Horikita probably hadn’t expected Wang to lose the Chinese test.

Still, there had been no mistake in the strategy so far.

As long as they didn’t lose confidence here, it would be fine.

The next selected event was the ‘Modern Literature Test’ submitted by Sakayanagi’s class.

Naturally, they sent in top students like Yukimura.

However, Horikita chose not to use the Chiaki card here.

A good decision.

Yukimura and the others fought well, but still fell short against Class A.

The score now stood at 2–3, with Sakayanagi’s side leading.

And then, the next event selected was… ‘Flash Mental Arithmetic.’

Without hesitation, Horikita chose Chiaki and Koenji.

She had previously said Koenji should be used in events where the class with the highest scorer wins.

So he had been planned for kyūdō, Chinese, or flash mental arithmetic from the start.

Now the question was whether saving him earlier would pay off.

On the other side, Class A selected a student named Tamiya… and one more.

Sakayanagi.

“No way… Sakayanagi here!?”

Kei covered her mouth in shock.

Chiaki had predicted Sakayanagi would appear in chess, the final event, and had informed several people.

That prediction was likely correct.

But apparently, the purchasable rights weren’t limited to just that.

“Private points,” I muttered.

“…She bought the right to participate again.”

The class stirred at our conclusion.

Normally, each student could only participate once.

A second appearance required every classmate to have participated at least once.

…But she likely bought the right to bypass that restriction.

“Saving it for the final two events probably means it can only be bought once, or it costs a massive amount. Considering she already bought the final event selection, it’s probably the former.”

Even Class A didn’t have unlimited funds.

After spending 10 million points, they’d want to minimize further costs—but this showed their seriousness.

“This is bad,” I muttered.

Flash mental arithmetic was Sakayanagi’s domain.

Ordinary students couldn’t compete.

Even with Chiaki’s ability, she couldn’t win a direct match under these conditions.

Even Horikita’s intervention wouldn’t change that.

A checkmate situation… or so it seemed.

As the event began, something unexpected happened after the first question.

“Heh. Flash mental arithmetic… quite an amusing game.”

“Koenji got it right!?”

Koenji, of all people, was cooperating.

…Interesting.

At the very least, we weren’t finished yet.

The second question followed.

Everyone answered.

But the difficulty began to rise.

Questions 3 and 4: 2-digit × 6 numbers.

Question 5: 3-digit × 6 numbers in 5 seconds.

Question 6: 3-digit × 8 numbers in 5 seconds.

Gasps spread through the class.

“No way anyone can solve that!”

Even top students were sweating.

Chiaki was desperately calculating.

Tamiya looked like he was already giving up.

Meanwhile, Koenji and Sakayanagi remained calm, writing smoothly.

Koenji, Sakayanagi and Chiaki were all correct so far.

Tamiya had missed questions 5 and 6.

Then came questions 7, 8, and 9.

Chiaki and Tamiya were at their limit.

Question 9 was already 3-digit × 15 numbers in 2.5 seconds.

Finally, question 10 appeared.

3-digit × 15 numbers in 1.6 seconds.

No one could react—except two people.

“…Ayanokōji. Did you get that?” Yukimura asked.

“Yeah. 7619.”

“No way you got that.”

“You’re just guessing.”

Yamauchi scoffed—but the result would prove it.

Sakayanagi and Koenji continued writing calmly.

Horikita activated her commander intervention.

Class A didn’t.

Their commander likely wasn’t capable.

The results were announced.

Sakayanagi and Koenji: perfect scores.

A tie for first—

So, like the Chinese test, it would be decided by the others.

Tamiya: up to question 4.

Chiaki: up to question 6.

With intervention, Horikita solved question 8.

‘Winner: Class B.’

Cheers erupted.

The score was now tied 3–3, heading into the final round.

Chiaki and Koenji returned.

“Chiaki, you did well.”

“But I’m frustrated… I thought I could do better. Horikita got to question 8…”

“That’s fine. You’ve been developing different abilities. You did well to get that far.”

I patted her head.

She smiled happily.

Meanwhile, the other hero was surrounded.

“Koenji! You can do it when you try! Keep it up!”

“Hmm. I didn’t do it for you.”

Sudo tried to throw an arm over him, but Koenji slipped away.

“…Then who did you do it for?”

“No one. Just a whim. If anything, for myself.”

…Was that really true?

If it were truly a whim, he’d likely only solve the hardest question.

Solving everything suggested intent.

I glanced at Wang, who was thanking him tearfully.

Final event… Chess.

Time to focus.

As expected, chess was last.

Sakayanagi had bought the selection right.

Horikita immediately chose me.

I stood.

Cheers hit me from all sides.

“Go get ’em!”

“You’ve got this!”

“No one here can beat you!”

“P-please do your best!”

“Kiyotaka-kun.”

Chiaki raised her hand.

I returned the gesture and tapped it.

“I’ll be back.”

I left for the designated room.

Sakayanagi was already seated, eyes closed in front of the board.

“…I’ve been waiting for this, Ayanokōji-kun.”

“I didn’t think we’d actually play chess in an exam.”

“Fate, perhaps. We were meant to face each other.”

“I don’t believe in fate.”

“How cold.”

She smiled lightly.

“…I will raise this class to A.”

“That’s unlike you. Aren’t you someone who only cares about winning yourself?”

“That may have been true before. But I’ve changed.”

I sat across from her.

The match began.

I was white. She was black.

The sound of pieces echoed softly.

“…Eight years ago, your chess shocked me. That’s why I started playing.”

A subtle provocation.

She was hinting at knowing my past.

“Then you know I’m good. Challenging me was a mistake.”

“On the contrary, it’s perfect. Nothing excites me more than this.”

We exchanged pieces.

“They call me the ‘Queen.’ Fitting, since it’s my favorite piece.”

She advanced her queen.

Her strategy was clear—maximize its power.

Likely aiming for a queen fork.

“If I’m the queen, are you the king?”

“The king…”

“Not satisfied?”

“No. But I’d be a knight at best.”

“That’s false modesty.”

“…If anything, I’d rather be a pawn.”

Most wouldn’t understand.

But Sakayanagi did—and her expression shifted.

I set up to restrict her queen.

Powerful—but vulnerable in trades.

“…Impressive. Then I’ll use my minor pieces.”

She began using knights and bishops.

The battle intensified.

Neither commander intervened.

They couldn’t keep up.

“…A knight deflection? You really are the king.”

“It’s standard.”

Deflection—sacrificing a piece to manipulate movement.

A common tactic.

I pressed the attack.

“If you’re a knight, that attack is reckless.”

“Maybe. But it hasn’t been taken yet.”

My knight held position—

But eventually, her queen crushed it.

However—

That created an opening.

I attacked relentlessly—

And traded my bishop for her queen.

“…Well done. My queen is gone.”

She advanced a pawn.

“You said you’d be a pawn. Like this, perhaps?”

A pawn reaching the end promotes.

To any piece.

Naturally—a queen.

I handed her the captured queen.

I didn’t stop the promotion.

A few turns delay was enough.

I prepared to checkmate—

“….”

Sakayanagi fell silent.

But—

She exceeded my expectations.

Her new queen returned to defend.

Her bishop held a perfect position.

The balance shifted in her favor.

“…This is it. The battle I’ve been seeking.”

I searched for a way back.

Time ticked away.

I picked up my queen—

And stopped.

This… was the turning point.