Ryuuou no Oshigoto! - Volume 16 - Chapter 1.5

  CLINGING

“Piece flip.”

Ayano watched with the rest of the media from the corner of the arena as the match recorder stood up at the boardside table.

Would the title be held for an unprecedented 30 years?

Or would they witness the birth of an 11-year-old Women’s Legend?

All eyes were focused on this match. The journalists had turned out in droves, local reporters in particular.

–––Which means the majority of these people are here to see Shakando-sensei ……

A few of them were whispering among themselves while glancing in Ai’s direction.

“Check it out. That kid’s shaking ……”

“I don’t blame her. It’s her first title match, and against the Queen-quadruple title no less.”

“She’s the Demon King of the West’s apprentice, isn’t she? That means she’s got a shot, right?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? She got kicked out, or maybe she did the kicking out. Kuzuryu’s not even here.”

–––She was not kicked out!

Ayano would have loved to set the record straight with these journalists, but it was true that Yaichi Kuzuryu was not present, and Ai was shaking just enough to be noticeable.

–––But …… It’s not because she’s nervous …… or afraid.

Ayano thought back to the conversation she had had with Ai in the waiting room after she put on her kimono.

“Ai? Are you shivering?”

Kimono cloth was much thicker than the fabric used in Western garments. In fact, some Women’s League players changed out of their kimono in mid-match in order to cool off.

Therefore, Ayano reasoned that the chilly air wasn’t the problem.

She hadn’t caught a cold from exposing her shoulders yesterday, had she?

Ayano became concerned for her friend’s health, but Ai offered this explanation as she shivered.

“………… I’m hot ……”

“Huh?

“Ayano, I …… I ……!”

Ai had to force the words out as she trembled from head to toe.

“Thinking about trying out everything I’ve learned up until today …… I’m excited. So excited that I could explode at any second. I have been ever since Mom finished setting my hair …… I-I can’t stop shaking ……!”

With that, Ai held out her hand. Ayano cautiously took it.

“…… Very hot.”

It was as if her skin were on fire.

Ayano had never felt human skin at such a high temperature before. She pondered exactly how to convey that heat in writing. Even now, she was trying to find the right words–––

“Four Pawns face down.”

Brought back into the moment by the match recorder’s announcement, she found out that Ai had made the first move.

Then instantaneously.

“……!”

The expression on Ai’s face flipped like a switch.

Perhaps the heat had become too much for her to handle because Ai opened her fan and began vigorously fanning herself. Ayano was expecting to see the word courage written on it, as she had always used that one in Osaka.

–––That’s not …… Kuzuryu-sensei’s fan!!

She was stunned. Squinting, Ayano tried to read it …… The following letters were spelled out in Ai’s own handwriting.

Azure Sky Beyond the Clouds.

Those few words spoke volumes about the half year that had passed since Ai left Osaka, or so Ayano felt.

“Ai has passed through the clouds …… Does that mean she has found a direction to follow? Or maybe ……?”

Determined to reach that answer, the budding Shogi journalist tightened her grip on her pen.

Cling is a word that comes up in professional Shogi.

It’s used to describe when the journalist remains seated at the boardside table throughout the match. There have been many cases of players describing their presence as distracting. Therefore, most journalists don’t stay in the arena for long periods of time.

However, Ayano had already decided to cling.

It was, after all, her right as a journalist.

Other members of the media were required to leave the arena after each player had made their opening move. Even Charlette wasn’t allowed to stay and left alongside the rest of the reporters and photographers with a sad look over her shoulder.

Watching them leave, the plain-looking elementary school girl who had been sitting in the corner until that point strode up to the boardside table and sat down with her notebook at the ready.

The local media looked on in surprise at the aura of superiority emanating from Ayano. She felt as though she were Cinderella after being picked up by the prince.

At the same time, she was brimming with confidence.

–––Nothing will escape my eyes! I’ll watch Ai and Shakando-sensei so closely, they won’t be able to blink without me noticing!

There were things that only she, someone who had once trained with Ai Hinatsuru, could write.

That confidence was her rock. She could write anything because she knew everything about Ai. Therefore, the quality of her article could only improve the more time she spent in the arena.

Ayano had visions of a masterpiece in the making in her head when she first sat down.

Then, only 30 minutes later–––

“…………………………………”

Ghostly pale, she left the arena.

The Ai Hinatsuru sitting at the board …… was unrecognizable.

Residing in Tokyo these past six months had changed her to an incredible degree. The intensity in her eyes, her short hair, posture and subtle movements too ……

However, all of them paled in comparison to–––

“T- …… Too fast ………… What is going on ……?”

Both players had been making moves without using any waiting time since the match began. The formation was a Double Wing Attack, but that was the only piece of information that Ayano could ascertain ……

She left the arena with the same desperation as a student leaving their classroom in the middle of a test that proved too difficult. Her still-blank notebook was clutched in her arms.

Staying would only make her become a distraction.

Spirit broken, she returned to the break room, which players were using for their own match analysis and wasted no time taking a seat in the back corner.

“………… I …… it’s too much ……”

The gap between her and Ai had become too great for her to ever close ……

The shock of that realization left her listless ……

“………… What am I supposed to write–––?”

“At this point, there have been seven matches similar to this one in the past. The offensive player has won three, and the defensive four. So, having the second move may be advantageous in this instance.”

Ayano looked up at the speaker with wide eyes.

“Big Sister …… Machi?”

“You gave it your best shot, Ayano.”

Machi Kugui had donned her Shogi journalist persona in both mind and dress. Placing a laptop computer in front of her younger sister apprentice, she continued.

“It’s possible to search the formation using the association’s database. Only players and staff are typically allowed to use it, but I applied for you to receive special access.”

“Th-Thank you so much!”

“Next time, make sure you do it on your own, understood? Also–––

Machi guided Ayano outside the room.

“I brought a player to help you analyze the match. Despite wanting to be here with every fiber of his being, our arrival was delayed because he kept saying he wouldn’t come.”

“Huuh? Someone who wanted to come …… but wouldn’t?”

Who could that be?

Ayano tilted her head, confused, when she saw the awkward entrance of–––

“H-Hey ……”

“KGUH?!”

“Quiet.”

Machi stifled Ayano’s outburst of surprise by placing her hand over her mouth. Thus, she couldn’t get any words out.

Instead …… tears welled up beneath her glasses and overflowed within moments.

“…… zu …… ryu …… sensei ……!”

“…… It’s been a while, Ayano.”

The girl stood in awe of the youngest dual title holder in history standing before her.

His clothing was much darker than the last time they had spoken, and his facial features seemed more mature than she remembered.

The very first question she asked was, “Have you come to see Ai?!”

“No, I actually need to talk with Shakando-sensei. That’s why I’m here ……”

Yaichi mumbled a few excuses and looked away.

“And ………… I don’t think Ai wants to see me yet, either.”

“…………”

Ayano wanted to say much more, but she held her tongue. There were other priorities right now.

Wiping away her tears, the budding journalist did her best to look professional and began asking questions.

“…… Before the match, Ai was visibly trembling with excitement. Since the Double Wing Attack is one of her specialties, I think she wanted the match to play out like this–––”

“So do I.”

Relieved that the topic had changed to Shogi, Yaichi began his analysis.

“I think the fast-paced early-game happened because both players expected this. Since the Double Wing only happens when both players agree to play it, Shakando-sensei probably has her own strategy in mind. Why don’t we look back at the match record?”

So saying, Yaichi replayed the first moves using his smartphone but paused it before too long.

“Hm? Ai got rid of the Pawn in front of her Rook?”

“Is that strange? The formation looks normal to me ……”

“More players are hanging on to it these days. They move the third file Pawn forward instead. Doing that to get the Silver out onto the board is the current favored strategy.”

“Just as Machi said, moving that Pawn forward also lets you use the Knight. It’s a powerful, aggressive sequence, but–––”

“It appears that Shakando-sensei is utilizing the more recent style of Double Wing. Miss Hinatsuru’s formation more closely resembles a Bishop Exchange. Her side of the board appears more congested, doesn’t it?”

After listening to Machi, Ayano took another look at the match record and sure enough…

“Y-Yes, Ai’s formation doesn’t look like a Double Wing! In fact, with both Knights forward, Shakando-sensei’s Central House formation looks extremely aggressive …… If their names were hidden, I would’ve thought Ai was playing it! Now I see, that’s why I ……”

The unease that Ayano felt in the arena had finally been identified. Her pen started racing across her notebook.

“But …… don’t players normally want to use their specialties? I can’t think of any merit in avoiding that.”

“What’s more, Miss Hinatsuru is on the losing side according to past records. Why would she choose that Shogi for such an important match as this ……? An interesting take, Ayano. That is sure to stoke the readers’ interest.”

Machi praised her younger sister apprentice. Then, Yaichi gave his thoughts on what his apprentice had in mind.

“The reason Ai didn’t use the latest form of Double Wing Attack …… is probably because she found it to be a particularly scary sequence during her research. I think so, anyway.”

“?! S-So, that means–––”

Ayano looked up at the young challenger’s Master in amazement, but he just grinned and nodded.

“Ai has set a trap. If Shakando-sensei doesn’t realize it and attacks anyway …… this match will end early. Surprisingly early.”

Meanwhile, in the arena the match recorder announced that it was time for lunch.