The sun was beginning to set creating an orange glow over the city. The students were beginning to head back to their home after witnessing 2 intense battles of Chess. But inside the student council office , there was another storm being created by the newly elected president named Yasu Kurayami who seemed to be interested in keeping out the weaks from the prestigious Aika High. He was calm and composed in nature.
" President , Can I Ask You One question ? " Ichika Tsukiko asked Yasu.
Ichika Tsukiko was the secretory of the President. She was beautiful and her blond hair was elegant.
She had noticed Yasu's intentions right when she was appointed as his secretary.
" Sure , Tsukiko " He nodded and said with a calm expression.
" Why did you create an event like that " She asked with her voice tensed " This is going to be tough for us to manage ."
Yasu gave a light smile with his eyes gazing at hers " Wouldn't you relish in watching the weak tremble before something like that ? " His lips twitched into a smirk which was emitting an intimidating vibes.
" Well , I don't have any problem with your exam but it really is something new for me to experience " She gave a smile at his above question.
" Then , Just be patience and see how it plays out " He replied, his chin resting on his knuckles. His posture was relaxed as if there was nothing that could challenge him.
Ichika studied Yasu for a moment, unsure whether she should press further. His calm demeanor made it hard to decipher his true intentions, but his words lingered, echoing in her mind. The event he had organized was unlike anything Aika High had ever seen—an examination designed to push certain students to their limits, both intellectually and physically.
"President," she began carefully, her voice quieter now, "I understand you want to bring out the best in the students, but... do you think it's right to make others feel inferior just to prove their worth?"
Yasu's smile remained, but there was a flicker in his eyes, something dark and calculating. He stood up slowly, walking towards the window as the orange glow of the setting sun bathed him in a warm light. The contrast between the serene sunset and the storm brewing within the student council office was striking.
"Tsukiko," he said, his voice soft yet firm, "In this world, there are only two kinds of people: the strong and the weak. And the strong... they rise by stepping over those who can't keep up. Aika High deserves to be a place for the elite, not the average. Only those who can handle pressure—real pressure—are worthy of being here."
Ichiko frowned slightly, her hands tightening around the folder she held. She didn't fully agree with Yasu's philosophy, but there was no denying his charisma, his ability to make his vision sound logical, almost inevitable. His confidence was contagious, even if it was unsettling.
"And what if someone surprises you?" she asked, stepping closer to him. "What if one of the 'weak' students you want to eliminate proves stronger than you expect?"
Yasu glanced at her from the corner of his eye, his smirk widening. "Then I'll welcome them with open arms. Strength comes in many forms, Tsukiko. But weakness... weakness has no place here."
Ichiko's heart raced as she listened to him. She had always admired strong people, but Yasu was different. His strength was laced with something colder, more ruthless. She wondered how long it would be before his methods backfired, or worse—before they consumed the very school he sought to elevate.
"Understood, President," she replied finally, bowing slightly before stepping back towards her desk. "I'll make sure everything is ready for the event."
"Good," Yasu said, turning back to face her fully, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I expect nothing less from you, Tsukiko. After all, you're not weak... are you?"
Ichiko paused for a moment, meeting his gaze. "No, President. I'm not." Then, with a small smile of her own, she returned to her work, her mind filled with the storm that was about to descend on Aika High.
BACK TO PRESENT
"Let's welcome Nina Makishima from Class 1-B and
Kazuki Shibata from Class 1-C for the match Number 3 of the Tournament" Rina's voice echoed throughout the auditorium and the audience welcomed the players with appreciation.
Kenzo leaned back in his seat and gazing at the chess board that stood in the middle of the stage.Ken was seated beside him, watching the players entering into the stage and exchange. He wanted Nina to win because if Class B lost this game also then it would be difficult for them to climb up.Ken could feel the weight of the situation pressing on his shoulders, even though he wasn't the one playing. He glanced at Nina as she took her seat opposite her opponent, her eyes locked on the board. He wanted her to win more than anything. This match wasn't just about chess—it was about pride, about proving themselves against all odds. The formalities were done and the players were ready to start the game.
From his distant seat in the auditorium, Kenzo could see the pieces clearly, but more importantly, he could see the patterns. Chess, after all, wasn't about the pieces themselves but the space between them—the traps, the blunders, and the opportunities waiting to be exploited.
Nina was playing with caution, her opening move a Ruy-Lopez Defence, 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. Solid, controlled, and with a clear intention: to keep Kazuki's aggression in check. Kazuki, as expected, played for dominance, responding with 3… a6, attacking Nina's bishop.
He wants control but he's already giving away too much space, Kenzo thought, watching Kazuki's pieces advance recklessly. He knew this kind of play all too well—forward, without thought to the defense behind. It worked on weaker opponents, but Nina wasn't weak. She wasn't brilliant, either, but she knew how to exploit overconfidence.
Kazuki pushed forward with 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4, going for material advantage too early. Typical, Kenzo noted. Kazuki sacrificed position for an early piece, but it was clear Nina had planned for this. Her next move, 6. d4, was calm and steady, immediately threatening to reclaim control of the center and pressuring Kazuki's premature knight on e4.
Kenzo's eyes narrowed slightly. Kazuki should have known better than to let Nina dominate the center this early. The best move here was obvious: 6… b5, gaining tempo by attacking Nina's bishop and pushing her into defensive positions. But Kazuki, too focused on attack, instead played 6… exd4, capturing another pawn but leaving his knight vulnerable.
Kenzo sighed internally. He's falling right into her rhythm
Nina wasted no time, pushing 7. Re1, pinning Kazuki's knight to his king. The threat was clear, and the audience seemed to catch on to Kazuki's misstep. A few hushed whispers echoed around the room. Kazuki paused, visibly uncertain. From his spot in the back, Kenzo could practically feel the hesitation.
He needs to reinforce his knight, maybe 7..d5, Kenzo thought. But no—Kazuki, rattled by the pressure, played 7… d6, trying to shore up his defense without considering the long-term ramifications. It was a desperate move, one that allowed Nina to take control of the flow of the game.
Nina didn't falter. 8. Qxd4, and just like that, she reclaimed the center of the board, putting even more pressure on Kazuki's already compromised knight. The tension in the room grew, and Kenzo could hear the shifting of seats, the anticipation. Kazuki was walking into a trap, and most of the audience didn't even realize it.
Kazuki, visibly frustrated, pushed forward with 8… Be7, trying to develop his pieces without losing his knight. But Kenzo saw the fatal flaw the moment Kazuki's bishop moved.
He does not see it, He is completely exposed, Kenzo thought, the corner of his mouth twitching into a brief smirk. Nina, ever patient, didn't rush. She slid her knight into position with 9. Nxe4, capturing Kazuki's knight. Kazuki, perhaps realizing too late that he had lost the piece for nothing, pushed forward aggressively with 9… O-O, hoping to quickly castle and regain some sense of balance.
But it was too late.
Kenzo's eyes flicked across the board, already seeing five, six moves ahead. Nina could trap Kazuki easily now, and there was little he could do to escape. Nina played 10. Bg5, pinning Kazuki's knight once again and tightening her grip on the game. Kazuki, still stubborn, responded with 10… h6, but Kenzo knew it was all over.
He's playing right into her hands.
Kazuki's confidence began to waver. He was losing pieces faster than he could recover, and his initial advantage had all but disappeared. He clenched his fists under the table, trying to hide his frustration. What went wrong? he thought. I should've won by now.
Nina's face remained calm, but inwardly, she felt the familiar thrill of victory creeping closer. She moved her rook, placing it in a position that left Kazuki with few options. His king was cornered. One more move, and it would all be over.
Kazuki's hand hovered over his remaining pieces, his mind racing. He could see no way out. His earlier arrogance had blinded him to the danger, and now he was trapped. The room seemed to close in on him as the realization hit.
Kenzo's mind raced ahead, predicting every move before it happened. 11. Bxf6 Bxf6, 12. Nc3, tightening the noose. Kazuki's pieces were scattered, disconnected, while Nina's coordination was almost flawless now. One more blunder, and it would all come crashing down for Kazuki.
The fatal mistake came on move 13. Kazuki, perhaps seeing no other option, pushed his pawn to 13… b5, attacking Nina's bishop. But Kenzo knew it wasn't a real threat. Nina calmly retreated her bishop to Bb3, maintaining her control of the board.
Kazuki, increasingly desperate, pushed forward with 14… Nb4, a wild attempt to create some sort of counterplay. But this only opened the door for Nina's final strike. She saw it, Kenzo saw it, and anyone paying attention saw it too: the queen's path was now wide open.
Kenzo's eyes flicked to Nina as she leaned forward, her hand steady as she moved her queen. 15. Qxb4, capturing Kazuki's knight. The audience gasped. Kenzo's smirk widened ever so slightly.
Kazuki froze, his face draining of color. He had no moves left, no way to regain control. In just a few more turns, it would be checkmate. Kenzo watched as Kazuki fumbled through the last few motions, Nina pressing her advantage with cold efficiency.
Checkmate in three, Kenzo thought as Nina delivered the final blow. Kazuki's king was cornered, trapped between Nina's queen and rook. The game was over.
The auditorium erupted in applause, but Kenzo didn't move. He remained seated, watching as Nina stood and received her congratulations. Ken jumped in excitement as he took in the result. Winning this game meant gaining 5 points which would create a huge impact for them in the upcoming 4 matches.
Kazuki stood up abruptly, trying to hide his embarrassment with a forced shrug. "Good game," he muttered, though his pride was clearly wounded.
Nina merely nodded, her heart still racing, though she kept her composure. She had won the game, but it wasn't about gloating. It was about control, about proving her capabilities.
"What a Match it was! " He exclaimed, his voice laced with energy. " Makishima played really well "
" Yeah, she predicted the opponent's strategy and Countered it with her own. " Kenzo added while standing up to leave the audiotorium as he was bored sitting for one and a half hours straight.
" Hey! , Wait for me Kenzo " Ken quicky ran towards him and caught up to him. " How did Makishima predict him ?"
" You see , Ken " He began with a glance at his face " Chess is not about winning only, It is about pushing your opponent to his limit, causing him to make blunders and aggresive play so that you can have it your way "
" Man, You view is entirely different " He said wih a small chuckle that displayed his pearly white teeth " Here, I was thinking She got lucky. If you know that much about it, Why don't you volunteer for the next match? "
His offer seemed like another casual words. He didn't want to show his skills unless he was compelled to show.
" No, for now I would like to keep myself out of thr spotlights " He said, his eyes gazing at the pavement's tiles as he went outside.
" As you wish " Ken said with locking his arms around his shoulders " But that doesn't mean You would keep it to yourself only, You ought to teach me your skills someday. "
" Ok, Someday I will see "
Ken grinned, his energy returning full force. "You better! I want to be a chess master before we graduate. Then I can beat Makishima and finally earn some bragging rights."
Kenzo smirked, his mind already drifting back to the next challenge ahead, both on the chessboard
Match No. 2 :- Class 1-A vs Class 1-D
In the highly anticipated second match of the tournament, Class 1-A faced off against Class 1-D. The atmosphere was electric as both teams were determined to secure a victory.
Class 1-A's player, Yuna Watanabe, demonstrated exceptional strategy and skill, dominating the board from the opening moves. Despite Class 1-D's player, Riku Yoshida, efforts to regain control, he struggled to keep pace with Yuna's calculated plays. Ultimately, Class 1-A emerged victorious, winning the match decisively and gaining crucial points for their overall standing in the tournament.
With this loss, Class 1-D faced a significant setback, making their path to the top more challenging as they looked to recover in future matchmatch
As Kenzo stepped into his apartment and climbed the way to his room upstairs , the faint hum of the city outside enveloped him. The familiar solitude wrapped around him like a blanket, a comfort and a weight all at once. He walked to the balcony, the door sliding open with a soft whoosh.
The night sky was a tapestry of stars, twinkling like diamonds scattered across deep velvet.
Kenzo leaned against the railing, his gaze drifting upward. It was peaceful out here, far removed from the chaos of everyday life. Yet, as he stared into the vastness, he felt a lingering emptiness in his heart.
Kenzo sighed, looking down at the street below. The city was alive with the sounds of cars passing and distant conversations, a world bustling while he stood in his own quiet moment. He could feel the stars pulling him in, whispering promises of possibilities and dreams waiting to unfold.
With one last glance at the shimmering stars, he turned and stepped back inside, ready to embrace whatever awaited him in the coming days.
THE FINAL STANDING AFTER THE END OF DAY 2 :-
1. Class 1A (10 points)
2. Class 1C ( 3 points )
3. Class 1B ( 3 points )
4. Class 1D (-4 points )