Ayanokoji Kiyotaka POV:
♙♘♗♖♕♔ 🄲🅷🄴🅲🄺🅼🄰🆃🄴 ♚♛♜♝♞♟
The screen reveals a new title card. The word, "Checkmate" is rendered with white and black squares adorned with black and white chess pieces surrounding it from the left and right.
"Ooh that's pretty!"
The one who glamorized the new title card was a 1-B girl with long blue hair tied to a ponytail. Her hair length was equal to Karuizawa.
"I never played chess before but this got me hella hooked on wanting to try it out!"
Another student in 1-B, this time a boy with short blue hair and purple eyes.
"Me too!"
Ichinose eyes gleam with excitement for the prospect of playing chess with her friends
"Hey everyone, how many of you want to learn how to play chess together? Raise your hand!"
First it was Ichinose, then it was Kanzaki who supported Ichinose's idea and finally everyone raise up their hands
The camaraderie and mutual support within Class 1-B was unmatched, built upon a foundation of friendships and trust that served as their source of strength.
Though..there was one girl who reluctantly raised their hand, she had violet eyes and violent hairs. To not be an odd one out, she raises her hand despite not actually wanting to.
"Kamuro-san, Hashimoto-kun, If you had to pick between the black pieces and white pieces, which one would you choose?"
The lilac hair girl propose this to Kamuro and Hashimoto who looked at her with undying attention
"Hmm, Princess, is there an importance between the white and black pieces?"
With a thoughtful expression, Hashimoto inquire the significance of the chess pieces
"In the game of chess, the player making the first move is assigned the white pieces, and the one with the black pieces moves second. Given this, which option would you both choose?"
"I would pick the black pieces"
Kamuro stated with no hesitation
"Likewise, opting for black allows me to assess my opponent, observing their playing skills and strategic decisions"
Both Kamuro and Hashimoto agreed on picking the black pieces rather than the white pieces
"Fufu, we're quite the contrast, initiating the game is my preferred approach"
Usually, aggressive players opt for the white pieces, while defensive players favor the black pieces
The lilac hair girl is a more aggressive player. Pressuring her opponents from the start to claim the win by the end of the match
However, this wasn't the complete conclusion I drew about this girl....
So she's Sakayanagi Arisu.....
Not only was Kamuro and Hashimoto's full attention on Sakayanagi, but half of the section sitting close or near her were paying full attention to her.
The other half were not bothering to listen to her
In Class A there's two factions, the Sakayanagi faction and the Katsuragi faction. The primary objective for both factions is to jointly exert control over their entire class.
The Appearance of Katsuragi is unknown to me, but if I had to make a guess, a boy with a large body frame sitting with proper decorum.
He radiates an aura of a very serious person who adheres to the rules of manners and good conduct.
However he stood out like a sore thumb due to him being....bald.
Why is he bald?
Is it due to some illness?
Some tradition in his family?
If I coated oil onto his head, how shiny would he be?
.....
I'm overthinking this...
After 30 seconds has passed, the new title card gracefully faded, ushering a new scene on the screen.
Due to the school's enormous size, signs were placed on the routes, which would help new students like me to find their respective classes. I followed the signs that read, "First Years" and soon arrived at a fairly large building. Without dawdling around, I move to the classroom I was assigned to: 1-D
Unfortunately, it's still on Checkmate Kiyotaka's perspective. Scanning the Auditorium, I noticed a large portion of people visibly dissatisfied with this turn of events.
Meanwhile, Ryuen had a smirk on his face sitting nonchalantly on his seat. He probably made a bet of the perspective still being on my Checkmate self and is satisfied with coming to the right conclusion.
"I always ponder how a defected classroom operates, can't wait to see these idiots on display hahaha!"
The sound of this masculine voice came from the 1-A section. This caused the ire of my classmates to glare at 1-A.
The owner of the voice was a boy with matching green hair and eyes.
His condescending tone bore a glint of mockery in his eyes.
"Yahiko-kun I advise you to stop such foolishness. Starting discourse will not let us progress through the screening"
The bald boy sitting right next to Yahiko-kun quickly shut down his unwanted comments about Class D.
"Krgk! Sorry K-Katsuragi-kun..."
Yahiko had an apologetic face not because of the comments about my class, but rather getting scolded by Katsuragi.
So my hunch was right...
Judging from their seating arrangement, Yahiko must be the advisor or the right-hand of Katsuragi, similar to Ichinose and Kanazki.
But Kanazki seems more competent than Yahiko despite being a class below him...
"Having Yahiko-kun as your right hand is a horrible choice, Katsuragi-kun"
Sakayanagi started while still looking at the screen.
Yahiko was seething from Sakayanagi's comment
On the other hand, Katsuragi ignore Sakayangai's comment, his eyes attentively focused on the screen
Drawing attention back to my classmates, Hirata addressed an issue to the class
"Everyone, please try your best to ignore comments throw at our class in this screening, I'm not saying you can't be angry or disappointed, but causing unnecessary discourse does not achieve anything"
"Likewise Hirata-kun! Everyone please ignore those comments because despite what they say, let's focus on the fact we achieved 89 class points in our Midterm Exams!"
Hirata and Kushida's reassurance significantly alleviated the looming negativity preceding the mockery of our class
Kushida highlighting Class D's achievement of gaining 89 classpoints in the Midterms signifies a notable progression from 0 to 89 class points. Additionally, she played a pivotal role by obtaining and distributing old midterm papers from the upperclassmen to our classmates
The room was already halfway filled when I walked inside. Some of them turned around to look at me while others were absorbed in their conversations. I paid them no mind and let my gaze sway around the room. The high security caught my eye, but I ignored for now and refocused on the other students
"Well isn't that intriguing, your Checkmate self was able to identify all four hidden cameras across the classroom with no effort"
Nagumo affirmed with a smirk plastered on his face. Nagumo then glanced at me.
"Say, Ayanokoji in our timeline, did you already notice the hidden cameras once you step into your classroom?
Nagumo is actively trying to gauge me and my capabilities shown by the onslaught of questions he's throwing at me.
But I wont allow him to gain what he wants
"To answer your question Nagumo-Senpai, due to my seat being at the back of the classroom right by the window I was able to spot only one of the hidden cameras behind me, however I wasn't able to notice the other cameras' presence."
"I see, but doesnt that raise suspicion for you, Ayanokoji? Why are the cameras concealed instead of being openly visible to everyone? It seems peculiar and prompts questions about the school's intentions "
"Naturally, it seemed that way; however, much like many others, I succumbed to the illusion of this being a typical school. Consequently, my suspicions about its true nature were swiftly dismissed"
Nagumo went silent for a moment and eyed me
Then a smirk reappeared on his face
"Is that so Ayanokoji..."
His piercing blue eyes looked at the screen again.
Sigh, how long will Nagumo do this?
Did they already make friends? Or did they know each other from before? If it was the former, they were impressive.
I trudged towards the table that bore my nameplate, placed my bag nearby, and sat down. It was the best seat one could have. All the way in the back, right by the window. When I was bored in the future, I could glance outside and observe the birds, the sakura blossoms or the falling snow, depending on the season.
"The sheer beauty of Sakura blossoms could captivate me for hours"
Shiina express gleefully
Ibuki seemed to agree with her as she did a small nod.
"He really has the best seat"
The boy with the dark green hair and dark green eyes said
"Unless you have good eyesight, people with nearsightedness might dislike that seat, despite the free and complimentary scenery"
The boy with light beige hair and purple gradient eyes bore a tone of disappointment.
It likely that he's referring to himself, especially considering he's sporting glasses"
"The protagonist's seat....."
Sotomaru spouted something puzzling
What makes it a protagonist's seat?
Wouldn't sitting at the front be considered the protagonist's seat?
Well then, what should I do? Should I walk up to someone and talk with them, or would that be deemed as weird? Talking to a girl right off the bat was out of the question. I couldn't help but believe that I would be labeled "creep" if I were to stroll up to them and start a conversation with no warning. Joining a group that was already talking would be bad as well. If they already know each other beforehand, they would glance at each other and be like, "Hey you see that guy that just randomly talked to us?" "What do you think he wants?" Wasn't that kind of creepy?", or such things.
Many people stare at me with confusion
"Man Ayanokoji you're over complicating it! You just gotta find someone who fits your vibe and interests! Also, your Checkmate's self is acting as if this is your first time in a school classroom!"
The boy with short blue hair and purple eyes from 1-B said with a smile on his face.
"Well um.."
"Shibata!"
"Well Shibata, the thing about me and Checkmate Kiyotaka is that it's our first time ever being in a school classroom. You see, I spent the majority of my life being homeschooled because of my strict and controlling parents"
Shibata felt regret for commenting about how Checkmate Kiyotaka operated in a new environment. Even though he didn't mean it in a bad way.
Many students in the Auditorium gave me a sympathetic gaze after learning about my past
"Hold up, if your parents are so "controlling" and "strict", why the hell would they allow you to go to a school that forbids contact for 3 years?"
Ryuen launches an accusatory gaze at me
A significant number of students shot glares at Ryuen's tactless remark, especially when I was displaying vulnerability discussing about my home life
Others like Nagumo were intrigue by my somewhat contradicting statement
I do have an answer for it though.
"My parents fell for ANHS's advertisement for 100% employment and college entry rate. They inquire this would be the best chance for me to be as great as them"
"So your Narcissistic parents set you up for failure? Hah!"
The glares intensified more at Ryuen. Ryuen's boldness needs to be studied. Let's hope his Checkmate's self doesnt do anything embarrassing.
With this reasoning, I eliminated most of the people present in the room, leaving only the ones who were alone, like me. The boy in front of me fit this description perfectly. Should I talk to him? But what if he was just waiting for someone he knew? Or isn't in the mood to talk? Shouldn't I wait for the right time to strike up a conversation? Like when he drops something and I pick it up? Or would that be weird as well?
After learning about my past, many students were saddened by Checkmate's Kiyotaka depressing thought process
"Ayanokoji..I understand you and Checkmate's self challenge..."
Sakura quietly says to me
I reciprocate her comment by subtly nodding to her.
As I kept spiraling down into the dark corners of my thoughts and ruminating about such scenarios, I noticed that making friends seemed to be incredibly difficult. While I was occupied debating the pros and cons of striking up a conversation with the youth in front of me, I noticed that he was already engaged in a conversation with someone else.
I failed. I'm miserable.
"Ayanokoji-kun I know this isn't you speaking, but just know you're not miserable."
Hirata looks at me with a concerning gaze
"Um thank you Hirata. I appreciate it"
After Hirata's comment, many of my classmates started to compliment me
"You're a chill guy Ayanokoji!"
"Despite not talking so much, I would rather hang out with you than Kouenji"
"If you start hanging out with more people, you'll definitely have your own friend group! Plus after examining your face, you're quite handsome..."
"You're not bad compared to others..."
Shinohara says the last comment. But just a few minutes ago she insulted me at the beginning of this screening....
"What an unfortunate coincidence."
Hearing this voice, I lowered my head onto the table before heaving a massive sigh.
Of course it would be her, of all people. Why did it have to be this girl?
"Agree dude, she's just hella unlively"
A voice in the Auditorium spoke. I glanced at Horikita and she didn't seem bothered by it.
"So, we were placed in the same class, huh?"
"You just went and introduced yourself?"
"Well, this is the second time we've spoken. Isn't it normal for me to do so?"
It seemed like my initial impression was right on the mark. I just hoped she behaved like this with everyone who tried talking to her and not just me. If she didn't, that would be bad for my non-existent reputation. My soul would slowly be crushed as well. Perhaps.
"If a pretty girl ignore me, that would kill me on the spot"
Ike said while holding his "fragile" heart. Was he trying to be funny or was he serious about this?
"Girls already ignore you, Pervert"
"Hah! I don't care about your comments because you're an ugly girl"
Raged filled Shinohara's face after Ike's comment
"Ike-kun please apologize to Shinohara-san"
Kushida disapproving face shook Ike to the core
"Kgrk! S-Sorry S-Shinohara-san"
"You're only saying that because Kushida-san asked you to, but I'll accept it. This argument is pointless now"
Shinohara seems to have some sensibility.
"Do you mind if I refuse?"
"Don't you think that it would be weird sitting next to someone without knowing their name?"
"No."
"She's more antisocial than Ayanokoji"
"She'll probably be the number one antisocial person if there was a ranking for it"
"How could someone so pretty be so harsh?"
Slanderous comments erupted about Horikita in the Auditorium
Sudo's agitation was slowly reaching its peak, but he was still able to somewhat control himself.
Horikita was still undeterred by the comments.
The girl refused flatly and placed her bag on the desk. She sat down and stared forward without moving, as if she were in a trance. Conversations popped up around us, but she appeared to be in her own world.
The way she glared towards the blackboard reminded me of the Queen's Guard. No matter what happened around them, they wouldn't move. Would she do something if I waved my hand in front of her? At least her irises should dart around, right? She shouldn't be specifically trained, so there was bound to be some sort of physical reaction.
A Queen's Guard are soldiers responsible for guarding official royal residences in the United Kingdom, such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.
"What an interesting analogy from Checkmate Ayanokoji..."
Shiina simply states with interest
"Tch, wouldn't that mean she's stale and boring? That's more of an insult than a compliment."
Ibuki cross her arms with a disgruntled expression on her face
"As always, you're wrong Ibuki. She seems fun, can't wait till I get to play with her, kuku!"
Ryuen bore a wicked smirk on his face while laughing.
Considering the volume of the remark, Horikita heard it and her eyes squinted just slightly.
As I was pondering over the matter, she sighed. The girl turned towards me, and her eyes once again met mine. I had to admit that they were rather pretty, even though I didn't like her attitude. I had to give credit where credit was due.
"I'm Horikita Suzune."
Wow, she was beautiful. This, coupled with her attitude, made her seem like the cold-beauty type of girl. And her voice sounded like a bell, so the name was quite fitting as well.
"Oh it was that simple? Thought she wouldnt give up her name?"
"Maybe she realize it was more beneficial to tell her name to Checkmate Ayanokoji so he could stop bothering her?"
Students were surprised by Checkmate Horikita's actions, but they were somewhat glad she told her name to Checkmate Kiyotaka.
After all, this similar exchange happen in our timeline
Suddenly I heard a ring from my phone. I quickly took my phone out of my pocket to check the notification.
[Sudo] : You're Checkmate self is absolutely right about Horikita, Ayanokoji!
Sudo, too embarrassed to express his thoughts about Horikita, decided to text me about it. His alternative solution.
Not bad Sudo.
That aside... she introduced herself. Are we friends now? No. There should be more to 'being friends' than just that, right? Well, since she answered, it was now my turn to keep the conversation going. But how? Should I ask her something? Or would she be bothered by that? A safer option would be to talk about myself. This way, she wouldn't feel forced to share anything she didn't want to.
"Let me tell you about myself. I have no particular hobbies but I'm interested in just about anything. I don't need many friends, but it would be nice to have a few. Well, that's about it."
"Spoken like someone who avoids trouble. I don't think I could ever like such a person."
Ouch. That hurt.
"But what's wrong with avoiding trouble? Most people who avoid trouble tend to maintain a sense of calmness and composure in various situations"
Ichinose brought the good traits of my mindset
However, this sparked Horikita to respond.
"Good traits aside, like Checkmate Horikita had said, I could never like such a person. To me, they have a sense of complacency and an inability to navigate challenging situations effectively when they inevitably arise"
Horikita spoke that with eloquently
Strangely, her eyes squinted when she glance at me
However, my perception of Ayanokoji is wrong....
My heart stung a little after receiving such a vicious attack. I couldn't help but think that her gaze was filled with venom while she stared me down as if I was an annoying dog.
"Hey! Dogs are cute!"
"No! Cats are better!"
"What if both animals are cute?"
"..."
"..."
"...I'll keep my mouth shut..."
What a random conversation.
She sighed while I was occupied licking my hemorrhaging wounds.
"Hemo..what?"
Ike sputtered in confusion.
"Hemorrhaging refers to the severe and rapid loss of blood from the circulatory system. Hemo means blood and -rrhaging means denoting bursting forth or excessive discharge"
Ike's eyes flicker with understanding. His mind gradually assimilating the information
"Oooooohhhhh thanks Ayanokoji!"
Ike sparks a smile
"No problem"
"Another unfortunate coincidence."
Following her gaze, I discovered yet another person from the bus.
"Seems like it." I said as I checked the nameplate that read 'Kouenji'.
The man in question put his feet on top of the desk and resumed his manicure, which got interrupted as he stepped off the bus. The students around him immediately became irritated by his attitude and backed up. Kouenji didn't seem to mind and even started humming a jazzy tune. My neighbor shook her head and started reading a book called 'Crime and Punishment'.
"Has no respect for this school and others"
"The only reasons he act like this because he's got Daddy's money"
Hush whispers spread across the Auditorium from Kouenji's abnormal behavior.
Kouenji and Ryuen are fighting for who's the most hated student in ANHS.
Well, so much for my first friend...
The bell rang a few moments later. At that exact moment, a woman with brown hair tied into a ponytail walked into the room. My initial impression was that she believed in discipline due to the way she presented herself. Looking at her like that, she could be Horikita from the future, or her mother if not for the differing hair color. She gave off a similar vibe to the girl beside me, as she wore a suit and radiated a cool impression, which would make anyone hesitant to address her.
"Sae-chan it's you!"
Hoshinomiya-Sensei points at screen repeatedly like a child
Sakagami-Sensei was weirded out by her actions, Mashima-Sensei and Chabashira-Sensei sigh by her antics
"Your Checkmate self is spouting nonsense"
Horikita states, but then she looks at Chabashira-Sensei intently before returning her focus back onto the screen
"Good morning students. I'm the instructor for Class D. My name is Chabashira Sae. For the next three years, I will act as your homeroom teacher, so I hope to get to know all of you. It's a pleasure to meet you. The entrance ceremony will be in the gymnasium in one hour from now on, but first, I will distribute written materials with information about this school's special rules. I will also hand out the admissions guide."
After everyone received said documents which were passed back from the front rows, the teacher continued in a smoky voice. Her bedroom eyes didn't help my situation at all, as it was rather hard to listen to her without my mind drifting off-topic.
"Eh???"
Everyone was shocked by Checkmate Kiyotaka's remark.
I never said that!
"Your Checkmate's self is popping a boner to your teacher, can't blame him though."
Ryuen teasing voice wasn't helping
Girls across the Auditorium look at me disappointedly
But that was Checkmate Kiyotaka, not me!
"Typical degenerate behavior.."
"Men are always unserious..."
"Makes me want to puke.."
"Makes me want to date girls..."
Just when my reputation was healing through my sympathetic backstory, it's now plummeting.
Like how stocks fall.
"Ohhh.. Checkmate Ayanokoji-kun is VERY interested in you Sae-chan...would you prefer him over OUR Ayanokoji-kun?"
Hoshinomiya-Sensei voice burn with lust observing Chabashira-Sensei's reaction
"Chie, make an inappropriate comment again about one of our students again and you will be accordingly punish"
Mashima-Sensei spoke in a cold and serious tone towards Hoshinomiya-Sensei
"Blehh, I was just kidding Tomonari-kun, relax!"
Hoshinomiya-Sensei backtracks and stares at the screen hastily to avoid his gaze
"Thank you for that.."
Chabashira-Sensei gives thanks to Mashima-Sensei and returns her focus back onto the screen.
"I will now hand out your student ID cards, which acts like a credit card. By using them, you can access the facilities on the campus and purchase goods from the stores. At this school, you can use your points to buy anything. Anything located on the school premises is available for purchase."
"Those hints were right in our faces..."
The one who bore a tone of disappointment when stating this was a boy with gray hair, red eyes, and round glasses, my bespectacled classmate Yukimaru Teruhiko.
Anything can be bought with points, huh? If everything on the premises could be bought, would it be possible to buy a whole store? Or parts of a building to restrict access for certain people? I should inquire about this later.
"While theoretical possible, it may cost up to 20 million private points or more for that feat to be achievable"
Manabu gave his insight about my Checkmate's self thoughts.
For many it would be impossible, but for me I can do it...
Nagumo wore a smug expression, excluding an air of superiority.
"Your student cards can be used by simply swiping them through the scanner. Points are automatically deposited into your account on the first day of every month. You should have already received 100.000 points. Keep in mind that one point is one yen. No further explanation should be necessary."
The whole classroom erupted into chaos after that statement from our teacher.
My classmates had mad or disappointed expressions on their faces.
I can't blame them.
My class resembled fish in the vast ocean, enticed by the 100,000 points "per" month acting as bait. Obviously, we seized without caution, only to be reeled towards our inevitable downfall.
100.000 points per students equals 4.000.000 per class and 16.000.000 for all classes in the first year. For all three years, that would be 48.000.000 points per month and 576.000.000 per year. That was a little over 4.8 million US-Dollars. Even though the school was being funded by the government, this was too much to give to a bunch of teenagers.
"Nice usage of a US comparison!"
The who positively spoke was in 2nd years section, 2-A. She has weight-length chocolate-brown hair that is adorned by a hair pin in shape of a sunflower with two ordinary hair-clips
"Is Checkmate Ayanokoji a smarter version of you? To do multiplication and then conversion in seconds is impressive"
Matsushita looks at me stating that
"Seems so, I can't think that quickly and my math grade is below average."
That's true...but if he's a smarter and more perspective, why is he still placed in Class D...
Matsushita nods to my answer and looks back at the screen.
"Shocked by the amount of points you've been given? This school evaluates its students' talents. Everyone here passed the entrance examination, which speaks to your value and potential. The amount you've received reflects the evaluation of your worth. You can use your points without restraint. Your leftover points will be returned to the school upon graduation. Since there is no way to exchange your points for cash, there is no advantage in saving them. Once points have been deposited into your account, it's up to you how to spend them. If you don't want to spend your points, you may transfer them to someone else. However, extorting money from your peers is not allowed. This school monitors bullying especially thorough."
The amount we've received reflects the evaluation of our worth... which means if our worth dwindles, so do our points. How would they calculate our worth then? Exams would be one way to measure our value, but would that be the only one? No... those cameras were not for security, but for observation. Even outside of the classrooms, they are rather small and inconspicuous. They weren't intended to spread a feeling of safety, but to observe the students as they are tackling their school life.
"Checkmate Ayanokoji is already suspicious about the school's intent. Something you Ayanokoji and others should have done"
Nagumo delivers a factual statement directed at me and others
Chabashira-sensei looked over the room once again before dismissing class for today.
"Well, it appears no one has questions. I hope that you enjoy your time here as students."
Many of my classmates were surprised and still couldn't believe the amount of points they've had received. I checked my phone, which we got together with our student ID cards and confirmed the existence of 100.000 points in my account.
I glanced to my side and observed the girl named Horikita Suzune.
Unlike Kouenji, she wasn't a narcissist, but was still very proud of her intelligence and overall abilities. Or at least she appeared that way. I knew nothing about her, but it was impossible to miss how highly she thought of herself. Let's put her abilities to the test, shall we?
Manabu had an intrigue expression his face
Suzune would naturally be suspicious towards the abundance of money given to them, but Checkmate Ayanokoji testing her is quite interesting...maybe he'll lead Suzune into the right path...
Horikita eyes narrowed by Checkmate Kiyotaka's thoughts
"This school doesnt seem as strict as I thought"
My neighbour had apparently noticed my soft mutterings and turned her head.
"This school doesnt seem as strict as I thought"
She agreed with my statement, which was disappointing. Didn't she anything more to say? Weren't there any doubts in her mind after the teacher's explanation
"Nee? Is he disappointed by Horikita's comment?
Karuizawa perplexing says
"Checkmate Ayanokoji had a relatively high evaluation of Checkmate Horikita. He's not saying she's incompetent, but disappointed that her intelligence and overall abilities wasn't matching his impression of her"
Yukimaru explains to Karuizawa and others
"I see! Checkmate Ayanokoji seems super way more intelligent than our Ayanokoji"
A comparison between me and him
It make sense people would perceive Checkmate Kiyotaka as a more refined version of me
But Karizuwa unknowingly insulted me..
"This is almost too much preferential treatment. It's frightening"
At least she noticed that something was off. Maybe she was actually smart, and just needed time to process all the information we had just taken in. There was no shame in needing time to convert all the data into usable chunks. As long as she thought about everything, it was good enough for me
"Good advice from Checkmate Ayanokoji, I should have dedicated more time to pondering about the misleading information surrounding this school"
Horikita admits with a serious thoughtful expression
The room got louder and louder, especially the girls as they were already debating on which clothes to spend their points on and things like that. The boys deliberated which gaming console was the best. They were struggling to decide between a handheld a stationary machine. Afterwards they bickered about which movie genre was their preferred one and things of that nature
I didn't even know that we could buy clothes here. Why would we need them if there are uniforms? The boys also confused me and I felt out after hearing terms I was wholly unfamiliar with. How did they already know all of this? Was I just clueless?
Inquiring about my past, many students were saddened by Checkmate Kiyotaka's bewildered state.
"Everyone, can you please listen for a moment?"
Upon hearing his voice, students (mostly girls) and some boys were excited to see who's on screen
"It's Hirata-kun!"
"He's such a great guy!"
"How is he even in Class D?"
Comments like these zoom across the Auditorium
"Nee Nee Hirata! You're on the big screen looking so handsome~"
Karuizawa wraps her arm around Hirata, teasing him with a grin
Hirata look at Karuizawa with a radiant smile
A few girls in my class grumble comments to themselves towards their display of affection to each other.
A student with blonde hair stood up, gaining the attention of everyone around him. Even though his hair was the same color as Kouenji's, he had a much darker tone than the latter. The youth seemed like an honor student like Horikita, just far more approachable because of the pleasant smile on his face
"A smile I could look at for hours"
Karuizawa joyfully says.
"Starting today, we're all going to be classmates. Therefore, I think it would be good for us to introduce ourselves and become friends as soon as possible. We still have some time until the entrance ceremony. What do you say?"
Just like that, he spoke up in front of everyone, which was an incredible feat. No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn't have done something like this. I doubted that I could ever stand tall and appeal to people in a forty person classroom.
"With enough confidence you could accomplish a similar feat as Hirata. Moreover, Ayanokoji, you possessed a handsome appearance that could easily appeal to women"
Hashimoto spoke to me with a laid-back attitude
He then proceeds to playfully wink at me.
....
What does that indicate?
"Agreed! We still don't know a thing about each other, not even our names."
Someone shouted, which prompted the hesitant students to agree as well. Leading with a good example, the boy who just addressed the whole class introduced himself first.
"My name is Hirata Yosuke. Back in junior high, lots of people called my Yosuke. Feel free to use my first name! I guess my hobby is playing sports, but soccer is my specialty. I'm planning on playing soccer here too. Nice to meet you."
With that, the boy named Hirata presented himself in front of the class with no effort while leaving a lasting first impression. He was not only outspoken but also quite handsome and played soccer. The girls next to him had heart-shaped eyes, which spoke for his newfound popularity.
"Pftt!"
"Hahaha, heart eyes!"
"I wouldn't mind gaining heart eyes around Hirata-kun..."
Laughter filled the Auditorium after Checkmate Kiyotaka's funny remark
Which by the way, was the same thing I said in my timeline. No deviation there.
"Well then, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves, starting from the front. Is that okay?"
Although the girl in question was bewildered to be called out of the blue, she promptly made up her mind and stood up.
"M-my n-name is Inogashira Ko-Ko..."
The girl froze. Her words halted, as if they were stuck in her throat and her skin paled somewhat. It was rare to see someone get this nervous over a simple introduction. Did she perhaps have some bad memories about a previous one?
Kind words came from the side of our classmates. They cheered her on and kept telling her to do her best, which seemed to have the opposite effect, as she completely suspended her operations following those proposals. Some girls started giggling. Even though it wasn't a malicious snicker, for someone who was receiving them, they could prove quite harmful. The words of encouragement she received were nice, but not what she needed to hear at this point in time. A better alternative would have been to —
Due to this scene not being a divergence from our timeline, many of my classmates quickly apologize to Inogashira Kokoro who accepted quickly.
However a slight difference was Checkmate me being cut off from his thoughts.
"It's okay to go slow. Don't rush. Take all the time you need."
The girl who said this once again saved the day. This time for the young woman called Inogashira. Upon hearing the angel's voice, she took a deep breath and started anew.
"My name is Inogashira Kokoro. Um, my hobby is sewing and I'm pretty good at knitting. I-It's nice to meet you all."
"God bless Kushida-sama!"
"She has just the right words to say!"
"Knitting? I'm experienced in that!"
The Auditorium buzzed with an atmosphere of utmost enjoyment.
"Thank you Kushida-san!"
Inogashira lighty smiles at Kushida
"My pleasure Inogashira-san!"
Looking relieved, delighted and fairly embarrassed, the girl sat down while the boy next to her stood up.
"I'm Yamauchi Haruki. I competed in table tennis during elementary school, and in junior high, I was the ace player in our baseball team. I was number four. Unfortunately, I got hurt during the inter-high school championships, though, and I'm undergoing rehab now. Nice to meet you."
"...PFTT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.."
"Is he this stupid bahahaha!"
"With his below average looks, his intelligence is definitely below average as well, hehehe"
Majority of people were mocking and ridiculing Yamauchi's horrible introduction.
Yamauchi was hiding himself in embarrassment
Yamauchi had a horrible lie, however it wasn't even hard to fix.
He should have said, ""I'm Yamauchi Haruki. I played sports throughout school, but I was the best at table tennis and baseball. I practiced pretty hard and got to be the ace player in my middle school baseball team"
But then again, I am expecting things from Yamauchi
"Yamauchi-kun don't be sad, I enjoy it!"
"Really?...THANK YOU KUSHIDA-CHAN!!"
Yamauchi sparked up again after Kushida praise him
She's most likely mocking you in her head..."
That... well. I'm not commenting on that. His introduction indicated multiple signs of lying behavior, which didn't need to be pointed out. Not to mention that his lies were some of the worst I had ever heard.
"Well then, I'm next, aren't I?"
The girl who stood up next was the one who saved Inogashira, as well as the one who confronted Kouenji in the bus. She still had the same positive energy around her as this morning.
"My name is Kushida Kikyou. None of my friends from junior high made it to this school, so I'm alone here. I'd like to get to know all of your names and faces right away and become friends as soon as possible!"
She didn't finish there, however, and supplemented her introduction with a dazzling smile, which made her as, if not more, approachable than Hirata. But I couldn't help but think that Horikita's name was a much better fit, as far as I could tell.
"My first goal is to become friends with everyone. So, after we're finished with introductions, I'd love for you to share your contact information with me!"
"How long must I endure this yap session?"
Ryuen yawns, gazing at the screen with boredom
The Cheerful mood slowly started going downhill
Hostile glares omitted from every angle toward Ryuen, accompanied by curses and insults, yet he remained nonchalant, staring boredly at the screen
As she kept talking, I was once again reminded of the red flag I had picked up on this morning. There was something off about her, but I didn't know what just yet. Kouenji detected this as well, and even attacked her afterwards to probe her reaction, which just confirmed what both of us had expected. He is the most interesting of all the people in the classroom at this point in time.
Checkmate Kiyotaka accusing Checkmate Kushida made people agitated
"I don't know why Checkmate Ayanokoji-kun is accusing me, but I just want to inform everyone that—
"Fufu is he wrong though?
Sakayanagi interrupted Kushida's speech
All attention was now on her
"Kushida-san, while your actions may appear benevolent on the surface, beneath that facade, each deed is laced with malicious intent"
Sakayangai boldly states to Kushida. The aforementioned person quickly response to her
"But how I don't understand? I just want to help and be friends with everyone! Is that so hard to believe?"
"Many of those friendships will lack authenticity, Kushida-san. Do you genuinely wish to associate with such individuals? It would entail a wearisome daily routine merely to sustain a facade"
"Of course I do! I cherish and care for everyone. Even if our friendships may not be as close to others, I will vehemently try my best to be friends with them!"
"Fufu is that so? However, as portrayed on the screen, your Checkmate self adeptly orchestrates an intervention to assist Inogashira. Considering your class's atmosphere to Inogashira's introduction, this also unfolded in our timeline. One wonders, why withhold words of advice from the outset? Why reserve such selflessness?
Sakayanagi launches relentless attacks on Kushida's character and intentions
Kushida is back up against a corner with nowhere to go
But...
"STOP, Kushida-san helped shake away my fears so I was able to form my introduction. You diminishing her efforts is outrageous!"
"That's right, you're pushing it too far!"
"Unnecessary discourse!"
"Let's end this already!"
Inogashira's bold statement towards Sakayanagi triggered a cascade of defenses in favor of Kushida Kikyo
"*Sniff* T-thank Y-you Everyone!"
Kushida tearing up from the overwhelming support amplified it even more
That fucking cripple bitch! She should be stomped for being a defective failure! This is so fucking annoying! Why the hell is Checkmate Ayanokoji so fucking suspicious of me? Our Ayanokoji doesn't show it due to his boring, ugly, monotone face, but he was under my gracious charm like so many others! This Alternative Timeline is annoying! I wish we never watch this!
Hirata then asked the next person to introduce himself. The boy with short red hair, however, just lashed out at him, which immediately called down the wrath of all the girls inside the classroom. He started cursing and left the room only leaving his loud steps without turning back.
After his abrupt exit, some other students stood up and left the room in silence. My neighbor took one last glance at me before disappearing as well. Hirata seemed somewhat lost and tried to justify their behavior in front of his other classmates.
Students were discontented with Checkmate Sudo's behavior and its impact on the classroom
"What a party pooper"
"It's just an introduction, how hard is it to just do that!?"
"I'm surprised Kouenji stayed..."
Sudo had a look of shame and embarrassment on his face
"Yo everyone sorry for what I did..."
He's referring to the same events that happen in our timeline.
"It's alright Sudo-kun, you and others have a justifiable reason no to introduce yourself"
Hirata states with a smile.
"Good improvement, Sudo"
Horikita's unexpected praise had Sudo ecstatic
"T-thank you S–, Horikita-san!"
Thank god he didn't slip up....
"They're not a bad bunch. It's my fault. I was being selfish and made people do this."
Hirata didn't exhibit any red flags at all, unlike Kushida. He genuinely tried to be the scapegoat for the delinquents misbehavior as to not alienate the red-haired student and the ones that followed him from the rest of our class. Even though he did his best after this situation took place, some people, especially the girls, didn't feel like it was his fault at all.
"No way. You did nothing wrong Hirata-kun. Let's just leave them be."
They said things like that but still harbored ill will, especially towards the guy with fiery red hair. It seemed like they already decided that they wanted nothing to do with some hothead like him. After this short commotion, it didn't take long until everyone calmed down and the next person introduced himself.
"I'm Ike Kanji. I love girls and hate pretty boys. I'm currently looking for a new girlfriend, especially a cute or beautiful one. Nice to meet you."
Ike skin turning into pure snow says it all
"Disgusting pervert!"
"Girlfriend this! Girlfriend that! Can boys shut the fuck up about that shit?"
"No way anyone would date him. You would have to be ashamed of yourself to do so"
The Auditorium was at an abysmal mood due to many occurrences. Checkmate Ike's introduction made it even worse
Ike was glared at from every angle. He was clutching his heart with fear and pain
Shinohara looked at him with a wicked smirk.
His introduction was even worse than the delinquent's non-existent one as the girls all looked at him with revulsion. Studying the introductions until now, I was sure that it wouldn't take long for the boy called Yamauchi to connect with the one called Ike, since they both exhibited certain signals. Like two twin-brothers that were separated at birth and found themselves again.
Ike and Yamauchi stare at each other in shame.
Hirata tried to cheer them up, but it was ineffective.
"Wow. You are so cool, Ike-kun," one of the girls said, in a dispassionate voice. She was almost as good as I was in this kind of thing. This was what impressed me the most.
Ike thanked them while blushing in an unhealthy capacity. The girls kept throwing sarcastic remarks his way, but he didn't understand this at all. He started scratching his head in embarrassment because of all the compliments he received. As the girls kept entertaining Ike's fantasies, Hirata turned to the narcissist and asked him if he would introduce himself.
"Here comes the fucking narcissist ..."
"I bet he'll flaunt about him being rich and shit..."
"Hm. Fine."
He smirked, displaying the same attitude he had back on the bus. It seemed like he didn't care what people thought of him, which was not a bad habit to have. Coupled with his arrogance and narcissistic nature, however, it would likely spill bad blood between him and some other students. For now, at least, the term I would use was arrogance, but depending on his performance, I might have to turn it into something like confidence. He had already proven that his observation skills were out of the ordinary and his physique was nothing to scoff at, either.
"My name is Kouenji Rokusuke. As the sole male heir of the Kouenji conglomerate group, I will soon be tasked with carrying Japan into the future. I sincerely look forward to making your acquaintance, ladies."
"YUCK! He doesn't even hide it! Being an upfront degenerate"
A girl's voice laced with disgusted at Checkmate Kouenji's introduction
"Hmph I fail to see the issue, Yapping-girl. It isn't it superior to openly declare your motives rather than engaging in deceptive practices?"
Kouenji presented a compelling argument. The girl in question, devoid of a counterargument, resorted to glaring at Kouenji and raising her middle finger in response
In line with my thoughts about him, he only introduced himself to the female population in the room, disregarding the boys. Some girls immediately reevaluated him after hearing that he was rich, while others thought that he was just weird.
After his introduction, if one could call it that, he refocused on his hair and comb, which he already did on the bus. This made me wonder about so many things, but now wasn't the time. Kouenji kept talking while I drifted into my own little world. I was so absorbed in their introductions and my thoughts about them that I failed to think over what I should say in mine.
I thought back to the ones I had heard until now and compared them. Some had pros and cons, while others were off the table altogether. Could I be like Hirata and state my interests with confidence before proposing to use my first name if they wanted? The answer was a definitive no. Leaving aside that I could never be able to speak with so much courage, it would be extremely uncomfortable if I told them to use my first name and none of them did. Only someone like Hirata, who was outspoken and popular, could do something like that... or idiots like Yamauchi and Ike.
Speaking of them, should I crack a joke? Since they failed terribly, I didn't think I should try something like this either. Since it would be my first time making a joke, it was a bad idea to do so in front of this many people. If it turned out to be a bad or tasteless one, and no one laughed, I would cry myself to sleep.
"This is quite stressful for him"
"Yeah no kidding"
"I bet he will come up with an amazing introduction!"
Inogashira Kokoro, she stumbled over her words and was anxious, which could have been considered kind of cute by certain individuals. If I were to do something like this, however, it would just seem weird. 'Wow, what's with him? He can't even introduce himself. Gross.' I already heard the girls say this with disgusted expressions.
"I agree with this statement"
.....
Kushida's introduction was on the same level as Hirata's and something like Kouenji's was out of the question. I didn't want to stand out too much, but I also didn't want to end up like Horikita. The best course of action would be to take my time and properly formulate a —
"Excuse me? Could you please introduce yourself?"
Hirata threw me a strange, yet worried glance. Some girls were already staring daggers as well. Judging by his tone of voice and the death threats I received via eye contact, he already asked this question at least once.
I messed up.
Clack! The chair rattled as I stood.
"What an annoying sound!"
"My ears!"
"Urgh!"
"Stop being a bunch of babies"
Ryuen stated annoyingly
"Um. Well... my name is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. And uh... I don't really have any special skills or anything. I'll do my best to get along with you all. It's, uh, nice to meet you."
...
The Auditorium went silent after my introduction
"Eh, it's not that bad...."
"I would give it a 4.5 out of 10"
"A 6 for me, MILES better than that dumbass, prevert, and egotistical prick!"
The reception of my introduction was unexpectedly well
I assumed many would make fun of it, but that didn't happen.
Yes. I messed up. What kind of lame presence was that? Even the small introduction I gave Horikita turned out better than this disaster.
I sat back down and buried my head in my hands. I hadn't had the time to construct a proper introduction because I was overthinking it. This was the worst possible opening I could have given. It didn't attract attention and absolutely no one would remember it. Well, maybe that was for the better after this dumpster fire.
"Over Exaggeration at its finest"
"Wouldn't he be more memorable for having a "dumpster fire" of an introduction?
"Ayanokoji-kun! Your Checkmate's introduction wasn't bad at all!"
Ichinose praising Checkmate Kiyotaka made me feel hints of jealousy. That should have been me...
"It's nice to meet you Ayanokouji-kun. I always want to be friends with everyone just like you. Let's both do our best together, okay?"
Hirata came to the rescue with a refreshing smile. He recognized my failure and noticed the internal mental breakdown I was currently going through. Thus, he took it upon himself to include me as to not stand out in a negative light or be forgotten in my entirety. It was unquestionable that he was a kind soul.
Everyone clapped. Their applause felt somewhat like pity and kind of forced by some of them, which pained me. Despite that, however, I felt kind of glad. At least they were trying, right?
Even if it was the bare minimum and force, I was still included in the class thanks to Hirata's efforts. Here and Checkmate's Timeline....
♙♘♗♖♕♔ 🄲🅷🄴🅲🄺🅼🄰🆃🄴 ♚♛♜♝♞♟
AN: Hello everyone! Thank you for waiting for this chapter! I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter!
I would love to hear your thoughts and criticism.
Credits go to Syougo Kinugasa and Kiku_6037.
See ya next time!