The man from Vilnius

Yuusuke trembled in his seat, still struggling to process his loss.

"It's alright. With 960, it's easy to be thrown off your game. Even top-level grandmasters can blow a game in just a few moves," Mimoko stated.

"It's not that. I lost to okaa. I'm the vice president of the chess club, but I'm sub-2000. Tanabe uses me as a sandbag, Utami takes out her frustrations on me, and all I'm doing to my name is make okaa ask why she even had me. I even share a birthday with Steinitz, but all I do is add shame to his name or something."

"That's a bit extreme, but I understand the pressure-"

"Nah, sorry Inoue, but ya don't. You didn't have to grow up knowing your mom was so great, or with expectations to match her."

A few feet over, Hagemi scowled as she sat next to Daria.

"Too hard to be more honest with him?" Daria asked.

"You know I didn't have the same luxuries as you. Besides, he's weak. Just look at what happened to him since August. If his opponents didn't decide to play with their food, he'd be dead for good. Maybe I'd be all fucked up too, who knows. It's been proven he's still too weak, but he's not getting stronger. I think he's reaching his plateau soon. Might not even crack 2000, or just hover around it. And he's vice president of the club? He needs to realize his place."

"It was by vote, so we can't really go against it."

"Not you or me, but maybe Tanabe."

"I've heard he's made Yuusuke his sandbag, likely as retribution for losing the vote. Though I don't think he's officially challenged him for the position, but if he did, he'd win unless he threw it."

"Should've intervened sooner. Yuusuke being vice-president's only regressed him further."

"Perhaps the pressure from the position is to blame, which coupled with all his clubmates surpassing him is sending him to further ruin. He still has some spirit, trying his best to beat me. But the moment I got an edge, he resigned. He has spirit, but as you just saw, it isn't paying dividends, which leads to his depression worsening. He needs some gains to show there's worth to his efforts, but where he'll get it is the big question."

"Perhaps a besting of a notable series of opponents. DSPCMs or SPCMs?" Himitsudono chuckled as he suddenly appeared behind the counter.

"Wah!? Spooked me. But you really think he can beat one?" Hagemi asked.

"He has bested me."

"Anyone can unless they throw or are as bad as that Mifsud bitch. Even that Fairy with the 0 rating could beat you if she tried."

"Technically speaking, her true skill was estimated to be around 500-level, though increased to 2000-level when it came to variants like giveaway and ones that use fairy chess pieces. Mifsud truly looks to be terrible across the board, in morality too," Daria scowled.

"Young Shousen's rating is 1909, yes? Thus he should seek to challenge those below his level to start. There are numerous SPCMs/DSPCMs that fit the bill," Himitsudono bowed.

"Not completely true. Carol who's 1669 was able to rout him with ease. Plus him facing folks lower-rated than him might only worsen his nerves, and make his collapse all the more worse."

"Then how about I call someone who could solve this trouble?" Himitsudono smiled as he snapped his fingers.

A second or two later, Žygimantas appeared.

"Oh? Good thinking."

"I fail to grasp why you summoned me, but I assume it is to issue a trial. It better be important as I can see we are clearly not in a secret puzzle cafe," Žygimantas scowled.

"Think of it as marketing for the chess centers. If people see that SPCMs/DSPCMs frequent them and can issue challenges should they choose, it'll increase the appeal," Himitsudono smiled.

"And a maestro and Hagemi Shousen won't?"

"I only challenge those that've beaten me," Daria stated.

"Guess I still have to get in the club," Hagemi sighed.

"And who might you be asking me to test?" Žygimantas glared.

"Grandmaster Mimoko Inoue," Himitsudono stated to the surprise of Daria and Hagemi.

"Hoh? That would justify this detour. As you wish," Žygimantas nodded as he strolled over to Mimoko. "Mimoko Inoue, would you like to challenge I, Žygimantas Vilčinskas , grandmaster, DSPCM of Vilnius?"

Mimoko blinked in surprise, but quickly smiled and agreed.

"Then put up your points, and the game shall begin."