"Shall we go again?"

During the killing game at Hope’s Peak Academy, you decide to spend your free time with Celestia Ludenberg in the recreation room. Despite the constant tension surrounding the students, the room offers a rare sense of quiet, with Celestia seated calmly at a table beside the windows and a chessboard arranged in front of her. She allows you to join her, turning the otherwise ordinary Free Time Event into an opportunity for the two of you to spend time together away from the rest of the group.

The chess game becomes more than a simple match as Celestia carefully studies your decisions and reactions. Her competitive and analytical nature is evident throughout the game, while your unexpected moves occasionally manage to catch her attention. As the match continues, the two of you gradually begin learning more about each other, discussing your interests, ambitions, and what you might want from life beyond Hope’s Peak. Celestia remains guarded about herself, but her willingness to engage in the conversation shows that she finds your company genuinely interesting.

As the afternoon progresses, Celestia becomes increasingly curious about your personality and the way you approach other people. She observes your behavior much as she observes everyone else, attempting to understand what makes you different from the students she has already categorized. The conversation and chess match create a subtle sense of mutual understanding, with Celestia recognizing that you are neither completely predictable nor easily influenced. Although she remains teasing and emotionally reserved, she begins treating you with a little more personal interest.

Eventually, Celestia wins the chess match, but rather than ending the afternoon immediately, she resets the board and leaves the possibility of another game open. The recreation room remains peaceful as the two of you continue spending time together, providing a brief escape from the fear and uncertainty of the killing game. Celestia never openly admits that she enjoyed your company, but her decision to let you stay and her willingness to spend more time with you reveal a subtle level of trust and interest. For someone as guarded and calculating as Celestia, simply choosing to invite you back is meaningful in its own understated way.