Classroom of the Elite: Liquid Inspiration

Vol 0. Chapter 3.4 - Into the Spotlight

Disclaimer: A new scene was added to 3.3. In case you have already read that, you could skip straight to the last part of that chapter

Ayanokōji Kiyotaka

About eight minutes had passed since Kiryūin and I began playing. She had a rather unorthodox style, for a lack of better term.

Actually, berserk would be the word I'd use to describe her play style.

Watching her pieces advance with reckless abandon, I concluded that her style was too unrefined to pose any real threat. It was unlikely she could catch me off-guard with such a scattershot approach.

Just as this thought crossed my mind, Kiryūin leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I've been thinking..." she began, her voice laced with a playful tone.

"Hm?" I responded, my hand holding onto my bishop, ready to launch a decisive attack that would likely end the game in my favor soon.

Her next words paused the game in a different sense.

"Why don't we add stakes to this game? If you win, I'll let you have a dance with me."

The proposal disrupted my focus momentarily. A dance? That came so out of the blue I couldn't even begin to understand why she brought it up in the first place.

Was this a last-ditch effort to unsettle me?

Nevertheless, my expression remained unchanged outwardly, the practiced mask of neutrality intact.

"Is that a common wager in your games?" I asked, maintaining an even tone, giving no indication of my surprise.

Kiryūin laughed, a clear, ringing sound that seemed to fill the space around us. "Only when I'm particularly interested in my opponent," she purred, locking eyes with me. "Consider it an incentive, Ayanokōji."

"Is that so? I didn't even do something that was remotely interesting," I replied, finally positioning my bishop on the board.

"You underestimate yourself," she quipped, shaking her head in amusement.

While I did force Tanaka to take our game seriously, it wasn't like Kiryūin was a big fan of shogi. Her play style indicated she lacked any serious skill in the game. And so, I doubt my performance was enough to pique her interest.

Turning my focus back to the board, I noticed that Kiryūin made her move, another pawn charging towards its demise.

Again, it made no sense. There was no strategy in her moves, no trap, just...chaos.

Well, I suppose I should show her something interesting...

With a sudden motion, more impulsive than calculated, I tipped my king over. The piece clattered softly against the board, its fall abruptly ending the game.

Kiryūin blinked, obviously taken aback by my sudden concession.

"What are you doing?"

It was her turn to be caught off-guard.

I stood up, feigning discomfort. "I think I may have overindulged in the desserts earlier," I said, placing a hand on my stomach to illustrate my point. "I've been holding it in for a while now."

Eiichiro told me that it was one of the oldest, yet most effective tricks in the book if you wanted to get away from something.

At this moment, its effectiveness was about to be tested.

Meanwhile, Kiryūin frowned slightly, her eyes narrowing as she tried to discern if I was serious.

Then, she laughed.