Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 15 - Chapter Aft

FOR THE AFTERWORD

“Is this Papa’s book?”

Recently, my two-year-old daughter has started asking me this while pointing at copies of The Ryuo’s Work Is Never Done! in my bookcase. Then again, she’ll point at any character and yell, “GIIINKOOO!” so I’m not sure how much she really understands.

She’s not showing much interest in anime just yet. Still, I get the feeling that this two-year-old obsessed with animal picture books has an inkling of what her father is writing when he goes into his office.

This volume is about Yaichi and Machi’s story.

Light novels are quite a bit different from Shogi books, and I feel that Shogi books can be rather particular sometimes. But there are some similarities between the two.

Techniques that allow children and adults to enjoy it–––just as a two-year-old who can’t read will enjoy bright colorful pictures, the illustrations in Shogi books are more than enough to stimulate the imagination. The authors do all sort of things to make them simple and fun to read so that their books can be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

The book that Yaichi and Machi wrote together will have a large impact on many people within the story.

In much the same way, I want to use as many techniques as I can to make The Ryuo’s Work Is Never Done! invigorating for everyone who reads it!

REVIEW SESSION

“I’m not even sure what the dress code for a reunion is supposed to be ……”

We arrive at a big, famous French restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Ayumu is the one who picked out this place, which is built like a palace, to mark ten years since the four of us first met at a TV studio for the Elementary Meijin Tournament here in Shibuya.

“I bought a new suit because the restaurant has a dress code, but I never thought I’d stick out so much …… Ayumu’s usually got that covered, but he fits right in ……”

“’Course you’d stick out wearing all black like that, you idiot. What do you think this is, a funeral?” Ryou Tsukiyomizaka snaps. 

I try to come up with a comeback but can only nod along in the end. I was planning to wear this suit to a match, but my fighting spirit has already been shattered in it.

“’Sides, you shoulda known better than to show up in all black anyway! There’s Ginko for one …… and your apprentice dumped you, right?”

“Uhh …… Well, about that ……”

I pause to come up with the right words to answer that hard question when a sulking voice cuts in from the side.

“It aligns with the tastes of the new woman he resides with.”

“Hey?! Ma-cha- …… Machi! Don’t make it sound like something it’s not!”

“Then why are you flustered, Yaichi? You always claim to be interested in older, busty women and yet it appears that adolescents are what trips your trigger. Your behavior matches that of a lolicon to a T, so what harm is there in saying so?”

Ryou notices that we’re calling each other by different names and presses for more information.

“What happened with you guys, eh?”

“Insignificant nothingness, I assure you. Otherwise, I would not be attending this reunion. I should be making regular visits to a maternity clinic and unable to consume alcohol by this point, but …… grumble, grumble ……”

“Like I said, stop giving them the wrong idea!!”

Machi has been downing glasses of wine one after another since before the reunion, so she’s already drunk as a skunk.

Since it’s my fault she’s drinking so much to begin with, I can’t really tell her to stop ……

“Yaichi and Ma-chan, eh? Sounds like you’re little kids playin’ house to me, but we are having a reunion. It’s kinda fitting in a way.”

“In that case, should I call you Ryou-chan too?”

“Screw you.”

My shin gets kicked under the table.

It was Big Sis’s fault that I stopped calling Machi by her nickname. Now I remember why I stopped adding chan to the end of Ryou’s name. I was just scared. This pain reminded me.

An elegant woman who looks like she stepped out of Victorian England smiles down at our banter as if watching something wholesome.

“He-he-he. Prospering as ever I see, young Ryuo.”

Our guest at this reunion–––is the one who worked as a commentator at the Elementary Meijin Tournament where we all met, Women’s Legend Rina Shakando.

She also came up with the idea for this reunion.

“It would be so nice to see everyone’s faces once again. Would you please acquiesce to your elder’s request?”

Machi and I were looking for a chance to give her our book, so we came up to Tokyo together.

Considering that my apprentice is about to play Shakando-sensei in a title match, giving her the book right beforehand kind of looks like giving her a helping hand. But my apprentice proved that a little push like that won’t be a problem during her match against Machi. 

“To think that you, young Ryuo, would work with Machi to produce your maiden release. So, it was your influence that sparked the flush of talent on Machi’s part in the final Women’s Legend League match.”

“I was but a mere means to an end. My bout with Ai made it all too clear.”

“Whew. Did anyone else feel that chill ……?”

Isn’t the conversation taking a very wrong turn?! This is supposed to be a reunion!!

“B-But what we really should be celebrating is Ayumu’s promotion to the A Division! Congrats!!”

I turn to my side to face my best friend dressed up in a white suit.

It’s brand new, too. The white fabric practically shines.

I wanted to put some space between us because we’ve got this yin-yang thing going with these black and white suits, but he seems uncharacteristically nervous today and won’t leave my side.

Shakando-sensei called us all here saying it’s a reunion, but …… with this timing, it’s obvious she wanted to throw a party to congratulate her dear apprentice.

“It’s been half a century since someone made it all the way to A division without a bump in the road, right? That’s amazing!”

Even the sharp-tongued Ryou sounds impressed by that.

“If you, say, make it to the Meijin Title Match this season, wouldn’t that give you a chance to be the youngest Meijin ever?”

“Chairman Tsukimitsu holds the record right now, doesn’t he? Umm …… he was 21, I think? Your birthday is after his, Ayumu, so that record would be yours.”

“Nonstop promotion from pro debut to Meijin Title Holder would be a first in Shogi history. Please, I will need to interview you. Your articles are quite popular with women’s magazines, as well.”

“It’s true that Ayumu has a handsome face and a sparkling clean record, so everybody’d root for him to take on the Meijin. I got bashed endlessly online when I challenged the Ryuo, but Ayumu’ll get a pass …… Handsome guys get a pass ……”

“Hey, hey. Don’t forget that guy Natagiri might be Meijin at that point.”

“But, you know, it’d be nice to see Ayumu take it from the Meijin, you know? Nothing against Mr. Natagiri, but I just can’t see the Meijin being anything other than the Meijin!”

“Eh? What are you getting so worked up about, trash? Aren’t you being a bit rough on that Natagiri guy?”

“It is due to losing his woman. The woman he used to live with.”

“Ah, gotcha. Sorry for your loss.”

“I’m begging you, stop making things sound the way they’re not!!”

Even while trying to straighten out misunderstandings, my heart feels lighter somehow.

Time spent together with friends, busting each other’s chops like this is pretty fun after all. Even if I’m getting hung out to dry among us ……

“Anyway, let’s celebrate Ayumu tonight! Okay?!”

Our food is just starting to arrive, so I clink my glass and propose a toast.

“It hurts knowing I have fallen so far behind, but …… You have my permission to keep the title warm for me until I become the Ryuo Meijin. So, go get it already!!”

Ayumu’s response to my encouragement is–––.

“…………………………”

Huuuh?

After all that time I spent on the bullet train coming up with the perfect one-liner, nothing? Why? He loves this kind of thing.

Wait, is he nervous?

“…… Meijin …………………… Meijin …………”

“Hm?”

He’s staring into his lap and mumbling under his breath. I take a closer look and see he’s holding a small box in his lap.

“Ayumu …… Isn’t that–––?”

He hasn’t let go of it the whole time.

A small square box. Velvet ……

I realize what’s inside it immediately. Because there’s someone I wanted to give one of those to as well.

In that moment everything clicks.

Why Ayumu chose this palace of a restaurant. Why he’s wearing a new suit.

And …… why he looks more nervous now than ever before.

“Once I become the Meijin–––.”

The young man clad in a white suit gets out of his chair and walks toward one of the attendees.

Then the aptly nicknamed Future Meijin and newly promoted A division Shogi player Ayumu Kannabe gets down on one knee and says in a reverent voice, “Please accept my hand in marriage.”

The sparkles coming from the ring inside the box are enough to know that he’s not joking around.