"Hey lelouch, you doing good, buddy?"

No, Rivalz, I'm not doing good. I'm stressed out. Those were my thoughts yet I couldn't really voice them. Why couldn't I? I didn't know either.

"I'm fine, just a bit bored", I lied as naturally as I breathed. The reason of my stress was because my mother collapsed due to overwork. It's difficult for her, I'm sure but she always puts on a front when I confront her. I tried to get a part-time job to lessen her burden but she wouldn't let me. Why wouldn't she, I always wondered but I never got an answer. All that I was doing to help her out, it wasn't enough. It just wasn't. Just what could I--

"Hey lelouch, I don't know if I should mention this to you right now because you look kinda stressed out but...", Rivalz said

with a soft voice.

Hmm, what was Rivalz talking about. Did something happen at school that I wasn't aware of? I was curious and I really needed a distraction right now...

"What is it, Rivalz?", I pressed him on, so that he could spill whatever he was thinking. I trusted Rivalz to some extent.

"Dude, you're good at chess, right?" Is what he asked me. What an unusual question. Did he perhaps want me to teach him or something? That's weird since I asked him before and he said that wasn't interested in chess. So what's the sudden interest? Well, I'm about to find out

"Well, yeah. I'm pretty good at chess". That was a lie. I'm not 'pretty good' at chess. I'm really good at chess. I've been playing this game ever since I was a kid. I

never liked luck or chance based games. Chess was what piqued my interest. Practicing and practicing, I used to play a lot but now I don't really get enough time. I still play occasionally but that's it.

"Why the sudden interest, Rivalz? Want me to teach or something?" I jokingly asked him, knowing the answer already. Rivalz was too simple minded to play chess. I can already imagine what kind of moves that he will play. It's quite an amusing thought.

"Well, you know the new casino? The one that recently opened near Caleppio?" He answered my question with another question. Why is that, I wonder. Although, I have a gist of what he wants from me, now. I hope that I'm wrong, because if not, then it will be rather troublesome.

"I do know about it, I always pass it, after

all. Why, are you thinking of gambling or something? I doubt they gamble in chess, though", I asked him, taking a note of his expression. This is probably the most anxious I've ever seen him.

"Something like that...

Look, lelouch. I really need your help and you're the only one who can help me", he pleaded and it left a bad taste in my mouth. No matter how annoying he gets sometimes, Rivalz is my friend. I can't judge him before he even explains himself.

"Well, go on. I'll help you, depending on what you ask. I'll hear you out, nevertheless" is what I told him and it was true. If his request was reasonable enough, I will help him out.

"You see..."

/

What a weird predicament. It's not like I couldn't help him out, nor is it out of my powers. In fact, I can easily do it. I still have my doubts about the safety of me being there but still...

Rivalz wouldn't have asked me if it wasn't necessary. It is his brother, after all. We all do stupid things for blood relations. Still, asking me to play a chess match against the local mafia, what is he even thinking. Even I know about them. The Vitale family, who rules this part of the illegal affairs. Nobody really messes with them, even though they aren't that strong. No, they are influential, that's the very problem. Even if I do win, who knows what they will do to me? Will I be their next target? Or will I just be shot there for embarrassing their representatives in the casino. No matter how much Rivalz

ensured me that they were true to their words, I still doubted it. Maybe I'm being paranoid but this is my life that I'm talking about. I can't just leave it like that. It's frustrating and my mind is advising me to reject his request but...

What kind of friend would I be if I rejected his heartfelt request? He needs my help. Although his brother is a gambler, I can tell that much that Rivalz is good at negotiating. But even then, negotiations with the local family like that, it must've been very difficult. From what Rivalz told me, this representative was very fond of chess and he was quite good at it. Actually, most people in the Vitale family were good at chess, for some reason. This representative, he was son of a family friend of the Vitale's, since they didn't have any successors. I mean, their first successor, their only son died in a shootout and he had no offsprings either. The elder

couldn't really have another son anymore so the family would be finished right there. Maybe someone would take up the mantle and take control of the family but they wouldn't be the Vitale bloodline.

Ah, I'm thinking too much into it. All I need to do is win a chess match. Rivalz did say that he would give me a good amount of money, 60% cut that would be left after giving the loan for his brother's life. We had to go, tonight, huh. I have to sneak out after both nunnally and mother would be asleep. Even then, how would I explain the money that I would win. I need to think up some excuse too. Hmm, I should leave to pick up Nunnally now. But before that, I should send a message to Rivalz to message me the exact time and where to meet up. Since I already know where the casino is, I don't need the location...

Well then, let's just pick up nunnally

/

With Nunnally and mother both asleep, I think this is the right time to leave. Checking the time on my phone, it was 00:24, I was running a bit late but it's fine. It's pretty near so I could reach there in just 5 minutes. Finding Rivalz wasn't a problem and when we entered, it seemed just what expected it to be. A normal casino, what I saw on the internet since I've never been in one. Although, it was a bit smaller than what I expected it to be. Oh, it seemed like Rivalz knew how to navigate in here. Well, he did negotiate on his brother's behalf so I shouldn't really be worried. Besides, if things go wrong, I will probably die before I could even act.

Entering inside wasn't really a problem. It

seemed like they were expecting Rivalz for quite some time. Hmm, so that's the representative, huh. He looks rather pompous. Then again, I shouldn't judge someone by their looks. Oh, he was stretching his hand towards me, interesting. After shaking his hand, we did a basic introduction. Introducing myself as 'LeRouge', since I didn't want to give my actual name but something that was quite similar so that they wouldn't feel like I was looking down on them. This seemed perfect.

Seemingly satisfied, he did the same.

"My name is Antonio Lambrusco, it's a pleasure to meet you. Although, you don't seem Italian, do you?" He inquired.

That true, I wasn't Italian. We moved here when I was Nunnally was 1 and I was around 4. My memories back when we were in London are kind of fuzzy, so I always

considered Italy to be my home. But are my looks really that distinctive? Nobody could really tell that I was British. He is the first man who could tell. Interesting, I should be wary of him. Although, kind of useless since I was wary of everyone present.

"No, I'm not. I'm actually from the UK but we moved here when I was young. I've always considered Italy my home, if I'm being honest", was my reply. It was vague and it didn't give any specific details. It was satisfactory and the last phrase would give a bit familiarity towards my character.

"Hmm, I guess so. Now then, should I inform you of the best and what would happen if you win or vice versa?", he asked me. Although, unnecessary since Rivalz already informed me what would happen if

lose. I would be tied to Rivalz and pay the exact amount just like Rivalz and his brother. If I win, the amount of money that Rivalz's brother that he owes would be forgiven and I would be awarded 20,000. It's not a bad deal. If I win, that is. Then again, I'm sure that I can win any chess match. The only one who ever defeated me was my mother and that was when she taught me. I was a quick learner and it wasn't long before I defeated her too. Although, I was always a prodigy in chess.

"Rivalz already explained me so there's no need. I trust him" to some extent, that is. Of course, I didn't voice that thought. Hmm, this is getting rather long. When are we going to start. I needed to get home too.

"Very well, then. I can let you choose,

don't worry. You want white, I presume?", he sincerely asked me. Of course, I would choose...

"No, I'll choose black. I always with black, after all" I replied not be suspicious. It's not like I would pull anything but it's good to stay in the good grace of this man. I don't want to end up in a grave, after all.

"Is that so? Well, I did say that I would let you choose..." was what he said. Hmm, is he disappointed? Who knows

Taking a seat where the black pieces were placed, Lambrusco taking a seat in front of me. The pieces were already placed and it was quite a while I played with actual chess pieces. I usually played online when I got time.

Folding my hands under the table as I waited for him to make his first move...