Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 4

  DEBUT

There have been rumblings above the clouds since the crack of dawn.

“To the Shogi Association in Sendagya, please.”

After walking out to the hospital’s taxi stand by myself, I climb into an ordinary cab and tell the driver where I want to go.

“The Shogi Association building, eh? Going there awfully early ………… Huh?!”

One look at my face through the rearview mirror and the driver is suddenly wide awake.

Then he starts looking back and forth between the mirror and the radio.

“Today’s top story is what else but Naniwa’s Snow White’s professional debut! Sora 4-dan has been staying in Tokyo for several days in preparation for a Ryuo League match starting at 10 o’clock this morning–––.”

I bet everyone on the radio, TV and even Internet news sites are going on and on about me right now.

Slowly, very slowly, the driver asks, “Um …… Would you like me to turn it off?”

“No. Keep it on.”

That way, it’s unlikely he’ll try to start a conversation.

I close my eyes and mentally prepare myself for today’s match.

The car quietly pulls out of the parking lot.

The driver not inputting the association’s address into his car navigator makes me a bit concerned, but I don’t say anything because there’s still plenty of time.

“Sora 4-dan is currently in a car heading southbound on Gaien-nishi Street and should arrive at the Shogi Association building within 10 minutes–––.”

The driver looks up at the sky after coming to a stop at a traffic light.

“Ha-ha-ha. That’s impressive …… They’ve got an eye in the sky following this car ……”

Those annoying rumblings were actually news helicopters tracking my location.

Months have passed since my promotion, so I thought things would’ve settled down a little bit by now. Though it looks like the extra time only pushed their interest past the boiling point.

–––Just like Ms. Oga said would happen.

I’ve been avoiding people outside of work ever since the date of my debut was set.

That includes Keika, Yaichi, my parents and even Ms. Oga herself, who offered to drive me to the association today. I told her I wanted to go alone.

I will be fighting on my own as a professional.

I had to show everyone, including myself, that I’m ready for it.

“Sora 4-dan will be making her debut today against Empress Ika Sainokami, who has a full two years over her! Despite only being 18, she’s so strong that she has held that title for three consecutive seasons!”

Information about my opponent starts streaming out of the radio.

That’s Rokuroba Women’s 2-dan commentary.

“And these two have fought once before in the Mynavi Women’s Open Finals! Sora 4-dan was victorious, but …… she won by default because Ms. Sainokami broke the rules! Plenty of people theorize that Ms. Sainokami would’ve won had she just played normally. Some even go so far as to say that she is more talented than Sora 4-dan even though she lost.”

“But, Sora 4-dan is a professional now. A Women’s player should be no match for her, yes?”

“Seems logical, doesn’t it? However, out of the entire Women’s League, Ms. Sainokami has the best record against professional players by far! Some might argue she hasn’t gone up against the best of the best, but–––.”

Suddenly the car comes to a halt.

There are so many people crowding the street, we can’t get through after turning left at the Hatomori Shrine.

“Whoa?! What in the world ……?” the driver gasps without letting go of the wheel.

“Is that the car?”

“There she is!”

A throng of humanity descends on the taxi with smartphones held high, almost like the climax of a zombie movie. Next thing I know, we’re surrounded by rubberneckers who happen to be listening to the news.

“Wh-What would you like to do? I can’t exactly force my way through ……,” asks the slightly frightened driver.

I could call for help from the association.

But today I don’t want to. I’m doing things on my own today.

“I’ll walk the rest of the way. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“If you’re sure …… Um, if it’s alright with you, I’d happily accept your autograph in exchange for the fare.”

He holds out a permanent marker.

I have no idea what to say, but the driver continues. “I have a daughter in grade school. Seeing what you’ve done inspired her to play Shogi. Now I bring her to the association every Saturday and Sunday on my way to work, you see.”

“Oh …… So that’s why you knew how to get here.”

I take the pen from him.

“Would you be so kind as to sign the window? My daughter would be over the moon to know that Naniwa’s Snow White rode in daddy’s car.”

I have never written on vertical glass before, but my signature turns out cleaner and sharper than I anticipated.

My hands don’t waver, which means that I’m not all that nervous after all.

“Thank you! Good luck with your game …… Umm, they’re called matches, right? Anyway, I’m rooting for you!”

“Good luck with the rest of your workday as well.”

“Oh, I’m clocking out for today. I want my daughter to be the next one to sit in that seat.”

Something occurs to me as I go to open the door.

“What do you say to her when you drop her off in the morning?”

“Huh? Oh, ummm ……… I’m not sure if I should say it to a professional Shogi player like yourself, but …… Go see how much you can lose.”

“I like that. She’ll get stronger in no time.”

Feeling grateful that I lucked into such a nice driver, I walk up the hill to the Shogi Association building as a professional for the first time.

… Along with enough rubberneckers to block traffic ……

Full ranks of cameras are pointed at me as soon as the building comes into view. Journalists and reporters who had been camping outside the association start talking into their microphones in a frenzy.

“It’s Naniwa’s Snow White!! Ginko Sora 4-dan has arrived!!”

“She seems to have grown out her hair!!”

“Perhaps she’s wishing for good luck?”

“I don’t know, but …… There’s one thing that’s for sure: that she’s becoming more beautiful every day!”

I walk up to the entrance and turn to face them.

Then I make a deep bow. It seemed like the professional thing to do.

“Go get ’em!!”

“Don’t lose, Snow White!”

“I could die, I could die!! Naniwa’s Snow White is right here!!”

“Can I get your autograph?! Hey! Autograph!!”

All of them yell good wishes from behind their smartphone cameras.

But that nice driver’s words are the only ones I take with me as I finally step inside the association.

Ms. Oga is waiting for me in the lobby on the first floor.

“Good morning. Today’s match will take place in the fifth floor’s Kouun Arena.”

“Not on the fourth floor?”

“This decision was made for coverage reasons. As you surely noticed outside, there have been many requests from the press to take photos. Therefore your match has been moved to a more accommodating stage.”

The fifth floor is divided into several areas, including rooms for overnight stays, the broadcasting control room and studio, as well as the Women’s Player’s Room. However, very rarely do matches take place up there.

Using it for a prestigious match, like one from the Ryuo League, must be even more out of the ordinary.

“…… Is what one has told the press. The Empress’s bizarre antics are the true concern. This match has been moved to the fifth floor to avoid disturbing the others taking place.” Ms. Oga whispers into my ear once we are alone on the elevator.

In other words, we’re being isolated.

I can understand how Sainokami’s behavior can be an issue. Her following Yaichi around comes to mind …… But rumors about her have died down in Kansai after Yaichi’s first pipsqueak knocked her off her high horse.

However, there is something bugging me.

After losing to the pipsqueak, her already sporadic Shogi has become downright unpredictable.

–––Well …… it’s not that she has good and bad days. It’s more like her Shogi is broken ……

The elevator takes us up higher into the building.

“Room 501, directly beside the elevator, has been reserved for you,” says Ms. Oga. “You may eat there as well. However, the room next door is in use, so please be mindful.”

“I appreciate it.”

There’s a bed in there. I have never played a match with five hours of waiting time before. Women’s Title Matches only have three and staying in the arena from start to finish is still very draining for me. So it’s nice to know I have a place to rest. I doubt I can use the Women’s Player’s Room like I used to anymore ……

The elevator doors opened with a ding on the fifth floor and–––.

“G-Good morning, Sora-sensei!!”

A tanned girl dressed in a school uniform standing at attention outside the elevator ambushes me with pure energy the second we make eye contact.

“I will be recording your match today, Noboryou 2-dan!! I just had to work your match as soon as I heard you’d be making your debut in Kanto! I must’ve called the secretary like five times a day for a week to get it! But what I really want to say is congratulations on your promotion to 4-dan!!”

“…… Thank you. Congratulations on yours as well, Ms. Noboryou.”

“E-Epic feels!”

I know she’s not a bad person, but sometimes I can’t understand what she’s talking about.

Ms. Oga mildly gestures for me to keep moving forward.

“The press will be granted access to the arena 15 minutes before the match is scheduled to commence. Please conclude your preparations before then …… Mobility will be quite limited once the press has arrived.”

I nod and open the sliding door to the Kouun arena for the first time.

Ms. Oga stops me just as I’m about to go inside.

“Sora 4-dan, a scan for metallic devices must be conducted. One does not want to be rude but ……”

“Oh, checking for electronics. Here.”

I had already turned off my phone. Giving it to her, Ms. Oga does a quick bow and waves a wand up and down my body.

Be-be-beep. It finds something.

The watch Yaichi gave me.

A heatwave suddenly pulses through me.

It’s because a strange feeling creeps into my mind that the Shogi gods will be angry that I brought a gift from my boyfriend onto his sacred ground ……

“A watch is not a problem. Please go ahead.”

So I step inside the arena.

A calligraphy scroll hanging in the alcove of Kouun reads Every day is a good day. Many accommodations have been made for journalists and reporters, including an overhead camera and the removal of the folding screens from the windows to make room for chairs. This room is surprisingly large.

I go to find the upper seat when suddenly–––.

“Hurry it up, faker.”

A voice from deep in my memories shoots back to the surface.

“…………… !!”

Ika Sainokami isn’t here yet.

But her voice keeps ringing in my ears all the same. Just as it has since that day.

Fake.

That rabid beast lost because she broke a rule that no one thought would ever be broken: putting a captured piece on the opponent’s stand …… But she still looked down on me like my victory wasn’t real.

–––But …… now that I can see without reading, after what I accomplished in the 3-dan division ……!!

Once I read her name on my match notice, I …… welcomed it.

Finally, a chance to get this voice out of my head.

–––I have been reborn. I’m not an earthling anymore, but a Shogi Martian. Today’s the day I prove it.

“Sora-sensei? Is there anything else I can do for you?” Ms. Noboryou says, pulling me back out of my thoughts.

“Um …… If I remember correctly, players get their own tea in Kanto, yes?”

“That’s true. There’s a big kettle and everyone pours their own cup. I could bring you your first one if you like?”

“In that case, I would like a tray with a cup and mug, please. With tea.”

“Coming right up!!”

Ms. Noboryou leaves the room with some pep in her step.

After watching her go, I put my bag into the closet and test out the floor cushion before sitting down on my ankles.

Lastly …… I remove the watch that never left my wrist and set it down on the tatami next to me. Closing my eyes, I hone my focus for the upcoming match.

Rolling thunder gradually echoes up from below. The building itself starts shaking as an army of reporters and journalists pour through the doors.