As soon as they finished, Kasumi approached Kenshin and asked with interest: "What kind of combat style is this?"
"Boxing. It's not very suitable for shinobi, but it gives a good practical foundation for taijutsu." Kenshin said, catching his breath.
"Hm, quite a strange form of martial art. The strikes are very strong, but maneuverability is minimal. Reminds me of straightforward styles from Kumogakure. They also love charging head-on. The complete opposite of our clan style." Kasumi said, carefully examining the boxing gloves and helmet. The material and bright coloring practically screamed "wrongness" of these items. She didn't know such airy materials or such incredibly bright dyes, but she kept silent, remembering she would learn everything only if she married Kenshin.
"Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with your Nara Clan style… But I've heard about your intellect. Want to play chess with me?" Kenshin said with a sly smile. Eleventh and Twelfth decided not to disturb father and quietly left the room.
"Chess? Hm… I'd love to, but for what?" Kasumi said, a certain plan forming in her cunning mind.
"Don't you play just for fun in your clan?" Kenshin asked, pretending to be embarrassed and showing uncertainty.
Kasumi immediately took the bait and continued: "Hm, just for fun isn't interesting… How about if I beat you, you let me go immediately?" the black-haired beauty proposed.
"Let you go immediately?.. A very serious condition. And what if I win?" Kenshin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well… You'll get recognition of your intellect from a Nara Clan member!" Kasumi answered proudly.
"Indeed, Nara Clan members are impossibly cunning!" Kenshin said with a laugh and immediately added: "To make it fair, five seconds per move. If I lose—you're free the next second. But if you lose, you immediately become my wife. Agreed?"
"WHAT?! Of course not! What arrogant conditions, that's not fair! I'll be free in a week anyway, I just need to endure, no need to play this lottery." Kasumi objected indignantly.
"I also have no need to play with you for nothing. Fine, let's do this. If you win, your stay here is reduced by three days, and in three days you'll be home." Kenshin said, and Kasumi couldn't help smiling for a second but immediately returned to a serious expression and continued listening.
"If I win, you'll let me kiss you anytime."
"YOU! You bastard, you already kiss me whenever you feel like it! The most shameless person in the world!" Kasumi flared up, not expecting such vile conditions from this scoundrel.
"See, that means the deal practically costs you nothing." Kenshin said with a smile.
"How does it cost nothing?! The honor of the entire Nara Clan is at stake! And you're the most shameless bastard!" Kasumi blurted out, puffing her cute cheeks in indignation.
"So you don't agree? Fine, then let's forget this bet."
"You… You're even craftier than our great elder! So devious, and you dared say something about the Nara Clan! Before I agree, state all the game conditions."
Kenshin smiled, fetched the chess set—created in the gym by some inexplicable coincidence. Perhaps the "system" had accidentally scanned his subconscious and added everything from his previous life's school gym to this one. The storage room indeed had balls, jump ropes, and similar items, as well as checkers and chess.
Taking the chess set and a small booklet with rules, he invited the girl to a more comfortable place—his "office," which doubled as the observation center for his entire base. Externally it was no different from a prestigious office from his previous world, and Kenshin wasn't worried that Kasumi would understand anything, as all formation nodes were hidden from outsiders.
The girl followed this insolent guy to the farthest room without suspicion and was again amazed by the wealth and luxury of the room. While she read the basic rules of the alien chess, Kenshin made two cups of coffee and sat across the table, enjoying the beauty of the young kunoichi.
Finishing acquaintance with the specifics of chess new to her, the girl tore her gaze from the booklet and saw Kenshin staring at her face with a stupid smile. She blushed, cleared her throat a little, and said: "I agree."
"Good, so if I lose, you're free in three days. If I win, then?.."
"Then you can kiss me whenever you want…" the girl muttered. It was incredibly embarrassing to say aloud, but there was no one in the office except them, so she managed.
Kenshin couldn't suppress a smile that such an incredible beauty agreed to let him kiss her anytime. With special enthusiasm he began setting up the chess pieces and also placed a small clock nearby, deciding to count five seconds and stop them with telekinesis.
A minute later the game began. At first Kenshin didn't show any wonders and confidently lost. The intellect of a Nara Clan girl was indeed top-notch, and having played shogi and similar games since childhood, she had no trouble immediately cornering him.
But at the very end of the game, when the girl was almost squealing with joy, Kenshin turned the game around and delivered "checkmate" in just a few moves. Kasumi was in complete shock and couldn't believe she hadn't seen such a combination right away.
"YOU! How did you do that?! It was a completely random combination, impossible to plan! Let's play again!" Kasumi exclaimed, unaccustomed to losing such games.
"Fine, but first let me taste my reward." Kenshin said and playfully blew her an air kiss. At that moment Kasumi resembled a cornered mouse. She understood she had lost and had no choice but to let him kiss her anytime, but she decided to fight back.
"Wait! We're not done playing yet. As soon as we finish for good, then you'll get your 'prize'." Kasumi said, wincing at the thought of Kenshin constantly kissing her, especially in public.
"Fine. What are the new stakes?" Kenshin asked with a smile, also imagining how wonderful it would be to kiss this beauty anytime.
"The stakes are exactly the same. If I win, I leave in three days. If I lose… You can kiss me."
"I already won the right to kiss you anytime. Why would I play for nothing?" Kenshin smiled.
"Fine! What do you propose?!" Kasumi said in a displeased tone. Whatever he proposed, she already didn't like it.