Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 14 - Chapter 5.3

  DINNER

It’s clear just how serious Ai is just by how much time she’s taking to make her first move.

“……………………………”

She sits there for a few solid minutes with her eyes closed and her right hand clamped onto her skirt.

Those minutes pass like hours.

For her, this Shogi carries just as much weight as a title match. Those minutes prove it.

However, both of us already know …… exactly what her first move will be and what formation the board will take.

“………………… Hm!!”

Eyes open and brimming with determination, Ai picks up the piece.

Then she puts it down as if every memory, every moment we shared in this room is riding on it. That move–––the Pawn in front of her Rook advancing to 2 Six.

Seeing that, I mirror her right away.

The Double Wing Attack.

It’s my specialty and the formation Ai used in our first match.

Take a look, Master! I’ve gotten this much stronger since that day! Ai’s fingertips seem to be yelling.

The thing is, I still have my doubts about Ai’s resolve.

No ……

I want to doubt her resolve. I want to look away from how much she’s grown …… Acknowledge it, and there won’t be anything I can do ……

“Haaaa–––……”

I concentrate on the board.

Ai spent all that time before her first move, but now there’s no hesitation in her sequences. The two of us press forward at a high tempo.

“…………”

She peeks up at my face now and then, but her gaze is as sharp as an assassin looking for a window of opportunity.

I can’t drop my guard for an instant, not even in the early game.

The first Double Wing that Ai played against me …… was extremely primitive. All she did was keep pressing forward in a straight line in front of her Rook.

However, there has been a revolution in the Shogi world in the year and a half since then.

It’s safe to say that the Double Wing was the epicenter. It’s changed that much.

Just hold onto the Pawn from the exchange in front of the Rook to move the King out of the starting position and then advance the third file Pawn to make room for the Knight to advance down the right side. Simple.

This new, stylish Double Wing Attack is now the bread and butter for Static Rook players.

“Every single pro has looked into what software says is the best move to make. If you thought playing that way would give you a lead, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Ai paid a hefty price for a lesson from Ryo Tsukiyomizaka. Yet she is still trying to use this formation.

“In that case–––.”

I open my own wings and advance the edge Pawn.

Compiling tepid moves like this will hide what I’m trying to do and nullify all of her research at the same time. This is the cutting edge of software strategies.

–––Avoid the best move and trap her into using sequences that I researched. Do you have an attack strategy ready, Ai?

“………………”

There’s no hesitation in her fingers as Ai sets up her formation.

However, she keeps passing over chances to advance her Knight.

In fact …… after spending all those moves to get a Silver and her Rook into a forward position, she pulls them back right before our formations clash. It’s strange, like she’s trying to avoid combat altogether.

“……? Then what was the point of advancing her 3 Six Pawn ……?”

Ai let her chance for a Rapid Attack slip by without so much as a second glance. Her advantage on offense is gone now, too.

And she is still avoiding confrontation.

It’s true that that’s one way to nullify an opponent’s research, but …… it also makes both players reset their sequences and reread the board from square one.

All that does is tire you out–––.

“…… Wait?”

Reread?

Tire out?

…………… Ah!!

“Oh …… So that’s what’s going on!”

The Double Wing is straightforward, making it extremely easy to read deep into the board.

However the sequences you have to read change with every move. It’s a never-ending cycle. People who don’t like reading can never make it work.

Ai is drawing out this game to turn it into a reading competition.

It won’t end until one of us makes a mistake.

–––Does she think she stands a chance against a Dual Title …… in reading straightforward sequences?! Is that her answer?!!

The two of us have raced to the end of Shogi puzzles hundreds of times, if not more.

That experience must have given Ai tons of confidence. Enough to make her think that she can beat anyone with speed and tenacity alone.

“How arrogant. But I have to give that a perfect score.”

I can’t help but be amazed.

A grade school girl who isn’t afraid to get into a contest of strength with one of the Shogi world’s top pros …… Not just that, but she can still believe in herself after being thoroughly dismantled in a league match. What other grade schooler in the world even comes close?

Self-assured determination to the point of stubbornly believing in her own strength.

A heart that won’t break, a fighting spirit that gets back up stronger after getting knocked down each time.

Now that I know I manage to keep that part of her intact through her training, my heart jumps for joy. I questioned my decisions so much along the way, but they were the right ones.

The thing is–––.

“………… Sorry, but I’m going to shatter that spirit of yours right now.”

Since I have an idea what Ai’s plan is, I immediately start my own attack. This contest of wills is getting old.

“Hn ……!!”

Ai switches into battle mode immediately.

We use our Rooks and Bishops to create a detailed masterpiece of sequences across the board!

My Rook advances with a combination of charges and feints like a crafty bull while Ai uses the fancy footwork of a young matador to put bladed Pawns and Lances in place while flashing her Bishop around like a cape.

Once the dust settles–––my Rook and her Bishop are staring each other down at opposite ends on the ninth file.

It’s the moment of truth.

“………………………………………………… Here …………”

There she goes.

“………… Here ……………… Here …………… Here ……… Here ……… Here ………… Here ………… Here ……… Here …………”

Ai’s small frame shakes violently, rocking back and forth.

Not in the late game, but right after a mid game skirmish, Ai puts the pedal to the metal and goes full throttle!

“Here ………… Here ………… Here ………… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here …… Here, here, here, here, here, herehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere hereherehrehere––––––.”

She has a natural gift for high-speed calculation.

The Shogi gods gave this girl the fastest high-speed engine for a brain humanity has ever seen.

Ai’s talent was already as sharp as a knife the first time we played. The two Rooks she claimed during our exchanges back then glistened like blades as she set up for the killing checkmate.

Those knives have grown into long, full-fledged katana–––swords that she’s about to draw right now.

“Here!!”

Light slices across the board. Ai’s Bishop disappears in a flash.

The result–––the piece I had protecting the corner is gone.

“………… Huh?”

I lean in for a closer look.

“Wh- …… why would ……?”

“Go ahead and promote your Rook.”

That’s the only thing it could mean.

I was sure she’d lunge at me with those swords …… But she drops them and holds her arms out wide like she wants to be cut down ……?

–––Allow me to make a Dragon, and then capture it ……?

If that’s her plan, the trap is way too obvious.

Whether she’s inviting me or not …… If I don’t promote the Rook right now, I’m as good as dead.

“……………”

I push all the way into enemy territory and promote to Dragon King.

Ai is probably planning to trap it in the corner and take it, but ……

From what I’ve read, trying to do that would only end up deepening her wounds.

–––I’ll have the advantage if I can get the Dragon back on my side. Even if she takes it, I’ll have the edge.

I’ll come out ahead no matter what decisions she makes.

“Herehereherehereherehere––––––HERE!!”

Ai pulls her own Rook all the way to the back row to threaten my Dragon horizontally and to keep it from unleashing havoc. Does that mean she gave up on trying to take it?

–––My read was spot on! You have a long way to go, Ai.

I slide my Dragon back into my territory. Adding Shogi’s strongest piece to my ranks not only increases my offensive firepower but bolsters my defense as well. Checking to make sure that I’m ahead, I breathe a big sigh of relief.

Then, it happens.

Ai reaches for her piece stand with the speed of a ravenous monster.

“HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!”

She picks up–––a Lance.

Then, she snaps that little piece down in front of the Rook she pulled back!!

“–––Here!!”

In essence, Ai has built a missile launcher on the board.

“C-Crap! She pulled it back to make space for the Lance ……!!”

A Rook in the back row can be a powerful shield.

However, it …… was part of Ai’s attack strategy!

She forced me to focus on defending the left side while she was concentrating on setting up a massive counterattack on the right!! Strong!!

“……………… Wait. There’s more to it …… than that …………?”

The more sequences I read across the board, the more my body starts to tremble.

Ai would have to have read deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deep, deeper than I ever thought she could to lead me to this point …… Knowing that she pulled it off is making me shiver from head to toe.

“Sh-She ………… She …………!!”

So much for a cute little katana.

That toy ax Ika Sainokami flings around doesn’t measure up, either.

Ai’s sharp talent.

It’s–––a long, menacing scythe.

–––Sneaks behind the opponent’s neck while they’re distracted …… and sends their head flying.

Staring down at the board that looks more like a Shogi puzzle, I finally figure it out.

This isn’t the mid game anymore in her eyes.

That terrifying calculation speed of hers has transformed this newly completed skirmish into a late game formation.

She didn’t deploy that Lance to push forward.

–––Ai is already …… closing in ……!!

I can’t block everything!! D-Did I just lose?!

“Herehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere––––––Here!!”

Ai rushes in with her Lance leading the charge!

I could swear she’s got a pair of white wings coming out of her back as she leans all the way over the board.

Those wings open wide, swallowing the board …… and my whole thought process at the same time.

“Ngh ……!! Haaa …… Haaa …… Gasp! …… Nggghhh!!”

The sheer volume that Ai has read is overwhelming.

My King is a sitting duck. The more I read, the more inevitable my defeat becomes ……

“Ngh ………… Too hot ……”

The sun must be low in the sky, because the sunbeams coming in have heated the room quite a bit.

Much too hot …… My throat is a desert at this point ……

When… suddenly.

Slide …… A cup of water appears in front of me.

“!! ………… Glug …………”

Ai must have gotten it for me while I was thinking. I finally get my bearings back the very moment that chilled liquid my body was craving hits my lips.

But at the same time, a different fear …… the realization that Ai could read that far into me sinks into my gut right along with it ……

–––This girl …… has studied me down to the last detail ……

Any other person would base their decisions on my titles and rating. Basically, they put me up on a pedestal as the Demon King or something and trip over their own feet.

However, Ai sees me just as Yaichi Kuzuryu.

Not some digits on a screen.

This is Shogi between two human beings who know all there is to know about each other …… A battle that will turn bloody.

In that case ……!!

“Whew–––………… Thanks, Ai.”

That’s all I say.

Reaching for my piece stand, I grab a Lance and deploy it directly behind her Promoted Lance.

“!! ………… Huh? ………… Huuh?!!”

Her eyes go wide for a second, but not because my move was all that spectacular.

“Master acknowledged he’s behind? …… I can win!!”

It’s a desperation move, one that tries to force the formations in my favor despite knowing it’s a bad move.

Basically, I’m repenting.

I start unloading all of my treasures, like Golds and Silvers, from my piece stand one after another to try to block Ai’s Rook. My formation gets beaten to a pulp in exchange for delaying her attack.

It’s like something out of a fairy tale.

A monster is hot on my tail, and I’m scattering Golds and Silvers from the treasure chest in my arms, hoping to distract it as I run away.

The balance I had barely managed to maintain up to this point is now heavily in Ai’s favor ……

“Hngh ……! Gahhh ……! Haaaaa ……! Ngh! …………… H- …… Here, here, here, hereherehereherehereherehere–––.”

The pressure of knowing she has a chance to win her first even match against a Dual Title is clamping down hard on Ai right now. But she uses her overwhelmingly powerful reading ability to lighten the load and chips my defenses apart piece by piece.

Then–––the 119th move.

After nearly 60 moves of her approach.

“HERE!!!”

Ai snaps a Bishop down diagonally behind my King with vigor.

I’m in check.

There’s even a Dragon next to the Bishop. I’m against the ropes with two big pieces right in my face ……!

Now.

“KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

I place my finger on my King to spring my trap now that Ai thinks victory is in the bag.

I slide it.

Just one space to the side.

“F- …… 5 Two King?! How could that defense work ……?!”

Now it’s Ai’s turn to be surprised.

Slipping past her Bishop by the thinnest of margins adds even more pressure by making her think that I’ve read all the way to the end.

“B-But, I still …………! Here!!”

Ai plays it safe because she knows just how far ahead she is.

Unfortunately, doing so takes the razor’s edge away from her attack. A bad move.

Now that it’s my turn, I unleash this sequence I’ve had cooking for a while now.

“Right back at you.”

I deploy a Lance in front of my King. It’s the same kind of defensively offensive move that Ai played earlier. Not only does it protect my King, but it also puts hers in the line of fire.

“Ngh ……!!”

Ai recoils and touches her cheek as if she had just been slapped.

Following up, I deploy a Bishop deep in her territory.

It’s a flashy move, one that lets me take either her Rook or Gold.

This is why I scattered all those Golds, Silvers and whatnot earlier, so that her formation wouldn’t be as crisp.

“Ah! ………… Grr!!”

Fear passes over her face, but she immediately follows the saying don’t run from a fork in the road and puts a Pawn down dangerously close to my King.

She tried to find a path by attacking rather than defending.

“So you took my teaching to heart. Good girl ……”

But that triggers the real trap.

If Ai had chosen to strengthen her defenses away from my Bishop, then this match would still be up in the air.

I let her Pawn be and take her Gold to promote my Bishop into a Horse and launch an attack of my own at the same time.

I’ve read to the end, so I know my attack will connect first.

“It’s over. Your Shogi is still too sincere.”

“?! ……… Aaagh ……”

She would’ve had so many chances if she kept charging forward without stopping to think.

The nine-year-old Ai probably would have checkmated me by now.

Everything she’s learned during our time living together and her own feelings made her mess up.

Even though she knows me through and through.

I also know her like the back of my hand.

“He- ………… re …………”

Ai rushes to make an escape route for her King, but it’s too late.

She throws up a prayer by putting my King in check, but she doesn’t have the firepower to pin it down.

Meanwhile, I guide my King across the board using zero time.

–––I won …… But a Dual Title like me shouldn’t have come that close to the brink ……

Objectively speaking, Ai’s Shogi is far beyond Women’s League level.

–––Her abilities have caught up with her talent. She’ll blow everything up in no time ……

The rivers of cold sweat running down my body prove how much Ai has grown.

The small glimmer of a prodigy on the cusp of hatching in front of me is now on the verge of becoming a blinding beacon.

Ai’s decision to break away from me, her Master.

Whether it’s right or not …… the Shogi shows a clear answer.

I’ve avoided directly teaching Ai anything up to this point.

I set up the perfect learning environment and played tons of handicapped matches with her. However, I never forced Ai to memorize early game sequences or the latest research the pros are using.

Because Ai’s talent works best off a blank slate.

All of that, including forbidding her from using software, was to instill one single lesson into her mind.

Become strong on your own.

I made her think of ways to make herself stronger.

That type of teaching leads to only one logical conclusion–––leaving her Master.

So I should be happy right now.

Happy that Ai wants to leave this nest …… If she wants to spread her wings in the bluer skies over Tokyo, it is my duty as her Master to give her a push out the door.

And if she refuses to leave despite having wings capable of flight …… it’s up to me to drive her away with an iron fist.

–––Have I …… been finding reasons to keep her here because I don’t want her to leave ……?

If I force Ai to stay.

If I chain down the wings that are trying to take flight.

Would it be just my ego keeping this fledgling cooped up in this room when she comes close to grasping her own method to grow, with or without the use of software?

“…………… I …………”

Do I ………… just want her in Ginko’s place?

Those thoughts made me put on the brakes.

“Ah.”

Deploying a Gold, the safe move.

The move that was meant to ensure that my King was protected is now blocking its retreat!

If I had just kept it moving, the match would be as good as over!!

“Agh ……?!”

It hits me the second I make the move.

I realize my mistake the instant I let go of the piece. I had no clue while my forefinger was still touching it.

That’s what is called an error.

“!! ………… Here, here, hereherehereherehereherehereherehereherehere–––.”

Ai starts rocking back and forth with the same ferocity as a carnivore lunging for prey.

–––Oh …… oh crap!! Defend the wrong way now, and I’ll be checkmated ……!!

A fresh wave of panic takes over as I dial back in.

Each of us makes little mistakes back and forth from there.

After losing focus just that once, our emotions start showing up on the board. Uncertainty makes our fingers waiver, and our precision suffers for it.

I make a mistake, Ai makes a mistake. Those crisp, hard-hitting sequences at the beginning of a match feel like a distant dream as we trade unthinkable moves. This match has regressed to the point where people would think two newbies were playing.

Our hearts’ last line of defense is getting torn to shreds–––.

“………… D- ………… n’t ………”

I play a move, and Ai’s genuine feelings come across like words.

“…… n’t …… want to ……”

We exchange turns at lightning speed. Our feelings overlap, and the pieces on the board start moving in unison to it.

“I don’t want to go ……!”

“Please don’t go!”

“I don’t want to go!!”

“Please don’t go!!”

“I don’t want to go!!!”

“Please don’t ……!!!” 

Our fingers scream back and forth as we repeat the same sequence, delaying the inevitable conclusion.

Unfortunately, Shogi’s cruel rules won’t allow it ……

Just four repeated moves bring it all to an end.

A repetition draw.

Normally, this would call for a rematch with me on offense instead. There are even some amateur tournaments where both players will take a loss if it happens.

“………………”

Motionless pieces cast long shadows across the board.

The setting sun casts Ai in an orange glow across from me as she stares into her lap, waiting for me to say something.

“Ai.”

“……!”

Hearing her name, she looks up at me expectantly.

Like a puppy, just like she did the day she asked to become my apprentice in this very room ……

All I have to say is, “One more?” like I did back then, and everything will surely go back to the way it was.

So I say …

“That’s enough. It’s over.”

And I turn my back on her.

I just know I’ll try to stop her if I look at her face right now. I’ll beg her not to leave, jump over the board and hug her right here and now ……

“Ah ………”

I can almost feel Ai reaching out for my back from the other side of the board. If I were to reach back like the opening of a Double Wing, our hands would meet in the middle.

But I can’t do that.

My duty as her Master is to drive her out of the nest …… the pain from her not talking to me about this first and a bit of pride won’t let me say otherwise ……

“Master …… I …… I–––.”

I’ve changed my mind! Please forgive me! I want to stay ……!!

Part of me is hoping that’s what she’s about to say.

But the words that came next–––.

“I …… made dinner for you ……”

Were out of concern for me.

All the other emotions get washed away by that lovable kindness of hers.

Forget about Shogi. All I want right now is for this girl to stay with me.

Ai ……!!

“………… I tried making something new for you for dinner. It’s …… in a pot on the stove …… so please eat it, okay?”

She’s trying to sound cheerful, but I can tell Ai is desperate to keep her emotions under control.

Her voice is wavering and there’s nothing she can do to stop it.

“I made food for tomorrow, too …… And the next day, and the day after that …… There’s a week’s worth in the freezer …… Please be sure to eat properly before your next title match. I also used my salary from the association to buy a dryer for you so that laundry doesn’t pile up …… It will be delivered tomorrow …… So make sure to do laundry every day, okay? All you have to do is press a button, so you should …… be okay …… without me here ……!”

Plip, plip. Tears hit the tatami mat as she talks.

Meanwhile, I’m biting my lip as if my life depended on it. The taste of blood is getting stronger every second. An irony, bitter taste of regret.

So bitter and so painful, in fact, that I’m crying my eyes out even though I’m 18 years old.

–––It’s a very good thing I turned my back to her ……

Seeing me …… Seeing her Master break down like this would surely weaken Ai’s resolve.

The last thing I can do for her …… is push her out the door with a heavy dose of tough love ……!

“Please win the Ryuo Title Match, okay?” says Ai encouragingly. “You have a habit of focusing on Shogi so much that you forget about everything else …… I asked Keika to come check on you. So …… you’ll be just fine, right? E- …… Even if I …… I’m …… not …… here …………!!”

She tries to keep going, but full words don’t make it out of her mouth.

Tear drops pitter patter onto the tatami, overlapping like rain.

Then, just as the rain lifts.

“……………………… Thank you so much… for everything ……”