There were other games around, but it seemed like a lot of gambling.

[ it was always noisy, excited, crowded. and to him, lacking in strategic merit, the challenge of seeing moves and moves ahead that he so enjoyed. playing against a stranger would be a new experience - it had just been him and his classmates, one in particular, for a very long time.

this opponent is an adult, probably with a wealth of experience xehanort couldn't possibly have. a serious type, grounded, perhaps. xehanort blinks, tilts his head to one side, panning his hand over the pieces but not touching them yet. ]

What a good present. Do you prefer playing white or black?

[ oh, he's moving too fast. reel it in, man. ]

I'm... Xehanort, by the way.