Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 2.3

  TOHOKU

“Ryuo, have you noticed?”

The Shogi journalist who has been shadowing me ever since the tournament whispers from the chair next to me as we wait for the plane to Osaka at the Sendai airport.

“Noticed what?”

“That including today’s victory, you have a higher winning percentage on defense. That’s not only true for you, but several other top professionals as well.”

Since the average is 60-40 in favor of offense, this is extremely unusual.

The thing is–––.

“I don’t think it’s all that weird. It’s only harder to win on defense because Shogi strategies are built around attacking. But now software can show us a perfect defense for any of them.”

“Interesting point. Therefore the defender’s ability to determine both players’ formations is an advantage?”

“Yeah. It’s easy to lure them into your own net. On top of that, nets don’t break as easily as they used to …… Which means this trend will probably stick around until the offense figures out how to break through, or ……”

Someone creates a new sequence that even software couldn’t see coming.

But that would be extremely difficult. Someone would have to go beyond software itself.

“I see, I see. An age of defensive Shogi could be on the horizon.”

The journalist removes her glasses.

“In which case …… my window of opportunity for multiple titles is in tow, perhaps?”

She drops her Mato journalist persona and returns to the Women’s Shogi player Machi Kugui as she pulls the ornamental pin out of her hair. Long, silky black locks flow down her shoulders like a river.

“……………!!”

I look away from her with a start.

–––Th-There’s been something mature about her since junior high ……

Glasses off, hair down and that dubious sparkle in her eyes.

Exactly how a thousand-year-old fox would look if it transformed into a person ……

“By the by, Ryuo-san. Over the millennia and more of Shogi history, it’s said that only the current Meijin can see moves without reading. Do you believe such claims?”

“That makes him sound like an oracle or something. Who said it?”

“Yo Okito-Dual Title.”

“Ahh …… That system he has for measuring talent level?”

He’s been using software to analyze match records from the Meijin and all the top Shogi pros to put a number to their skill and play style.

Mr. Okito told me about it himself in the middle of the First Crown Title Match.

“Knowing the Meijin, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s true. His first instincts are typically right on the money, and it feels like he’s looking for reasons to move specific pieces rather than reaching the end of a sequence when he uses waiting time.”

He could just be a mathematical prodigy who knows the answer without thinking.

Ai Hinatsuru uses her incredible reading ability to reach the answer at breakneck speed.

But the Meijin …… It seems like he has something beyond that. An ability to warp time and space to his will, a power that defies logic.

“…… What if he actually was bending time?”

“Hm? Bending time, Ryuo-san?”

“Dah?!”

Machi’s shoulder is suddenly pressed right up against mine. What’s this smell, sakura flowers ……? Wait, wait!!

“Wh-What are you doing? Someone’s bound to get the wrong idea if they see us ……”

“Why would you care, misunderstanding or no? For we are both untaken, yes?”

“Ngh ………… Well, yes, that’s technically true ……”

“Perhaps you have a lover behind closed doors, Ryuo-san? An ulterior motive for requesting my assistance in finding a birthday present for one elder sister apprentice of yours before a title match, for example? One to convince her to go steady?”

“Th- ………… That’s not …… entirely …… true …… but ……”

Crap. She probably knows everything.

“Besides, who is there to see us in such an out-of-the-way location as this? Have any acquaintances in the area, do you?”

“Pros from the Tohoku region? Let’s see …… Well, there’s Mr. Natagiri. He’s from Yamagata, right?”

“From the Women’s League, Empress Ika Sainokami hails from Iwate.”

“Gah!!”

That name came up recently with Ginko, and things nearly ended horribly for me. I can’t help but look around to the waiting area just to be sure.

Snickering at the panic in my eyes, the fox in disguise grins at me and says, “Nothing abets awkwardness more than the sudden appearance of a former lover.”

“She and I were never together, okay?! Rumors like that spread through the Shogi world like wildfire, so don’t even joke about it!!”

“Rumors, you say? Who could’ve ever started such rumors, I wonder?”

Suspect number one is sitting right here. It’s so obvious ……

“Oh, I almost forgot. I should check my email before getting on the plane.”

My tournament match ended in the afternoon, but there was also a children’s tournament going on, so there was no time to sit down. On top of that, I was required to wear traditional clothing all day. Changing back into my usual clothes was too much of a hassle, so I didn’t check my phone ……

Turning it on, several messages from Ginko pop up right away.

“Keika’s here at the hospital with me.”

“Playing a match?”

“Can I mark down this day for the plan?”

Ba-dump …… My heart jumps into my throat.

She’s talking about going to talk to Master. It’s the day she will officially announce her promotion to 4-dan.

And, one more thing …… something extremely important for both of us.

“What might the plan be?”

“Whoa?! M-Machi!! You know how rude it is to look at someone else’s phone, don’t you?!”

Thinking on my feet, I come up with a different plan to throw her off the trail.

“I-It’s …… a party to celebrate her promotion. The one that the secretary in charge of the Kansai Sub League is organizing. You’ll be there, right?”

“Unfortunate, for I shall be working in Tokyo that day!”

The torturer …… No, Machi the Tormentor slides away and heads for the boarding gate. Is this what it’s like to be under a fox’s spell?

The only difference is that there isn’t a tail swishing back and forth between those curvy hips of hers.