The Smarties in Love

Chapter 3: The Match

(Arisu POV)

(Few Months Later)

Alas, Ayanokouji and I's match against each other began after a long delay.

My father used his connections to Master Ayanokouji to schedule an appointment to visit the White Room, and face off against Ayanokouji.

My excitement rises as I once again enter that place, my cane tapping against the white marble floor. The thrill, the anticipation, it all shows on my face as my father comments about my determined smile.

"You seem ecstatic, Arisu."

"But of course I am! Someone of my caliber, to face off against a student from this institution is marvelous!"

My father smiles softly at my enthusiasm, but it's short-lived.

"Do you remember what I told you, Arisu?" He had suddenly asked. My mind snapped back to a few months before.

"Yes," I answer quietly. "I won't let places like this rise. I'll take them down."

My father smiles softly once again, and we part ways. He goes to a spectating room, while I head to room 12, where Ayanokouji and I are holding our match.

As I enter the sterile, boring room, I lay my eyes on the same brown hair that attracted me months before.

"Ayanokouji Kiyotaka... Pleasure to meet you." I joyfully greet, hiding my excitement under a mask of superiority and smugness.

Ayanokouji stares back at me me with those vast, unending dark eyes of his.

"I'm Arisu Sakayanagi, your opponent today." I nod, placing my cane at my side as I sit down.

Ayanokouji nods back.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" I question internally, looking at the boy with a perplexed look.

Just what is he thinking?

(The Goats POV)

This girl reminds me of the girl from the book I read. Silver hair, purple eyes, short stature...

I nod in response to her greeting. In this place, talking isn't necessarily needed, so the other students and I weren't given proper instructions to introduce ourselves.

After getting comfortable, the two of us begin our match.

(Third Person POV)

The game began with the classic move e4 by White (Kouji), to which Black (Arisu) responded to by e5, opening up the center of the board. White developed their Knight to c3, preparing to control the d5 square while Black developed his into f6, attacking White's e4 pawn. White plays d4, gaining a strong front holding the center. Black responds to this with exd4. Whites Knight jumps to a5, putting pressure on Blacks position and preparing to develop other pieces. As the game heated up, White's advantage became clear! Their Bishop develops to c4, pinning Black's Knight against their Queen, while the Queen developed to e2, putting pressure on the kingside. Black tries to counter with a pawn storm on the queenside, but White's Rook on d1 and Knight on a5 proved too strong. With a final blow, the White's Bishop on c4 captured Black's Knight on f6, exposing their King to an attack. Checkmate followed after, with the victory being towards White.

Arisu stared at the board and sighed. She didn't expect to win against him with only around three months of training, but—

"You did really well." Ayanokouji suddenly said, congratulating the girl.

(Arisu POV)

I certainly wasn't expecting him to congratulate me. He continued on, pointing out my flaws, and the moves I should've made.

"Oh wow..." I begin to mutter in shock at the many mistakes I've made.

"You've done quite well for someone with only a few months of practice." He says, with that usual dead blank stare.

This is an... odd thing to experience... This expressionless, un-talkative boy, is gladly pointing out my mistakes and what I could've done better. I had truly thought he was mute or deaf. Turns out, he's just a quiet boy.

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I left the White Room without saying much to Ayanokouji afterwards. My father had asked me how the match went, and I told him the truth. My loss, my mistakes, his knowledge... It was amazing in all honesty.

I lay in my room now, staring outside my bedroom door, thinking of the match.

I'm frustrated.

I'm amazed.

I'm glad.

I'm in awe.

I don't like losing.

I don't want to lose.

I won't lose to him.
Not again.

I'll dedicate myself to beating Ayanokouji, and proving that I'm the superior being. I'll prove that natural genius's beat those artificial genius's.

I'll beat him, the False Genius.

(The Smarties in Love)
(End)

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With her newfound resolve, Arisu pledges to defeat Ayanokouji!

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School recently started :(
Not awesome sauce.

I'm glad I got this chapter out, next one will be basic as well but will (possibly) lead up to something more interesting. Also, how is my chess writing?

Apologies for the lack of writing, if I'm being honest I'm not updating this story as much as I am another. I think I've talked about it, but I've been more invested in this original story I've been making.

I love u all no diddy, have a good day 🙏

- author