Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 2.3

  FAMILY MEETING

“I’m … thrilled ta bits!” Kousuke Kiyotaki 9-dan, happy as can be, says as he starts talking to our Shogi family tree. “The Kiyotaki line’s got two pro players, three Women’s League players and a 3-dan in the Sub League …… We’re officially a crowd, with a total of three titles including Women’s!”

Ai Hinatsuru and I got called over to Master Kiyotaki’s place and treated to dinner. Keika made her okonomiyaki pancakes. Ai loves those things.

On a side note, I invited Ai Yashajin but she’s absent.

Big Sis being in the same Shogi family doesn’t make it any less awkward to see her so soon after getting swept in a title match. I can’t blame her.

…… I sent her invitation first, but she never responded. Keika is the one who got an answer out of her. The thing is that I can see she’s read my messages, but recently most of them get ignored …… I’m sure that has nothing to do with her absence today.

No connection at all …… right?

She’s … not avoiding me …… is she?

“We had an in-family bout over a title, Ai’s been on a roll in the Women’s League and is now one win away from enterin’ the Women’s Legend League …… Sayin’ it’s the year of the Kiyotaki ain’t stretchin’ the truth! Which means–––,” skin still glowing from his bath, Master takes a big swig of beer and says, “someone in our line’s gotta participate this year.”

“In the Player’s Meeting, right?”

“Yea.”

Master nods at me before dropping his voice really low.

“’Specially ’cause rumor has it …… somethin’ big’s comin’ up this year. I can feel it.”

That’s not exactly promising ……

The Shogi Association’s day-to-day management all happens in Tokyo, far away from us here in Kansai. It feels that far away too.

Which is why Kansai players don’t really care what happens at the yearly Player’s Meeting …… Honestly, going all the way there is a pain. We just sign away our vote to whoever’s actually going while we hold down the fort here. It’s our standard at this point.

“’At’s why I’ve called all ’o ya here. We’re gonna figure out who’s gonna go represent us tonight.”

“Which is true, but the only ones who can vote are Master and I. It’ll be one of the two of us ……”

“Uwhee? I’m not allowed to go? Even though I’m a Women’s League player?”

Ai sounds surprised to hear that and Big Sis, sitting off on her own in the corner, answers.

“Only players registered as full members of the Shogi Association are allowed to attend. So, basically, professionals, Women’s League players with 4-dan and higher or current and ex-title holders. You didn’t know that?”

“O-Of course, I did! Everyone knows that!”

That’s the reaction of someone who just found out.

“But …… Grandpa-sensei? If all of us can’t go, why are we all here?”

“’Cause just two ain’t enough.”

Big Sis and I perk up right then and there.

“……!! Are you saying we’re going to use that to decide who goes?”

“Yea. That.”

Master’s lips curl into a bold grin as he nods.

Ai, the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on, looks back and forth between Master and I before yelling.

“Master?! What’s this that you’re talking about?! What are you going to do?!”

“It’s going to be a long battle …… Ai, get to bed.”

“Uwhee?!”

Already wearing pajamas, Ai points at Big Sis and makes her case.

“This isn’t fair! Aun- …… Sora-sensei isn’t allowed to go to the Player’s Meeting either, right?! So why am I the only one being left out–––.”

“I can’t register as a full member only because I’m in the Sub League. If I became a Women’s League player instead, I’d have been registered years ago. If it hurts that bad, why don’t you go claim a Women’s Title?”

“I’m going to!! I’m going to join the Women’s Legend League and claim that title!”

“Really? A pipsqueak like you taking Shakando-sensei’s title? Give me a break. Save those jokes for after you’ve lost all your baby teeth.”

“…… Says the one smooth down there.”

“If you want to go that bad, I’ll take you there myself …… As part of your funeral!!”

Another peaceful day in the Kiyotaki Shogi family (grin).

It seems like the problem at school isn’t bothering Ai at all. Forcing a smile at the fact that she’s still a kid despite how strong she’s gotten at Shogi, I put my hand on my apprentice’s head and say, “It’s already past nine o’clock, which means it’s past your bedtime, Ai. Come on, I’ll take you upstairs.”

“………… Okaaay ……”

Tucking my apprentice into bed in the kid’s room on the second floor (she must’ve been really sleepy because she was out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow), I come back downstairs …… and see everything is getting set up.

We have a rule in the Kiyotaki Shogi family, all important debates are settled by wins and losses in a certain game.

A game based on real estate that’s loved all over the world–––Monopoly.

“Monopoly teaches ya every skill a Shogi player’s gonna need.”

Master goes into the same spiel I’ve heard hundreds of times before.

“The one who brought Monopoly into the Shogi world was none other than the undisputed best-ever, the Meijin. Back when he was the new guy on the scene, he brought Monopoly to a match after-party an’ invited his opponent to join him sayin’: Sides are gone after the match is over. Now ’at’s what I call sportsmanship …… Though some people think he was just wantin’ to play Monopoly.”

“He wanted to play, for sure.”

“He definitely wanted to play.”

He’s the kind of person who has to be the best at any game he plays ……

“He brought the game to Kansai back when he was facin’ Mr. Tsukimitsu for the title, and Monopoly’s been loved by players all over Kansai ever since.”

“Using dice adds an element of luck, which is a breath of fresh air.”

“It also takes your mind off everything else! Oh, and I love using negotiation to move the game along. Shogi is always one-on-one, but you have to read what several players are trying to do at the same time in Monopoly. It’s just like training to take on one of the leagues … probably.”

Of course, it’s not all fun and games.

Only one person can win a game of Monopoly. Everyone else goes bankrupt …… In Shogi terms, they lose all their pieces. Without any chance to set the scene for a loss, you have to be stubborn, gritty and strong in the late game. You could say that Monopoly was made for Kansai players.

Taking boxes out of the cabinet, Keika asks, “Standard? Or should we do the Osaka Edition?”

“’Course the Osaka one.”

The Osaka Edition has the Kanjo Line, as well as the Kansai Shogi Association. That’s why it’s on sale at the association gift shop!

And so, the game gets underway.

The four of us have been playing this game for 11 years now, so we know each other’s styles inside and out. The early game is slow because we keep a close eye on what everyone is doing.

I like to use negotiation to get ahead when I play Monopoly. It’s fun to get in everyone’s heads and sort through the chaos to find victory.

The first thing I have to do is strike up the conversation …… Create an open to negotiation vibe!

“I’ve been wondering, Big Sis. Isn’t it hard doing the 3-dan division and high school at the same time?”

“Not really. Both are going just fine,” says Big Sis as she starts consolidating her properties. “Everyone at school is so nice. They even surprised me with a card the day before the 3-dan division started.”

“One that everyone signed?”

Man, you sure are popular.

“I heard the school was considering changing their uniform just for Naniwa’s Snow White. They’re behind you 110% ……”

The school’s original colors are black and white, but they were going to get rid of the black. That’s what the news said.

“Of course …… I refused the offer.”

“But it must be so nice to have a school that’s so understanding! It sounds like they get what Sub League and Women’s League players go through.”

“If they didn’t, I would’ve gone somewhere else.”

“It’s a feeder school, right? You don’t have to test into college! Ahhh, campus life!”

“I have no intention of going to college. If I turn professional, I won’t bother graduating. …… Now pay me the 100-million-yen rental fee you owe.”

Like hell I can actually pay that.

Once I negotiate purchasing the Osaka Airport for 3 million yen from Keika, I shift my attention to someone else.

“You knew, didn’t you, Master? About Big Sis going to high school.”

“’Cause she asked me for advice,” says Master bluntly as he rolls the dice. Normally he gives details no one asked for about anything and everything, but he only says what is absolutely necessary when he plays Monopoly.

“What did you tell her?”

“Have Ms. Oga draw up two schedules, one with high school and one without, an’ compare ’em.”

“Ah ……!”

“Since Ginko’s been in junior high as well as the Sub League up till now, the association’s been lettin’ a lot of her title holder PR duties slide. They only made her do the bare minimum of match recordin’ and big board commentatin’ ’round Osaka.”

Going with his usual strategy of monopolizing everything, Master continues.

“But now that her legally required schoolin’ is done, the afternoons are wide open. Popular as she is, Ginko’d get called out to do events all the time.”

“City halls would ask her to be a tourism ambassador or make her an honorary citizen …… And it’s payday!♪”

Keika collects even more money.

“That means that Big Sis would actually have more free time by going to high school, right? That makes sense ……”

I’m amazed at how convincing Master can be. It’s because he built up that skill in Monopoly. Shogi and Monopoly teach us everything we need to know in life ……

“Hm? Wait a minute, Master. You didn’t give me much advice at all when I became a junior high school pro. All I remember you saying is: Quit goin’ ta school.”

“Ya were shootin’ up the rankings in the Ryuo League, but ya couldn’t make an event just by showin’ up like Ginko can.”

To be frank, I wasn’t as popular as Big Sis is now. Thank goodness for that!!

“Oh, and Yaichi. Why are ya only usin’ yar left arm?”

“Sorry. I think I pulled a muscle when I was carrying Ai upstairs ……”

“Ya did? Then I suppose there’s no helpin’ it, just keep playin’ fast, ya hear?”

“Yes, Master. I won’t fall behind.”

Master is even stricter during a game of Monopoly than teaching Shogi.

I apologized, but the actual reason is completely different.

Big Sis ……………… has ahold of my right hand.

It’s under the table where Keika and Master can’t see it, but I doubt she’ll be letting go anytime soon. That means I’m stuck playing the game with only my left hand ……

–––Why? What’s …… the meaning behind it?

Is she trying to get me to secretly slip her money or properties? That’s not negotiation at all. It’s extortion.

And ……

–––She’s shaking?

Does holding my hand make her so angry that it makes her tremble?

If that were the case, she’d just let go …… So, what could it be? Is she punishing herself for fun?

As I try to work all this out in my head, I go bankrupt. Game over.

I couldn’t focus because Big Sis was holding my hand …… is the excuse I’ll go with.