it's time for d-d-d-d-duel!

"it would be a pleasure, president." of course Naruki accepted as it will be to his advantage

[ +5 FP from Sona and Tsubaki ]

"wonderful. please follow me." Sona nodded and said with a smile

"hey hey, can I come to watch, pretty please?" Isemi said

Sona rolled her eyes and said, "if stayed well behaved, I shall allow it."

"yay- I mean, thank you president." one look from Tsubaki caused Isemi to change her tone and speak formally

"now, shall we?"

**********

in very luxurious room, Naruki set opposite to Sona setting the chess board, "so, what will be your choice : red or black, Kazuya-san?" Sona said as she fix the board

next to them are Tsubaki and Isemi who drinking a very refreshing tea , Isemi was surprised, "this is the best tea I ever taste, if I joined student council, will I to get to drink it every time I wish?" she said while drooling

"while that's indeed a luxury for our council among others, I don't think you are fit any such role, Hyoudou-san." Tsubaki said as she sips a her tea

"ugh, what makes think that?" Isemi groaned

"while your grades and physical academics are above average, your lack of order makes your chances much smaller." Sona said with half closed eyes

"hmm, but indeed this tea is good, I chose red by the way." Naruki said in appreciation

"oh? does Kazuya-san has some knowledge of tea?" Tsubaki asked in curiosity

Naruki smiled wryly, "well my mother is British, so I guess that's self-explanatory."

Sona and Tsubaki nodded in understanding while Isemi was confused, 'what his mother being British related to anything?!' the rest noticed her confusion but ignored it

Sona then opened her mouth, "so do you know chess, Kazuya-san?"

"well, you know, the basics." he said, he used to play it against CPU but that's about it, and that was a while ago

"it that so? well I'll see how you will do." Sona nodded as she completed arranging the board

(I don't know much about chess, so I'll make the game somewhat vague , don't judge me >:( )

as the two begin to play, it start normal, but as things progress, things begin to look bad for Naruki, 'she is expert after all' he thought as looked at the board with a frown

Sona didn't urge him, as she knows her abilities, honestly she doesn't expected much, she usually uses chess to see how other think and see their worth, while it doesn't fully set someone's value on stone, it gave a general idea about her opponent

while Naruki was thinking a massage was pop in his mind

[ an action has been acquired! a skill has been created!

strategic thinking! passive level 0 (30%) : beat your enemies while resting on your throne! enhance brain activity and predicting probabilities while thinking of strategy by lvl% to next level thinking about a strategy for 5 minutes, increase INT, WIS by 1 each level

]

'that's it!' his eyes let up, and starting quickly coming up with countering strategy for comeback!

as time go on, 5 minutes have passed

[ strategic thinking is level 1! 1+ to INT, WIS, to next level 10 minutes of strategic thinking ]

suddenly Naruki stopped, his eyes opened in realization, 'so that's what I was missing!' what really helped is the increase in intelligence and wisdom, and his analysis skill also played a roll, this combination and his old experience in CPU can make a comeback

'hmm?' Sona raised an eyebrow, only to opened her eyes wide when she saw the move he did!

'he put his knight in position that I can take it out but...by doing that I'll be vulnerable in that part!' Sona eyes reflects with new profound respect

[0.5+ EP from Sona!]

she decided to rushed ahead and accepted his challenge, she killed the knight putting herself opened for attack

'she is good!' Naruki smiled in excitement, no exchange of words has occurred as the pair has let their move speak for them!

red pawn 💀

.

.

black bishop 💀

.

.

red queen 💀

'mah queen!' Naruki almost shed a tear!

Sona smirked and fixed her glasses, but opened her eyes in surprise when she lost attention to red pawn at the corner

'when did this pawn came so close??'

red queen revived!

"check!" Naruki declared for the first time, Sona felt excited, she rarely get this pushed much less a check

[1+ EP from Sona! 1+ FP from Sona and Tsubaki!]

the fight continued until....

"no way!" Tsubaki said in disbelief

"...it's a draw." Sona said as she looked at her board with complicated look, part of her relived it was only a draw, but was the other was shocked, 'he said he knows only the basics, and his heartbeat was normal, so he didn't lie , and he did improve half way...'

"a draw it is." Naruki wasn't disappointed as if he didn't acquired the Skill halfway, he would display rather poorly

[quest complete! 30+ FP, 15 from Sona , Sona current FP : 36, current thought, "I didn't know you were this good, Maybe you are worth recruiting... still one step of time, I'm not like rias where she conveniently find desperate people."

current EP : 21.16 ]

[ random skills from Sona acquired! open now? ]

'nah, who knows what would happen if confirmed, maybe Sona will notice the change, she already noticed my improved midway, when we get home'

[understood]

"well that was really good game, I'm looking forward to play with you again, president." Naruki smiled as he stretch his hand for a shake, Sona smiled slightly and did the same

"Souna-senpai" Sona said

"hmm?"

"you can call me Souna-senpai when we alone." the last part give her a shade of pink on her cheeks.

"I don't mind, Souna-senpai..but we aren't alone.." he smiled teasingly as he felt her soft hand, sona looked and saw a dazed Tsubaki still couldn't process how Naruki managed to draw with her president

"Ahem Tsubaki" Sona quickly take away her hand and coughed

"yes! president!" Tsubaki jerked up be and said

"please escort our students..." Sona then looked at the other girl who was.....

"💤...kya~~ Naruki not theeeeree~~ heehee you naughty boooy ~~ 💤 ~~" Isemi sleep talking echoed the room, but since was everyone focused they didn't notice until now,

Sona has a black lines almost wanted to bonk Isemi for being so shameless until stopped by Naruki

"I'll carry her, she is good girl...most of time.." Naruki smiled wryly and put the snoring Isemi on his back

[ host's adviced to raise his strength and stamina into 12 to avoid exhausting and embarrassing yourself ] the system was almost sarcastic, but he knows that just his inner self making fun of him, whatever that means

[ 3+ FP from Sona and Tsubaki for being a gentleman despite your fragile look ]

his eyes twitching in annoyance, 'just take the compliment.' he reasoned himself, and in the same time he adjusted his stamina and strength into the suggested numbers, immediately he felt the difference as Isemi wasn't heavy anymore, and he felt he can carry her for hours without trying!

[EP : 16.16]

'this feeling of increased stats... almost addicting...I must be careful..'

his standing became more natural, and breathing became more controlled, Sona noticed the changes but thought he just adjusting

"alright, say you later, Souna-senpai~"

"stay safe, Naruki-kun." Sona change her way of talking to him, the 39 FP aren't for show! in the span of one day, her impression of him changed from annoyed to interested! it's a win in his book...

'there is no way to avoid the devils, they must noticed I hold or more precisely I was holding a sacred gear, so instead of being a pu$$y like those fanfic mc, I'll go in attack mode!' he thought as he walking through the corridor of school, behind him is Tsubaki who was stoick as ever, well the silence didn't bother him, not as much as the hot breath of Isemi down on his neck and the melon-size milk holders on his back

'no wonder Issei was so horny! any man would, especially when everyone is freaking model looking shattering beauty! even his gender bended is 11/10! I must find way to control myself!' he thought with urgency, he reached the school gate and looked at Tsubaki, "thank you for walking with me." he smiled

Tsubaki nodded, without much reaction, she knows Heard his voice ringing, "stoicism doesn't seem to suit you, maybe try to change that expression?" he said while smile

Tsubaki looking blankly at him, and without much reaction she moved back to her president

Naruki smiled wryly and shake his head, he is about to move forward only to see notification

[ 15+ FP from Tsubaki for encouraging her to get out from her comfort zone Tsubaki FP : 24 current thought: "should I try? president seems to have good impression on him..it wouldn't make me lose anything..." ]

he smiled slightly and walked towards their home..