Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 5.5

  THE SAME BLOOD FLOWS WITHIN THEM

I spend the interval between the first and second matches in the Women’s League Player’s Room on the fifth floor.

“The Women’s League ……”

Ryou Tsukiyomizaka gave me something like permission to use this room on my first day in the 3-dan division. But, does someone like me truly belong in this room? I’ve never been able to answer that question one way or another.

“But I definitely won’t be a women’s player once I become a professional ……”

I should be planning for my next match, but my mind won’t cooperate. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to think about the match that has my life with him riding on it. The first move is mine, and I already know how I’m going to use that advantage. Maybe it would be good to think about something else ……

After a few minutes of wracking my brain to figure out what–––.

“Ah.”

It comes to me in a flash.

I take the piece of paper out of my pocket and have another look.

“Now I get it. This one is based on moving to block checkmate and Reverse Check, too.”

My mind is on something else entirely, but the answer to the pipsqueak’s puzzle pops into my head. After all that time I spent at it last night, just like that. Maybe my brain is just in that high of a gear right now.

“Still, she found that sequence during an actual match? That pipsqueak …… just how deep is she reading?”

This formation should never show up in any match.

The pipsqueak must have picked a spot in an actual match she had and mentally worked out the best moves for offense and defense to make this miracle checkmate happen. I highly doubt that sequences this long and complicated would ever happen in professional title matches, let alone the Women’s League.

But I feel so much better now that I solved it.

“He-he-he …… Maybe I have a passport to Planet Shogi now? Can I visit where the Shogi Martians live?”

Solving extremely long Shogi puzzles won’t make you stronger, but it does feel good.

Perfect timing, too. I gather my things and leave the Women’s League Player’s Room only to see–––.”

“Ah! Um! Sora-sensei, may I speak with you for a moment?!”

A girl shows up outside the door.

Her skin has a healthy, golden glow — exactly the opposite of mine. Was she waiting for me?

“You ……”

“I’m Karen Noboryou! 1-dan! I’ve, um, worked as a match recorder for several of your matches–––.”

“Yes. Of course, I remember.”

“Pwff!! Huh?! Holy …… Y-Y-Y-You really remember who I am ……?!”

“…………”

“A-Ah! S- …… Sorry! I guess this is how idol otakus feel when their fave looks at them from the stage ……”

…… Fave?

“I always …… wanted to play against you in the Sub League. Once I realized that would never happen, I wanted to face you in a Women’s Title match at least, but ………… I ended up losing to a little girl ……”

She must be talking about Yaichi’s dark pipsqueak.

There’s no shame in losing to that one as a 1-dan. She forced me into a repetition draw when I had the first move.

Just as I’m about to console her……

“I was depressed after I lost, but not anymore,” says an upbeat Miss Noboryou.

“I’d always treated the Women’s League like a joke. The Sub League is more competitive, so I always thought of us as above them. At least, that’s the general opinion in the Kanto Sub League …… Losing against one of them after I had actually played in a tournament of theirs was humiliating and the guys in the Sub League called me an embarrassment ……”

“……”

“But losing opened my eyes to so many more things. I think I was scared to lose. After seeing you keep on winning against Women’s League players under all that pressure, it gave me a whole new level of respect for you. I’ve decided to keep playing in Women’s League tournaments whenever I can.”

She apologizes for blabbing on and on about herself as she and I walk down the same hallway.

“It’s just so hard, being a girl in the Sub League …… There’s no place for us during regular activities and we have no one to go to for advice. Worse, they all say you’re lucky because you have the Women’s League as a backup …… Screw you! I’m here because I want to be a pro, dammit!”

She yells at no one in particular and stomps her feet. Then, Miss Noboryou politely bows.

“The reason why I can play in Women’s League tournaments and experience so many new things is because you forged that path for me, Sora-sensei. I wanted to say thank you …… Sorry to disturb you right before such a big match.”

“It’s alright ……”

“The best of luck to you! Go show the world what girls in the Sub League–––,” stopping herself midsentence, Karen Noboryou 1-dan gives me an amazing sendoff, “what female professionals in the making can do!!”

“…… Thank you. I wish you the best as well, Miss Noboryou.”

I don’t know if I behaved as a Women’s League members should or if my Women’s Titles were a shortcut or the long way around in the end.

But it makes me happy to know that someone else is using my footsteps as a guide. That lets me know that it was worth it… even if I did go in circles.

After following his footsteps for as long as I have, I know how important it is to have a destination.

3-dan division, 18th match. The last one.

Our match isn’t set to take place in the Exclusive Arena, but instead in the Ginsa no Ma.

There are too many people …… that’s the reason the association gave, but both of us playing in the match don’t believe that is true for a moment.

My opponent–––Hiuma Kagamizu 3-dan sits down in the upper seat.

Both of us have fourteen wins and three losses.

–––Win, and promote undisputed. But lose and, most likely ………… I had no idea so much would be riding on this match ……

The pressure is getting to me, so I put both my hands on the tatami mat before the match starts.

Even though I’m sitting down, I feel extremely dizzy.

My heart is pounding hard enough to make me feel nauseated.

Mr. Kagamizu is always so warm and friendly, but right now ………… I’m terrified of looking him in the eyes ……!

“Pardon me.”

Once Mr. Kagamizu readjusts the cushion, he reaches for the piece box and puts his King in place with a sharp snap.

That’s just like him.

My fingers are trembling so much I can barely set my pieces inside the lines, but his hands are steady as a rock. I heard that Sota beat him with an instant death, but it looks like he’s put it completely out of his mind.

Short memory.

It’s a phrase that the Worldly Maestro Mitsuru Oishi 9-dan preaches. Draw a line between what just happened and what is about to and forget everything behind that line. In this case, focus on the match that’s about to happen.

–––I …………… can’t. There’s too much connected to it for me to block everything out ……

Just when I think I’m completely outmatched even before we get started, suddenly…

Mr. Kagamizu says something unbelievable.

“From my move.”

“Huh?!” I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out. 

The first move is mine. Or, it should be ……? Huh?

Double checking, I am on offense.

“Ha-ha …… Well, this is embarrassing.”

Mr. Kagamizu awkwardly smiles, but I can almost see the blood draining from his face. Even his voice is shaking, so much so I can barely hear him.

“Well, no point denying it now. I’m nervous as hell …… Matched up against this new stronger you under these circumstances.”

“…… I am, too. Part of me really wants to run away right now.”

If I had just let him play the first move, I would have promoted to 4-dan by default because of his rule violation.

It’d be a good idea to forget about that. I won’t be able to play a single move if I don’t.

“Haaa …………” 

We both steady ourselves with a deep breath.

Now that I know he’s just as nervous …… I just might be able to put up a fight.

Then, without a single quiver in his voice, Kagamizu 3-dan says with the same tone as he always did in the Player’s Room before we started a match of 10-second Shogi, “Well, shall we?”

“Ready when you are!”

I bow my head as low as I can. While I don’t know if I’ll be able to concentrate, I want to treasure every move I get to make at least. I want this to be good Shogi, a match where I can say I played my best…

Whether I win or lose ……

This will be the first and last time I’ll ever get to play against Mr. Kagamizu in the Sub League.

“………… Hn!!”

I open the Bishop Path with every fiber of my being ready to fight. Mr. Kagamizu closes his eyes for a moment to mentally prepare himself and then advances the Pawn in front of his Rook. The match takes off from there.

Older formations take shape.

This match is the fork in the road that separates what has been from what will be.

I can’t think of a more fitting way for it to play out.

“Double Yagura ………… Master’s favorite ……!”

“Yeah. The two of us have the same blood flowing in our veins.”

Mr. Kagamizu has played mostly Ranging Rook in the past few years, but maybe he discovered something new being part of Master’s Practice Group, the Kiyotaki Classroom.

He started using yagura at the beginning of this season and hasn’t used much else since.

Bishop Exchange is extremely popular in the professional leagues right now. Yaichi even said, “Yagura is dead.” It takes a lot of courage to keep playing it right now.

Still, he chose to use it.

Even professionals have difficulty using the latest Bishop Exchange strategies effectively. Sub League members who try it fall apart halfway into them.

It takes courage to stick to your guns no matter what is in vogue.

Mr. Kagamizu has it. That’s what’s made him strong.

–––Then what about me?

What is my strength? I think I have become strong. But what is the backbone of my Shogi ……? I didn’t know.

Yaichi recommended I use Ranging Rook. I didn’t choose that path, though.

–––Because I don’t have the talent for it.

Even if it fits that dark pipsqueak second apprentice of his like a perfect ring, it isn’t my size. The design does nothing for me, either.

I decided to keep playing what I’m used to: Static Rook. It wasn’t part of any strategy, but it was the only realistic option I had.

Strangely enough, it’s similar to Mr. Kagamizu’s playing style.

Two players who have walked the same path tend to make the same moves.

We both belong to the Kansai Sub League.

We both learned from the same people.

Other than Yaichi and Master Kiyotaki, I think I have played more Shogi against Mr. Kagamizu than anyone else. He used to work with me all the time in the Player’s Room even before I joined the Sub League.

However, paths always split at one point or another.

“Now ………… Here’s where we say goodbye to the standards.”

40th move. Mr. Kagamizu mumbles as he looks out over our completely identical formations.

I take the initiative.

First——a Bishop Exchange.

Then–––advance down the right edge!

“The Lance?!”

While the standard calls for a Climbing Silver sequence from 2 Six, I thrust my Lance forward instead. 

However, Mr. Kagamizu doesn’t look intimidated at all.

“…… That’s an interesting sequence, isn’t it? Did you think I wouldn’t know about it?”

“No, I did.”

“Hm?”

“The part you don’t know comes next.”

He goes along with the Lance Exchange and promotes his Bishop into a Horse in the process. It’s exactly the calm response the standard calls for.

In this case, I’ll ramp up the pressure.

I take the Lance I just claimed off my piece stand and deploy it right back onto the board! Mr. Kagamizu’s eyes fly open.

“Right in front of the Rook …… You put a Lance there?!”

This offensive formation borders on crude. I’m lined up to charge right through him!

A software program would probably call it questionable… but!!

–––I’ve got a cannon lined up on his King in the second file. Ratings don’t account for that kind of pressure!!

I’m not aiming for Mr. Kagamizu’s King.

I’m after the courage that supports him, that strong decisiveness. If I can just put a dent in it!

“Hmm ……”

Mr. Kagamizu leans back to think for the first time, his hand is on his tie as he stares at his own territory.

Then, 30 minutes later–––he ignores my attack completely.

“Go ahead and try.”

That’s the message he’s sending by moving his Pawn to 5 Five. I charge straight in.

“Aaaarggghhhhhhhh!!”

My Silver leading the charge, I use my Lance cannon to the fullest over a 30-move assault!

Pouring every piece I capture onto the front lines, I press forward! Attack! Attack!!

“…… That’s some spirit you’ve got, Ginko. Pulling out all the stops ……”

Mr. Kagamizu dips and dives his pieces to parry my strikes–––and smiles.

“Did you think this would be enough to scare me?”

“……?!”

Then, he takes my leading Silver with his King.

At …… At the most vital point ……!!

“F-Flat Faced Defense ……?!”

“Here it is, Snow White! Victory is staring you in the face! Just try and take it!!”

Mr. Kagamizu taunts me to draw my attention to his unguarded King.

A cheap taunt.

But it makes my blood boil from head to toe.

“…… Die!!”

I went for his fighting spirit, but it’s all over if he starts taking me lightly. I deploy a Gold right in front of his King and continue my assault.

Next thing I know, his supposedly cornered King slips away like a matador in the face of a charging bull.

“!! Oh n- ……!!”

All the blood that rushed to my head drains out.

Provoke me into attacking and get the King to safety during the chaos …… I know that’s what he’s after, but it’s too late to pull up now.

Falling for that taunt not only lost me my Rook, but a precious Gold and Silver are gone, too.

–––I just did him a favor ……!

With his King now safely in the middle of the board, Mr. Kagamizu says like he’s already won, “Something wrong? There’s plenty of room to roam over here.”

If his King gets all the way to the right side …… I’ll never be able to checkmate him ……

I missed …… my chance ……

“……… Kgh ……!!”

I know his formation is better than mine. Software would probably say I’m 1,000 points behind right now.

The dark shadow of despair falls over my eyes.

–––Is it …… over? After how far I’ve come …… everything just ends, this quickly ……?

The research I was banking on failed. I went first and couldn’t use that advantage. So many different reasons for losing start coming to mind …… Until finally, I look up at Mr. Kagamizu.

Something about him sitting there, clenching his slacks above the knee with his right hand–––looks just like Master.

–––…… No.

I never had an advantage against him from the outset.

In terms of the mid-game’s ebb and flow, and even reading speed in the late-game, I don’t measure up to Mr. Kagamizu. Not even close.

–––What is my strength?

“Ahhhh ……………” 

I look up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.

The stubborn, gritty Kansai Sub League has a few legends.

“Having six of the eight Golds and Silvers is an advantage, but having seven puts you in position to win.”

“The opponent might have a heart attack, so use every bit of waiting time and hold out until a Gold is deployed in front of your King.”

My head clear, I look out onto the board again.

–––I wasted two of them, but I still have six Golds and Silvers, one of which is still on my piece stand.

Then I look at the chess clock.

–––I still have plenty of time because I rushed into that attack.

Lastly, I checked my pulse.

–––I’m fine. It’s still beating like a drum.

My body is fragile. My Shogi is weak. I’ve failed the Sub League Entrance Exam before.

“There are two late-games in the Sub League.”

My heart skips a beat when those words echo through my mind.

But I remember what he said.

The very same person who created those legends said that I was invincible.

In that case, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

“If I truly believe I will win in the end ………… being behind along the way isn’t scary at all!!”

There’s one Silver left on my piece stand. I take it.

Endure, endure.

Endure, endure, endure and overcome. My story shines bright, just like this Silver.

“I’m just getting started, Hiuma.”

97th move–––Deploy 6 Eight Silver.

I tell him as I work that Silver into my defensive formation. Tell the person who became my Shogi guardian. Like a brother who has the same blood in his veins that I do, “I will beat you even if my heart stops.”