The stubborn rook and the shining knight

Rodeo paused as he stared at Yuzuha.

"Hey Gorou-san, why are you looking so down?"

Rodeo refused to answer.

"Don't ignore me. I know I'm pretty generic looking, but that doesn't mean I enjoy being ignored. Now come on, we're heading back to the puzzle cafe."

"...Don't feel like it."

Yuzuha pouted and immediately latched on to Rodeo's arm. Rodeo didn't care and simply walked away, dragging Yuzuha along with him.

"Well, looks like we got a double header. This worked out even better than I had hoped," Haruki snickered as he watched the two from a distance. "I hope I can force the girl with the lug to be punished as a bargaining chip, but Skabby mentioned that the DESPER won't allow someone rated 500 points higher than the one being challenged to be tacked on to the bet as a bargaining chip. Let me just... Heh, she's only 100 points higher than him. Time for double despair," Haruki sneered as he pulled out his DESPER and charged at the two.

"MMPH NGh MMPH!?"

Haruki skidded to a halt as Iori suddenly appeared. "This bitch, she was eyein’ my DESPER earlier," Haruki thought.

"Mmph ngh mmph?" Iori sadistically smiled as Rodeo and Yuzuha turned around.

"This bitch, I have no idea who she is! Maybe I can pull up her data... Ugh, I need a name, shit, she's got a gag ball on. If her rating is higher than theirs I can't tact her into the punishment. Spectating would be all I'd be able to subject her to, and even then, she looks like she's challenging ME! If she's like the oni-tiger, I might be in trouble. Shit, I'll withdraw," Haruki thought as he scowled and pocketed his DESPER before storming off.

Before Iori could give chase, Yuzuha stopped her. "I- Iori-chan? I- Is that you!? What happened!?"

"Mmph ngh mmph," Iori blushed as she made a shaving gesture with her hands.

"Well... It is on brand for you... So come help me bring Gorou-san to the puzzle cafe. He hasn't done the daily puzzle yet, nor does he know where it is."

Iori shrugged and decided to help Yuzuha. "Stickin’ with these two might be best. They were clearly bein’ targeted so me stickin’ with em might mean that guy would come back to us, and then I can kill him when he activates that DESPY thingy," she maliciously thought.

...

The trio entered the secret puzzle cafe to find Okisato, Numakawa, and Yuusuke present.

"This is good, now I can tell everyone about the piece of shit's plot with no repercussions" Okisato thought. "Say, were you three attacked by a pretty boy with tan skin and long chestnut hair?"

"We uh, just saw a guy like that run up to us, but Iori-chan scared him away," Yuzuha nervously stated.

"Good. He's targeting Gorou-san and wants to enslave him and strip him of his free will."

"Why the hell should we believe you?" Rodeo snarled.

"Yeah, you make shit up all the time, not to mention you've been messing up Utami," Yuusuke growled.

"He's with the Desperado league though," Okisato glared.

"I don't believe you. Your buddies put us in debt with their silver tongues," Rodeo glared.

"Then at least buddy up with Shouben-san instead of going off by yourself."

"No."

"You don't trust him either?"

"I don't trust ya, so I won't listen to ya."

"Then DON'T ask Inoue-senpai for help."

"You're tryin’ to make me approach her. I ain't that dumb."

"And what's wrong with asking her for help?"

"I don't want you to hurt her."

Okisato began to scowl. "He just had to be the stubborn type. Now he'll be wary of anything I say and do. That and even if Inoue-senpai did approach him, he might refuse due to thinking it's because of my plot, which I guess it is. Shit," he thought.

"Gorou-san, we really should ask Inoue-senpai for some pointers. You lost every game you played, right? We should get some training so we don't do poorly in the main tournament," Yuzuha pleaded.

"No."

"PLEASE!"

Rodeo shook his head and headed out with Yuzuha and Iori chasing after him.

"Well, guess we can't play 4-way chess now. Thanks asshole," Yuusuke glared.

"My pleasure," Okisato snarled as he too headed out. "Gorou-san is a stubborn rook, however, it seems he might be safe. Zenihara-san mentioned that Iori-chan managed to scare away that piece of shit. I wonder if that means he's wary of her. Iori-chan is clearly hiding something, but I can only speculate on what that is. Though I am certain her rating does not reflect her true skill at chess," he thought.