****
"Alright everyone, sit down." The teacher said and all the students sat down. The teacher began checking the attendance.
"Junichiro."
"Present." I raised my hand.
Everything was going well but when he got to Kinoshita-kun's name, no acknowledgment could be heard in the room. His seat was empty. Not even an indication that he was there in the first place.
'Maybe he's just sick' I thought. Yesterday, Kinoshita-kun was around "him" for the whole day. Maybe he got sick from being with "him" all day. But it's strange. He's never once been absent before. He's the energetic kind of guy so what's going on?
The teacher got to "his" name, but just like Kinoshita-kun, there was nothing. Is he sick as well? This is weird. The two people who were together the whole yesterday were nowhere to be seen. What's "he" doing? Are "he" and Kinoshita together? What is "he" planning to do with Kinoshita?
'Wait, why am I worrying about "him"?! I shouldn't be concerned with someone like "him"! I should focus on the class." I didn't know why but my cheeks suddenly turned a slight red color...
****
"...Hey Megumi, I have a plan." I thought. Megumi heard it and she responded.
"Eh? What is it, Naoto-san?" She seems shocked. Is it weird for the person to create the plan instead of the spirit? She haven't found a good move yet, since none of the pieces were glowing in my eyes. Oh well...
"I have this line in my memory." The opening was the London system. This line in my head seemed to be stuck in my head even after a month of no chess. But if things go well, this line could be perfect.
"Alright, Naoto-san. I trust you."
"Thanks. Let's do this." Unconsciously, I let out a tiny smile. I hope Hasegawa-san can't see it. But I need to focus on the game. It's time to execute the plan. I grabbed my queenside knight and placed it in the c6 square, (Nc6), attacking her queen pawn. Megumi was a bit surprised by my move. Did she not see this? I pressed my button and stopped my time. It stopped at 13:45. My time went down since I was communicating with Megumi. But now, if she plays the moves I expect her to, then I can move more quickly.
She thought for a moment before responding by placing her king's knight to f3, (Nf3) before tapping the clock and stopping her time at 14:55.
It was my turn again. I expected her to move the knight to f3, so my plan is working. Time for the next phase. I dragged my bishop over to f5, (Bf5) and stopped my time at 13:58, due to the 10-second increments. Megumi carefully watched the board as we were playing. Maybe she's searching for any good moves.
Hasegawa-san again thought for some time. The position was as balanced as it can get, so it was quite difficult to find good moves. She decided to release her other knight to c3, (Nc3) before pressing the clock. 14:40.
My turn. The plan continues. I dragged my bishop over to f5 (Bf5) and pressed the clock. 14:07.
Her turn. She placed her other knight on c3 (Nc3). before hitting the button. 14:58.
That move was logical. She wanted to develop a piece. But this position is still the same as the one in my memory. I moved the pawn in front of my king one space (e6) and hit the clock. 14:16.
Her turn. She didn't move for a while. Is she stuck?
"Megumi, What do you think about the position?" I asked her in my mind.
"It's simply equal."
That's understandable. Hasegawa can't think of any moves to play. Even to someone like me, the position looked balanced. The only beneficial move I can see is e3. And she plays it (e3) before stopping her time. 14:36.
My turn. The plan continues. I dragged my other bishop to d6 (Bd6), offering her a trade of dark-squared bishops. If she takes it, then my plan will be unstoppable. I stopped my clock. 14:24.
Her turn. She didn't move anything. She covered her mouth with crossed hands. She was thinking about whether it was beneficial for her to trade or not. Her time was ticking. It was now at the 13-minute mark. Eventually, she decided to accept the offer (Bxf5). Time: 13:57.
'Exactly as planned.' I thought.
I quickly captured back her dark-squared bishop with my queen (Qxf5) and stopped my time: 14:33. In hindsight, it was a fair trade. But in reality, this exchange will give me a huge advantage if she plays what's in my mind.
Her turn. She examined the board, looking for any good moves. Then, she planted her knight on e5 (Ne5) and stopped her clock. 13:59.
'Naoto-san...'
'What is it?' I closed my eyes.
'That move was a blunder.' Looks like she saw it as well.
'Exactly. That was my plan the whole time.'
The plan was to make her centralize her knight to e5. I needed to get rid of her dark-squared bishop for it to work. If I didn't, then she could've easily centralized her knight and I would have had a tough time dealing with it. But looking at the board, this was perfect.
'Just wait, Kinoshita. I'll win this' I thought as Kinoshita was looking at the game from behind me. I can hear his inside voice, saying "You can do it, Naoto-san!"
I grabbed her knight in the center with my knight (Nxe5). My time stopped at 14:40.
It was her turn and she quickly took back with her queen's pawn (dxe5). 14:08.
I took the pawn with my queen (Qxe5). 14:59. With this, I'm now up a pawn and activated my queen. In the next move, I plan to continue developing my other pieces.
Her turn. She thought again. She must've realized that the trade was beneficial for me instead of her. Her eyes tensed up, seemingly struggling to find anything to turn the tide in her favor. But she couldn't find anything. In a thoughtless move, she dragged her light-squared bishop to b5, giving me a check (Bb5+). Time: 14:03.
Looks like she was stuck. Her move was a bit reckless. And it seems like Megumi noticed it.
"Naoto-san..."
"Hmm..." I closed my eyes and moved my pawn to c6, blocking the check whilst also attacking her bishop. Time: 15:07.
It was reckless as it could be easily blocked. Maybe it was a frustration move. And now, she had to move it back, which was her next move. (Ba4). 14:10.
Now, I can release my knight. I grabbed my knight's head at placed it at f6 (Nf6). Now, my pieces were all together. 15:15.
Her turn. She grabbed her king in the middle and moved it 2 spaces to the right. Then, she grabbed the lone rook on the right and placed it on the right of the newly moved king. Hasegawa castled. 14:18.
She moved quickly. I assume she wanted to keep her king safe as much as possible. I castled as well, matching her move. 15:23.
Her turn. Her hand hovered over the knight. There was hesitation in her. Her hands were shaking. She grabbed the knight. That was it. She had to make a move with it. With hesitation, she brought the knight back to e2 (Ne2), breathing heavily before ending her turn. 14:10.
Sato, who was standing beside her, looked down at the sitting president. He could feel the hesitation in her hands during that time. He looked at her with concern.
Unfortunately for her, this gives me the chance to target his king. The attack begins now...
To be continued...
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