Volume 1, Extra 2: Gilbert & chess - Special book release and comics announcement commemorative short story
> Translated by Momo. Unedited.
> Author’s note:
>
> It's late, but here’s a short story commemorating the book release and the agreement over the comic publication!
>
> "I thought about asking you this before. But sis, exactly how much do you remember about your previous life?"
In response to Gilbert's voice, Cecilia blinked while holding a bishop piece.
They were playing chess in the boy's dormitory lounge.
It was late at night, and there wasn’t anyone else around the lounge except for them.
Gilbert continued, keeping an eye on the surprised Cecilia.
"Before, you were called 'Hiyono', wasn't it?"
"Well, yes. But what happened? Why did you ask that all of a sudden?"
"I'm just a little curious...If you don't want to answer, you don't have to."
He said it while acting mindfully.
It might sound a bit too naive and careless but Gilbert had never taken the initiative to ask about Cecilia’s previous life ever before.
But in the end, everything played out like a cursed fate, and though they tried to avoid the Dante route again and again, eventually it all led up to that kidnapping incident.
If only he was aware of Dante from the beginning.
If he had asked before about the things that were supposed to happen.
If only he knew that the world (game) was going to be that dangerous.
The regret he felt at that time was still buried in Gilbert's chest, even though everything ended up well.
(I need to be more careful from onwards...)
According to Cecilia, the game was not over yet. On the contrary, it seems that only about one-third has passed.
In other words, according to the storyline of the game, they were still in the early stages, and the situations would get worse and worse towards the climax in the second half.
If that was the case, they couldn’t afford to be "a bit too careless". He should ask and listen to that story as soon as possible.
However--
(She probably retained memories about her death in her previous life...)
He didn't want to do something that would revive that trauma.
That was his true intention.
Whether she understood Gilbert's feelings or not, Cecilia looked at the chessboard with a serious expression.
"It’s not like I don't want to answer it. However, there is just some stuff that I don’t remember that clearly--Ah!! Here!!!"
Cecilia hit the board with the bishop.
It was a powerful and decisive movement.
After thinking for a moment, Gilbert just took out the bishop with a nearby pawn.
"Aaaahh!"
"Sis, you have to make your moves after observing the situation better."
Gilbert's queen, rook and bishop were taken off the board as a handicap already. Nonetheless, the overall situation on the board was still to his advantage.
Gilbert asked Cecilia who was struggling again.
"Then, what about your family?"
He tried to approach it from the most familiar and easy-to-remember subject.
If by any chance it made her feel uncomfortable again, he would try to work on an even more roundabout way to ask another time.
However, that seemed to be an unnecessary worry as Cecilia had her cheeks stretched into a big smile and answered.
"I remember that, of course! They weren’t as elegant as father and mother now, but I had very funny, whimsical and kind parents!"
"...Somehow I can imagine that."
"What do you mean?"
When Gilbert grinned, Cecilia tilted her head to the side.
He thought that movement made her look cute.
"Living with funny and whimsical parents, that was how you got that personality, right?"
"Do you think so?"
"If they were moody, deceitful people, you would have become a scheming and blackhearted person."
Like me.
He omitted that last part.
The game at his hands advanced steadily.
Perhaps becoming too happily engrossed in the story of her previous family, Cecilia leaned towards Gilbert.
"I also had siblings in my past life!"
"Siblings?"
"Yes! Actually, there were a lot. Besides me, there was an older brother, older sister and a younger brother!"
"Four kids. It's amazing."
"Right! My younger brother looked just like Gil! We used to play a lot together."
Cecilia narrowed her eyes, feeling nostalgic.
He thought that her expression was cute again, but, even though it was only her previous life, he couldn’t accept her thinking about him as the same position as that person.
Gilbert moved his pawn closer to the king.
Then he brought his face closer to Cecilia.
"I don't think of you as my real sister."
"Eh? Gil...?"
"I said it before, right? I like you."
Holding the hand that was placed on top of the table, Cecilia's face reddened in an instant.
Gilbert slowly narrowed his eyes.
"Hey, after telling you about my feelings like this, isn’t about time you realize it?"
"Gil. Actually, m-me too, I-I…”
(I don't think such a convenient development would happen...)
Gilbert stared at the pawn he had placed near the king.
Speaking of Cecilia, she was about to make her move while smiling, which was obviously a bad one.
She had no idea of ??Gilbert's suffering.
It always worked out in his delusions, but it never came true.
(In reality, I'm still only her younger brother...)
At that moment when he quietly sighed--
"But Gil might be a little different from my brother."
Such words made his ears perk up.
Gilbert looked up.
"I don't know exactly, I can't express it well ..."
Cecilia held her chin while her browns wrinkled.
Gilbert's breathing became shallow due to his slightly raised expectations.
"Gil is manly, levelheaded and reliable!"
"...Sis."
"I've been thinking about it for a long time... Gill, rather than my younger brother..."
"...Rather than that..."
"It looks like you’re my older brother!"
At that moment, something snapped instantly.
Cecilia smiled without noticing Gilbert's change.
"Hey, don’t you think ‘Big bro Gil’ sounds good?"
"...It's not easier to say at all..."
Gil crushed Cecilia's king with his pawn.
"Aaaaahh!"
"I don't want to talk to sis anymore!"
"Why!? Is it because I suck at chess?"
"I don't know! Figure it out for yourself!"
Gilbert violently cleared out the chessboard and returned to his own room, leaving Cecilia in the lounge.