**Kuoh Academy – Student Council Room, Afternoon**
The letter was short, but every word carried weight—Sona Sitri's handwriting was flawless, elegant, almost formal:
"Subaru Natsuki,
I would like to invite you to a friendly chess match in the student council room this afternoon at 4:00.
Just the two of us.
I'm curious what kind of opponent you are—Akeno has spoken of you a great deal.
Sitri Sona"
Subaru read it, then looked up at Sona, who had personally handed it to him in the hallway. Her eyes were calm, but the faint smile at the corner of her mouth held a serious challenge—not playful, but a test rooted in tradition.
"I accept," Subaru said quietly.
Akeno, standing beside him, gave a soft, mischievous giggle.
"Ara, ara… Sona Sitri doesn't invite just anyone to chess. Be careful, Subaru-kun… she's not playing for fun."
Sona glanced at Akeno—not coldly, but with quiet respect.
"You know better than anyone, Himejima, that for the Sitri clan, chess is never mere entertainment. If someone defeats me… my parents will sense it. Through the pieces. And then… the tradition takes effect."
Akeno's smile widened, playful but warm.
"Oh, I know. And if Subaru wins… you'll be the first one who gets to marry him. How exciting~"
Subaru froze inside, though his face stayed calm.
**Afternoon 4:00 – Student Council Room**
The room was hushed, almost sacred. On the large mahogany table sat a beautiful chess set—the pieces glowed faintly, as if infused with living magic. Sona was already seated on one side, posture perfect. Behind her, her entire peerage stood in a loose semicircle: Tsubaki with arms crossed, Momo watching curiously, Reya with notebook in hand, Tomoe and Tsubasa whispering quietly, Ruruko bouncing on her toes in excitement, and Saji visibly tense but trying to look cool.
Akeno sat behind Subaru—officially as an "escort," but everyone knew she was there for more than that. She crossed her legs and smiled at Sona—friendly, yet with a hint of playful envy.
"I hope you don't mind me watching, Sona. After all… Subaru is my partner."
Sona looked up and replied kindly:
"Of course not. I'm glad you're here. It makes things… more interesting."
Akeno giggled softly.
"Oh, yes… and if he wins… you'll have the first chance to marry him. I'm actually a little jealous, you know?"
Sona smiled gently.
"We'll see who wins."
Subaru sat down opposite Sona, calm and relaxed on the surface.
"Shall we begin?"
Sona nodded.
"Yes. And remember… my parents will sense the result. Through the pieces. If I lose… tradition says you will be recognized as my husband."
Subaru swallowed hard inside—"Seriously? Just one chess game… and suddenly I'm marrying Sona Sitri? This is insane…"—but outwardly he remained composed.
**The Game**
Sona's opening was flawless—classic Italian Game, precise, calculated, perfect. Subaru played casually but attentively. He didn't rush. He watched Sona—not just her moves, but her breathing, the slight twitch of her eyebrow, the tiny movements of her hand.
Ten moves in, Sona spoke softly:
"You're reading me, Subaru Natsuki. Not just the board—you're reading me."
Subaru smiled.
"You're reading me too. That's why we're here."
Akeno leaned forward slightly from behind him and added playfully:
"See, Sona? He doesn't just play chess. He understands what you truly want."
Sona replied with a friendly smile:
"Maybe you only feel what he allows you to feel, Himejima. But… I'm glad you're here. It makes the game more enjoyable."
Akeno giggled—genuinely amused now.
"Oh, yes… and if he wins… you'll get to be his wife first. I'm honestly a little jealous."
The peerage members chuckled quietly—the tension had turned into friendly teasing. Saji even smiled nervously.
"Kaichou… this is getting really exciting."
On the 28th move, Sona deliberately exposed her queen—testing Subaru. He didn't bite immediately. Instead, he responded with what looked like a weak knight move… which, three moves later, delivered checkmate.
Silence.
The peerage stared in shock.
Saji stammered:
"This… this can't be… Kaichou… lost?"
Tsubaki's eyes widened.
"Impossible…"
Momo and Reya exchanged stunned glances.
Tomoe whispered:
"This means… the parents already know…"
Ruruko squealed excitedly:
"Kaichou… is getting married?!"
Sona slowly leaned back in her chair. She wasn't angry. She wasn't humiliated. She was… impressed. And perhaps a little happy.
"Congratulations, Subaru Natsuki," she said softly and sincerely. "This is the first time… anyone has ever defeated me. According to Sitri clan tradition… my parents have already sensed the result through the pieces. And they will recognize you… as my husband."
Subaru broke into a cold sweat inside—"I actually beat Sona Sitri? And now… I'm marrying her? This is way too fast…"—but he kept his face calm.
Akeno reacted immediately. With a mischievous giggle, she leaned forward and said to everyone—especially Sona:
"Ara, ara~ Subaru-kun now has two wives. What an exciting situation~"
Subaru reflexively coughed—loudly, awkwardly, his face turning bright red.
"K-khough! Akeno…!"
The room exploded with laughter. The peerage girls giggled—Momo covered her mouth, Reya blushed, Ruruko laughed openly, even Tsubaki smiled. Saji just blinked, completely lost.
Sona laughed softly too—warm and friendly.
"See, Himejima? You're not alone on the throne anymore. But… I don't mind. Subaru Natsuki… you're special."
Akeno winked at Sona—envious, but not hostile.
"Oh, yes… I'm honestly jealous, you know? You get to marry him first… because of tradition. But I… I'm not giving up."
Sona smiled—respectfully.
"You don't have to give up. The Sitri clan doesn't exclude others. I'll just be… the first. Officially."
Subaru was still coughing, but he finally managed a smile.
"I don't care about 'first' or 'second.' I played because I was curious about you. And because… there's something you need to know."
He lifted his shirt just enough to reveal the tattoo. The mark pulsed faintly with golden light.
Sona's eyes widened. She leaned closer.
"This… this is an ancient seal. Not demonic. Not angelic. Not fallen. This… might belong to a forgotten god. Or something even older."
The peerage fell silent in awe.
Sona nodded, her gaze filled with respect.
"I'll help you understand it. As an ally. And… if you want, we can play again. Friendly matches. Not for tradition. Just… because I enjoyed it."
Subaru smiled.
"We'll see. Thank you."
As the room emptied, Akeno leaned close to Subaru and whispered—just for him:
"Now two women want to be with you, Subaru-kun. But I'll be the one who stays by your side… always."
Subaru squeezed her hand.
"I know."
And as they left, the tattoo pulsed quietly—as if it knew the real game had only just begun.
Rias Gremory's Reaction
(right after Akeno's line and Subaru's awkward cough)
Rias—who had been quietly watching from the doorway (she arrived late, pretending she "just happened to pass by")—freezes for a second. Her eyes widen, mouth slightly open, the usual confident crimson-haired beauty looking genuinely caught off guard for once.
Then her cheeks flush a soft pink (not angry-red, but that rare, embarrassed-but-flattered pink she only shows around people she truly cares about).
She steps fully into the room, arms crossed under her chest (classic Rias pose), trying to regain composure, but her voice betrays her:
"W-Wait… wait just a moment."
Everyone turns to her. Even Sona raises an eyebrow curiously.
Rias points dramatically at Subaru (but not angrily—more like she's trying to process it):
"You… you actually beat Sona Sitri in chess?! The Sona Sitri?! The one who literally never loses a serious match?!"
Subaru, still recovering from his coughing fit, rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Uh… yeah. I guess I did…"
Rias's eyes sparkle—first with pure pride (like a big sister whose friend just won a championship), then with dawning realization.
"And according to Sitri tradition… that means…" Her voice trails off as she looks at Sona. "You're… officially his fiancée now? Like… marriage-level fiancée?"
Sona nods calmly, a small, genuine smile on her lips.
"Yes. My parents have already sensed the result through the pieces. They will acknowledge him."
Rias blinks once. Twice.
Then she suddenly laughs—a bright, surprised, delighted laugh that fills the room.
"Oh my god… Subaru, you absolute madman!" She covers her mouth with one hand, eyes shining. "You didn't just win a chess game… you accidentally conquered the Sitri heiress!"
She turns to Akeno with a playful glare (but no real malice—just friendly teasing between two beautiful women who both care deeply about the same boy).
"And you! Don't act so smug, Akeno! You've been glued to him since day one. Now you have real competition—Sitri-clan-tradition-level competition!"
Akeno giggles again, leaning her head on Subaru's shoulder.
"Ara, ara~ Rias-chan is jealous too? How cute~"
Rias huffs, cheeks puffing out adorably.
"I'm not jealous! I'm just… surprised! And proud! And… okay, maybe a little jealous." She sighs dramatically, then looks at Subaru with soft, warm eyes. "But seriously… Subaru. You keep surprising me. First you befriend Kiba like it's nothing, then you train us like a demon, then you beat Sona in chess… and now you're technically engaged to the Sitri heiress?"
She steps closer and gently pokes Subaru's chest (right over the tattoo).
"If you keep this up, I'm going to have to start worrying that every strong girl in Kuoh is going to fall for you."
Subaru blushes harder.
"I-I'm not trying to—"
Rias cuts him off with a soft smile and a gentle headpat (big-sister mode activated).
"I know. That's exactly why it keeps happening."
She glances at Sona, then at Akeno, then back at Subaru. "Just… don't forget about us, okay? You're our friend now. And friends… share… even fiancées, apparently."
She winks at Akeno and Sona—a silent "we're in this together" signal.
Sona nods respectfully.
"I have no intention of taking him away from anyone. Tradition simply… added me to the picture."
Akeno purrs happily.
"Ara, ara~ The more the merrier, right, Subaru-kun?"
Subaru—now completely overwhelmed—just buries his face in his hands and mutters:
"I need a vacation…"
Rias laughs again, bright and warm.
"No vacations until we figure out that glowing tattoo of yours. And until then… congratulations, Subaru. Seriously. I'm proud of you."
She turns to Sona.
"Welcome to the chaos, Sona. Looks like you're stuck with us now."
Sona smiles—small, but genuine.
"I look forward to it."
And just like that—with laughter, teasing, pride, and a touch of friendly rivalry—the circle of friends grows by one more fiancée… and somehow feels even stronger.