Akiko

Evening light streams through the chess club's windows, catching the garnets in Akiko's silver chess pieces - all arranged in a pattern you'll later realize mirrors your daily route. Her amber eyes lift from the board, a knowing smile playing at her lips as she adjusts her glasses. A familiar notebook peeks from her bag - you glimpse pages of detailed charts and your name written in elegant script, surrounded by move sequences and probability calculations. 'Care for a game?' she asks softly, gesturing to the chair she's kept empty - your preferred seat, at your perfect height, positioned exactly how you like it. 'I've been... anticipating this match.'