Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 11 - Chapter 4

  THE KUZURYUS

“Aghhh ………… Nghhh …………”

Big Sis keeps groaning and moaning in the seat next to me.

Leaving Tojinbo behind, the two of us are on a train once again.

“What’s with you, Big Sis? Don’t tell me you’re nervous?”

“B-But not what … nervous ……? Wanna pike inda head ……?”

Yeah, she’s real nervous.

Big Sis continues to rant through mixed-up words and strange sounds all while fidgeting with her hair.

“Geez …… Yaichi, were you always planning to take me to your parent’s house ……?”

“Yeah, actually that was kind of what I originally had in mind.”

“Then tell me! I would’ve picked up something for them at Osaka Station ……!”

“Souvenirs? There’s no need to worry about that.”

“Maybe not for you, but I definitely do!!”

“We can buy something at Fukui Station if you like.”

“That would make them think we just picked something up along the way!! I’d rather show up empty-handed!! Idiot! Drop dead, you stupid idiot!!”

“Keep your voice down!! There’s no telling what’ll happen if someone recognizes us ……!”

Big Sis is famous all over the country, and I’m pretty well known in Fukui.

Plus, there will be more people around who know me personally the closer we get to my parent’s place.

“Please try to stay quiet until we get to Fukui Station and change trains.”

“Meaning I can shout as loud as I want once we do?”

“No, that’s not what I said. Besides, there isn’t a train in the whole world where you can do that, is there?” After correcting that obviously bizarre logic, “But, yeah, you’ll understand once we get on the next train.”

“?”

She looks at me, confused. But it won’t be long before it all makes sense to her.

“…… We’re the only ones on the train ……”

“Yes. No one can recognize us if there’s no one here, right?”

It’s a parade of nothing but mountains, rivers and rice paddies passing by outside the empty train car.

“………… We really are going deep in the mountains ……”

“Yes, we are. Just a heads up: my parent’s place is even further back.”

I doubt anyone else will get on the train before we get to the final stop.

Our own personal train car takes us slowly through the mountains and passes nostalgic scenery.

It’s like I’m retracing my memories.

“…… This place: it’s pretty. A train ride for just the two of us …… Like a dream.”

Big Sis squints as a cool breeze comes in through one of the slightly open windows.

“Summer is officially here. It’s so green.”

“It really sneaks up on you, doesn’t it? Tanabata is right around the corner.”

“Tanabata …… That means the start of summer vacation. We used to get on trains just like this one in summer back when we were in elementary school and we’d go to any classrooms rumored to have strong players, remember?”

“We sure did. Once we were in the Sub League, crashing classrooms like that was our only option because we couldn’t enter amateur tournaments anymore.”

“Everyone laughed at us at first, but then they would just stare when they lost.”

“I still remember one guy: This can’t be right! People were especially shocked when they lost to you, Big Sis.”

“…… It would be fun to go again … visit different classrooms together.”

Knowing full well we can’t, I nod along with her. She was forbidden as soon as she became Queen.

Getting off the train, we get on a bus to go even further up the mountain. This particular bus route only runs three times a day, so miss this one and we’d have been in a lot of trouble. There’s also a bit of walking to do after getting off the bus. The sunlight is so strong that we stick to the shade when we can. Sunlight filters through the leaves as we go.

Until, finally, we get to my parent’s place.

“Mom, Dad, I’m home.”

I haven’t been back here since I was crowned Dragon King Ryuo, so about a year and a half. I almost never came back to visit while I was a live-in apprentice, so it actually feels like I’ve been coming home a lot lately.

By the same token, my parents have never come to Osaka. That’s probably because my younger brother was still little, but he left to live at a boarding school for junior high school kids this past spring.

The thumping of busy feet comes from deep in the house as someone rushes toward the front door.

“Coming, coming, coming, coming! Oh! Come on inside!”

My mother appearing in the hallway makes Big Sis so nervous that I can feel it. This never happens.

Speaking of things that never happen, my mother looks happy to see Big Sis with me.

“Thank you for making such a long trip. I hope this neck of the mountains wasn’t too far out for you?”

“Ah, no ……”

Big Sis is absolutely adorable when she’s tongue-tied. But we can’t stay frozen in this moment forever, so I start up a conversation.

“Is Dad out in the field?”

“Nope. There’s a farmer’s union meeting today. He should be back any minute, though.”

Big Sis then whispers quietly so only I can hear, “…… Isn’t he working at that pipsqueak’s inn?”

“My older brother is, yes. I’m not sure why, but my dad decided to tend grandpa’s old rice paddy starting this year. I’m not too sure he’s up for it, but ……”

My grandfather always sent rice and vegetables to Master’s place while I was a live-in apprentice. He passed away right before I turned pro in junior high.

Honestly, I’m happy that my dad decided to protect grandpa’s rice paddy. Worried, but happy.

My mom looks at Big Sis and says, “Cleaning up a paddy after three years of not growing rice is a lot of work! We finally got all the weeds out and soil ready for planting yesterday.”

“That’s late, very very late.”

Then again, we can see that because dad is so behind schedule.

Just as the rice paddy talk picks up, Big Sis pinches my sleeve and yanks.

“…… Yaichi. Introduce me ……”

“Ah! Sorry, Big Sis.”

She seems to have recovered enough. So, I introduced the girl standing next to me to my mom.

“Mom, this is my older sister in the Kiyotaki Shogi family line. I’m sure you know, but she has two Women’s Titles and is pretty famous.”

“My name is Ginko Sora. Kuzuryu-sensei has done so much for me during our time as live-in apprentices.”

After sounding like a confused baby only a few minutes ago, Big Sis has pulled herself together nicely. She keeps her introduction short and very polite.

I can’t pass up this chance and whisper, “…… Usually it’d be I’ve done so much for him, yeah? Since when are you so modest, Big Sis?”

“Idiot ………… Oh, pardon me. I didn’t mean to show up unannounced like this, especially with nothing for you ……”

After snapping back at me under her breath, Big Sis sounds genuinely sorry.

As for my mom, who’s been grinning at her this whole time, “Don’t worry, don’t worry! My son bringing home a girl who can introduce herself properly is the best gift I could ever receive.” Looking happily at the two of us standing side-by-side, my mom says, “After all, you are the first girl Yaichi has ever brought home. It’s been a dream of mine, you know? Having my son introduce me to his girlfriend.”

“We aren’t dating!!” Big Sis and I retort in unison.