Chapter 4 - First Game: Capture the King; Part 1

With an intense atmosphere lingering between our class and the other, a new group of students approached our location. Among them were 10 individuals—a pair of male twins, three muscular males, three beautiful females, a handsome guy wearing glasses, and a strikingly beautiful black-haired girl exuding a menacing aura.

"Hey, is that the student council?" the other male students from the opposing class whispered fearfully.

"Is this the problem between class E and class C?" one of the twins sneered sarcastically.

Observing our predicament, the black-haired girl turned to the bespectacled guy beside her for an explanation.

"As you can see, this problem is our first challenge upon opening the school," he calmly explained. "We handle such issues through a 'classroom battle.'"

The black-haired girl then addressed both classes with authority, asserting her role in deciding the nature of the conflict.

"In accordance with the school rules, I will determine the format of this battle," she declared, her announcement commanding respect from all present.

"The competition you'll engage in is 'Capturing the King,'" she revealed.

Confusion swept through both classes, prompting our advisors to provide further clarification.

"'Capture the King' is a special game unique to our school. Instead of using traditional chess pieces, students themselves will assume the roles of the game's pieces," our advisor explained.

The students involved in the initial conflict would play the roles of the kings in this game, we learned.

"The kings will sit on thrones specially designated by the school and cannot move from their positions. If they do, the game ends and the opposing class wins," the advisor continued.

Further details about the rules of the game were elaborated upon by both advisors, leaving everyone feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

"Any method of attacking the king is acceptable as long as it does not violate school rules. Dirty tactics or bribery are allowed," one of the female council members clarified.

Hibiki, ever curious, raised a question on behalf of our class, prompting a detailed explanation of the game's mechanics.

"The way of elimination mirrors that of a traditional chess game, but students can employ various tactics, such as trapping, using paint guns, or engaging in hand-to-hand combat," another council member explained.

"The objective is to capture the opponent's crown. The winner will gain points for their class's morale and additional points in their bank, while the loser will suffer negative points for their class's morale," the twin member added ominously.

As the council members dismissed us to begin our respective class meetings, I caught a glance from the black-haired girl. We quickly averted our eyes, but a strange sense of connection lingered between us.

Returning to our classroom, I couldn't shake the feeling of excitement coursing through me. Despite the tension and uncertainty, the prospect of the impending game filled me with a strange sense of anticipation.

As we began our meeting, discussing strategies and tactics, I couldn't help but wonder what fate awaited us in the game that was about to unfold. The stakes were high, but the thrill of competition burned brightly within me.