Chess with Yuni on her birthday

At the Ginkawa mansion, Yuni stared intently at a chessboard.

"Why ya lookin' at the chessboard?" Madoka asked as she plopped down on the couch next to Yuni.

"Ah, it just reminded me of the game we played on my birthday almost a year ago..."

...

February 2nd, 2024,

"You have a chess set here?" Yuni asked as she stared at a chess set.

"Who wouldn't?" Madoka smiled.

"Do you play any chess?"

"No... But I can. I know how the pieces move... I think."

One refresher later and the two were playing. Yuni opened by moving her knight to f3, while Madoka responded by mirroring her with knight f6. The mirroring continued with knight c3 and knight c6, but after e4, d5 broke up the mirroring.

"Hmm, don't think I've ever encountered this scenario before," Yuni noted as she captured the pawn at d5 with her e-pawn.

"This escape witch is full of surprises," Madoka happily huffed as she captured the pawn at d5 with her knight.

"But can you pull off a great escape on the board?" Yuni chuckled as she moved her bishop to c4.

"Grandy kazam! Grandmaster pocus!" Madoka chanted as she waved her hand round and round before moving her knight to e5.

"Sorry, but that won't work on me," Yuni smiled as she captured the knight at e5 with her knight.

"Hmm, hmm, hmm, that's what you think," Madoka proudly huffed as she waved her finger before moving her pawn to f6.

"Hmm? Alright, show me the trick," Yuni smirked as she captured the knight at d5 with her knight.

"First, your horse disappears," Madoka declared as she captured the knight at e5 with her knight.

"And how do you escape this check?" Yuni asked as she moved her queen to h5.

"Like this," Madoka replied as she moved her pawn to g6.

"Hmm, but how about after this?" Yuni smirked as she captured the pawn at e5 with her queen.

"My rook steps aside," Madoka proudly huffed as she moved her rook to g8.

"Ah, you must want me to perform the magic."

"Hmm?"

"Checkmate. I win," Yuni smiled as she moved her knight to f6, winning the game.

Madoka blinked in confusion for a bit before finally processing it all. "NOOOOOOO! How could I lose!?"

"Well, I did start playing chess when I was three. I also keep up with it as a brain teaser."

"Ah, I'll need to learn how to play..."

...

Back in the present, Yuni and Madoka stared happily at the chessboard.

"So, gotten good at the game?" Yuni asked.

"Yup! I'm a bona fide 2023, somehow," Madoka shrugged.

"2223. Still work to do."

"You're that low? Some prodigy you are," Serika grumbled as she trudged in with Emeri.

"And your rating?"

"2323. Ever since Streama Festivalen, I've taken this shit seriously."

"Guess I win with 2423," Emeri shrugged.

"YOU'RE THAT HIGH!?" everyone gasped.

"Why wouldn't I be? I've also got a GM norm."

"I've got two, but my rating's lower than yours at 2402," Fubuki stated as she walked in.

"And me? I'm 1900," Harumi proudly declared.

"I think my sister might be 1500, same with Nika and Kumi, but I guess of everyone present here, you win."

"What about Tetsuka-nee?" Madoka asked.

"Hmm? Uh, I played a bunch of quickies during my travels... Eh, it says 2523," Tetsuka shrugged as she entered and checked her WWCF card.

"You're above 2500? Are you a grandmaster?"

"Hmm? Ah, it says... Huh, guess I am. Never realized it," Tetsuka shrugged.

"Anyway, with chess on the mind, I'll need to start preparing for the league. I'm not gonna lose to Pnina," Harumi huffed as she gave her hair a flick.

"Who's that?" Yuni asked.

"Ah, a distant cousin. Her and momma go way back and have an intense rivalry. I think she visits the mansion once every other month," Madoka stated.

"Hmm. Maybe I'll introduce myself if I meet her."

The full game:

White: Yuni Futagawa Black: Madoka Ginkawa

1. Nf3 Nf6

2. Nc3 Nc6

3. e4 d5

4. exd5 Nxd5

5. Bc4 Ne5

6. Nxe5 f6

7. Nxd5 fxe5

8. Qh5+ g6

9. Qxe5 Rg8

10. Nf6#