Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 5.3

  AYANO’S PRIDE

Once Charlette falls asleep again after all that crying, I leave her in Machi’s care at the infirmary and quickly change into my kimono before racing back to the arena.

“!! The semifinals have started already ……”

The Upper Grade Division’s top four are battling it out.

A horde of people have gathered around the two boards. With nearly a thousand grade schoolers taking part in the Upper Grade Division, I’m not surprised these matches would draw a crowd.

And, among the top four–––.

“Mio and Ayano?! Both of them made it this far!”

I knew those practice sessions had a big impact on the group from seeing how much Charlette improved with my own eyes, but …… it looks like focusing on tournament preparation really helped.

“…… Luckily, they were split up very nicely. They really could meet in the finals–––.”

But, a jolt goes up my spine when I see who Ayano is playing.

Even at this distance, that silhouette is–––.

“The princess loli?! …… So, she’s really here!”

The Elementary Meijin and Ayumu’s little sister–––Maria Kannabe.

While I haven’t seen any of her match records, Ms. Shakando’s attachment to her is enough to know that she’s no average player. Is Ayano’s Shogi strong enough to work against the Elementary Meijin?

“Get too close and I might end up distracting her ……”

Staying at the back of the crowd, I keep a close eye on the match happening between Ayano and Maria.

Everyone is so focused on the Elementary Meijin from Tokyo that not a single person realizes that the Ryuo is right here …… I’m not being ignored because I’m unpopular. Maria’s fashion sense is just so out there that my kimono is getting overlooked. That’s all ……

As for the match itself, Ayano’s playing Ranging Rook, her specialty, and she had the first move.

Maria seems to be playing Static Rook just like her brother, but–––.

“Behold and grovel. This is the Elementary Meijin’s Shogi!”

She declares for all to hear and then follows through on the promise.

I’m a Pro, and even I’d have to agree all her moves feel right.

––– Actually …… They look a bit too good to be human.

I feel like I’m watching Shogi software.

Many people are afraid that kids using software from a young age will distort their Shogi.

But, it looks like Maria’s young, malleable brain managed to incorporate the software into her own playing style and everything feels even more natural than when Pros or dan-ranking Sub League members try to do it.

No wonder she calls herself the best of the computer-native generation.

–––If she’s done that without realizing it …… She’s one heck of a prodigy.

Using those sharp senses to the fullest extent, Maria drives Ayano into a corner at no time at all.

“………… She’s strong!!”

Early game, mid game, late game. There aren’t any holes!

I’m sorry to say it, but …… Ayano can’t measure up. Not against this level of skill ……!

–––Maria’d be just fine joining the Sub League tomorrow!!

At the very least, she’s too good to be in kids’ tournaments.

Ayano, the person who understands that better than anyone else right now …… has completely lost the will to keep fighting.

“Agh ………. Arrrgh …………”

While Ayano has always had a good amount of technical skill, she’s not the toughest mentally.

Even back when she played against Ai in the Practice League for the first time, my apprentice’s determination overwhelmed her, and she gave up surprisingly quickly.

I knew she had this problem, but ……

–––There wasn’t time to build up mental strength …… If only I were a better teacher ……

I could’ve at least given her a pep talk before the match to help her keep going!

Instead, the regrets just keep piling up.

“Th- …… There …………… There a-aren’t–––.”

“There aren’t any moves left.”

Ayano is about to throw in the towel with those words.

Before she can.

“YEEESSSAHHH––––––!!! I WINNNNNN–––––!!”

Mio jumps up onto the desk next to them and bellows at the top of her lungs.

Her sudden outburst has the arena an uproar.

“The match is MIIIIINNNNEEE––––––!! I’m …… I’m in the FIIIIINNNNNAAAALLLLLLSSSSSSSSSS!!!!”

“Y-You there!! The other match is still in session! Be quiet!”

A staff member rushes in and drags Mio away in the blink of an eye.

“Celebrating like that, where are your manners?! Put yourself in the shoes of the person who just lost! My word …… The Practice League isn’t doing enough to teach its members how to behave during matches these days!!”

Plenty of people in the crowd are criticizing what Mio did too.

She gets forcibly led out of the arena and to a waiting room someplace else, but …… It dawns on me right away what she had in mind.

“I won! Now you’ve gotta win, too, Ayanon! We’re playing in the finals, right?!”

Yes, she wanted Ayano to know.

Shogi Players are alone at the board …… A sport always played in isolation.

Mio and Ayano were playing in different spots and playing completely different Shogi.

But their hearts were fighting as one.

“Hmph …… Making it to the finals is not worth such a fuss.”

Maria snorts through her nose.

“I cannot allow for this match to be delayed and be a thorn in my Master’s side. One such as I shall settle this now.”

“…………… finals.”

“Uhm? Did you say something, spectacles? If you’re surrendering, speak up!”

“I’m the one …… who will play Mio, in the finals!!”

Ayano had been reaching for her piece stand to show that she was giving up. Instead, she clinches that hand into a fist, grits her teeth, and chooses to fight by snapping down a piece so hard it echoes through the gym.

She’s come back from the brink.

Mio’s yelling–––lit a flame in her heart!

“I …… might not be able to win against you, Miss Kannabe ……”

Says Ayano as she removes her glasses and wipes her eyes at the back of her fist.

Then, putting them back on.

“But! I will not lose mentally!!”

Sounding so passionate I can hardly believe it’s the same person, Ayano leans over the board.

Then, she shows some real guts fending off Maria’s attacks.

“Stubborn …… Aren’t you?!!”

Maria growls with frustration as Ayano pulls out one trick after another to fiercely resist everything thrown at her.

–––The very content of Ayano’s Shogi is changing ……!

More solid. Bending but not breaking.

Each move she makes is more tenacious than the last. Sometimes, almost shamelessly so.

–––Her technique hasn’t improved! It’s her heart …… Her heart has decided to fight!

“I don’t want to lose!”

“I don’t want to stop! I want to keep playing Shogi!”

That persistence comes through loud and clear with each move. I feel like I’ve seen this Shogi somewhere, recently too.

This play style is like–––.

“…………… Ms. Gakumeki? No, couldn’t be ……”

I immediately reject the name that popped up out of nowhere.

I just can’t see Ayano studying from Ms. Gakumeki’s playing style.

But, this late game she’s putting together looks like something right out of the Sub League. I just can’t get the image out of my head ……

–––It’s amazing she fought back this far from the edge of defeat ……

Sure, her formation is a mess and it wouldn’t take much to knock it down.

Even so, Ayano successfully managed to get her King all the way to the corner of the board and protect it with an incomplete anaguma.

One look at her defense and–––.

“You’ve become arrogant, spectacles. Perhaps you think hiding behind an anaguma will stop one such as I?”

“Huh?”

The Elementary Meijin reaches for her piece stand.

“Prepare to burn at the stake. Spectacles, you shall die by these hands.”

A declaration of victory!

And, just as she said–––.

“………… Aghh?!”

Maria used that moment Ayano’s heart wavered …… to crack open the incomplete anaguma with a well-read sequence and checkmates her King in no time flat.

This picture-perfect ending has the crowd buzzing.

“Maria Kannabe won!” “That’s the Elementary Meijin for you …… Checkmating her from that far away ……!” “The Sub League will be a breeze for her ……” “Welp, guess there’s no point in watching the final because she’s got it in the bag ……”

Each and every one of them are praising Maria’s strength.

No one brings up the defeated Ayano.

“Congratulations, Miss Kannabe! The stage needs to be prepared for the final match, so would you please come with me to the break room?”

“I shall.”

Maria calmly stands up and makes her exit right behind a staff member.

“And if I may make a request for the next match …… Would you please remove the cat ears you’re wearing?”

“That is my hair.”

Ayano, staring at the board, is now all by herself as the crowd disperses one by one.

All alone, she’s not even trying to get up from her spot in front of the board.

Until …… The last of the crowd disappears and I go up to her.

“Well done.”

She looks up at me and her cheeks are dry. Ayano isn’t crying.

Casting her eyes back down on the board with the pieces still in place–––.

“………… I have been jealous of Ai all this time.”

Words start coming out bit by bit.

I stay quiet and listen.

“Mio and I were the closest of friends before Ai came along. The first day we played at Shogi Association, we bonded right away ………… I’m not athletic and I’ve always been a quiet person, so having a friend with that much energy was a new experience for me ……”

Ayano’s life changed that day.

I know without even asking her.

Every kid who plays Shogi knows what she’s talking about. It’s just like how my life changed the day that I met Big Sis and Ayumu.

“The only reason I joined the Practice League in the first place was because Mio said she was going to join. I wasn’t too serious about Shogi at first. I just, wanted to be with Mio …… I didn’t want to be left behind ……”

Then, Ai showed up.

Mio became so focused on chasing after her that …… Ayano got left out in the cold at some point. I bet that’s how she feels, anyway.

That’s why–––.

“I wanted to face Mio in the final round.”

Her motivation for participating in this tournament wasn’t to win her way into the history books or even be praised for her skills.

It was just …… because she wanted to play against her best friend.

“This, this is probably …… the last chance I’ll ever ……………” 

Reaching that point, Ayano couldn’t bring herself to say another word.

I get a pretty good idea of what’s going on just by the look on her face.

–––Now I get it …… She knew about Mio’s transfer.

Mio must have told Ayano and Charlette about her situation. And, she never told Ai.

This whole thing had to have been hard on Ayano as well.

“……… This …… hurts ……”

Ayano manages to squeeze those words out of her throat.

“This hurts! My heart hurts!!”

Tears and words start flowing with no end in sight.

Fists clenched on her knees and biting down on her lip, Ayano breaks down right then and there.

“It hurts.” “It hurts.” “It hurts.” She whispers over and over again on a loop as if carving this pain into her heart.

I simply stay right next to her, listening.

This girl doesn’t need words right now.

She doesn’t need consoling. She doesn’t need criticism.

Because, she already knows what needs to be done.