Team crafting

As December 26th rolled around, the gang met up at the chess center, and were joined by the likes of Noa, Tenju, and Fifi.

"I heard you managed to crack Troitsky's stalemate, or at least provide the heavy lifting for fellow retrograde analyzers," Fifi smiled.

"It was thanks to an idiotic AI claiming the position wasn't possible to achieve, and me simply not accepting it," Okisato shrugged.

"That guy obsessed with AI from the club is gonna be reeling when he hears," Iori snickered.

"And that was your Christmas present, Mimoko-nee?" Noa asked.

"One of the best I've received yet. I'll admit, I was a little sour while playing things out, but maybe it's just because it's Tanabe-kun playing with me," Mimoko smiled.

"Oh, really, tsun. You texted me right after saying you kissed him on the cheek, and that I could get the lips," Iori scowled.

"And did you?"

"No... I got pumped full of Oki-semen."

Disgust brought itself to Mimoko's face. "Tanabe-kun, I thought you'd be more principled after a girl thanked you with a kiss."

"Huh? Why are you getting mad at me?" Okisato groaned.

"Ah, guess Mimo-chan got jealous I was the bitch in a box instead of her," Iori snickered.

"Mimoko-sama would never reduce herself to being a "Bitch in a box"," Utami glared.

"Yeah. Don't get all flustered about what this ass does. He's no good," Yuusuke added.

"And who was it that actually remembered you existed?" Okisato grumbled.

"D- Don't keep holding that over my head! It was a one-time thing!"

"Maybe we should change topics. Noa-chan, how was Hanukkah?" Mimoko asked.

"Great! But there's still 7 more nights left."

"7? That mean it'll end at the start of next year?" Tenju asked.

"That's right. Though most of the time it's entirely in December. This year it wasn't though."

"You really became a grandmaster fast."

"I wouldn't say fast, or rather, easy. Most of the tournaments I played in for the norms had Zsa Zsa there."

"Zsa Zsa? The one I humiliated with the opening she used to throw a game?" Okisato asked.

"Uh, might not want to brag about that. It's thanks to that Zsa Zsa's now a menace on a warpath. I had to dig deep just to draw with her. She's been undefeated in normal play ever since that time you beat her as well."

"Really? What's she on now?"

"Think it was... 100, with 95 being wins."

Everyone's eyes widened at the revelation.

"95% wins!? That's insanity!" Mimoko gasped.

"You're the one that needs to be the most alert. She wants to crush you at all costs. Same for you, Okisato," Noa frowned.

Okisato pulled up his WWCF card and stared at Zsa Zsa's stats. "2799, no losses since I beat her with the exception of the 6B bughouse finals. And she'll be playing in the World League event in Nikko soon too."

"Yes. Speaking of which, we should start forming teams. Mimoko-nee, that's actually the big reason I came to see you today. With how big you are, many want you to be on their team."

"... What are all the teams?" Rodeo asked.

"Ah, that's simple. There are 6 teams in total, each made up of 6 members. These 6 member all have requirements, such as having one be in the top 100 best in the world, one be a grandmaster rated 2600 or higher, one be under 20, one be rated under 2000, then there's the two spots that can count for anyone so long as they leave the team with a final composition of at least 4 guys, 2 girls, or vise versa, at the minimum. The teams are actually backed by sponsors. Stuff like Ewetube, Eegorvolva, Bondiliego, Alaska Wilderness Tours, Sally Nemo, and Pnina Sapir."

"What are the companies like?"

"Well, I don't think Ewetube needs any intro. Pnina Sapir's a famous jewelry company worldwide, while Sally Nemo's a big clothing chain store. Eegorvola's from Russia, while Bondiliego's a South American mining company. As for Alaskan Wilderness Tours, I think their name is as it suggests."

"And the teams have yet to formally recruit, or are they doing it now?" Okisato asked.

"Now. So, Mimoko-nee, want to be on a team with me?"

"Sure, though Yuusuke-kun would need to be accepted as the under 2000."

"That might be a tight sell to some. Well, you can warp, right, so I'll run it by the ones that reached out to me to see if it's a go. See you soon."