Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 10 - Chapter Ep

  EPILOGUE

It was sprinkling when we left the arena, but now it’s really coming down.

“All right everyone, head over to Master Kiyotaki’s place. I’ll catch up once I pick up a few things at my apartment to spend the night.”

““See you there!!””

The happy voices of grade schoolers giving me a push out the parked van’s door, I step out onto Naniwa Street.

The one most excited about Mio taking first place, Ayano winning third, and Charlette making it into the best eight in her Division wasn’t the girls themselves ……. Or even their parents.

It’s Kousuke Kiyotaki 9-dan.

I heard that the Grade Schooler Practice Group had their practice sessions at Master’s place while I was busy with placement matches. Master is even registered as “Grandpa♡” on their messaging apps. What a loli-con!

Apparently, he was glued to the Internet coverage of the tournament and started bawling his eyes out that he wanted to do something for them whether they won or lost. It also seems like he was relentlessly calling my phone while the tournament was going on.

We’re not allowed to have any electronic devices on us during matches, so I got a real surprise when I turned my phone back on. Stunned by the 99 missed calls, I called Master back but could hardly understand a word he said on the other end.

“Whanna ssselibraaate, sooo wgall ever’bhdyy obar to da howwwse.”

“Hm? You want me to tell everyone to come to your place for a party?”

“Nygaa! Nygaa!”

“Understood. Their parents are here, so I’ll bring the girls over once I have their permission.”

And so now we’re having a sleepover.

I’m sure all their parents want to celebrate their daughters’ achievements as a family.

But, they were nice enough to prioritize me and let the four girls spend time together.

Not only that, they knew all of us couldn’t fit in a regular taxi so Mio’s father summoned a big van for us …… Other Association staff members who happened to see me helping the girls into the black van saw us off with smiles.

The girls’ excited little voices came out of the van up until I close the door behind me.

“Gwandpa♡ Gwandpa♡”

“Kiyotaki-sensei said he’ll buy us presents! Whatever we want! I’m gonna ask for one of those pocket translator thingies for when I move to Europe!”

“I would like to do more Shogi research, so I would like good pieces to use for it.”

“It’s been forever since we’ve had a pajama party with Keika!”

The Grade Schooler Practice Group and Keika …… in pajamas?!

What kind of all-star lineup is that?! It’s a dream come true ……

Visions of Keika’s ero- …… curvy body that night after the family meeting going through my head, I have to wipe my mouth. It’s sweat! That or the rain!

“I better keep an eye on them …… There’s no telling what might happen if I’m not there ……”

After all, their parents trust me to protect them!

Because Kanegasaka-sensei finally acknowledged me as Ai’s guardian! Because I teach Shogi at a grade school!

That’s why I have to grab my pajamas right when I get home and join the party!!

“There’s so much to do before summer vacation! Let’s do them all together!”

“Yes! Let’s make memories!”

Mio and Ai had held hands the whole time in the van, making plans back and forth.

If there’s anything I can do to help them out, I’ll do it.

I’ll be turning 18 this summer.

If I get a driver’s license on August 1, my birthday, I can take the girls anywhere they want during summer vacation. Whatever happy memories they want to make, I can make it happen.

“…… Oh! The results are in.”

Just as I was planning out the near future …… My phone vibrates in my pocket and I take it out to look at the info. Results from the important matches that take place once every two weeks.

The 3-dan Division results.

They had regular activities today and Big Sis played in Osaka.

She outright forbade me from going to the Association to ask in person, so I’ve been having the Director secretly send me the results so she doesn’t find out.

“Sota is still undefeated. What else I expect ……? Good, Mr. Kagamizu is still sitting with just one loss and his rank hasn’t changed. If he keeps this up ……”

Then, I get to the main event, Big Sis’s result.

Ginko Sora 3-dan ––––––○○○○○○○●●● 

“Consecutive losses?! Bis Sis ……?!”

It’s the first time that’s happened.

After losing to Mr. Kagamizu, that one loss has suddenly became two in a row.

Losing consecutive matches …… makes things extremely difficult. Big Sis’s ranking is low to begin with, so now winning out is her only hope ……

“But, she needs to get out of this mindset. I’ll talk to Keika and see if she knows how to cheer up Big Sis without getting in her way–––.”

I mumble to myself as I walk in the front door, head to the sink to grab a towel to dry off my hair and toss my wet clothes into the hamper.

Then, I hear my name as soon as I step into the kitchen.

“…………… Yaichi ……………” 

Someone glowing faintly white in the darkness is standing there.

They’re grabbing something with their left hand and pushing said something against their right wrist.

“…… Big Sis?”

Despite hearing my own name and seeing her with my own eyes, I honestly can’t tell if that’s her or not.

Seriously–––the Ginko Sora standing there, her eyes are darker and cloudier than I’ve ever seen before in my life.

“It’s this hand’s fault.”

Says the girl as pale as a ghost sounding as alive as a doll.

“I was in position to win, just like I should be. And then this hand made a move that went against my plan all on its own. That’s why–––.”

I finally realize what it is that Big Sis is pushing against her wrist.

It’s–––a knife.

“That’s why it has to be severed.”

“Gah?! Wh-What do you think you’re doing?!!”

I race up to Big Sis in a panic and snatch that knife right out of her hand.

“Don’t put a blade against your skin, even as a joke! I understand the shock from losing consecutive matches hurts, but the 3-dan Division is still going on! You won’t be able to play Shogi ever again like this!!”

There was a time in this very kitchen that Big Sis said she was looking for a knife to cut off my head.

It was the first time she met Ai Hinatsuru.

Only a year ago.

During that year, Ai has grown so much in Shogi and as a person, right along with her friends.

But Big Sis …… was about to use that knife to cut off her right hand, which she needs to play Shogi.

Why did it come to this ……?

“I can’t anymore. I’m done with Shogi. I don’t want to be in Osaka.”

The drenched and lifeless doll in the shape of Big Sis tells me with those dark eyes as she reaches for the knife I took from her …… and grabs the blade with her bare hands.

Then, she says as she guides the tip toward her heart.

“Please–––––––––––kill me.”