Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 1.4

  HALFWAY

She’s sitting on the bed with the words bad mood practically on her shirt.

“…………………” (Hmph.)

After claiming victory in a drawn-out placement match that lasted late into the night yesterday, I stop by Ginko’s hospital room here in Tokyo before heading up to Sendai to take part in a tournament.

Yet, Ginko’s reception can be summed up in three words: the cold shoulder.

“……………………” (Hmph.)

She turned away from me the second I walked in the door. Worse, she’s not responding to anything I say. It’s more like she’s telling me to get out than anything else.

I know why.

My having a match on her birthday and not being able to see her has resulted in temporary hatred.

But all is not lost!

Big Sis on a rampage used to be the scariest thing in the world, but …… Ginko and I are together now. No matter how icy her glare is, I have the but you still love me, don’t you? card in my back pocket! The days of bending to her every whim are over! Now I take control!

Get ready …… Here comes the encompassing older boyfriend!!

“U-Um …… G-Ginko? Y-Your special someone came all this way, so …… M-Maybe you shouldn’t ignore him ……?”

So much for taking control.

Seriously, my lower social standing compared to her has been hammered into my head since I was six years old. Changing it now is impossible …… And terrifying ……

Ginko glares at me with one sharp eye over her shoulder.

“…… Not only did you not show up on my birthday, or even the next day, I didn’t get a single lousy message. How is that being my special someone? You could’ve messaged me any time after your match yesterday. Drop dead, why don’t you?”

“I would have, but the review session lasted until early this morning …… And I thought it’d be rude to get my phone out before we were done ……”

“………… But you went out with that girl during the 3-dan division season. …………”

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“That a quick death was too good for you. Suffer first.”

Yeesh …… Wh-What’s with all this rage ……? It’s like she’s hitting me with all the anger she’s built up over the past few years … all at once ……

“I-I’m sorry ………… It’s just, the review session ran late, and the hospital wouldn’t allow visitors at that point, so I wasn’t sure if I should message you. And–––.”

“And? And what?”

“I wanted to give this to you myself.”

Now is the time to deploy my secret strategy!

“Happy birthday, Ginko.”

It’s the birthday present I found in Kobe. An item is now in play.

Ginko raises a suspicious eyebrow at the box in my hand at first, but …… Her eyes go wide when she sees what’s inside.

“Huh ……? Isn’t this–––?”

“You bet. It’s the same brand as the watch I wear.”

Since I typically use my smartphone as a clock, I set my watch down on the tatami mat to keep track of time. Wristwatches don’t go on the wrist. Shogi players can relate.

“To be honest, I ………… th-thought about getting you a ring.”

“?!?!?!?!?!?!”

“I did! I thought about it, but …! I-It might be a bit too heavy …… So I went with something you can use every day and during your matches. May I put it on you?”

“Ah ………… O-Okay ……”

I wrap the watch around Ginko’s dainty wrist.

Practicality was more important than design because I wanted her to be able to use it in matches. It’s cute, but very plain.

Even so, on Ginko’s wrist …… it glistens more beautifully than any of the expensive brands out there. My bias has nothing to do with it.

“…… Beautiful, Ginko.”

Next I give her the words that I had prepped for just this moment.

“I want us to …… always stay in time for the rest of our lives.”

There’s no room for stuttering or hesitating.

Ginko has no resistance to sappy, romantic lines, so it’s super effective.

“Yaichi ……”

That frigid glare starts to melt right before my eyes–––.

“I-If you’re going to be that insistent ………………… I guess I’ll …… use it ………… ♡♡♡♡♡”

Five hearts right on the tail end! Now that’s the response I was looking for!!

…… Well, the one who actually chose the watch and came up with that line for me was Ms. Mato, who was with me in Kobe working as the match recorder for the Second Crown Title Match.

However, Ginko is just that important to me! I can’t afford to have the first present I give her since we started dating blow up in my face. Getting a woman’s opinion is a no-brainer.

Intertwining my fingers with hers, I ask, “I’m glad. Can you forgive me?”

“………… Halfway.”

“Half?”

“Uh-hm ……”

She nods as her voice fades out explaining why only half.

“Because ………… you showed up in a dream on my birthday, so I’ll forgive you …… Halfway.”

In that moment, it dawns on me that I didn’t have any resistance to romantic stuff, either.

So, when the normally icy cold Ginko blushes and says lovey-dovey stuff like that, rationality goes out the window. It’s super effective.

Nope. I can’t hold back anymore.

“Ginko!!”

With the world’s cutest girlfriend right in front of me, I can’t help but take her in my arms.

“Eeek!! Y-Yaichi …… You can’t just do that …… What if somebody c–––.”

“Marry me.”

The words slip right out of my mouth.

But I’m 100% serious. I’ve thought this through.

“First, let’s go get Master’s blessing. He’ll be happy for us.”

“W-We can’t ………… I mean, I’m still 16 …………”

“The law says that boys have to be 18 and girls have to be 16 to get married, right? We already qualify. What’s the problem?”

“That law is about to change to make it so women have to be 18 ……”

How is she so well-informed?

“That’s all the more reason we should hurry up and get married! Time is ticking away.”

“Th-That a good point ……… No, it’s not! We just can’t!!”

Ginko starts trying to wiggle out of my arms.

“Don’t forget, Yaichi, you have to marry into the pipsqueak’s family if she doesn’t get a title by the time she graduates junior high, right? Sh-Should you really be asking me?”

“Ai will claim the title. I guarantee it,” I say outright. “There’s still four and a half years, yeah? Actually, it’s harder to picture a future where Ai doesn’t have a title by then. You agree, don’t you?”

“……………… What about that tiny golden-haired one? You promised to make her your bride, didn’t you?”

“Charlette is French, so she won’t care if I have two wiv- …… Ouch, that hurts!! I’m kidding, I’m kidding!! Listen, she’s more interested in being my apprentice anyway, so she’ll understand as long as we explain it to her!!”

“……………… You know what, no. We can’t get married ……”

“Okay, then we can get engaged, or even a promise ring is fine. Let’s just be together with the understanding that we’re going to get married one day.”

“…………… But ……”

“We’re both pros now, so money isn’t a problem, right? Sure, we might not be able to move in together and announce it to the world right away, but I want everyone important to us to know before we do. The sooner we talk to Ai and Charlette, the better.”

“B-But ……”

“Then, you don’t want to marry me?”

“……………… It’s just ……”

“Just …… what?”

What in the world is making Ginko hesitate?

I press her for an answer, but I never expected the one she gives me.

“Just, Yaichi …… If, hypothetically ………… We have a g-g-girl …… You’ll love her more than me, won’t you?”

“Meaning I’d spoil her, right?”

“No, meaning you’re a lolicon.”

Most powerful words I’ve heard all year hit me like a truck. No, meaning you’re a lolicon!!

“She’d be our daughter, so what would that matter?!”

“I have to be your number one, just me!!”

This, this right here.

How is this creature so adorable? Will she die if she doesn’t constantly say cute things? I’ll die of cuteness overload at this rate.

“Okay, I’ll make you a promise. If we ever …… have a girl, you will always be my number one, Ginko. Now will you marry me?”

“……………… I’ll think about it.”

She whispers quietly. Holding my hand. Blushing bright red.

We sit next to each other on the bed and go on and on about weddings.

I say things like, “You’ll grow your hair out for the wedding, right? I can’t wait to see!” and, “There are some Kanto players I’d like to invite, so should we have the reception in Tokyo?”

As giddy as we were at the beginning, the conversation didn’t last long. After all, Shogi is all we know. All we have to go on for weddings is what we’ve seen in movies or on TV.

So the conversation naturally turns to Shogi.

“…… And, once you’re in the zone, your fingers just go right to the hot spots, don’t they?!”

I recount my whole placement match yesterday with glee. I lost the Second Crown Title Match, but I’m undefeated so far in the placement matches. I’ll make it to B-2 in no time.

“When I'm well rested, yes. Looking back on the 3-dan division now that it's over, I can tell that luck guided my fingers to victory more than once.”

“Especially when the countdown starts! You can’t read all the way to the end, so you have to trust your gut. It’s that trust that lets you take risks in the first place, and that’s what helps you get on a roll, don’t you think?”

“……………”

“You know, having all these matches so close together might be perfect for me. I’ve never been this busy before in my life, but …… having to switch gears and focus on my match means there’s no time to dwell on the ones I lose!”

“……………”

“Two titles …… I wonder if I can claim it. After coming this far, I really hope so …… But, even if I do take it, I have to go against Mr. Okito again in the Ryuo Title match right away. If I lose that, I’ll be back down to one title, but it’s possible if I lose the rest of the Crown matches and the Ryuo Title matches that I could lose them both …… Agh! Nope, nope! I’ve already told myself not to think like that.”

“…………… Me, too ……”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to keep talking like that.”

Getting to see Ginko again for the first time in a while went to my head. I could also still be on a victory high.

“You too? About what?”

“Me too …… The Ryuo League has sealing moves …… I’d like to practice.”

“Huh?”

Sealing moves?

Why would she bring that up ……? But, one look at her blushing cheeks and I get the message.

“It’s looking like I’ll make my debut in a Ryuo League match …… If I can make it up to the title match, I’ll need to know how to do sealing moves.”

“I gotcha. Yeah, you’re right.”

It’s a bit early to be thinking about that, but I took that route to the title match myself, so I can’t say anything. Her Shogi is about as strong as mine was when I went pro, too.

“But if you do make it that far and I defend the title this season, you’ll have to play against me in the title match, yeah?”

“In that case, you’ll be getting practice, too. Two birds with one stone.”

With that, Ginko closes her eyes and puckers her lips ever so slightly.

She’s never openly asked for a kiss before.

That’s all it took to get my heart pumping and trigger so many switches.

Wait?!

D-Does …… Ginko think I’m just as easy as I think she is?! No, no, I’m overthinking ……

“Mnn ……♡”

Our lips press against each other for so much longer than usual.

“I love ………… You ………… Yaichi! So much ………… ♡”

I’m not sure if it was the present, the fact that we haven’t seen each other for so long or talking about getting married that sparked the fire, but …… Ginko is really into it.

It’ll be a long time before I can see her again, too …… My primal instincts roar to life at the thought. Ohh, the things I could do to her.

–––Maybe …… I can?!

Now is the time to take a risk.

My fingers have found their way to the hot spots during my matches recently. Now is the time to believe in my gut. That’s what gets results.

–––Believe ………… Reach!

Ginko stops to take a breath, and I use that opening to kiss the nape of her neck.

“Eeep?! Hfff …… H-Hey ………… Nhh♡ D-Don’t ………… ♡”

That’s one of those don’t stop don’ts.

And there’s no way to stop when her eyes are pleading like that. This isn’t my fault.

I slowly slide my hand from her shoulder …… Down.

Until my palm gently slides around a bulge on her chest.

“Nh ……! Don’t …… Yaichi, ahh …… ♡♡”

Hmm?

Ohhh? What have we here ……?

She still has a shirt on, but there’s definitely more of a bulge here than I thought.

Enough to make me regret saying that she was flat as a Shogi board or that her boobs were just a cliff all this time? For sure. She deserves an apology. I’m sorry.

“Ahh ………… Hff …… Ah …………♡”

I pull back, breaking our sealed lips and Ginko reflexively looks down into her lap. The little quivers running up and down her body are so adorable. How is she so cute?!

Since she’s looking down, I lean over to kiss Ginko’s ear instead. Tracing the folds with my tongue, I gently exhale right into it.

“Eeeep?! Ya …………… ♡♡♡”

Shudder!!

It was small, but Ginko just trembled from head to toe.

Judging by that completely new reaction, I know that I just found a hot spot.

An attack sequence that can break her Silver Halo anaguma defense ……!

I advance further and further, my moves getting bolder by the moment–––when Ginko’s quivers suddenly fizzle out.

“Hm? …… What’s wrong? Did that hurt?”

“……………………………………………… it.”

It?

I lean closer to her face to try and pick up on what she’s saying under her breath … In that moment.

Thin, white fingers reach out in the throes of passion–––and sink their nails into my neck!!