Work Text:
"E2 to E4." Karma murmurs as he passes Asano in the hallways.
What?
It's Karma and Asano's first year at Kunugigaoka Secondary High School. Asano and Karma were the only ones who decided to stay at the school. Asano doesn't blame anyone for not staying. Between the mistreatment of 3E and the brainwashing incident throughout the rest of the school Asano was surprised Karma stayed. They weren't friends. But they were the only ones who knew what the other had been through.
It wasn't until he got home and saw the principal's chessboard that he realised what Karma meant. Pawn to E4. Was he extending an olive branch? Hoping to become friends?
Either way, the next day, Asano whispers "E7 to E5" and the rest is history. They weren't friends. They never spoke to each other unless it was about work. Or they were telling each other their chess moves. Asano buys a chess board so he doesn't loose track of the pieces.
One day, Karma invites Asano around his house. It's spontaneous, really.
Asano accepts.
They're sat on Karma's bed. It's almost awkward, until Asano spots the chess board. "Have you been using a chess board to record out moves?" He asks.
"Obviously. I can't record the moves in my head for more than a day without forgetting them. Wait, don't tell me you've been playing our match from memory?"
"No, I have a board too." Asano admits. It's still impressive that they can both remember the moves until they get home to move the pieces. It's not like they limit themselves to one move a day.
A week later, Asano wins the chess match.
They weren't friends. They no longer talked unless it was about work.
Karma looks sad.
Asano smiles. As he passes him in the hallway, he murmurs "D7 to D5."
Karma smiles.
They weren't friends.
They never spoke unless it was about work or chess.
Their bond was impossible to explain by words.
They weren't friends. Weren't lovers. But they weren't enemies. They were but a constant in each others lives.
That was the best way, to describe it, really.