Chapter 15
Forty-eight seconds before I arrive at the doors of the room Terano Totobami has held up in. Now that I have finally set the plan in motion I beginning to realize there are too many factors that I didn’t consider. The mood for example. Should I go for a confident approach? Hesitant? Neutral? Nervous? Annoyed? I am disappointed in myself. How could I not be? Making such a blunder when the stakes are this high, yet I suppose this sort of mistake is to expected. I mean where’s the logic in emotion? My mind has such limitations; I can only calculate with so many variables. Can I really blame myself for such a mistake? Of course I can. Perfection. It was the dream of a younger me, to be number one. In reality it was compensation for my dull personality; if I succeed everywhere else maybe I could overlook my failure to become anything other than an empty girl, but now it is no longer a dream. It’s not something I strive for, it’s something I must be. There is no choice.
A brown door. Yumi opened this door in the morning, and the two have yet to leave out this door. I wonder why it is that all the Bami’s believe themself to be above education. Is it arrogance due to them truly believing they have learned all their is to learn or is it apathy? Knowledge is said to be power, but they have all had this illusion of power for so long, so why would they need. I know how it is for the President; she finds class to be boring, so she simply refuses to go to it. Terano’s reason must be different. I’m certain of that.
Three knocks. Two is too little, and any more would be considered rude. A voice calls out to come in. My prediction is that Yumi will speak the first words, but I must be prepared for other outcomes. I open the door.
“Oh Sayak right?! What brings you here on such a lovely day?” Her smile is bright. It appears genuine. Never trust a smile, even a true one, if you don’t know the intention behind it. I bow.
“I am here to speak to your sister Terano Totobami.” I keep my eyes on the ground, so I cannot see their reactions. The hope is that Terano will send Yumi out. From their Midari can make her move, and attempt to get a read on her. Her vulnerabilities. Her fears. Her true personality. But most importantly how to trap her. If she doesn’t send her away, I’ll say my part and leave. Under these circumstances, I will have to observe them from a distance, and find out their plans. Learn how far I’ll have to go to stop them.
“Yumi, you said you wanted to explore the school. Why don’t you do that now?” I look up at her words. This is good. My second plan chances of succeeding without anyone being hurt were 57% less than this plan.
She leans over Terano’s wheelchair and kisses her check before running out the room. “Have a nice chat!” She waves goodbye as she runs out the door. Terano is still sitting in her wheelchair. I wonder is she afraid? To be so vulnerable in front of an enemy it must feel
terrible. I wonder how it would feel to know that anyone could hurt you and you’d have no power to stop it.
“What do you need to discuss, Igarashi?” Her face is blank.
“The President wanted to know if you were interested in gambling with her.” Her left eye twitches, and her pointer finger taps against her wheelchair. Instant irritation as expected.
“No you can inform her that I’m not interested in such a thing.” Her voice is tighter now. I bow again.
“I will inform her of you decision.” I do not turn away; I’ll wait for just a few moments. Allow her to draw me in, so she believes she has control over the situation. Approximately ten seconds of silence follow my answer.
“A secretary right? Hmm. Wouldn’t a slave be more appropriate?” It’s a bit unexpected. She has never struck me as particularly cruel. Then why? Does she truly care? Or is it a guise to make my guard drop?
“It is in the job description to do as your boss asks. I would never be as arrogant as to believe that could I keep a position without actually doing the job. I wish to always be a productive member of society.” She taps her finger again.
“Of course. You do not like gambling, correct?” Her head is tilted, and a small smile is upon her face. lFake nothing more.
“Yes this is true.” She knows this, yet she would waste time on such a question. Trying to see how I much hate it or perhaps leading into another question? There is a natural progression to conversations, and Terano seems to be the kind of girl who follows this progression instead of going straight for the heart of the matter.
“What about games, do you hate those as well?” An offering.
“I see no purpose in them. They are not useful, and are
therefore a waste of time.” The truth. Sure I could say yes, but it would be a lie, and it would be suspicious.
“How unfortunate I wished to play a game of chess with you.” She wants to know me, to be able to read me, to find my weaknesses. A game of chess is a low risk attempt at this. She’ll see my reactions without risking anything well, except her own reactions.
“While chess is better than games that rely solely on luck and chance, there is still no benefit of it.” Nothing is based solely off luck and chance in almost all circumstances there is a better choice. One that is more likely to succeed; sometimes people are
just incapable of seeing the correct choice. The human mind is not a supercomputer after all. I wonder was my answer the right choice?
“There would be purpose though I would like to know the enemy who could perhaps become my future ally.” To speak so bluntly is risky. This is rather unexpected. Terano isn’t even trying to hide her attempts to change my loyalties. Is her hatred for the President so strong that she simply believes it to be impossible for anyone to have true loyalty to her? Is it a trap? Or does she simply think I’m weak willed? I keep asking myself this questions. What a waste. To try to solve a problem without enough information is foolish just as it is foolish to try to attempt to understand this girl’s train of thought. Either way my only choice is to agree. The more time Midari has to make her move against Yumi the more likely it is for our plan to succeed.
“I suppose a game of chess to help me learn more about you could be beneficial. It would be illogical to reject such an opportunity. Do you wish do to be white or black?” She rolls herself to the table where chess is set up. I move across the room.
“Black is fine.” She willingly gave up an advantage. It makes sense winning the game isn’t what either of us are after, and if she intends to allow herself to lose, can any of my data collected from this game be trusted? I sit at the white side.
Pawn to E4. Statistically speaking it is the best first move,so what else would I do. It’s often seen as a more aggressive play. Terano’s face remains neutral after my move. I wonder what move she’ll make perhaps move her pawn to C5, I have always been a fan of the sicilian defense, or maybe a pawn to E6.
“How did you meet Kirari?” Pawn to H5. This choice it simply makes no sense. The goal of the opening moves is to take control of the center. What is the purpose of such a move? She cannot intend to win with such a poor choices. The question... answer the question.
“When I was still in middle school, I witnessed her gamble against the then current president. She won. I must admit to being intrigued by her boldness. I admired I even thought that I could perhaps learn something from her. Desire for new knowledge after-all is my weakness, so I asked her if I could her secretary.” The truth...oh but how quickly did that admiration turn into love. Or perhaps I have been mistaken, and I was attracted to her the instant I saw her. Remember gain control of the center. Knight to F3.
“Oh and why did she agree?” She moves within seconds of mine. Pawn to B6. There seems to be no reason for her movements. Is she truly so skilled that she would throw away opening moves to lay some sort of trap? No remember this just a game; the winner doesn’t matter. Still there is logical reason for making such poor choices. Why must she insist on talking during this game? Isn’t that what I wanted? What would be the best move here? More control over the center is the obvious choice. Pawn to D4. Now for the question.
“I could never presume to know the reasons behind the President’s choices. If there is even any reason at all.” Partially true I know the reason is that I intrigued her
why that is I’m still uncertain. I suspect it might be because the women I spoke to might not have been the President, and in a moment of foolishness I spoke that thought out loud. Was it truly foolishness if it lead me to the President? Most certainly. Either way I’m certain Terano will relate to confusion around the enigma that is the President. Rook to H6. A terrible choice. I am now certain victory is not what she is after. There is no thought in her moves.
“Yes Kirari can be rather difficult. Do you regret it?” Bishop to H6. A worthy sacrifice in order to take out her rook. She smiles at the move. She moves her pawn to H6. One missing bishop and one missing rook.
“No. As I said earlier becoming the secretary of the President has allowed me to keep my gambling to a limit.” Knight to C3. She’s nodding her head.
“So that truly is all you desire? To remain unbothered? Certainly there would be better choices than Kirari.” Pawn to E6. Is this perhaps her attempt to gain some sort of control of the center? No it’s just a random. Why? I move my pawn to D5. A pawn will take a pawn and a pawn will take that pawn. She moves to D5 as expected. I move my other pawn to D5.
“She is the one in power. How could there be a better choice?” A logical answer. She moves her pawn to C6 giving her access to take my pawn, and me access take hers. If I take the bait, she’ll lose a pawn, and so will I. Not interested. My king’s location is unsecured. Bishop to E2. It will allow me to secure my
king, and give my bishop easier access to her side. The bishop can be difficult to predict when it can move across the board so easily. She takes my pawn on D5. I switch my king and rook. My king moves to G1 and my rook moves to F1.
“Wouldn’t you rather to not have to deal with her? Secure the position for yourself or someone else who would truly leave you alone.” I want to slam her head against this chess board. I just keep smiling. If I responded with anger, everything would be lost. She moves her pawn to F5. She lost the game with that single move. Her king is vulnerable now. Perhaps she just wants to wrap up the conversation. Leave me with this burning question. To tempt me. Queen to D5 to take out her pawn. Her knight moves to C6.
“I’m not interested in the position, and unknown figure in power could lead to problems for me.” I move my knight to E5. A trap. Checkmate is drawing near, and her complete lack of care for this game makes it clear she will take the bait instead of extending her inevitable defeat. I mean why wouldn’t she make the move when she’s out to lose.
“So you trust Kirari?” She takes my knight with hers. Trust hmm. Yes I think I do.
“It’s not about trusting her. I just know she has no reason to betray me.” A lie. Bishop to H5. I win.
“Check.” She is still smiling. She moves her king to E7. The only choice.
“I see.” I take out her knight on E7 on with my queen.
“Checkmate.” It’s my victory, but it was too easy. She purposely choose poor moves to unsettle me. The true fight was the conversation, and I am not sure I won it.
“Lovely game Igarashi. I am a bit rusty, but even still I know talent when I see it.” I smile. Don’t let her know you suspect anything.
“Have a good day. Would you like me to find Yumi for you?” I must be certain that the game was the correct choice. That I didn’t risk too much for to little.
“No that’s quite alright I’ll simply text her that we’re done here.” Good. Some information about myself is a worth far less than some information on this girl’s sister. I bow as I leave the room.