Cote: Elite in Action

Control of the Pieces

—"Since it is an unforeseen issue, the school will allow a substitution," Chabashira-sensei answered calmly.

—"I see... Then, I'll make the substitution," I said while selecting the replacement. From the beginning, I knew exactly who would take her place: Kayden.

As soon as I named him, Kayden stood up and began walking calmly toward the classroom.

—"Wait! Is that possible?" Sakayanagi-san exclaimed from behind. Her gaze was fixed on Kayden as he walked toward the classroom. —"He shouldn't be able to participate... he already did before, and the cycle hasn't been completed... How is it that...?"

Suddenly, her expression changed. Her face showed disbelief as she realized something.

—"Wait..." she murmured, staring at me intently as she tried to process the situation.

I simply smiled confidently, letting the answer hang in the air.

I told you, Sakayanagi-san. In this exam, you won't win anything.

My triumphant smile was the last thing she saw before Kayden disappeared through the classroom door, ready to secure our victory.

Flashback

—"Hey, Honami, can we talk for a moment?" Kayden said, approaching me calmly. I was about to head to the room where I would give the instructions for the next exam event.

—"Of course, what's up?" I responded with a smile, watching his intense ruby eyes that seemed to analyze every detail around him.

—"It's about Yuki. I guess you've already noticed, right?" he said while crossing his arms, his tone calm but direct.

—"Yes, she's on those days," I responded straightforwardly.

Kayden nodded slightly, as if he had expected that answer.

—"Exactly. Look, I have something in mind," he continued, tilting his head slightly, sparking my curiosity.

—"What is it?" I asked, trying to figure out what he was planning.

—"Just listen and follow my instructions. When the special exam starts, you need to ask Sakayanagi to leave chess as the last event. She won't refuse; she's too proud of her chess skills to let that opportunity pass."

—"Are you sure she'll agree?" I questioned, somewhat doubtful.

—"Leave it to me. I trust she will," he replied confidently. "The second thing is, don't let Yuki participate until the fifth or sixth event. That depends on which events we have to dispute at that point. If the last two are exams, make sure she participates in the sixth."

I looked at him, taken aback by his confidence.

—"If you ask, I can do it. But I need you to explain a bit more so I understand your idea," I insisted, wanting to see the bigger picture.

—"I'll explain during the break when we have time to eat. For now, I need to go to the instruction room," he said, closing the conversation firmly with a slight nod.

—"Okay, but I'm expecting that explanation later," I responded, watching him leave with purposeful steps.

During the break

As we shared our lunch, I couldn't help but bring the topic back to the table.

"So, are you going to explain what you have in mind now?" I asked, staring at him intently.

Kayden placed his tray on the table and, calmly, began to speak:

"It's simple. There are only three events left. Since the last one will be chess, there are just two exams before that. My idea is for Yuki to participate in the penultimate event, and using her medical condition as an excuse, allow me to replace her."

I frowned at his explanation.

"Are you going to use Yuki's illness to participate again? Why would you do something like that? You know you can participate in the last event without this, since after the sixth event, the cycle resets. Why do you need to involve Yuki like this?" I asked, somewhat reproachfully.

Kayden looked at me calmly, as if he expected this reaction.

"It's to ensure victory. Sakayanagi doesn't want a 7-0 result, so she has reserved her best students to win at least one of the two remaining events. If I participate, we'll have a significant advantage. And as for Yuki, don't worry. I've already spoken to her, and she's fine with it. There's no reason for you to feel guilty," he explained, taking a bite of his food with complete serenity.

"Alright... But what if Sakayanagi decides to use her best students in the next event? What will you do then?" I asked, still somewhat skeptical.

"If that happens, I won't do anything. This plan will only be triggered if she saves her top students for the sixth event. If that doesn't happen, we'll just rely on the performance of our teammates," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Is that possible? And will you still be able to participate in the last event? I mean, if you replace Yuki, won't that reset the cycle and prevent you from playing chess?"

"No, that won't happen. Since I'll be a replacement, my participation won't officially count in the cycle. Yuki's withdrawal will be treated as an unforeseen event due to her medical condition, which allows for this exception. My participation in the last event remains intact."

I remained silent for a moment, processing everything Kayden had just said. As always, his strategies were complex and calculated, but this time it had an element of risk that concerned me.

"Alright, Kayden. I'll trust you," I said finally, giving him a smile.

Kayden responded with a slight nod, his gaze conveying absolute confidence.

"If anyone could execute a plan like this, it was him," I thought as we returned to the hustle of the special exam.

End of flashback

The minutes passed quickly, and as Kayden had anticipated, his participation turned out to be a great boost for our class. From the moment he took on the challenge, I knew he would get a perfect score. It wasn't just blind confidence; it was a proven fact. Since Kayden entered this school, there had not been a single occasion where he received anything less than a perfect grade.

Sometimes I wondered how it was possible for him to achieve such a level of excellence. I never saw him study, at least not in the traditional sense. He spent most of his time helping others, giving advice, or even lost in thought. How smart was he really? I didn't know. His childhood was a mystery, a topic he never openly discussed, which made his mind seem even more enigmatic.

When the results of the math exam appeared on the giant screen, I couldn't help but smile. Just as I expected, our class had secured another victory. With Kayden participating, the outcome was practically inevitable. It was hard to imagine anyone who could face him, whether academically or physically. There was something about him, a presence that inspired absolute confidence.

"Another win," I whispered to myself, with a satisfied smile.

Sakayanagi-san, on the other hand, did not share the same enthusiasm. I could see the frustration written on her face as she watched the results on the screen. This was the sixth consecutive defeat for her class, and her displeasure was evident in every one of her gestures.

And now, her last hope rested in her greatest pride: chess.

The final was near, and I could feel the tension in the air. But even though Sakayanagi-san had faith in her skills, I knew the truth. Sorry, Sakayanagi-san, but all that awaits you is an inevitable defeat.

Kayden was not only a brilliant strategist, but also an unstoppable competitor. As I watched him analyze every situation, with a calmness and confidence that was almost defiant, I couldn't help but think that she had underestimated what she was facing.

The final battle was about to begin, and with Kayden leading this last event, the crushing victory was not a dream. It was a certainty.

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I hope I haven't made a mistake regarding the rules.