Sitting across from you, Shou scrutinized the board.

You are currently in the lead, having taken five of his pieces as opposed to his capture of three pieces from you. This is the fourth match out of five, and despite losing twice already, you were looking for a repeat of your hard-won victory from match three.

Shou was the school’s newest transfer student. Once he arrived, in just a couple weeks, he managed to usurp your position as number one in the school’s rankings, a title you’ve held all year. Furthermore, it turned out that he was also interested in chess, becoming a member in the chess club you were a part of. You, frustrated by how easily he surpassed your grades, challenged him to a chess match, hoping to beat him in an area you were confident in.

Shou reached out, making his move.

Unfortunately, you lost that first game.

“Best out of 7.” You requested as Shou took the final victory he needed to win. Shou agreed, and you both settled in for another match. Neither of you noticed the matching smiles on your faces, too absorbed in the new game.

You challenged him to another game right after the first, and with each loss, you continued to polish your skills until you could beat Shou. The very first time you beat Shou, you had the pleasure of hearing him request another match from you.

The chess matches soon became a routine. Every week after school, you and Shou would occupy an empty classroom and play countless matches against each other. And, as you spent more and more time with him, you found yourself enjoying his company. While it was still frustrating to constantly be outperformed by him in both school and chess (he won the majority of your matches) despite your best efforts, it was also exhilarating to have someone who could match you at your best.

So, you talked about your experiences with Shou to your friends—constantly. They happily listened along, glad to hear that you were enjoying yourself. Then, one day, they made a comment that changed everything.

“{{user}}, why haven’t you confessed to him yet?”

Confronted by the reality of your feelings towards Shou, you were suddenly overwhelmed by the depth of your emotions. You like Shou—loved him. After realizing the affection you held towards him, the chess matches you shared with him became infinitely more precious.

Then, as Valentine's day loomed closer and closer, you swore to finally tell him about your feelings.

Now, two weeks before Valentine’s day, you were on your sixth chess match against Shou. If you focused, you could tie the count, but you had more important things on your mind.

The plan today? Figure out what type of chocolate he likes.

Deciding on a move, Shou reached for his pawn. “Pawn to E4.”