Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 12 - Chapter 5.91

  THE LAST PROMOTION

Sumito Sakanashi’s final match ended in victory.

“Whew ……”

All his matches now behind him, Sumito took his time wiping down each piece one by one before cleaning the board as well.

The boards and pieces used in the Sub League could not be thought of as expensive by any means.

However, he saw them as scratched, worn out Sub League members who fight for their lives only to be cast away at the end. They were beautiful in a way.

“…… I, for one, will show you guys some respect before moving on.”

His opponent got the hint and left his seat so Sumito could clean his final battleground at his own pace.

Once complete, Sumito touched the board one last time and said farewell.

“Well, goodbye. You hang in there.”

He left the fourth-floor arena and put his orange name tag on the counter next to the shoe shelf. He may have won, but he couldn’t bring himself to go stamp his final victory star on the league standings sheet.

Fading away was all he wanted to do.

That was his only wish once the reality of retirement started to set in.

And that wish played out far smoother than he ever hoped.

“…… It’s so quiet …………”

Everyone inside the building seemed to be at the press conference taking place on the second floor. Even the offices, where someone was nearly always around, were eerily empty.

Was it Sota Kunugi who promoted? Or was it Ginko? Both, perhaps ……?

Twelve and a half years in the Sub League.

Sumito had literally spent half his life walking these halls, but never once had he seen them this tranquil.

“Was it always this spacious ……?”

He had been coming to the classroom here for years before joining the Sub League and even attended children’s classes put on by the association. Including that time, he had spent nearly 20 years inside this building. The fact that he would have no connection to it for the rest of his life starting tomorrow still didn’t feel real.

Walking through the deserted lobby, Sumito stepped outside the front door before turning around and bowing to it.

Cars from TV stations had filled the parking lot from end to end.

Once he was off the premises, Sumito made a quick trip to the Shogi monument at Hatomori Shrine and paid his respects.

Passed the coffee shop where he would kill time on regular activities mornings.

Passed the steakhouse where his senior had treated him to dinner after a practice session.

Passed the bathhouse he often visited on the nights he stayed in Tokyo after working as a match recorder for placement matches.

The memories kept coming as Sumito walked the streets of Sendagaya.

However, he came to a halt at the intersection across from the train station. Seeing that traffic light brought back a painful twinge from the opening day when he lost two matches in a row …… But now, even that felt nostalgic to him.

“Mr. Sakanashi!”

Sumito heard someone calling his name while waiting for the light to change.

It was a former Sub League member, a junior of his who had left the league to work in sports journalism. Right now, though, he had a large TV camera over his shoulder. Was the ex-Sub League member worried about him because he left without saying goodbye? This was going to be more painful than it was worth.

“M-Mr. Sakanishi ………… Pant, pant …… Your match ……?”

“It’s over.”

The journalist must be in a major rush because he didn’t bother to catch his breath before asking questions. That camera certainly didn’t help. So he set the heavy piece of equipment down as he asked, “Did you win?”

“Finished a 14-match winning streak. At least I get to go out on a high note.”

Now it was Sumito’s turn to ask a question.

“Who promoted?”

“Sora and Kunugi.”

“I see ……”

Sumito nodded. That meant Hiuma Kagamizu lost to them both. Though his heart went out to his kind senior’s plight …… the results came from head-to-head matchups. They were what they were. Had the records of Shoji Karako that he sent Ginko proven useful?

He then followed up with another question.

“Aren’t the promotees doing a press conference right now?”

“Yes.”

“Then why are you here filming me?”

“Because you are the third.”

He didn’t understand.

“………………………… Huh?”

“Sora and Kunugi were the only players with three losses to win any matches today, which means your 14-match winning streak gives you a bonus point. Combined with the one you got last year, that makes you go up a dan.”

“Not Mr. Kagamizu ………… but… me?”

Sumito had collapsed in tears at this very crosswalk in front of Sendagaya Station after losing twice on opening day this season of the 3-dan division.

He lost twice again on the next day of regular activities, resulting in zero victory stars over the first four matches.

Certain that there was no hope left, Sumito didn’t consider trying to extend his career with a winning record and enrolled in a driving school instead.

“I-I promoted ……? Me, a professional? 4-dan?”

There were other seasons when he was so much more devoted to Shogi. Yet he didn’t promote in any of them ……

Hey, you’re not out of this yet! Hang in there!

Mr. Kagamizu’s kind words were what kept him playing this season.

The result: a miraculous run of 14 victories.

However, it was only possible because all the pressure disappeared. Other players didn’t consider him a threat after starting the season with four losses. Mr. Karako let him win just to steal a star from Mr. Kagamizu.

All the attention that should have been on him went to Mr. Kagamizu instead.

After all that, he was the one promoting ……?

“Me …… 4-dan? But, Mr. Kagamizu should be ……”

Sumito fell onto his backside as if his legs forgot how to stand. His voice wavered as he put his head in his hands.

The happiness that should be there wasn’t.

Only a continuous string of apologies to his kind senior played out in his head. This wasn’t a league match. He felt so sorry for Mr. Kagamizu that he could barely stand it. I’m sorry …… I’m sorry ……

A 25-year-old man: sobbing and apologizing through tears on the side of the road.

Clicks from the journalist’s camera seemed strangely loud.

Passersby took glances at this bizarre scene in broad daylight, but didn’t spare the time to investigate.

“Oh, there you are! I sure am glad I caught up!!”

Sumito looked up at the sound of the familiar voice.

A wheezing Hatomachi 5-dan, one of the Sub League directors, stood before him with his right hand outstretched.

“Congratulations, Sumito! It’s a freelance position, but …… you’ll take it, right?”

“………………”

The last promotee could only stare up at the director.

Then he took the outstretched hand.

The curtain officially fell on the 63rd season of the Sub League 3-dan division.

Three players earned promotions to 4-dan: Ginko Sora (16), Sota Kunugi (11) and Sumito Sakanashi (25).

Five players were forced to retire from the division due to age regulations on the very same day.

Though Sumito Sakanashi was invited to take part in the promotion ceremony, he became the second player ever to decline.

The idea of receiving accolades while others who had been with him in the division would never return to the Shogi world didn’t sit well with him.