touching chess pieces.
In the special training with Ayanokouji-kun via computer, I began to understand the depth
required in chess.
If the opponent is Ayanokouji-kun or Sakayanagi-san, I'm afraid that between 1 in 10,000, I
wouldn't be able to win.
But the person I'm dealing with right now isn't either of them.
Of course, I don't know how well Hashimoto-kun plays either.
However, one thing is certain, he is not stronger than Ayanokouji-kun or Sakayanagi-san
"Please, don't overwhelm me Horikita."
My opponent casually said so to me.
I heard even from people in Class A that Hashimoto-kun was not a good person.
"Your expression is quite serious. Why don't you relax and enjoy this situation?"
"How can you understand, as a Class A student who has always been at the top and leading the
entire year. This match is very important for Class C."
"If we lose, it would be very painful because we have to pay class points. So it's the same for
us."
If we win this chess game, we will win 130 class points.
This match is the last chance to get class points in year 1.
"Do you know my name?"
"You are Hashimoto-kun, correct? I know, even though I have never talked to you even once."
"I am honored. To be able to speak to Horikita from Class C. You are a small celebrity. The first
time I heard about your name was when I fed Ryuuen during the special exam on the
uninhabited island."
I did nothing at that time. Those were Ayanokouji-kun's strategies in secret.
No ... maybe for him it was not even a strategy.
"I've only been studying Chess for a month now. Please go easy on me."
"Certainly not a coincidence. I have been playing for a week."
"Eh ..."
The match has begun.
Even if we discuss our Chess experience, it may be mixed in with lies.
This is a battle between the two parties and to drill each other's spirits.
This event is very vulnerable to interventions.
Exceptions are only for the Written Exams in which they can directly report the answers. As
Commanders, Ayanokouji-kun and Sakayanagi-san, are also worried about battles like this.
With 3 wins and 3 losses, we were dragged to the seventh event as the final battle.
Thanks to Hirata-kun's return, Sudou-kun has maintained his rationality, and everyone has
united.
Although Kouenji-kun is still a concern, but I will reflect on it later.
I do not want to let this battle be in vain.
I thought about what Ayanokouji-kun told me before the special exam this morning, which made
me speechless. "No matter who my opponent is, they can't defeat me."
Even now I'm really excited, but I'm not sure why? I feel very reliable now.
Because Hashimoto-kun is incomparable to him, I have a chance to win.
Why don't I think I'll lose?
From the start, I could only imagine a situation where I would dominate.
"So now, we will start the seventh event, Chess. Please sit down."
I sat listening to the teacher's instructions.
Even though Hashimoto-kun continued to show a smile, his eyes didn't convey the same
emotion.
Winning or losing at this event, will be directly related to the success or failure of the class.
It seems like this situation has also made Hashimoto-kun feel pressured.
"So, let's get started."
Meanwhile, Hashimoto-kun took 1 black piece and 1 white piece into his palm.
"Do you know how to decide the starter?"
"Yes."
After confirming, he hid the two pieces in his hands and extended them to me.
"I choose the left hand."
I answered, and from Hashimoto-kun's open hand, showed a white piece.
In other words, I who get the white piece will get to go first.
LN_Vol_11-11
"I look forward to your first moves."
"I don't know if I can respond to your wishes."
I took a white piece. The chess piece in I held for the first time felt cold.
With this, the 7th event's battle between me and Hashimoto-kun began.
My first step - Pawn to E4.
Directly at the start of the match, Hashimoto-kun's smile disappeared.
Immediately, he moved his black piece. The pawn stepped to E5.
I immediately rushed to prepare the Horse to eat the black Pawn.
This is my style of play that I am most confident with after having done many battles with
Ayanokouji-kun.
With the help of a black pawn to protect the other pawns from the white horse, Hashimoto-kun
understood the situation.
"Sakayanagi also taught me a lot of things. Weren't you going to make an opening to put Black
at a disadvantage here?"
Since the first step, we haven't considered playing Chess for too long.
The time required is 1 hour. Because Ayanokouji-kun will play for 30 minutes, so actually I only
need to play 30 minutes.
There is no need to waste time on the opening.
I understood that after playing with him. That is, he does not play defensively.
I don't know which piece Hashimoto was after, but I had to change my strategy.
Besides that, he constantly launched attacks against me.
"This battle is very distorted, right?"
"Yes. Is this a tactic learnt from your teacher?"
"Yes. Same as me. Maybe it's because I felt the most when she was teaching me? You, unlike
me, has a very solid game ... did you teach yourself?"
He began to test me. Is there something he wants to get out of this comment?
"I started playing chess this week. I have not done anything except this."
"Oh ... That means you were sure that Chess will be chosen?"
"It doesn't hurt to think so."
With each piece moving one by one, the position of the chess pieces changed rapidly.
He is often confused and sometimes he doesn't eat my pieces, he might even feel pressured by
me.
However, every step of my game, I attacked Hashimoto-kun.
"Have you really been playing this for just a week?"
"Looks like you really like to talk."
"I'm only talking about your ability."
As long as it doesn't violate morality, no matter what he says, he isn't breaking the rules.
I cannot terminate his rights.
"Yes, just one week. But you can't deny that this might be a lie."
"If you really have only been playing for a week, then it doesn't look like you have done so by
yourself. Is there anyone who is as confident in chess, as the Princess of my class who has
constantly been training?"
"I don't know. I can't completely deny that there is no such thing."
I don't want to give him unnecessary information.
"Oh, it's fine. By the way, can you tell me something about Ayanokouji?"
Is that his purpose? It seems like discussing the chess experience and who taught me wasn't
important to him from the start.
He should have just talked about it. The real purpose was to ask about Ayanokouji-kun.
Even Hashimoto had started to notice.
"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know if the person who has been active behind the scenes since the special exam on
the uninhabited island is Ayanokouji."
He began to try to shake my mind.
And the reason why he was chosen for this event, may have been for this reason.
"Why do you think so?"
"Just my instincts. Tell me about him, Horikita."
"What should I answer you with, I don't even understand what you are saying."
"Really? In my opinion, you seem to be shaken."
"When I learned that you were my opponent, I anticipated that you would try to mentally attack
me."
"... Is that true ?"
"No matter how you attack, my defense will not collapse."
Meanwhile, I used a bishop in a white box to checkmate Hashimoto-kun's king.
Hashimoto-kun's laugh suddenly disappeared.
"Do you still have time to talk about it?"
After that, he fell silent and I began to attack.
"This is interesting ..."
Looking at the previous situation, this match situation has begun to side with me.
He is not a weak opponent, but every move he makes matches my expectations.
From the beginning of the match to less than 10 minutes, his moves finally slowed.
He thought hard for the first time. The smile on his face that he occasionally showed, had now
disappeared.
"Oh, this is not bad Horikita, you are very strong. Your playstyle is beautiful, this is very
troublesome."
"You too, you aren't so bad yourself. You play very well."
"Excessive flattery will not save you."
This match , if it continues, it will definitely be my victory.
Hashimoto-kun should definitely feel the gravity of the situation.
However, our battle will not necessarily decide the outcome.