Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 13 - Chapter 3.1

QUIZ! SHOGI ACADEMY

It all started while we were taking a break during one of our practice sessions.

Master left to go get some food, and Mio saw it as her chance to start a game–––.

“Scatter-gories!” Mio announces and the rest of us, Ayano, Charlette and I, all raise our hands and yell.

“Sure!”

“Ranging Rook strategies! I’ll start. Gokigen Central Rook!”

Thump! Mio hits the chess clock timer.

It beeps right away and then starts counting down.

We have 10 seconds of waiting time. Whoever runs out of time first loses, so I answer right away.

“Fourth File Rook!”

Ayano and Charlette jump in just as quickly, giving their answers and hitting the chess clock.

“Ishida Style!”

“Diwect Oposing Wook!”

Ayano is usually so quiet, so her hitting the chess clock that hard makes me jump. Charlette’s is more like a splat than a thud. That was cute.

But.

“Huh? What’d you say?” Mio asks her. 

Charlette’s pronunciation isn’t easy to understand anyway, but it’s really hard to figure out when she’s rushing like this. The winner …… might come down to the order we answer in! Maybe?!

Ayano interprets for Charlette.

“I believe she said Direct Opposing Rook.”

“In that case …… Bishop Exchange Fourth File Rook!”

“Huh?! Mio, I already said Fourth File Rook!!” I point out, surprised she would make that mistake so soon. 

But, Mio confidently answers, “What you said was the regular Fourth File Rook, right? Normal and Fourth File are completely different strategies.”

Does that really count?!

“Buuut! Well, ummm ……”

“Don’t look now, but you’re running out of time.”

“Ah! Okay then, Right Fourth File Rook!”

Yes! I said it before running out of time!

But that relief doesn’t last.

Mio and Ayano yell at the same time, “OUT!”

Huh?

I …… lost?

“Whaaat? B-But, why?!”

“Ai-tan, wose?”

It looks like Charlette and I are the only ones who don’t understand. But, but, you have to move the Rook over, so that makes it a Ranging Rook strategy, doesn’t it? It is, right?

Ughhh! I don’t get it! Whhhhy?

Master comes back just then.

“I got everyone some juice and snacks …… Um, what’re you using the chess clock for?”

“We’re playing scatter-gories! I started it!”

“A chess clock with a listing game? That’s pretty creative,” says Master, sounding impressed as he puts the bag of snacks down on the table. 

I tug at his sleeve and ask him, “Master, Master! Right Fourth File Rook is Ranging Rook, isn’t it?!”

“Actually, it’s classified as Static Rook.”

“But, BUT!! You move the Rook! The Rook stays in the same spot for Static strategies. That’s why they’re called static!”

“You’re on the right track, but the correct way to think about it is if the Rook moves to the left side of the board from your point of view, it’s Ranging Rook. If it stays on your right, it’s static.”

“Uwheeee ……?”

It moves, but it’s still called static? That doesn’t make any sense.

Am I just not smart enough to understand ……?

“So if you move the Rook to the fourth column to the right of the King, that’s Right Fourth File Rook, and the third column is called Sleeve Rook. Both are static strategies.”

“Sweeb Wook?”

Charlette looks confused. I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before either.

“It’s a strategy where the Rook moves one square to the left of its starting point. It slides in close, just like the sleeve of a shirt. That’s how it got its name,” Ayano explains without missing a beat. 

It’s so nice having someone as smart as she is around at times like this. Are people like her called intellectuals?

But! I’m still upset!

“Hph …… It’s all so confusing!”

“I agree that it’s hard to tell the difference between Static Rook and Ranging Rook strategies at first.”

“He-hee! You fell right into my trap, Ai! I made you think of Fourth File Rook styles when I brought up the Bishop Exchange!”

“Th-That’s a ploy! You used it because you knew you couldn’t win fair and square!”

“A Women’s League player falling for an amateur’s ploy? Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“Mrghhh! Th-This is scatter-gories! Shogi strength has nothing to do with it!”

Shogi or a quiz, I hate losing.

It’s important to get rid of that pain and move on. The only way to avoid feeling more pain is to win the next one. Complaining about the last loss gets you nowhere.

BUT! I can’t accept losing like this!

“Well …… It’s true that players don’t need this kind of knowledge to succeed so long as they have enough skill.”

“See?! Master agrees with me!!”

“That being said, all Women’s League players are strong. That’s a given. It’s the work outside of matches that they need to be able to do.”

“Outside of matches……? What work?”

“Any ideas?” Master asks us, but we are all drawing blanks. 

That is until Ayano’s hand shoots into the air and she answers, “Promoting Shogi.”

“That’s right! Nicely done, Ayano!”

“Th-Thank you!”

“Just like she said: promoting and popularizing Shogi …… Basically it’s their job to correctly pass along Shogi techniques and knowledge.”

Master then looks right at me as he says a little strictly, “If it’s Shogi strength people want, there are computers for that nowadays. It’s more important than ever to be able to entertain Shogi fans at the same time. Helping to make that happen is the most meaningful work a Shogi player can do. So you’ll need to know these kinds of things.”

“………… Okay, I’ll try harder ……”

“And not just the types of strategies, either. You’ll need to know all sorts of things, from the history of the Shogi world to the cultural norms. What ground does a pro have to stand on if the fans know more than the pro does?”

That …… does make sense.

Mio says, “Shogi history ……? So, I have to name all the past Meijins in order?”

“Ha-ha-ha. If you can, that would be ideal, but don’t worry about that. I know the first Meijin, Soukei Ohashi, but I can’t remember who came after him.”

I cut in to ask Master, “Then, then, what kinds of things do I have to know?”

“For example …… all the Shogi titles.”

“Like Ryuo and Meijin? Those titles?”

“Yeah. Did you know there’s an order to them?”

Charlette tilts her head, which looks kind of silly because she’s stuffed her mouth full of snacks that Master brought.

“Owdew?”

“In other words, each title has a rank.”

Master nods at Ayano’s explanation and starts counting on his fingers.

“The pro leagues have seven titles: Ryuo, Meijin, Crown, Throne, Monarch, King and Emperor, in that order.”

I know that. I can say all of them.

“The Women’s League has six, with Queen and Women’s Throne being the highest. After that comes Women’s Legend, Empress, Women’s King and then Yamashiro Ouka.”

Of course, I can say all the Women’s titles, too.

But …… I’m not too sure about the order after Queen and Women’s Throne.

It looks like Ayano is the only one who knew. But listening to Master list all thirteen titles like it was nothing is what impresses me the most.

Hearing us say wow must have felt good, because Master keeps on explaining, but more like he’s bragging now.

It’s one of the ways we can tell when he’s in a good mood. So cute ♡

“By the way, Go titles have a rank as well. The top is Kisei, meaning Grand Master, which is followed by Meijin and Honinbou. Altogether they’re called the Grand Triad.”

“Grand Triad. That sounds like a constellation!” Mio says. 

But Ayano corrects her using no time, “You’re talking about the Summer Triangle ……”

Just, wow. I’m seriously impressed how smart she is.

“Even among the Shogi titles, Ryuo and Meijin are treated differently. For instance, one of the requirements for amateurs to be given titles is a certificate with not only the Shogi Association Chairman’s signature, but the signatures of the Ryuo and the Meijin as well.”

“Oh yeah! My certificate had your autograph on it, Kujyuru-senseii!”

“So that’s part of your work, Master?”

“Yeah. There are days when I hole up inside the association’s office for hours and hours, right? It’s because I have to sign about 200 certificates every month. Those days are rough ……”

“So that’s what you’re doing! I thought you were having fun talking with the young woman who’s been working there this whole time.”

“Young woman ……? Are you talking about Ms. Oga?”

That’s exactly who I’m talking about.

Chairman Tsukimitsu’s secretary, the office lady who’s always in the know, that Sasari Oga.

“All she does is pressure me. Writing that poorly reflects badly on the chairman’s handwriting as well, so please write as though your life depends on it. You know how scary it is hearing her say that? Worse, she sighs every time my signature doesn’t meet her expectations and says point-blank, Haaaa …… The chairman and the Meijin are busy people, but it looks like I’m going to have to ask them to sign yet another certificate …… It’s hell on earth.”

“But she’s beautiful, isn’t she?”

“I can’t deny that …… But I’m still going to stay as far away from her as possible!”

Staaaare ……

“Wh-What’s that look for? What kind of a guy do you think I am, Ai?”

“Am I allowed to say it right now?”

“………… No. Stop. Not another word, please,” Master begs on all fours. 

See? I knew something was going on.

Mio pokes the back of Master’s head.

“Hey, hey, Kujyuru-sensei? You said there’s an order to the titles, right? What’s the reason for it?”

“History, status and a few other valid reasons go into it, but …… at the end of the day, it comes down to this.”

Master rubs his fingers together. So, basically, money.

“For real ……?!”

“Money talks …… In Shogi, titles talk. That’s the way it is.”

“Well, pros get paid. Pros exist because there’s money involved.”

Mio sounds shocked and Ayano grimaces while Master tells us about the relationship between professionals and money in the Shogi world.

“As far as the sponsors are concerned, they’re paying more than the others, so they expect the title they paid for to have a higher status. Since I’m receiving money from the title that they paid for, I have to protect its reputation.”

“That’s how all professionals think! My mother always told me that. At our inn, we make sure that guests receive the best service according to the price of the room!”

“Ai, can you remember which customers are staying in which rooms?”

“The yukata robes in each room have a different pattern. So we know who is who right away even if we see them outside of their rooms!”

“Wooow! That’s how you do it …… That’s so much easier than matching names to numbers! You guys are so smart!”

Mio sounds surprised and impressed at the same time.

I don’t want to reveal too much, but we also have different numbers of stripes on the obi sashes and make the sandal straps different colors, too.

“Oh, but I know all of our regular customers by heart and try my best to remember everyone who stays at the inn.”

“I see, I see …… You’ve lived that way ever since you were tiny, so that’s why your memory is so good. Yep, it all makes sense ……”

Master forces himself to smile at the fact that Mio is more impressed with memory tricks than how professionals conduct themselves and then gets us back on topic.

“We got a bit sidetracked, but what I’m trying to say is that as people who will be involved in Shogi as players while working to help promote it, you’ll need to have a good grasp of the basic history and culture of our sport. Retired pros have gone out of their way to teach Women’s League players all about that in seminars before.”

Seminars?! St-Studying ……

“Th-That sounds hard …… I wonder if I can remember everything? I can usually remember Shogi formations and customers’ faces, but …… I’m not good at studying ………… Haauuu ……”

“You’ll be just fine, Ai! I’ll help you!” Ayano says and takes my hand to encourage me. “I …… I’m so far behind when it comes to Shogi skill that I can’t do much for you during our practice sessions. So think of this as my way of paying you back, even just a little bit, for all you’ve done for me ……”

Master then adds with a smile, “Do you like this kind of stuff, Ayano?”

“Yes! I like Shogi history and literature more than playing Shogi itself!”

“You do?”

“Actually, I would like to follow in Big Sister Machi’s footsteps and work as a Shogi journalist someday! …… I don’t have much talent, so ……”

Ayano’s older sister apprentice is Machi Kugui-sensei, the player who has the Yamashiro Ouka title. She also works as a journalist under the pen name “Mato,” because the Chinese character for it can also be pronounced as “kugui.” Both of them are birds!

Her idol has so many talents, but Ayano is so timid. 

That’s when Master––– “Whoa! You’re incredible, Ayano!” cheers her on with a big smile. 

He’s all for it.

“Knowing what you want to do at your age and actually working toward it? I knew that you took things seriously, but I had no idea you were so proactive!”

“Whaaat ……? B-But …… Whenever I bring this up, I always get told giving up on joining the Women’s League while in elementary school is spineless …… that I should concentrate more on Shogi ……”

“Of course, I think you’re too young to give up on joining the Women’s League.”

“Haauuu ……”

“But if there’s something else that you want to do more, there’s no need to force yourself to join. Honestly, I think it’s shameful that adults don’t understand that.”

“K-Kuzuryu-sensei …… Thank you so much!”

Ayano removes her glasses so she can wipe the happy tears out of her eyes.

“I …… I’ve never received encouragement like this before …… You’ve made me so so happy ……!”

Isn’t that great, Ayano?!

Master would never shoot down someone’s dream no matter what! That’s just like him!

“Ohhhh? Ayano, your cheeks are turning pink! Could it be ……?”

“P-Please, don’t tease me like that, Mio! I-I …… U-Ummmm …… I’m not …… Haauuu ……”

Isn’t that great, Ayano?

Master gives girls the wrong idea no matter what the situation is …… That’s just like him …… 

“………… How come Ayano gets all the encouragement? No fair ……”

Ayano, like Machi Kugui, might be a surprisingly strong rival …… The type that can hit a weak spot even though they aren’t trying …………… Yep, she’s dangerous.

“Masta♡”

And the most dangerous of them all is ……… her. Charlette ……

“Cha, Cha knows what Cha want to be!”

“You do? You already know what you want to be in the future, huh? Okay Charlette, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

“Cha, bwide!”

“Ha! Ha! Ha! That’s right. You’re going to be my bride, aren’t you?”

“Cha lubs Masta♡”

“I love you too, Charlette!”

That back and forth just now, huuuuuuh?!

“Mrgh ……! Nrghhhhh ……!”

“K- Kujyuru-sensei! Stop, stop! Ai’s getting jealous enough to explode!”

“O-Ooops …… That’s right. Ummm, what were we talking about?”

“The history and culture of the Shogi world! How could you forget?!”

“Aha-ha. Remembering is impossible for him, Mio. Master only thinks about cute girls.”

“A-Ai ……? Are you angry ……?”

“No, I’m not angry. Why would you think I’m angry? Have you done anything that could possibly make me angry?”

Master says that I’m the most important one to him because I’m his first apprentice, but isn’t he treating Charlette like she’s the most important one to him? Is that part of the Ryuo’s work? Is it? That liar, liar, liar, liarliarliarliarliarliarliarliarliarliarliarliar ……

Ayano suddenly yells, “K-Kuzuryu-sensei! How did you study?!”

“O-Oh …… Yeah. Master Kiyotaki taught me while I was his live-in apprentice. Big Sis hates that kind of thing and skipped out a lot, though.”

“Cha, stwudying makes Cha sweepy ……”

Charlette stretches out on the floor.

Master sounds a little disappointed.

“That happens. Plenty of kids love Shogi as a game but aren’t interested at all in the culture behind it ……”

“Ha-ha-ha! That’s me for sure!”

“Then why don’t we make studying a quiz game?!”

“Quiz?”

Ayano nods at us.

“Yes! The association hosts the Shogi Culture Test every year. I’ve used questions from that test to quiz myself and have fun while learning.”

“Oooh! That does sound like fun!! Nice, Ayano!”

“I can just see all of you having your own quiz tournament!”

Me too! I want to play!

I don’t think I could make it very long studying all by myself, but getting to talk about Shogi and learn at the same time would be so much better! Quiz shows are really popular right now at school, too!

“Alright then …… I’ve got it!”

Master slaps his knees after hearing Ayano’s suggestion.

“Let’s make this into a title match!”

“…… Huh?”

So that’s how Master turned our break-time game into a title match, but ……

None of us had any idea it would turn out like that.

Me, Master and everyone else couldn’t have imagined it.

And so, a few days later at the Kansai Shogi Association.

We reserve the multipurpose room on the fourth floor for our title match.

“Answer the questions correctly!” Master says really loudly.

“And the Shogi world will come into view!” Ayano answers, just as loud.

“A brand-new title! The Shogi Quiz King League!” They say at the same time to finish. 

Wow, they must have practiced again and again to get the timing right! I knew I had to keep an eye on Ayano☆

“The big day has finally arrived! It’s time to unravel many mysteries of the Shogi world right here, at the Shogi Quiz King League! I, Yaichi Kuzuryu, will be providing commentary and analysis as my assistant, Ayano Sadatou, asks the questions!”

“Who will receive the honor of being the first ever Shogi Quiz King?!”

“For the title! Make your move!”

Master pumps his fist in the air and says something like what those quiz show hosts on Sunday afternoons say. By the way, the Sunday standard in the Kuzuryu Shogi family goes morning Shogi broadcast → lunch → quiz shows.

“That name is very straightforward, isn’t it?!”

“Easy to understand, too!”

Mio and I argued for Shogi Squares and Quiz: 9x9 Grid, but this is the name we all eventually agree on.

All of us worked hard on the decorations, so the room looks great, but–––.

“…… Just what is this supposed to be? I’m only here because I was told there’d be a new title match …… Don’t tell me it’s this wannabe TV show?”

“Agreed. Depending on your answer ………… all your heads will be on a pike.”

We invited Ten-chan and Sora-sensei to be contestants, but they don’t look excited at all. Uwhee?

“Cha, Cha’s hwappy to see pwincess and Ten-tan!”

“O-Okay ……”

“Well, I’m not happy about it!” Ten-chan says.

Sora-sensei looks a little unsure after seeing Charlette's innocent smile, but Ten-chan still sounds angry. Master steps in.

“Don’t be so hard on them, you two. This is a new title, so it will mean so much more if everybody’s here competing for it, don’t you think?”

“Mean more ……? Does that mean there’s a prize if I win?”

“The honor of being the first ever Shogi Quiz King.”

“I don’t care about that! Drop dead already, stupid!”

Sora-sensei throws the fan she had in her hand right in Master’s face.

She only just promoted to the Sub League’s 3-dan division and will play in it this spring, so she’s as high-strung as a bear coming out of hibernation.

“Besides, I’ve got the pain of defending a real Women’s Title coming up! I don’t have time to play along with your game, pipsqueaks!!”

“I know, Big Sis! I can relate because I’m a title holder, too!”

In order to convince Sora-sensei to stay …… Master uses the ace in the hole!

“So, of course, the winner won’t be leaving empty-handed! And guess what! They’re going to receive a trip to one of Japan’s best hot springs as a bonus prize!”

“Hot spring?”

We kept that detail a secret, so everyone is surprised.

But it looks like Ten-chan figured it out.

“Wait, don’t tell me–––.”

“That’s right! The winner of the Shogi Quiz King Title Match will be going to an inn on the north coast that hosted a Ryuo Title Match, the Hinatsuru! They were gracious enough to donate an all-expense-paid voucher.”

“That’s one night for free!”

Yep, that’s right! I talked to my mother and she said that because I didn’t come home for New Year’s, now might be a good time!

“You’d just be going home!”

“I figured that was the case,” say Mio and Ten-chan at the exact same time.

Sora-sensei, on the other hand, still looks angry.

“Absurd …… I’ve already been to enough inns with hot springs to last a lifetime for my title matches. Why would I want to go all the way to the Noto Peninsula to go to another one on my day off? I’ll be seeing myself out, thank you.”

Her chair squeaks across the floor as Sora-sensei stands up. Ten-chan follows her without saying a word.

Ohhh?

Are you really sure you want to go?

“By the way, it’s a pair voucher for two people overnight.”

The moment I say so.

“………… Pair?”

Sora-sensei and Ten-chan echo me: just that one word.

Master jumps back into TV host mode with vigor.

“And there you have it! So, who is going to be the first ever Shogi Quiz King?”

“Me!”

“Cha, Cha’s gonna be a twitle hooda!”

Now then ……

I have something to ask Master before we go any further.

“Master! Master! If I win, will you come with me?!”

“Huh? Are you sure you want me to come?”

“Yes! You’ve been looking after me ever since I came to Osaka, so I’d like to do something to pay you back for all your hard work!”

“A-Ai ……!”

Tears started leaking out of Master’s eyes.

“You just made my day …… I never knew getting a hot spring getaway from an apprentice would make me so happy to be a Master ……!”

“So, you’ll come with me?!”

“Of course I will! The Ryuo title was on the line last time I was there, so I didn’t have any chance to enjoy it!”

“Yaaay! I’ll scrub your back for you, Master!”

“Huuuh?! I-I don’t think that’s such a good idea ……”

“I’ll have a bath towel on, and the onsen water flows right into a private bath in the room, so there shouldn’t be any problems. No one else will come! It’ll be just us!”

“That’s …… not what I was talking about ……”

“We live in the same apartment anyway, so it’s okay! I’ll take care of the cooking, your post-bath massage, everything! I’ll be with you the whole time we’re at the inn!”

“Umm …… I know it’s just Master and apprentice vacationing together, but that might be a little much ……”

“So …… no?”

I look up at him at the perfect angle and plead with my eyes. Master goes back and forth for a few seconds and then.

“Sigh …… Still clingy, even as a member of the Women’s League. Just this once, got it?”

“Yaay! Yaay! I’ll fill my duty as your apprentice♡”

Clatter, clatter, clatter!!

I look around and see that Sora-sensei and Ten-chan are back in their chairs.

“Hey, lolicon. That’s enough of this sickening conversation with that grade schooler. Start the quiz already.”

“Huh? I thought you were leaving, Big Sis.”

“What? Who’s leaving? This quiz is going to be trash, so who better to start it than the trash lolicon, right Trash?”

“You didn’t have to call me a lolicon just now, did you? And what’s with the three trash’s?”

“That was the most lolicon conversation I’ve ever heard! Record it and play it back, why don’t you?!”

Once Sora-sensei finishes lecturing Master, she explains her reasoning for staying.

“It’s my duty as an older sister apprentice to prevent a certain younger brother apprentice from bringing a little girl on a lolicon-themed hot spring vacation. Be grateful, lolicon.”

Stare ……

I give Sora-sensei the evil eye. Stare ……

“Wh-What? You got something to say, pipsqueak?”

“I do.”

Of course, I do. Quite a bit.

“You seem to be judging me, Sora-sensei! So, what are you planning to do if you win the voucher, huh?!”

“I …… I’ll give it to Master Kiyotaki and Keika.”

“You know Keika will be nice and pretend that she’s sick!! Just like she did when we went to Awaji Island!”

“H-Huh? What are you talking about, pipsqueak? Keika went with us, remember?”

Sora-sensei looks over to Mio and Ayano for backup.

“Yep, Keika came.”

“She did. Keika drove the van for us.”

“And got too drunk for her own good at night,” adds Ten-chan while Sora-sensei looks back at me with triumph in her eyes.

“See? Would you stop saying weird things based on your imagination?”

“Tch ………… You’re smooth down there ……”

“I’ve got a pike with your name on it.”

“Th-That’s enough, Big Sis. You too, Ai. Save that energy for the quiz! Now, who wants to go to a hot spring?!”

“ME!”

Everyone’s ready!

“Cha, Cha’dwadder go to da pwool.”

I guess Charlette thinks a pool would be more fun. Then again, hot springs might be a little boring at her age.

“A pair voucher …… In that case, I think I’ll bring Grandpa with me to show my gratitude for what he does every day ……,” Ten-chan mumbles.

And Mio jumps at the opportunity. “Hm? You just called him Grandpa now didn’t you?”

“O-Of course not! I called him Grandfather, as is proper! Perhaps talking so much has damaged your ears?!”

“Huuh? Did you really? Well, either way.”

Ten-chan’s attempt to change the subject fails miserably. Mio grins at her.

Mio likes Ten-chan a lot, so she never lets an opportunity to talk with her slip by. She even teases her, like just now.

But it’s a lot harder for me to start a conversation with Ten-chan. I think Mio is talented like that.

I’m jealous …… But, at the same time, it feels weird watching my younger sister apprentice and my best friend growing closer. I should come first for both of them ……

“Why don’t we get the quizzes started! Ayano, would you explain the rules?”

“Of course, Kuzuryu-sensei. The first to press the button will be able to answer the question. If you think you know the answer, press the button in front of you.”

Ayano looks like she’s enjoying the spotlight as she explains.

Apparently she’s been preparing with Master until late at night for the past few days to get ready. They’re in perfect sync …… Darabuchi.

“So, four eyes …… is on that side this time ……”

“Don’cha think Ayano’s glasses are sparkling more than usual ……?”

Ten-chan and Mio whisper into each other’s ears. Yep, they’re friends now. Aren’t they forgetting someone ……?

Wait! Wh-Why am I thinking about that now?!

Focus, focus!! Win this, and I get to take Master home with me!

That way, it’ll be the first of many trips we take to where I grew up and everyone will start thinking: It looks like Kuzuryu-sensei is going to marry into the Hinatsuru family …… That’ll get them all out of the way …… I call it the Winter Osaka Invasion.

“The two contestants with the highest scores at the end of the speed round will advance to the finals.”

“Do your best to rack up as many points as you can! Now, Ayano, take it away!”

“Question.”

Ayano takes a breath, then.

Ding! Someone pressed their button! Even Master doesn’t know what to do. Who?!

“That was fast! Ch-Charlette?”

“Meat!”

Bzzzzt. The wrong answer sound. Whew ……

It seems like Charlette doesn’t understand how this works and pressed her button right away.

“Fwhee ……?”

She’s staring blankly up at the Master and he tries his best to explain.

“Um …… Charlette? This isn’t a contest to see who can push the button fastest. It’s important to listen to the very end of the question. One more thing. These questions all have something to do with Shogi, so the chances of meat being the answer are pretty small.”

“Waaah ……!”

“But you were close! Yeah! Really close! Try again on the next one! You’ll get it, so don’t cry, okay? Okay?!”

“Sniffle ……”

It looks like Master’s desperate attempts to calm Charlette down worked. Phew ……

Ayano sounds very composed as she adds some more explanation.

“In the event that your answer is incorrect, you can no longer answer that particular question. That’s the only penalty.”

“So, everyone, be assertive like Charlette and get those points!” says Master in a last-ditch attempt to keep Charlette from crying, but it sounds like what he said made Sora-sensei and Ten-chan’s moods even worse.

“Pressing the button before the question is even asked is not being assertive.”

“It’s called being stupid.”

“Ai Yashajin! That’s rude and I won’t stand for it! …… Now let’s try this again. Ayano, the question please!”

“Question. It is said that Japanese nutmeg, also known as kaya, is the best type of wood for making Shogi boards. Then, when it comes to making pieces–––.”

Ah! I know this!

“Me!”

I hit my button using no time and it dings. That means I can answer, right?! Right?!

“Yes, Ai! The answer is?!”

“Boxwood!”

“Correct!”

Ding-ding-d–––ing☆

I did it! I got a point!

“It is said that Japanese nutmeg, also known as kaya, is the best type of wood for making Shogi boards. Then, when it comes to making pieces, what is the best type of wood? was the full question.”

Ayano reads off the rest of the card and Master adds more details.

“Nutmeg, especially when grown in Miyazaki Prefecture, is classified as the top-tier material for boards, and boxwood, especially Mikurajima Island boxwood, is the best for Shogi pieces! Well done, Ai!”

“E-he-he. Yaaay!”

I received a congratulatory present from Master recently because I joined the Women’s League. He gave me my own board and told me tons about boards and pieces at the same time!

I also got to see a ceremony called tachimori, where the lines get put into a board. It was a very memorable experience for me. Actually, I couldn’t forget if I wanted to. How could I ever forget seeing that naked woman wielding a samurai sword ……?

“Maaan …… Ai is all in ……”

“All that’s in it for her is a trip to her parent’s house, too ……”

Mio and Ten-chan whispered back and forth again, but I’m going to win no matter what they say!

And …… I REFUSE to lose to Auntie!!

“Hah! Getting so worked up over something so pointless. You pipsqueaks are just kids after all.”

What’s this now?

Sora-sensei is sore about losing to a pipsqueak?

“Alright, alright. Would all of you give it a rest and listen up? Let’s move on to the next question!” says Master. 

Ayano reads off the next card.

“Question. Bishop Exchange–––.”

Ding!

“Whoa! Oh, Ch-Charlette again?!”

“Go ahead and answer.”

“………… Meat?”

Bzzzzt.

“…… Good try, but that’s incorrect!”

“Cha, Cha thought weawwy hward, and Cha’s hungwy.”

“It’s only the second question ……”

Ten-chan sounds fed up with Charlette.

“Well,” Master begins, “y-you’re hungry, huh ……? Okay, let’s get some food delivered! I’ll call Twelve and have them send up some beef stew right away.”

“Meat!!”

“It’s like Charlette just used her quiz button to order restaurant food!”

He-he. Mio’s right.

Since she’s very quick on the draw, she might be my biggest obstacle for the speed round.

Meanwhile, it looks like Charlette is completely absorbed in the idea of having beef stew. She’s even humming to herself, “meaty, meaty♪” 

Cute, but …… She’s out of the running for sure.

The real fight starts now!!

“Alright, Ayano, the rest of the question please.”

“Question. Bishop Exchange strategies have three main standards: Climbing Silver, Reclining–––.”

Ding!

“Rushing Silver.”

“Cooorrect! Well done, Big Sis!”

S-So fast ……!!

How could I let Auntie get that one before me ……?!

“Bishop Exchange strategies have three main standards: Climbing Silver, Reclining Silver, and what? was the question. That was impressive, Sora-sensei!”

“Questions like that aren’t that hard,” says Auntie, pulling her bangs back with a shrug.

Hmph. What’s with the attitude ……?

“…… Even though you’re desperate?”

“Huuh? Anyone who spends any time at all studying Shogi could answer that. Besides, the gin in silver is in my name, so I’m not going to let anyone else get a point when the answer has my name on it. That’s all.”

Sora-sensei is speaking strangely fast for someone trying to act calm.

It seems like I’m not the only one who caught on to that.

“…… For something as simple as you claim, you couldn’t hide the desperation in your voice just now.”

“Now, now, Ten-chan. We don’t get many opportunities to see Sora-sensei sweat like this.”

“She’s never open to begin with.”

“I’m standing right here, pipsqueaks ……”

“O-Okay, on to the next question!”

Almost like he’s trying to soothe Sora-sensei before she starts breathing fire, Master signals Ayano to read the next one.

“The first Meijin, Soukei Ohashi, has the same kei character used for the Knight in his name. In fact, this name was bestowed on him because his use of Knights was superb. Who was it that gave it to him?”

Whaaat? Wh-Who could it be ……?

Who even is Soukei Ohashi? The first Meijin?

What era is he from?

…… Post-war?

“Think hard. The answer might surprise you.”

Ding! Mio answers, completely sure of herself. “I’ve got it! Leo Morimoto!”

“Too bad! Leo Morimoto wasn’t alive yet!”

He’s a veteran actor who loves Shogi very much. He was born at the end of the war, so this happened even before that? Umm, what’s that period called again ……?

No one answers for a few seconds when Charlette hits her button again.

“Not meat!”

“So close!”

“Huh?!”

Th-That was close? THAT?!

“That was really close, Charlette! You got the first letter right!”

“Ah! Here!”

“Yes, Big Sis!”

“……………… Nobunaga Oda?”

A few seconds of heavy silence pass after Sora-sensei’s answer. Then–––.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-d–––ing☆

“Cooorrect!!”

“Huuuuh?! He did?!” Mio yells with her eyes open wide.

She got me ……! Auntie got the point and the lead!

“Ah ……! I was thinking that’s what it was, too!”

R-Really, I was! I was just about to press the button!

It doesn’t look like Ten-chan believes it’s true …… Actually, she looks up at Master with honest curiosity and asks him, “Is there any proof that Nobunaga Oda, a samurai warrior from the late 16th century, was directly involved with Shogi?”

“There sure is. He loved both Shogi and Go, and legend has it that he was watching a match of Go at Honnoji Temple just hours before Mitsuhide Akechi betrayed him. It gets brought up in Hikaru no Go, so we know there’s at least some truth to that story.”

“Wow!”

“But him giving the first Meijin his name is just a cool myth.”

Then you can’t make it part of the quiz!

“Then again, it’s better to know about these stories even if they’re not true! Now then, let’s move on to the next question!”

I have to get this point to be even with Auntie, no matter what! Just like in Shogi title matches, it’s hard to come back from two points down on quiz shows! Focus!!

“Question.”

Ayano picks up the next card and starts. Meanwhile, the stew that Charlette ordered has arrived and she’s slurping it down …… Ngh, but it smells, really, really good ……

After pausing for dramatic effect, Ayano finally reads the question out loud.

“Kanju Itou is known as the father of Shogi puzzles because of his book, the Shogi Zukou. In fact, he had an older brother named Soukan Itou who wrote an equally famous book of Shogi puzzles called?”

I know this one!!

“Me, me, me! Shogi Musou!”

“Correct!”

Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-d––––––ing>☆

“Yaaaay…!!”

“Ai, you now have two points and are even with Sora-sensei! I’m impressed!”

“That was nothing! I won’t lose to anyone when it comes to knowledge about Shogi puzzles and Master!”

The second she hears me, “……Oh? You sound sure of yourself.”

Sora-sensei’s eyes light up and she asks me a question!

“In that case, what body part does Yaichi wash first in the shower?”

Ding!

I hit the button in front of me using no time. What an easy question.

“Upper left arm!”

Ding-ding-ding-d–––ing!

“…… Not bad, pipsqueak.”

“Heh …… Now, it’s my turn.”

Since I bring Master his change of clothes every single day, I get a glimpse of him in the shower every single day. That wasn’t even a challenge!

I’ll show Auntie what a real question is!

“Huh? What are you two doing? Having your own quiz battle–––?”

“What does Master say most in his sleep?!”

“Keika, I can’t eat anymore.”

“That’s right! Master, you darabuchi!”

“Why are you dragging me into this?!”

Master, who only has big boobies on his mind even when he’s asleep, sounds confused.

Meanwhile, Ten-chan shrugs with about as much interest as she’s had since we started: zero.

“Better to get dragged in than killed off, right? …… Still, the way this is going, I would say your death is a foregone conclusion as well.”

“Cha, Cha is fwull now. Da meat was dwishus!”

“You know what, I’m getting pretty full, too.”

“Fwhee? Miow, yew didn’t eat yet?”

Charlette tilts her head.

Then Ten-chan pretends to point at her own chest.

“I haven’t eaten anything either, but I’m getting heartburn nonetheless.”

“Aha-ha. Kinda like ……”

Mio grimaces.

But! I refuse to back down now ……!

“Next question. What was the first Shogi book Yaichi bought with his own money?”

“Takashi Kaneko’s Yose no Tesuji 200!”

“Tch …… Yes.”

“Question! What is the first manga Master ever bought and still secretly reads now?!”

“Kentarou Yabuki-sensei’s To Love Ru.”

“That’s right! He reads it after I go to bed!”

“He did the same thing when we were live-in apprentices.”

That early on?! Master, you dara!!

“So, Kuzuryu-sensei studies Shogi approaches in the afternoon and how to approach 2-D girls at night!”

“Very studious.”

Master can’t endure Mio and Ayano looking at him and hides his face in his hands.

“Okay …… Here’s a multiple-choice question.”

Sora-sensei gives Master a sideways glance.

“Which one, out of these three, did Yaichi offer to marry when he got older while still in elementary school?”

“Dahhhh–––!!”

Head still in his hands, Master curls up on the floor in shame. He looks like a pill bug rolling around like that.

“When Master was in grade school ……?! So, that means he’s proposed to a girl other than Keika and Charlette?! Master, you darabuchi ……!”

Who in the world was it?! He’s never asked me even once!

Sora-sensei holds up three fingers and points.

“Number one: the high school girl next door with double D’s.”

“Gaaaasp–––!!”

“Number two: his homeroom teacher with B’s.”

“What do their cup sizes have to do with anything?! They don’t need to know that!”

“Number three: a classmate he was particularly close to, with AAA’s.”

Ayano and Ten-chan tremble after hearing all the options.

“Th-This is incredibly difficult ……!”

“I agree it’s a difficult question, but …… not only does it have nothing to do with Shogi, but I would prefer not to know ……”

Mio sticks out her fingers while talking.

“An older girl next door, a nice teacher he sees every day, or the classmate …… It could be any one of them …… Looks like you’ll have to trust your luck on this one, Ai.”

“Nope! I know what type of girl Master likes, so I should be able to figure this out ……!”

There’s one answer …… only one.

“Don’t bother! You don’t have to figure it out, okay?!”

“Here, here, hereherehereherehereherehereherehere–––.”

“There’s no board to read, so forget about the here, here thing! Don’t take this that seriously!!”

Be quiet, Master.

I ignore the background noise and reach out for the correct answer!

“Master likes older girls …… with really big boobies. So, the answer is …… number one! The high school girl with double D cups!!”

“………… Yes!”

“AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!”

“Yaaay! Master: no food for a week!”

Fitting, right?

I won’t allow anyone to discriminate against girls just because they don’t have big boobies …… Sora-sensei must agree with me because she’s kicking Master on the floor. Remembering that day made her angry, I think.

“And, by the way, Yaichi’s first crush was his kindergarten teacher, who also happened to have double D’s.”

“Oooh? So that’s his minimum? Spoiled, isn’t he?”

Master’s punishment is now two weeks without food.

During this quiz battle …… I feel like I’m starting to understand Sora-sensei just a little bit more …… like we’re playing Shogi.

Maybe quizzes have more in common with Shogi than I thought!!

“…… The saying goes: the child is the father to the man, but to think he had breasts on the brain as young as three years old …… Sensei, you really are trash ……”

Ten-chan hides her chest with her arms and glares down at Master even while he whimpers with every one of Sora-sensei’s kicks.

“Hmm …… But I think that’s just the way guys are, you know? Kuzuryu-sensei, it doesn’t bother me at all that you like the big ones! They mean she’s healthy!”

“I-I …… will pretend I didn’t hear any of this conversation!”

“Cha, will Cha get bwig ones, too?”

“Stop, please, I’M BEGGING YOOOOOOU!!”

We won’t.

“Okay, it’s my turn to ask a question! Where is Master ticklish?!”

“Behind his knees.”

“Ngh …… That’s correct!”

“Question. What phrase has Yaichi been secretly preparing since elementary school for the interview when he becomes Meijin in the future?”

“B-B-But Ginko, you promised you’d never tell anyone about that! You’re breaking your promise, stop, stop STOP!”

“Playing Shogi hasn’t been easy. In fact, I went through some difficult times. But, just when I thought my spirit would break, I asked the Little Kuzuryu inside my heart what he wanted to do. And he gave me this answer every time: I want to be the Meijin! ……”

“…… Yes.”

“DAAAAHHHH!! How do you know that–––?!!” 

I found out a long time ago that Keika would show me Master’s old albums and notebooks if I’d pester her enough. That question was easy. I’ve known for months and months.

But I guess the other girls hadn’t heard that before.

“Kujyuru-sensei …… He’s been having those daydreams for a long time ……”

“K-Kuzuryu-sensei …… I admire that kind of commitment!”

“Four eyes …… You’re kinder than I thought ……”

Now! Here comes the moment of truth!

“It’s my turn! I’m going to give you the hardest question I know! What word does Master search the most on his computer?!”

“Cleavage.”

“Nrghh …… That’s correct!”

“Kill me, pleeeeeaaaaase!!”

I was sure I would be the only one to know the answer because I’m the only one who regularly checks >Master’s laptop in secret …… Auntie is a worthy opponent!

Exactly what I would expect from my rival!

“Not bad for only living with him for a little over a year, pipsqueak ……”

“And you haven’t lived with Master for almost 10 years for nothing, Auntie ……!”

“Just so we’re clear, I still know plenty more secrets about Yaichi.”

“And I have 108 notebooks in my Classified Master Manual series!”

“Ugh …… Please, kill me …… Put me …… out of …… my misery …………!” Master begs like some human-animal fusion experiment gone wrong in a science fiction movie.

Ten-chan pokes him with the tip of her shoe a few times.

“I believe our perverted Master will die before this competition is settled.”

“Ayano! Kujyuru-sensei’s hit points hit zero! No, it’s in the red by now! What are Ai and Sora-sensei’s scores?!”

“Th-They are even at this point! It’s impossible to guess who will win!” answers Ayano right away. She’s been fulfilling her duty as the scorekeeper this whole time.

Meanwhile, Charlette keeps playing with her spoon, licking off the last bits of beef stew as she talks.

“Bwoth ob yew know sooo much avout Masta!”

“Actually, this is never going to end, is it?”

“I agree. It’s a stalemate. How shall we handle this?”

Mio and Ten-chan bring up a good point, but–––.

“W-Well ………… Wh-Why don’t we say that it’s a tie …… And Big Sis and Ai will go to the hot spring together ……?”

“Absolutely not!” 

“I refuse!”

“Should’ve figured ……”

Master goes back into his pill bug position on the floor after Sora-sensei and I reject his suggestion at the same time.

The one who has something ready to break this repetition draw is–––.

“Kuzuryu-sensei.”

“Hm? What is it, Ayano?”

“I still have one question card remaining. Could we use it to decide the winner?”

“Oh! That one ………… Sure!”

Now that he has some human dignity back, Master stands up on his own legs and tells us.

“Big Sis! Ai!”

“Yes, double D?”

“Quiet, cleavage!”

“Stop that, will you?!”

We won’t.

“Would both of you please get a hold of yourselves?” Ayano couldn’t ignore it anymore and warns us. Then, in a refined voice, she continues. “The winner will never be decided at this rate. I would like both of you to agree that whoever answers this question correctly will be victorious. If no one claims the point, I propose that there will be no winner.”

“…………”

In amateur tournaments, the judge may declare no winner when repetition draws and stalemates happen.

Ayano’s suggestion, that both of us lose, is easy to get behind because we are Shogi players.

“…… Okay. If that’s what you think is best, Ayano ……”

“That sounds like the only option ……”

Both participants agree, so it’s settled.

Whether I’m right or wrong …… This will be the last question!

“…… Alright, here it is! This time, it’s not a speed question, so please listen all the way to the end.”

Ayano’s words bounce around the quiet room like waves going across a pond.

J-Just what question …… is she going to ask?

Shogi history? Strategy? Or–––.

“The question is about Shogi Titles.”

Ayano starts quietly reading off the card.

This turns out to be the question.

“The professional titles ranked in order of status are Ryuo, Meijin, Crown, Throne, Monarch, King and Emperor …… Then, what is the fifth-highest ranking title for Women’s Shogi?”

Mio yells the second Ayano finishes.

“Oh, man! Kujyuru-sensei just told us that the other day, didn’t he?!”

Yes, back when we were playing scatter-gories!

“H-He sure did! Umm, it was ………… Uwhee?! What was the order?! I can’t remember ……!”

I thought I had the advantage, but …… The order gets murkier the lower down the list I go!

Actually, Sora-sensei might have the edge because she has Women’s Titles!!

Aghhh! I don’t know!!

“It’s finer details like this that tend to be the hardest to remember when someone asks for them later on ……”

“Cha, Cha dwoesn’t hab any idea.”

Ten-chan and Charlette tilt their heads. The answer is something we should know, but no one is really sure. This is a toughie ……!

Agh! I’ve got it down to two titles, but I don’t remember which is which ……!!

“…… Thinking time is over.” Ayano announces. That was quick! “Your answers, please!”

Sora-sensei says–––“It’s Yamashiro Ouka.”

As I say–––“…… Woman’s King!”

Our answers are different!

At least now both of us can’t be right.

Which means there will be a winner and a loser, or both of us are wrong ……

Ayano presses her glasses up to her face and confirms.

“………… Final answers?”

“Final answer!”

“………… The correct answer is ………………”

Ayano looks down and pauses to build up the tension. Her skills as a quiz host have gone up quite a bit in just one day. Unlike Master who only thinks about cleavage, she’s focused on the quiz.

Okay! The answer is?!

“……………… Women’s King!”

What?!

I-It is ………… really?!

“Eeeeeek! Yaaaay––––––!!”

“That was awesome, Ai!”

“Ai-tan, yew da Shwogi Quiz Kwing!”

“I’m not jealous, not one bit ……”

The other girls are all happy for me.

I’ll even overlook Ten-chan’s last comment, for now anyway ……

“The Women’s Titles in order are as follows: Queen and Women’s Throne are equal at the top, followed by Women’s Legend, Empress, then Women’s King and finally Yamashiro Ouka.”

“Ngh …… Yes, now I remember. I knew it was one of those two …… But Machi, the current Yamashiro Ouka, just seems to be a step above Ryou Tsukiyomizaka, so I mistook her title to be more prestigious than Women’s King ……”

“So that’s what you were thinking, Big Sis …… I get where you’re coming from, though.”

Master, back to being human again, adds a comment before Ayano asks him to sum up the competition as a whole.

“Kuzuryu-sensei, would you provide a review session for our contestants?”

“Sure thing …… I feel like Ai Hinatsuru’s drive to learn as much about Shogi as she could now that she’s part of the Women’s League shone through in the end and was ultimately the difference.”

It’s true that I won today.

But that’s only because Master told me the answer a few days ago. I was lucky, nothing more.

If this same question comes up next year …… will I be able to answer it?

I have to become a Women’s League player who can. I must, I know it.

“On the other hand, I feel like Big Sis looks down on Women’s Titles just a bit because her sights are set on joining the pros. Am I right?”

“…… Yes, you are. I’m reflecting on my mindset right now.”

Sora-sensei openly accepts her defeat.

I have a feeling that this right here is the key to her strength.

It was just a quiz battle, but …… Even just for a moment, getting to face her at her best helped me understand a little better.

And that’s–––.

“Without any further ado, I officially declare Ai Hinatsuru to be the first ever Shogi Quiz King! Congrats on your first title!”

“Thank you very much! Oh, and Master.”

“Yeah?”

“Question.”

“Yes ……?”

“Out of the next three, where are you about to go and what are you about to do?”

“Huh? We’re …… going to the hot spr–––.”

“Number one: a waterfall.”

“……… Waterfall?”

“Where you’ll stand under the pure water and drive all the boobies and older girls out of your mind.”

“Huh? L-Like one of those purification ceremonies ……? B-But …… it’s the middle of winter–––.”

“Number two: a temple.”

I cut Master off and continue with the quiz.

“Where you will practice zazen meditation for a week without sleep to get rid of all impure thoughts. A high school girl with double D cups won’t catch your eye. You’ll never cry or laugh again.”

“Hey, hey, hey! There’s nothing wrong with admiring a girl like that from a distance–––.”

So he does look at them.

“Number three: an interrogation room.”

“Interro-?!”

“As it seems you’re still hiding a lot from me, I’ll be taking this opportunity to pry it all out of you. Yes, you will spew every secret until there’s nothing left.”

I hold up three fingers and press him for an answer.

“Now, Master. Where are you going?”

“Uhh …… Wh-Where ……? Well …… I really don’t want to go to any of those–––.”

“If you don’t know, why don’t I give you the answer?”

“Huh? Big Sis?!”

“It’s, all three.”

DING-DING-DING-DING-D––––––ING☆

“Wha-?! …… Huuuh?! ……… For real?!”

Yes, for real. Of course, you are.

The other members of the Grade Schooler Practice Group watch Master fail to comprehend his situation and chat amongst themselves.

“Awww. So much for the hot springs ……”

“It doesn’t look like anyone will be using that voucher ……”

“But, at least Sensei will be forgetting about his daily life for a while …… Though that depends on whether he survives or not.”

“Masta gets ta go aww ober Japawn? Dat swounds wike fun!”

“Yeah, that sounds like fun to me, too! I got to go to Minoo Falls on a field trip.”

“I’m fond of the Otowa Waterfalls at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. Drinking from them is said to have benefits.”

“So long as we’re talking about waterfalls, Kobe’s Nunobiki Falls is recognized as one of Japan’s Three Great Waterfalls. Poems dating back to the Heian Era reference it. Nunobiki is a must.”

Sora-sensei listens to their suggestions and then grabs Master’s shoulders hard enough sink her fingernails into his skin.

“Isn’t that great, Yaichi? Just think of all the waterfalls you’re going to see.”

“Great?! No, this isn’t great at all! Waterfalls are lethal in February!!”

I won the quiz battle with Sora-sensei.

But, winning taught me that I can't go easy on Master, ever! I need to be just as stern with him as Sora-sensei!

So much so that he wishes he were dead!! Master …… you darabuchi!!

* This story is a novelized version of the Drama CD included with the special release version of The Ryuo’s Work Is Never Done! Book 7.