Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 1.4

  BOUNDARY LINE

With plenty of things to think about, my legs take me to the Kansai Shogi Association on autopilot while my brain is busy.

I don’t have anything specific to do today. Nothing official, just …… a hunch.

“Ah.”

A hunch that turned out to be right on the money because I see her the moment I get on the elevator.

Ginko Sora.

My older sister apprentice, she is the first-ever female member of the Sub League’s 3-dan division. Holding two Women’s Titles of her own, she is undefeated against Women’s League players.

She is without a doubt the strongest girl to play Shogi over its 1,400-year history.

Her silver hair, seemingly translucent white skin, silver eyes that sometimes take on a blue tint, and fairy-like feminine features make her nickname Naniwa’s Snow White extremely fitting. Her fame makes her pretty much the face of the Shogi world.

And–––.

She’s ………… my special someone.

“L-Long time, no see ………… Big Sis.”

“……… Uh-huh …………”

Too shy to make any kind of eye contact, we exchange awkward greetings.

Big Sis stutters as she asks.

“Wh- …… What are you doing at the association at this hour?”

“I, you know. I’ve got to confirm the Crown Title Match schedule …… What about you?”

“I …… have 3-dan division matches tomorrow, so I came to do my own inspection ……”

I can’t pass up this chance to tease Big Sis as she mumbles and looks the other way.

“An inspection for 3-dan division matches? You’re playing here in Kansai, so why would you need to do an inspection?”

“Y-You …… could just as easily confirm your schedule over the phone, yes?”

Yeah, that’s what’s going on here.

We promised not to see each other so we could focus on Shogi. After all, we both have big matches coming up.

So we used a sealing move to put our feelings on hold until Big Sis promotes to 4-dan, until she turns pro.

But there’s no way to prevent bumping into each other by accident…

Which is why we both ended up aimlessly walking around the association for no real reason.

We didn’t plan this.

Just happened to be thinking about each other and crossed paths. In other words, we were thinking the same thing.

Whoa.

A girl this cute actually likes me? We like each other? I could die right here.

Those are the lips I …………… Gulp.

“………… Quit staring, idiot. Perv ……”

Big Sis whips open her fan and covers her mouth, which actually makes my heart pound even faster.

“Big Sis. Follow me for a second.”

Giving a slight bow to the guard I see almost every day, I lead Big Sis to the out-of-the-way back entrance next to the security guard’s office that the night staff uses.

“There’s no telling who might show up if we stay by the elevator. We can talk here.”

“…… Doufu,” Big Sis answers, barely moving her lips at all.

By the way, doufu is a Shogi word to describe when you take the piece your opponent moved last turn by moving a Pawn into the same space.

It’s sometimes used as a way to say yes in the Shogi world.

In that way, it also means I agree with that. What a handy word to know.

“So, hey, Big Sis. Since we happened to run into each other, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“That being? No promises, but I’ll listen.”

“There’s a birthday present that I’d like.”

“Congrats. Done.”

Big Sis turns to walk away, but I grab her hand and pull her close before wrapping my arm around her waist to keep her from leaving.

“Wha- …… N-Not so close ……!”

“No one’s watching.”

Everyone uses the front door this time of day.

I lean in close enough for our noses to almost brush against each other and whisper, “I’m 18 years old now.”

“Doufu.”

“Being 18 means I’m an adult now. That’s what the law says.”

“Doufu.”

“I can get a driver’s license.”

“Doufu.”

“I can get married.”

“…… Doufu.”

“I’d like to have two kids so they can play Shogi with each other.”

“Dou- …………?!”

“I’ve grown up.”

“…… Yes, yes, doufu, doufu. Your point?”

“I’d like a more adult sealing move for my birthday.”

“Dou- ………… Huh? What would that be, exactly?”

Big Sis isn’t picking up on it. Maybe I need to be a bit more direct?

“You know …… that. Interlocking.”

“Ki- …… An interlocked sealing move? Oh, like holding hands and interlocking our fingers? Doing it …… like couples do?”

Just how innocent is she?

“Not like that.”

I can’t take a chance that anyone else will hear, so I pull Big Sis in tight against me and softly whisper into her ear.

“More like …………” (mumble, mumble)

“?! Whaaa ……?”

“Then, our tongues …………” (mumble, mumble)

“Gasp?! That’s …………… Huuuuuh?!”

Poof! Big Sis turns bright red from the neck up.

It’s almost like Naniwa’s Snow White has an apple for a head. Fitting, considering the fairy tale the name comes from.

But she grabs my neck with a murderous glare in her eyes.

“Th-That’s not something you can just ask for!! Trash! Pervert!! H-How could I bebber do d-d-dat?!”

Big Sis being so focused on her tongue that she stutters has got to be the most adorable thing in the world.

“Besides, ki- …… doing a sealing move here, on the Shogi world’s holy ground, with someone who doesn’t properly address their superior within the Shogi family, I wouldn’t dare! Follow the protocol! There are rules!!”

“So, I can call you Ginko outside of the association?”

“Um ………… W-Well ………… If you want to, I wouldn’t say no ……♡,” says Big Sis, fiddling with her hair as she looks away. It’s almost like she wants me to call her Ginko.

Taking Big Sis by the hand, I lead her out the back exit and into the parking lot outside.

Staff and players’ cars and bicycles are lined up out here, but there isn’t a soul around. The building itself blocks the view from the road, so there’s no way anyone can see us.

“What about here?”

“Address me as Big Sis.”

I take her one step out of the parking lot toward the street and ask again.

“And here?”

“G-Ginko is ………… fine ……”

Interesting. Even a single step outside the association is enough.

Pulling Ginko along, I take her to the front of the building and ask outside the front door, “What about here?”

“Big Sis …… Probably.”

“What about at Twelve?”

The restaurant on the first floor of the association has a separate entrance. So it’s tough to know which is which.

Big Sis’s answer is–––.

“Big Sis, so long as other players or staff members are there. If we’re alone, Ginko should be fine ……”

“So, I can feed you with the spoon if we have the place to ourselves?”

“W-Well ………… If we’re alone and the owner won’t see ………… Doufu ……”

“Then, what about at the gift shop?”

“No, absolutely not! My goods are on sale there!”

“What about the space behind the door …… You know, just outside?”

“Here ………… Big Sis.”

“But it’s a public path, you know? You don’t have any authority here, Ginko.”

“Yes, it’s a public place, but! The association is right there! You will follow the protocol! No means no! You idiot!!”

“Rules are meant to be broken. I’ll call you Ginko all I want! Ginko, Ginko, Ginko!”

“Wh-What do you think you’re doing, stupid Yaichi! I’m telling you, no! Geeze!”

Our little discussion in front of the Kansai Shogi Association turns into a game of tag.

“What are you doing?”

Someone else’s voice coming out of nowhere, Big Sis and I freeze on the spot.

It turns out to be someone we never expected.

“M-Mr. Sakana …… shi?”

Sumito Sakanashi 3-dan.

Registered with the Kanto Sub League, he’s ranked first in the 3-dan division this season. If I remember right, now is his last chance to promote before the age limit forces him to retire.

In more ways than one, he’s a Sub League member that I’ll never forget.

He’s probably going to stay at the association tonight for tomorrow’s Sub League regular activities.

Mr. Sakanashi is standing there dumbstruck with a travel bag slung over his shoulder.

“U-Ummm ……… Ehhhh …………” 

Her face shifting from red to a bluish green as fast as an off-color traffic light, Big Sis is in no shape to talk. So I take it on myself to ask the important question.

“………… How long have you been there?”

“For about five minutes ……”

Then he saw most of that ……

I avoid making direct eye contact as Mr. Sakanashi offers a few words.

“Well, um ………… I’m not about to say to keep your distance from each other, but wouldn’t it be a better idea to stay out of sight? So many people know who you are ……”

He’s exactly right.

Even without our fame, we should know better. That had to have been hard to watch. To think, we were acting like one of those lovey-dovey couples. Somebody—kill me now. Big Sis is hiding behind me and looks like she already has one foot in the grave.

“…… Pardon us. Please go on inside.”

Bowing as deep as I can to simultaneously avoid eye contact and hide my embarrassment, I step off the main path to allow Mr. Sakanashi to pass. 

I ask him on his way by, “Aren’t you scheduled to play against Mr. Karako and then Mr. Kagamizu tomorrow?”

“?! Y-Yes, I am ……”

“I’m truly sorry you had to see that right before playing important matches against the top players in the 3-dan division. Please, forgive me.”

“Kuzuryu ………… sensei.”

Looking surprised, he still considers his position as a Sub League member and calls me sensei.

“You remember ……?”

“Huh? You were the match recorder just two days ago when I became the Crown Challenger. Of course, I remember who you are.”

“Not that …… Our match in the Sub League–––.”

“How could I forget? It was the match that decided who would promote and I saw you as the strongest player in 3-dan division before that season started, so I’d been working on a strategy against you for months.”

“A strategy? …… Tailored against me?”

“Yes. I asked Ayumu for help.”

Openly admitting it like this is a bit awkward, but there’s no reason to hide it.

I knew that the timing worked out so that Mr. Sakanashi would promote if he won that match as well, so I went right for the win that day.

Even after all my preparation, that match came down to the wire …… It was a contest of wills from start to finish.

I still dream about that match all the time.

Except, I make a mistake in the late game and am still in the Sub League in that nightmare ……

“It was our first match against each other, and I was fortunate that this sequence I researched played out the way it did. I would’ve lost if the match turned into a head-to-head brawl. The media and the Shogi world were pushing for me because they wanted to see a junior high school student turn professional while you were the final obstacle. I was lucky.”

“I overpowered you, though,” mumbles Big Sis under her breath. Loud enough for even Mr. Sakanashi to hear. Big Sis just can’t stand losing anything, can she?

I force a smile and say, “Your match against Gin- …… Big Sis is over, right? I have no reason to avoid you.”

Honestly, I’d like a chance to sit down and talk with him.

Mr. Sakanashi’s Shogi has the whole Shogi world excited to see how he’ll do after promoting out of the Sub League.

“I know! Why don’t we have lunch? There are some great restaurants around here.”

“No, thank you.”

Instant rejection.

The shock must be written all over my face. Mr. Sakanashi looks visibly uncomfortable as he quickly makes an excuse.

“…… Please don’t hold it against me. I already have plans.”