4 First Victory (2/2)
This was true. Which meant that she only challenged me when I was certain to accept. Although I was apprehensive about most of them, that didn't stop me from pressing forward.
”You see, Jon, I wanted to see you get better. To push past your own limits. And time and time again, you really have.”
”...”
”I know you don't believe me, but you really have gotten close to beating me on several occasions. Sometimes your improvements were so rapid that it was scary!”
She laughed again, and this time I couldn't help but calm down a little. How could I not in front of that face? But I still had to know something. Something about her monstrous behavior.
”Then... why did you never go easy on me?”
”Because I can't.”
”Huh? Why not? If you go easy on me, then I'll at least feel like I can win next time! I wouldn't have been in despair all this time if you let me win a few!”
”I know, and that's a pretty logical view. But I really can't, and that's my one weakness.”
*Jeanna has a weakness?*
This information was almost like music to my ears. Even though I already was paying attention, this sentence from her made me sharpen my focus to a point.
”After seeing your reactions so far, you muy really be thinking that it's impossible for me to have a weakness, right? But I do. My criminally insane determination to win and inability to take a loss.”
*That's her weakness?*
Her response was sincere, yet it was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. So naturally, I started laughing. I laughed and laughed until I was crying again.
She tilted her head slightly and wore a mildly surprised expression, but I knew that deep inside, she was bewildered beyond belief.
”That's... your weakness?!”
I finally was able to get a sentence in between my pathetic wheezing. Her expression hadn't changed. Her head was still tilted slightly, as if she really didn't have a clue as to what I was thinking.
*That's right, you can't tell what I'm thinking right now, can you?*
”That's... such a strong weakness!”
She closed her slightly agape mouth, cleared her throat, and stared at the cooling coffee cup in front of her. Then, she gave a small, content smile.
”You're right. It's a pretty good weakness, isn't it? I didn't think you were going to say that.”
*Yes!*
”Can I take that as a win in this game then?”
Jeanna gave another small laugh, and said, ”Sure, why not?”
My first victory. Even if it was small and meaningless, it was still the first. I felt more liberated right now than I ever had in the past. The shadow of the insurmountable wall I lived under really was just another human being. I can't believe it took me this long to see that.
”It really is scary, though, how quickly you improved. How did you do it, Jon?”
”Huh?”
”How did you improve so quickly? As your elder sister, it makes me happy to see lil' Jon grow up so strong~”
”Like I said earlier, I have a friend who's quite good at this kind of thing.”
*Now that I think about it, his personality may not be so different from my sister's. But he's just worse at everything, so I guess couldn't really feel pressure from him...*
I explained the details about my best friend to her, and how his philosophy may be similar to hers, and how me may have gotten me to improve so quickly that even she was impressed.
”Hmm, I see. You know, maybe you shouldn't hang around him too much.”
”Wait what? Why not?”
”Well, I guess if he's helping my lil' Jon improve himself, then it's not such a bad idea, I guess. Never mind what I just said, okay?”
”Jeez, it's not like I'm your daughter about to get her first boyfriend. He's my best friend, and he's a pretty cool guy. You should get to know him someday...”
It was then that I generated the genius plan that may have had extremely unintended consequences.
”Oh, I know. Why don't you come to the chess club after school today? You should teach that c.o.c.ky b.a.s.t.a.r.d a thing or two. Heh heh...”
”Oh..? Is he really so important that I need to take him out? Or is it a challenge? As you know, I can't back down from a challenge.”
”Why don't we say it's a challenge, then. I challenge you to beat him as many times as possible in a row.”
”Challenge accepted. Using my weakness to your advantage, now, are you? You really do learn fast. Now, now, hurry on to school, or you'll definitely be late!”
*Already?*
I checked the clock on the wall to the right of where I was seated, which read 07:28. Thirty-two minutes before the start of school. Panicking, I quickly stuffed the rest of my breakfast down my throat. The eggs, toast, and fruit blended into a strange smoothie in my mouth, but now wasn't really the time to think about that stuff.
”Don't worry, I'll excuse your manners this time, think of it as a reward for your first win!”
*What a lame reward for such an exciting accomplishment... and stop smiling at me like that again!*
With breakfast done, dishes in the dishwasher, and backpack on my back, it was finally time to leave the house for school.
07:30. Thirty minutes before school. Leaving right now would let me be exactly on time for cla.s.s. It was perfect. However...
”By the way, what did you drop on your rush to the dining room?”
I froze on the spot.
*How does she know about that? It was pretty quiet, and I'd already forgotten about it!*
”Um, nothing important! Just one of the pictures in the hallway near my room... don't worry about it, sis, I'll get it after I come home.”
”Okay, then! Have fun at school! Don't fail any of your tests today!”
Now, if I had a drink in my mouth, I definitely would have spit it out. Of course, this reaction made Jeanna laugh at me again.
”Seriously, go! You're guaranteed to be late, now.”
I checked my phone's clock. 07:31 and 27 seconds. If I hurried, maybe I could make it on time.
When I arrived to my first cla.s.s, it was 08:03. I was three minutes late, and had a disadvantage against my peers on the first test.
<script>