Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 15 - Chapter 5.8

  THE STORY I DEDICATE TO YOU

Two weeks after my cramming session–––and the book is done.

“Whoooa! My maiden release ……!!”

That table with 10 copies of Kuzuryu’s Notebook stacked up on it might not look like much to anyone else, but to me it shines like it has its own spotlight.

It’s rare for players in the Shogi world to see their efforts take a physical shape. So, having something to show for all that time and energy I committed is extremely gratifying. M-Man, I’m over the moon right now ……!!

“I had no idea you could get them so far in advance!!”

“Naturally. Both east and west associations will have exclusive early sales events.”

The book won’t hit shelves until April. Machi explains to me that they plan to release it along with the start of the next Shogi season.

“So, Yaichi. What about your complimentary copies?”

“My what?”

“Did you not read about them in your contract? The author shall purchase 10 copies as samples. They are typically given as gifts to those the author would like to thank.”

“Oh, now that I think about it, I’ve gotten books from Shogi players before.”

I thought they were just passing along books that they got from the publisher for free, but they actually paid for them? Well, I should’ve been more grateful ……

“As many players write personalized messages with autographs for fans, they also write messages in their books when giving them as presents. Thus, I have brought all 10 of the samples with me for the contract signing.”

“So, if I sign and stamp these, then give them to you–––.”

“I shall see to it that they are delivered to those you wish. Also, there may be a few individuals the publisher would wish to send copies to as well. The Meijin, for instance.”

“Th-They’re going to send it to the Meijin?!”

“Wouldn’t the appearance of one of the strategies contained in Kuzuryu’s Notebook in the Meijin Title Match serve as the best possible advertisement?”

Would he …… actually use one?

And, if one of my out-there strategies does show up in the Meijin Title Match, knowing that they’d get blasted for using a strategy that is indecent scares me. The amateur reviewers are going to roast me online ……

“Also, sending copies to famous individuals is a must. Naniwa’s Snow White, for one.”

Her dropping that name so casually sets me off.

“……!! Did you find out?! Do you know where Big Sis is right now?!”

“I have known the entire time.”

………………………………………………… Come again?

“Huh? Wha- …………… HUH?! You knew?! Then why the hell did I work myself half to death to write this book in the first place?!”

“You completed the book, so what does it matter? And, do you not feel the joy of accomplishment?”

“W-Well, yeah, but that’s not the point–––.”

“The address of where Ginko is convalescing is written on this piece of paper.”

My heart skips five beats.

Even my muscles freeze up ……

My chest hurts, like my heart is being strangled from all sides …… It hurts so bad, I could cry ……

“Big Sis ………… is here …………?” 

“Aye. I met with her myself. As O-Ryou accompanied me, I cannot hide that fact. Ginko seemed very well, surprisingly so.”

“Ryou talked with Big Sis, too?!”

“That she did not. O-Ryou lacked the courage and chose to remain in the car. She is always faint of heart in the biggest moments.”

Machi keeps talking with the piece of paper held out in front of me.

“There is a chance the staff will forbid you from seeing her. In that event, your journey will have been a waste of time …… and Ginko may be transferred as well. Are you willing to take that risk?”

“…………”

I want to see her. I want to see her face even one second sooner.

Every cell in my body is screaming it. I want to see her. I wanna, I wanna, I WANNA, I WANNA!

But–––.

“Everything I want to say to her right now is written in this book,” I say flatly and push the paper back to Machi. “Writing the book made me realize that, at the end of the day, I want to play Shogi with her. Ever since the first time we played on the second floor of Master’s place …… I’ve been getting stronger to play against her because it was so much fun ……”

Even if I did get to speak with her, knowing how bad I am with words, I wouldn’t be able to do anything for her.

But, with Shogi.

“Ginko said so herself. She became a pro so she could play against me. There’s no doubt in my mind that that feeling won’t change.”

I pick up a book and hand it to Machi as is.

“She doesn’t need my stamp. Give this one to her without any extras.”

She always tried out the strategies she learned in books on me. I know she used me for human experimentation.

So, if I sent her this book, she’ll definitely––––––.

––––––That girl was sitting in a chair on the gently sunlit terrace with a book in her arms, as usual.

That being said, her snowy white skin was vulnerable to sunlight. Thus, the chair in the corner where direct sunlight couldn’t reach by the slimmest of margins had become hers by default. It had become routine that she would absorb herself in a book in this very spot once her watch’s hands indicated a certain time.

She had loved books for as long as she could remember.

For a girl physically unable to go outside and play, books were the only thing that could teach her what lay beyond the walls of her hospital room.

Romance novels provided by Keika had become a recent favorite of hers.

The story was always the same. An oppressed heroine would happen upon a man with high social status in some way or another and the two would marry. Their relationship would be rocky at first, but would draw closer until …… Those kinds of stories.

Though she belittled them for predictability, the exhilaration they provided along with well-timed cliffhangers made her read all the way to the end. Another reason she kept coming back was that she could hold those paperback books for hours on end without getting tired despite having so little energy.

However, she was holding a different book on this day. This one was much thicker than normal, and about Shogi.

“Oh? Ginko, that book ……”

Keika was taken by surprise.

The girl had read many books since she arrived at this facility, but she had been unable to read a single one about Shogi.

However, one look and Keika understood why right away.

With that cover, how could she not?

“…… Now I see. He holed up somewhere to write a book, huh? I was worried for nothing!”

Keika left to prepare some tea, angrily mumbling about how she was going to demand copies for herself and her father once she got home but couldn’t hide the glint of happiness in her eyes.

For what reason did Yaichi Kuzuryu write this book? Who did he want to read it?

The answer to those questions was on the very first page.

To the Shogi ghost who inhabited the second floor of my Master’s house, I dedicate this story to you, as well as my love.

“…………… Stupid.”

She flipped through the pages, skipping over the Shogi sections entirely to read the columns instead.

Every single one of them was about her …… about the Shogi ghost.

She felt her cheeks growing warmer with every page. Every so often she whispered …… stupid under her breath.

To anyone else, Kuzuryu’s Notebook was a book about Shogi strategy. A very creative one at that.

To the girl, however …… it was a love letter on a massive scale.

A small paper fluttered out from between the pages. It landed at the girl’s feet and she rushed to pick it up before it got carried away by the breeze.

It was a bookmark with Regards printed on the front. Graceful letters written by a steady hand were on the back.

“You had best return quickly, else I shall take him for my own.”

Then, she turned the cover over to look at the author’s photograph …… and gasped.

“……! ……………… Ya ………… i …………”

She had not seen her younger brother apprentice’s face in half a year.

The instant his kind smile met her eyes, she couldn’t help but embrace the book against her chest.

Once she realized someone else had taken that picture, however, her ire rose instantaneously.

It was jealousy …… hot, burning jealousy.

“Stupid ………… how dare you show another woman that face ………… Stupid.”

Once she ripped the cover clean off the book, she decided to try reading it all the way through from the beginning. This book inundated with countless numbers and charts, from start to finish.

Her trembling fingers turned the page–––.

And, little by little, Ginko Sora began to push open the door that led back to the battlefield.