Chapter 102

Natsume Chikage’s movements paused.

“What’s wrong?”

Saionji Nanase didn’t explain, directly reaching out her hand, her fingertips brushing lightly over his hair tips.

Like last time, she plucked a complete, pink-and-white cherry blossom petal from his hair.

She held the petal in her palm and smiled sweetly at him.

“Another cherry blossom has fallen on your hair.”

As she spoke, she carefully tucked the petal into the title page of the book she was reading.

“Thank you.” Natsume Chikage thanked her.

To the side, Yukimura Suzune watched all of this silently.

Watching that cherry blossom petal she had noticed long ago but hadn’t reached for, only for it to be naturally taken by Saionji Nanase in the end.

For some reason, she fell into a long silence.

Natsume Chikage looked around the classroom and found that the students’ spirits seemed exceptionally good today.

Many people were already excitedly discussing where to go for fun after lunch.

At this time, two girls with blushing faces pushed each other to Natsume Chikage’s desk.

“Na-Natsume-kun, after lunch today... are you free?”

“That... I heard the game arcade next door has half-price coins today, do you want to go together?”

They had clearly done their homework and knew Natsume Chikage liked playing games.

Natsume Chikage declined with a hint of apology.

“Sorry, we have club activities after school today.”

The two girls couldn’t hide their disappointment, whispered “let’s make an appointment next time,” and left dejectedly.

Saionji Nanase’s mood seemed even better; she lowered her voice and said with a little excitement:

“Natsume-kun, I heard the Student Council President won’t come to school today.”

“Shall we take the time to submit the funding application form to the Student Council?”

Hearing the words “Student Council,” Natsume Chikage immediately remembered Omidou Orihime from yesterday, and those meaningful words.

He still couldn’t understand the meaning behind them.

But regardless, that Student Council President gave him a feeling of being unfathomable and full of danger.

Avoiding contact as much as possible was always good.

“I have no problem.” He nodded in agreement.

Saionji Nanase beamed.

“Mm!”

Just at this moment, two figures appeared at the door of Class 1-A.

Many students in the class looked over, then showed surprised expressions.

The visitor was the somewhat famous captain of the Shogi Club in the school—Yasui Ryouto.

Following beside him was the reasonably good-looking Araki Araki Araki Yuai.

Yasui Ryouto’s expression was calm, while Araki Araki Araki Yuai had a bright face.

The two ignored the surrounding gazes and walked straight to the window seat in the back row of the classroom.

“Yo, Natsume-kun!” Araki Araki Araki Yuai patted Natsume Chikage’s shoulder with a grin, “Good morning!”

Natsume Chikage was a bit surprised, then greeted politely.

“...Good morning, Senior Araki, Senior Yasui.”

Yasui Ryouto nodded slightly and handed a tightly wrapped courier box to Natsume Chikage.

“Natsume-kun, the chessboard you asked me to find before has been mailed from my hometown.”

“It’s filled with a lot of foam inside, so there shouldn’t be any bumps.”

“Open it and check it now. If there’s a problem, I can give feedback to the courier in time.”

“Okay, thank you for the trouble, Senior.” Natsume Chikage suppressed his inner anticipation, took the box, and unpacked it quickly and carefully.

When he saw a faint blue shimmer that only he could see flowing across the surface of the ancient wooden chessboard in the box, joy instantly filled his chest.

【Dust-covered Chessboard】

【Quality: Blue】

【Effect: After equipping, your thinking speed when thinking about Shogi games increases by 30%!】

【Introduction: The younger generation today is too stupid, isn’t there anyone who can be like me—a certain nameless chess player yawning】

【Synthesis condition: Need at least three pieces of the same type of equipment!】

This effect far exceeded Natsume Chikage’s expectations!

Directly increasing thinking speed during a game, for Shogi, which relies heavily on calculation and deduction, this is simply a divine artifact!

Between opponents of similar skill, even a 10% difference in thinking speed is enough to determine victory or defeat.

Not to mention 30%!

He was convinced that after equipping this item, his Shogi skill would undergo a qualitative leap.

More importantly, ever since his mental attribute increased, that sense of stagnation where his body and mental perception were uncoordinated had been bothering him faintly.

Now—as long as he registers this special equipment, he can immediately obtain precious attribute points and completely solve this annoyance!

【You have obtained ownership of the ‘Dust-covered Chessboard’, do you want to register it?】

【Yes/No】

Natsume Chikage muttered in his heart without hesitation.

“Yes!”

【Registration successful!】

【You have obtained 1 attribute point!】

【To obtain the next attribute point, you need to collect three more special equipment!】

Natsume Chikage looked at the chessboard in his hand that was emitting an unusual faint light, thinking in his heart.

Since even this one is a special piece of equipment...

Then the one kept by the Omidou family is also likely one.

However, currently, the only channel he can use to contact the Omidou family seems to be Omidou Orihime.

Although he couldn’t find the specific relationship between “Omidou Manatsu,” who possesses the last Shogi relic, and Omidou Orihime online, as a member of the Omidou family, she must be able to come into contact with related things.

It’s just that Omidou Orihime gives him a feeling that is too dangerous.

Deep in his heart, a voice reminded him: for that last chess relic, giving up might be the wise choice.

He collected his thoughts, looked at the two people beside him, stood up, and thanked them solemnly.

“Really, no problem, thank you both so much.”

“Hey, it’s a small matter.” Yasui Ryouto waved his hand indifferently, his smile bright.

Natsume Chikage had also experienced society, so he knew the principle of reciprocity.

He looked at Yasui Ryouto and Araki Araki Araki Yuai, who often came and went together and played around, thinking they were dating.

They looked quite a good match.

“Senior Yasui, Senior Araki, when are you two free? I’d like to treat you to a meal to show my gratitude.”

Yasui Ryouto was stunned, then laughed and declined.

“It’s just returning the item to its owner, no need to be so polite...”

Before he finished speaking, Araki Araki Araki Yuai hit his flank with an elbow, making him gasp and choking the second half of his sentence in his throat.

Araki Araki Araki Yuai ignored her childhood friend who was clutching his ribs with a distorted expression, and instead patted Natsume Chikage’s shoulder, accepting with a bright smile.

“Since Natsume-kun is so sincere, we’ll respectfully decline to be modest!”

“You add our contact information first, and we’ll contact you when we decide on a time.”

As she spoke, she reached into Yasui Ryouto’s jacket pocket very naturally, took out his phone, skillfully unlocked the password, and brought up the LINE friend QR code along with her own.

Natsume Chikage nodded and scanned the code to add them as friends.

Araki Araki Araki Yuai looked at the new name in her friend list, a flash of cunning light of a successful plan in her eyes.

She planned to invite Tsukishima Rin as well and collude with her in advance.