Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 2.8

  A FAMILY CONVERSATION

“No. Absolutely not.”

Mom shakes her head using no time once I finish.

My parents and I are sitting in a room at the new Tokyo HinaTsuru.

This was supposed to be our first meal together, just the three of us, in a long time. It feels weird that we’re all in Tokyo instead of on the north coast, though.

Supposed to be …… us happily sitting around the table as a family.

The one who ruined it was me.

I expected opposition, so I’m not backing down. I wouldn’t have brought it up at all if I wasn’t ready for it.

“Why in the world did you think I built this Tokyo branch ……? I did not undergo this venture so you could do that!!”

“But Mother! I’ll never win a title the way things are now …… It’s the only way I’ll ever win one–––!”

“Dachikan!! Two consecutive losses is no reason to take such drastic measures!!”

“Those aren’t all! Yes, I’m under a lot of pressure after losing my Women’s Legend League match today, too, but …… But! I’ve been thinking about this for much longer gaine!!”

I counter Mom’s north coast dialect with my own without even thinking. Probably the only time the Noto accent gets spoken in Tokyo is when the whole family is together.

“…… Yes, I did say you must claim a title before graduating junior high school.”

Mom pauses to fix her kimono collar like she’s embarrassed about her outburst a moment ago.

“However, that does not mean I condone any means for doing so. You haven’t forgotten your promise in the event you don’t claim a title, yes?”

“………… But ……”

“Ai. What you have just proposed is nothing but an escape route.”

Mom refuses to listen to me.

“My eyes cannot be fooled. You say it’s for Shogi, but in reality you are running away from a different battle by using that as an excuse. Are you so frightened of losing to Sora 4-dan?”

“N-No, I ……!!”

“Yes, you are. Listen well, Ai. There is no denying that she has a tremendous lead. I understand wanting to turn a blind eye to reality. However, it is for that very reason that you should remain closer to him than anyone else. Accompany Kuzuryu-sensei to each of his matches around the country and find your chance. That is your path to victory. Yet, you ……”

“……………”

“Have you even received Kuzuryu-sensei’s permission on the matter? Wouldn’t consulting him first be the proper course of action? Not doing so is no different from running away!”

“………… But the way it is now, I can’t yamon ……” My accent comes out again.

“My word …… Where have I seen this defiant stubbornness before ……?”

Mom sighs when she figures out that I won’t listen to her and turns to Dad instead.

“Don’t just sit there. Say something. You were the one who gave her permission to start Shogi training in the first place, yes?”

“…………”

Dad has been sitting there quietly with his arms crossed this whole time. But now he slowly unfolds them.

And says, “I agree with Ai.”

“What?!” Mom shrieks.

Dad doesn’t have much clout because he married into the Hinatsuru family, so normally he would be apologizing to Mom on his hands and knees in dogeza right now. But he’s sitting straight up and looking right at me this time.

Just like he did after my Practice League Entrance Test when I asked to stay behind in Osaka ……

“Ai. You’re familiar with the dish called onishime, right?”

“Onishime? Yes ……”

That question came from nowhere. I’m not sure what is going on with this, but I nod anyway.

“It’s a New Year’s specialty dish, right? One that doesn’t leave any broth left over ……”

“That’s right. Normal food prep and boiling leaves behind juices from meat and vegetables or whatnot. Onishime, on the other hand, absorbs all those juices until there’s nothing left. I’m glad you remembered it.”

“I remember all the recipes you taught me, Dad!”

“Then, do you remember the most important ingredient for making delicious onishime?”

“Ingre …… dient?”

“I’ll tell you now. The important thing is–––.”

And he tells me.

Hearing it …… lets me know exactly how to convey all of this to Master at last.

And it looks like Mom understands what Dad is getting at. She looks worried, but doesn’t say anything.

Yes …… I understand.

Mom didn’t want to reject my idea from the start, did she? She was just worried about her daughter …… She was being extra hard on me because I put so much thought into this. Because she understands that getting to be with him is what will make me happiest.

Even so, I–––.

“Dad.”

“What is it, Ai?”

“Would you teach me how to do something?”

“…… I’d be glad to. Come on, I’ll take you to the kitchen.”

So, for the first time in what feels like forever, Dad and I go to the kitchen and he teaches me.

He teaches me a way to express my feelings without words.