Try something new

An idea had struck Futaba after a little more time playing with Hifumi. Now that she had a better grasp on the rules - and now that most of the church goers had left - she had a good opportunity.

"We shall see if you can topple the queen this time!" Hifumi declared confidently

"The queen is no match for Pharaoh Futaba!" She declared confidently. For a moment Hifumi was taken aback. She wasn't used to other people getting invested the way she did. At first she was wondering if Futaba was mocking her, but Futaba's clear earnest and shy demeanor quickly removed any doubts.

"Well then Pharaoh! Let us begin our battle!" She declared.

"I shall begin. As I move my warriors forward, striding onto the battlefield with fluidity and grace!" Futaba stated. She was hoping Hifumi's imagination would be envisioning this image. A series of warriors gracefully proceeding towards her.

And as the game went on and on, Futaba continued to describe her pieces in this way. Graceful, sensual, calming, hypnotic, a series of calming words to bring Hifumi down a few notches, interlaced with even more calming phrasing. As the game reached its climax, she could tell Hifumi was fading. Her eyes were bleary and barely staying open.

"I-I shall send forth my... My..." She stumbled as she looked at the board, clearly not sure what move to make. She limply moved her hand towards a piece and slid it forward.

Futaba smirked, taking one of her own pieces and moving it.

"And that, my dear, is check. Concede to my superior power and allow me to overtake you. I shall take you and your kingdom into my warm, loving embrace" Futaba stated "all you need to do is concede and close your eyes"

Hifumi nodded weakly

"I... Concede..." She said, her eyes shutting and her head slowly slumping forward.

Futaba already thought she was absolutely adorable - the overzealous Shogi nerd that she was - but seeing her calm, tranquil, and asleep like this was getting her heart all aflutter once again.