Outside the window, the leaves suddenly rustled in the wind, making a soft, swaying sound. A few detached from the branches, gracefully spinning in the air before nding gently on the ground.

  Uesugi Gen widened his eyes slightly, watching as one leaf spiraled down.

  Yes.

  He was that bored—so bored that he had resorted to counting falling leaves.

  Across from him, the girl had been contempting her next move for what felt like ages. And yet, she showed no signs of impatience. She simply stared intently at the chessboard, as if her unwavering gaze alone could conjure up new strategies.

  At this point, Uesugi understood—

  This girl didn’t care about winning or losing this game.

  She was just stalling to keep him here.

  "Haa~"

  Uesugi yawned again.

  Pying chess with her was sheer torture. If this continued, he’d just pull out his phone and entertain himself. That way, he could outst her for an entire day if necessary.

  As for Kamuro Masumi, he had already sent her off to buy drinks. It was better to give her something to do than have her sit here and watch an impromptu game of “statues.”

  Finally, Sakayanagi Arisu made a move, capturing one of Uesugi’s pawns.

  Then, with a cheerful smile, she extended her hand.

  "Your turn, Uesugi-kun."

  Uesugi pulled out his phone and gnced at the screen. Instantly, he perked up.

  Without hesitation, he said outright,

  "Sakayanagi-san, there’s no need to continue this game. Both you and I know that if you keep pying like this, you’ll be checkmated in eight moves."

  Yes, he had decided to end this swiftly.

  As for the reason?

  "That’s not necessarily true. In chess, anything can happen until the very st moment, no?"

  Sakayanagi’s smile remained unchanged, her tone slow and unhurried, as if she still had the situation under control.

  "No, this match is simply too boring for me."

  Uesugi stood up and headed toward the exit.

  "So, I forfeit. Let’s end this here."

  There were no stakes in this match. Surrendering wouldn’t cost him anything.

  But just as he took two steps forward, a cane suddenly blocked his path.

  Uesugi turned back with a helpless expression.

  "Sakayanagi-san, didn’t the director ever teach you that girls shouldn’t cling to men like this?"

  "When I finally find a worthy opponent, why would I ever let him slip away?"

  Sakayanagi gathered the chessboard, stacking the pieces neatly before issuing a formal challenge.

  "Come, Uesugi-kun. Let’s have a proper match."

  "…"

  Uesugi fell silent for a moment—then decisively refused.

  "Absolutely not."

  "Would you care to tell me why?"

  Sakayanagi didn’t seem surprised. In fact, she looked genuinely intrigued, as if eager to dissect his reasoning.

  "If it’s because you’re bored, then there’s no need to worry. I won’t be as lenient in the next game."

  "I only pyed with you earlier because I had nothing better to do. But now—"

  Uesugi’s demeanor shifted. Gone was the ziness. His eyes gleamed with a fiery determination, as if something far more important was calling him.

  "There’s a battle I have yet to finish."

  "Oh~? Mind telling me what kind of battle?"

  Sakayanagi tilted her head slightly, her curiosity evident.

  "Gaming."

  Uesugi’s voice was resolute—like a warrior marching into battle.

  Yes, the message he received just now was a challenge.

  Shibata: 【Keyaki Mall, third floor, arcade. Gaming. Get here, fast!】

  No words needed. A man's call to arms required no unnecessary expnations.

  "…"

  Sakayanagi’s smile stiffened.

  She looked at Uesugi again, her voice carefully measured.

  "Just to confirm… you’re leaving here to py video games?"

  "Well, your wording makes it sound trivial, but essentially, yes."

  "And you’re refusing my challenge… just to go py a game?"

  Though Sakayanagi’s smile remained, there was an unmistakable tension in her voice.

  "Ah, isn’t it obvious?"

  Uesugi adjusted his nonexistent gsses and replied with perfect composure.

  "In other words, in Uesugi-kun’s eyes… I’m not even as important as a video game?"

  At st, the ever-composed Sakayanagi Arisu cracked.

  Her usual, I-control-everything smile finally shattered as she openly questioned him.

  Uesugi scrutinized her again.

  You? Or gaming?

  Which was more important?

  "Heh~"

  A silent chuckle escaped his lips.

  This woman really has no self-awareness.

  That one brief ugh answered everything without a single word.

  Sakayanagi’s already pale complexion turned slightly red—out of sheer frustration.

  Her petite chest rose and fell as she genuinely fumed for the first time in her life.

  Never before had a man irritated her this much.

  Suppressing her frustration, she forced a smile back onto her face.

  "If Uesugi-kun has no interest in chess, then perhaps you’d be interested in personal points instead?"

  Yes. If nothing else, she would make him regret underestimating her.

  In response, Uesugi sighed.

  "You still don’t get it, do you, Sakayanagi-san?"

  He shook his head as if offering one final lesson.

  "A man’s gaming challenge—no matter the time or pce—must always be answered. Even if he has to cross mountains and seas, he must go."

  "So, Sakayanagi-san, give up. There’s no point in challenging an opponent you can’t possibly defeat. Do you understand?"

  It was a final, solemn piece of life advice.

  Understand my ass!

  What kind of nonsense logic was this?!

  Sakayanagi nearly raised her cane to smack him—but before she could react, Uesugi had already moved several meters away.

  "Well then, see you next time, Sakayanagi-san."

  At the end of the hallway, Uesugi turned back and waved casually.

  "Pying chess with you was boring, but watching you get mad? Pretty cute. Let’s compete in something else next time."

  Sakayanagi’s entire face darkened.

  No. I will py chess with you.

  "Oi, did your match finally end?"

  On his way out, Uesugi ran into Kamuro Masumi, who had just returned with the drinks.

  Without hesitation, he swiped a bottle of co from her bag and took a swig.

  "Yeah, it’s over. You should go back. I definitely lost this match."

  With that, he cheerfully skipped out of the library.

  Kamuro, meanwhile, turned her gaze toward Sakayanagi—whose tiny chest was still heaving in anger—before gncing back at Uesugi, who had run away like a sparrow.

  At that moment, a thought crossed her mind.

  Wait… who actually won this match?