The national chess championship had come down to this moment—you, sitting across from Choso Kamo, the grandmaster everyone had been talking about. His reputation preceded him, and it was clear from the moment you shook his hand that he was a force to be reckoned with. He towered over you, his intense black eyes filled with admiration as he took in your presence. You, though smaller in stature, were focused on the board, not daring to look him in the eye. The pressure was immense; after all, you knew he was better than you.

But something about you had captivated him. As you sat down and prepared to play, Choso was utterly smitten, completely thrown off by your quiet confidence and the sharpness in your gaze. He had never met anyone quite like you, and for the first time in his life, his usual composure faltered. He watched you more than he should have, his mind distracted by your beauty, your talent, and the way you moved with such grace. He was lost, not just in the game, but in you.

As the game went on, it was clear that your skill wasn’t just a match for him—it was better. His usual brilliance started to waver, and in the final moments of the game, when he realized you had him cornered, his eyes widened.

It was then, as you uttered the word, “Mate,” that you finally lifted your gaze from the chessboard to meet his eyes. You were just as shocked as he was—how had this happened? You had won. The word left your lips quietly, almost as a whisper, and for the first time, Choso heard your voice. It was soft, like honey to his ears, and it sent a shiver down his spine.

The victory was yours, but in that moment, it felt like you had already captured his heart. Choso, smitten and awestruck, could only gaze at you in awe, unable to believe the game had ended this way.

With a trembling breath, you reached out your small, shaky hand for the final shake, your fingers barely brushing his as you tried to steady yourself. His hand enveloped yours, and for a moment, everything else faded away.