The banished grandmaster

A series of red handprints adorned Okisato's face as he sat on the train.

"I can't believe you. I was worried sick about Utami-chan, and look at her! She's exhausted! The first round starts at 8:30, you know," Mimoko glared as she rested Utami on her lap.

"It's just the blitz, though. The first round of the main tournament doesn't start till 2," Okisato mumbled.

"Which is exactly why she needed proper sleep! Those rounds will go by quickly."

"But I trained her-"

"To the back of the train, you're banished from the group!"

"Yes ma'am," Okisato sighed as he got up and headed towards a different train car.

The car Okisato entered was completely empty aside from one man who was reading a book.

"Well you look depressed," Peter snarled as Okisato sat down.

"Ah, Peter. I got banished for acting recklessly.”

"I happened to gaze at your match data for your game against Kazuya. So what was with the reckless moves?"

"It was an odds game, but one of my juniors was trapped in the b-pawn so I had to keep her from being captured or she'd die. She'd also die if she got promoted."

"Because the pawn itself is technically removed from play, yes?"

"Yeah, though I figured he wanted me to promote Utami-chan's pawn in order to mate me with my own victory."

"But you were able to read his mind."

"Yeah, plus in the event where he was fooling me all along, I had an airbag placed on the ground and made sure the punishment was simply just jumping off the roof of the school."

"So you were playing 3D chess in a sense."

"But sadly it ended in a draw as Tsar Grigori was able to retrieve his allies and get away. Though in the eyes of the court of public opinion, we did land a blow to some of our fiercest critics at the school by exposing Kazuya as a Desperado."

"I see. Well then allow me to air some of my grievances to you as I'm in a fowl mood.

"Ugh, are you gonna gaslight me too?"

"No, I'm referring to my terrible trip to China and my bout with that despicable woman..."

Okisato listened with intent as Peter told all about China's maestro and her SPCMs.

"Wow, I'm surprised you're actually telling me all this."

"Just goes to show how much that woman pissed me off. When you next have a free week, I'd advise you to head to China and put those fools in their place."

"I'm surprised the WWCF is even allowing stuff like that."

"As was I, but it seems that this is actually the first they've heard of it, likely because that woman's kung-fu chess boxing is resulting in all challengers losing their lives, so I believe."

"Well, hopefully she gets properly reprimanded. It would be one thing if she was just a common thug running a kung-fu chess boxing ring, but a secret chess maestro? Not so much."

Just then, Mimoko entered the car to check up on Okisato.

"Am I forgiven?"

"No, I simply came here to inform you that we'll be arriving shortly. Though I'd advise you to keep your distance from everyone as they're quite upset over what you did to Utami."

"Pardon my asking, but are you referring to his match against Kazuya?" Peter asked.

"Oh! Peter-san! My apologies for not noticing you. No, we're upset because he was training Utami-chan from dusk to dawn without rest."

"From dusk to dawn, eh? So you're training someone?"

"Yes. Though she's still got ways to go until I'm satisfied."

"Perhaps Peter-san should train her instead. Ah, my apologies, Peter-san."

"No worries.

"Inoue-senpai, did you see the match data from when Utami-chan first challenged me?" Okisato asked.

"N- No."

"Then see it for yourself. I also recorded all the analysis of the attempts it took for her to finally win from the position she was in on her 10th move. I'll send it to you now since it's a good time."

Mimoko's eyes widened as she analyzed the data. "She blundered that badly- WAIT! There are so many attempts! Why didn't you just teach her the way to get out of that scenario instead of tormenting her!?"

"Because that's how I was taught."

"’How you were taught’?"

"Yes. I found I had a natural talent for chess ever since my mother introduced me to the game. Then once I became known, I eventually found myself against an eccentric madman. He mercilessly destroyed me, yet instead of just leaving things there, he decided I had potential and began training me up to become a worthy rival."

"So is that where you got your-"

"-Reckless playstyle? Some of it. The other half was all me, which is why he took an interest in me in the first place."

"Why?"

"Likely to liven things up. At the top levels, chess essentially becomes a standard code which usually results in either a draw, or one side having a slight advantage at the end and winning. Think of it like two supercomputers playing each other. Naturally, when you crack the code there, you seek more variety to make things more interesting. Odds matches and deliberately making bad moves are some ways a player themself can make things interesting. However, it was through that that my teacher discovered something; the best human chess players can't just be geniuses, they must be insane geniuses. That is why he trained me, so that I could one day become a worthy rival."

"And who is this teacher?"

"You'll find out when you do," Okisato chuckled as a slight grin formed on Peter's face.

"Well, then I hope you do achieve that. Though in the meantime, please do reflect on your actions. Chess is meant to be fun above all else."