Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 11 - Chapter 3.3

  THE FIRST SHOGI MARTIAN

From that point on, Ryou Tsukiyomizaka and Machi Kugui did set foot in my world from time to time.

Especially Machi Kugui, who happened to be in the Practice League for one year alongside Keika (though she passed her up in no time at all to become a Women’s League member), and they apparently had practice sessions at Master’s classroom because I saw her every now and then …… Though I never allowed her into the main house.

There were also a surprising number of girls who flocked to Yaichi just because he was the Elementary Meijin, but that idiot was so stupid that all I had to say was Keika is calling you and he’d go.

I thoroughly convinced all those girls after that. Not with words, but with Shogi.

Now is a very important stage in Yaichi’s training. He doesn’t have the time to be fooling around with the likes of you …… It’s the older sister apprentice’s duty to make sure her younger brother apprentice has the right environment to grow in.

However, none of them were a big deal.

It was a different, overwhelming entity that threatened to destroy the world that I had come to know.

The existence of Shogi Martians.

The first one invaded the Kiyotaki house about two months after Yaichi had joined the Sub League … sometime in the fall, I think.

“Ah, welcome! C’mon inside an’ make yerself at home!”

“No, I shall decline. Standing up again requires more energy than it’s worth once I sit down.”

The woman Master was talking to at the front door was the most vibrantly dressed Shogi player I had ever seen.

Rina Shakando—Women’s Quadruple Title.

The undisputed ruler of Women’s Shogi, she held all four women’s titles, excluding the newly introduced Queen. She was on her way to Kyushu to defend her Women’s King title and had stopped off in Osaka.

With a young boy at her side.

“Never thought ol’ Rina’d take an apprentice.”

“Likewise, Kousuke. It was quite a shock, learning that you had taken not one, but two live-in apprentices at once. Many in Kanto believe you have lost your mind.”

“Didn’ they always say I had a screw loose?”

“He-he. Indeed, they did ……”

I watched the three of them by myself from the top of the stairs. Keika and Yaichi were out shopping, if I remember correctly.

“Sure was a bold move, takin’ a boy as yar apprentice right off the bat. People here in Kansai would call it interestin’ and leave it at that, but didn’ the stone-headed ol’ guard in Kanto give ya trouble?”

“It came down to my Master’s will before he passed. His last desire was for one of the Ashigara Shogi family line to possess the title of Meijin …… However, I was the sole descendent to make a lasting mark on the world. I used what little influence I wield as a Women’s Shogi player to take a male apprentice. Even went as far as having regulations be rewritten.”

“I remember Ashigara-sensei in his final years takin’ any kid he thought looked promisin’ …… But, not one of ‘em turned pro. He was so desperate to find good ones ’at he forgot to raise the ones he had. So much talent got squandered ’cause of him ……” 

“He was a benevolent teacher. He took me as a live-in apprentice simply because my disabled leg would make transportation a burden and raised me alongside his own daughters. There was only one way I could possibly repay his kindness.”

“I’d say yer already doin’ ’at, bein’ the player ya are today, Rina! What made him so fixed on gettin’ Meijin?”

“It could not be helped. For those of that generation, the mantle of Meijin was worth sacrificing the careers of all others to obtain. If they could not do it themselves, it was up to their apprentice. If not their apprentice, then the apprentices thereafter. Even from beyond, their conviction has been passed down to the living, binding generations of Masters and apprentices throughout the Shogi world to this day.”

“’At may be true, but ……”

“At any rate, that is why I have struck off on my own in Kanto to start my own family line. Circumstances being as they are, getting sibling apprentices for this child will prove difficult …… I would like for him to bond with yours.”

“That’d be great! My Yaichi could use the extra push ’at comes from havin’ a rival in his own generation, even if they ain’t in Kansai. Come over fer trainin’ whenever ya like.”

Master thumped his chest and greeted the apparent Sub League member with a hearty smile.

The boy listened to the adults’ conversation without saying a word, though he stood tall as he could in the doorway in front of Ms. Shakando, as if he were protecting the woman who used a cane to stand.

–––Almost like a knight would do for his Queen in a picture book.

I’ve held that image of those two for a very long time. Not because of how they dress or act, but because that’s who they are at heart.

“I must be off, or else miss the inspection.”

“Oh, before ya go, Rina! My daughter …… Would ya be willin’ to meet Keika? Ya did one instructional match for her back when she was a young’un. Ya remember her?”

“But of course. Has she remained in the Shogi world?”

“Left it for a while, but now she’s back. Joined the Kansai Practice League after graduatin’ high school. Says she wants to join the Women’s League. I’m thinkin’ an instructional match from ya’d be the kind of spark she needs to really get goin’.”

“…… I decline.”

“Rina …… Ya may be thinkin’ my daughter ain’t takin’ it seriously, but she’s working so very hard––– .”

“No. It is not her commitment.”

Ms. Shakando shook her head from side to side and explained her reasoning.

“Yet another women’s title shall be introduced in the near future. This Women’s Throne League is set to follow the same format as the Queen, in that all women, including those in the Sub League, may participate.”

“Even Sub League members ……”

“As a title holder, I have devoted myself to expanding Women’s Shogi and getting more women involved. At the same time, however, I have begun to feel that one who can surpass me at this juncture will not appear …… History’s first female professional Shogi player to be precise.”

It was the first time I remember specifically hearing that.

“Female …… professional player ……?”

Before I knew it, I was rolling those words around my mouth.

I knew that women could join the Sub League. But none of them had ever made it into the professional ranks. That’s why, strange as it was, I never thought of a woman as being part of professional Shogi.

Therefore, I’d never thought of trying to become a professional Shogi player myself because it was simply unrealistic. My reasoning, along with the rest of the Shogi world, was that women weren’t talented enough to make it through the Sub League.

… With the exception of one person–––Rina Shakando.

“Plenty of children want to become Women’s League players out of admiration for me, and here I believe the Women’s League system itself need not exist …… I simply cannot endure that paradox.”

“…………”

Master couldn’t say anything else after that.

“Oh, aren’t you just the cutest thing! What’s your name?”

Back from her shopping trip, Keika was ecstatic to see Ms. Shakando’s apprentice now alone with Master and I at the house.

The boy nervously answered her.

“I’m …… Ayumu Kannabe.”

It may be hard to believe nowadays, but Ayumu …… Kannabe-sensei wore normal clothes back then.

In other words, he was an average handsome boy.

“Thank you for having me. My mother made this fried tofu for you.”

“Thank you! What an angel you are!! You can stay here as long as you like, okay? You could even join our Shogi family if you want, Ayumu. Oh, I’ll join you in the bath to make sure you know how to use it.”

…… I think Keika has a soft spot for handsome young boys.

“We’ll be keepin’ Ayumu here until Shakando-Quadruple Title’s defense match in Miyazaki finishes up. ’Til then, we treat him just like a live-in apprentice, ya hear?”

“In that case, should we find out his favorite and least-favorite foods?”

Ayumu: on the brink of undergoing the Kiyotaki household’s baptism of fire.

That’s when Yaichi showed up, bouncing off the walls like an excited puppy.

“Ayumu, Ayumu! C’mon! Let’s play Shogi already!”

“Haven’t we been playing online every day?”

“Yeah, but, isn’t the real thing so much better? It’ll be just like we got matched up in the 3-dan division.”

“Actually, I would like to learn as much as I can from Kiyotaki-sensei,” said Ayumu, looking up at Master with eyes sparkling in admiration.

“Master gave me direct orders to experience Kiyotaki-sensei’s yagura firsthand … that he who conquers the yagura conquers the world ……”

“Is that right? ’At’s Shakando-Quadruple Title for ya. She knows what’s what.”

“It’s obvious that your Meijin Title Match against Tsukimitsu-Meijin, nicknamed the Yagura Series, directly resulted in the yagura’s returned to relevance. Players in Kanto are once again researching what the yagura can do.”

“Hm? That so? Heh-heh-heh …… Ayumu, ya got a bright future ahead ’o ya. Tell ya what, I’ll make an exception and show ya my own latest research.”

“It would be an honor!”

Seeing Master get talked up by Ayumu was far from entertaining and I let something slip under my breath.

“…… Even though he got swept by the Meijin?”

“G-Ginko! We all heard that!” Yaichi blurted out.

“It’s true.”

“Yes! That’s why you can’t say it!!”

“………… No dinner for the both of ya tonight.”

Master, angered by the truth. 

Then Keika casually leaned in to talk to Ayumu.

“Sure is noisy around here, isn’t it? I hope it won’t bother you.”

“Not in the least. My sister at home is quite young.”

Master then sat down to teach the finer details of yagura formations while Keika was busy cooking dinner.

He gave us all an instructional match at once. Sitting in a row with Ayumu in the center, Yaichi started whispering in his ear.

“All the members of the Kiyotaki Shogi family have pants with wrinkles above the knee on the same side as their dominant hand. Can you guess why?”

“……?”

“We always hold onto our right knees to keep us from playing carelessly and think harder!”

“That’s …… so cool ……!”

Trembling with excitement, Ayumu bunched up the fabric around his knee and then squeezed it with all his might.

Now that was entertaining. I decided to join in on the fun.

“Kiyotakis also have to give new strategies names like finishing moves and yell them during matches.”

“So cool ……!!”

“Hey!! Ginko, don’t lie to him like that!”

Yaichi, desperately trying to correct me, and Ayumu, trembling even harder than before. I felt like I’d found an interesting new toy. The fact that it was my little brother’s friend only made it that much better.

Honest, vulnerable and took things at his own pace.

That was my first impression of the boy named Ayumu Kannabe. Looking at it the other way, that also means I didn’t think he possessed much talent at all.

Once we finished our after-bath snacks, which took longer because a completely enamored Keika served twice as much as usual, the three of us went up to the kid’s room.

Now it was time for just the kids to play Shogi.

“There’s three of us, so let’s pretend it’s a league match!” Yaichi suggested.

“I’m going to be the match recorder for Tsukimitsu-Meijin’s match against the Amateur Meijin coming up, so I wanna practice. You two do a match and I’ll record!”

And so, I was set to play against Ayumu.

Of course, it was our first time.

“I am ready to play when you are.”

“…… Ready.”

We were both given one hour of waiting time so that Yaichi could get used to using a stopwatch. In essence, it was a very professional match.

“Piece flip!”

It was already determined that Tsukimitsu-sensei would be playing without his Bishop, make the first move and sit in the upper seat for the upcoming exhibition match against the Amateur Meijin, but we already came this far so Yaichi did a piece flip for practice. By the way, I sat in the upper seat.

The piece flip gave Ayumu the first move. The sound his pieces made when he moved sent me this message.

“Double Yagura.”

“Of course.”

I met his challenge head on.

Master had instructed Ayumu how to use the noblest of all noble yagura styles, the 4 Six Silver – 3 Seven Knight formation, and he wasted no time in trying it out. He rhythmically lined up his Rook, his Bishop, a Silver and a Knight all in the third file. That formation has particularly good balance because it can be shifted into an anaguma fairly quickly.

The 9 One formation standard that I used against Machi is also based on the 4 Six Silver – 3 Seven Knight formation.

Ayumu went on to perfect this strategy and entered the Sub League before Yaichi. He was also in the 3-dan division and became professional before Yaichi.

He wasn’t a junior high school professional because he’s two years older than Yaichi, but he’s still a prodigy who made it through the 3-dan division a full year before Yaichi turned professional.

That is Ayumu Kannabe. The Future Meijin.

Even once he was in the professional ranks, he came up with his own variations on the yagura and that propelled him straight through the placement matches: his light something or other and lance what have you dragon killer or whatever it was.

However, at the time he first played against me–––.

“Kannabe-sensei, please begin one-minute Shogi.”

“Yes!”

“30 secondsss––– …… 40 secondsss––– ………… 50 secondsss, one, two, three ……”

Yaichi: counting down the seconds with the stopwatch firmly in his grasp.

…… I didn’t find out until later, but the Kanto and Kansai Sub Leagues apparently use a slightly different style to announce the time.

I’m not saying that confusion is the reason, but I was surprised how easily I won.

Since I still had thirty minutes of waiting time when Ayumu had to start playing one-minute Shogi, I suppose my victory was only natural.

“I have been defeated.”

After he had lined his lips with ChapStick, Ayumu lowered his head in an unmistakable bow as he announced his surrender.

–––I won …… but …

It wasn’t satisfying at all … which is why, rather than look back over the match to find the good or bad moves, I asked him this: “Hey.”

“Hm?”

“This match …… Why did you use your time like that? Wouldn’t it have been more efficient to get past the standard opening with as much time as possible for the late-game?”

“I wanted to try a sequence I came up with rather than go with what’s considered to be the best move.”

“Huh? It’s the standard. There’s no point thinking about it …… Besides, you had chances to hold out in the late-game and wait for me to make a mistake, didn’t you?”

“Such a victory has no value.”

“…… Are you saying defeating me isn’t a big deal?”

“No, more like ……”

Ayumu took a moment to think, searching for the right words and came up with this.

“It’d be winning against an opponent, but losing to Shogi. That’s meaningless.”

“?????”

It made no sense to me.

“Even if a god came up with the standard himself, I want to wear the clothes that I see fit. That’s what it comes down to.”

“A …… god?”

“That’s what he calls all the old Meijins. But, yeah, Tsukimitsu-sensei is the Meijin now!” said Yaichi, leaning over his just-completed match record on the boardside table and barged into our review session.

“Um, Ayumu. That new move you made: you were trying to open a path after Ginko changed from an 8 Five Pawn formation to a 9 Five Pawn formation on the 44th move, right?”

“That was my 6 Five Pawn. I made a slight mistake in the late-game, but I don’t think it’s bad per se. In this case, the opposite–––.”

In that instant, all sorts of numbers and board locations came effortlessly pouring out of Ayumu’s mouth while I still thought he was just some simpleminded boy.

–––Th-the match just now …… had that much hidden potential?!

I was well aware that standards change over time.

But Yaichi and Ayumu were taking standards that professionals developed, even ones that a Meijin who people called a god had written in books, and questioned every detail.

No, not just questioning. These two were–––.

–––These two …… are trying to make their own standards.

The transformations playing out in front of their eyes ran so deep, were so enormous …… I barely understood anything they said.

–––Just how deep can they read?

–––How are they reading so fast?

I fought off the urge to ask and quietly listened to their review session … to their exchange of numbers and pieces at breakneck speed.

I was desperate to find some way to refute everything.

To refute that these two were seeing things I couldn’t.

That there were people who came from a different planet and possessed a separate sense, an understanding of Shogi that I didn’t. That this boy sitting across from me wasn’t one of them. No matter how much proof of it I saw, I didn’t want to believe it…

… Believe in the existence of Shogi Martians.