Five years passed and Scarlett's facial features were becoming more vivid. He had Hazel eyes and black hair just like his mother, his lips were tender and slightly reddish.
The situation in Etern became hectic, increasing the workload of people that even had a job.
Scarlett's mother worked as a software engineer in the underground safe zone department which was a very important place in any city.
When feeling lonely, Scarlett found comfort in bringing his imaginations to life which included various creature designs, landscapes, artifacts, machines etc.
High school was a daunting realm for Scarlett as he faced many challenges. One of them was bullying. This was because of his socially awkward behavior and demeanor.
"Punch! Punch! Kick! Kick!" Scarlett would be left in pain crying after a gruesome beating; sometimes he had a nose-bleed. But the crushing of his self esteem was more.
With this experience, he learnt how to mask his socially awkward behaviours which reduced the physical bullying to some extent but not the verbal bullying.
His female classmates and sometimes the upper class girls would make fun of his drawings, calling it childish.
"No wonder he doesn't have a girlfriend", said one of his female classmates to her 3 other friends. "Hahahahaha", they all laughed hilariously. "Quick, let's move from him before he turns us into one of his wild imaginations," said one of the girls as they all walked past him in disgust.
Already being used to it, he just kept on drawing.
His mother knew not of this as he held back from telling her.
This went on for long until Scarlett was in Senior high school 2. His classmates had gotten used to and lost interest in him.
On a fateful day that seemed like every normal day for Scarlett, while walking down a doorway when all of a sudden a black-haired girl with black glasses slipped as her leg swept Scarlett's right leg off the floor taking him down with her; this happened just at the entrance of the doorway.
He fell forward laying on her. As he started coming to be, he felt a soft, bouncy and squishy feeling on his face. It was her bossoms! On realising this, Scarlett got up from her in the blink of an eye.
"P-P-Pardon me!", Scarlett bowed his head.
"N-Not at all, it was my recklessness that got us into that situation", said the black-haired girl with a slight blush on her face.
"Anyways, I'm Aether from senior high school 3", she added.
'She's my senior', Scarlett said to himself.
"I'm Scarlett from senior high school 2, nice to meet you". Scarlett stretched out his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you too." She met hands with him.
Some days later, their eyes met as Aether stepped into the cafeteria. Scarlett was sitting by a table, his lunch right in front of him.
Upon this, he stood up and approached her, smiling reflexively. Upon reaching her, they shook hands.
"Ever since that day, we keep seeing each other… from afar though." Scarlett said, his voice slightly shallow.
"I know right?" Aether wore a soft smile on her face, her purple-coloured eyes meeting Scarlett's hazel eyes under her sleek spectacles.
"Are you in a hurry?" Scarlett asked.
"Err kind of, I came to get lunch and hurry back to a task and besides, I don't want to disturb your meal." Aether replied, subtly pointing at where Scarlett's lunch was.
"Oh okay, see you later I guess." Scarlett said in an awkward way and smile, as he retreated to his table.
"Wait." Aether stretched her hands forward slightly with a glowing expression on her face. At this, Scarlett hurried back towards her.
She looked down for a split second before wearing a smile while pulling out her phone from her small purse.
"Why don't we exchange contacts so we can keep in touch more often," She said as she unlocked her phone.
"S-Sure," Scarlett's face lightened up as he collected her phone and put his contact in it.
When they got to their homes, Aether revealed that she liked chess and so they agreed to play when next they met.
The School's name was Four rose petals. The junior high uniform was a white t-shirt with four separate rose petals aligned symmetrical to the center, it was located at the left side of the chest on black shorts that also had the same four rose petals design on the right thigh for boys, the junior high girls wore a white long sleeve which had the same four petals design and position on black skirt.
While the senior high male uniform was a black jacket on white long sleeve as well as on black trousers, only the white long sleeve shirt and black jacket had the four rose petals on it, the senior high girls uniform was a black jacket on a white short sleeve shirt which was worn on a black free skirt. The four rose petals' location and position was the same with that of the boys.
Days passed after that fateful event and Scarlett had learnt the art of chess to some extent. He spent the past two days learning all the rules and moves in chess so as not to disappoint Aether.
The day had finally come for the two to meet again. They had planned to meet at the School's relaxation park with the chess and the Hearts and Spade card game. After a few greeting exchanges here and there, they commenced the game.
Scarlett, playing as white, opening with the classic e4, his fingers moving confidently as he advanced his pawn. Aether responded with e5, mirroring his move with equal precision. The opening moves were traditional, but both players knew that the game could take a dramatic turn at any moment.
The pieces were set. Scarlett, playing White, opened by moving his King's Pawn two squares forward. Aether, controlling Black, responded by advancing her Queen's Bishop's Pawn two squares—the Sicilian Defense. The game immediately took on an aggressive tone, both players steering away from passive play.
Scarlett developed his King's Knight, eyeing the center. Aether mirrored the action with her own King's Knight. The tension grew as Scarlett moved his Queen's Pawn forward, challenging the structure. The exchange of pawns in the center left Scarlett with a slight lead in space, but Aether's position remained solid. She reinforced the center by advancing her Queen's Pawn. Scarlett continued by developing his Queen's Knight, signaling an open Sicilian.
Aether moved her Queen's Rook's Pawn one square forward, preventing any immediate Knight jumps and preparing for an eventual expansion on the queenside. Scarlett castled kingside, securing his King early, while Aether developed her dark-squared Bishop to the long diagonal, choosing the Dragon variation. The game escalated in complexity. Scarlett advanced his King's Bishop's Pawn, reinforcing his center and preparing a kingside attack. Aether continued by fianchettoing her Bishop and soon castled as well.
The middlegame took shape with Scarlett initiating a thematic Yugoslav Attack. He developed his Queen to connect his Rooks and prepare an attack. Aether responded by activating her Queen's Rook, preparing counterplay on the queenside. Scarlett advanced his King's Knight's Pawn, committing to an aggressive setup. Aether, unfazed, pushed her Queen's Bishop's Pawn forward, kicking off her counterattack.
Scarlett maneuvered his Queen's Knight to a more central position, rerouting toward the kingside. Aether responded by pushing her Queen's Knight's Pawn, challenging the stability of Scarlett's Knight. Scarlett repositioned his Knight to maintain control. Aether activated her Queen, placing it in a position to exert pressure on both flanks. Scarlett shifted his forces forward, pushing his King's Rook's Pawn to break through Aether's defenses.
Aether countered by advancing her own King's Rook's Pawn, halting Scarlett's immediate progress. Scarlett initiated an exchange by capturing Aether's Knight with his Bishop, removing a key defender. Aether recaptured with her Queen, maintaining control over important squares. Scarlett continued his plan, pushing his King's Knight's Pawn forward, forcing Aether's Knight to retreat.
With the kingside breaking open, Scarlett seized the moment. He sacrificed his Knight by capturing a central pawn, forcing open Aether's defenses. She captured the Knight, but Scarlett followed up by developing his light-squared Bishop, increasing pressure on the pinned pawn. Aether, precise in defense, repositioned her Knight, creating a counterattack. Scarlett calculated carefully, moving his Queen into an attacking position, maintaining the initiative.
Aether shifted her Rook to an open file, aligning it against Scarlett's weakened queenside. Scarlett doubled his Rooks on the open file, targeting the weak pawn in Aether's camp. Aether counterattacked by shifting her Queen, eyeing an entry point. Scarlett defended by moving his King slightly, reinforcing his position.
Aether advanced her Queen's Pawn, breaking open the center. Scarlett captured, but Aether followed up by repositioning her Knight, threatening his King's security. Scarlett maintained composure, stepping his King aside, avoiding potential tactics. Aether exchanged pawns in the center, opening lines for her pieces.
Sensing an opportunity, Scarlett sacrificed an exchange by capturing Aether's Bishop with his Rook, further exposing her King. She recaptured, but Scarlett's attack gained momentum. He moved his Queen to deliver a check, forcing Aether's King to the corner. Scarlett followed with a Bishop move, threatening checkmate. Aether defended with her Rook, holding her structure together.
Scarlett repositioned his Queen to infiltrate deep into enemy territory. Aether countered by activating her Queen, aiming for counterplay. Scarlett captured a key pawn with his Bishop, forcing Aether's King to move. Under pressure, Aether found a resourceful defense, escaping immediate danger.
Scarlett continued the attack by delivering checks with his Queen and Bishop, forcing Aether's King into a tight space. Aether attempted to block with her Rook, but Scarlett's position was overwhelming. He captured material with his Queen, eliminating the last defensive piece. Aether, seeing no defense left, resigned.
Scarlett leaned back, his attack having broken through. Aether, despite the loss, had defended resourcefully, but the pressure had been too much. The game had reached its conclusion, and the battle was decided on the board.
"Oof! you are a lot better than I thought, good game." said Aether as she had not been defeated in a while due to how good she was.
"Thanks, I should say, you're quite good as well and I'm sure there are only a handful of people that can beat you". Scarlett said as he cleared his throat in his mind.
"Ah thanks" uttered Aether as she looked down and her cheeks became slightly red.
"Look who's talking, you made me use my plan B". Aether said.
"Oh". Scarlett laughed.
'Plan B?". Scarlett thought to himself as he shuffled the cards.
"I'm interested, what developed your passion for chess." Scarlett asked.
On hearing this, Aether's soft gentle smile slowly turned into a slightly sad face as she replied:
"Sorry I'd answer that another time". This reply made Scarlett realize that it was a sensitive question and they weren't close enough yet for her to tell him and so he apologized and they commenced the card game.