Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 1.2

  ON THE COMMITTEE

“Yaichi Kuzuryu, safely back in Kansai!”

The jam-packed schedule of a title Challenger hit me square in the face the moment I won the final match of the Crown League!

The get together that was held after the match ended up lasting until morning, after which I took the first bullet train from Tokyo back to Osaka where Shogi Association Chairman Seiichi Tsukimitsu called me into the association building before I could make it back to my apartment.

Good grief.

I just had my 18th birthday AND won a chance to claim a second title, but I haven’t had time to celebrate either with my apprentice!

“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Ryuo. And, congratulations.”

The blind, A-ranking pro Shogi player quickly gets down to business after saying a quick hello.

“While I hate to hit the ground running, I would like to discuss details of an upcoming event we would like you to participate in.”

“Of course, Chairman! I’ll take on any job you ask!”

It’s standard for players to open their schedules for the title match once they have advanced past a certain point in a league. Some of the more confident ones will schedule drinking parties to celebrate their victories, as well.

As for me, I’ve already freed myself up for the Crown and Ryuo Title Matches, and those last from August all the way into December.

In other words, my schedule is pretty much blank for the rest of this year.

Of course, losing early on would really sting, but …… There are plenty of ways to fill a schedule without matches. I can set up practice groups, instruct my apprentices ……

Or …… You know. That.

Go on dates? Or something? Hah-hah-hah.

“Ahaha …… Hah-hah-hah-hah ……”

“You seem to be in a great mood, Ryuo. Were you that excited to become the Crown Challenger?”

“Huh?! Ah, yes. Of course ……”

Whoops …… I’ve got to be more careful.

I can’t just come out and say: I was fantasizing about going on dates with Ginko if I lost all my matches right off the bat. We’re not officially together either ……

But my cheeks get hot if my mind starts wondering. Hah-hah-hah ……

Rather than pursuing the topic any further, the blind chairman continues.

“Splendid. Now, Ms. Oga, if you will.”

“At once.”

Former Women’s League 1-dan and secretary to the chairman, Sasari Oga slides a piece of paper across the table.

“This is the event we would like you to attend.”

“Please, show me!”

Fan meet and greet? A Shogi tournament, maybe? Do they want me to do a lecture?

“Request for Assistance with the Shoten Shopping Arcade Summer Festival”

……………… Come again?

“Um, Ms. Oga? Is this the right printout? It has nothing to do with the Crown Title Match …… It’s actually a local summer festival in my neighborhood. The kind of thing I would get in my mailbox.”

“Yes. It is a flyer for a local summer festival.”

Say what?

“A Shogi boom the likes of which has never been seen before is currently taking place on the Japanese archipelago due to the Meijin’s Citizens Award and Sora-Dual Title’s entrance into the Sub League …… Thanks to your assistance.”

“……!!”

The assistance she’s talking about …… is my taking Big Sis outside of Osaka.

These two took care of finding us a hotel room, contacting Big Sis’s parents and Keika, and probably pulling several more strings that I don’t even know exist. Then again, I haven’t told them about us going into my parents’ place, and they shouldn’t know about the move (the sealing move to be specific) that got Big Sis back to her usual self.

But it’s like they know somehow …… Terrifying ……

“As a result of the sudden increase of popularity, the association has received a deluge of requests for Shogi players to participate in events all over the country. In short, we have run out of players to dispatch. That is why we have come to you with this request, Ryuo.”

The chairman adds to Ms. Oga’s explanation.

“There was much deliberation about who we should send, but someone currently living in the area made the most sense.”

Reading through the flyer, they apparently reserved a spot for a Shogi booth during their annual Obon summer festival. Other than that, nothing else has been decided. So we have to plan the thing too, huh?

“Then you want me to be on the planning committee …… Well, that’s fine.”

“Not you specifically, Ryuo.”

“Huh?”

“We will be asking Ai Hinatsuru to join the committee. You are to assist her.”

“Huuuuh?!”

Not only does this have nothing to do with the Crown Title Match, but I have to assist my apprentice?! I’m a title holder, remember?!

“A-Are you sure leaving that much responsibility to a grade schooler is the best idea?! I know she’s officially joined the Women’s League, but what’s the rest of the committee going to think–––?!”

“Are you unaware of Miss Hinatsuru’s popularity in the area? She has become a local idol. In fact, the organizers have expressed great interest in having Miss Hinatsuru involved.”

As if the chairman’s words weren’t shocking enough, Ms. Oga delivers the knockout blow.

“Your name was not mentioned once during the negotiations.”

“I-I, um, I see ……”

Considering that Ai attends Kita Fukushima Elementary School, which is almost connected to the shopping arcade, it would make sense that the kids participating in the festival would also go to that school.

I’ve actually been there to teach the Grade Schooler Practice Group quite a few times myself, so I can confirm that the grade school student/Women’s League player Ai Hinatsuru is pretty much a rock star.

“You mustn’t take the attitude that this is merely a summer festival, Ryuo,” the chairman says in a stern voice. “Tokyo’s Sendagaya, where the Kanto Shogi Association building is located, has done very well branding itself as the Shogi City. Surely you remember the statue located on the Hatonomori Hachiman Shrine grounds? Osaka’s Fukushima district would also like to brand itself as the Shogi Arcade. This event is an important first step to make that a reality.”

“…… All right. I just need to support Ai as her Master, correct?”

“Support? Why, no. Our expectations for you are not that high.” The chairman turns his head to the side and says, “We merely don’t want to you to get in her way. Understood?”