Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 1.3

  THE FUTURE I WANT

After the meeting, I make a quick stop at Master’s place (though he wasn’t there because he went out drinking the instant I won the match last night and hadn’t come back yet) and a few other important places before finally making it back to my apartment in the shopping arcade. A strange sensation sweeps over me as I stand in front of the door.

“…… It feels like I haven’t been home in forever.”

After getting back from my runaway trip with Big Sis, I was held up in a hotel in Tenmabashi for two weeks to sign the onslaught of requests for certificates after the Meijin won the Citizens Award. I’ve been home since then though.

I only spent two nights in Tokyo for the Crown Title Match, but …… It’s been a long time since I’ve been home without a whirlwind of things going on.

“Then again …… I’ve actually got more things to do.”

Getting ready for the seven matches that will decide the Crown Title.

Helping out with the summer festival the association assigned me to.

And most importantly …… I have to tell Ai about Big Sis and me. That’s going to be the hardest ……

“Haaa …… I just can’t see her smiling and saying that’s great! no matter how much I think about it ……”

It’s hard to describe just how icy their relationship is. A dark cloud builds over my head as I reach for the doorknob.

Turning it, I open the door and see–––.

“Welcome home, Master!!”

The most adorable smile ever.

“…… Thanks, Ai.”

My first apprentice is sitting on her ankles in the front hallway, waiting for me with an infectious smile on her face.

I can’t help but smile back at her.

She gets to her feet with a little hop and congratulates me on my victory.

“You’re the challenger, Master! Congratulations!! Beating the Meijin to get there …… You’re so amazing! The strongest ever, Master!!”

“Hah-hah-hah. Luck was on my side. Anything happen while I was gone?”

“Lots of people who looked like they work for the news were outside …… But they went away as soon as I asked Ms. Oga what to do.”

“They did, huh ……?”

While I’m not sure what story they wanted to talk with me about, it had to be really scary for a grade schooler like Ai to see all those strangers outside the apartment.

“Sorry about that. I’ll speak with the association myself.”

“Okay ……”

Ai squeezes my arm like a scared kid looking for reassurance.

––– The innocence ……!

A warm, fuzzy feeling washes over my heart. Somehow, I manage to hold back the urge to hug her long enough to come to my senses …… I’ve got to be careful!

I mustn’t touch her! Ever!

Live-in apprentice, yes. Touching, no.

Any physical interaction between a grade schooler and her Master that could be considered over the line only leads to trouble. I have to pay extra attention!

“Master? Is something wrong? You’re standing like a statue.”

“I-I’m fine. Just a bit tired ……”

“I bet you are! Sorry for holding you up in the hallway.”

Ai immediately grabs my suitcase, spins on her heel like a cute little bird, and takes it to my room …… While her ears turn bright red as she whispers, “………… Master came back to me …… I’ve never been this happy ……”

–––So innocent!!

Another urge to hug her from behind washes over me …… Gah! Down, right hand! Down I say ……!!

“Nghhh!! Gaaahhh ……!!”

“M-Master?! Are you sure nothing’s wrong? You’re clutching your right hand awfully hard ……”

“I’m fine, just go! Go before I can’t control this beast anymore ……!!”

“Uwhee?”

She looks at me, confused, but disappears into the kitchen. I take a few deep breaths to chain down the monster for good and follow.

What greets my eyes as I step into the kitchen is …… a mountain of food spread out over the table.

Even better–––.

“These …… These are all my favorites! Wow! I was just thinking how nice it would be to have every one of them, too! How did you know?!”

“Ehehe♡ I remember every single dish you’ve ever said was delicious or that you wanted to have again, Master!” Ai proudly puffs out her chest with a, “Hn-hmm!”

She’s just so cute that I couldn’t help patting her on the head and saying, “That’s my girl♡” This kind of touching should be fine. It’s positive reinforcement, which is part of teaching.

But, it’s not just the food that blows me away.

“Wait? I know that smell–––.”

“Can you tell? It’s the same fragrance that Keika used to wear when you were a live-in apprentice, Master. Also, I got your favorite kind of bath soap and the same brand of cushions and slippers you’ve always used …… I get paid per match now, so I went and bought them for you.”

Come again?! She used what little precious earnings she has …… on me?!

“Keika taught me what to do! I wanted everything to be perfect for you when you got home, tired after your long trip …… That’s the only thing I can do for you ……”

–––Too dang innocent ……!!

Ai’s ear-to-ear smile suddenly gets blurry.

I must be tearing up ……

“No matter how tired or hurt you are …… I want you to be able to relax when you’re here with me. You can be the real Yaichi Kuzuryu. This is my birthday present for you!” she says before smiling the same extraordinary smile she had when I walked in the door. “Happy birthday, Master!”

“………… Thank you, Ai. Really ……!”

Warm, delicious food.

A bright, welcoming room that looks and smells like home.

But, most of all …… The reassurance that comes from coming home to a smile.

That happy family feeling is my apprentice’s birthday present to me.

“Eeeverything in this room is all yours, Master. Help yourself♡”

“Don’t mind if I do!” I answer with my mouth watering, but …… So many thoughts pop into my head that I don’t touch the food.

Wondering why I’m sitting at the table holding my chopsticks in midair and deep in thought, Ai asks, “Is something wrong?”

“No …… I was just thinking about the day you first came here, Ai.”

“It’s been a year and a half, already. I made tsukudani with seaweed for breakfast.”

“Things really went downhill afterward, though! Big Sis barging in here while you were in the shower–––.”

Only now do I remember my true objective.

That’s right. I have to tell this girl what’s going on.

Even if that puts a few cracks in this happy home we have …… I decided to put Ginko first, and that’s that!

Determined, I look at Ai and say, “I have something important to talk to you about.”

“If it’s the summer festival, Miss Oga already told me about it.”

“Oh? I …… I see. Great, no problem then.”

She said she talked to Ms. Oga about the reporters, so it makes sense that they talked about the festival then, too. Sure, sure.

…… The conversation got cut off, didn’t it?

The timing gone, I decide to eat first. Ai spent all that time making it, so it would be a shame to let it get cold ……

“That was really good, Ai. Thank you for cooking.”

“You’re very welcome! I made a cake for dessert, so I’ll get some coffee ready, too.”

“You baked a cake on top of all this?!”

“Heh-heh! What’s a birthday without cake? But it’s not from the store, so don’t get your hopes up too high, okay?”

Ai brings her homemade cake and a glass of iced coffee over and puts them on the table in front of me.

It’s a simple, square cake with two Shogi pieces on top.

A big piece that has Ryuo written in frosting and a small piece that has the character for Pawn.

The two are right next to each other, a pair.

“Ah …………”

I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but even I can pick up on the message. It’s me, the Ryuo, and Ayumu, because he uses the same character as a Pawn to write his name, as a couple …… Nah, who am I kidding? That kind of a thing wouldn’t cross her mind.

–––Do her feelings for me … go beyond being Master and apprentice?

Because if they do, I need to stop them from escalating.

Ai is a fifth grader. She’s still just a kid, but she’ll be in junior high in no time. That just a kid excuse won’t last another two years.

–––The sooner the better, while the wound won’t go that deep ……!

Regaining my determination, I strike up a conversation again.

“Ai. I have something to tell you.”

“Agh! I’m sorry, Master. I forgot to get the bath ready!”

She claps her hands together and jumps up before hurrying to the bath as fast as her little feet can carry her.

“Oh ………… The bath, right. Yeah. Thanks ……”

Determination, shattered.

I go ahead and help myself to some cake for now. It’s not as perfectly balanced as a cake from a bakery, but there’s a homemade taste to it that warms me from head to toe ……

“Sorry for interrupting you, Master. What were you going to say?”

“Hm? Oh, that …… It can wait for another day.”

I smile at Ai as she comes back into the room and tell her the cake is delicious.

Hmmn ……

I can’t put my finger on it, but I seem to be missing my chances by just a hair each time …… Like she knows my next move ……

Nahhh! It’s a coincidence, right? I’m just …… overthinking.

I-I’ve had a long few days, too! I should rest up for now.

“I’ll be unpacking in my room, so let me know when the bath is ready.”

“Oookay!”

Her innocent, bubbly response echoes in my ears as I head into my room.

Putting my suit jacket on a hanger and taking off my tie, I face plant into my bed without bothering to take off my collared shirt or suit pants.

“Whoa ………… It’s like I’m floating on a cloud …………”

I’ve barely had time to catch my breath since the match finished yesterday. All that built-up tension is gone, along with any motivation I had to do anything else.

This must be what it’s like to jump into an icy pond before getting into a hot spring, feeling tingly all over.

It’s not fatigue, though.

More like overwhelming comfort. My muscles are yelling at me to stay right here and relax for the duration.

The sheets smell like they were dried in the sun. Like a warm summer’s day ……

“…… This is so nice ……”

Exactly.

Living with Ai is so dang comfortable.

And it’s impossible to deny that she’s directly responsible for my dramatic upturn in winning percentage.

If Ai had never shown up, I’d still be title-less and wallowing in the depths of C-2 right now.

Two titles? Yeah, in my dreams.

Which of course means Big Sis and I would never have gotten close …… And she would never give me the time of day.

“…… Who is that grade schooler, Lady Luck?”

Whoa …… I can’t picture this apartment without Ai in it anymore …… Just me getting destroyed in the Crown Title Match ……

Ai doesn’t just give me a high quality of life.

In terms of Shogi, she has already paid me back tenfold by using her Shogi sense to give me that extra jolt I need to stay on top of my game ……

Then it hits me.

“S-Since when … did I get to the point where I can’t survive without Ai?!”

I roll over on my bed comforter in anguish.

“What …… Just what am I supposed to do …………?!” 

I want to date Big Sis. 

To be boyfriend and girlfriend.

To marry her. 

To have children with her. 

To make our own household.

When it comes to Ai, I want to fulfill my duty as her Master. At the very least, I want to train her up to the point where she’ll have no trouble making it on her own.

That’s not coming from a sense of duty. I want to bring out Ai’s potential with my own hands, as a pro Shogi player!

The future I want is–––.

“Preferably …… I’d spend half the week here with Ai and the other half with Big Sis in her apartment.”

Perfect! That solves everything!! …… The very fact that the idea crossed my mind at all sends me into despair at my own stupidity.

“Seriously?! That is the worst answer I could’ve come up with!!”

An indecisive friend to everybody?!

I’d end up hurting both of them that way. Besides, I couldn’t leave Ai here all by herself for half the week while she’s still in grade school.

“………… What’s the right answer ……? What can I ………………?” 

Faced with the decision that I can honestly say is so much harder than any move I’ve had to make playing against the Meijin, I stay in bed without changing and keep racking my brain.

A deep sleep overtakes me before I can come up with an answer.

Chirp …… Chirp ……

“Hmn ……? ………… Crap. I slept through the night …………”

The next morning.

Waking up to sparrows singing outside my window, it takes me a while to piece things together.

“I don’t think …… I took the bath last night, did I? Didn’t change clothes, either ………… Huuuh?”

Weird.

I went to bed sweaty, but I feel nice and clean. What’s more, I’m wearing pajamas. I know this brand …… It’s the same kind I used to wear when I lived at Master’s place as his live-in apprentice.

“…… Did I get up in the middle of the night, take a bath, and change but don’t remember?”

That’s the only thing that makes sense, so it must be true. Well, I did just play in a league match and was really tired, so I reason with myself as I start getting up.

When my right hand suddenly comes down on something soft.

“Hm? What’s that?”

Squish squish.

It’s soft, but there’s something solid at the core …… Yeah, like a fruit that needs to ripen a bit more. There’s a semisweet smell in the air, too. It’s summer, so it has to be!

“………… A peach, right?”

I was wrong. It’s not even a fruit. Fruit doesn’t just randomly show up on my bed in the first place.

Lying next to me is–––.

A little girl wearing a men’s sized collared shirt and fast asleep.

“………… A …… i ………?”

“Mnn ……… Master ……”

Wiping her eyes, Ai sits up and smiles at me with loving eyes.

Wrapped around her pearly white skin is the collared shirt that I distinctly remember falling asleep wearing. There’s something nice about girls wearing men’s clothes, yeah? The baggy sleeves ……

What am I thinking?

Huh?

Hold up, hold up, hold up?

“S-Sorry! I-I-I-I didn’t know you were there and–––.”

“Hehe!”

Ai grins as I have a small heart attack and looks at me in a way I never expected a 10-year-old would know how …… Now I’ve got butterflies.

I’ve seen that same kind of look recently.

Wait.

Those eyes …… That’s how Ginko looks at me––––––.

“You were really tired last night, Master, weren’t you?”

“Huh?”

“Well …… You wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did.”

Stunning words from the mouth of a grade schooler.

Hold on a second, just what exactly did this girl who was wearing my shirt and sleeping in my bed do to me and would it be counted as cheating ……? Or worse, grounds for being arrested because what I felt when I was getting up had to be her b-b-b-bu–––.

“I’ll go start the laundry.”

With that, Ai leaves the room still wearing my shirt. And, I’m pretty sure she was sniffing the collar the whole way ……

“…………………………”

Wh-What in the world ……… Happened to me last night ………?