Corporate catch

While Mimoko faced off against Mifsud, Iori arrived a few minutes late to school. "Sheesh, could've given me a ride. But I should be good anyway. I have morning news excuse," she thought as she took notice of Mifsud's limousine before wading into the school.

Aware of the text Mimoko had sent her telling her of a morning assembly, Iori instead decided to skip it and head to the empty classroom. "Nobody here... Time for some prank content..."

...

In her limousine, Mifsud angrily gnawed at her fingernail as she contemplated her revenge. "Damn Mimoko. Always ruining everything! First 6B, now my chance at gaining control over your school. I could have mandated control the old fashioned way, but EVERY TIME, chess just has to decide everything! I'm rich, I'm elite! But I don't know shit about that game!"

"Why not acquire one of the chips the WWCF executive board-"

"Out of the question!"

"Then why not utilize Deep Blue-"

"Sebastian, Deep Blue power doesn't work like that. All it does is grant you an intellectual boost if you're good. I'd only get a minuscule boost at best. That's just the balance to this power."

Sebastian held his tongue. He could have suggested Mifsud simply make it a prize from winning a DESPER match to be gaining chess prowess, but if he did, him or another one of the servants would likely become the sacrificial lamb. Not to mention, he was secretly more loyal to one of Deep Blue's 4 grandmasterminds, who had ordered him not give Mifsud an inch.

"Isn't there any way to get a leg up on her!? No, not outside chess. I hate that. I hate it! In the good ole days, you could just extort, pressure, whatever. If only she had some lineage I could exploit! Yes, then I could do things my way!" Mifsud ranted.

...

Ichiko smiled nervously as she sat in the principal's office with Maida before her.

"And just how did this all come to be?" Maida asked.

"Chance, actually. See that girl took an interest in me after seeing me bald, and well, I just rolled with it," Ichiko shrugged.

"And your career?"

"Harsh, Mañana. But you hear what's been going on with my agency?"

"No."

Ichiko frowned and flashed Maida a headline on her phone. "You were there in Budapest when it happened, but I imagine you were more focused on others. You're also unaware of the bad blood my old boss and Malasangre have."

"Mala-what?"

"Not aware of K-pop trends either. Mañana, we gotta get you all caught up. How about after school we book a salon-"

"No. I'm NEVER going bald again."

"I didn't even say it was a hair salon. But to get to the point, when two of Malasangre's top idols were killed in Budapest by Deep Blue, my old boss couldn't help but laugh at their deaths."

"And she got caught. I think I get the gist of it."

"She continues to stubbornly keep at it, almost as if she's the next Vlatka Jurkovich. And that's not the only falling out. Chun-hwa, Malasangre's manager, looks to be self-combusting just as badly as my old boss according to the rumors. Malasangre might even completely dissolve in the coming weeks."

"And you?"

"Told you before, but when Smoothie saw me, I joked that I shaved my head bald for a corporate gig, and well, she strung me along. She really does treat you different if you're bald like her. Even made several advances towards me which I kindly turned down. Wouldn't want to cheat on my wonderful wife, you know."

"And that wife, who better not be me, is?"

Ichiko could only respond with a nervous smile.

"I can't stand you. Know that if you make any advances or power harassment plays against me, I'll ensure you face worse backlash than your old boss," Maida glared as she stormed out of the room.