Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter 5.5

  WARM TEARS

“The victor, Mio Mizukoshi.”

Judge Rina Shakando reads off the victory certificate from the podium right in front of Mio, who looks even more nervous now than she did during the match.

“You were stronger than all participants of the 25th King of Naniwa Tournament, Upper Grades Division. Thus, I endow you with this certificate and hereby etch your name into the annuals of history.”

Usually there’s a standard template for making victory certificates like this one and all they do is switch out the names, but Ms. Shakando took the time to come up with an original message by herself and write it out by hand for this one.

An original victory certificate from the Queen-Quadruple Title. I can’t imagine how much that must be worth.

“Congratulations. Your final approach was most impressive. I hear tell that you are in the Practice League …… May I ask who your Master is?”

“K-Kuresaka-sensei!”

“I see. Do you have your sights set on the Women’s League?”

“! …… I, well ……”

Mio’s not sure what to say. Picking up on her discomfort, Ms. Shakando simply smiles and congratulates her again before giving her the certificate.

“Thank you so much!!”

A round of thunderous applause fell the gym as Mio starts to get off the podium.

Ms. Shakando stops her.

“There is still the matter of the trophy. Now …… Would you bring it forward?”

Mio stopped in her tracks while Ms. Shakando signals someone just off stage.

Osakans love flashy, over-the-top things and this trophy is certainly no exception. It’s so big that I can’t even see the person carrying it.

“……?”

Mio tilts her head, confused.

From a distance, it looks like the trophy itself sprouted legs and is now waddling its way over to her.

The one carrying this behemoth of a trophy is–––a tiny Women’s League Player.

“! Ai …… Is that you?”

Stunned, Mio can only stand there.

Careful not to lose her balance, Ai slowly but surely brings the trophy to its new owner and offers up celebratory words.

“Congratulations, Mio.”

Then, still holding the massive trophy in her hands, Ai bows as low as she can.

“And …… I’m so sorry! Saying all those mean things–––.”

“No, no! I know what you were trying to do! I get it, so everything’s okay!!”

Mio rushes over to Ai.

“Actually, I’m the one that needs to be thanking you! You had all this stuff to worry about, but you still …… were willing to be the bad guy all for me.”

“Mio ……”

A hint of relief passes over Ai’s face now that she knows her best friend understood everything.

I was certain that that’s what she was trying to do back on that day in the school gym.

I’m a terrible master, but there’s one thing even I can tell. Ai always prioritizes other people before herself no matter what else she has on her plate.

That’s a wonderful trait to have as a person …… but can be a major flaw for a Shogi Player.

This time, it’s Mio who asks.

“But …… That’s gotta be it. You knew, didn’t you? Since when?”

“The day of the opening ceremony …… I heard you talking with Kanegasaka-sensei in the teacher’s office ……”

Her voice trailing off, Ai does her best to explain.

“That day, Kanegasaka-sensei was going to do a home visit …… I went there to check with her about the time, but you got there first …… I knew it wouldn’t be right to listen in, but just when I was about to go …… I heard ‘transfer’ …… And …… And ……!”

“Then that means this was yours after all.”

With that, Mio reaches into her pocket and pulls out–––a Shogi piece keychain.

That was the first reward I ever bought for Ai at the Association gift shop.

“!! Where was it?! That’s the first thing Master ever gave me, so I’ve been looking everywhere! So, you had it, Mio …… Thank goodness ……!”

“It was on the floor outside the teacher’s office. I was pretty sure it was yours, but ……”

She probably couldn’t find the right time to give it back.

I mean, once Mio did give it back to her, Ai wouldn’t be able to hide the fact she eaves dropped on the conversation.

“I should’ve given it back to you sooner, yeah? And it would’ve been so much easier on both of us if I just told you about my transferring from the start. I really am sorry. All I’ve ever done is hold you back–––.”

“That’s not true at all!!”

“Huh ……?”

“You are the first one to ever invite me to play Shogi!! Don’t tell me you forgot?!”

That was the on first day I took Ai to the Association classroom.

Even now, I can remember it like it was yesterday, right down to how warm Mio’s hands were after she played a match against Ai and wanted to shake my hand.

“Shogi is fun for me all because you played with me, Mio! You gave me the courage to stay here in Osaka by being my friend. If it hadn’t been for you, school would’ve been scary and I wouldn’t have made so many friends …… You …… You’ve given me so, so much …… But I’ve never given you anything in return …… I just never knew what to do ……!”

Winner takes all. That’s the way the world of competition works.

It’s probably true that Mio would’ve won a lot more matches in the Practice League if Ai weren’t around. That’s a fact that can’t be denied.

Which is why–––Mio answers.

“You know, after I met you? I cry so much more than I used to.”

“……!”

Ai looks at the floor and bites her lip. She’s bracing herself for pain.

Except, Mio is smiling at Ai as she stares at the floor.

“But, those tears? They’re warm!”

“Huh…… ?”

“I always thought that tears were cold! That losing Shogi was a sad thing and there was nothing good about it.”

Losing a match is truly painful.

The more serious you are about it, the more your heart hurts when your fighting spirit breaks.

“But, you know? All those tears since I met you, Ai, they’ve all been warm! No matter how bad things got, no matter how much it hurt, watching you never break no matter what right next to me and playing against you …… I guess your burning passion rubbed off on me.”

True to her playing style, Ai takes on her problems head-on in life as well.

Mio was always right next to that fireball of a girl.

“If you hadn’t been around, I’ve never been able to keep it together with my transfer coming up. You coming to Osaka all by yourself made me feel like I can go anywhere, too! I …… I wanna be strong just like you!!”

“Mi- …… o ……!!”

That proved to be too much for Ai and tears begin pouring down her cheeks.

With the trophy requiring both hands to carry, Ai can’t wipe them away by herself.

Mio reaches out and wipes those pearly drops from her cheeks.

“See? They’re warm, aren’t they?”

“Uh-huh …… hot. They’re very hot ……!”

Then, Mio takes hold of Ai’s hand as the two hoist the trophy together.

The scene that just unfolded on stage gets a standing ovation from the crowd.

Even though they couldn’t hear the words that were exchanged on the podium, I’m sure Mio wiping Ai’s tears away was all they needed to see to understand.

I know this because Shogi has helped all the kids and their families who gathered here today …… overcome struggles before.

“Mio and Ai …… the two of them have grown up so much and it’s only been a year ……”

Holding my own tears back out of sheer will, I clap my heart out for the two of them.

I thought they’d always be kids.

I thought I had to teach them everything.

Honestly, there were times I got irritated because they couldn’t do the things that I taught them right away.

But, I was wrong.

I’m not sure when it started, but …… I’m the one that’s been learning.

“Let’s take a picture together and send it to Black Cat! I won because of them. You asked them to, right Ai? Found someone to teach me in your place?”

“M-Mio?! How did you ……?”

“Of course, I figured it out! (haha)”

Mio says that it was pretty obvious as both girls turn their backs to the crowd and Mio snaps a selfie of the two of them hold the trophy with a compact digital camera.

Mio saying “Blaaaack Caaaaat” instead of something like “cheese” seemed just a little bit off to me, but …… Apparently, all of us know this person was been helping Mio in matches over the Internet. Just who could this Cinderella of a “Black Cat” be?

“Now, the time has come for us to meet in battle, Drakin.”

Says Ayumu, suddenly at my side and clapping as he continues.

“My sibling was too arrogant to see the trap that swept her off her feet, and yet the same blood runs in our veins …… She shall be avenged this day!”

I’d bet that this is a match Ayumu can’t afford to lose.

Despite coming here all the way from Tokyo, he could only watch on as his rival’s student defeated his own sister. What’s worse, it happened right in front of his precious Master.

At this point, the shame will be too great to look his master in the eye if he doesn’t at least win this match before the day is through. I understand that feeling so well it hurts.

That’s why I give him this answer.

“Sorry, Ayumu.”

“What?”

“This match today …… I can’t afford to lose either!!”