Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 3.3

  SUMMER FESTIVAL

Click, clack, click, clack.

The Grade Schooler Practice Group, all wearing yukata and wooden sandals, walk down the shopping arcade as if they’re on the red carpet.

“You’re the Shogi girls, right? Good luck!”

“I got high hopes fer all ’o ya!”

“See you at the booth later tonight!”

All the people setting up for the festival say hello to them on the way by. The girls smile and wave right back.

It seems like somebody is saying hello to Ai with every step she takes. She’s a celebrity at this point. No one cares that her Master, the Ryuo, is literally two steps behind her ……

“Wow, Ai! You’re so popular, so good at Shogi and even taught us how to put on yukata!”

“I would expect nothing less from someone who grew up at a hot spring inn!”

Mio and Ayano, very happy with their yukata, shower Ai with compliments as they set up vinyl Shogi boards on a long table and line up plastic pieces on them once we get to the booth.

“The only hard part about yukata is the obi sash …… Oh, Master.”

“Hm?”

“Your collar is crooked. Come here.”

“S-Sure ……”

Doing as I’m told, Ai starts fixing the collar on my yukata.

H-Her face is so close ……

“Hey, hey, look at you!”

“Just like newlyweds on their honeymoon!”

But Ai just laughs off Mio and Ayano’s teasing with her grown-up smile. She’d always gotten defensive before.

Maybe she’s matured a bit? Or ……

“Cha, too! Cha wants to do neweewed dings wid Masta!”

Charlette puts down the Animal Shogi pieces she’d been stacking up and rushes over to me, but Ai doesn’t even flinch.

“But you’re going to be his apprentice, right Charlette? Which do you want to be, his apprentice or his wife?”

“Ohh? Umm …… Bwoth!!”

One heck of an answer. Mio’s eyes go huge.

“She’s going for both of them!”

“You can’t, Charlette. You only get one in the end, even if you go for two.” Ai calmly chides Charlette’s bad move but tightens her grip on my collar and says, “Isn’t that right, Master?”

“Hm?! W-Well, you know how it is. Don’t run a fork in the road as they say ……”

“That means you can only claim one in the end, so don’t fret. You’re seriously worthless trash, Sensei.”

That bratty tone could only be–––!!

“Ten-chan?!”

“Hmph! This is a shopping arcade? Hardly! It’s my first time setting foot in this dump, and it reeks of poverty!”

Wearing a black yukata of her own, the young girl flips her tied black hair, unusual for her, back over her shoulder like a bird’s wing as a taller woman, also in a black yukata, stands at her side.

My second apprentice, Ai Yashajin, and her bodyguard, Akira Ikeda.

Ai Hinatsuru happily waves at the new arrival and rushes up to greet her.

“Ten-chan! I didn’t think you were coming!! After all those invitations I sent, the only response I got was I don’t care–––.”

“D-Don’t get the wrong idea!! After Akira gave you that messed up suggestion …… As her employer, I have to accept responsibility!” Lady Ai Yashijin snaps back, her whole face turning bright red. The other girls just grin and invite her into the booth.

“Come and see Shogi! We’re playing Shogi over here!”

Visitors are starting to increase now that it’s past dinnertime. The Shogi booth is in full swing.

Passing out pamphlets explaining Shogi rules and Shogi puzzles she made herself to people in the street, Ai Hinatsuru is drawing in customers.

“Try out our wonderful prize machine! You don’t have to know about Shogi to enjoy the prizes!”

“Register for instructional matches over here! They’re real cheap!”

“Animal Showgi, wight ober hewe!”

Ayano targets the non-Shogi fans while Mio and Charlette try to get some business going. Ai Yashajin is reclining in the Shogi booth, waiting to do an instructional match. Meanwhile, Akira is fishing super balls out of an inflatable pool with the local kids. Talk about a free spirit.

Instructional matches with the Women’s League players Ai Hinatsuru and Ai Yashajin are 1,500 yen each. Mio and Ayano are still in the Practice League, so playing with them costs 500 yen, while a game of Animal Shogi with Charlette only costs 100 yen.

Mio is trying to use those prices to appeal to passersby.

“Play with the youngest Women’s League players ever, one time for 1,500 yen! Pair with a grade-school pro for only 1,500 yen! If you like amateurs better, you can try two grade school girls for 500 yen! Or you can try younger for 100!”

…… Out of context, that would be a bit …… Worried that some real perverts might get the wrong idea, I take a 10,000 yen bill out of my wallet, hand it to Ayano and place my order.

“100 rounds of Animal Shogi. Make out the receipt to Big Bro.”

Now those perverts won’t be able to go anywhere near Charlette because I’ve got her booked for the whole night!

Ai Hinatsuru rushes back to the table and says with a smile, “Master? Please stop playing around and do some work, okay?”

“…… A title holder shouldn’t be doing instructional matches for peanuts.”

The association won’t tell me what to charge, but working for a measly 1,500 yen feels ……

“You won’t be reprimanded for doing them at a small summer festival like this. Besides, the association asked us to work here.”

Now even Ai Yashajin is telling me to work, so I don’t have much of a choice anymore.

A customer shows up almost the second I sit down at the table.

“A four-piece handicap, please.”

“Ah, sure ……… Huh? Kanegasaka-sensei?!”

Misao Kanegasaka teaches at the nearby elementary school and is also Ai and Mio’s homeroom teacher. I’ve done Shogi lessons for her class, too. 

“How nice of you to come. Are you here on your own time?”

“This is part of my job. It may be summer vacation, but teachers are still hard at work.”

It’s Obon, but they don’t get any time off ……? Grade school teachers really have it rough!

“Off-color individuals tend to congregate at events like this. Rather than scooping super balls or goldfish out of pools, they attempt to scoop up children for coins. As a teacher, I must be vigilant.”

“Oh, I see! Some people are just horrible!” I say with resentment while removing pieces from my side of the board. I don’t even notice how loud they snap.

“But if that’s why you’re here, are you sure you should be doing an instructional match? Shouldn’t you be walking around the festival ……?”

“It’s more efficient to keep suspicious individuals under observation, yes?”

What?! There’s someone after the girls here at this booth?!

“Where are they?! I’ll catch them myself!”

“In that case, please stay right where you are.”

A rather strange request, but that’s easy. All I have to do is do an instructional match. All right, the Ryuo is beefing up security!

After finishing up a 40-minute instructional match with Kanegasaka-sensei, the next customer steps up almost immediately.

“U-Ummm ………… A-A R-Rook handi- ………… Uh, two-piece handicap, please ……”

“Asuka! You too, Maestro?!”

The Worldly Maestro, Mitsuru Oishi 9-dan, and his daughter Asuka, who’s the same age as me, are at the booth.

“G-Good evening ………… I-I brought… something for you ……”

“Tonpeiyaki? Yaaay! Thanks, Asuka!” says Ai Hinatsuru from the other side of the table.

Asuka makes the best tonpeiyaki pancakes. Ai inhales those things. Considering she’s been working nonstop without taking time to eat or drink anything, I’m sure she’s thrilled to have something to snack on.

The girls start talking among themselves, so I decide to strike up a conversation with Asuka’s stone-faced father.

“I’m not used to seeing you in crowded places like this, Mr. Oishi.”

“Heh. I was looking forward to kickin’ back during the Obon holiday, but Asuka wouldn’t take no for an answer ……,” says Mr. Oishi with his head on a swivel.

“…… Say, Yaichi, is Ginko around?”

“Big Sis? She had 3-dan division matches today. I’m sure she went straight home …… Do you need to talk to her?”

“Nah, it’s not that important. Not that important, but ……”

Trailing off, the Maestro suddenly changes gears.

“I heard you’re challenging for the Crown. First off, congrats.”

“Thank you.”

I will avenge your defeat, Mr. Oishi! …… He’d tear into me if I actually said that.

It’s best for the junior to keep quiet at times like this. Now I get why Mr. Oishi came all the way out here in the first place.

“Let me share a piece of advice.”

“Please do.”

“That guy, Okito, he seemed to be trying to force a repetition draw whenever he was on defense. It’s a valid strategy for defenders, I know, but …… It felt excessive.”

Mr. Oishi doesn’t sound scared or frightened, more like he’s confused.

“It didn’t feel like an option on the table, but like he wanted to force a repetition draw no matter what …… Catch my drift?”

“Thank you very much. That’s very helpful information …… Extremely helpful.”

Even in the opening formation, the defender is rated at a very slight disadvantage. That’s why software gives the advantage to offense in Shogi.

Which means that software playing on defense will prioritize getting that negative rating as close to zero as possible.

Zero–––in other words, a repetition draw.

In a match pitting software against software where both programs only play the best move available, that opening formation rating gap never changes. The two programs will keep playing forever.

Repetition draws and stalemates have gone way up as a result.

Rules have even changed for software tournaments to compensate.

“………… If he was already that way during the title match against you, Mr. Oishi …… Then it must be true Mr. Okito …… No, maybe not yet …………”

“Heeeello?”

A woman’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts.

“May I trouble you for an instructional match, handsome young man?”

“Oh, yes, sure! …… Wait, Keika?!”

Standing across the table from me is Keika, decked out in a summery yukata.

Of course I recognized her voice, but …… I never thought she’d come here wearing that. She’s enthralling, to say the least.

E-Especially …… that slightly open collaaaaaar ……!!

“Yaichi, that was quite a face you were making. What’s on your mind?”

“C-Cleav- …… No. Mr. Oishi told me something very interesting.”

Apparently, I had sunk so deep into the ocean of consideration after he gave me that tip that I didn’t notice the Maestro went off for a smoke and that Ai is doing an instructional match with Asuka right now. 

“But Keika, you’re not serious about getting an instructional match, are you?”

“Sorry, Yaichi. The match isn’t for me.”

Saying so, Keika steps to the side and …… reveals a floral fairy behind her.

“Huh? …… Big Sis?”

Right after her 3-dan division matches? She still came? Even did her hair?

On a side note, the director already sent me the results, so I know exactly what happened. But I can’t let her know that I’ve been getting messages behind her back, so I ask Big Sis with a flower in her beautifully braided hair as calmly as I can, “Are pigs flying? Because you’ve never gone to events no matter how many times the association has asked you to before, so why in the world would you show up to a tiny summer festival in a shopping arcade like this–––?”

“Hah? What’s so bad about taking a break to visit a festival? Is there a rule that requires all 3-dan division members to hole themselves up in their houses and do research from dusk until dawn? Want your head on a pike?”

“Easy …… I-I never said it was a bad thing ……”

Keika grabs Big Sis by the arm and pulls her back to keep her from sinking her teeth into me and then says, “Come on, you two. Isn’t there something else you want to say?”

“…………”

Going quiet, all sorts of different emotions suddenly erupt inside both of us. I get a handle on all of them right away, but …… The pit of my chest is burning ……

Too embarrassed to look her in the eyes, I stare at the table and say what I really feel.

“……… It’s nice, to see your face.”

“………………… Doufu ……”

That’s all Big Sis says. That by itself …… is enough to make butterflies dance in my chest.

She couldn’t have had much time to prepare at all. Still wearing her school uniform, she braided her hair so that she could fit in with everyone else at the festival, even just a little bit. She accessorized, too. Would it be too much to think she made herself pretty just for me?

–––But …… I’m allowed to think so, right?

Desperately fighting back the urge to hug her right here and now, I do everything in my power to burn this moment into my memory. I want how she looks right now to come to mind when my spirit is about to break in the upcoming battle ……

“Ah! It’s Sora-sensei!”

“Wady Snow White!”

Mio and Charlette recognize Big Sis and rush over to say hello. Now that I think about it, these girls and Big Sis have become pretty close after meeting at the first Grade Schooler Practice Group session.

Their eyes sparkled with admiration the first time they saw Big Sis but they couldn’t do much else.

Now they’re just fine running right up to her–––.

“Sora-sensei! Try our prize machine!”

“It’s 200 yen to turn the dial.”

N-N-N-NOOOOOOOO!! Don’t you DAAAAAARRRRREEEEEE!!

“Big Sis! Th-That’s for, um …… for kids! Those are kids’ prizes! An adult like yourself should show some restraint! You are an adult, right Big Sis?!”

“…… You’re acting suspicious.”

The bustline of a kid but the mind of a full-grown adult, Big Sis’s keen senses pick up on something fishy. So she pesters another adult woman for coins.

“Keika. Allowance.”

“No, no. You make enough money on your own now, right Ginko?”

Keika politely refuses Big Sis’s request and looks me right in the eyes.

“You owe me one, okay?”

“Yes. I’ll pay you back even if it takes the rest of my life.”

If Ginko and I ever get to the point that we’re officially dating, I’ll never be on equal footing with Keika again …… Not that I am right now, though.

Desperate to change the subject, I ask Keika about something that seems off.

“By the way, where’s Master?”

“Today was his first day overseeing the Sub League Entrance Exam, remember? Uncle Seiichi asked him to fill in this year.”

“Master… a judge? Those poor kids ……,” I mutter before stopping myself, but Big Sis nods.

“Doufu. Just as Yaichi says, it’s hot and humid enough in those rooms as it is, but having to look at those gray whiskers of his all day would make me want to die.”

“I didn’t go anywhere near that far!!”

Our first comically meaningless argument in forever continues until.

“Master. Sorry to disturb you when you’re busy.”

Ai Hinatsuru calls out to me in that mature tone of hers. Big Sis glares at her, but Ai is taking extra steps to make sure that she avoids making eye contact at all costs …… Oh, boy ……

“S-Sorry, Ai! I need to get back to doing matches, don’t I?! Tell you what, I’ll do four once, no, ten–––!”

“That won’t be nearly enough.”

“Huh?”

“We have a big problem.”

“Huuuuh?! Wh-Where’d all these people come from?!”

I was so wrapped up in Big Sis I didn’t notice, but …… There’s a huge crowd of people surrounding the Shogi booth right now.

And, I’m ………… not the one they came to see.

“…… That’s Naniwa’s Snow White, isn’t she?”

“No way! It’s really her?!”

“You’d never find a cuter girl anywhere! Look at that silver hair! It’s natural, too!!”

“I, like, have to be dreaming! OMG, I’m a huuuuuuge fan!!”

It’s not just Shogi fans. Actually I’d say they’re in the minority.

More and more people of all ages are flooding in with their smartphone cameras ready. The crowd is blocking the entire street around the booth.

This is some TV star power right here …… Wait, Big Sis is on TV quite a bit, so her ability to draw a crowd is hitting full-blown celebrity levels.

All these people are thinking they have a chance to shake Naniwa’s Snow White’s hand and take a picture with her, so they start lining up. Th-The whole booth is going to get overrun at this rate ……!

“…… Fine, I’ll fix this. Yaichi, out of the way.”

“Huh?!”

Ai’s, Keika’s and my voice all harmonize in shock.

It’s extremely rare for Big Sis to even show her face at events, let alone little ones like this summer festival …… But now she’s talking with the fans?! This’ll make the news!!

“I-I never thought I’d see the day you would volunteer for this, Ginko …… Has there been a change in the wind?” Keika remarks.

“Ha-ha-ha. Just as long as it doesn’t bring any rain,” I jokingly add. 

Just then.

Plip ………… Plip …………

“Hm?”

Shhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa––––––……!!

“Dahhh! A downpour?!”

“Eeeek!!”

“Th-That’s lightning! It’s close! Everyone… get inside, quick!”

“Hail, too?!! The heck is going on?!”

The people lined up in front of the booth scream and run for cover.

Just when I thought a few drops were running down my cheek, rain starts coming down in buckets!

Lightning… and hail! In the middle of summer?! The whole shopping arcade is panicking.

Of course, the Shogi booth is pure chaos with everyone trying to get under the eaves of nearby shops.

Ai angrily glares at Big Sis and yells, “What do you have to say for yourself?! Everyone worked so hard on this, and now …… Half of our summer vacation is wasted!!”

“Th-This isn’t my fault! …… Now is it?”

Big Sis looks over at me, unsure. Dou …… fu?

“Wheew, this doesn’t look like it’ll lighten up anytime soon ……”

“It’s a good thing the pieces and boards are not made of wood ……,” say Mio and Ayano as they quickly gather up the Animal Shogi set. It’s made of cardboard, so it’ll get mushy if it gets wet …… The vinyl boards and plastic pieces are getting soaked in the rain, but there’s not much we can do about that at this point.

If only there was a place where we could keep doing instructional matches–––.

“Big Sis. The 3-dan division matches are over, right? Do you think we could take everyone to the arena or the multipurpose room at the association?”

“And how exactly are we supposed to transport this many people in the middle of this downpour?”

“…… Good point.”

Well, my apartment is nearby. Then again, I wouldn’t care if it was just me, but my grade school-aged apprentice lives there, too. Having so many strangers know where we live wouldn’t be a good idea …… Not that all these people would fit in there in the first place ……

Just as that thought crosses my mind…

Kanegasaka-sensei arrives back on the scene with a solution.

“Permission has been granted. Everyone, please make your way to Kita Fukushima Elementary.”