Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 3.8

  GRADE SCHOOL PRACTICE GROUP FALLS APART

“Bye-bye. Kuzuryu-sensei!”

“Bye. See you later.”

I watch as the grade schoolers with backpacks over their shoulders hold today’s printouts under their arms as they wave goodbye.

Grade school teachers have so much to do.

They can’t go home as soon as class is over. There’s Shogi puzzle homework to check before getting the homework for next lesson ready and a lot of planning to do first. Then there’s the Grade Schooler Practice Group session to lead after school.

“Whew …… Grade school teachers are really busy!”

Then again, I feel so much more fulfilled than ever before.

An unfortunate series of misunderstandings led to the Grade Schooler Practice Group being held at the school, but having it there along with teaching Class 5-4’s Shogi lessons has become a rhythmic routine.

I said it before, but as a building designed to be a place to teach, it’s really easy to do lessons at school.

“If only I had one of those at home!”

“Playing Shogi at a place like that would be great!”

Everything I’ve ever wanted is right here, so the scope of what I can teach has grown by leaps and bounds. Elementary schools are the best!

Just …… it seems that people make assumptions when they hear that the Ryuo, the face of the Shogi world, is teaching lessons at a local elementary school–––.

“I heard that Trash Ryuo’s been hanging out at an elementary school a lot recently.”

“Beyond fishy.”

“He didn’t even get permission from the Shogi Association ……”

“Who knows if even got permission from the school, being the loli-con king that he is.”

…… Those rumors are all over the net.

But that’s fine!

Compared to the happiness of the Grade Schooler Practice Group and watching their skills grow like mad …… Being called a loli-con is a tiny little thing. No sweat.

Even my “careers” classes with Kanegasaka-sensei have been going well.

All the arrangements to go see Ai play a match are falling into place and it seems like Shogi has become the go-to game all over the school.

“I must say, Kuzuryu-sensei, more and more students are saying hello each morning after taking part in your Shogi class!”

“I can see why you made it to the top of the Shogi world at such a young age, Dragon King Ryuo!”

“If you have an opportunity, I would love for you to teach a Shogi class for my homeroom as well!”

Once the principal liked me, my reputation in the school just keeps going up.

I even have my own desk in the teacher’s office now, so I feel like an actual elementary school teacher. Maybe I have a talent for this?

I just feel everything is on the rise. Mio and the rest of the Grade Schooler Practice Group, my own teaching technique, my classes together with Kanegasaka-sensei, all arrows are pointing up.

…… With one exception.

“Hm? Ai? What are you doing outside the teacher’s office door?”

“Uwhee?!”

I say from behind the girl on all fours, trying to go unnoticed as she peeks into the teacher’s office, and she jumps straight up like a scared cat.

Why …… was she on the floor ……?

“Were you trying to sneak inside?”

“Um! …… I, uh ……… Agh, agh ……”

“What is it? Come on, tell me.”

“Uh, um! Umm ……… I have to apologize to you, Master!!”

She goes from being on hands and knees into full-out dogeza prostration.

Something she has to apologize for? No …… she didn’t peek at the test answers, did she?!

“I lost to the Shogi piece keychain that you gave me! I’m so sorry!!”

“………… That’s it?”

What was I so nervous for? I pull my apprentice to her feet and say.

“They’ve got tons of those things that the Association. I’ll buy you a new one.”

“N-No!! That was the first thing you ever bought for me, Master. It’s too important to just replace with another one …… That’s why I always kept it on my backpack as a good luck charm, but ……”

She says with tear-filled eyes.

Amazed and deeply moved that she would treasure a piece of plastic only worth a couple hundred yen this much, I ask her.

“Do you know where you lost it?”

“School …… I think. I’m pretty sure, but …… I’ve looked all over the school and even checked the lost and found. The teacher’s office is the only place left ……”

Which is why she was trying to sneak in.

“All right. I’ll have a look around and ask the other teachers if they’ve seen anything.”

“Thank you so much!!”

But, she still hasn’t moved from her spot.

“What? Is there something else on your mind?”

“…………… Shouldn’t, we be doing more ……?”

Ai starts talking as if squeezing out thoughts that had been building up for too long.

“God-sensei’s little sister …… The Elementary Meijin will be in the King of Naniwa Tournament, right? But all we’ve been doing is memorizing things and solving Shogi puzzles. Just late game training ……”

“So, you’d like to do more early game practice?”

“…………”

That silence is just as good as a yes.

“I understand that the Women’s Legend qualifier final match is making you anxious. But, improving your late-game skills is the most important thing right now. That goes for the other girls and of course for you, Ai.”

“You don’t have to worry about me! It’s–––.”

“We’ll be starting a different training exercise today. Go on ahead and get ready.”

“………… Okay.”

Still not looking convinced, Ai nods and finally walks away from the teacher’s office.

Once I watch her tiny frame disappear down the hallway, I go inside and set my stuff down on my desk.

“Haaaa ………… Late-game skills.”

I pick up some papers off my desk and look them over.

One is Ai’s Shogi puzzle answers, fully checked.

The other is this year’s Shogi Puzzle Championship results.

3rd Place: Sumito Sakanashi 3-dan 80 Points 180 Minutes (180 Minute Time Limit)

2nd Place: Taishi Shinokubo 7-dan 82 Points 180 Minutes (180 Minute Time Limit)

Champion: Seiichi Tsukimitsu9-dan 94 Points 180 Minutes (180 Minute Time Limit)

Ai Hinatsuru Women’s 1-kyu 100 Points 30 Minutes (180 Minute Time Limit)

“………… She’s too good to just be a prodigy …… Solving everything correctly six times faster than the Eternal Meijin ……”

Mr. Shinokubo in second place is a former titleholder. Chairman Tsukimitsu is a Shogi puzzle creator and has an A rank right now.

How am I supposed to guide a talent that can calculate faster than the person who can do it at the speed of light ……? I’ve thought about it more than anyone.

“Line up!! Face front …… Follow me!!”

Wearing gym clothes and the sunglasses I bought a while ago for a match in Hawaii, I blow the whistle hanging around my neck.

The girls lined up by height in front of me are wearing polo shirts and gym shorts (Charlette, for whatever reason, has bloomers on instead).

“Today we train in the gym!!”

I feel just like one of those hot-blooded PE teachers. It’s important to act the part!

Kanegasaka-sensei, also in gym clothes, says in a low, cold voice.

“You’re welcome to use it, but …… Why the gymnasium? You don’t need all that space to play Shogi and honestly it seems very out of place.”

“It’s that out-of-place-ness that we need to train for!”

“Meaning?”

“The King of Naniwa Tournament will be held in the Osaka City Gymnasium. They need to practice in similar surroundings beforehand. Otherwise, they’ll be nervous when the time comes.”

“Could the surroundings have that much impact on a match?”

“Of course! Pieces can slip out of your fingers if you’re sweating too much and muscle pains can have a big impact on your concentration. Shogi is a sport, after all!”

It’s already the middle of May. The weather is officially starting to get hot. School is done for the day, but it’s hot and muggy in the gym.

There’s also a good chance it’ll rain on the day of the tournament.

“High endurance is a must if you’re going to play a lot of matches in a hot and humid gymnasium …… Which is why I had them wear gym clothes, so they can get some exercise in at the same time! Not for personal reasons, not at all!!”

“I never said anything of the sort ……”

We’ve got half the gym to ourselves while the basketball team practices on the other half. Now, let’s get this training started!

“We focus on practice matches starting today!”

They’ve crammed their heads full of invulnerable formations. It’s time to see the results in actual matches.

The important thing is–––.

“Believe your gut and press forward!”

I didn’t teach them how to defend so they can outlast their opponent.

I did it so they can focus on attacking!

“If you start out playing to win the safe way, your pieces will be out of position to attack when the time comes. That’s why it’s better to practice forcing your way into enemy territory. With enough matches, you’ll be able to sense the timing on your own!!”

““Yes!! Kuzuryu-sensei!!””

“Call me Coach!”

““Yes!! Coach!!”

I’m using the gym’s competitive atmosphere to get them to keep pushing forward on instinct rather than logic. It has nothing to do with my preferences.

I play two matches at once while Ai goes one-on-one against each of the girls in turn.

Since there’s a big gap in skill, the two of us are playing with a handicap.

“Mio, don’t doubt yourself so much! Trust your eyes and charge!”

“Yes, Coach!!”

“Ayano, missed opportunities don’t come back! That’s what defense is for! Never give up! Keep coming again, again, again!!”

“Y-Yes!!”

“Charlette! Keep your tempo up! Don’t wait to the last moment to make your move, play quickly! Never, ever let yourself run out of time!”

“Okway! Cha, Cha will pway fwast!”

Ramping up the intensity of our practice session to prepare for the tournament, the girls’ confidence is getting shattered by losing to Ai over and over despite having the handicap advantage, but …… I can see improvement.

In the Grade Schooler Practice Group.

And–––in Ai’s Shogi.

“All right. Take a breather.”

“Whew …… I played a bunch!”

Mio flops back on to the gym floor after playing for two hours straight with no breaks.

“Haauuu. My fingers are hurting ……”

“Cha, Cha’s so shweatty. Sticky.”

Ayano, who typically takes time to thoroughly read the board, nurses her fingers after playing much faster than she’s used to while Charlette pulls at her shirt that’s stuck to her skin. Is she trying to pull it off ……? DON’T!!

Catching her breath while sprawled out on her back, Mio says.

“…… It takes a lot out of me but playing Shogi with you guys at school is so much fun!”

“Think so?”

“Yep! Ai and I come here every day, but Ayanon and Charlette go to a different school. Now that they’re here, I want to do other things, too ……”

With that, Mio springs to her feet.

Then, eyes twinkling, she asks.

“Hey, Coach! Since we’ve got the gym, why don’t we all play something? We’ve never done that before and it’s not like we can do it every day!”

“That’s true ……”

To be blunt, there’s still a ton of things to do before the tournament starts.

What’s more, only Ai and I know that the Elementary Meijin, Maria Kannabe, will be participating in the King of Naniwa Tournament.

–––No amount of preparation will be enough to win against the Elementary Meijin ……

On the other hand, getting stressed out now can only make things worse.

Having taught this girl over the past year, I think I have a good grasp on their personalities.

They love Shogi, but they’re not cut out for cramming in a ton of matches at once.

That’s why I smile at her and say.

“Well then, why don’t we see if the basketball team will let us join in for a bit?”

If there’s any sport that grade school girls are into right now, it’s basketball.

“Yay! I’ll go get a ball!”

Mio disappears into the gym’s storage room and returns at a light jog while sure handedly dribbling a basketball at the same time.

Charlette looks excited, too.

“Cha! Cha woves basquette ball!”

“I-I’m not the best at sports like this, but …… But you think, Ai?”

“………… Not good enough.”

““Huh?””

Ai, the only one still sitting at a board tells Mio in a cold, harsh tone.

“I’m saying that wasn’t good enough. Didn’t you hear me?”

She’s not talking about playing basketball.

After playing matches against everybody, Ai must’ve picked up on what I did.

“The matches we just played; everyone’s late game was terrible.”

“W-Well …… We can’t just rush towards checkmate like you can, Ai, so–––.”

“Then when will you be able to?”

Ai corners her with a hard tone.

“If you can’t, you have to practice until you can. And, Master told you to memorize those formations, but you couldn’t even get them right. Isn’t it common sense to study at home until you can remember everything?”

Her onslaught of logic continues.

She’s not mincing words with a girl her own age.

“And now you want to play basketball? Are you even trying?”

“Of course we are! That’s why we have been coming to these practice sessions every day! You’ve seen how hard we’re trying, haven’t you!?”

“Practice session? This?”

Ai laughs her nose, almost taunting Mio as she says.

“This isn’t a practice session. For me, it’s an instructional match.”

In the face of those chilling, harsh words–––.

“…………… Is that what you think?”

Looking like she just got stabbed in the heart, the ball slips out of Mio’s hand and falls to the floor.

“What else could it be? I’m giving you a handicap. Solving Shogi puzzles and playing handicap matches right before an important league match isn’t a practice session, now is it?”

“!! …… I’m not playing handicap match because I want to–––.”

“If you hate it that much, you have to get stronger, right? But you’re running away to play basketball?”

Stomp!

Mio slams her foot down.

“And what if I am?! I don’t need you to teach me anything!!”

“Master.”

With no emotion her voice whatsoever, Ai turns her attention to me and says in one breath.

“I’m already in the Women’s League. I can research on my own and I want to focus on preparing for a very important league match. So I’m leaving this practice group.”

L-Leaving?! The Grade Schooler Practice Group?!

It’s true there’s a difference in skill level, but this practice group …… For Ai, it might be more of a place to teach now rather than a place to learn. 

I’ve raised her the way that I think is best. Unfortunately, now’s not the time to explain what I have in mind ……

And, no matter how I look at it …… What she’s saying is just too bizarre.

I mean, earlier today in front of the teachers office, she was more worried about–––.

Almost as if trying to confirm my theory, Ai starts storming out of the gym.

“Ai!!”

I call out to her just before she reaches the door and finally she comes to a stop.

“Keep solving Shogi puzzles. Ones longer than the ones you haven’t been able to solve, and like your life depends on it. Don’t you dare look at the answers until you’re finished.”

She doesn’t answer. Without another glance, Ai leaves the gym.

The Grade Schooler Practice Group, which was formed all because Mio and Ai met, is falling apart because they couldn’t see eye to eye.