Banter amongst the Danish team

With the opening ceremony concluded, the teams were then informed of their first round pairings. And with that came subsequent strategy meetings. The men were up against Denmark, which was a somewhat formidable, but nonetheless a team that Japan could likely beat. The most notable thing out Denmark though was it's top board, featuring Skaberghast himself. But aside from him, the other players didn't seem too intimidating.

"There is a chance Skaberghast won't play since teams tend to rest their top players early on, but even if he does play, you should be able to win on the lower boards," Daria stated.

"In that case, I'll play-"

"I'm the top board, so I face the top player," Ginji sneered.

"And how do we know you won't throw?"

"How mean! We're all representing our countries here, so league kinship matters not."

"Let him have this. If he can get a draw, we could win on the three lower boards," the masked man interjected.

Okisato scowled and accepted the reasoning as Daria moved onto the women's matchup.

Unlike the men, the women had drawn a powerhouse, France.

"We really got a tough match-up. And remember, I can only play 8 rounds so if I play now, that's only 7 rounds left for me. And if we play teams like India, Prussia, America, China, Norway, or Russia, you'll need me at the top board. That means I'd only have 1 game left assuming we face all those aforementioned teams. I was hoping we'd get lucky in the early rounds, but sadly we're being thrown into the thick of it."

"Do you have to play though?" Mimoko asked.

"It depends. France's top player is a grandmaster known as Collette Femme-Fatale. Her rating's 2600, but she's quite formidable, and hates me."

"Why?"

"Because she blames me, as well as you, for the death of her idol, Mizuse Niimi."

Mimoko went pale at the revelation. "But we didn't-"

"It doesn't matter. In her eyes, we killed her just as much as Michiko did. The others are solid as well. The Utsugi sisters, Alice and Mimosa are both SPCMs with ratings of 2424 apiece and international master titles to boot. SPCM Fifi Bealieu is also 2400-rated international master, though the reserve board is SPCM Fleur Monique, who's only rated 2205, I doubt any of the top players will sit out, mainly because we're the number 3 seed. My question to you all is do you think you can beat this line-up without me?"

Iori was the first to grin, boasting confidence she'd destroy her opponent. Azenira was quick to join in as Tenju clenched her fist and declared that in honor of Taira, she'd do everything in her power to get the team gold.

"I think that tells you all you need. Don't worry, okaa-chan, I'll handle the top board," Mimoko smiled.

Daria let out a sigh before a grin appeared on her face. "Well worst case scenario, we lose and we get an easier team, but looking at you all now, I think you can take them."

...

The next morning, the 1st round began. Just as predicted, both Denmark and France were fielding their top players for the match-ups.

"Oh so good to see you, Ginji," Skaberghast sneered as he and Ginji shook hands before a glaring Okisato. "Why the glare, boy? Still pissed about the Muzio draw?"

"No, this time it's because of what you did to Yuusuke Shousen."

Skaberghast blinked for a second before a malicious grin appeared on his face. ""Yuusuke"? Like YUUSUKE! The first line in that song by SoldierGuy?"

Okisato decided not to bite and instead turned his attention to his opponent, a man with long wild pink hair and shaved eyebrows named Jern Ræv.

"Oi, why ya not paying attention to me, huh!?"

"My apologies, but your teammate and I don't get along."

Jern blinked for a bit before scoffing. "Well you and me both. In fact I hate everyone here. Wakuta's a creep in a mask and talks weird along with Retskcirb. And don't get me started on Sommer Lyserød. I hate that guy!"

"Oi, why ya talking shit about me!?" a bald young man wearing a pink scarf glared as he butted heads with Jern.

"Shut it, ya smooth twink!"

"What was that, ya browless caveman!?"

"You're browless too!"

"I had hair last night, but Leyla shaved me for luck!"

"What a loser, letting that girl make you her bitch."

"Huh!? I enjoy every second of it!"

As the two bantered, the man at the remaining board, sat menacingly staring at Zago. "You control the shadows... But I will corrupt the light to take back... the shadows."

The man was none other than Wakuta Ogeldax, still in full costume and character. The reserve member, Retskcirb Eht, watched the banter while snacking on some spicy hot pizza.

There was still time before the round began, meaning the arbiters wouldn't step in until match time. Okisato didn't mind the shouting, but one who certainly did was a woman with long blonde braids.

"Will you two stop fighting!?"

Sommer froze and went pale as he slowly turned around to face the woman. "Y- Yo, Leyla."

Leyla Lynggaard was Denmark's top female chess player as well as a princess. She was also smitten with Sommer, though could take things a bit too far when it came to teasing as evidenced by the fact that Sommer had been shaved bald.

"Chess is meant to be quiet, now be a good boy and shut up, please," Leyla pouted as she pressed a piece of tape over Sommer's mouth.

Sommer went red and nodded in obedience as a sadistic smile spread across Leyla's face.

"Good boy. You're such a good little bitch. That's why you turn me on, you submissive bundle of sexy."

Okisato cringed in disbelief at what was unfolding as Ryonosuke let out a sigh and covered his face with his hand.

"Wow, talk about barely disguisin' your kinks," a girl with spray-tanned skin and short white hair smirked as she pressed her breasts into the back of Jern's head.

Now Jern was the one getting flustered, as the girl was his lover, Julia Ravnetræ.

"Oi Julia! Don't press your pads into me!"

Julia glared and slapped Jern twice. "Anne's the one with the padded breasts. Mine are natural."

"Bullshit! You can barely fit into a c-cup without it falling-"

"Leyla, the duct tape?"

Leyla smirked and tossed the roll to Julia who within seconds, turned Jern into a duct tape mummy. Sommer burst into muffled laughter at the spectacle, though Jern clapped back and the two resumed their banter despite both being gagged.

"And I was hoping to end the banter. My apologies to the men of Japan for their rudeness," Leyla bowed.

"Think nothing of it. Though would you mind if I ask a potentially sensitive question?" Okisato asked.

Leyla tensed up, but allowed Okisato to ask.

"Why's Skaberghast on your team?"

The question caused Lelya to let out a sigh of relief as she expected the question to be centered around her interaction with Sommer.

"Well that's easy, I'm born n' bread in good ole Denmark," Skaberghast sneered as he flashed his Danish passport.

"You're but a blemish to our people, pervert," Leyla scowled.

"Please, I like bald girls, you like bald guys. We're two sides of the same bald fetishist coin."

"Du er en skændsel [You are a disgrace]," Leyla trembled as she stormed away.

Julia shot Skaberghast a glare before she too headed off.

"As you can see, the ladies of Denmark are of the tsundere variety. You wouldn't believe how many Danes in general got bald fetishes."

"I doubt it."

"Well everyone in Silkeborg was like me when I was growing up."

"Perhaps in a small pocket, but I doubt the entire city or country is as perverted as you and that girl."

"Damn right! We ain't bald shaving perverts like those two! They're just two of the more well-known Danes in the chess world!" Jern fumed as he freed himself from his duct tape cocoon.

"As I thought, now sees like things will be starting soon, so here's to a good game."

Jern however, smacked Okisato's hand aside. "I don't like you either. Somethin' about ya puts me on edge, almost as if you're some murderer."

"And if I was, then why would you do something like angering me by swatting my hand away?"

"Cuz I'm a fighter, that's why! See, I prefer cage fightin' but Julia tried to get me into something calmer and forced me into chess. I hate chess, too much thinking, but chess boxing allows me to go wild, and since it's technically chess, Julia has no complaints, so bring it chump! I may hate thinking, but I'm smart enough to beat a dolt like you!"

"You know I'm a grandmaster right?"

"Well I'm the iron fist of Scandinavia!"

Okisato let out a sigh but internally he was manically grinning. "Alright tough guy, I'll flex on you hard and make an opening round statement."