Chapter 2: The Romantic Game

"Huh… you're going again today?"

Stewart and Toki sat at the lunchroom of their cafeteria. This time, their plan had been successful as they munched on the hamburgers Toki managed to acquire.

"Yeah, I mean… I have to; a King never goes back on his word!" Toki said taking a bite of his hamburger.

"Didn't you say chess was for nerds yesterday?" Stewart replied taking a bite of his own burger. "And plus… you got crushed didn't you?"

"He… he caught me off guard okay!" Toki said chewing intensely, "But I've learned my lesson! I spent all of yesterday playing online and watching YouTube videos."

"Jesus dude… you sure that'll help?"

"You heard of the Italian bro?!" He asked getting close to Stewart's face, "or the Scandinavian? Or the English!?!?"

"I know nothing about chess but I'm pretty sure those are just nationalities Toki," Stewart replied pushing him away, "You sure you weren't watching history channel?"

"Nah they're legit I swear. You ever see the big chess channels on YouTube? These dudes make a living playing and streaming to thousands of viewers. I didn't know this was so legit until yesterday. I'm going to make it big one day Stewart. I'm going to be a grandmaster and beat that slacker Noah! Then that bitch Marcy, and then though it will break my heart when I do, I'll beat Evelyn too! Then I'll win that date, and we'll get married, and I'll win the US Open, and…"

"Woah woah chew before you talk," Stewart said shielding his face from the incoming hamburger bits from Toki's mouth, "I'm pretty sure just playing and watching YouTube isn't going to be enough, it's a sophisticated game. Shouldn't you like… I don't know… read a book or something?"

"Huh?" Toki said swallowing, "Yeah I tried that, even went to the library earlier today. The shit in the books are just too boring man. Nobody's got time to learn about what happened in some opera house in Paris in the 1850s."

"Blasphemy, I cry, blasphemy!"

Toki turned to his side to see a student with well-groom hair standing and staring at him only inches away from his face. Toki fell over from his seat at the sight of him. He was wearing a fluorescent patterned button up similar to the one he had been wearing the day before.

"You… You!?!" Toki asked slowly getting back up.

"Aye, so you remember me young Toki," the student replied doing a pose with his hands.

"Oh, hi Emmanuel," Stewart said giving him a wave, "how's it going?"

"It goes well young Stewart. All is well all is well."

"What the… you know this flamboyant dude?" Toki asked.

"Huh? Oh yeah, we were in the art club together back in the day. His name is…"

"Emmanuel Sanchez Ramirez Diego the 3rd" Emmanuel said taking a bow. He held out his hand for Toki to shake.

"Uhh… right… nice to formally meet you Emmanuel, my name's Toki Suzuki." Toki said reaching out his hand giving Emmanuel's a shake.

"Indeed, I am oh so glad to have a new member in the most romantic game that ever graced this fine earth."

"Right right… so…"

"However…"

Emmanuel squinted his eyes and stared down at Toki who was a good bit shorter than him. Toki had chills inside of him as he felt the intensity of his stare.

"Howev…"

"However young Toki," Emmanuel said putting his wrist onto his forehead, "As romantic as your quest for love was yesterday, I cannot accept you as a true member of the chess club with the blasphemy you speaketh from your mouth."

"Spea… speakth?"

Emmanuel looked back at him again with an intense stare.

"Yes, speaketh young Toki. What is it thou were about to say in regards of the Morphy Opera House Game?"

"The whata what now?"

"That chess book you referred to earlier young Toki. You speaketh of how no one cared about some Paris game in 1850, did you not?"

"Uhh…" Toki looked at Stewart who looked back at him shrugging.

"I just looked over the first 2 pages man. Didn't really get a good look at…"

"Oh the agony the agony, has the youth lost the true essence of Romantic chess?" Emmanuel said dropping to his knees and banging his fist on the ground.

As he did, a few students in the lunch room turned to them and began whispering.

"Who's that weirdo?"

"Don't know… probably plays chess."

"Youth?" Toki thought, "Aren't you also in high school?"

"Hey uhh… I'm sure it was a fine game. Maybe if I…"

"It is I, Emmanuel Sanchez Ramirez Diego the 3rd who shall teach you… no…" Emmanuel went up to Toki and put a hand around his shoulder.

"What the…"

"Who shall show you the essence of Romantic chess."

"Ehehhehheh remember to take your medication Emmanuel." Stewart said.

"Together," Emmanuel continued, "Together young Toki, we shall explore all the fabrics of romantic chess from the opera house game, to the Vienna opening, to the two knights tango to…"

He leaned into Toki to whisper something into his ear.

"The Rui Lopez."

Instinctively Toki pushed back. Despite being a weirdo, Emmanuel was overall a decently handsome fellow. Though not swinging that way, Toki's face became slightly flustered.

"The… the what now?"

"The Rui Lopez," Emmanuel repeated. Just as he did, the bell of the school suddenly rang.

"I must go now!" Emmanuel said getting up from the table. "We shall meet again young Toki. We shall meet again. I bid you the best of luck in your romantic conquest."

And before Stewart and Toki had any chance to respond, Emmanuel left them prancing out of the lunchroom.

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"Noah, wake up, wake up."

As the final bell rang in his home room class, Toki went to shake Noah awake. Stewart and all the other students had already left leaving just the two of them in the classroom.

"Huh… is it gym class already?" Noah asked slowly lifting his head from his desk.

"Gym class my ass," Toki responded, "class is over, we're re-matching today!"

"Huh… we are?"

"You caught me off guard Noah, but I studied yesterday. There's no way you'll beat me again."

Noah looked at the clock and groaned getting up to pack his bag.

"Hurry up," Toki said giving him a few back pats, "I know for sure today I will take that first step, into winning sweet Evelyn's heart!"

Noah sighed as he got up to walk out of the room.

"I'm not going to lie; you're not really her type bro."

"What?!?! Then what is her type?" Toki asked going up to Noah and holding his cheeks. "Tell me, tell me, tell me,"

"Jesus bro," Noah said pushing Toki aside, "she likes older guys, ones that are good at chess. I don't think you fit eit…"

"That's why you have to rematch me!" Toki said continuing to shake Noah. "I have to prove… I have to prove my abilities!"

Noah sighed as he began walking towards the door.

"As much as I'd like to whip your ass again Toki, I can't unless I'm paired with you today."

"What?" Toki said following as the two of them began walking towards the chess room. "Don't you guys just choose who you play? What… you scared?!?! I studied the Italian yesterday, you're done for."

"You studied the most common opening in all of chess?" Noah replied looking at him puzzled, "And usually you would be right, everyone plays and practices against everyone else, but today's placement day for the tournament this weekend."

"Place… placement?"

"You know, how we determine which board each of us plays on." Noah said, "You heard what Evelyn said yesterday right? I've been the 8th board the last few tournaments."

"Oh I see… what does that mean?"

"It means I'm the 8th best person at the club." Noah answered. "And I played the 8th position at tournaments."

"8… 8th!?!?!?" Toki repeated shocked, "You mean there are 7 people better than you at the club?"

"Yes… that is in fact what that means. Did you pay attention to anything that was said yesterday?"

"Not really," Toki replied. "Which board is Evelyn?"

Noah again looked at Toki with a puzzled expression on his face, "you challenged my sister to a game of chess not even knowing that?"

"Uhhh well…"

The two of them had reached the door of the clubroom now. As Noah answered Toki's question, he pushed open the door.

"She's first."

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As they entered the room, Toki noticed all the students stood in a line and at the end of the line stood Marcy as well as a woman who looked around the age of 30 with glasses and black hair tied up in a ponytail with a clipboard in her hand. Next to Marcy stood Evelyn who upon seeing Noah and Toki enter, gave Toki a wave and a smile causing Toki to blush.

"Noah, you're late," the woman said glaring at Noah, "hurry and line up with everyone else."

"Yes Ms. Everstone," Noah responded getting into line. As he did, Ms. Everstone then stared over at Toki who was taken aback by her intense gaze.

"Who are you?"

"Tok… Toki Suzuki, miss." Toki replied, "I just joined the club yesterday."

Ms. Everstone raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Marcy and Evelyn.

"He any good?"

"Terrible Ms. Everstone," Marcy began, "He made Noah look like a GM when they played. And he made a stupid bet and now he has to be our errand boy."

"Why you…"

Ms. Everstone looked over at Evelyn, "Is this true?"

"You'll vouch for me right Evelyn?" Toki thought hoping. Evelyn however just shrugged her shoulders.

"My heart…"

"Yeah, he was pretty bad not going to lie," another student spoke up. He was wearing a black metal band t-shirt with blue jeans. The student had short bleached white hair and piercings.

"Yesterday was… " Toki began.

"His plans were subpar to say the least," another student with blonde hair, glasses and beret added, "very imprecise indeed. We have no need for him in our club other than to be an errand boy."

"Yesterday was just…"

"I'll vouch for him!"

Before Toki could defend himself, suddenly another voice spoke up. The group of people in line all turned to the student standing next to Noah.

"Yo… you?"

Standing out of line was the one student wearing a fluorescent button up.

Ms. Everstone turned to Emmanuel raising an eyebrow as the flamboyant teenager struck another pose.

"It is true, as they say; Toki did not display a great amount of chess skill."

"Jeez thanks…"

"But…" Emmanuel turned to Toki giving him a gaze and a thumb up.

"Chess is a romantic game is it not? And on that front, inside young Toki's eyes I see potential. For he so boldly yesterday came into our clubroom confessing his deep love for our beloved first board."

He went up to Toki and grabbed one of his hands.

"Like the knights on the 64 squares, Toki fights for his queen. A man with that sort of motivation to become good at chess is surely one who holds great potential for improvement. I say we let him play!"

"Ah well…" Toki responded patting the back of his own head with his hand.

"Is… is that so?"

As Toki looked over at Ms. Everstone however, he could see veins begin to form on her forehead. She wore an angry expression with her face turning red. It looked at any moment; steam would pop out of her ears.

"Shit… did I say something wrong?" Toki thought taking a step back.

"Yeah he totally did ahahahaha," Evelyn said giggling, "He said he wants to win a date with me… did the whole confession before the challenge and everything. Real cutie honesty."

"Must be nice…" Ms. Everstone said glaring at Evelyn, "being young."

"Yeah I mean, I'm sure after my 20s I won't have sooooo many boys after me haha." Evelyn laughed, "Would suck not to be married by then."

At this point Toki felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Noah who motioned him to take a step back. As Toki observed the rest of the students, it appeared they had all taken a step away from Ms. Everstone and Evelyn.

"Oh, funny words coming from someone who at your age isn't even an IM yet," Ms. Everstone said staring at Evelyn. "Are you trying to take this onto the 64 squares young lady?"

"Pshhh… I'm 17 Ms. Everstone," Evelyn replied. She suddenly stared back at Ms. Everstone as well. Toki could feel the static coming from their eyes locking. "If we scale rating be age, and I doubled mine to match yours, I'd be world champion."

"Rating doesn't work like that Eve, when I was 2 years younger than you, I was already an IM. At this rate, even at my age, you won't make it to GM."

"They're always like this, just give them space." Noah whispered to Toki who nodded his head.

"Uhhh… Ms. Everstone," Marcy interrupted suddenly standing in between the two of them. "We don't have time for this; we still have to do placements for the tournament this weekend."

"Right right…" Ms. Everstone said suddenly breaking out of her daze, "you still get rejected by that neighbor of yours Marcy?"

"Focus Ms. Everstone!" Marcy said snapping her fingers and ignoring the question, "you have the matchup sheet for today right? And what are we going to do with Toki?"

"Right, okay sorry," Ms. Everstone said taking a deep breath. Toki could see her quietly whisper under her breath, "I'm an adult, I'm an adult," as she looked back at her clipboard.

"Okay here are the first round matchups; I'll play Evelyn since she's going to be first board anyway."

"What!"

Speaking up from the crowd, Toki saw a skinny student with dark-curly hair that he remembered was named Bobby.

"What about me Ms. Everstone?" Bobby asked, "I can beat her! Last time I had a winning position move 15 and…"

"You get your ass kicked every time Bobby…" Ms. Everstone interrupted, "You'll be playing white against Noah instead."

"I abort," Noah said raising his hand.

"You can't abort over the board Noah…"

"I see…" Noah said looking over at Bobby, "Draw?"

"Whatever, you guys figure it out." Ms. Everstone continued. She looked over at the guy with dyed white hair and piercings. "Ian you'll be playing white against Marcy."

The two of them nodded getting up to sit at one of the set up boards.

"Let's see Pierre," she said looking at the blonde wearing a beret, "You'll be playing white against Nigel."

"Very well!" Pierre said getting up to go to one of the boards, "we shall have a battle of wits again Nigel!"

Following him was a brunette guy with blue jeans and a white shirt.

"Okay," Nigel replied.

"Alright and I suppose," Ms. Everstone looked over at Emmanuel, "since you vouched for him, please play Toki on white Emmanuel, and teach him a thing or two about the game if you can."

"I will!" Emmanuel said bowing and heading to one of the boards, "come young Toki, and I shall teach you the ways of romantic chess!"

"Make sure you always still play the most optimal moves" Ms. Everstone said.

"The most optimal moves are always the most romantic ones."

"If only that were true… in chess and in life as well," Ms. Everstone sighed. Toki got up and followed Emmanuel to one of the boards. He noticed a device he recognized as a time control clock next to the board. It was set at 30 minutes.

"Let us have a good game," Emmanuel said extending his hand which Toki cautiously grabbed to shake.

"Shit…" Toki thought, "So he's supposed to be even better than Noah?"

He gulped trying to recall what he had learned yesterday from YouTube videos.

"Alright just remember, center control and double his pawns. You got this."

"Ready?" Emmanuel asked.

"Ready," Toki replied as he hovered his hand over the clock start button.

"Alright kids," Ms. Everstone said, "You may start your opponent's clocks!"

As Toki pressed down on his, he saw Emmanuel immediately reach his hand for his center pawn moving it to the e4 square.

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"Okay, pretty standard so far," Toki thought as he pressed down on his clock and moved his knight to the c6 square. "Looks like a standard King's pawn game. Is he going to play the Italian?"

True to Toki's prediction, Emmanuel took his hand and lifted up his light square bishop.

"Okay simple," Toki thought as he prepared to move his other center pawn. The square Emmanuel moved his bishop to however, was 1 square further than expected.

Rui Lopez 1: https://imgur.com/a/D8Nf5TK

"Behold young Toki," Emmanuel said, "the Rui Lopez."

"Isn't this supposed to be a quiet game?" Toki thought examining the position, "Oh well… better stick to the principles of the YouTube video. Center control, center control."

He moved his pawn to d6.

"Okay… now I expect him to castle or move his other knight or…"

But the piece Emmanuel grabbed was neither his other knight nor his king in preparation to castle. No, instead he grabbed the same light square bishop he just moved and captured the knight that Toki had placed on c6.

"Exchange Variation," Emmanuel said double raising his eyebrows.

"Okay… so what? He doubled my pawns but bishops are slightly better than knights aren't they?" Toki thought as he captured the bishop with his b pawn trying to recall his knowledge from yesterday's video tutorials.

"You know why knights are the most romantic pieces in chess?" Emmanuel asked as he moved his knight to the b3 square.

"Why's that?" Toki asked moving his dark square bishop.

"All other pieces move in a line, predictable in where they are going, who they attack, and who they protect." Emmanuel said moving his knight again for a second time.

"He's… he's breaking all basic principles." Toki thought moving out his other knight, "why's he moving pieces twice and not focusing on center control?"

"But Knights," Emmanuel said as he pressed down on his clock. "They dance in their movement."

After several more moves. Toki found himself in a situation where on the f and g files, Emmanuel's 2 knights faced across from Toki's bishop and knight.

Rui Lopez 2: https://imgur.com/a/m8gn8st

"Okay…so," Toki thought as he advanced his h pawn one more square. "I just have to trade and long term my bishop will…"

"Now," Emmanuel said looking up at Toki, "Dance."

Without warning, the 2 knights that were on Toki's kingside slowly began advancing themselves into his position.

"What the…" Toki thought as he tried to continue his plan of taking central control and open up his pieces. The knights however, like boa constrictors slowly strangling their prey, began infiltrating Toki's defenses surrounding themselves onto Toki's king.

Rui Lopez 3: https://imgur.com/a/160qchm

"Grr… how annoying," Toki thought, "okay… I'll just eliminate one of these stupid knights and continue with the plan."

"And most romantic of all," Emmanuel said grabbing his other knight to recapture the bishop on the square his other knight had previously stood.

"Knights can protect each other, when one falls, the other rises carrying its legacy."

"What the hell is he on?" Toki thought. He examined his position however and had to admit that the knight placed on the f5 square was a real thorn. After a couple more moves and Toki scrambling his pieces around just to survive the onslaught of Emmanuel's attack, he was finally able to eliminate Emmanuel's other Knight… with his king. By that time however, the damage was already done and Toki's king sat vulnerable in the center of the board.

Rui Lopez 4: https://imgur.com/a/xgnKaPb

"Crap… this isn't good." Toki thought. He looked over at his clock that only had 5 minutes left compared to Emmanuel's 20, "I have to consolidate or else…"

But it was much too late for such measures. With Toki's king stuck in the center of the board, Emmanuel mercilessly brought out all his other pieces attacking Toki's king 1 by 1. Toki struggled to find moves that wouldn't lead to immediate checkmate. By move 47, and Emmanuel took Toki's final piece with his bishop, Toki's time ran out. He had lost, down a whole bishop and rook.

Rui 5: https://imgur.com/a/8Nsfab6

"Is… is this the level of people at this club?" Toki thought as he reached out his hand to shake Emmanuel's. He didn't expect to win, but after all that time studying the day before, he at least expected it to be close, not the slaughter that took place.

"You play well for a beginner," Emmanuel said getting up from his seat, "But before you learn how to master, you must learn how to dance."

"Jesus… that took forever Emmanuel," Ms. Everstone said. Toki shook a bit as he was taken aback by the middle aged teacher's voice coming from behind his shoulders. She looked over at Emmanuel.

"I thought I told you to play the most optimal moves."

"Tis was optimal Ms. Everstone," Emmanuel replied, "I performed a dance with the knights that…"

"I saw at least 4 inaccuracies in those last 20 moves…" Ms. Everstone sighed, "Based on that I think you'll have to remain 7th board for now Emmanuel."

"7… 7th board?" Toki thought, "He's… he's the 2nd weakest player here?" He looked over at the other students some of which had already begun their second match.

"Actually, you know, Noah has been improving recently, go play him for the rights to 7th board Emmanuel," Ms. Everstone said pointing at Noah who was taking a nap in front of a board.

"Yes Ma'am. I will show you the power of romantic chess." Emmanuel said getting up and going to Noah's board.

"Huh?" Noah said waking up as Emmanuel sat down from across from him. "Draw?"

"What about me?" Toki asked as Ms. Everstone began walking away.

"Oh uhhh…" she said turning around to look back at Toki. "I guess you can be an alternate. I don't know."

She examined the room to see Evelyn sitting at a board studying the position of the game she had just played with Ms. Everstone.

"Since you're her slave now anyways, go play Eve in a practice game."

As Toki looked over at Evelyn, she looked back and gave him a small wave and smile.

"Ho," Toki could hear Ms. Everstone whisper under her breath. Not wanting to keep her waiting, Toki quickly shuffled his way to the seat across from Evelyn.

"Heyyyyy Toki." Evelyn said with a bright smile, "how'd your match go?"

Toki blushed profusely. Evelyn's gaze casted a spell on his soul. It was as if he was her pawn and she could sacrifice him whenever she wanted to.

"It… it was fine." Toki said.

"He played the Rui didn't he?" Evelyn asked, "What'd you think, was it romantic Toki?"

"Huh… uhhh yeah yeah of course very uhhh romantic." Toki replied still stumbling over his words.

"Well, I'm going to teach you an even better opening." Evelyn said as she began to grab her e pawn.

"Wow… beautiful, sweet, and talented." Toki thought. He couldn't even focus on the actual move itself as his eyes gazed upon the small feminine hand that moved it. "I wonder what sophisticated opening an elegant beauty like her plays."