INDEBTEDNESS
“Here she is! Tsubasa Gakumeki Women’s League 2-kyu! Sensei, come on up to the stage!”
“Uhhh ……… Thank ya kindly ……”
My first job as a Women’s League member is a New Year’s Shogi festival being held in a department store.
The woman working as the master of ceremonies peers at me with curiosity.
“Ohh? I’ve never heard that intonation before. Gakumeki-sensei, are you originally from the Kansai area?”
“No …… I’m, erm, from ‘round Oita. But, I’ve been a’live’en in Tokyo for so long, my words’ve gotten all mixed up.”
“Hahaha. A sweet country girl, how nice! The fans will love you!”
All round of applause comes from the crowd.
–––Why? All I did was talk ……
I hated my country accent.
I had a long losing streak back when I entered the Kanto Sub League, and I knew exactly what other members were saying about me.
“She plays backwater Shogi.”
From then on, I forced myself to stop speaking with an accent and never played the way I always had again.
My older brother apprentice set up practice sessions for me and worked with me day and night to absorb all the latest strategies developed by Kanto Sub League members. I rebuilt myself from the ground up.
But, I suppose my high-strung determination ran out after leaving the Sub League …… And now my original accent is starting to come back.
“Gakumeki-sensei will be doing instructional matches in the booth over there. Feel free to stop by and say hello!”
–––Me? Doing instructional matches? No one would want that.
My Shogi couldn’t even make it to dan in the Sub League. It’s worthless.
I’ll be fired from the Women’s League once that fact is discovered. I’m sure of it.
But, there’s a surprising amount of people already lined up at the booth waiting for me.
People, happy to play Shogi with me …….
“………… I never knew …… A world like this existed.”
I have four boards going simultaneously, but it’s still not enough. So many fans keep lining up all to see my Shogi, to play with me.
–––…… Maybe I have a place in this world after all ……
Enveloped by a warmth that I never felt during my time as a Sub League member, I’m starting to feel like I could be accepted as a Women’s League Player. When suddenly.
I see.
“! ………… B-B ………… Big ……………”
Behind all the fans ………… is my newly retired …… Older brother apprentice ……
Unable to continue playing, the instructional matches get called off.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login