Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 1

  CHALLENGER

“Ah! He just surrendered, didn’t he?”

Only now, after watching the big board analysis on my tablet for untold hours, do I notice the sun has gone down and it’s gotten pretty dark in my room.

Commentator Tamayo Rokuroba Women’s 2-dan’s high-pitched voice sounds more suitable for an anime character as she squeals: “The Meijin has surrendered! Now the Challenger for the Crown Title Match is official! What’s more, he’ll be the youngest Challenger for the Crown Title in its history at only 18!!”

“Quite strong,” analyst Jin Natagiri 8-dan adds. 

He’s supposed to be the one moving the pieces around the big board, but his hands have been hovering in place for a while now.

The camera feed switches to the arena.

The one deeply bowing their head inside the special arena within Tokyo’s Shogi Association building in Sendagya is …… the strongest Shogi player to ever live: the Meijin.

He recently defended his Meijin title to pull off the seemingly impossible feat of having 100 cumulative title seasons.

This player, who has six eternal titles, 1,434 victories, and countless other accolades to his name, is bowing down in front of one teenage boy right now.

Dragon King Ryuo–––Yaichi Kuzuryu.

Having just turned 18 today, the youngest person in Shogi history to ever have a title is trying to catch his breath while thanking the Meijin for the match.

Match recorder Sumito Sakanashi takes the match record out of the room as an avalanche of reporters burst into the arena to take his place.

The audio feed switches back to the two enthralled commentators as even more people stream into the small room.

“Last time, Kuzuryu-Ryuo was eliminated from the Crown League during the preliminaries. This season, however, he made it through without a single loss and continued winning all the way to the Challenger Match. Now he’s defeated the Meijin and claimed his first chance to be a multiple title holder with the spotlight squarely on him …… Wow, that was really something to watch!” Rokuroba 2-dan says with enthusiasm.

“He held the Meijin in check from start to finish. Keeping an opponent of that caliber at bay in a big match like this as the defender …… Only Yaichi could perform like that,” Natagiri 8-dan adds.

“He played Ranging Rook, too!”

“His match against Oishi-King …… well, formerly King now, was impressive to be sure, but this Shogi was full of twists and turns that no one could’ve predicted.”

“Even the evaluation software didn’t see it coming! Which reminds me, Natagiri-sensei, you are one of the Meijin’s research partners, right? Does he use software as well?”

“Barely, if ever, I believe. He sees the software strategies that I use and other young players use and learns from them, but I doubt that he has ever directly used a program.”

As for the future …… Natagiri 8-dan swallows those words.

“Okito-Crown is known for being the first Shogi professional to become as strong as he is using software. How do you think his seven-match series against the face of the new generation of players, the Ryuo, will play out?”

“It’s hard to deny that Mr. Okito turned to software to help sharpen his declining Shogi senses as he got up there in age. Yaichi uses software, as well, but uses it to broaden his own horizons instead–––.”

“So, you’re saying they use it in completely opposite ways?”

“That about sums it up. It’s funny how a little imagination can use the same thing to open brand new doors… depending on how you use it …… Heh heh! Interesting! …… Quite interesting indeed ……!”

“We’ve just been notified the Ryuo is ready for an interview! Please enjoy!”

Rokuroba Women’s 2-dan deftly cuts in as the topic starts getting iffy and the audio feed switches back to the arena.

Suddenly, Yaichi’s face takes up the whole tablet screen.

“……!”

The heat of battle still radiating from his eyes, I get drawn in and can’t look away.

My chest is squeezing itself so tight, I can’t breathe ……

“You’re in position to take a second title for the first time. Can you tell me what that feels like?” asks a journalist from the Kobe Sannomiya Newspaper, a paper representing a coalition of five regional companies that sponsor the Crown League.

“Well …… It doesn’t feel real yet. It was an extremely close match ……”

Yaichi is struggling to say anything.

I’m sure part of it is that the just-defeated Meijin is still sitting right in front of him, but he genuinely looks tongue-tied.

Plus, he zones out like he has a fever after playing matches that come down to the wire.

Only I know he does it …… But that never happens when Yaichi plays against me. That habit of his ……

“Okito-Dual Title is on track to become the next Challenger in the Ryuo Title Match. If he qualifies, the two of you could play 14 consecutive title matches for both Ryuo and Crown.”

“It’ll be a long battle if that happens, but …… This will be our first time playing in league matches, so playing against him won’t get old. I’m looking forward to it.”

He chuckles and the tension starts to lift.

“You have a strategy in mind? Please share any details you are willing to give.”

“Strategy? Well ………… Hm. There is one thing–––.” Looking into his lap and scratching his chin like he’s deep in thought, Yaichi looks back up and says, “I would like to practice sealing moves.”

“Sealing …… moves?”

His unexpected answer sends a murmur through the crowd.

Meanwhile, blood is draining from my face. Is he seriously ……?

“Yes, it’s true that the Crown Title Match uses a two-day format, but don’t you have plenty of experience with it during your Ryuo Title Matches?”

“No. I don’t have nearly enough experience,” Yaichi says matter-of-factly. “I was too nervous to taste anything the last time I did a sealing move.”

“Taste …… a sealing move?”

The interview has officially gone off the rails. This is live across the country!!

“Somebody! Shut that idiot up before it’s too late!” I yell at the Yaichi on my screen knowing full well my voice will never reach the other side.

“I don’t have enough experience at all! I want to practice more sealing moves, the more the better!”

“H-Hmmm …… So, you want to increase your level of experience with sealing moves right now ……” A little overwhelmed by Yaichi’s enthusiasm, the reporter lets the topic slide by saying, “A new perspective from a rising star!” and tries to get the interview back on track. “Will you be practicing with your live-in apprentice?”

“Huh? S-Sealing moves with my …… Ai is in grade school!! Are you crazy?!”

“Huh?”

The reporter has no idea why he is getting yelled at, but still comes back with a question.

“So …… It’s inappropriate to practice sealing moves with grade school students ……?”

“Of course it is! Get your mind out of the gutter! It’s a sealing move, so you’ve got to be somewhere you won’t be interrupted by anyone …… and it has to be with, you know, someone special! Just the two of you, quietly, with plenty of ……”

“I-I see …… Sealing moves must be done with a certain partner, quietly ……”

The reporters are nodding and taking notes, but they’re completely off the mark.

The real meaning behind the sealing moves Yaichi is getting at …… Only I know what it is.

My cheeks are burning so red I can feel it. Probably because my chest is squeezing even tighter than before …… My heart may as well be beating in my ears.

Hot.

“…………… That idiot ……! Idiot, idiot, IDIOT!!”

Ranting at the tablet out of sheer embarrassment, I grind my knuckles into the face of my boneheaded younger brother apprentice as he goes on and on about sealing moves, but with a completely wrong meaning.

Then, I touch those fingers to my lips …… Hot.