Chapter 486

"Officially begins!"

"The moment that decides fate has arrived!"

Her gaze seemed to pierce through the screen and land on the four contestants.

"Is it the genius teenager Suzuki Takayuki facing the wall of a professional early?"

"Or will it be a top-tier internal battle between professional players?"

"Or is it the contestant Natsume Chikage, who always brings surprises, challenging the seemingly insurmountable barrier again?"

She took a deep breath, her voice full of tension.

"No matter what the final matchup is, it is foreseeable that this will be a wonderful duel worthy of being recorded in the history of this tournament!"

"The suspense is about to be revealed!"

The tense drawing process started again.

Natsume Chikage was the first to be signaled by the staff to step forward.

He walked steadily to the transparent drawing box.

Almost without hesitation, he reached out and pressed the button.

The internal mechanical device made a slight hum, and the small balls began to roll and collide rapidly.

A few seconds later.

A small white ball slid down the track.

The staff member bent down to pick it up and glanced at the label.

"Table 1."

He handed the small ball to Natsume Chikage.

Natsume Chikage took it and nodded slightly.

His expression unchanged, he turned and walked toward the familiar chess table.

The three people behind him followed his back with their eyes, their expressions different.

Ito Koichi stepped forward impatiently the moment Natsume Chikage turned around.

With a hint of lucky anticipation on his face, he pressed the button hard.

The small ball rolled down.

He stared fixedly at the staff member’s hand.

"Table 2."

The moment the sound fell, the anticipation on Ito Koichi’s face collapsed instantly, turning into undisguised disappointment and annoyance.

Damn it...

Missed the most ideal opponent.

With an ugly face, he grabbed the small ball and walked to Table 2.

Next, it was Suzuki Takayuki’s turn.

His heartbeat accelerated suddenly at this moment, like a drum.

Blood seemed to rush to his head, and his eardrums buzzed.

In the transparent drawing box in front of him, only two small balls remained rolling slowly.

One represented the duel with Natsume Chikage.

The other meant facing the daunting Fifth Dan Ishida.

Must draw Xia...

Must draw Xia...

For Akatsuki’s happiness... please...!

He shouted frantically in his heart, as if performing a pious and desperate prayer.

His fingers trembled slightly from the force as he pressed the button.

The time it took for the small ball to roll down seemed to be infinitely stretched.

He held his breath, his eyes unblinking.

Until the staff member bent down and picked it up.

"Table 1."

The staff member handed the ball to him.

"Please go over there."

Suzuki Takayuki’s brain went blank for a moment.

Then.

A huge ecstasy, almost bursting his chest, erupted like a tsunami!

Got it!

Really got it!!!

He almost couldn't control himself from jumping up and cheering!

Forcibly suppressing the shout that was about to rush out of his throat, he gripped the small ball tightly, as if he had gripped the key to the ideal ending.

An unnatural flush appeared on his face due to excitement.

His steps were a bit airy as he walked toward Table 1.

Every step was on the clouds of ecstasy.

The final Ishida Ishida Kazuo, looking at Suzuki Takayuki’s almost leaping back, and then at Natsume Chikage who had already sat down beside Table 1.

The tight string in his heart loosened slightly.

That’s fine.

Let the young people have a fair and square duel.

He picked up his own No. 2 ball and walked to the chess table where Ito Koichi was.

When his gaze swept over Table 1, a trace of complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

Xia Xia Xia Mujun, enjoy the clash with a top genius of your own age.

No matter the outcome, it is valuable experience.

He had even thought about how to issue an invitation again in a more sincere and attractive way after Natsume Chikage lost.

After all, a teenager who can defeat a Second Dan of the Promotion Association and whose talent is visible to the naked eye is worth far more than his disciple with a bad temper.

At this moment.

Suzuki Takayuki sat down opposite Natsume Chikage.

The chair rubbed against the floor, making a slight sound.

He tried hard to calm his overly excited mood, but the corners of his mouth still couldn't help but rise.

His gaze fell on the face of Natsume Chikage, who was closing his eyes and resting on the opposite side.

"I really didn't expect..."

He spoke, his voice carrying undisguised excitement.

"The opponent for the second battle would be two 'acquaintances'."

Hearing the voice, Natsume Chikage slowly opened his eyes.

His pitch-black eyes were calm and waveless.

When he saw that it was Suzuki Takayuki sitting opposite him, he was slightly stunned.

Then, a hint of subtle helplessness flashed across his eyes.

He shook his head gently.

"I really didn't expect it to be you."

"However... this should be a situation you were very much looking forward to, right?"

"After all, you said you wanted to 'avenge' Asahina-san and Tanabe-kun."

Suzuki Takayuki nodded vigorously, without hiding it.

"That’s right!"

"I was indeed looking forward to this moment, and I did want to 'avenge' them."

His tone paused, the excitement on his face slightly restrained, replaced by a deeper, more complex emotion.

"But besides that... there is another more important reason why I must meet you and must defeat you."

Clear confusion appeared in Natsume Chikage’s eyes.

"What is it?"

Suzuki Takayuki’s hands on his knees clenched involuntarily.

His knuckles turned slightly white.

His gaze became a bit unfocused, as if he had fallen into memories, and his voice deepened.

"Actually... I’ve liked Akatsuki for a long, long time."

"Since I was very young... it’s already been that way."

He looked up, his gaze refocusing on Natsume Chikage’s face, carrying a hint of bitterness.

"In the fourth round, when you and Akatsuki were playing... I was playing against my opponent not far behind you."

"So... I heard it."

He paused, saying every word with some difficulty.

"I heard Akatsuki’s confession to you, heard the bet she hoped to win against you, and then... date you."

Natsume Chikage was completely stunned upon hearing this.

Then, tiny beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.

A premonition that "things have indeed become more troublesome" quietly climbed into his heart.

Suzuki Takayuki’s obvious hostility recently...

Everything connected at this moment.

He sighed gently, his expression subtle.

"If you put it that way... I think I understand."

"Besides the so-called 'revenge', your other reason is probably because Asahina-san likes me, right?"

He tried to understand.

"If that’s the case, I can understand. No one would be happy to see the person they like fall for someone else."

"You want to beat me to prove yourself, right?"

Suzuki Takayuki shook his head slowly.

Complex and indescribable emotions intertwined on his face.

"No... you guessed wrong."

"Although... there is indeed a little bit of that component... but the real reason is not this."

Natsume Chikage was stunned again.

"Then... what exactly is it?"

Suzuki Takayuki’s expression changed constantly.

There was struggle, unwillingness, heartache, and finally it all turned into a near-tragic firmness.

He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, before saying that sentence.

"The real reason I’m so eager to meet you..."

"Is that I want to have a bet with you."

"A bet exactly the same as the one Akatsuki made with you at the time."

Natsume Chikage was completely confused.

"What? You want to bet too?"

Suzuki Takayuki was resolute.

"Yes!"

"If I beat you..."

His gaze was burning, staring fixedly at Natsume Chikage’s eyes.

"I want you—to date Akatsuki!"

Natsume Chikage was instantly dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

"How come you’re like this too?!"

Suzuki Takayuki was also stunned by his reaction.

"Wait... what do you mean by 'like this too'?"

Natsume Chikage realized that this person probably didn't know that Tanabe Yuto and his thoughts were the same, so he changed the subject with a strange expression.

"Cough... nothing, slip of the tongue, please don't mind."

He looked at Suzuki Takayuki again, his brows furrowed, his face full of incomprehension.

"However... since you like Asahina-san, why do you want to facilitate her being with me instead?"

"Logically speaking, I didn't accept her confession, isn't that the best opportunity for you?"

Suzuki Takayuki’s fists clenched tighter, veins appearing on the back of his hands.

His voice was mixed with anger, sadness, and a deeper helplessness.

"You’re right... that should have been the best opportunity for me."

"I could have approached her slowly when her emotions were frustrated and her heart was wavering, perhaps... there was still a glimmer of hope."

"But..."

His eyes dimmed.

"When I saw the post-match interview and heard her say she 'hadn't given up yet'... I understood."

"As long as she still has you in her heart, as long as she hasn't completely given up..."

"I will... never have a chance."

"This point, perhaps, was destined from the moment she met you."

The corners of his mouth pulled into an arc that was uglier than crying.

"Funny, right?"

"We’ve known each other since we were kids, we’ve always been so close, I’ve had so many years..."

"But because I was afraid of ruining this relationship, because I was hesitant, I never dared to confess..."

"In the end, I watched her fall in love at first sight with you, the 'latecomer'."

"I know, this is all my fault. It was my own cowardice and indecision that led to this situation today."

"I also know, it’s too late to say anything now. Everything is irreversible."

His voice trembled slightly.

"But... when I saw Akatsuki hiding in a place where no one was, secretly crying so sadly because she was rejected by you..."

"Even if I knew I had no chance... I still... felt a sharp pain."

"Because she is Akatsuki..."

"The Akatsuki I’ve liked since I was a child, the Akatsuki I cherish most, want to protect most, and can’t bear to see shed tears."

His eyes became extremely serious again, even carrying a near-paranoid light.

"So... so I want to bet with you!"

"I must have you date her!"

"Only then will she smile again, be happy, and be joyful!"

"My stake is only this condition."

"As for your condition..."

He didn't hesitate.

"Whatever you want! Money, or anything else, any request!"

"As long as I can do it, I’ll go through fire and water, even if I have to risk my life, I will do it for you!"

After listening to this long string of near-confessions and near-resolute declarations, the expression on Natsume Chikage’s face could no longer be described as "strange."

It was simply laughable, yet carried deep astonishment.

How come another one...

Suzuki Takayuki and Tanabe Yuto, these two guys... why are they both the same?

They say birds of a feather flock together... no wonder these two could become best friends.

He really couldn't fully understand this brain circuit of "willing to push the girl he likes to someone else to maintain the stability of the triangle relationship."

In his view, if he met someone he truly liked, compared to worrying about ruining the relationship, he was more afraid of not having the courage to try and losing the chance to get close forever.