☗ TO THE ASSOCIATION
“T-This is … the Shogi Kaikan …!” said Ai, donning a look of pure amazement as soon as we arrive at the Kansai Association headquarters.
“It’s … I don’t know. Easy to find!”
“Probably because of the giant letters spelling it out on the side of the wall. Sho gi kai kan.”
The five-story building is a two-minute walk from Fukushima Station, just one stop down from Osaka Station on the Kanjou line.
It’s the Kansai branch headquarters of the Japan Shogi Association, Kansai Shogi Kaikan—or just the association for short.
Today I’m going to register Ai for the Practice League test before my official match.
Big Sis got pissed and went home after dinner yesterday, but Ai and I spent the night at Master’s place. Then, after eating a warm breakfast Keika made for us, we stopped at my place to change clothes before coming here.
“Is-is it really okay for anyone to go inside?”
“The first floor’s all restaurants and stores, and the classroom is on the second, so yeah. It’s from the third floor on up that people need clearance. Now, let’s head in.”
“Y– … Yes!”
Ai takes a brave step forward as I give her a verbal push.
I open the door.
And there’s Big Sis standing right there.
“……”
“……”
“……”
Man, this is awkward.
“…… Loli King.”
She quietly spits into my ear on her way past my shoulder before opening her parasol and heading off somewhere without another word. Was that supposed to be a new title …?
Big Sis knows I only took Ai as my apprentice (temp.) because Master told me to, but Naniwa’s Snow White was glaring ice cold daggers at us. I should start calling her “Queen Elsa” at this point.
It’s almost as if Master’s seal of approval being stamped on the whole thing is what really got under her skin.
Ai tilts her head as the two of us watch Big Sis disappear into the busy morning streets.
“… What was Auntie doing here?”
“Probably signing autographs and fans. She’s a popular player after all … And, yeah, never call her Auntie to her face, okay?”
’Cause it’s my life that’s on the line.
Once we make it further inside, Ai squeals with glee at the sight of all the stores lining the right side of the hallway.
“Oh, wow! Are all of these Shogi books?!”
One shop at the corner of the floor has mountains of Shogi books and goods on display. Signed books are just the beginning: they’ve got anything you could ever want. They invite you to please stop in and have a look for yourself.
“Whoa … This board and pieces are so fancy … No way?! One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand … one million yen?! Wow! Wow!” she yells, pressing her forehead against the display case and absolutely beside herself.
She’s like the Alps Boy who found a trumpet in the shop window. The lady at the register smiles with her eyes as if watching something precious.
But what really got Ai excited at the shop was——.
“Master! Master! They have fans!”
“Of course they do.”
Fans autographed by popular pros are some of their best sellers. It’s because you feel that much stronger just by having one in your hand!
“Fhuuah … So many hard words (>-<),” says Ai as she opens up one of the sample fans to read it. There must be quite a few characters that a third grader can’t quite comprehend just yet because she’s tilting her head and mumbling, “Huh? Huh? How do you read this? Ipposenkin?”
“That’s ippu senkin. It means there are times that one Pawn is more valuable than one thousand pieces of Gold. It’s a Shogi saying.”
“And this one? Tobu …?”
“Hishou actually. The writer is probably telling people to grow as if determined to fly in the sky.”
“This one?”
“Konton.”
“And that means …?”
“Huh? … Like really messed up chaos, I guess.”
“Why write that?”
“… Beats me.”
Since everyone writes something different, sometimes only the writer knows what it really means. My Master’s fan says, “My prime starts tomorrow.” Frickin’ awesome!
“… Not this … That’s not it …”
“What’re you looking for?”
“All pros have their own signed fans, right?”
“Nah, just the popular ones.”
“Popular?”
“Legendary players from the past, A-classers … And pros with titles usually make autographed fans.”
“Ahhh …!” Ai’s face lights up like fireworks.
“So you have one, right Master?!”
“Hm? Uh, yeah …”
I carefully hide the sample fan with my name on it behind the shelf so Ai can’t see.
My handwriting is a bit too unique, so:
“Kuzu Ryuo writes like trash too lol …”
“He’ll never live down the shame …”
“I’d give back the title in his shoes.”
The net had a field day. Like hell I’d let Ai see a premium fan like that.
… Can you blame me? I never thought I’d win a title …… Otherwise, I’d have worked on my penmanship …
“Hm … That’s weird. I’ve seen them here before … Ah! I bet they’re sold out!”
“I knew it, Master! You’re so popular!!”
“Hahaha. Well, shall we head up?”
I lead her away from the shop with a dry laugh.
I gotta remember to put the fan back later …
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