Soredemo Ayumu wa Yosetekuru

Ayumu Tanaka was a middle-school kendo champion, yet he ignores the expected path and joins the tiny shogi club because he fell for its president, Urushi Yaotome, at first sight. He makes a private rule that he will not confess until he defeats her fairly at shogi, which is a serious problem because Urushi is far more experienced. Strangely, Ayumu has no trouble bluntly praising her looks, skill, or smile while maintaining a perfectly straight face, but he refuses to admit the obvious feeling behind those words. Urushi keeps trying to make him confess, while he keeps improving his game. With every move on the board, their romantic match advances one very slow step toward the declaration Ayumu is saving for victory.