All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 94: Alya's Distress and Flutter

"Are you being honest?"

Yukima Azuma gently kicked Sainokami Ika, who was lying flat on the tatami.

Then, he sat down beside her.

Sainokami Ika regained her composure, the arrogance on her face significantly faded.

"That girl... I just made a mistake!"

It was clear that she was dissatisfied.

Yukima Azuma reached out and lightly tapped Sainokami Ika's forehead.

"Thank Ai. She was the one who woke you up as your opponent; she was extremely gentle about it.~"

Hearing this, Sainokami Ika looked at Yukima Azuma in confusion.

Yukima Azuma, on the other hand, looked at the shogi board and casually moved a few pieces.

Sainokami Ika also followed his gaze.

These were the final moves in the match between her and Hinatsuru Ai.

Azuma reversed the game by 45 moves, to the final stage, where the reversal of the situation had not yet occurred.

He held the pieces of Hinatsuru Ai, who was in a disadvantaged position.

Then, he began placing the pieces.

He also moved Sainokami Ika's pieces.

As a result, in fewer than ten moves, Sainokami Ika was checkmated.

Sainokami Ika stared wide-eyed at the board.

These moves almost completely shattered her understanding of shogi.

The moves Azuma made for her side were almost the best countermeasures she could come up with.

She just stared at the board, unable to regain her composure for a long time.

It wasn't until Yukima Azuma scattered all the pieces on the board that Sainokami Ika lifted her head again.

"Now do you understand? How fortunate it is for you to meet Ai at this moment, to have her as your opponent."

"If you had kept the mindset you had before, facing an opponent like me, you would have at least been mentally crushed for months."

"If you were unlucky enough to face Meijin... I fear you might never want to play shogi again in your life."

Yukima Azuma's words were not an exaggeration.

That Meijin...

A person with shogi skills that could very well be at level 9.

Currently, he was focused on one thing.

That was using the techniques of the best player to fight against that same opponent.

His goal was to explore the very core of victory and defeat in shogi through this method.

Specifically, if both sides use the optimal strategy in the same game, would the player going first win, or would the one going second win?

In fact, for shogi, the ultimate question is: Will the first player win, or will the second player win?

This leads to a consequence.

That is, everyone who has faced Meijin...

Has the feeling that their shogi ability has been crushed into dust.

Because the person sitting across from you uses the exact techniques you're best at.

But then demonstrates a power you never even dared to imagine before.

The solution you thought was optimal.

That person only needs one move to show you that it's wrong.

To explain it more simply:

You think that when the apple falls from the branch, it will hit the ground.

But Meijin steps forward, slaps you.

Then, kicks the tree trunk, causing the apple to fall from the branch, fly into the sky, and disappear without a trace.

This mainly serves to make you doubt your own life.

If your mentality for playing shogi isn't strong, just one game with Meijin can leave you in a state of confusion for a while.

As for people like Sainokami Ika, always boasting about their talent, full of arrogance and impulsiveness...

Just one game, and she might never want to touch shogi again.

Currently, Sainokami Ika was sitting obediently in front of Yukima Azuma.

The monster of the shogi world.

Had been tamed to a basic level.

If she behaves better in the future, Yukima Azuma wouldn't mind playing against her.

After all, Sainokami Ika's talent was not bad; she was a worthy opponent for Hinatsuru Ai.

Moreover, once he decided to take Ai as a disciple, it was important to find her an opponent.

If she kept facing Yukima Azuma, a dominating opponent like him, even if Hinatsuru Ai improved, it would be hard for her to feel any sense of urgency.

.....

The busy weekend passed quickly.

Monday.

Those who returned to Toyogasaki faced the grueling midterm exams.

Then came the rapid grading process.

The morning after the exam, the results were already available in the afternoon.

The entire exam lasted for two days.

The day after the exam ended, which was Wednesday, the list of the top 100 students from each grade level was posted on the announcement board in front of Toyogasaki Academy—where the admission list had been posted before.

Yukima Azuma, upon arriving at school, went straight to the board to take a look.

Third-Year Rankings

At the top of the third-year rankings, unsurprisingly, was Kasumigaoka Utaha.

She was also the top scorer in the overall composite ranking of this inter-school exam.

Looking at her name prominently displayed, Yukima Azuma smiled faintly.

"Senpai's mind is truly formidable."

Although she sometimes dozed off in class, the subjects she didn't understand were always seriously reviewed. She only focused on other tasks once she had mastered the knowledge.

There was no doubt that Kasumigaoka Utaha's admission to the University of Tokyo was guaranteed.

Furthermore, Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't intend to study medicine, so she would likely choose the Faculty of Literature.

In that case, she wouldn't need to put in any more effort.

After a brief reflection, Yukima Azuma's gaze shifted to the second-year rankings and then stopped at the first-year list.

"That's so unfair! You keep skipping class, but your grades are still so high?"

"Is this the wall of difference? The wall called genius? How annoying!"

Satou Kazuma suddenly appeared, attempting to rush at Yukima Azuma and use a chokehold.

Yukima Azuma easily dodged, then counterattacked with an arm lock.

As a result, Satou Kazuma bitterly realized that not only was his troublesome friend smarter, but also much better at martial arts.

"Haha, I told you it was impossible. You just had to keep trying to ambush him."

Kunimi Yuuma, standing beside him, gently patted Kazuma on the back.

Looking at the reactions of his two close friends, Yukima Azuma guessed that his results must have been expected.

Looking at the rankings.

Sure enough.

Yukima Azuma's name was prominently displayed at the top of the board.

Moreover, just like Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Yukima Azuma was also the top scorer in the composite standardized value of this inter-school exam.

Just below Yukima Azuma, there was a very long name.

Hmm... of course, it wasn't Eriri.

It was Alya.

Second place at Toyogasaki, ranked third in the composite standardized value rankings.

A white figure quickly passed by in the corner of his eye.

Yukima Azuma glanced over, and it was Alya.

"Kujou-san, you're amazing. You just came from Russia to Japan and already achieved such great results."

Yukima Azuma complimented her politely.

Upon hearing this, Alya looked away from the rankings.

She gave a polite smile to Yukima Azuma.

"You're still better, Yukima-san. Your composite standardized value far exceeds mine."

Though she said that...

"I'm so frustrated! (in Russian)"

Yukima Azuma pretended not to hear.

....

Class 1-E.

Kirisu Mafuyu, who had been absent for a while, finally appeared.

Kirisu-sensei, usually as cold as an iceberg.

Today, she was clearly in a much better mood.

The atmosphere in the class had also become livelier.

"Everyone did great. This time, no one in our class failed."

"Also, Yukima-san has taken the first place in the composite standardized value ranking. Let's all give him a round of applause."

The class erupted into cheers.

After all, the composite standardized value was a competition between prestigious private schools like Shuchiin and Hyakkaou.

The top student in the class.

A student from Toyogasaki, a member of Class 1-E, everyone felt proud.

"And also, Kujou-san, second place in the entire grade, ranked third in the composite standardized value ranking. Well done."

Kirisu Mafuyu also complimented Alya a little.

However, at this moment, Alya raised her hand.

"Kujou-san, do you have a question?"

"Kirisu-sensei, I want to know who is second in the composite standardized value ranking?"

"Ah... I remember it's Shinomiya Kaguya-san from Shuchiin, with a standardized value of..."

Kirisu Mafuyu said a number.

It was very close to Yukima Azuma's result.

The two of them—Azuma and Kaguya—formed a clear gap from the Alya behind them.

"Alright, I understand now."

Alya said, then slightly lowered her head.

"I'm so frustrated, really frustrated! (in Russian)"

Her whispered words reached Yukima Azuma's ears.

Yukima Azuma tilted his head and looked at Alya.

After spending some time together, he had started to pick up on a few things.

This girl... she took everything very seriously.

In fact, perhaps too seriously, to the point of being stubborn.

She had just moved from Russia to Japan.

Her academic results would naturally have some fluctuations.

Being third place was probably already an outstanding achievement.

But Alya clearly still felt like she hadn't tried enough.

The class was noisy for a while, but Kirisu Mafuyu didn't stop them.

The exam was over.

A bit of noise at the beginning of the day was fine.

After most of the students had settled down, Kirisu Mafuyu continued speaking:

"The remaining classes will focus on reviewing the semester exam."

"Also, the highly anticipated school festival will start on Friday."

"You all have the next two days to prepare actively... What is our class's theme again?"

"A butler café!" Everyone responded in unison.

A question mark appeared above Yukima Azuma's head.

Why didn't he know about this?

Kirisu Mafuyu tried to suppress a smile and glanced at Yukima Azuma.

That's what you get for skipping school all the time.

This is the consequence!

"Ahem." After a slight cough, Kirisu Mafuyu continued, "Well, anyway, after the school festival, you'll have an official break."

...

The first period passed in a noisy bustle.

After school, Alya was lying face down on the desk, reflecting on her results.

It wasn't that she couldn't accept her failure.

It was that she felt she hadn't been serious enough.

If she had been, even if she lost, she shouldn't have been so far behind the others in terms of the score gap.

She thought about it endlessly, and soon tears began to slip from the corner of her eyes, soaking into her sleeve.

Quickly, her sleeve became damp.

In the midst of blaming herself, Alya suddenly felt someone poke her in the side.

Instinctively, she immediately lifted her head.

Her silver hair, like a waterfall, fluttered in the air.

She hastily wiped the tears from her face in a fluster.

Alya glared fiercely in the direction of the "attack."

As soon as she turned her head, her cheek collided with something cold.

"Uwa!"

She let out a cute squeal, took a step back, and looked more closely.

In front of her was a can of red bean soup.

Despite the scorching summer heat, the can was still emitting cold vapor, and droplets of water had gathered on its surface.

Alya tilted her head, peered around the can of red bean soup to see more clearly.

Alya looked toward the "culprit."

"Yukima-san, what are you doing?"

Yukima Azuma shook the can of red bean soup in his hand.

"I saw Kujou-san looking a bit down, so I bought a little gift to cheer you up."

"I thought Kujou-san might like red bean soup; I've seen you buy it often."

Hearing this, Alya's face turned slightly red.

She hadn't expected her small habit to be noticed by the guy sitting next to her.

Moreover, this thoughtful gift, given at just the right moment...

"This timely concern is too crafty, it's bound to make one's heart flutter! (in Russian)"

Alya murmured softly.