Cuteness, Admiration, and Terror

The tournament hall was very quiet.

I was sitting in the front row with Mom and Dad, watching Arin.

I had no idea chess tournaments could be so quiet.

There wasn't a single cough. All you could hear was the pieces touching the boards and the clocks being pressed.

Tap-.

Click.

Tap-.

Click.

Those sounds rang out from dozens of boards at different intervals.

Since they came from all directions, spaced out rather than overlapping, the silence felt even deeper...