Rhys came back from the vending machine to where we were sitting at the commons. He handed an orange juice to Stella and a sweet tea to Liliana. Rhys has gotten himself some strawberry milk.

I wasn’t offered a drink.

“So, what’s this about?”, I asked the trio while they prepared their drinks for consumption.

Rhys spoke first this time, “We know what you’re up to.”

“Shh, Rhys!” Liliana cut him.

“I’m sure he knows what we’re up to”, he rebutted.

“Oh, I have a few ideas.” I muttered.

Stella sipped from her drink before speaking,

“I’m just here to challenge you, that’s all.”

“That’s all? What do you mean? I really hope this isn’t going to be a waste of time.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t.”

She took another sip. A long one…

“Mmm, I think they changed the amount of sugar they put in it… Ah, see? They added more! There’s even less oranges in it!”

What is she doing? If she’s planning on making me angry, she’s sure doing it right.

“Alright, come on. I’m leaving if all you’re going to do is waste my time.”

“Why don’t you pick? Since I challenged you, I think it’s right to have you pick how our battle will be decided.” Stella spoke while still investigating the orange juice bottle.

What’s with that high-and-mighty attitude?

“Oh? You’re letting me pick the terms? Are you sure you’ll win? Do you know who I am?”

She yawns. I could feel my eye twitch just a little.

“What’s with that high-and-mighty attitude, Kastille?”

This little…

I’ll show her. People know me because of what I can do. I’ve always won. No matter what it is. It can be games or even sports. If I research and memorize all the strategies and techniques of anything. I’ll win.

Of course, I’ve only won against peers around my age. I’m not so full of myself as to say I can win against a true expert or prodigy. But, I’ve never tried. In fact, now that I think about it, I probably can win against experts and prodigies.

Who is this Stella girl anyway? I’ve only heard about her from others. And Student Council President? What year is she in? I neglected my information gathering too much. Am I deficient? Have I gotten weak?

No.

This girl, who has given me such internal discord.

It is unacceptable.

I smile. It’s been a long time since I’ve smiled like this. A different kind of smile. You could say it is a lustful smile.

“Hahaha! Very well! You’ll regret ever meeting me, Stella. As you have allowed me to choose, how about chess? We’ll do fast chess. So, let’s do a 3 plus 2. Best of three wins. What are we going to bet?”

“Everything.”

“Excuse me?” “What!?” “Eh!? Stella!?”

Looks like Rhys and Liliana are as surprised as I am.

“Sorry, I’ll be more precise. What I mean by everything is that, well, anything goes. The winner can order the loser to do whatever they want.”

“Stella, you can’t!” Liliana shot me a disapproving look.

Oi. What’s with that look?

I can’t help contain my excitement. I couldn’t help but laugh again.

“Haaa… You have truly surprised me, Stella. I hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into. I’ve won first place in the national chess tournament. You are a fool for letting me choose.”

I’ll make sure I’ll embarrass you in front of the entire school and then I’ll have you surrender everything that is you to me.

---

There was a surprising amount of people watching the duel. Apparently, several students heard the challenge to a duel from the front of the classroom and have been following Stella’s group. The word then spread naturally.

Of course, they were interested. I am known among the student body to be an unfathomable genius. I excel at my studies and succeed at any endeavor I have pursued. In the shadows, I have control over a dozen different social group leaders and have acquainted myself with nearly all the different club presidents with half of them already under my beck and call. I get paid from other students just by existing and I am the distress over many people’s unpaid favors to me.

Nobody could approach me. Unlike them, I used my strength and skills to build my current standing. These average rabbles do nothing but waste away their time. It seems as if they are vegetables incapable of growing without a farmer to tend to their every need.

I am on a whole different level compared to them.

I will surpass the weakness that is known as the human being. An animal that simply reacts to whatever stimuli is given to them. Whatever chemicals their cells produce. Surely, we can release ourselves from these archaic restraints to act on instinct. Whether it be hunger, security, camaraderie, or sex, instincts are what hold us back.

I am going to surpass these instincts. I will act purely on my own logical reasoning. Against these other people, who only act whatever, whenever, and however they please…

Surely, I will surpass them. Surely, I am the superior one. Surely…

“No way… Kastille lost…”

“Did Stella just win two-to-one?”

“That’s crazy!”

I look, dumbfounded, at my checkmated king. I won in the first match, but Stella won twice after that.

Stella sighed heavily. I’m sure I heard Rhys and Liliana let out a sigh of relief as well, but I did not pay attention to them.

There must have been a mistake. When was it? 6 moves ago? 7? No, that isn't it.

This is impossible. I should have won.

Yet... I...

I bit my lip.

“I… I los-“

“Ahhh! That was harder than I expected. You really are a tough opponent, Kastille, I’ll give you that.”

She stretched her back, arms, and fingers. After she finished her little routine, she continued,

“As per the prior agreement, the winner of the duel may order the loser to do whatever they want.”

The crowd silenced themselves and awaited the conclusion.

I can see my knuckles turning white from how tight of a fist I have been making.

“You are mine, Kastille. Everything that is you is now mine. You will surrender yourself to me.”