Three hours after his run-in with Kaito Serizawa, Ren received an official challenge form — complete with golden borders, wax seals, and a spot for dramatic quotes.
"The Duel of Wits: Kaito Serizawa vs. Ren Kisaragi. Theme: Reverse Chess."
Reverse Chess, as it turned out, wasn't about winning — it was about losing in the most elegant, strategic way possible.
Aya stared at the rules in disbelief. "So let me get this straight. You both play chess, but whoever loses first, wins. And if you accidentally win, you lose."
Ren nodded. "It's like normal chess, but for masochists."
The match was held in the central atrium, where hundreds of students crowded to watch. Kaito sat with perfect posture, every move calculated. Ren, meanwhile, slouched in his seat, yawning again for comedic effect.
Five minutes in, Kaito had already sacrificed his queen with theatrical flair.
Ten minutes in, Ren had somehow accidentally captured Kaito's last bishop with a smug grin and whispered, "Oops."
The final move came when Kaito, attempting a reverse gambit, blundered his king right into a trap. Ren didn't flinch — he sacrificed his king first with a lazy "check-mate-me" face.
The crowd went wild.
Judges declared Ren the winner.
Kaito stood up silently, adjusted his collar, and muttered, "This isn't over."
Ren just smiled. "Cool. I look forward to not caring."