Prelude to round 2 of the Chess Olympics

The next day, everyone arrived at the playing hall on time.

"You're sure you don't want me to play?" Daria asked.

"I think we can handle it. I know you're weary of that Carla Sanmarino woman, but even if she is an executive board member, she can't play like one, right?" Mimoko smiled.

Daria didn't think so, and feared Carla would play at full might. Yet despite that, Mimoko was confident in the team's chances.

"First France, now Italy. We're really getting the top teams early. And things will only get harder the further the tournament goes on. But if I sit this one out, I'll only have 1 more required match to sit out, and then I can play. Mimoko, you're taking all that into account. I'm proud of you. You get em! Pay em back for that assault on your lips!"

As Mimoko smiled and hugged Daria, Tenju let out a sigh as she prepared herself for the battle ahead. Iori meanwhile had her eyes fixated elsewhere.

"Lol, France looks like they're fucked."

To say the French women's team was in a terrible state would be an understatement. Everyone's hair was disheveled, their clothes ruffled as if they had slept in them, and to complete the look, baggy red eyes indicating a sleepless night of crying.

Fleur was the only one who didn't have red puffy eyes, but she still looked just as sleep deprived as the others. "Ugh, maestro, your team destroyed us. Those four were crying all night long. Poor Collette is pushing herself simply cuz Mimosa's beating herself up over the loss and doesn't think she can play proper. Alice wants to just cry with her, but has to play. Ugh, why'd we have to go up against them first?" she thought to herself.

Daria shook her head as she took notice of the French team. She could tell that with their current mental state, they'd likely lose this next match. Fleur and Fifi looked to be in the best shape mentally, but their opponents, team Australia, smelled blood on the water and were pumped to the max.

In terms of other happenings, Sweden was pitted against Estonia while Denmark was up against Spain.

"I can't wait to formalize your bitchification," Sophia sneered as she sat across from Leyla.

"I merely submitted to such humiliation yesterday to save my knight. And remember, if we win the match, you can't touch us," Leyla glared.

Sophia shot her a nasty scowl. As much as she liked to think she had unrestrained power in the world, she knew that if Spain lost the match, Raymond would step in to prevent any further antagonism towards Denmark for the rest of the tournament.

"I'm going to humiliate you."

"Try it, BITCH!"

Back at team Japan's board, Italy finally arrived, with Laura still decked out in the bathrobe and facial mask from last night.

"Mmph ngh, mmph ngh mmph ngh mmph [And now for the grand reveal]!"

Gloria rolled her eyes, but joined Isabella in removing Laura's robe, revealing her orange shirt that had been beneath it. Next they removed the hairnet, causing long platinum blonde hair with a single red highlight to come tumbling down to Laura's waist. And finally, the facial mask was removed, revealing Laura's radiant and beautiful face.

"DI MOLTO! My metamorfosi is complete! Massima femminilità is here!" Laura gushed as she got within an inch of Mimoko's face.

"Get away from me, you creep!"

"Mimoko, my lips have been sealed ever since our union of lips last night. Oh how they long for your lips and smooth succulent skin. We must have victory sex following Italy's victory."

"And I thought the French twins were fucked... Nah, they're still messed up," Iori shrugged.

"Devil horn girl, you refer to the French twins who've shunned society for rejecting their love for each other. Do not disparage them, they are women of massima femminilità," Laura pouted.

"Massima-what?"

"Massima femminilità, maximum femininity. Better know as Peak femininity as coined by the goddess Mizuse. Oh, why must she have departed the mortal plane!? Hath she deemed us unworthy of the splendor of her beauty? I hadn't so much as blown a kiss to her, let alone met her in person!"

Mimoko began to go on guard, fearing a repeat of Collette, but Laura quickly dispelled the fears, stating she had no ill-will towards her even though she had heard of the fateful 4-way chess match. None of the Italian team seemed to feel hostile towards Japan at all in fact, save for Carla who continued to have a menacing scowl on her face. But then again, she always seemed to be scowling.

"And will you be playing me, maestro?" Carla asked as she strolled up to Daria.

"Nope, you're playing Tenju."

The entire Italian team's eyes widened with shock, though everyone briefly regained their composure. All except for Carla who continued to scowl and bite her lip as she sat down at board 2.

Laura naturally went to board 1, but what surprised Daria was Gloria heading to board 3 instead of Margarita, while Isabella went to board 4, meaning Margarita would be sitting the match out. However, Margarita didn't seem pleased about this, but there was little she could do as the round was about to start.

...

On the other side of the playing hall, Okisato scowled as he sat across from Ragnar Fúinn himself.

"Why the scowl? Only I can scowl around here," Ragnar sneered.

True to his maniacal nature, Ragnar sported a purple pompadour along with a stereotypically evil mustache. His large chin and menacingly curved eyebrows only added to his "evil villain" look. His teammates were just as evil looking as him. One was a pirate captain, another was a buff old man, and the other was a fat man in a skintight diving suit, who had a fluffy blue beard, that had been shaved completely below the chin, making it look as though he was wearing a scuba mask.

The final member of the team, newly  minted DSPCM and grandmaster, Stressaður Starfsmaður, seemed to be the only normal person present. But with his disheveled blue hair and bags under his eyes, it was clear he was at the mercy of his maniacal teammates much to his dismay.

"We are the number 1 team here! You can't beat us!" Ragnar sneered as he twirled his mustache.

"Please, we can win against you all," Zago declared as he sat down at board 3 across from Köfun Gríma, the man in the scuba suit.

Ryonosuke was on board 2 against the pirate, Ræningi Sjóræningi, while the masked man was making his debut on board 4 against Stressaður. That meant Ginji and the buff old man, Sportlegur Blótsyrði, were out for the round.

Between the girls facing the strong Italian team and the boys facing the scheming Icelandic team, round 2 was looking to be a contentious brawl.