Duality (DxD) (Part 1)

Ch 22 - Treasured Chess Pieces

It was strange for Jin. What reason would someone have to break a routine for more than four years. The next day Jin went to play more chess matches with Hex, but he wasn't there. He wasn't late, he just didn't show up. For the first time in years, Jin was sat there without anyone. He had been playing Hex so many years, without him, on weekdays Jin was left sitting alone in the park. Jin was home schooled and Aika went to a school, so they only saw each other on the weekend and very rarely much later in the day on weekdays.

So now after three days of Hex not showing up, Jin was left with nothing to do for many hours of the day. His routine that he had busy for many years, now had a large gap in it. Jin had assumed maybe Hex went somewhere, a holiday or maybe family had come to see him. But when Jin thought about it, he didn't know Hex all that much. He was a close friend, yet he only ever played chess with Hex, that was all he knew him by.

But as Ban and Jin were practising. A small spar in between them, Jin jumped hearing a loud ringing in the dojo.

Jin: What's that?!

Ban: The doorbell. {When have we ever had a delivery though?}

Ban said walking to the door of the dojo, the front was mostly glass windows as he could see someone with a small box in their hand. A delivery. But Jin wasn't wondering about the delivery, he was looking for the speaker that made such a loud ring. Never before hearing a doorbell. He didn't even know the dojo had one.

Jin: {When have we ever had a doorbell? Where did the ringing come from?}

Jin looked around as Ban spoke to the delivery man, signing for the package as he took it and the delivery man left. Looking at the package a bit confused. Almost as confused as Jin.

Ban: Jin, the package is for you.

Jin: What? Me?

Jin walked over to Ban as he took the package from his hands. It was a small cardboard box but it was extremely light. Sitting down he tore off the tape and opened the box. A small piece of paper which he picked up and looked at.

A letter.

"Dear Jin,

I used to be lonely as a child. I had an anxiety around people my own age so I never made any friends. I wasn't the most active of people and when I was young, there wasn't the technology you have nowadays to escape. But when I found chess, that turned into my escape. When I started playing the game, I had no one to play it with. My parents didn't know how to play and didn't want to learn. So I played myself. Over and over again I won, yet also lost.

I don't know when I started getting so good, but my homeroom teacher noticed me. I started playing in a club, yet despite playing with other people. They didn't feel like friends. Every time I beat them, I felt more and more distant from my peers. I was lonely, yet kept progressing with chess. I never had dreams, not an idea of life or a dream job. So I continued with my one passion. Chess. Tournaments, playing against those older than me, world championships. I lost a few times. But after a while, I never lost again. And despite the money I made, and the life I created, I had never felt more alone.

So I move to Kuoh. A plain, ordinary town. One where I would feel less alone. Not because I made friends, but because I wasn't surrounded by those that weren't my friends and didn't care for me. So now I was left, playing chess with myself again. Playing the only one that could beat me. Me.

But then a small boy came to the table I always played on. Expressing his interest to play with me. He picked up chess a lot faster than I had. Then, he just started playing with me. Despite constantly losing, despite constantly winning against him, that first day I played him, I felt a connection. I felt as if I made a friend.

So ever day I would go to that same table in the park as my regular routine, and every day he would come and play me for hours. Despite constantly winning, I was having fun again. But I never would have expected such a small child would grow up so fast. He got older, he got better at chess and he also matured.

But the day I truly loved, was when I knew I made a friend who cared for me. One that protected me and fought for me. Taking back the pieces that I hold so dearly in my heart. Expensive piece I brought with my first tournament winnings. Handcrafted high-quality marble pieces with weighted centres. He took back the pieces I've held close to me all my life.

Then the second-best day of my life came. When I was beaten by him. He had such a funny reaction it was hard not to laugh. After so long, I was finally beaten and my own opponent, my own friend couldn't believe it.

That was you Jin. So take pride you beat me, your friend, a chess champion, and your Arch Nemesis.

Chessmaster Hex.

Please, don't miss me too much, take care of those pieces, and never stop playing chess. I know you love it and you're really good at it.

Goodbye
Hex."

Jin read the letter and over Jins shoulder Ban read it too. Knowing exactly what it meant as Jin looked in the box. A silk purple pouch, inside, Hex's chess pieces.

Only then did he realise what that could potentially mean as he grabbed the pouch and ran out of the dojo.

Ban: JIN WAIT!

But Jin didn't listen. Running further and further down the road with a pouch full of expensive chess pieces and a letter in hand.

Jin: {This is a joke! He's going to be there! Even if he's not I'll wait for him! He's just on holiday or with his family! He's just having me look after them!}

Jin tried to come up with any reason why Hex wouldn't be there. Why he wasn't there the last few days. Yet, when he saw he wasn't there, he couldn't believe it. Sitting on his cold, hard, concrete seat and setting up the chess board. Wiping his eyes as sat there. Waiting.

Jin: {He's... He's going to come. He... He knows I have to beat him again. He's coming.}

Jin sat there waiting, Ban followed Jin and saw him. Just sitting there waiting with the table ready, all the chess pieces perfectly aligned. He watched as Jin didn't move.

For the first few hours, he didn't move or cry. Only adjusted the chess pieces so it was perfect for what Hex got here.

The next few hours, Jin began to tear up. Wiping his tears to make sure they didn't get on the chess pieces. He couldn't get Hex's chess pieces dirty.

The last hour, when it was already dark. Jin was crying. In the park as some tears got onto the letter.

Hex wasn't coming. Not now or any other day.

As Ban hugged Jin and said he was sorry. Jin knew, his close friend had left him. Forever.

The Chessmaster Hex, Jins close friend and Arch Nemisis, was dead.