The Most Surprising Thing (Now With Art Added!)

[Mirage_GSM]

Maybe we could start a club. Some kind of ‘I could have fallen in love with Hisao if only’ club.

ahahahahahaha, oh the irony

I suggested they text Misha about it, only to have her answer "No way!"
Too bad he didn't go for it...

[A1phaDrag0n]

This one just keeps getting better and better, can't wait for the next part

[Rocket Royal]

I don't know what to make of the chess scenarios. How you handle jumping back and forth at the end will be important.

[Leotrak]

Trust me, it gets better :3

[griffon8]

Chapter 3


Twenty Minutes Ago:

“So are you ready to start?” she signs.

“Impatient to get your inevitable loss out of the way?” I sign back.

She smiles that wonderful smile at me. “Aren’t we confident. Been getting more practice games in?”

“Yes, I have.”


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One And A Half Months Ago:

The effects of Hisao’s presence in Hanako’s life became more apparent as time went on. Without Satou at Hanako’s side, Hanako normally retreated into a shell and hid from the world. Well, that’s just no way to live if you ask me.

But it seemed as if she was starting to come out of that shell, and from what I learned Hisao was a major factor in that. I noticed that she was in class more often. In the next couple of weeks I never noticed her leaving class early as she would often do.

Oddly, I was seeing a lot of Satou, too. She developed an interest in helping out with Tanabata, so she started spending more time with Misha and me in the Student Council room. Sometimes Hisao would be there as well. And then there were days when Hanako would come.

Hanako would just bring a book and read. Given what I’d seen of Hanako’s—and other people's, to be honest—reaction to Misha, I was surprised that Hanako could get any reading done. Misha is not one for ‘inside voice’.

At one meeting we had decided to take a short break. Satou took the opportunity to use the restroom, I think, while Misha left to get some drinks from the vending machine. When Satou left, she motioned towards Hanako and must have told her to wait. So Hanako remained at the table she sat at, reading.

I realized this was the first time we had been alone since the bullying instance. Walking over to her table, I took out pen and paper to talk to her.

What are you reading?

She blushed suddenly upon seeing my note. What, was she reading trashy romance novels? Now I had to know.

She held up the book for me to read: ‘Beginning JSL’. Oh, ho!

Trying to give Satou an advantage when dealing with the Student Council? I wrote, putting a playful smile on my face to let her know I wasn’t serious.

She blushed even more before writing a response. Actually, it’s so I can talk to somebody else with a hearing problem.

Who?

There’s a boy in 3–4 I’ve run into a couple times. He comes to the library a lot. I think he’s cute.

Hmm, a hearing impaired boy in 3–4? That must be… Demachi? Would that be Manabu Demachi?

I’m surprised to find out she could blush so much more. She nodded. Hmm, seems like everyone is getting some romance—Misha told me that she had started seeing someone.

Well, I didn’t really mean to intrude on your love life. I was actually wondering how you can read in here.

Why wouldn’t I be able to read?

I raised an eyebrow at this. It’s my understanding that Misha can be quite distracting.

At this she smiled. Reaching up to her left ear, she pulled out an earplug. After showing it to me, she put it back.

Sneaky! A workable solution. Well done. And it explains why Satou had to motion for Hanako to stay instead of simply telling her to.

She beamed at the compliment and took the paper back. I’ve wanted to ask you something about the incident a couple weeks ago.

When you were bullied? She nodded. What about it?

She sighed before continuing. You seemed rather upset about it when I made my report to the principal. Like making sure those bullies were punished was something personal.

I froze. Not even Misha knew the answer to this. I looked at Hanako, and she could tell I was in turmoil.

I don’t know if I could have answered her question at that point, but I was saved from finding out by the return of Misha.

“Hey, Shicchan, I got you a drink as well! Satou’s not back yet? Well, isn’t that just like her to keep us waiting. Wahaha~!”

Our meeting soon continued, but I was distracted for the most part. Why did Hanako have to bring that up? Maybe she won’t ask again, respecting my privacy.

Yeah, that’s it. It’s not like we’ll have to talk to each other anytime soon, right?


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Now:

Code: Select all

6  Bc4     Nf6
7  Bg5     Be7
8  Qe2     d5
9  Bxf6    Bxf6

I capture her last Knight and lose my black Bishop in return. It was worth it; I don’t like how Knights can jump around a crowded board.

And as agreed we both remove our other shoe.


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Chapter 2 Chapter 4

[Jaden82]

Getting more interested each chapter. You're killing me with only releasing in short chapters. Considering how many articles of clothing an average girl wears, we're in for the long ride till the final chapter.

[scott1and]

This is getting very good, and yes the chapters are short, but then maybe it'll last longer, or maybe you've planned this all out very carefully, either way I think the storyline is great.

[SirMax]

I capture her last Knight and lose my black Bishop in return. It was worth it; I don’t like how Knights can jump around a crowded board.

And as agreed we both remove our other shoe.

Strip chess based on purely piece-for-piece exchange seems flawed to me. Wouldn't you just go pawn hunting and lose the game but win the meta-game?

[Leotrak]

I capture her last Knight and lose my black Bishop in return. It was worth it; I don’t like how Knights can jump around a crowded board.

And as agreed we both remove our other shoe.

Strip chess based on purely piece-for-piece exchange seems flawed to me. Wouldn't you just go pawn hunting and lose the game but win the meta-game?

You seem to have misread their rules.

The rule for what happens when capturing non-pawn pieces is the most ridiculous change. That’s the most fun. The better you’re doing, the more distracted you get, was the justification she had written.

Bolded for emphasis
Edut: and underlined...

[griffon8]

Chapter 4


Twenty Minutes Ago:

“So who have you been playing against? There’s no rival for my affections I should be watching out for, is there?” she signs, keeping her smile so I know she isn’t serious.

“I’ve practiced through the Internet, so I don’t even know who I’m playing.”

“Risky. You never know what may happen when you don’t know anything about who you’re dealing with.”

“Yes, I’ve learned that lesson well,” I respond.


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One Month Ago:

Tanabata arrived. Like the last festival, the main part of it was on the courtyard in front of the school, just as one entered the gates. As before, class projects generated plenty of food and entertainment booths. But it was less stressful for Misha and me this time. I had to admit that Satou was a big help in that. Hisao and Hanako did a good share of the work as well. Thankfully, Hanako never brought up her question about bullying again.

This would be the last school function before the summer break, so everybody was in a good mood. Tanabata usually has romantic significance for couples, too, which made me wonder how Hisao, Hanako, and Misha were getting along in their respective relationships. I even wrote a Tanabata wish in their honor.

Hisao seemed to be doing fine. Nobody seeing him with Satou had any illusions about her needing his help getting around; you don’t hold hands like that for guidance.

Hanako certainly spent a lot of time hanging out with Demachi. From what I had seen, Demachi didn’t act like Hanako was his girlfriend. He always seemed friendly but indifferent toward her. I wondered if Hanako was setting herself up for disappointment.

Misha’s relationship was the most mysterious of all. She wouldn’t even tell me who she was dating. “It’s too early. We don’t want people to know yet,” she would tell me.

Well, she had the right to keep it private. Gossip is rife around here; even I ‘hear’ a lot of what’s speculated about. Of course, Misha is my main channel for it, so if she chooses not to tell me anything I won’t find out. Oh well.

My thoughts on this were suddenly interrupted by a figure running past me, heedlessly reckless in her flight. Looking back at the receding figure, I realized that, instead of the expected Ibarazaki, it was Hanako.

“What could have upset her?” I wondered. Turning to look in the other direction, I spotted the unmistakable hair of Misha. She was sitting at a table with someone I couldn’t make out at that distance. Walking towards her, I soon realized what had happened: Misha was sitting with Demachi, holding hands, with eyes only for each other.

I felt like someone had punched me in the stomach. My mouth was like sandpaper. My vision blurred.

Turning back around, I tried to track down Hanako. Her path seemed to take her into the school. Once inside, I tried to figure out where she could have gone. Most likely, she went to the Library or the tea room. Both of those were on the second floor, so that’s where I went.

The tea room was empty, and a search of the Library turned up nothing. Where could she have gone? If I didn’t find her soon, I’d have to check the dorms. As I walked back down to the first floor, I realized there was one other place she could have gone. If she was there, then she was expecting me to find her.

The Music Room was unlocked when I arrived. Going directly to the third closet, I opened the door to find that Hanako was indeed in there. She was even sitting the same way as before.

This time she looked up to see me arrive. “How could you?” she signed, anger on her face, tears in her visible eye.

“I didn’t—”

“How could you let me go on about Manabu when you knew he was seeing Misha?”

I sat down before replying. “Hanako, I didn’t know. Misha told me she was seeing someone but never told me who. She said she wanted to keep her relationship quiet.”

“Liar.”

My breath caught in my throat. For some reason I found it hard to see. Then I realized I was crying. Oh god, how could that hurt so much?

I slumped against the wall, sitting much like Hanako was. I even put my head down in my lap.

I don’t know how long we sat there next to each other before Hanako tapped my shoulder. I looked at her; her face was still lined with tears, but the anger seemed to have dissipated.

“You really didn’t know?” she asked.

“No, I didn’t. If Misha doesn’t tell me the gossip, I pretty much don’t know about it. She wouldn’t tell me who she was seeing.”

We sat there, together in our misery. The minutes stretched on.

Finally Hanako wiped her face. She pulled out a note—a tanzaku—to show me. “This was going to be my Tanabata wish,” she signed and handed me the note.

I wish I find happiness with the one I love.

I gave her a sad smile at that. I pulled out my own Tanabata wish to show her.

I wish my friends find happiness with the ones they love.

Hanako did a sad chuckle in return. She started crying again, putting her face in her hands. So I cried more, too. Then the most surprising thing happened.

Hanako wrapped her arms around me and just bawled. Her breath came in gasps as she leaned against me and cried. I put my arms around her in return, and we both sat there crying our eyes out.

Part of me thought that this was the point where our interactions kept getting interrupted. Some part of life outside of the two of us would intrude as we got to our most vulnerable, our most raw emotions.

Nothing like that happened this time.


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Now:

Code: Select all

10 Bb3     O–O
11 O–O     a5
12 exd5    cxd5
13 Rd1     d4
14 c4      Qb6
15 Bc2     Bb7
16 Nd2     Rae8
17 Ne4     Bd8
18 c5      Qc6
19 f3      Be7
20 Rac1    f5
21 Qc4+    Kh8
22 Ba4     Qh6
23 Bxe8    fxe4

Third time in a row that the capture of a major piece is followed by a similar capture. But I lost a Knight to her loss of a Rook, an advantage to me.

Still, it causes us both to remove one stocking.

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I found an appropriate picture on the shimmie for this scene, so… excuse me, something in my eye…



Chapter 3 Chapter 5

[traitor]

Very cute, it's sad how Hanako gets beaten up on so often, but it's nice how you've used the turn of events to extend her friendship with Shizune.

They're not gonna turn lesbian are they?

[Esa94]

They're not gonna turn lesbian are they?

By now it should be obvious that the last chapter will involve hot lesbian sex. Or something.

[bradpara]

Poor Hanako-chan

All I have to sa about this is KISS KISS KISS

That and I hope Shizune bitch slaps Misha

[griffon8]

Let me tell you, I had a hard time writing this chapter. After I typed out "Liar.", I could barely look at it for a good 5-10 minutes.

[scott1and]

Fantastic
Awesome
Brilliant
Super
Excellent

I think I got my point across