Chapter 69: I've Already Seen the Ending, Sakayanagi
In a short while, Katsuragi Keima, Sakayanagi Arisu, and the others arrived at the library.
They headed straight for a quiet, secluded corner deep within the reading area, surrounded by several rows of tall bookshelves that formed a relatively private space.
Kamuro Masumi followed silently. Once the two were seated facing each other, she gently placed the chess set she had rented earlier onto the table. The wooden box made a soft clack as it met the surface.
She opened the lid, meticulously removing the beautifully carved pieces and arranging them neatly in their starting positions, as if performing a ritual.
"Normally, I would say 'please go easy on me,' but since it's Katsuragi-kun, please attack with all your might."
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Katsuragi Keima with a smile.
"Heh, quite confident. But don't underestimate me too much."
Keima pushed up his glasses.
"My game has grown through practice with several national and world champions."
"World champions?"
Sakayanagi looked at Keima with a hint of disbelief. Was it possible for Katsuragi Keima to have contact with international chess world champions? Was he for real?
Sakayanagi noticed that Keima's gaze was incredibly serious; it didn't look like a bluff. If it were true, then Keima's background and identity were likely far from simple.
Sakayanagi had no way of knowing that the "champions" Keima spoke of were all characters in video games.
"If I were Katsuragi-kun," Sakayanagi narrowed her ice-blue eyes, her tone as light as if she were discussing the weather while a sharp, probing edge hid beneath her words, "I would set 'making the opponent drop out' as the wager. After all, Katsuragi-kun should be well aware, right? Classes are in competition. If your Class D wants to rise to Class A, sooner or later, you must overcome the mountain that is me~"
"I have absolutely no interest in class promotions, and besides—"
Keima looked up, staring intently at Sakayanagi.
"I don't want you to drop out, Sakayanagi. To me, your existence has a special meaning."
"Oh? You don't want me to drop out?"
The smile on Sakayanagi's face gradually stiffened. Plenty of people used trash talk during a match, but Keima's words sounded incredibly "sincere."
Furthermore, what exactly was that "special meaning"?
Regardless, Sakayanagi didn't care what he meant; she only craved to start the match and test Keima's true level.
"You say that as if you've already foreseen the possibility of my defeat, Keima-kun."
Sakayanagi regained her elegant smile, her fingertips lightly brushing the crown of her Queen.
"I will crush your redundant confidence along with your pieces."
The two set up the board with practiced ease and, under the watchful gaze of Kamuro Masumi, began the game.
Initially, the sound of pieces hitting the board was crisp and rapid. Both moved almost without thinking, their hands a blur of speed.
Kamuro was secretly astonished that Keima could keep up with Sakayanagi's pace, but she remained convinced that victory would ultimately belong to Sakayanagi.
However, as the game deepened, the intervals between those crisp sounds grew longer. The relaxed expression on Sakayanagi's face faded, replaced by focused scrutiny. The position on the board appeared stable, but dark currents surged beneath; every move carried a multitude of subsequent variations. She began to need time to think—this long-lost feeling of needing to calculate seriously actually caused a strange sense of pleasure to surge in her heart.
It had been a long time since she encountered an opponent who could make her this immersed.
But—it's time to end this.
A sharp light flashed in Sakayanagi's eyes. Her pale fingers pushed a piece, completing a clever tactical combination that crisply captured one of Keima's vital units.
"What an exhilarating game, Katsuragi-kun."
She let out a soft breath, her smile blooming once more with the composure of a victor.
"I must praise you. Your chess ability is the strongest I've seen since entering this school. No, I haven't even encountered an opponent like you before. No one has ever pushed me to the point of needing such serious calculation... I am very pleased. I was already looking forward to exchanging contact info as mentioned, but unfortunately, the 'playtime' ends here. It's my win."
Sakayanagi looked at Keima. After her last move, the game had collapsed. Keima was at a massive disadvantage; a comeback was basically impossible.
Beside them, Kamuro Masumi also shook her head. As expected, winning against Sakayanagi Arisu in chess was an impossible feat. Furthermore, Keima had essentially lost his "soul" to Sakayanagi.
On the surface, it seemed Sakayanagi was just making Keima owe her a favor to be repaid one day. But knowing Sakayanagi's personality, she would surely use that right at the most critical moment. By then, Keima—and perhaps the entire Class D—would have to pay a massive price.
Meanwhile, on the second-floor walkway of the library, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was observing the match intently.
"That girl's chess skill is quite impressive."
He wasn't yet aware of Sakayanagi Arisu's identity, so he simply muttered to himself, "She is likely the strongest among the opponents I have seen... However, still not strong enough."
Ayanokouji had already seen the direction of the match.
"She is not Katsuragi Keima's match."
At this moment, Sakayanagi's gaze was focused on Keima's face, wanting to catch a trace of panic. Since Keima had "plotted" against her earlier, she naturally intended to pay him back in kind now. Her face carried a smile, as if victory were already in her pocket.
But her smile gradually froze.
Because in Keima's eyes, there was no panic whatsoever.
"I've already seen the ending."
Keima spoke slowly as he moved a piece. This move initially confused Sakayanagi, making her feel it was pointless. But then, as Keima's subsequent moves followed in rapid succession, the situation on the board changed abruptly!
The white advantage, which had seemed unbreakable, was quietly penetrated and dismantled like a sandcastle. Sakayanagi's pupils constricted slightly, and her fingers tightened instinctively around the handle of her cane.
'Could it be... that from the very beginning of the opening, I unknowingly walked into a meticulously woven trap?'
If that were true, how terrifying was this man's depth of calculation and patience in his layout?
Within a few turns, Sakayanagi let out a long sigh, tipped over her King, and resigned.
"It's my loss."
Sakayanagi leaned back against her chair, yet the corners of her mouth curled upward. It had been so long since she experienced a duel like this. Keima's strength was truly formidable... the first time she had faced an opponent of this caliber.
'Why is he only a Class D student?'
"Sakayanagi... actually lost?"
Beside them, Kamuro Masumi looked at Sakayanagi Arisu with a face full of disbelief.
"Magnificent, Katsuragi-kun."
Sakayanagi leaned forward with great interest. "Could you share your thought process? I'm curious to know when exactly I stepped into the trap."
"From the start, my formation set out bait. Your subsequent offensive lines basically never left the scope of my deductions."
Keima explained calmly, as if stating a simple fact. Sakayanagi's strength was indeed great.
But...
He was the "God" who had conquered a pile of notorious "trash games" like Go For It! Chess Girl and Conquest: Becoming a Game Master. Those games featured chess segments with characters where the difficulty was so high that the completion rate was less than 0.1%. They were called "impossible games," quickly becoming infamous as trash titles, leading to the developers' bankruptcy and the end of any updates.
Even so, Keima had cleared them. His chess level had become increasingly peerless through thousands of such trials! Sakayanagi was strong... but compared to those in the games, she was nothing!
"I see... you really are remarkable, Katsuragi-kun."
Sakayanagi used her cane to support her petite body and then handed her terminal to him. "I promised you earlier; here is my contact information."
Keima operated quickly, saving the number and immediately sending a message. It contained a detailed list of the latest model of the portable game console he had been longing for.
"I never go back on my word. On Monday, I will personally bring the items to you."
Sakayanagi's gaze never left Keima. Although she had lost the game, her interest in this man only grew more intense. Using a portion of her personal points to trade for a match worthy of long reflection was, in her eyes, completely worth it.
"Thank you very much, Sakayanagi-san."
"No need to thank me; I was the one who proposed it." Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes slightly. "However, Katsuragi-kun, from now on, you will certainly be noticed by more people in this school."
Sakayanagi had previously posted several threads on the forum and had her classmates reply below.
[Title: What's going on? Security was out last night.]
[1st Floor: Looks like they took someone away.]
[2nd Floor: It was a clerk from the school supermarket.]
[3rd Floor: What exactly happened? Can someone who knows speak up?]
[4th Floor: I saw someone take down the clerk. That person seemed to be a first-year from Class D.]
Sakayanagi's actions were intended to make others notice Keima's existence. Some people would surely be unable to sit still. For instance, Ryuuen Kakeru of Class C.
"That is a good thing for me."
Keima had already pulled out his handheld and started playing. To him, it was indeed a good thing. The greater his fame, the more his yet-to-be-contacted conquest targets would remember his name in advance, leaving a deeper impression. This was the first step in planting the seeds.
"I see."
Sakayanagi nodded in realization. In her eyes, Keima had a "bring it on" attitude.
"I imagine the class competition from now on will become even more heated. I look forward to facing off against Katsuragi-kun again in the future—whether on a chessboard or another 'battlefield'." Sakayanagi's voice was soft yet clear. "With Katsuragi-kun around, these three years of high school will definitely be very, very interesting. I sincerely look forward to future developments~"
After speaking, she gestured to Kamuro Masumi, and the two turned to leave. Their footsteps gradually faded away among the quiet bookshelves of the library.
Keima stretched and took out his cards.
[Name: Sakayanagi Arisu] [Favorability: 28%]
"It seems today's tactics yielded good results," Keima muttered to himself.
Although a series of unexpected events had occurred today, overall, the gains were quite substantial. Not only had he increased Sakayanagi's favorability, but he had also successfully obtained a game console. Excellent!
However, who was this "Ryuen Kakeru from Class C" Sakayanagi mentioned? Forget it, it has nothing to do with me. Speaking of which, it's quite quiet here—a perfect place to play games. If he went back, Elsie would likely make a fuss and disturb his gaming.
Just as Keima was preparing to immerse himself in his game, a familiar voice, carrying both lethargy and gentleness, rang in his ear.
"Keima-kun, did you come here too?"
Keima turned around. The newcomer was none other than Shiina Hiyori. After their earlier date ended, Hiyori had been soaking in the library reading. While she was looking for more interesting novels, she happened to see Keima.
"Hiyori-san."
Keima looked at her, his brain reacting rapidly. "I came over just to see if you were still here."
"Keima-kun... came looking for me?"
"Mm, I wanted to find you so we could read and play games together."
"I see. Is it convenient for me to sit here?" A smile appeared on Hiyori's face as she pointed to the seat opposite Keima.
"Of course."
Keima nodded. Hiyori sat down. She felt a lingering warmth on the chair. A faint fragrance lingered in the air.
'It was a girl, wasn't it?' But in a library, it was normal for different people to sit in various spots.
Hiyori didn't think much of it. She spread out her book and began to read, while Keima started his game. There was no conversation between them.
However, Hiyori quite liked this kind of atmosphere.
Meanwhile, on the floor where the Class C boys' dorms were located.
Ryuen Kakeru held his phone, his finger scrolling across the screen, a hint of an expectant smile on his face. What he was browsing were the very posts Sakayanagi Arisu had intentionally made.
[21st Floor: Who is the Class D student?]
[Reply to 21st Floor: Seems to be that boy who usually wears glasses and likes to play games.]
[Reply to 21st Floor: His name is Katsuragi Keima.]
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