The room was quiet, the open window letting in the warm air from the courtyard. In the distance there were whistles, laughter, and the occasional exaggerated shout.

  The tournament was still going on, but for them there was no longer any need to be out there.

  Rias slipped off her shoes and sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs with a comfortable sigh.

  —I admit I had my doubts —she said.— School tournaments always end up becoming chaos.

  Sona placed her bag on the table and sat across from her.

  —This one was controlled chaos —she replied.— That alone is an achievement.

  Rias laughed softly.

  —Especially considering who we have involved.

  Sona tilted her head.

  —Hyoudou-kun, for example.

  Rias smiled immediately.

  —Loud, impulsive, easy to read.

  —And yet —Sona added— he doesn’t retreat when he makes a mistake. That’s not common.

  Rias nodded.

  —He gets angry. Makes a scene. Gets frustrated. But he tries again.

  —That is growth —Sona said.— Even if he still doesn’t know the direction.

  Rias rested her elbow on the back of the sofa.

  —Basketball hurt him more than he’ll admit.

  —I saw it —Sona replied.— But I also saw him watching. Comparing.

  Rias smiled.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  —That’s new for him.

  Sona continued.

  —Asia, on the other hand, is the opposite.

  Rias turned toward her.

  —Yes. She doesn’t try to impose herself. She tries to support.

  —And yet she never looked away even once —Sona said.— That surprised me.

  Rias nodded.

  —Before, she would lower her gaze. Today she didn’t.

  —That says a lot —Sona concluded.— Strength doesn’t always announce itself.

  Rias let out a small laugh.

  —If Issei heard that, he’d be jealous.

  Sona smiled faintly.

  —That is inevitable.

  A brief, comfortable silence passed before Sona resumed.

  —Saji, on the other hand…

  Rias raised an eyebrow.

  —Ah, yes. Your troublesome pawn.

  —He isn’t troublesome —Sona corrected.— He’s competitive.

  —That’s an elegant way of saying he provokes anyone —Rias replied.

  Sona accepted the point with a small gesture.

  —But it works. As long as he has a clear objective, he stays focused.

  Rias tilted her head.

  —And Kaelan became that objective?

  Sona didn’t answer immediately.

  —Let’s say… he repositioned him —she said at last.

  Rias laughed.

  —That sounds worse.

  —It is for his pride —Sona admitted.— But it’s necessary.

  Rias glanced toward the window for a moment.

  —Now then —she said.— Let’s talk about the one everyone is watching without quite knowing why.

  Sona nodded slowly.

  —Kaelan Arverth.

  Rias leaned forward slightly.

  —He’s been a Pawn for the same amount of time as Issei —she said.— And yet…

  —He doesn’t act like one —Sona finished.— Not in the usual sense.

  Rias placed her hands on her knees.

  —He doesn’t try to win. He tries to close things properly.

  —Exactly —Sona nodded.— In basketball he controlled the pace. In dodgeball he chose the right amount of risk. And in both cases, he knew when to stop.

  Rias smiled with a hint of restrained pride.

  —You don’t teach that in two weeks.

  —No —Sona said.— Not even with good training.

  Rias lowered her gaze for a moment.

  —I worry less about what he can do… and more about what he chooses not to do.

  Sona watched her carefully.

  —That’s what stands out the most —she admitted.— Because despite being so new, he already understands limits better than many who have been here longer.

  Rias let out a slow breath.

  —Issei wants to advance. Asia wants to protect. Saji wants to impose himself.

  Sona completed the thought.

  —Kaelan wants nothing to break.

  Rias laughed softly.

  —And yet he was the one who stood out the most.

  —Because he didn’t force anything —Sona replied.— Kuoh reacts well to that.

  Rias looked toward the court, now almost empty.

  —I suppose this tournament served for more than entertainment.

  —It served to see —Sona said.— And to be seen.

  Rias stood up.

  —Then we’ll have to keep observing.

  Sona picked up her bag.

  —Carefully —she added.— Not everyone who stands out is trying to.

  They looked at each other with a calm smile.

  Outside, the tournament continued.

  And in Kuoh, the new pieces were no longer going unnoticed.