“But it’s your chess set,” he whimpered. “The one your brother, Sirzechs, gave you. The pieces are made from the solidified scales of a dragon king!”
Kiba ran a hand through his golden hair. “It’s… a bake-off. Xenovia and Irina are in the school kitchen. They’ve declared a ‘Sacred Gear Showdown: Culinary Apocalypse Edition.’ Xenovia is trying to forge a cake using Durandal as a mixing tool. Irina is attempting to ‘purify’ a batch of cookies with holy light.”
He placed the pawn on E4. It clicked into place, and for a second, the dragon-scale piece seemed to hum with warmth.
Across from him, Rias Gremory, the crimson-haired princess of the Underworld, tilted her head. A single, perfect strand of red hair fell across her cheek as she smiled. “It’s your turn, Issei. It’s only chess.”
Akeno Himejima, the club’s Vice-President, giggled from the tea cart, pouring a cup with elegant, deliberate movements. “Oh my, Koneko-chan. Don’t tease him. He’s nervous because Rias is watching his every move. Isn’t that right, Issei?” Her violet eyes sparkled with playful malice.
“One move,” he muttered. “I can do one move.”
“So,” he whispered, staring at the chessboard in the center of the low table, “let me get this straight. You want me to… make the first move?”
Issei was left alone with the dragon-scale chess set. He looked at the board. He looked at the door. He could hear a distant BOOM and a cheerful cry of “Forgive me, Lord, for this butter is about to be SMOTE!”
