Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 5.2

  CHARLETTE’S WISH

“Kuzuryu-sensei. Please begin preparations for your match.”

“Ah, I’m on my way!”

Doing instructional matches for tons and tons of grade schoolers at the booth with my apprentice, I finish up my current matches in record time once the staff comes to get me.

Once the kids who lost in the block round started showing up, the instructional match booth had officially turned into a war zone. Abandoning my post now really hurts, but I have work to do so I don’t have a choice.

“Ai. The rest of the matches are yours.”

“Yes, Master! I’ll see you on stage!”

The tournament’s final match will take place on stage and the Pro match will happen right after it.

Ai is scheduled to work on that stage, too.

If Mio and Ayano make it all the way to the finals, Ai will be able to watch the match closer than anyone else …… I’m rooting for you, girls.

Following the staff member away, I ask.

“How is tournament going so far?”

“It’s on schedule. Both the Lower Grade and Upper Grade Divisions have finished the first round of their brackets …… Huh? It looks like there’s still one going on. That’s a Lower Grade Division match.”

The staff member explains that the late game can get messy in the lower grades because they often miss opportunities to checkmate their opponents–––but I didn’t let him finish.

“Sorry! Could you wait just a minute?!”

“What?! R-Ryuo?! Where are you go–––?”

I race towards that last match like I got shot out of a cannon.

Because I could see one of the kids leaning over the board and fighting her heart out …… has long blonde hair.

“!! …… Charlette …………”

She actually made it through to the tournament round?!

She is so focused on the board that she doesn’t even notice that I’m at the front of the crowd. Her breathing is shallow, and her eyes were bright red. Playing so many matches in a row has really taken a toll on her.

The formations …… show Charlette at a disadvantage.

The boy she’s playing against probably has a dan ranking based on the stronghold he’s built for his King. Even his offensive push has depth.

The difference is that Charlette still has waiting time.

“………… She’s doing what I told her to do ……”

Play with the good tempo so you never run out of time. I can’t count how many times I’ve told her to do that.

It’s easy when you have a strong lead but saving up time when you’re behind is very difficult.

“Nhh!!”

Charlette plays her next move with gusto! Even a Pro would look at that and know it was the best move to make, a very comfortable decision.

Then, I feel something wrong in my veins.

–––She forgot to press the button on the chess clock ……!

Charlette is in the zone right now. So far in, in fact, that she forgot to think about the time for one moment.

She only realizes it when the clock’s mechanical voice started counting down the seconds.

“Whaa? ………… Agh!”

Charlette nearly jumps out of her chair and hits that clock button.

But, all that time she worked so hard to keep is gone.

Even worse, her opponent used that waiting time to read the board and figure out his next moves. This late in the match, that’s a fatal blow. Charlette was already at a disadvantage in the first place.

She’s lost her final weapon, time.

I wouldn’t blame her for throwing the towel right now, but–––.

“That blonde girl …… She’s something special!” “A sneeze could knock her over right now, so where’s all that strength coming from?!” “She’s got a strong heart, that one ……!”

Charlette keeps playing.

The longer she holds out against the incoming attacks, the more the onlookers start cheering for her. That tiny, gentle, and sweet Charlette is getting praised for being a “strong-hearted girl.”

I …… I think I’m going to cry.

“Hang in there …… Hang in there ……!”

I’m the Ryuo, the strongest there is, but that’s all I can say on a loop as I hold back tears.

But, this battle is just cruel.

Closing in, closing in, closing in …… But, when she realized she’d never get there.

“……… I wose.”

Charlette gives up and gives her opponent a clear bow.

The crowd gives her a round of applause for the ages. Even though he won, the boy she was playing against turns bright red and stares into his lap as if he lost. I bet he’s embarrassed about the time situation.

No point in holding that against him. He was fighting for his life, too.

Even so, Charlette smiles her usual smile despite losing and says.

“Let’s pway Shogi again!”

She reaches out to the boy to offer handshake.

When–––she collapses sideways.

“!! Charlette?!”

But, a woman beats me to Charlette’s side to catch her before she falls out of the chair.

She’s wearing sunglasses, but I can tell it’s–––.

“Machi?!”

“This never reaches Ayano’s ears, please.”

Says Machi Kugui-Yamashiro Ouka in disguise.

“I shall take her to the infirmary.”

“The girl is just exhausted. She’ll be just fine with some rest.”

That’s what the doctor said as Charlette slept on the bed beside him.

I explained everything to her mother, who had come to watch the tournament, and now she’s on the phone with Charlette’s father outside the infirmary.

But, I’ve got to say …… Machi’s reflexes were a little too good.

It was almost like she knew that Charlette was going to collapse from exhaustion–––.

“So, um, Machi? Why did you come out here today? It doesn’t seem like …… you’re here just to cheer on your younger sister apprentice.”

“But, of course, I wish Ayano only the best, though today it’s Charlette I wanted to see.”

Charlette?

“I was unsure of how long her endurance would hold out. Simply advancing past the blocks is a miracle. Such a tiny girl trying so hard ……”

“Why are you so worried about her in the first place?”

“Charlette …… Has been visiting my abode to train for some time now. Once training with you had concluded, Ryuo-san, she came to me on those two delicate legs of hers.”

“Say what?!”

“This little one, she seems airy and aloof but is actually quite stubborn. So much so that no matter how many times I told her to return home as her parents would worry, she always came back. There were times I gave into her enthusiasm and played host for days on end.”

“Why would she go that far ……?”

“…… To become an apprentice, I believe. Yours, Ryuo-san.”

Apprentice? …… Mine?

“She asked once, nearly a year ago, but was turned down. Charlette seemed to believe that the answer would be different if she were a strong Player akin to Ai Hinatsuru and devoted herself wholly to that cause. You said you would grant a wish, Ryuo-san, with a good result at this tournament, did you not?”

“B- …… But, I told Charlette she could be my bride. She even told me a bride is better than an apprentice, and that settled it ……”

“Ryuo-san’s bride, you say? How envious!”

But–––Machi adds while stroking Charlette’s hair.

“No matter how loved she is, it is the Shogi connection that she longs for. A common affliction for girls who have fallen for Shogi Players, perhaps? Especially for young Charlette …… for the day she must return to France is an inevitably on the horizon.”

“……!”

Man …… I’m an idiot.

I thought Charlette would always be in Japan. After I found out about Mio transferring, I’ve been so focused on that …… The idea that Charlette might have to leave Japan someday never crossed my mind.

But, she knew we would have to say goodbye from the first day we met ……!

Just then, there’s a tug on my shirt.

“………… Masta ……”

“Charlette?! You’re awake?! Hold on a second, okay? I’ll go get your mother–––.”

But, she tightens her grip.

“You see, Cha? Can Cha ………… be Masta’s apwentice?”

She asked the same thing she did back on that day.

“……!!”

Back then, I told her no.

It was because …… I thought Charlette’s talent and my teaching ability weren’t enough.

That’s why I changed the subject, saying I would “make her my bride.”

Charlette was still really young and couldn’t be all that serious about Shogi …… And I was relieved when she went along with the distraction.

But, I was wrong.

I was the one that was distracting myself!

“………… Charlette ……”

I kneel and take the hand still grasping my shirt in both of mine.

Then, I tell her.

My answer?

Obviously.

“Charlette …… You have always, always been my apprentice ……”

If this girl should ever want to join the Practice League, I would gladly write my name as her master on the paperwork.

It wouldn’t matter if she went back to France. In today’s world, you can play Shogi with anyone, anywhere, anytime over the Internet.

What about talent?

The Shogi world would make her life miserable, would it?

Those were all things I told myself, pushing my own shortcomings onto her!

I won’t let her be miserable.

I’ll turn her into the strongest girl to play Shogi the world has ever seen!

“Charlette, you’re my apprentice, my bride …… We’ll always be together! No matter where you are, I will always be with you!!”

“Wahhh ……”

My newest apprentice wraps her arms around her master’s body and–––.

“Waahhh …… waaaaaaahhhhhhh!! Nghaaaaaahhh!!”

Start bawling her eyes out.

Tears so hot they just might melt her face keep rolling down those cheeks.

But for her, those cries are marking her rebirth.

They’re the first ones I’ve ever seen her shed after losing a match.

“Ch-Cha …… you see? Cha, really …… wanted to win! Cha …… wanted to be stwonger ……!!”

“…… You will be. For sure.”

I tell her as she cries for real for the first time.

You’ll become very strong.

After all, you’ve already done this strong …… in a single day.