Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 2.1

  SHARKS AND MINNOWS

I wake up before my wake-up call.

“………… Three hours. More than I thought I’d get ……”

I spent the night in Tokyo at a hotel. The unfamiliar pillow isn’t why I couldn’t sleep. It’s always this way the night before Sub League matches.

A quick shower to wake myself up and I turn on the TV.

“This is a live view of the Shogi Association! Naniwa’s Snow White still hasn’t arrived!”

“…… Probably because I’m here.”

I couldn’t help but take a dig at the TV reporter.

Still getting dressed, I stop for a moment to change the channel.

“Osaka’s Princess of Shogi has come to Tokyo in an attempt to make history!”

“The 3-dan division gets underway later this morning and we have all the details! What’s more, we have Ginko’s daily life in check!”

“Our top story today is, of course, Snow White!”

It’s the same on every channel. My daily life is in check ……?

“…… Isn’t there anything more important going on?”

Giving up, I go back to getting ready.

“Ginko’s first opponent will be Sumito Sakanashi 3-dan! At 25, he is one of the Sub League’s longest tenured veterans.”

“Ginko is only 15, right? In that case, she’s the talented one.”

“Don’t forget that Sakanashi 3-dan came within a single point of advancing last season! Unfortunately, his ranking wasn’t high enough for him to turn professional …… thirteen wins and five losses, the same amount of victory stars as the person who promoted last season! This time, however, he ranks at the very top of the 3-dan division!”

“She got matched up against someone like that on her first day?! Will Ginko be all right?”

“That’s not all! Sakanashi 3-dan actually has a very interesting connection to–––.”

I turn off the TV.

I’m starving for information about my opponent. It’s impossible to get match records from the Tokyo Sub League.

I have a few match records from the Newcomers Tournament thanks to Sub League members being able to participate but …… just a handful. Nowhere near enough to be useful.

“Spotty tidbits of information will just get in the way. Rather than chase leads that go who knows where, I should be focusing on playing my best ……”

But, strangely.

“…… Sakanashi 3-dan. I know him ……”

Just, I don’t know how or why …… I’ve thought about it for hours and still can’t figure it out.

An association staff member joins me for the taxi ride to Sendagaya, where a throng of media people are camped outside the Shogi Association. Not one step out of the taxi and we’re surrounded.

“Statements will be issued after today’s matches! Please wait until then!!”

Cameras descend upon me like a tsunami.

Thanks to the staff member shielding me with his body, I manage to slip inside the building.

The biggest difference between here and the Kansai Association is that all the part-timers in the shops, security people and staff are staring at me like an exotic animal in the zoo.

I head up to the arena on the fourth floor to avoid their gazes.

–––…… I want to be somewhere I can focus on Shogi as soon as possible ……

In the arena, I won’t be bothered by prying eyes–––Thinking so was naïve of me.

“……!!”

What I see as soon as I open that door is overwhelming …… Words fail me.

Sub League members, many times more than are in the Kansai Sub League.

Ranking from 6-kyu all the way up to 3-dan, all of them are packed into the room like sardines and looking right at me ……

“………… Pardon me.”

With that, I find a spot to sit in the corner of the room. The few people who made the journey from Kansai are also on their own in the corners like me.

Kansai players are outsiders. That vibe is so strong in here I can feel it.

9:00 a.m. The opening meeting starts.

The two directors are doing a joint presentation, one veteran Sensei and one younger. The younger professional player oversees the flow.

Very much a fish out of water, I sit down on my ankles in my little corner and wait for the meeting to end. In Kansai, we just do a roll call and start playing right away, but they are doing things like signing up for match recording slots and whatnot, so this is taking forever.

–––When will this end? It’s irritating ……

All this irritation is going to make it impossible to keep a cool head. So many different emotions are coursing through my veins that they’ll tear my heart apart at this rate.

“Now then, would all 3-dan members please adjourn to the exclusive arena.”

The 3-dan division’s exclusive arena, the 3-dan EA.”

Among all the different arenas in the Shogi world, this is the most sacred ground.

“I’ve won the right to challenge for titles many times, fought in A-ranking placement matches and, of course, played in title matches themselves. All of that is under my belt.”

I forget when exactly, but I distinctly remember Oishi-sensei telling me that.

“But you see, Ginko, the 3-dan EA …… Even as a title holder, I can’t just waltz in there whenever I like, especially not on the final day of matches.”

A holy site.

And, being the first female to ever set foot in here, I scan the room to find the person I am set to fight.

–––There. Toward the back ……

I’ve never played against him, naturally.

I highly doubt he ever worked as the match recorder for any of my Women’s Title Matches.

In other words, I’ve never seen his face before.

But for some reason I know exactly who’s sitting there.

“Mr. Sakanashi?”

“Sit.”

I just knew I was right. Making a small bow, I sit down.

Sakanashi 3-dan looks around this holy land …… the 3-dan EA and offhandedly says, “This is a holding tank.”

“……?” 

“The 3-dan division is filled with sharks and minnows. That’s how it’s always been, and that’s how I’ve sorted my opponents.”

Sort …… ed?

“Still not clear? Those who eat and those who get eaten.”

“……!!”

“I start counting the victory stars I should get the moment the schedule is announced. That guy is a shark, that one’s a minnow …… Strangely enough, I don’t even need to talk to the guy to know what he is. It comes naturally to me … this status thing.”

Mr. Sakanashi isn’t looking for affirmation as he carries out the upper player’s privilege, opening the piece box.

Since he is the highest-ranking member this season, that’s his right.

“It’s tragic for the minnows. Upsets never happen in those matches, so the minnows get targeted relentlessly because the sharks should never fail to feast. Only natural, don’t you think? Losing to a minnow means you are as good as dead because your blood in the water attracts the other sharks.”

“…………”

First year high school student, first day in the Sub League and a girl.

I don’t have to ask …… to know how the other 3-dans see me.

Lining up the pieces on the board, Mr. Sakanashi makes a declaration.

“I am a shark.”

Then, snapping his king into position, he continues.

“Ginko Sora. Which are you?”

I couldn’t answer him.

Just being here …… still doesn’t feel real to me.

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. We’ll both know what you are by the end of the match.”

A beep signaling the time to start the matches echoes through the arena as countless chess clocks click to life in unison.

“Shall we?”

“…… When you’re ready!”

I switch on the chess clock beside our board and Mr. Sakanashi slides his Rook to the center.

Now, the 63rd 3-dan division–––has begun.

Facing Mr. Sakanashi’s Central Rook strategy, I open with a Static Rook anaguma.

Formations taking shape, we both use the early game to build up our defenses.

Flashy strategies don’t exist for dan-ranking members of the Sub League.

There’s no need for ambushes or the latest magnificent sequences.

Once the King is locked in nice and tight, we focus entirely on crushing whatever our opponent tries to do.

And, the most important thing is …… to let the first window of opportunity pass by.

Rather than venture out, even with an advantage, it’s vital to wait for an even better chance to present itself.

Avoid confrontations even when in position to win, just keep drawing out the match until the opponent’s fighting spirit shatters.

It’s a style that destroys friendships.

Completely different from stubborn, gritty Kansai players.

Darker …… Using Shogi to maliciously plunge your opponent into despair. It’s that kind of battle.

It’s a style only those who have already killed the part of their heart that wants to play Shogi for fun can use to push their opponents into the grip of death.

It’s that grip that we’re tightening around each other’s throats with each passing move.

Taking the lead after a long and grueling mid-game–––is Mr. Sakanashi.

“Kh ……!”

–––Solid! This is 3-dan division Shogi ……

If we collide now, I would be powerless to stop his advance.

–––Should I beat him to it? Or should I try to hold out long enough for him to make a mistake ……?

I clench my molars together and think it over.

Second after second of my valuable waiting time passes by.

Whether it’s my nerves or my opponent’s aura getting the better of me, I’m not sure, but …… I feel like I’m trapped in a dream where I can’t make up my mind ……!

Just then.

“…… I’ve had two chances to promote during my time here.”

Mr. Sakanashi just starts talking.

“One of which was last season. The other …… was three years ago, in the 57th 3-dan division.”

“……?”

“Win on the final day, and I would be promoted. Lose, and my opponent would promote. A high-stakes battle …… I was in the perfect position to win only to misstep at the very, very end. That one loss prevented me from becoming the runner-up that season. Because I lost to an opponent clearly far weaker than I …… Because of that 15-year-old kid.”

Could he be ……?!

“Yaichi Kuzuryu 3-dan.”

“……!!”

Mr. Sakanashi saying that name makes me look up from the board and gulp down the air in my throat.

“That’s right. Kuzuryu …… I was the final stepping stone that little brother apprentice of yours used to become a professional. Defeating me made him the fourth junior-high-school-aged professional Shogi player in history.”

That’s the final piece of the puzzle.

–––Now I understand why I know him ……

Because I’ve seen him countless times in newspapers and Shogi magazines.

But they weren’t pictures of him per se.

He was the man staring at his feet with his back to the camera off to the side while Yaichi was being interviewed.

“If I had won that day ………… Right now, I ………… I ……!!”

The victor gets engraved into memories forever.

However, memories of the loser are hazy. One single match sent two lives in different directions …… and changed the landscape of the Shogi world.

It must sting whenever Mr. Sakanashi hears about Yaichi’s accomplishments.

Being able to see himself in that position, he must feel a twinge every time he picks up a Shogi piece. Knowing ……. There was a chance he could have been the Ryuo right now.

If that’s true–––.

“I’m defeating you to advance. Don’t hold it against me.”

Don’t hold it against him ……

A different thought comes to me in the middle of our battle.

–––If Yaichi was still here in the 3-dan division …… What if we fought against each other here?

What if Mr. Sakanashi had won that high-stakes battle?

Everything I could visualize felt so wonderful.

–––…… That might’ve been enough to satisfy me. Us sitting across the same board.

However, the reality is different.

I’m here in the 3-dan division, fighting all by myself, and Yaichi is standing at the apex of the professional world.

In order to play a league match against him ………… I have many, many stairs to climb.

“………… You’re not the only one ……”

“Hm?”

“I’m here so I can advance, too!”

Skill, experience and talent.

Maybe I can’t compare to Mr. Sakanashi. I may be beneath everyone else here.

But my determination to reach Yaichi at the apex is–––.

“I! Will!! Win!!!”

More determined than ever, I launch a strong assault.

Advancing every Pawn I have and deploying everything from my piece stand, I exchange them all to force my Rook into his territory and promote it into a Dragon.

My King is safely behind the solid walls of my anaguma, so I hold nothing back to frighten his King out into the open with consecutive advances!

However.

“Don’t get cocky just because you have an anaguma! Do you seriously think you can survive in the 3-dan division like that?!”

Almost as if he were waiting for it, Mr. Sakanashi systematically blocks every one of my attacks.

“You’re a minnow, just as I thought. An unusually sparkly one, but still a weakling born to be eaten,” categorizing me, Mr. Sakanashi says with an upward glance. His eyes, savage like a shark.

“…………!”

Even so, I deploy the last piece on my stand, a Gold, to chase his King.

“What did I just tell you? This kind of straightforward Shogi won’t work here!”

There are two ways for Mr. Sakanashi to block my Gold.

Deploy a Silver.

Or use a Pawn.

“…… A minnow’s attack isn’t worth wasting a Silver. A Pawn will do.”

With that, he takes a Pawn off his piece stand and, pinching it between two fingers, snaps it down onto the board with a high-pitched click.

–––He took the bait!!

But that bait was on my hook.

Once he saw me give up my precious Gold, Mr. Sakanashi decided that his Silver was too valuable to deploy.

I can counter with my Silver to win!

Convinced, Mr. Sakanashi jumps at his first opportunity.

A move that goes against Sub League philosophy.

Not wasting a moment, I press my Gold forward and put him in check.

“Well, this minnow sure doesn’t know when to give up!! Your attack is already cut off!!” he yells as I stay on the offensive.

But the color drains from his face as soon as I make my next move. Only now does he realize he’s made a grave mistake.

“Drew back the Dragon? ……………… Argh?!”

Looking back, I may have been more determined to promote than he was.

His years of battling in the 3-dan division, his golden opportunity ranking number one and me being Yaichi Kuzuryu’s older sister apprentice prevented him from staying calm when he had to make a crucial decision.

–––Sorry, but I’m using it.

Everything was riding on that move. If he’d played the Silver instead, our positions would be reversed.

All that’s left now is to wear down the hooked shark until I can finish it off–––.

“Enough!! Do you actually think a minnow could eat a shark like me?!”

Now backed into a corner, Mr. Sakanashi dissolves his own defenses to launch a counter with his King leading the charge!

–––Using that tactic now?! So, this is the 3-dan division ……!!

Containing a King in the middle of the board is excruciatingly difficult, and Mr. Sakanashi is on a rampage.

The hooked shark is thrashing around to snap the line. Afraid of getting devoured if I get too close, I keep up the pressure from a distance. As time robs us both of strength and concentration, it’s time to see who can outlast the other!

We’re already in one-minute Shogi.

Maintaining the space between me and those sharp teeth, I give the line some slack but ramp up the power.

Then.

–––One more advance! One more slice and I can beat him!!

Seeing that shark pinned against the rocky outcropping with nowhere to go, my victory is assured–––.

“Ah!”

I’ve made a fatal mistake.

The hook fell out.

Just like a shark spinning to get free, Mr. Sakanashi uses what little space he has between pieces to shift his King back and forth.

So, in other words.

“R ………… Repetition … Draw …………?” 

Here?

After all it took to corner him …… I have to start all over again?

–––But off-the-board tactics won’t work twice ……

Physically, I’m exhausted.

And I have to play another match today after this one.

What should I do?! What’s the right thing to do?! Close in and finish this now?! But I’ll get eaten if I don’t finish him off?! I …… I …………!! 

–––A Repetition Draw is fine! I’ll get the first move, so I’ll have the advantage!!

“Repetition Draw?! In the late-late game?!”

“She’s going to let him? No way!!”

My not shutting down the Repetition Draw catches a few people standing around us by surprise, but–––my sheer will allows me to look at the whole board without rushing.

I have such a big advantage it’s hard for them to understand why I’d go along with the Repetition Draw.

–––He’s checkmated. And …… it’s not a difficult sequence at all.

My whole body had been burning up, but it cools in a flash …… There I am, tranquil as if awakening from a dream.

The exclusive arena I’d considered to be a holy site now looks like nothing more than an old, worn-out room.

The man who looked like a monster before the match now looks more like a mouse sitting in front of me.

Did Mr. Sakanashi get weaker? Or did I get stronger?

–––………… Checkmated.

His King completely in my grasp, I look up and tell him.

“Don’t hold it against me, okay?”

“Guh ……!!”

I break the Repetition Draw and checkmate his King in a single move.

140 moves.

Out of all the matches that just took place, it’s by far the longest. Looking up from the board, only then did I notice every 3-dan that had finished their own match had gathered around to watch ours.

“…… Sakanashi lost ……”

“…… She’s stronger than I thought ……”

“…… She’s Kuzuryu’s …… the, um …… Ryuo’s woman, right? She can get him to teach her whatever she wants whenever she wants, so yeah ……”

I hear them talking.

We don’t do a review session because the match ran so late and Mr. Sakanashi clears the board clean like destroying a reality he doesn’t want to see.

Fingers trembling as he puts the last piece in the box, he tells me with a groan, “So …… You were a shark after all ……”

“I’m not a shark or a minnow.”

“……?”

Bracing my knees so they don’t buckle, I stand up as gracefully as I can.

Then, with all the 3-dan players looking up at me in awe, I quietly state my name.

“I am Naniwa’s Snow White, the world’s strongest female Shogi player.”

That composure lasts only 10 minutes.

“…………. Agh ………… Haa, haaa ………… cough ……!”

After telling the director that I won, I stumble my way into the women’s restroom.

Into a stall, lock the door …… and finally I can breathe again.

The veneer wall is the only thing keeping me upright.

–––An old, narrow toilet stall is my only haven …… Fine by me.

This is the domain given to Naniwa’s Snow White. My castle.

It’s miserable, but such is life for Sub League members.

–––I don’t have a single ally …… But I’m alone in front of the board either way ……

My first 3-dan division match.

My first time in the EA.

The match running long could be part of it, but this whole experience is far more draining than I ever imagined.

–––And …… And now I have to play another match ……?

But I can’t just run away. I can’t change how I play either.

Thinking I can try to just find a place to relax, somewhere to clear my head, I step outside of the women’s restroom …… To find a red-haired woman standing there.

“Yo.”

Almost posing with her back against the wall, her tone of voice makes it obvious she’s been waiting for me.

“A lavatory lunch, eh? Kind of fits you actually, losing all your friends ’cause you can’t be bothered to say hello.”

“…………”

A cheap taunt. Did she come all the way here on a day without a match to be a pain?

I start walking past her without a word–––.

“There’s a Women’s League Player’s Room in a corner of the fifth floor,” the red-haired woman …… Ryou Tsukiyomizaka-Women’s King tells me.

I freeze in place, my back to her, as she continues.

“It ain’t much more than a closet, but it’s got to be better than chowing down in a stall, and I don’t think anyone’d complain if you dropped in. You are Lady Dual Title, yeah?”

“……”

“I doubt anyone is there now, and there’s pretty much zero chance anyone’ll show up before your second match.”

“…………”

The Women’s League Player’s Room really does look like a small, dirty closet. But it’s empty and quiet. And, just as the Women’s King said, no one came before my match started.

So I had a chance to recover physically and mentally.

I hate to admit it, but …… I needed that.

I won my second match. Even more stubborn and grittier than the first.