Ren stood still on the roof, watching the sky turn a velvety dark as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The clouds glinted orange and violet, but Ren barely saw them. His mind was elsewhere, caught in a loop of evenness—his defeat.
The loss gnawed at him. Each mistake, every false move, looped in his head like a cruel reminder of his failure. How did I miss that move? He clenched his fists against the railing; fury rose upon his usually calm visage. The rooftop was one of those rare spots where he could think in solace, allowing the weight of his thoughts to settle adrift while the world pressed in with clamor.
The wind, whipping playfully through his black hair, anointed Ren with a semitranslucent chill as he exhaled very slowly. He was trying; he was truly trying; trying to push aside his anger. But then-
"Hi there."
Ren's eyes snapped open. He turned, a little taken aback to see a girl standing a few feet away. She brimmed with smiles and light energy, a stark contrast to the otherwise tranquil atmosphere of the rooftop. For an instant, his impeccable memory faltered—he had seen the girl's face before, but from where? The cafeteria? Halls? He dimly recalled a fleeting memory—the girl watching me?
His gaze sharpened. "Do I know you?"
She smiled at him. "Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, I'm Emi."
Emi. The name clicked, partially. Still, he could not identify why she appeared familiar to him.
Emi continued, without being blocked by his silence: "So, rough match, huh?"
He let his grip loosen on the railing a notch. Rough? That was an understatement.
Ren snorted. "I have had better days."
Emi nodded. "I understand. Losing stinks. But you know, even the best makes mistakes at times. You cannot possibly allow one match to steal your confidence, do you?"
He scowled, muttering, "It's not about confidence. It's about making mistakes I should never have made."
Emi shrugged, "True, but then again, even the smartest mess up. The best thing is to learn from that and move on."
Ren eyed her, somewhat offended that she could speak so freely on a matter that felt so frustratingly complicated to him. It's not so simple. Yet, there was something about her presence that was gently calming. Unlike others, who would either feel sorry for him or pick an argument with him, she was doing neither.
After a pause, he finally asked, "What brings you up here?"
Emi tilted her head. "I could ask you the same thing."
He didn't answer.
She laughed. "Right. I just like it up high. I get the space to think." As she spoke, she gazed over the school grounds below, her expression momentarily contemplative. She held that look for a beat and spun back to him.
"But actually…I came here with an idea."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "An idea?"
Emi grinned. "You've got a strategic mind, right? Ever think of it being useful somewhere other than chess?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you getting at?"
Emi planted her hand on her hip. "I'm your student council president. And I think you would make a great asset to the council."
For a moment, Ren merely stared at her. Student council? The absurdity almost made him laugh. "I don't do that kind of thing."
"Why not?" she retorted. "You analyze situations, predict outcomes, and make decisions under pressure. Sounds pretty useful outside of a chessboard too, don't you think?"
Ren released an exhale, shaking his head. "I don't have time for it."
"Sounds like an excuse. "
He flicked a glance at her. "It's not."
"Then prove me wrong," she said with a smirk. "Go to one meeting. If you hate it, I won't bother you again."
He hesitated; every ounce of irritation felt toward her for her annoying persistence was offset by her confidence making it difficult to dismiss her completely.
"I'll think about it."
The student clapped her hands together: "That is all I ask." Taking a step back, she gave him one more wide smile. "Alright, I will let you brood over yonder. Later, chess guy!"
With that, she vanished through the rooftop door, leaving Ren again alone.
Being hit in the face by the wind, his eyes turned back to the horizon.
The match still gnawed at him. But another thing was now also gnawing away.
So, student council, eh?
For the first time in a long time, Ren actively pondered something other than chess.