Kuon's vanity

In America, Kuon scowled as she sat next to Agatha at the nail salon. Both had been garbed in white robes and were in the middle of a Mani-pedi. The event served to be as a bonding event between the two, but the scowl on Kuon's face suggested bonding was the last thing happening between the two.

"Don't scowl so much. We're only doing a Mani-pedi," Agatha snickered.

"I have every reason to. Agatha, I know America has great chess prowess, but how do I know my teammates won't drag me down?"

"What, haven't even researched your teammates?"

"I have and that's the problem. They're either SPCMs or you and your family."

Agatha stared in shock for a bit before bursting into laughter. "Girl, you calling me bad?"

"Yes, and that's a problem since I doubt the others can carry the team. Especially the SPCMs."

Agatha scowled as she grabbed her phone out of her breasts with her free hand. While she did not believe in the slightest that she herself would be dead weight, she did have issue with some of the team's members, though not for the same reasons as Kuon.

"Mililani Paina and Katie Knox. By ranking, we had no choice but to include them. Katie used to be such a good girl, but ever since she learned of the Misericordia party's dark side, she's been rebelling. I'm now head of the Broadstone family and thus, the Misericordia party is my MMO avatar. Well, I can pull some strings, but I'll need a good excuse for the WWCF," Agatha thought.

"So are you going to file a replacement for yourself?"

"Seriously, why do you think I'm so bad?"

"I've seen your games. You only leached onto the team in hopes of getting a medal."

"So did you, sister."

"No, I want to beat her.... I WANT TO BEAT HER!"

...

Shortly before the qualification tournament was announced, Kuon requested the services of a certain Desperado.

Hagemi groggily looked up at the figures standing before her. Ever since the Michiko incident, she had been confined to Kuon's basement, constantly being drugged with sedatives. Not to mention, Kuon was also forcing her to wear a cat ear headband and was constantly drawing whiskers on her face.

"You gonna finally explain?" Hagemi groggily snarled as Kuon removed her gag.

"Yes, or rather, this individual will. See, I want to beat you on the grand stage of the chess Olympics."

"Huh? We'd be teammates! Wait, are you gonna-"

"That's right! Following her capture by the notorious Xiao Lin, Hagemi Shousen was lost to the world, or so the world thought! In reality, she was brainwashed by a vile villain and forced to compete under their team at the chess Olympics, where she soullessly crushed her opponents, aiding her team's conquest to victory. Yet despite all that, she was still crying for help! "Save me, Kuon..." Yes, for as fate would have it, our protagonist, Kuon Nanya, was also competing at the Chess Olympics and leading her team to victory. Naturally, this set up a clash between her team and Hagemi's. Despite being soulless, Hagemi played at her absolute best, but by the blessing of Caïssa, Kuon finally got her first win off her, breaking the curse. And as a little reward for a job well done, she kissed her on the lips, telling her, "You've finally surpassed me. I'm so proud of you!" And thus begins Kuon Nanya's tale to become world champion, surpassing all the legends, Hagemi, Kasparov, and even Magnus Carlsen. None shall question the chess goddess on earth, Kuon Nanya's reign! In fact, all shall-"

"Yeah shut up. First off, even if you somehow do all that, you think I'd just kiss and praise you? I'd slug and report your ass to the officials!"

Kuon scowled and tilted Hagemi's head back. Telling her she'd also forget about her being her captor, instead blaming someone else.

Before Hagemi realized it, she suddenly found herself seated at a chessboard, across from the person that had accompanied Kuon.

"So you called someone else over to do your dirty work!?"

"I refuse to register with a DESPER, and wouldn't want to beat you when you're nothing but a groggy mess. Therefore, this individual will make sure your chess prowess continues post brainwashing," Kuon sneered as the match began.

Hagemi put up a valiant effort, however, her opponent was technically higher rated and had the edge in skill. Her mental state was also not in peak form due to her drugging and subsequent confinement.

As her opponent mated her, a single tear streaked down Hagemi's face as tentacles sprouted from the DESPER and moved towards her face. "Yuusuke, I'm sorry."

...

Agatha scowled as she recalled Kuon's reason for being so desperate to change federations. Though she still had to wonder, if the WWCF had refused to let maestros and SPCMs participate, who exactly would her teammates be? While Mimoko seemed highly probable, Iori likely wouldn't have made the team without the qualification tournament. And since Hagemi would be out, that would mean at best, Kuon would have just one reliably good teammate, but that wouldn't be enough to make the Japanese team viable. Sure by luck, there was a chance they'd get paired against Hagemi's team, but not a guarantee.

No longer able to hold it in, Agatha asked the question aloud. Kuon however responded with a malicious smile. "My lovely kitty cats would have aided me."

"Um, cats?"

"Yes, you see, I managed to adopt a whole swath of them following Hagemi's capture. It was perfect. They were already some of Japan's rising ladies I had tutored just for that purpose, they even had ratings and titles, yet that bastard running our federation held that tournament. I could live with it if I had been given an automatic spot, but no such thing was given, and that little bitch Mimoko... I'll kill her... I'LL KILL HER!"

Agatha sighed as Kuon began throwing a tantrum. She'd have to work overtime in order to keep this troublesome new ally from losing her temper.