Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 5

  REGISTRY

Today is supposed to be clear and sunny, which it hasn’t been for a while.

“Hmhmmm♪ Doodo doooo♪”

The weather’s surprisingly balmy, considering it’s November.

My practice session yesterday went really well.

I’m winning my way to the tournament and played fulfilling Shogi in the First Ryuo Title Match.

Everything is going my way, and I have a lot of energy despite being right in the middle of a title match series.

But what really has me walking on air is …… Charlette telling me she wants to join the Practice League and asking to be my apprentice over the phone.

Our conversation got recorded, so I listen to it again and reflect on those wonderful moments.

“Cha, Cha wants Masta to be Cha’s Masta.”

“I see …… But you realize that our bond will last forever if we become Master and apprentice, don’t you? Couples can break up, married or not, but the Master-apprentice relationship will never end …… Can you swear your everlasting love to me?”

“Oui! Cha lubs Masta foreba!!”

Apparently she was going to wait until after the Ryuo Title Match to make the call, but it’s so adorable how she just had to ask when I became a Dual Title Holder! Too cute!

The next Practice League Entrance Exam isn’t until next year, so I told her to study up hard right now so she can pass.

“He-he-he. I’ll buy her a ring to celebrate when she does♡”

On a side note, hardly anyone ever fails the Entrance Exam, so Charlette and my (Master and apprentice) love is as good as set in stone. Yesss!

“She’d always said she wants to be my bwide, so I’m kind of sad that she chose Shogi over me, but …… It just means she’s growing up, too ……”

Exactly. Besides, when it comes to brides, mine is ……

“She should have calmed down by now, right? I’ll call and see ……”

I also lost to an opponent I thought was below me, Mr. Natagiri, in my own debut. All the pain and humiliation drove me to run 60 kilometers to Chigasaki and dive into the ocean. I wasn’t trying to kill myself, just to be clear. I was actually planning to swim all the way back to Osaka. I wasn’t in my right mind.

“…… Losing your debut hurts so bad that stupid ideas like that seriously sound plausible ……”

What’s worse is that you’re in no shape to listen to what others have to say. Anyone living in this world would want some space after a loss.

But being alone gets lonely.

After all, it takes two people to play Shogi.

“I think it was about a week after the match when Ginko came to find me. Now I have to return the favor and help her get back on her feet.”

I’ll join her for some practice matches and be her punching bag.

She obviously wouldn’t want to talk on the day of, but she’ll calm down with enough time. The problem is when to approach her.

Ginko has a ton of pride. She used to beat the crap out of me just for worrying about her when we were kids …… An unexpected phone call or dropping in to visit her unannounced might blow up in my face.

“Which means the standard in this case would be to send a message and see how she responds.”

It’d be a good idea to send her a message now while I’ve got some time.

I take out my smartphone and–––.

“………… What the?”

Ginko’s number isn’t in my contacts. It should be right here.

But it’s gone. Getting a really bad feeling about this, I dial Ginko’s number by hand but all that comes out of the speaker is an emotionless voice saying, “The number you have dialed is currently not in service.”

My heart is racing now. Cold sweat rolls down my back.

Just when I’m about to check my contacts one last time, a breaking news alert pops up on my phone.

“Ginko Sora 4-dan announces leave of absence. Length not specified. Taking leave immediately following a debut match is unprecedented.”

……………… Come again?

Leave …… of absence?

“That has to be a joke, right? I mean, taking leave without telling me first ……?”

C’mon, Ginko. I know losing your debut match hurts, but isn’t erasing your accounts and taking a leave of absence out of nowhere a bit too much?

I tap on the link to the article and try to read it, but my fingertips are so sweaty the phone doesn’t respond at all.

“Health reasons are cited for the leave of absence. The Shogi Association chairman will be conducting a press conference in the near future to provide further details.”

Yeah, this is just plain off. Somebody has to be pulling a prank, right? Spreading fake news like this.

Because, seriously, I haven’t heard anything from Keika, Master, Chairman Tsukimitsu or Ms. Oga about it.

Knock. Knock.

Somebody is knocking at the door to my room. Sliding it open–––.

Ai Hinatsuru is standing there.

“Master. I need to talk to you.”

One look at my apprentice, and I suddenly remember that she’s been staying at Master’s place nearly all the time these days.

Dropping my phone, I grab my apprentice’s delicate shoulders and ask before I realize what I’m doing.

“A- …… Ai! You know anything about Big Sis? Did Master or Keika tell you something?!”

“No. I’ve only heard what’s on the news.”

She calmly shakes her head from side to side.

But she goes on to add, “I had a feeling this might happen, though. Ever since the 3-dan division ended …… No, the summer festival, Sora-sensei obviously hasn’t been herself.”

“…… Are you saying that I’ve been ignoring her all this time?”

“The opposite.”

“Huh?”

“I think she didn’t want to show you, Master. She only wanted you to see her as a strong, beautiful girl. That’s what I would’ve done if it were me ……”

She wouldn’t show me? Why not?

She lets me see sides of her that she would never show anyone else, right? What Ginko Sora haven’t I seen? We lived together for over 10 years, for goodness sake! We’re boyfriend and girlfriend!!

“Master,” says Ai while my mind spins. “I’m transferring from Kansai to Kanto. The paperwork has already been filed at the association.”

“…………… What?”

No word that came out of Ai’s mouth just now made sense.

“Transferring? To Kanto? Ai, what are you talking about ……?”

That’s just as unbelievable as Ginko taking a leave of absence. Thinking this has to be a dream, I snap my fingers a few times next to my ears.

But all that did was hurt.

“Why would you transfer ……? Are you planning to commute to Tokyo from Osaka for all your matches?”

Ai stays quiet but it doesn’t break eye contact.

“Well …… yes, I know that’s basically what you’re doing now, but transferring means that you won’t have the single match in Osaka! The Kansai Shogi Association building is literally right down the street, so wouldn’t it be better to stay put?”

“Master …… That’s not why. The reason is ……”

Ai looks down, almost like she’s in pain. Both hands are squeezing the hem of her skirt like there’s no tomorrow.

Then she looks up and says all in one breath.

Words that I can’t believe.

“I will live in Tokyo. So–––please allow me to move out. I can’t be your live-in apprentice anymore.”